Bitterroot Valley I waited for you

Despite how breathless his nearness left her, she could not help but grin at being told she was right. She didn't answer, because she thought that he was about to speak about what his heart wanted — but conversation moved on to other things.

She liked being teased a little less. But, perhaps she didn't dislike it.

"Good," she finally replied — and here, she pressed forward to steal a kiss. Just a quick push of her nose against his cheek. She felt a powerful need to retreat and take stock of her life, new to all these feelings and compulsions, but she found herself quite unable to pull away.

"I would have felt very silly," she said, "coming home to that after telling my mother that you're a good man."