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  Emma’s brain scrambled for a solution. His pride was getting in the way of the comfortable relationship they’d established. If they didn’t get past this, the money would always be between them. Fleetingly, she thought of using the money to return to Indiana. As if a reminder, the baby fluttered deep in her body, and she pushed the thought away

  “I will give you the money, and you can do what you wish with it.”

  When he began to shake his head, she stomped her foot. “Please. Buy some more horses, or build us a bigger house.” She swiped at the tears that rolled down her cheeks. “Or something for the baby.”

  Davis’s shoulders slumped and pulled her to him. “All right. I hate to see you cry. We’ll use it for a better house for you and the baby.” He leaned back and chucked her under the chin. “Partners?”

  She nodded, then relaxed that they’d resolved the issue. As they continued on to the hotel, Emma excitedly thought about the garden she would plant in the spring. Mama and she had put up fruits and vegetables for years, so she could do a large garden. She paused when she realized she’d planned beyond the baby’s birth.

  It hit her that she’d just given away all her money, and visualized a life here in Oregon City. With Davis.

  The desk clerk at the hotel handed them a key, and directed them up the stairs to their room. The worn staircase led to a narrow and dark hallway that hadn’t seen a paint brush in years. They passed doors on both sides of the hall. If two people tried to move down the hall in opposite directions, one would probably have to back all the way up so the other one could pass.

  It didn’t take long to find their room, but Davis had a problem getting the door open. After shoving his shoulder against the worn wood, they entered a pale green room with a bed so small they’d have to take turns sleeping. A tiny dresser with a mirror, and what passed for a desk completed the furnishings. A pitcher and bowl sat on the desk right next to a long slim window with white lace curtains that had seen better days, providing a breeze in the room.

  The sounds and smells of the town drifted through the window. Emma sat on the bed and bounced up and down. “It’s not exactly comfy, but it sure beats the pallet in the wagon.”

  After Davis dropped his saddlebags on the floor, he stretched and gave Emma a quick kiss. “I need to get the wagon over to the livery for the night.” He headed for the door. “Ezra returned my horse, so I need to see to his care, also. I saw a bathhouse next to the saloon as we rode in, so I’ll be taking my bath there. You enjoy your bath, and I’ll see you later so we can go down for supper.”

  “Wait.” Emma grabbed his arm as he turned. “Do you think I’ll be all right here by myself? There were some men downstairs that I didn’t like the looks of.”

  “Here.” He handed her the shotgun he had carried with him since they left the wagon. “If anyone tries to bother you, shoot him.”

  “I don’t know if I could actually shoot someone.” Emma gasped as she reached for the gun.

  “Well, darlin’ if it’s you or him, I expect you to put that training I gave you to good use. Lock the door when I leave, and I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “Enjoy your bath.”

  The warm, but not quite hot, water arrived about an hour later. Emma stripped out of her dusty, sweaty clothes and relished stepping into the water. She groaned with pleasure as the water came up to her shoulders. With the scented soap she’d retrieved from the saddlebag she lathered her body, then dunked her head and shampooed out all the trail dirt.

  Sometime later, feeling lighter, she stepped out of the cooled water and dried off. Putting clean clothes on a clean body after a warm bath was a pleasure she hadn’t had in a very long time. She yawned, headed to the bed, and climbed in.

  She awoke to a loud knocking. A bit disoriented for a minute, the first thing she noted was the lack of swaying, and no clanging of pots and pans. Then she remembered they had reached Oregon City, and she was in a real bed with four walls around her. Hearing Davis calling her from outside the room, she left her warm cocoon and opened the door.

  Davis had done more than take a bath. He had found someone to trim his hair, and give him a shave. He walked into the room and grabbed her waist and swung her around, barely missing the furniture in the small space.

  “We are finally here, Emma. Can you believe it? I can’t. It seemed like forever.” He was obviously in a good mood, and Emma found herself smiling at him as he set her down, and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Mrs. Cooper, I am very hungry. Let’s go get some supper. There were wonderful smells coming from the dining room when I came in just now.”

  They enjoyed a meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, greens, and biscuits. A piece of dried apple pie completed their feast. Feeling comfortable with clean bodies and clothes, and bellies full of food that Emma was grateful she didn’t have to cook or clean up after, they left the hotel for a short stroll before retiring for the night.

  They had just passed the bank when Emma heard someone call her. She and Davis both turned to see Nate hurrying after them, waving something in the air.

  “Emma,” he said as he reached her, out of breath. “I have something here for you.”

  Emma frowned. “What is it?”

  “A letter. The post office had a letter for you.”

  She glanced at Davis. “Who could possibly send me a letter here?”

  “Your parents.” Nate placed the envelope in her outstretched hand.

  18

  Emma studied the letter in her hand, and looked up at Nate. “How did you know there was a letter here for me?”

  “I didn’t. The postal clerk asked me if I came in with the latest wagon train. When I told him I did, he said he had a letter for one of the women on the train. Since it was for you, I told him I would see that you got it.” He shrugged like it was no big thing.

  Davis felt the itch to punch him square in the nose. Since Nate knew Emma had written to her parents in Fort Laramie, Davis was sure Nate purposely went to the post office to inquire about a letter for her. He would bet his horse there was no ‘he just happened to be there.’

  He gritted his teeth. “The last time I heard, mail from the post office was a private matter, and would not be given to anyone other than the addressee.”

  “Things are little less formal here. And since I’m an officer in the United States Army, I’m sure the postal clerk felt confident that the letter would go to the proper person.”

  Davis nodded. “Much obliged, Hale. Now if you’ll excuse us, my wife and I are going to our hotel room to retire for the night.” Tugging on the front of his hat, Davis skirted around Nate, firmly holding Emma’s hand.

  “I can’t believe my parents sent me a letter here.” She glanced worriedly in his direction.

  “I’m sure you told them before you left where you were headed.”

  She nodded. “Yes, we did. I remember Peter having a lengthy conversation with papa about the advantages of Oregon Territory. Plus, I wrote to them from Fort Laramie. But that seems so long ago.”

  The desk clerk flipped through the pages of a newspaper when they entered the hotel. He glanced up, nodded, and returned to his reading. The dining room had closed, but a few people sat in the chairs in the lobby.

  The front room of the hotel sported a worn carpet, a few kerosene lamps, and two shabby chairs. Days old newspapers lay scattered on small tables. At one point someone had made an effort to put up curtains, but now they were worn and dusty.

  Davis nodded at the few people they passed and escorted Emma up the stairs. The dirty bath water still stood in the corner, but someone had re-filled the pitcher on the rickety desk. Emma splashed her face, and yawning again, looked around. She picked up her nightgown and holding it in front of her, glanced at Davis.

  “What’s the matter?” He stifled a yawn himself.

  She chewed on her lower lip. “There’s no changing screen in here.”

  “Yeah, and so what?” He b
egan unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Well, can you go down to the lobby so I can change?” She raised her chin, dots of red on her cheeks.

  His fatigue instantly disappeared with the possibilities just presented to him. He grabbed the lone wooden chair in the room, and turning it around, straddled it, his forearms resting on the back. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to do that, darlin’,” he drawled. “I like the view just fine from here.”

  “Surely you’re not going to just sit there and watch me?” She gasped.

  “Emma, come here.” He crooked his finger.

  Still holding the nightgown in front of her, she sidled over.

  He got up from the chair and took her in his arms. “Sweetheart, I hate to cause you distress, especially in your delicate condition, but there ain’t anything under that dress that I haven’t already seen, kissed, licked and tasted.” He moved his mouth to her ear. “And loved every minute of it.”

  She groaned and shivered. “I know, but I just feel funny. Like I’m putting on a show or something.” Her breathy voice triggered the lower part of his body to stand at attention.

  “I’ll help you.” His mouth dried up as his fingers made quick work of the buttons on her dress, after tossing the nightgown onto the bed. He eased her undergarments off while he took ownership of her sweet mouth. With both hands spanning her increasing waist, he edged her a few feet until the back of her knees hit the bed.

  Emma sat, then scooted over and smiled as Davis removed all his clothes before joining her.

  * * *

  The next day Davis took Emma on a tour of the plats the Land Office indicated were available. Davis felt good to be back on his horse again. Emma begged him to rent a horse for her too, since she couldn’t face another day in the wagon, and wouldn’t be able to ride a horse much longer anyway. They carried a lunch fixed by the hotel dining room. As they rode along in the cool crisp air, Davis thought about the letter she had received from her parents.

  When Davis awoke earlier, Emma sat next to him, reading it. He didn’t comment as he watched her through the mirror as he washed, shaved and dressed for the day. The bed dipped as he sat alongside her.

  “So what do your parents say?”

  “Well, understandably, they were surprised and saddened to hear about Peter. They were also more than surprised to hear I had remarried so quickly. I tried to explain in my letter to them how it was necessary, but they’re still confused.”

  “Is that all?”

  She shifted and glanced away from him.

  Davis lifted her chin with his index finger. “What else do they say?”

  “They, um. They are a little concerned that I married a, you know, a stranger.”

  “And?”

  “Nothing. Just they were surprised, I guess.”

  Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Davis appreciated the sight of rolling hills and miles and miles of land that stretched before them. Waves of excitement gripped him. He would buy a piece of land in this wonderful new territory. He’d have his horse farm, with his wife alongside him, and a child soon to join them.

  He slanted Emma a glance. Cheeks flushed with the cool air, her eyes took in their surroundings, a smile on her face. It appeared excitement filled her, too.

  If only she hadn’t begged to rent a horse. He could certainly understand her reluctance to get back into the wagon, but with her middle already expanding noticeably, he worried about her and the baby. He’d given in to those pleading hazel eyes, but swore to himself this was the absolute last time.

  * * *

  With the long journey over, Emma looked forward to choosing land that would one day belong to the baby she carried. She brought her thoughts up abruptly. Goodness, where did that come from? It sounded as if she was thinking of staying. She smiled when she realized that thought didn’t seem so bad anymore.

  Davis pulled up his horse, and studied the map the Land Office clerk had given them.

  “Honey, look ahead, a little bit northeast. See that creek over there?” He pointed out a beautiful grassy area. Emma put her hand up to her eyes to shade them from the sun. Deep green grass waved in the slight breeze, with wildflowers dotting the landscape.

  To the left of the area rolling hills rose, and behind that peeked the tops of trees. The plot of land seemed to have it all; water, grass, hills, trees, just about anything they could want for a horse farm.

  She pictured a snug log cabin, smoke pouring from the chimney, sitting right on top of the closest hill. White rocking chairs sat on the front porch, and bowls of flowers on the steps. She also saw in her mind a child’s swing strung from one of the multitude of trees surrounding the area.

  “I think this is wonderful,” she exclaimed.

  “Let’s go a little closer to the creek, and we’ll rest the horses and have our picnic.”

  They slowly wound their way to the creek, enjoying the beauty of the day, and the thought of having their own place that didn’t have wheels. They pulled up alongside the creek and smiling their excitement at each other, Davis hopped off his horse and lifted Emma. After leading the horses to the water for a drink, Emma took the food basket off her horse while Davis spread the blanket he had carried on the ground next to a huge chestnut tree.

  It was a perfect afternoon. The mild October weather made it cool enough to enjoy a picnic, but the sun kept them comfortably warm.

  “See that hill over there?” Davis pointed to a small rise, the very one she’d designated as the perfect spot for a little log cabin.

  “That’s where I want to build the house. And further to the left is where the fencing would go to keep the horses, and behind the house is where I would eventually build a large stable.”

  “And I get no say about all this? Don’t forget, half of this land is mine.” She smirked at him.

  “All right, honey, where would you like the house?”

  “That hill over there you pointed to.” She grinned.

  “Come here, woman.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him. She buried her face against his throat. Davis rubbed his cheek over the top of her head, and she relaxed, sinking into his comforting embrace.

  Emma mentally designed her vegetable garden, and thought about where she could have Davis hang a clothesline for the many diapers she was sure to be washing in a few months.

  Thinking of the baby again, she placed her hand on her stomach. Davis shifted them so her back rested against his chest, her body snug between his legs. He ran lazy circles over her stomach. “How’s junior today?” He nibbled on her ear.

  Emma glanced over her shoulder at her husband. The lines in his face spoke of the grief he’d suffered when his family died in the fire, as well as the hard living he’d done afterwards. His crystal blue eyes changed shades depending on his mood. She saw them sparkle with humor; grow almost black with anger, and dark blue with passion. His broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs made her feel safe and protected.

  “Junior’s fine, I think he’s happy to be finished with traveling. There’s a lot more kicking going on lately. Here, feel.” She moved his hand from where it had wandered to her breast and pressed it against her stomach.

  “Oh!” He yanked his hand away with a jerk. “Yes, I feel that.” He stared down at her stomach as if it was about to explode. “You feel that all the time?”

  “No, not all the time.” She laughed at the expression on his face. “Sometimes the baby sleeps, but other times, usually when I’m trying to sleep, it feels like he’s running a race.” Leaning back on his chest, Emma closed her eyes and staring blissfully at the area that would soon be her new home, fell into a peaceful sleep.

  * * *

  Davis pulled her closer and covered her with his jacket. She made a small mewing sound and snuggled deeper into the warmth of his body and the jacket.

  As he watched her soft breathing, he thought about how far they had come since their rough beginning.

  She’d made no secret that
she hated being forced to marry him. But he had to give her credit for trying to make things work. They got along well, and certainly enjoyed each other in bed. The only sticking point was her desire to return to Indiana, which she hadn’t mentioned in weeks. But he had the feeling the baby being due soon may be a factor in that. If only Nathan Hale would disappear from their lives, he was sure Emma would eventually settle well in Oregon.

  He glanced around with satisfaction. They could enjoy a bright future here. Land was bountiful and the weather mild. There was plenty of rain to grow gardens, and possibly some wheat and corn for extra income should the need arise. With the check from the bank, combined with the money Peter Thorpe had left to Emma, he could build his house, and in the spring buy the horses to start his business. He just had to convince Emma that her place was here with him, not Indiana. No matter how he had acquired his wife, he fully intended to keep her.

  * * *

  Later that afternoon Davis and Emma visited the Federal Land Office and claimed the land they had chosen. Legal documents outlining the steps necessary to keep their land tucked snugly into his pocket, Davis took Emma’s hand as they crossed the street from the Land Office to the local mercantile.

  “I’ll join you in the store as soon as I see about getting that wheel on the wagon fixed.” Davis left her at the front of the store and headed to the livery.

  The inside of the mercantile brought memories of her parents’ store. But in so many ways this business was different. Aside from the usual flour, sugar, coffee beans, bacon, household goods and fabrics, their stock contained various items made by Indians, and a jumble of furniture newly arrived emigrants had most likely traded for food and other necessary supplies. The abandoned furniture might be a huge benefit when it came time to furnish their new house.

  A plump, rosy-cheeked woman moved from behind the counter and greeted Emma. “And what can I help you with?” Her whole body radiated friendliness and cheer. “Are you one of the new emigrants to our city?” She continued on without giving Emma a chance to answer.