Mavis scoffed and walked off.
Sam watched Riley; he saw the play of emotions cross Riley’s face as she talked to the other kids, how patient she was to answer all their questions. He was right about Riley. And that’s what made the feelings he had for Riley grow, even as he stood there watching her. She had character as Lee had often called it.
Two days later, the rash began to fade. “What do you reckon it was?” Mavis asked in wonder.
“Measles most likely. Most kids get them sooner or later. Best when they are little than bigger. The others might come down with it if they ain’t had it before. It’s harder on grown folks than kids.”
“You know a lot about sickness…Sam?” Mavis asked softly as she handed him some breakfast.
“Just what I learned at the Indian Village. You see until the white man came the Indians didn’t get sick much. And when they did, they knew what to eat and take for it. But the white man brought diseases over here and killed a lot of the Indians off. We had a healer there, her name was Katherine and she could take care of just about anything. The Shaman said she had magic.”
“I’m sure glad you were here.” Mavis smiled at him. “But I don’t believe in magic, Sam.”
“Better thank Riley, he’s the one that sat with your Dorothy most nights.”
Mavis glanced at Riley. “I guess I was wrong about Riley. He was a big help. But I’m not wrong about the fact that he’ll bring you nothing but trouble.”
“Maybe…” Sam stared at Riley who looked tired herself. “But I promised.”
“Well, we can get moving again. Riley, you better ride in the wagon and get some rest,” Sam insisted.
Riley nodded, not objecting. She made a pallet with a blanket beside Dorothy and
lay down; she was asleep in no time, but her hand was on Dorothy all the way.
***
That evening Mavis sat on the wagon seat just before sundown. “It’s a pretty sunset, Sam,” Mavis said, her arm looped in his.
“Yeah, I reckon it is.” Sam checked the beautiful play of colors in the heavens and sighed. He wondered if Riley was watching. Why he cared he wasn’t sure, but Riley drifted into his head at unexpected moments. Maybe this was exactly why he needed to get shed of her. And then he wondered if he really wanted to. He already knew that Riley was a good woman. He knew she could kiss better than anyone he’d ever had. But he also knew the trouble she’d bring if he even thought about taking her as his own. That thought sobered him. He remembered vividly all the problems that had come up between Lee and Hattie as they tried to live peacefully in the Indian camp. White fur traders had come to their camp many times. Even once one of them tried to steal Hattie away with them. But Lee rescued her. Still, he couldn’t help but remember how deeply in love Lee and Hattie were too, and that stirred something in Sam he didn’t want to acknowledge. Already he had some kind of feelings for Riley. He just hadn’t named them yet. And if he could help it, he wouldn’t, until she was long gone. If he had to hurt, she wouldn’t see it. But somehow he knew that losin’ Riley would hurt, for a long time.
Maybe Mavis was just the ticket he needed to put Riley at a distance, and he wanted her at a distance, he kept telling himself.
When it grew cooler, Sam slowed the wagon. “We best rest now, and head out before dawn,” Sam explained.
“I hope that sleepin’ under the wagon isn’t too hard on you, Sam.” Mavis smiled.
“It’s fine, Mavis.” He smiled at her.
“Good, I’ll start some supper now,” Mavis declared and called her children about to help her.
When Sam helped her down, she paused to look at him. “I wouldn’t mind so much if you wanted to kiss me every now and then,” she whispered. “In fact, I’d kind of like it. I like bein’ touched too.”
But Sam didn’t want to jump from one to the other so quickly. “It’s a little soon, but I’ll keep it in mind that you aren’t opposed to kissin’ or touchin’.” He smiled.
“Oh sure…later…anytime.” She swept herself against him, and sighed heavily when their eyes met. “My husband used to run his hand up my skirt when we were drivin’ the wagon. He said it was kinda sexy, playin’ when he was supposed to be drivin’ the wagon. He had his hands on me all the time. He loved my body. He liked my breasts a lot.”
Sam smiled. “I can sure understand why…yes sir, I surely can.”
Sam groaned inside. Why was he fighting what this lady offered so boldly? It made no sense, he was actually pretty hungry for a woman, and she could satisfy that need without too much entanglement. Still, he tempered the temptation she offered. After all, there were three kids in the wagon and he didn’t need any witnesses. Then there was Riley to contend with too.
Riley dismounted, and hobbled the horse near the wagon. She spit while the other kids watched her and laughed, and then she joined Sam. She heard the kids talking about her. Tate even imitated her, and the others laughed. Sam smiled to himself. Riley was a good person; that much he knew.
But when Mavis brought the blankets to Sam, her hands lingered on top of his for a moment, long enough for Riley to notice. Sam thought he saw her cheeks grow pink, but he couldn’t be sure in the firelight.
Mavis cooked up a fine meal for travelin’ and even Riley seemed to enjoy it as she sopped the bread in the gravy to clean the plate.
“My, you two were hungry. Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.” She glanced at Riley again.