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window.  She didn’t know if she should remove the cobweb or not.  It proved to be a good focal point during this act, and she knew this wouldn’t be the only time he’d want to do it.
    Suddenly, his mouth was on her neck, his breathing heavy as his body wiggled between her legs.  She gulped and gripped the pillow under her head.  This was it.  Soon—very soon—it’d be over.  At least he wasn’t one of those men who felt the need to prove himself by trying to get her to climax.  Like she could ever truly enjoy herself while doing this!
    He lifted his head.  “Hazel?”
    It took her a moment to realize he was talking to her.  And this forced her to look at him instead of focusing on the drapes.  She caught the worried expression on his face and knew she was doing a horrible job of pretending to be the woman he expected to share his bed with tonight.  “I’m sorry.  I’m just…nervous, you know?”
    “Maybe we should wait.”
    She stopped him before he could get off of her.  “No!” Recalling Gilbert who was sleeping in the other room, she lowered her voice.  “I want to do this.” To get it over with.  “Please?  It’ll be worse if we wait.”
    He winced.  “Worse?”
    “I meant, my nervousness will get worse.”
    “I don’t know.  I want this to be something you’ll enjoy.”
    Then he’d be waiting forever because she’d never enjoy it, no matter how tender he was.  And he was amazingly tender.  Whatever connection he and Hazel made through their correspondence, he obviously cared about her.
    “Something about this doesn’t feel right,” he said then got off of her.  “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it.  Not when it feels like I’m forcing you to do it.”
    She sat up in the bed as he went to retrieve his underwear.  “You’re not forcing me.  I came here willingly.”
    He slipped on his underwear and shook his head.  “I know, but it’s not right.”
    She stared at him, not believing her ears.  Did he suspect she wasn’t really Hazel?
    “I’m sorry, Hazel.  I don’t want to make you more nervous than you already are, but maybe things will be better after we get to know each other.” He pulled open a drawer and pulled out one of his shirts.  “Would you like something to wear?”
    Realizing he really wasn’t going to follow through with the ordeal, she decided she’d better take the shirt.
    He handed it to her before he turned down the wick on the kerosene lamp.  Glancing her way, he asked, “Do you need some light to sleep?”
    “Some, if you don’t mind.” Unable to look at him anymore, she buttoned the shirt, aware of the masculine scent associated with it.
    When he settled back into the bed, he turned toward her.  “Is it alright if I hold you?”
    What a strange thing for a man to ask.  He refused to consummate the marriage, but thought he could just hold her?  She’d been around men.  Once they touched a woman, they had to do everything else.  So maybe she could get this whole thing over with after all.  Relieved, she said, “Of course, you can hold me.”
    He wrapped his arms around her and drew her into his embrace.  He was stronger than most men, probably because he worked with his hands.  Out here in the wilderness, he had to rely on his physical strength to support himself and his son.  Now, he would be supporting her, too.  From what she’d seen, he didn’t have much to his name, and she could understand why he wondered if Hazel could accept this new change.  Hazel had been used to a privileged lifestyle, one with fancy gowns, servants, and other things money could buy.
    Sadie thought back to her initial meeting with Hazel.  Hazel had been wearing a beautiful dark blue dress, but it wasn’t the dress that initially caught her attention.  She had been huddled in the corner of a restaurant, seeming as if she needed to get away from someone or something.  That was what caught Sadie’s attention.  She recognized a