Marna (39 page)

Still in a daze, Matt asked, "How do you know this?"

"Hertha told me. She said to keep it to myself until
you were ready to settle down. She said it would never
do to back a man like you into a corner." Henry's lips
moved into a grin. "She also said that you had to come to terms with yourself where Marna is concerned." He
waited a minute, then asked, "Have you done that,
Matt?"

Matt looked away from his earnest face. "I think I've
loved Marna from the very beginning. I was just too
damned stubborn and proud to admit it."

Henry gazed with sympathy at the big, unhappy man.
He touched Matt's arm. "I saw a light go on over at
your place before. Maybe it's Marna. Why don't you go
over there and tell her how you feel?"

An eager light jumped into Matt's eyes, then faded
away. It was unlikely that Marna was in the cabin. She
hadn't gone there when she first returned. Besides,
some Indian had her now. He gave Henry a doubtful
smile. "It's probably Hertha in the cabin. She's waitin'
for news of Marna."

His broad shoulders drooping slightly, Matt left the
quarters and walked tiredly toward his cabin. He'd report to Grandma, grab a cup of coffee, then start out
again to search for his wife.

When he rounded the pine, he stopped suddenly.
Wasn't that roan standing next to the Indian pony the
same one that Marna had ridden in that mad dash
through the forest? In a half run he crossed the clearing
and stepped onto the porch. His hand on the latch, he
stopped to listen to the voices inside. The husky voice
that always brought an ache to his loins came softly
through the door.

His heart ready to burst with the joy that rushed
through him, he rapped his knuckles against the heavy
door.

Inside, the three women ceased their talk and looked
at each other questioningly. Then Marna's slender feet
were flashing across the floor, as she prayed silently,
"Please, God, let it be Matt."

She flung the door open and gazed at the man who
had taken her through every emotion. She tried to still her hopes. Who knew what this strange man might say
or do to her?

Matt stood before her, pulling his coonskin through
nervous fingers. What could he say to her that she
would accept? He had treated her so badly.

A wistful look came to Marna's eyes, and she whispered poignantly through trembling lips, "Ali, Matt."

Matt made a feeble gesture toward her, and with a
glad cry she flung herself against him. Matt's lips could
not utter the words he wanted to say, so he held her
tightly, pulling her slim body against his.

After a while, Marna leaned away from him so that
she could see his face. Gently she took his hard face
between her hands and stared deep into his dark, burning eyes. "Are you here because you love me," she
murmured softly, "or is it just your body needing me
again?"

Her words released Matt's tongue, and he said
hoarsely, "I'm here because I love you, Marna. "I've
loved you for a long time."

Marna smiled happily. "And I love you, too, Matt
Barton. I've loved you ever since that copperhead bit
you."

A teasing twinkle came into Matt's eyes. "Is it all
right if my body needs you, too?"

Mama chuckled and pulled his head down. Eagerly
they reached for each other's lips. Hertha and Dove
grinned at each other. Hertha jerked her head toward
the door. The two women went through it, closing it
softly behind them.

Matt swept Marna into his arms and moved into the
bedroom.

The sap in a burning log sputtered, and the wind
sighed around the corner of the cabin. In the big, fancy
bed, Matt Barton bent over his wife. She brought her
legs up to wrap them around his waist. Pressing her heels into the small of his back, she urged him downward until their flesh touched She smiled softly at him
and clasped her arms about his shoulders. A shuddering
sigh went through his body as she began to move
rhythmically beneath him.