The Enchanted Land Read online

  Her anger was gone now, but many years of training by her mother cried out in her head. The anger was replaced by a look of determination and arrogance. “My mother was correct when she told me that men could not love, that they cared only for horses and business and that they used women. Since I have met you, Mr. Colter, you have shown me less consideration and friendliness than you show your horse. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do at the wagons.”

  She left him standing alone.

  “What is it, my pretty little dove?” Joaquín’s voice was soft and very close.

  Morgan was leaning against a tree, trying to fight the tears that threatened.

  She sniffed and smiled nervously up at Joaquín. “I guess I don’t understand men.”

  “Ah, but men are very easy to understand. It is women who are mysterious. It is women who control men.”

  “Control men! I don’t even seem to be able to talk to one.”

  “A lover’s tiff. Soon you will make up, and then you will be happy again.”

  She took Joaquín’s arm and he escorted her back to the wagons.

  The next day Frank took over Morgan’s shooting lessons. Seth avoided her.

  One day as Joaquín and Morgan returned from a spring, both laughing, Seth met them on the pathway. His eyes showed amusement.

  “My little wife seems to enjoy your company, Joaquín. She is usually not so friendly with men.”

  Joaquín looked from one to another. “Morgan is an enjoyable person. I envy any man with such a wife. Excuse me, I have some things I need to do before our journey tomorrow.”

  Silently, Morgan started down the path. Seth walked beside her.

  “Look at that!” Seth pointed to the trees.

  “I don’t see anything.”

  Seth moved behind her, his hands on her shoulders, and turned her to see a brilliant, red cardinal sitting quietly on a branch. They both smiled.

  “I was just going for a walk. After all day on a horse, it feels good to stretch my legs. Want to come?”

  She smiled up at him. He stretched his hand to her and she took it.

  “Come on, then.” They ran, Morgan stumbling along behind to keep up with him.

  “This greenness reminds me of Kentucky. But we’ll leave it behind soon enough.”

  “Tell me more about New Mexico. Is it really flat and barren?”

  “It’s not flat at all. To some people it seems barren, but I don’t think of it that way. The deserts and the mountains have always seemed like enchanted places to me.”

  They rounded a curve in the stream to a secluded area where the trees overhung the banks.

  “That water looks good after the dust of the trail. I think I’ll take a swim. Like to join me?” His eyes twinkled.

  Before she could answer, Seth had removed his boots and shirt. His muscles were enormous and stood out easily. Morgan watched, fascinated.

  As he started to remove his pants, she gasped, “Seth…” He smiled, “Remember, mi querida, we are married. I see nothing wrong in undressing in front of one’s wife. Anyway, you could turn your head.”

  She turned to stare at a tree trunk behind her until she heard a loud splash.

  “The water’s so warm. Sure you won’t join me?”

  She longed to get into the water, to get rid of the trail dust. Sponge baths in the wagon never got her really clean.

  “No, I’ll just sit on the bank and put my feet in.” She watched as Seth swam a ways down the creek. His back and arms were powerful in the water. She could see him clearly as he glided across the water: his arms and back, and then tapering to his buttocks and the tops of his thighs. Morgan shivered as she watched. She did not go in. Seth returned a bit later, and she walked ahead as he dressed.

  “It’s all right. You can come back now. I won’t shock you any longer.” His hand reached out for hers. “Sit down a minute—I’d like to dry off.” He had not put his shirt back on but was using it to towel his wet hair.

  She sat down, leaning against a tree. Seth sat beside her, then turned and lay his head in her lap. He closed his eyes.

  “Seth, talk to me about you. You know so much about me. Jake has told me about you, but I want you to tell me about yourself.”

  His hands were crossed on his chest. She moved a hand to remove a leaf from his stomach and then left her hand there. His skin was so warm. Her other hand twisted a curl of his hair, now very gray in the sunlight.

  “What did Jake tell you about me?” Seth was keenly aware of Morgan’s hands.

  “He said he didn’t think you had ever been in love, that you only used women.” She paused. “And he said there were lots of women who wanted you to marry them.”

  Seth smiled. “I guess that’s true. But I figure most women want to get married. I just happened to be single.” He snuggled his head deeper into her lap, and his hands covered hers, both pairs of hands lying on his chest.

  “What about the other part—have you ever been in love?”

  He took a minute to answer. “I guess not. At least I’ve never met a woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. I usually grow tired of a woman after a very short time.” He raised her hand to kiss her palm, his eyes still closed. He felt Morgan jump slightly at the touch of his lips.

  “What about your girl in New Mexico?” He looked at her, then closed his eyes again. His cheeks showed long dimples from trying to suppress his laughter.

  “Jake told you a lot, didn’t he? Marilyn’s very pretty and very … uh … obliging, but no, I’m not in love with her.”

  Morgan leaned her head against the tree and smiled, feeling very happy.

  “Seth, you said my mother was wrong—that she should have taught me about men and women.” She paused. Seth remained silent, but listened closely. “I don’t understand about men. And I don’t understand you at all. You are sometimes so kind, and then sometimes you look like you hate me. Then again, there are times, like now, when I feel I’ve known you all my life.”

  Seth’s eyes were serious. “Yes, little one, sometimes I don’t understand myself. Sometimes I hate you, and sometimes I want to pick you up and toss you in the air. Right now, I just want to be still.” He closed his eyes again.

  Morgan relaxed against the tree again and then she whispered, “Do you ever want to toss Marilyn into the air?”

  Seth roared. “It would take a bigger man than me to toss Marilyn Wilson in the air. I can see you’re not going to let me rest. Let’s go and see what Jake has for supper.”

  He turned over and studied her for a minute. “God, I hate the way you hide your hair.” He reached behind her, unfastened the knot of hair, and pulled it forward over her shoulders. “That’s better.”

  He stood up, took Morgan’s hand, and pulled her up beside him. She gazed up at him with complete trust.

  “Oh, Morgan,” he groaned, “how am I going to keep my hands off you for a whole year?”

  Morgan smiled. “That’s easy—if you can’t catch me, you can’t touch me!” she called over her shoulder as she ran down the trail.

  Seth paused to grab his shirt, stuffing it into his belt, and took off after her.

  Just before they reached the wagons, Seth sent one long arm shooting out to encircle Morgan’s waist. She struggled, kicking and hitting against him while laughing uncontrollably. “Can’t catch you? You’re no bigger than a mosquito,” he teased.

  He lifted her above his head and turned her around in the air several times. Morgan screamed, “No, no,” repeatedly, choking with laughter.

  Seth then threw her over his shoulder, slapping her firmly on the behind when she struggled. He walked into the camp carrying her this way.

  Jake and Frank looked up from the fire.

  “I thought maybe we was being attacked by Indians.” Jake frowned. Seth just grinned.

  Embarrassed now, Morgan whispered into Seth’s back, “Seth, put me down.”

  As Seth crossed in front of them, going toward the