"If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you didn't think your mother was worth the cost."
She gasped and stared down at his form in the darkness. "I didn't mean that at all. It's just ..." She was going to say that the bitter note in her tone was for someone who had betrayed her, but the whole world didn't need to know about their shame. "All the money in the world couldn't have saved her."
He was silent for a moment. "I see."
No, he didn't see, but what did it matter? It wasn't his problem. She leaned forward and draped her arms around the horse's shoulders. The night was getting chilly and the warmth from the horse was welcome. The moon peeked shyly over the dunes and moved searching fingers of dim light across the dunes. She sighed deeply.
"It must be fun to be able to ride all around freely while we're stuck in our wagons."
He chuckled softly. "There's nothing fun about the desert, Cassie. It's beautiful and fascinating, but never fun."
"Do you think the Indians will attack us?"
"Are you afraid?"
"No."
"You should be."
"Why?"
"Because fear makes us cautious."
She peered at his profile in the darkness. "Is that why Pete is worried?"
In the moonlight she could see him look up sharply.
"What makes you think Pete is worried?"
"He told me to stay close to the wagons."
"Good advice, even if there weren't Indians around."
"Then you think they are around."
She grabbed a handful of the Bay's mane and swung to the ground. She misjudged the distance in the dark and landed on Bordeaux's foot. He winced and she put a hand on his arm.
"I'm sorry. Does it hurt much?"
He gently pulled his arm away and stepped back. "No, it doesn't hurt. You just startled me."
She blushed. He thought she was being forward. Under other circumstances, she might have enjoyed having the upper hand, but right now she didn't feel much like playing games.
She continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Anyway, we'll reach Ashley in four or five more days."
His voice was controlled. "A lot can happen in four or five days."
It was true, but his concern brought chill bumps to her arms. She shivered.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Thankful for the darkness that hid her burning face, she took a step away from him.
"Not really. I just had a sudden chill."
He sighed. "Well, it's getting late."
She turned away from him abruptly. "Good night."
He didn't respond and she didn't look back. Pulling her blanket from under the wagon seat, she shook it and checked under the wagon for unwelcome guests. Finding nothing, she spread the blanket and lay down, pulling part of it over her body.