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and all because she thought of Uncle Burr.  But this was not her old life; she had embarked on a new one. “When a woman says she’s fine, she usually isn’t,” he told her sternly.
    “Who told you that?”
    “My ma. She’s a woman, she should know.”
    “Hmmm, that makes sense,” she agreed. She looked at him, and before she could stop herself, reached over and placed her hand on one of his own. “It was nothing for you to worry about. Let’s go.”
    He stared at her, and she sensed his body going very still. “You’ll tell me if something’s ever bothering you? When you’re … scared, mad, that sort of thing?”
    She swallowed. “I suppose so.”
    “Ain’t no supposing, you either will or you won’t.  But since we’re married, you will.” Without another word, he gave the horses a slap of the reins and got them going again.
    She sat and chewed on his words. “Am I not allowed a private thought?” Uncle Burr would have thrown her in the attic for asking. But not Arlan Weaver. He brought the wagon to a stop a second time.
    He stared down at her, hard. “You’re my wife, ya hear? And as my wife, I’m the one that’s supposed to protect and provide for you. Now how can I do that proper if I don’t know when something’s wrong?”
    Samantha didn’t realize her mouth hung open until her good sense told her to shut it.  She stared at him, his little speech as foreign to her ears as could be.  Her body jerked but once, as it warmed, and tears began to form in her eyes. “Protect me?” was more mouthed than spoken.
    “Of course. Don’t you know that’s what a man is supposed to do?”
    “I … I …”
    “I, I, I, blah, blah, blah. Good grief, woman. Talk straight.”
    She snapped her mouth shut again and pressed her lips together. “Don’t make fun of me.”
    “I’m not making fun of you. I’m trying to tell you what’s what between us. Now we better get going. I don’t want to be driving this team in the dark.”
    “Are we going to make it to your farm?”
    “No. We left too late.”
    “Then what are we going to do? We can’t spend the ni ght out in this wilderness!” The mere thought made her cringe. “Why didn’t we stay in town?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t like folks getting into my business.  I’d rather just get on home.”
    “That doesn’t answer my question. Where are we spending the night?”
    “Gunderson’s stage stop. It’s the halfway mark.”
    She thought a moment. “We stayed there last night …”
    “Yep, last stage stop before Nowhere. If we stay there tonight and leave early in the morning, we’ll be home in time for lunch.”
    She watched the horses plod along, all the while wondering on something he’d said.  I don’t like folks getting into my business.  So did that mean he didn’t want people to know he was getting married?  His own aunt didn’t even know!  What was that about?  Was he worried things wouldn’t work out between them, and that he’d be sending her back? Samantha’s fists clenched with the thought. It’d be a cold day in … wait a minute, it was cold enough … anyway … she wasn’t about to let him send her back!  She’d make things work between them if it killed her!
    She straightened again. “I plan on making you an exceptional wife.”
    His eyes flicked to her and back again. “Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    “I can cook, you know.”
    Now he looked at her. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
    “I don’t sew very well … actually, I don’t sew at all. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
    He laughed, a sound like deep velvet. “Trust me, you’ll learn. My ma will teach you. All she does is sew. I’m sure she’d love the help.” He again slapped the reins and the horses went into a trot. “You aren’t worried I’ll send you packing, are you?”
    Her head snapped around. “Of course not!”
    He laughed again, louder this time. “You’re a rotten liar, Mrs.