“You look, um ... happy about something.” Though he kept his voice quiet, Riley’s tone held a hint of humor.
Heat flushed through her. She hadn’t meant to be so obvious. “Just enjoying the night air. It’s so fresh here. Everything’s far cleaner than back East. So much more wide open.”
His raised brows could be seen even in the night shadows. “You think the trappers’ camp is clean?”
He was teasing, but even so, she couldn’t stop another blush. At least he couldn’t see her turn red in the dark. “Not this exact spot. But the country around us feels so much freer. Not confining. Maybe it’s because there aren’t as many trees as we have back in Virginia. Makes me wish I’d brought my paints.”
“You’re an artist?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s just fun to try to capture some of the beauty I see around us.”
He didn’t speak, and when she finally found the nerve to look at him again, he was watching her, his eyes intense.
His expression turned sheepish when she caught him, and he lifted his gaze upward, above the camp to the mountains beyond. His mouth formed a gentle curve. “I know what you mean. I’ve been out here three years now, and the sights still take my breath away. Then again, I’m not sure I could really breathe anywhere else.”
They reached her lodge and paused as her sisters slippedthrough the opening, one by one. This was her moment to thank him. The moonlight made the scene feel intimate. “Thank you again for all you’ve done to help us. I don’t know how we would have managed if you hadn’t set aside your own work to accomplish ours. I know it’s been inconvenient, but thank you.”
He studied her, his expression impossible to read. Maybe because shadows hid the nuances of his green eyes. His hand lifted, as though he wanted to touch her. She could reach out too, place her hand in his.
But he dropped his arm again, taking the possibility away. His throat worked. “I don’t mind. I mean ... I’m glad I can help. That is ... I haven’t really helped yet.” He let out a laugh and looked away, then turned back a heartbeat later. “Sometimes when I’m around you, my tongue ties in knots.” His mouth did that shy half-smile that looked so handsome on him, and she couldn’t help grinning back.
He was attracted to her. Wasn’t that what he was saying? Good thing her sisters had all disappeared inside the lodge, though they might be standing with their ears pressed to the animal hide, listening.
She raised her brows in a coy expression. But then she could think of nothing smart and sassy to say. With her mouth parted but no words coming out, she probably looked even sillier than she felt.
He noticed too, and the shyness in his look turned to humor. It seemed they were both struck dumb, and the humor of it bubbled inside her, spilling out into something far too close to a snort. She pressed her mouth shut, but the grin still tugged at her cheeks. His own chuckle soaked around her, filling her empty places with warm pleasure.
She let out a long breath. “I suppose you take my words away sometimes too.”
His eyes glittered with humor as he spoke again. “You’re a special lady, Juniper Collins. Not like anyone I’ve ever met.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, what I was trying to say is that we still have a ways to go to find Steps Right, but hopefully I can make some progress tomorrow. If you ladies can sketch the markings that might be on those horses, I’ll show the page around at the horse races tomorrow.”
Disappointment stabbed as he changed the topic back to business, but they needed to discuss it. To make plans. She nodded. “One of us can draw the brand while we prepare the morning meal.”
He nodded, then stepped back, allowing her room to turn and step into the lodge.
She moved that direction, but in the doorway, she looked back at him. “Good night, Riley.”
“G’night.” He was watching her, so she turned away and stepped inside. Part of her wished he’d spoken her name with the farewell. Hearing it in his warm tones ... Well, maybe it was better he didn’t.
As the door flap fell behind her and she turned toward the interior, all three sisters stood before her.
She nearly jumped as her heart raced. She pressed her palm to the spot, then laid a finger on her lips to silence them all. Riley might still be standing outside, and the leather stretched over the lodgepoles couldn’t be very soundproof.
She made the mistake of glancing at their faces, easily discernible in the light from the lantern one of them had lit while she was outside. Faith looked almost giddy, her hands propped on her hips, as though she was bursting toask what had passed between Juniper and Riley. Nothing had, not really. But she couldn’t stop the heat from rising into her cheeks.
Lorelei still cuddled little Boots to her chest, stroking the pup’s soft neck scruff. Her expression was a bit harder to decipher, maybe a combination of schoolgirl longing and wariness.
But Rosemary ... The frown Juniper expected to see there wasn’t showing. Not a true frown, anyway. Dents bracketed her brows, but not from displeasure. More like from deep thought. Perhaps she didn’t know what to think about Juniper’s attraction to Riley either. They’d agreed nothing like this could happen with men they met in the West.
But they hadn’t expected to meet Riley Turner.
At last, Rosemary’s long sigh broke the silence. “Get ready for bed, girls. Morning comes early.” She turned toward her own bundle of blankets.
Faith let out a laugh. “I’d rather hear about Juniper and Riley.”
Juniper waved her off, then moved to settle in. “Go to bed, Faithy. There’s nothing to tell.” If Rosemary had decided they weren’t going to talk about it tonight, Juniper was more than happy to put off the conversation.
Riley waded through the throng of men, searching for a familiar face. Anyone.
