whereabouts of your rich lover."

With shaking hands, Leah returned to the skillet full of frying bacon.

It wasn't until after breakfast, when she'd cleared everything away and was starting the noon meal, that

she saw Revis. He was leaning against the side of the cabin, trimming his nails with a long, thin-bladed knife.

Leah jumped, then put her chin up and walked past him.

He caught her hair and wrapped it about his wrist, pulling her toward him. "So, the lady's too good to speak to the thief."

"Leave me alone! I don't want your attentions and I have work to do. Bud and Cal."

He jerked her head back. "You'll regret turning them against me," he said, putting his lips near hers.

Leah saw him smile then felt a tug at her head. The next moment he pushed her away and held up a long

strand of her hair in triumph. Leah's hand flew to the back of her head, feeling the ragged edge where

he'd cut it. As she ran into the house, Revis's laugh followed her.

All day Leah worked herself nearly to the breaking point, cooking, cleaning, ignoring Abe's jibes, protecting Verity, who cried when any man came too near her.

And everywhere she looked, Revis seemed to be there watching her. He'd suddenly appear out of the

forest or from behind the woodpile or he'd be standing silently in a corner of the cabin. He never got close enough to touch her, since after he'd cut away her hair either Bud or Cal was always close to her.

Twice Leah caught Revis looking at the boys as if in speculation.

At sundown Revis disappeared and not long afterward Leah told Bud she was going to visit her husband. The big man nodded once and Leah wasn't really sure if he understood her or not. If she ever got time, she was going to find out if the young men were as stupid as Abe said they were.

"You better be back here afore Revis comes back," Abe warned, but Leah ignored him. The lying was what was destroying her, Leah decided as she trudged up the mountainside. She seemed to be telling everyone a different story. Wesley was lying alone in a cabin, no doubt cursing his luck at being stuck with a Simmons. He'd decided to stay married to Leah because she was more "fun," but where was the pleasure now? When Leah opened the cabin door, Wesley knew he'd never seen a more forlorn-looking person. She looked so miserable he almost wanted to laugh. Ever since he'd known her no matter what was dished out to her, she fought back. He never felt guilty about telling her what he thought because if she disagreed, she did so loudly.

But the woman entering the cabin now looked as if she'd given up, as if she didn't want to bother with life's hardships any longer.

Immediately Wes knew there was only one cure for her misery: he was going to make love to her.

He held out his hand to her.

With a frown Leah ignored his hand. "I brought you some food."

"I'm not hungry. Come sit by me."

That's all I need, Leah thought, Revis after me during the day, Wesley pestering me at night. "I need to get back."

"Leah," Wes said with surprising firmness for one so ill. "Sit down."

She didn't really feel much like having a fight and besides, what could he do?

When she sat on the edge of the bed, Wes put an arm around her and drew her back so she was leaning

against the wall. He nestled his big, warm body next to her small, rigid one.

"Chicken, potatoes, beans, cornbread," he said softly, looking inside the basket she'd brought.

With his free hand, he took the basket, leaned across her, and set it on the floor. That done, he didn't

quite straighten up but kept lying half across her.

"I* I must go." She halfheartedly pushed at him.

"Leah," he murmured, trailing a finger down her cheek, "you aren't afraid of me, are you?"

"Of course not," she snapped. "I've got to go, that's all. I'm not afraid of any"

She stopped because he kissed her, not just a simple kiss but a long, lingering, soft kiss that began to take the tiredness out of her.

"You were saying?" he said, caressing her cheek and neck with his big hand.

"Any man," she said, trying not to look at him. "I'm not afraid of any man, any*"

Wesley began kissing her neck in hot little kisses that were oh, so very nice.

"It occurred to me today, Leah, that even though you've been married for years and even had a baby,

you've never been made love to."

She pulled away from him. "That's absurd. How can I have a baby if* I mean you* the night of the storm we*"

"My beautiful wife, I thought you were a prostitute and used you as such. Had I known that was our

early wedding night I assure you I'd have acted differently."

"Differently?" she asked, curious. It was rather nice to be held by someone, to be touched and caressed.

"Wait a minute!" she said with a gasp. "You can't touch me. I swore you'd have to take whatever you

wanted from me, that I'd never give in to you. Just because I'm a Simmons doesn't mean"

"Shut up, Leah," he murmured, "and consider yourself forced." His lips took hers and held

themand held them until Leah's arms slipped around his neck and pulled him closer. With one arm he pulled her down into the bed, one thigh going over both of hers.

When he pulled away from her, he saw wonder in her eyes and Wes felt a wave of guilt that this woman

was his wife yet he'd taught her nothing. Slowly, with great patience, he began to caress her body.

The dress she wore was dirty, stained, and very loose on her. With a practiced hand, he began to undo the buttons down her front.

"Wesley, I don't think*" Leah began. "Maybe we shouldn't* oh dear!"

His hand slipped inside her dress, his warmth going through her layers of underclothes. He kissed her

again as he lifted her off the bed and slipped the dress from her shoulders.

As the dress lay about her waist, it was Wesley's turn to look at her in wonder. Never had he seen

women's underwear like this. Nearly transparent fabric showed the rosy pink crests of her nipples, floated downward, and barely concealed her creamy skin.

Leah immediately turned a pretty shade of pink. "Nicole's dressmaker thought that since my outerwear

had to be coarse, my underwear should be* should be*"

"Let's see the rest of you," Wes said eagerly, and before Leah could say a word he lifted her and removed four cotton petticoats to reveal lacy drawers that showed her long, firm legs to advantage.

"Leah," Wes said in a slightly shaky voice as he grabbed her to him and began to kiss her passionately.

Leah responded instantly. She'd never been taught that she shouldn't enjoy sex, and as a result she acted

with as few inhibitions as a child. She began kissing him back with enthusiasm.

Wesley, surprised for a moment, perhaps remembering Kimberly's rationing of kisses, smiled with pleasure at his wife's response. His hands began a journey down her body, and her warm skin, barely covered by the silken fabric, excited him more.

While kissing her neck he began to unfasten the buttons to her underwear.

Leah was losing herself to his touch. Her sexual experience consisted of one quick fumble more than a year and a half ago. This caressing was different and it was sending the oddest feelings through her body. Her fingers clutched at Wesley's head, entwining in his soft hair.

She protested when he pulled his mouth from hers and groaned with pleasure when his lips touched her throat. When his lips encircled her nipple, she lay still as one shock wave after another went through her.

"Wesley?" she asked in such a surprised way, her head coming up.

He paid no attention to her but continued to make love to her breasts.

Leah swallowed hard, her head rolled back, and she arched her body upwards in an instinctive reaction. Wesley's hard hands gripped her waist tightly as his hot mouth moved down her body.

She grabbed handfuls of his shirt, caught buckskin fringe in her mouth. "Skin," she murmured. "Let me touch you."

Wesley came out of his clothes instantly and soon knelt over her wearing nothing but a bandage across his ribs.

Some part of Leah's mind told her she should be concerned about his wound, but truthfully she didn't care if it tore apartat least right now she didn't care. Her eyes trailed down to his swollen manhood and with no shyness she clasped it in both hands.