Greta peeked over the side of the wagon. Astrid was curled up in the hay asleep.

“Will she be alright for a minute?” Wyatt paused in the door. “I can come back for her and carry her in.”

“She’ll be fine.” Though the consumption tired Astrid easily, she’d had more energy than usual all evening. Greta could only pray that meant the drier air of the West was helping. If only Astrid could finally sleep through the night without waking up coughing.

Greta followed Wyatt into the cabin and waited by the door as he fumbled to light a coal-oil lamp. At the touch of the flame to the wick, the room sprang to life. Wyatt lifted the lantern and hung it from a nail protruding from one of the rafters.

A medium-sized stove in one corner was rusted and dented in places and seemed as though it had seen better days. Several blackened pots and pans sat on the range, congealed grease lining them. A simple table with benches took up most of the rest of the living space. An open door off the back revealed a second smaller room with a bed built into the wall.

Wyatt had made it clear enough earlier he wanted a family of his own. And she knew very well what that meant: She’d have to share the marriage bed with him from now on.

She hugged her arms around her middle to ward off a sudden chill. Although he’d given her a sweet kiss after their wedding and she knew she had nothing to fear from him, the thought of being together during the coming night wasn’t something she was looking forward to.

Feeling Wyatt’s gaze upon her, gauging her reaction to the home, she tried for a smile. “It’s a cozy place.”

He peered around the room as though seeing it through her eyes. “I know it ain’t much—”

“No, it’s very nice.”

He hesitated, took his hat off, and raked his fingers through his black hair.

“Really. I mean it.” And she did. He’d done a fine job. “You have every right to be proud of what you’ve accomplished so far.”

He replaced his hat and nodded. “If you need anything, just let me know. And I’ll do my best to make it or get it for you.”

“I’m sure I’ll get along fine.” Her attention strayed to the bedroom again. The bed was small for the two of them. When she realized Wyatt was watching her, she ducked her head.

A lengthy silence filled the space between them, broken by the steady trill of crickets coming in from the open door.

“Judd and me,” he finally said, “we’ll bed down in the barn loft.”