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awake but it didn’t take long
before she had slipped into a deep sleep.  She slumped against Tristan,
pushing her face into his neck and muttering softly in her sleep.
    Tristan gritted his teeth at the feel of Avery’s mouth
moving against his throat.  He shifted her into a more comfortable
position and slid his hand upwards until it rested against her ribcage. 
He knew she was naked under the dress, and his groin tightened uncomfortably at
the memory of her body in her wet underclothes.
    He was aching to touch her breast, to feel the firm weight
of it in his hand, and his hand was sliding up before he could stop it. 
He slipped his hand inside the loose neckline of her dress and cupped her bare
breast gently.  It fit perfectly in his large hand and he ran his thumb
over her nipple, smiling when it hardened under his touch.  He pulled
lightly on her tight nipple and she arched her back a little, muttering
something low in her throat.  He snatched his hand away, his pulse beating
thickly in his veins and shame flowing through his body. 
    He was no better than the man who had bought her to be his
companion.  Despite his shame he wanted to touch her again, and he wrapped
his hand around her hip to stop himself from cupping her breast.  He
clucked to his horse, encouraging him to move faster until they had caught up
to the others. 

Chapter
5
     
    “You’re very good with him.”
    Maya blushed.  “Thank you, m’lord.”
    He sat down beside her with an easy grace.  “Call me
Marshall.  And you are?”
    “Maya.”  She looked back down at the baby in her lap,
smiling and kissing his forehead as he giggled up at her.
    Marshall watched as Nicholas kicked his feet and giggled
again.  The boy’s normally pale skin was flush with colour, and at supper
he had drunk two bottles of milk without throwing up.
    “He’s like a different baby.”
    Maya shrugged.  “The fresh air must agree with him.”
    “Indeed.”  Marshall smiled at the young woman.
 “How old are you, Maya?”
    “Twenty, m’lord  - I mean Marshall.”
    “You’re very pretty.  Did you know that?”  He
brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face and Maya blushed bright red.
    “Thank you, Marshall.”  She whispered.
    “Would you care to go for a walk with me?”
    She shook her head, glancing down at the baby.  “I
cannot leave Sophia and Nicholas.”
    “I’m sure one of the other women would be happy to watch
them for a while.”  He smiled encouragingly at her.
    “I’d better not.  I’m sorry.”  She gave him a look
of regret.
    “Do not be sorry, little Maya.  I can visit with you
just as easily here.”
    “Maya!”  Avery called her name sharply.  She was
sitting on a fallen log and Sophia was standing behind her, running a comb
through her long, red hair. 
    Avery patted the spot next to her.  “Come sit with me
for a bit.” 
    She stared distrustfully at Marshall who smiled genially at
her as Maya obediently circled around the campfire and sat next to her. 
Maya handed her the baby as Sophia crawled over the log and into Maya’s lap.
    “Sing to me.”  She demanded, curling up against Maya’s
thin body.  Maya began to sing softly as Avery placed Nicholas on his back
on her lap and lifted his shirt.  She leaned over and blew raspberries on
his belly, grinning when he screamed delightedly and kicked his feet against
her sternum.
    “Does Nicky like that?  Hmm?”  She crooned softly
before leaning down and blowing another raspberry on his bare skin.  He
giggled and shrieked before snatching a hank of her long red hair and yanking
on it.
    “Ouch, baby!”  Avery winced and tried to unclench his
tiny fist.  “No hair pulling.”  
    “Here.”  A familiar voice came from above her and she
groaned silently when Tristan sat next to her and began to untangle her hair
from Nicholas’ fingers. 
    He pulled the last of her hair free and then brushed it back
and over her shoulder, out of the reach