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Crawling onto the buffalo robe, Emma cuddled beside her husband. When she hugged Josiah's arm, he let out a low moan.

"Am I hurting you?" she whispered.

"I can git to liking this kind of pain," he sighed with pleasure, his voice not hushed in the slightest.

"Not so loud," Emma pleaded in a whisper. "They'll hear you!" In her haste to quiet him, she nudged him a little too hard.

Josiah moaned again, but this time, out of pain.

"Sorry."

Josiah grunted, and Emma heard him yawn.

"Mr. Brown?"

"Emma, go to sleep," he begged wearily. "If you keep moving around, I'll never git any rest."

"I missed you, too."

"What?"

"I said, 'I missed you, too,'" repeated Emma, this time in a slightly louder hush than before.

Josiah grunted. "That's what I thought you said."

Hearing the grin in his voice, Emma playfully swatted his arm.

Wincing in pain, Josiah rolled onto his side, so he could face Emma. "Did you know I was in fer a whipping when I returned?"

"No, Cora wouldn't tell me what she thought might happen," answered Emma.

"Good." Josiah opened his arms to let Emma snuggle against his chest. "Don't ever betray me, Em. I don't trust people too often."

"Do you really trust me, Mr. Brown?"

"When you kicked me today, I didn't hold it against you," he sighed. "Reckon that means I must trust you."

"Cora didn't betray you," Emma tried to plead her cause. "She only did what she felt she had to do."

Josiah's arms stiffened. "Keep out of it, Emma."

Emma sighed, grateful that at least Josiah hadn't taken his arms from her. She needed his closeness tonight, and from the way he was holding her, Emma sensed Josiah felt the same way.

"I've never spent so much time with one woman," he breathed in near amazement.

"Not even with Mary's mother?" Emma couldn't help but ask.

Josiah groaned. "If the child's being here is going to make you ask such questions, I'm sending her back with my ma!"

"Please, tell me," Emma begged in a hushed whisper. "Cora said you only spent one night with Mary's mother. Is that true?"

"Why are you wanting to know, Emma? It's got nothing to do with you."

"Was it only one night?" persisted Emma, her voice becoming a little desperate.

"It wasn't even a whole night," he tried to calm her. "There. I answered yer question. Are you happy?"

"Did you love her?"

Josiah groaned so loudly, Cora sat up in bed to see what was wrong. When she saw her son holding Emma, Cora lay back down, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Did you?" Emma repeated.

With a sigh, the trapper moved his hand to the small of Emma's back. "I've never felt any deep affection for the women I've bedded," he finally replied. Lightly massaging Emma's back, Josiah drew her closer until his lips touched her ear. "I ain't asking you to give me yer heart, but if you do, don't expect me to change. I'm meaning it, Emma."

Snuggling even harder against Josiah, Emma tucked her head beneath his chin. "Thank you for answering," she murmured quietly.

Josiah sighed longingly, his lips brushing Emma's hair. "I want to keep holding you, but I can't frolic. These stripes on my back are hurting something fierce."

"I don't expect anything more," Emma whispered softly. "I'm just happy to have your arms around me, Mr. Brown."

The answer must've pleased Josiah, for Emma heard him moan one last time before falling to sleep.

"He [Josiah] that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding."
~ Proverbs 15:32 ~

"I [Emma] had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
~ Psalm 27:13-14 ~

end of chapter

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