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understand. I know those ladies are wrong; although, I wouldn’t care one way or the other. But if there is one woman who wouldn’t have a tryst with a man in the woods, it’s you.”
    Annie smiled weakly. No need to tell Mary Beth she was having a harder and harder time resisting Mack.
     
    ***
     
    The river crossing took most of the morning. The water was fast and deep and it took a while to get each wagon across.
    Annie watched Mack work. Though it was summer, the water was cold and he spent most of the morning in it. He crossed through the water countless times as he shuttled children, animals, and wagons safely to the other side.
    Little Ellie was particularly frightened. Annie held her breath as Mack carried the girl across. Her arms were locked around his neck and she could see him whispering in the little girl’s ear. She gave him a small smile and he patted her head.
    A lump formed in Annie’s throat. He was so good with that little girl that it made her heart ache, though she didn’t know why.
    Soon Annie and Mary Beth were crossing the river. The wagon lurched and swayed as the water pushed it and the wheels bumped over unseen rocks in the bottom.
    The dark churning water was frightening, and Annie gripped the side of the seat. She felt herself slide towards the edge of the seat as the wagon gave another lurch.
    In an instant, Mack was next to her. “I’ve got you,” he said, his warm baritone washing over her.
    “Stay close.” Annie hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
    “I will.” He quirked a single eyebrow at her.
    If she hadn’t been so frightened, she would have told him what she thought about his eyebrow but she was scared out of her wits and she couldn’t hide it.
    The wagon jostled again, and Annie yelped in fear as she nearly bounced off the seat. Mack’s hand shot out and in a second, he caught her mid bounce, pushing her back on the bench. If Annie was honest, she wanted to do what Ellie had done, sit on his lap and wrap her arms around his neck. Her eyes fluttered closed. She was starting to depend on Mack; she could feel it. He was so strong and capable. A part of her wanted to curl up in his muscular arms.
    The wagon heaved up the other bank and Annie sighed with relief. She wasn’t sure if she should hug him or yell at him. Mack tipped his hat and headed back in the water to help with the next wagon. Annie watched him go. She climbed off the wagon and started driving her ox forward. After the cold water, they needed to move. Annie needed a distraction anyway. She couldn’t just gawk at Collin Mackinnon all day long.
    Some of the women gave her the eye, but Annie tipped her chin high and kept going. The back of her head throbbed. It seemed like this day would never end.
    An hour later, the last wagon cleared the river. They tried to camp by water whenever possible and Annie wondered if they would stay here tonight or move on. Her eyes strayed to the patch of woods across the river where Mack had carried her. Visions of his hands on her, his face close, his lips on her lips filled Annie with heat.
    “What are you looking at?” Mack’s voice was close to her ear.
    Color flushed her face. “Nothing.”
    His eyes strayed to the woods and a devilish grin split his face.
    Her eyes narrowed and she turned away.
    “Annie, we’re heading out. I want to make it to San Francisco by the end of the week.”
    She nodded as she spoke, “Thanks.”
    “You need to find a way to have more friends by the time we hit the fields. I don’t mean to push but I am worried for your safety.”
    She nodded again. She knew he wanted her to make a decision about the pretend engagement. “I’ll make a decision by tomorrow.” Her head throbbed harder. She had very few choices. She could take her chances with just Mary Beth. She could pretend to be Mack’s fiancé. Or she could just stay with Mack and allow him to protect her. Annie’s fists clenched at her sides. Those were some rotten options.
    She