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behaved as if her demand was urgently important.
    â€œI don’t have time to explain,” she hissed, clasping his waist. “Just put your arms around me.” She laid her head on his chest and pressed her body against him.
    Without pausing to question himself, he embraced her and pulled her closer. An image of her bathing flashed in his mind. He shouldn’t have, but he’d peeked over his shoulder while she washed her hair. That arousing sight and the memory of her kiss had haunted his dreams last night, and he’d awakened frustrated and irritable.
    Damn, but this woman felt good in his arms. He lowered his head and breathed in the scent that had almost driven him mad after her bath last night. The soap she used must be perfumed with lilacs and maybe even a hint of gardenia. A soft, feminine, and tantalizing smell teased him.
    â€œAddie?” he began.
    Several men rounded the end of his wagon and stalled his question. They came to an abrupt halt, staring at him and Addie. He straightened, loosening his hold on the fascinating woman.
    â€œReynolds,” one of the men offered an awkward greeting. The rest looked at each other in surprise.
    Before he could respond, Addie jerked away from him with an audible gasp. She looked at the men and sighed dramatically. “You see? This is exactly what I’ve been complaining about.”
    Josh’s brows drew together in confusion. “Pardon?”
    Addie motioned toward the men. “You have no time for me because you already have a half dozen other wives!” Without giving anyone a chance to respond, she spun around and stomped over to Jimmy, who quietly continued to cook the fish. “Mr. Johnson, may I have my fish now, please?”
    He reached over and handed her a bucket, presumably containing the fish in question. “Here you go, Mrs. Reynolds. Two nice fillets from that one. It was a good-sized trout.”
    She nodded and took the bucket. “Thank you. It was very nice of you to clean it for me.”
    Jimmy looked a bit puzzled. She graced him with a beaming smile, and he tipped his hat. “My pleasure, ma’am. Anytime.”
    Her gaze found Josh again, and her smile disappeared. “I know you said you’d have little time for me until we reached Baker City, but couldn’t you at least find a moment now and again? I am your wife, after all.”
    He opened his mouth to ask her what the heck she was babbling about, but closed it again as he heard a snicker from one of the men watching their exchange. The puzzling woman had already turned her back and hurried away.
    Wiping a hand over his face, he addressed the spectators. “Did you gentlemen need to speak to me?”
    They shuffled nervously, each looking at the other. Mr. Adams finally spoke. “Uh, we were hopin’ you could ask your wife if she wouldn’t mind slowin’ the pace a little tomorrow.”
    Mr. Wheeler nodded quickly. “Yes, yes! This ain’t no race, Reynolds.”
    The two others grunted their agreement. Mr. Adams shrugged. “It’s hard on the women and children, you understand.”
    Josh hid a smile. “I’ll tell her. Anything else?”
    They all looked at each other again, shaking their heads. “No, that’s all.”

Chapter Four
    Josh helped Jimmy butcher the deer after an early supper. He chose a thick steak, wrapped it up, and headed over to Addie’s wagon. Josh understood that her actions earlier had been nothing less than a performance. But why did she feel the need for it? Had someone said something to her?
    He found Addie folding her laundry. She saw him and pulled the last few pieces off the rope clothesline and flung them unfolded into the basket. She stepped before him, her face revealing her worry. “What happened? What did the men say?”
    â€œEverythin’ is fine, Addie.”
    She exhaled heavily, relief evident in her stance.
    Josh grinned. “Would