Chapter 7.

Leah didn't speak to Wesley for the rest of the ride to the inn. Even though she knew what she wanted to do, she wondered how in the world she was going to stand him long enough to pretend to be his wife. And, too, Leah began to wonder just how Wesley's friends were going to treat her. Already one of them had made a comment about her being a Simmons. Would they treat her as Steven Shaw did?

As they neared the inn, Leah steeled herself because ten men were waiting for them. The wagon hadn't rolled to a stop when all ten of them rushed forward, each pushing the other for the privilege of helping Leah from the wagon. "Welcome, Mrs. Stanford."

"Wesley doesn't deserve someone as pretty as you."

"Clay says you like to weave. My sister sent some drafts for me to give you."

"And my mother sent you some flower seeds." Bewildered, Leah looked from one smiling face to

another. "Th* thank you," she stammered. "I had no idea*"

One of the men gave a hard look to Wesley. "The women were pretty upset that Stanford Plantation

didn't give a party to celebrate your marriage. We wanted them to come today, but they thought since they hadn't been invited maybe they weren't wanted."

It was Wesley's turn to stammer. "No, it was just that we* I mean no one*"

One man laughed. "Take a look at her, men. If you had a wife that looked like her, would you want to

share her?"

Leah was so pleased by their compliments that she blushed.

"Come on inside. You all must be tired. May I?" The man held out his arm to Leah.

"Since when have you earned such a privilege?" another man asked, extending his arm.

"I believe I saw her first," said a third man.

"Here!" Wesley interrupted. "Before any of you start a fight, I'll escort my own wife."

Trying to hide her surprise, Leah took Wesley's arm and walked with him into the tavern.

Bess waited inside for her. "I'd never have known you," was all Bess could gasp, standing apart from her

sister.

Leah left her husband's side and opened her arms to Bess. Hugging her sister, Bess laughed. "It is you,isn't it?""Every dirty inch," Leah returned."They're fillin' a tub for you now. Miss Regan said you'd be wantin' a bath, just like all the other ladies do." She looked up at Wes. "Now you behave yourself while she's gone and I'll return her to you soon

enough."

Bess quickly ushered Leah upstairs where two men were filling a large tub. As soon as they were alone, Bess began undressing Leah.

"Bess, I can do that myself. There's no need for you to act as if you were my maid."

"Someone should!" Bess snapped. "Someone needs to be good to you after that story Miss Regan told

me. Are you really going to give up your own husband willingly, without even a fight?"

"I have no intention of fighting to keep a man who doesn't want me," Leah said stiffly.

"Listen to you. You sound just like our old man. When you get somethin' in your craw there's no stoppin'

you. Just for once, Leah, don't be so stubborn. Don't just give Wesley away."

"Bess, you're being silly. Wesley was never mine. He wants Miss Shaw and he shall have her. Aftertonight I'll not even be his wife in name. I'm going to be his cousin.""Cousin, schmusin. You are his wife! Nothing will change that.""It will when we get to Kentucky." Leah, nude, put one foot into the water. "It's amazing how easily one can get used to being clean. I think I'll stay in this water all night. If I did I wouldn't have to pretend to be my husband's dear devoted wife."

"That's a good idea," Bess said quickly. "You stay there and I'll get you some clean clothes."

Leah sat back in the tub, closed her eyes, but in minutes Bess returned, a huge grin on her face.

"There's trouble in paradise," Bess said gleefully. "Wesley and that Miss Shaw were having an argument."

"She'll forgive him," Leah said tiredly.

"Miss Shaw didn't like the idea of Wesley taking your arm and Wesley said he had to pretend to be your husband. Miss Shaw wanted to know just how far he planned to carry the pretense. Wesley tried to calm her but Miss Shaw said that two could play the game and if he so much as touched you he'd be sorry."

"And?" Leah asked, trying to conceal her interest.

"Wesley said he didn't like being threatened and he was doing all this for her and he'd do his duty and do what he had to do."

"Duty!" Leah gasped, sitting up.

Bess smiled. "I guess he means his duty is to touch you."

Leah sat back in the tub. "Bess, there's a black trunk in the back of the wagon, on the left. Inside is a

dress of gold velvet. Would you bring it to me?"

"A special dress, is it?" Bess asked.

"What little there is of it is special," Leah said, closing her eyes as Bess left the room.

Leah thought of the dress and knew that if Wesley didn't care for her, at least some of the men would

notice her. Perhaps she wouldn't get as much attention as Kimberly, but it would be better than she got while riding on the wagons.

The door opened.

"That didn't take long," Leah said, opening her eyes to see Wesley standing there.

He didn't move as he looked at her, her beautiful body clearly visible in the water, her breasts just breaking the surface, her legs stretched out, parted.

"If you've seen enough, you can leave now."

Reluctantly, Wes looked back at her face. Steamy little curls touched her neck. "Bess said." He

didn't finish but turned and left the room.

With shaking hands Leah began washing herself, and she wasn't sure if she was shaking with anger or because she had suddenly and inexplicably remembered every detail of the time Wesley had held her in his arms.

When Bess returned with the dress, she had such a smug, knowing look on her face that Leah refused to say a word about Wesley's return to the room. Even when Bess gave broad hints, Leah still didn't comment.

The gold velvet of the gown made Leah's skin look even creamier, and the neckline was cut so low that

only imagination was left.

"I can't do it," Leah said, looking at herself in the mirror. "There's too much of me and too little cloth. I told Regan I'd never wear this dress."

Bess adjusted the last curl on top of Leah's head. Her long, perfect neck eased down into the beautiful sculpture of her collarbone and breasts. "You will too wear it! I've seen ladies with even less on."

Leah gave her a look of disbelief.

"They just had a lot less to show than you so less looked like more."

"Oh Bess." Leah laughed. "I'm going to miss you."

"Not if I have my way and you get your husband back," Bess said with a sniff.

"I never had him to begin with."

Bess didn't answer but shoved her young sister out the door.

Standing at the top of the stairs Leah had a chance to survey the scene below. Kimberly sat in a chair wearing a sedate turquoise silk dress; she looked absolutely lovely and six men surrounded her. Wesley leaned against the cold fireplace, talking in a tight-jawed way to two men, his eyes constantly shifting to Kim, and there were sparks of anger in the looks. Leah wasn't sure whether she should laugh or be disgusted, but somewhere in her was a bit of jealousy.

As she began to descend the staircase, she was pleased to see first one pair of male eyes, then another, travel upward toward her. At Stanford Plantation she'd always been treated with respect, but she often wondered if it was only because she was married to Wesley.

"May I?" asked one man at the foot of the stairs, his arm extended. The other nine men stood still, gaping in such a way that Leah felt her confidence return.

"Thank you," she said graciously, taking his arm.Kim stood suddenly and said in an expert half-plea, half-command, "Am I to be left all alone? Do only married women get any attention?"

Quickly two men ran to her sidebut eight stayed by Leah.

"Supper is waiting. Shall we go in?" a man asked.

Leah looked up to see Wesley, still near the fireplace, his eyes fastened to Kim's retreating back. He