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was nothing really.”
    “Nothing? Talent is not nothing and you have a definite talent for cooking. Bertha you are officially retired from the cook position.”
    Sara wasn’t used to such praise and gloried in it.
    “Let’s clean up now. You girls can help by bringing the dishes to the sink.”
    “You never mind about the dishes.” Bertha filled a metal bucket with water and set it on the stove to heat. “I’ll clean up. You go and unpack. I know you can’t have done any of it.”
    “Thank you, I think I will. In the mean time, I want you girls to get ready for a bath and then to bed.”
    “Ah, Mama, do we got to take a bath?”
    Sarah looked over both girls, still in their finery from earlier today. Neither one was messy or dirty.
    “Okay, you don’t have to bathe tonight but for sure tomorrow. Now go on upstairs and put your nightgowns on. I’ll be up in a little bit to tuck you in.”
    She finished clearing the table to Bertha’s grumblings and then went upstairs to MaryAnn’s room. Her empty room. She went across the hall to Katy’s room and found both little girls fast asleep in Katy’s bed.
    “Looks like they’ve decided to share a room,” said John from behind her.
    “I guess so.”
    “Do you mind?”
    “Not at all. I think they need each other and I’m glad they’re friends.” Sarah closed the door to Katy’s room.
    “Me, too. I have high hopes Katy will start talking again with MaryAnn here.”  
    “I hope you’re right. It would be wonderful. Do you think the outlaw threatened her or something like that?”  
    “I don’t know. I hope not. Now come along. Time for us to go to bed, too.” He put his arm around her waist and guided her to their room. “I know you’re a little nervous, Sarah, but I won’t hurt you. I won’t even make love to you tonight but I will hold you and touch you and look at you. It’s been more than two years since I’ve made love and I’m a little rusty.”
    “I haven’t found my nightgown yet. I’ll have to look through the trunk in our room.”
    “No need.”
    “No need?”
    “Yup. I want you naked as the day you were born. I want us to get used to each other’s body. Are you willing to try it? I won’t force you.”
    She put her hand on top of his and moved into his embrace, her back to his chest. “I’d like that. Getting to know each other slowly.”
    “Yes.” He turned her in his arms and finished the kiss the girls interrupted earlier. “Now that was a proper kiss.”
    Proper! Her knees were weak, barely capable of keeping her upright and there was warmth down in her center. An ache so deep inside she would have thought she was sick if she didn’t remember a similar ache once before. A very long time back. A lifetime ago.
    They went into the bedroom and John began shucking his clothes. Sarah unbuttoned her jacket and put it on top of the trunk. Then came her skirt followed by her blouse. She stood there in her chemise and bloomers.
    “Turn around Sarah. I want to see you,” he said from the bed where he lay in all his God given glory.
    She took a deep breath and let it out again as she turned. He was magnificent. Hard muscle covered his arms and torso. She tried to pass over his groin but was drawn to it like a duck to water. He was fully erect and monstrous in size compared to Lee.
    “Don’t be shy. You’re a beautiful woman.”
    Bolstered by his praise she took off her chemise.
    John sucked in his breath. “Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe you. Exquisite is better.”
    Fortified, she dropped her bloomers and stood before him totally naked. Stripped of all the barriers she’d had for most of her life.

CHAPTER 4

    “Now come to bed.”
    She walked to her side of the bed and turned down the covers.
    “No. Not yet. Don’t get under the covers.”
    “But I’m cold.”
    “Come here. I’ll warm you up.” He lifted his left arm in invitation.
    She took a deep fortifying breath and moved close to him. Felt his skin on