“Turn around,” she demanded.

“Why?” he whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”

The man had gone mad. You’d think she was the first woman he’d ever seen in her undergarments.

She glared at him, and he finally turned away, still smiling.

Emery climbed up as fast as she could and disappeared inside. Once in the wagon, she dried off with one of the blankets and removed her damp underwear. Then she dressed in her blouse, jacket, and skirt, feeling strange with nothing between her skin and her clothes.

None of the girls seemed to notice. Two and Three had curled up sleeping after their frightening ride, and Four and Five were leaning out the back opening, trying to catch raindrops on their tongues.

Emery combed out her long hair and braided it, then carefully twisted it into a bun at the base of her neck. Finally, she felt respectable again. It was raining and gloomy when Trapper had seen her. Maybe he hadn’t noticed how her camisole clung to her.

Maybe if she forgot that one moment he’d forget it too. She’d never mention it, and if he did, she’d say the shadows were playing tricks with what he thought he saw.

Voices sounded outside. Emery made out Number One’s light laugh and Trapper’s greeting. She slipped into her shoes and moved to the back of the wagon to stand behind Four and Five. She might be in shadows, but she could see the outline of a tall, very thin boy, maybe a year or two older than One. The middle-aged couple behind the boy was smiling and appeared to be tickled to find someone else near.

“Come on down, ladies, and meet our neighbors in the storm.” Trapper raised his arms and tiny Five jumped into his hug. Four followed. Both the girls stood close to him, and he put his hands on their shoulders.

Mrs. Miller shook both their hands, but Em noticed they still clung to Trapper’s legs.

“Like us, it looks like the Millers are trapped here until the storm’s over. Number One, meet their son, Timothy. He noticed our horses and came to see if he could help.” Trapper looked down at the little darlings hiding behind his legs, but his words were directed to the Millers. “We’re playing a game right now. I’ve numbered the girls off by age. These two are the youngest, Four and Five. We’re all explorers looking for Dallas.”

The couple, standing a few feet away, laughed. They explained that they also had children, so they understood games.

Trapper looked up at Emery as she neared the edge. He lifted his arms. When she hesitated, he circled her waist and swung her down. He was polite making the introductions, but the light in his blue eyes told her he was thinking of how she’d looked before.