Page 43

“And miss out on all that underutilized space under your bonnet?” I give her ribbons another playful tug.

She reaches over and catches my wrist between her warm, soft fingers. “Colton Walker,” she says, breathing my name out in a way that makes my spine tingle. “You’re impossible.”

I don’t miss how her hand lingers. Or how my fingers twitch at the thought of holding her hand.

For a moment, I picture myself sweeping her up onto Chance and riding off into the prairie with her. Somewhere away from prying eyes and constant distractions and Jake.

“Do you have to wear a costume tonight, too?” she asks, tapping the toe of her boot against mine.

“No.”

Once we get to Fort Bellows, the folks there are in charge of the evening meal and entertainment, so the rest of us can get a night off to enjoy a warm shower and comfortable bed in the crew’s private quarters.

Riley’s face droops into a playful pout. “Bummer.”

“Would you like it if I did?” It’s not often that I join in on dinner at the tavern, but for Riley, I’ll make an exception. Plus, I do have a pioneer costume on standby just in case I need it.

Riley nods. “It seems only fair.”

“Okay, then.” Guess I’ll be dusting off my outfit after all. “But you might not recognize me in my costume when you get to Fort Bellows.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have any problem spotting me,” she says, pointing to her bonnet. “They can probably see me from the Space Station, this thing is so big.” Her hand brushes against mine as it drops to her side.

I resist the urge to reach out and twine her fingers through mine. “For what it’s worth, for a pioneer out here on the dusty trail, I think you look nice.”

Riley lifts her chin and looks up at me from under dark eyelashes. “Thank you,” she says.

“I…um.” I cough. “I think you always look nice.” My chest grows tight at the admission and I rub a hand over it to get it to loosen up.

“Even covered in mud?”

“Not everyone can pull off that look,” I say.

Riley bites her bottom lip and glances down at her boots for a moment before looking up with a wary expression. “I was actually hoping we could spend some time alone together, away from Jake and everyone else. I think we should talk.”

“I’d like that,” I say. “And we should, but unfortunately, I’m about to ride out to Fort Bellows. I have a few things to take care of before the wagons arrive, and they can’t wait.”

Her face falls. “Oh, right. Sure. Maybe later?”

“Definitely later,” I say, brushing my thumb along the soft curve of her cheek. Before she can react, I twist away. My boot slides into the stirrup and I hoist myself into the saddle. Chance swishes his tail and does a little dance to let me know he’s ready to stretch his legs. I tip the brim of my hat to Riley and grin. “I’ll see you and your bonnet at Fort Bellows.”

CHAPTER 27

Riley

MY EARS ARE bleeding.

Or, at least, they feel like they could be. Jake hasn’t stopped talking since we left Clark’s Sod House, which is actually pretty impressive since I’m riding in the wagon with the canvas pulled all the way down and he’s on the opposite side on a horse.

“So then the bronco bucked and twisted to the left and I went flying off. Broke my arm in three places. I still have the pins. Oh, here’s a funny one for you. One time me and some guys decided to…”

Jake drones on as I flip open the magazine I borrowed from Barnaby to an article about the sandhill crane migration, which apparently occurs from February to mid-April in Nebraska. I had no idea sandhill cranes are a prehistoric species. I wonder what the pioneers thought of hundreds of thousands of them descending on the Platte River in noisy flocks. Maybe next year I’ll try to get to Fort Kearny to see them, I think, surprised to find I’m not nearly as disappointed by that thought as I would have been a few days ago.

Immediately I think of Colton, who’s a big reason for my sudden change of heart. Not only has he helped me see the beauty in Nebraska but he’s also opened my eyes to the possibilities. I don’t want to put the covered wagon in front of the oxen, but I can’t help but hope that maybe he could be a part of my new life out here.

As a friend.

As more than a friend.