“What?” Sharisse managed a smile for the Indian girl. “Yes, I’m fine, really. I was just remembering something…distasteful. So you are Billy Wolf’s wife?”
The girl nodded. She was quite exotic looking, with almond-shaped eyes in an oval face, straight black hair that fell just below her shoulders, and smooth, dark skin. She wore a faded blue skirt that just reached her bare feet and a loose long-sleeved blue shirt. Sharisse had not expected her to be quite so lovely or gentle looking, not with that heathen for a husband.
“Luke said not to wake you, but I began to worry. It is nearly noon,” Willow was saying.
“Good heavens, I had no idea.”
She saw the sun streaming in through open curtains, curtains she would have closed. That confirmed that Lucas had put her to bed and then left. Hehadleft,hadn’t he?
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Willow ventured in a soft, melodious voice, soothing Sharisse’s raw nerves and hangover.
“Yes, really. I…I just have a little headache.”
“If you like, I will make you something for it,” Willow offered.
“Would you? Oh, I would appreciate that. I’ll just get dressed and join you in the other room.”
When the door closed, Sharisse searched her memory frantically. Lucas had left after he’d undressed her. Or hadn’t he? She didn’t feel as if her virginity had been taken, but then she might not know the difference. Oh, she had to remember!
A short while later Sharisse opened her door hesitantly, afraid she would find Lucas in the other room. But there was only Willow.
“My goodness.” Sharisse smiled in greeting. “I didn’t notice before, but you reallyareexpecting a baby soon, aren’t you?”
Willow patted her extended belly lovingly. “It will be soon, yes.”
“Is there a doctor near here?”
“What for?”
“But…surely…” Sharisse fell silent, not knowing what to say.
Willow was smiling at her. “What do I need with a doctor? I know what to do.”
“You mean you don’t want any help?”
“It is a private time. I will even send Billy away if he returns before the baby comes.”
“Returns? He has gone away?”
“To the mountains. He and Luke have gone to find the wild herd for Mr. Newcomb.”
Sharisse managed to hide her surprise. “Lucas mentioned something about that. I just didn’t realize he would be…leaving this soon.”
“Ah, I see he did not tell you. It is just like a man to avoid saying good-bye when he is not yet used to a woman. Billy was the same when we were first married. He thought nothing of going off without telling me that he was leaving or where he was going.”
“Surely it was because he was used to living alone?” Sharisse suggested.
“No. He was married before. Of course, his first wife was a shrew, and he avoided her as often as possible. Perhaps you are right and it was only what he was used to. Now he likes his good-byes, for he uses that as an excuse…”
She smiled, and Sharisse found herself shocked at the frank insinuation. She also found it extremely difficult to imagine the savage-looking Billy as an amorous male.
“Is this for me?” Sharisse indicated the glass on the table. At Willow’s nod, she sipped some of the powdery liquid, found it only slightly bitter, and drank the rest of it.
“Sit,” Willow offered, taking the glass. “I will make you breakfast.”
Sharisse was appalled. “I won’t hear of it. You should be in bed, with someone waiting on you, not waiting on me. And lunch is in order now, anyway. You sit, and I’ll make it.”
“Why should I be in bed?”
