"How would you know?"
"I see the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about him."
He stopped the wagon and kissed her passionately. She lost it and kissed him back with all her might. She smothered him with kisses, and he was more than a little pleased at her reaction. When his head moved to stare into her eyes, he asked, "When I kiss you do you think of Pricilla?"
She stared, her lips still moist from the kiss, "N-no." She admitted, turning her head away.
"Good." He whipped the horses into a steady gate.
"Why did you ask me that?"
"Because I'm not kissing her honey, I'm kissing you."
They talked all the way home, laughing and enjoying the scenery. He found himself wanting to kiss her more, but he didn't want to scare her. Still, she had reacted to those kisses today, and he enjoyed her reactions too.
She didn't know how much a woman she was, but he was sure finding out.
Lance didn't remember when he'd laughed so much or felt this happy. It was a new experience letting himself go with a woman. It was all because of her.
Chapter Eight
That evening as she served dinner to the boys, she put on one of her house dresses he bought. It was a simple cotton dress, but it was filled with beautiful flowers and bright looking. She loved it, as it lifted her mood, either that or her husband had with is amorous kisses. She put an apron over it so it wouldn't get dirty so easily.
The boys loved the fresh peas and light cornbread that was sweet to the taste. She's spent the early morning churning butter and put it on the table proudly.
Doing what she loved was a pure pleasure for her and much better than scrubbing floors. She hoped with all her might she could keep her job when Priscilla came.
"I guess Boston is a far cry from Texas, isn't it, Mrs. Rogers?"
"Please call me Trudy. Mrs. Rogers sounds so formal. I suppose it is. Cities are nothing like what you have here in Texas, the wide-open spaces, land as far as you can see."
"You don't like cities?"
"No, but I never realized it until I moved out here." She laughed. "The air is so clear, and you can see for miles."
"Do you have parents back there?"
"Uh, no, my mother died when I was young, and my father only died a couple of weeks ago." She answered.
"We're sorry," Rusty said.
Trying to change the subject she asked, "Which of you has been here the longest."
"That'd be me," George smiled. "I've been here for twenty years now."
"Twenty years, that's a long time." Trudy was impressed.
"Lance was just a scutter when I first came here."
Everyone laughed.
George smiled at Lance.
Chico had cooked two briskets so that the next day she could make them brisket sandwiches to take out to them. They'd be branding for the next two weeks and it was hard work.
Later George saw Lance head for the barn and went to talk to him, since Rusty offered to help
her with the dishes.