Rocky Mountain Bride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 2) by Lee Savino

dusk, and her bible on the table for another reading session. She hoped the night would end the same way as the last. Scolding herself for her wantonness, she still couldn’t help feeling excited when the shadow stretched longer over the hill. Every few minutes she went out onto the porch and checked for his return.
    When finally he arrived, she rushed to her place.
    “Wife.” He kissed her, a tired but happy look on his face. “You’re the loveliest sight I’ve seen today.”
    “You’ve been with the cows all day,” she observed, wrinkling her nose at the strong smell. “I should hope so.”
    “Yes, and I’m not done yet. The horses in the pasture still need feeding.”
    “You must leave again?”
    He saw her face and chuckled. “Miss me, wife?”
    Flushing, she glanced down, even as the familiar clench deep inside her gave the true answer.
    “Do not be too disappointed.” He chucked her under the chin. “I’ll be back before you know it, and will even take a dip in the stream to wash off the worst of my grime.”
    “Can I help?” she asked, then blushed again. “With the horses, I mean.”
    “I’d rather you stay here, safe. If anything ever happens, you’ll come find me in the morning, and be healthy enough to ride for help.”
    All happiness fled out of her, replaced with alarm.
    “Do not be worried, Carrie. It’s unlikely anything will happen. I only tell you in case we need a plan.”
    “We’re so alone out here,” she whispered. ”Wouldn’t it be better to live in town?”
    “I love the wild, Carrie. I cannot give it up. Though,” he admitted, digging into his potatoes. “It would make me feel better if we had a friendly neighbor.”
    “What about your business partner?”
    His expression darkened. “What about him?”
    “Couldn’t he live nearby?”
    “No.” He finished his meal and stood, dropping his plate into an empty pail with a clatter.
    When he left, she paced, wishing she’d never spoken. Still, she would enjoy having a friend living nearby. Determining to stay up and apologize, she settled in to wait up for him, trying to read by the low firelight.
    After a few tiresome minutes, she went and checked the lamp. It still had a little oil; he must have gotten more from the store, and surely it wouldn’t hurt to use a bit of it. Surely, he’d understand her desire to stay awake for him.
    With a secret grin, she pulled the trunk over and set the lamp on it, then curled up in the big bed with all the pillows behind her. She felt like a fine lady, reading with the words dancing in the lamplight.
    The next thing she knew, Miles was shaking her awake.
    “Carrie.”
    “What?” she muttered, burrowing into the pillow, wishing he’d let her sleep.
    “Get up, Carrie.” His voice sounded almost angry, and she quickly came awake. “What were you thinking, putting the lamp on and getting into bed?”
    “I was waiting for you.” She looked around the cabin, filled with the lamp’s dimming light, and realized her mistake. “I must have fallen asleep reading.”
    “I told you the lamp oil was precious and we needed to make it last.”
    Gulping down her upset, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.
    He shook his head. “You could have burned the house down with you in it.”
    “I was only waiting up for you,” she said. “If you had come home at a proper time…” She trailed off when she saw the stern set of his face.
    “So then this is my fault?” Miles seemed to tower over her, casting a huge shadow.
    “No, sir,” she said.
    “I asked you to use the lamp sparingly, Carrie. It’s a luxury we must wait on until I sell a horse or a steer. And even if we had oil enough for the winter, it’s dangerous to leave the lamp lit and fall asleep. Do you understand how easily it could fall and catch fire?”
    “Yes, sir,” she said as meek as she could be.
    “I’m going to make sure you understand.” He took a step