A Love Forbidden by Kathleen Morgan Page B

tell he wasn’t particularly happy with Jack’s summons.
    Jesse shrugged. “Who knows? I didn’t think it was my business to ask.”
    “No, I’d imagine not,” Shiloh muttered under her breath. She paused as Josie apparently decided it was time to join them. “Tomorrow’s Sunday, so we can’t leave then. But Monday would be a good day to go, I think,” she replied as she sent her friend a quick glance, then looked back to Jesse. “Considering the long ride there and back, it’s already too late to head out today.”
    “Suits me fine. The day after tomorrow at ten in the morning then?”
    She nodded. A sudden thought struck her. “You won’t ride all the way home today, then come back on Monday to fetch me, will you?”
    “No.” A wry grin tipped the corner of his mouth. “I figured you’d want to go in the next day or so. I told Jack I’d stay with Persune and his family until then.”
    “Oh. Good.” Shiloh paused again, not sure what else needed saying, especially with the stilted conversation they were already having.
    Josie, however, seemed to possess no such sense of reticence. “Perhaps you’d like to join us for supper at the boardinghouse then? We’re having beefsteak pie and boiled cabbage, and chocolate bread pudding for dessert. You could sit with Shiloh and me, so you’d have people you know to talk with.”
    Yes, Josie was definitely back into her matchmaking mode, Shiloh thought with exasperation. Still, the consideration of spending some time with Jesse this evening wasn’t altogether unpleasant. She doubted, though, that he’d accept. She wasn’t disappointed.
    “I’ve already made plans to share supper with Persune and his family,” he said, smiling politely down at Josie. “But I thank you for the invitation.”
    “Well, perhaps another time then,” the other woman replied, regret clearly written all over her face.
    Jesse solemnly nodded. “Yes, perhaps another time.”
    An uncomfortable silence again fell between them. Finally, Shiloh couldn’t bear it a moment longer. She turned to Josie.
    “We really should be on our way if we want to complete our full walk before it’s time to return to set the table for supper.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” her friend said, looking uncertainly from her to Jesse.
    “And I need to go as well,” Jesse said. “I promised to help Persune and a few of the others repair some of the pony pens.” He caught Shiloh’s gaze. “Until Monday then?”
    “Yes.” She gave a quick nod. “Until Monday.”
    With that, Jesse spun on his heel and strode away, heading back toward the river and Chief Douglas’s camp. The two women stood there for a few seconds, then Josie smiled.
    “He most definitely likes you.”
    Shiloh rolled her eyes. “Oh, Josie, don’t start. Just don’t start.” She stepped out, leaving her friend standing there, a contrived look of confusion on her face.
    “Start what?” Josie called to her. “Truly, sometimes I don’t have the slightest inkling what you’re talking about.”
    Then, apparently realizing Shiloh had no intention of discussing the subject any further, Josie gathered her skirts and ran after her.

     
    Someone exiting the tepee and the tent flap slapping closed woke Jesse just before dawn on Monday morning. He yawned, stretched, and then pulled the buffalo robe up more tightly around his shoulders. Though it was almost the middle of April, the nights and early mornings still held a bitter chill to them. Not to mention the threat of snow this high in the mountains could linger until at least the beginning of June.
    In the quiet of the darkened tepee, the only sound the slow, even breathing of its still-sleeping occupants, his thoughts soon turned to the day ahead. If truth be told, he wasn’t particularly looking forward to it.
    Though he had told Shiloh he didn’t know why Jack had asked to see her again—and he technically didn’t know as he hadn’t outright asked—Jesse suspected his