Free Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner

hanging overhead.
    “So,” he said to the old man, suddenly needing to fill that empty silence. “Tell me about Heartbreak Creek and these friends she has there.”

Four
     
    T he first thing Maddie saw when she opened the door of her wagon the next morning was Ash coming up the trail that led to the creek, his hair wet, his braces off and dangling by his thighs, and his shirt hanging open.
    The second thing she noticed was the puckered web of ropey, purplish scars that covered the left side of his rib cage. She gaped in shock. When had he suffered such a massive injury?
    Then she remembered the explosion he’d said had left his horse deaf and himself so badly injured it had ended his military career. But that had happened two years ago, yet the wound was still red in spots, as if it had only recently begun to heal. Had he been recovering all that time? And why hadn’t she been told about it? Hadn’t she the right to know if her husband had been so gravely injured?
    But then, how would anyone have known where to reach her? Other than her publisher, and now her husband, no one had ever tried.
    Agnes darted past her through the open door and down the steps, then came to a full stop when her toes touched the cold, dew-frosted grass. Balancing on her front legs, she lifted her rear high off the ground and glanced back at Maddie for help.
    “Go on, you silly thing. Do your business.”
    Her voice drew Ash’s head up. When he saw her in the doorway of the wagon, he pulled his shirt closed and angled toward her, sidestepping Agnes as she ran to greet Tricks. “So you’re finally up, lass. Will you be wanting breakfast, before we go? I believe there’s some of Satterwhite’s hardtack left.” He stopped at the foot of the steps, which put their eyes at the same level. “I saw how much you enjoyed it last evening.”
    He had the finest eyes. Green and lively and full of laughter. They were the first thing that had drawn her to him. Even now, she felt their power and had to force herself to look away. “No. But thank you.”
    “Then stow your belongings,” he called back as he walked on toward the cold fire where his jacket and bedroll lay draped over the log. “We’re hitched and ready to leave whenever you are.”
    We?
“You intend to travel with us?”
    “Aye.”
    “Even though we’re headed in the opposite direction?”
    “Opposite from what?” he asked over his shoulder as he tucked his shirt into his fitted cavalry-style trousers.
    The fabric of his shirt clung to his damp skin, giving her an inspiring view of his sturdy body in motion. As she let her gaze drift over him, a sudden image flashed in her mind—that long back, the gentle dip of his spine, those broad shoulders and narrow hips tinted pink by the setting sun as he had dressed by the window before he had left to rejoin his regiment. She remembered lying in bed, watching him, a feeling of possession taking hold as she realized that for the rest of her life that fine strong body was hers to touch, to claim, to enjoy.
    If she’d only known then the pain that awaited her.
    “Opposite from the direction you’re headed,” she finally answered, coming the rest of the way down the steps.
    Dipping his shoulders, he shrugged on his braces, then turned to face her. “And what direction is that, lass?” he asked, reaching for his jacket.
    Away from me.
“East. Toward Scotland.” She waved at the trees.
    “That’s south.” With a broad hand, he smoothed back his damp hair. It needed a trim, and where it had started to dry, the gray hairs glistened in the sun like spun silver. “And will you be coming back to Scotland with me?”
    “No.”
    “Well then.” Bending, he picked up his bedroll. “I’ll not be going to Scotland, either. Not yet, anyway. Come, Tricks.”
    Maddie frowned after him as he and his dog crossed to where Lurch stood saddled.
Blast.
The last thing she wanted was for her husband to insinuate himself further into her life.