He tried again in a low voice. “I can’t figure out what I did wrong. I didn’t cause the rain or the storm. I didn’t take off your clothes or tell you to come out to help. I couldn’t act like I didn’t see something so beautiful.”
She was silent for a while, then she answered. “You are right. It wasn’t your fault. I didn’t think. It’s all my fault.”
“So you’re not mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m sorry, but you have to understand, it’s hard to talk to someone who has seen me like that. I’m embarrassed.”
“You have nothing to be mad or embarrassed about. You were just trying to help.” He stood and moved to her side of the fire. He sat a foot away from her. “So we’re friends again?”
She nodded.
“And you’ll kiss me on the cheek when we say good night.”
Emery leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I was never mad at you. I was mad at myself.”
Trapper smiled. “Next time you’re upset with yourself, would you mind telling me so I can get out of the way while you’re beating yourself up?”
She laughed.
“And now that we’re talking again, I need to remind you you’re two kisses behind.”
She leaned near and kissed his cheek, lingering a moment longer this time.
“That’s one,” he whispered.
He met her halfway when she leaned near again, and this time his lips met hers.
He knew she felt the spark between them as much as he did. Trapper raised his hand and lightly brushed the back of her hair as he held her in place. Her kiss was soft and he didn’t want it to end.
Slowly, he learned the feel of her lips. When he ran his tongue over her bottom lip to taste, she shivered.
He put his arm around her and pulled her gently into his lap; he wanted her closer. When he opened her mouth slightly to deepen the kiss, he feared she’d pull away, but she didn’t. She put her hands on his shoulders and drifted into the pleasure with him.
His hand rested at her waist as she moved her fingers into his hair. “I like touching you,” she whispered against his ear.
He wasn’t sure he could form words. He just held her and kissed his way across her face.
A thump came from the wagon, and Number Five climbed out. “I have to go take care of private things,” the four-year-old mumbled as she tried to climb down.
Emery was gone from his arms in a moment and caught the little girl in flight.
“I’ll take her to the other side of the wagon.”
Trapper felt the loss of Emery in his arms. “I’m getting a chamber pot at the trading post.”
He heard Emery’s laughter from somewhere in the darkness.
When Number Five came back, she walked past the step up to the wagon and went straight to Trapper. Without a word, she curled up in his lap and went to sleep.
Emery stood in front of him. “It appears I’ve lost my spot.”
“Any time I’m open, you’re welcome to come on in. I loved holding you. For a few minutes I had heaven in my arms.”
She winked. “I felt like that too.”
Before she could say more, Number Four poked her head out of the wagon.
Emery lifted down the chubby angel, and without a word they went behind the wagon.