The Enchanted Land by Jude Deveraux

teeth had made a wound on his shoulder that had taken two weeks to heal. Seth did not think about the Montoyas very often.
    Seth stayed around the campfire to talk of plans for the trip, while Morgan went to her bed under thewagon. She lay with her hands behind her head and looked up at the underpinnings of the wagon. She thought of the day, and the remembrance of Seth, laughing with him, touching him, being so near all day, made her skin glow and her breath come deeper and quicker.
    When Seth came to his bed, so near to hers, she stretched out a hand to touch him.
    “Oh, no, mi querida ,” he whispered. He kissed her fingertips, and put her hand by her side. “I don’t think I could stand any more kissing and touching today. I am only human. Go to sleep now, and don’t test me anymore.” He turned onto his stomach, and before long Morgan heard his quiet, even breathing.
    The next night they camped at Diamond Springs. Seth took Morgan’s hand and led her to see the spring flowing from a large, hollow rock. The water was clear and cool. They lugged the heavy water barrels back to camp, laughing at one another.
    Morgan washed her hair in buckets of the clear, cool, spring water. As she sat in front of the fire, turning so her hair would dry, the four men watched.
    “I never saw hair like that in my life,” Jake murmured.
    “My little girl has hair almost that color, but not so much of it,” Frank added.
    Seth grabbed a handful of the hair, jerking Morgan around. “I think I should get you out of here before I have to fight for you.” Seth pulled Morgan to her feet.
    “Seth, you’re hurting me.”
    “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you weren’t a lady. That’s a nice trick—to sit by a fire and spread all this around you.” His hands were buried in her hair.
    He led her into the dark woods, away from the camp.
    “Seth,” she said angrily, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I don’t either. I guess it’s just that you look better to me every day. I’m beginning to think about you a lot. I can’t even take a trip to the bushes without wishing you were with me.”
    Morgan felt her heart beat harder. “Seth…” She lifted her arms to him, and their lips met. He set off a fire in her. Her lips moved with his, feeling his tongue touch her own. Her arms pulled him closer. One of his legs parted her own, and she could feel his thigh, so hard and so exciting.
    He kissed her neck, and she could feel his teeth making small nibbling bites on her skin. Chills went up her spine and down the backs of her thighs.
    From a long way off, she heard Frank calling for Seth. Neither of them wanted to hear it.
    “Damn him!” Seth muttered in her ear. “I have to go, sweet. Maybe Frank is your guardian angel.”
    “Maybe he’s the devil,” Morgan whispered under her breath.
    Seth drew back, surprised. Then he chuckled. “I think I’m going to like spending a year with you.” He kissed her on the forehead and left.
    Morgan walked closer to the camp and stood, watching Seth as he talked to Frank. She didn’t want to think, but she knew she wanted him to come back to her in the cool forest. Maybe I do love him, she thought. I wonder if it is possible to fall in love so quickly.
    After waiting some minutes, she gradually became aware of the chill in the air and returned to camp.
    A rider had come to their camp, and Seth was leaving that night with him to scout the area ahead, to find the best way of crossing Cottonwood Creek.
    As he packed his gear, he told Morgan he’d see her at the crossing in two days.
    He held her in his arms a few moments before leaving, and kissed her gently. “Think about me while I’m gone?” His eyes were laughing.
    “Maybe.” They smiled happily at one another, and then he was gone.
    At supper that night, Joaquín was especially attentive. “Possibly you would walk with me after supper. I’m sure my old friend Seth would want me to make sure his wife was