Somewhere with tables strong enough, food decent, and no landlord deciding she took too much room.
She calculated.
Two years more.
Maybe three.
Then Reed did something inconvenient.
He kissed her.
Not suddenly.
Not without permission.
Worse.
He made her choose.
It happened in May after supply wagon came.
Audra stood outside counting sacks.
Reed carried flour.
She checked list.
“Six.”
“Seven.”
“Six.”
He pointed.
“One behind oats.”
She counted.
Seven.
Annoying.
“You were right.”
“I’ll mark calendar.”
“Don't become unbearable.”
“Too late.”
He set sack.
Their hands brushed.
Neither moved.
Audra looked up.
Reed was close.
His beard shorter in warm weather.
Eyes darker.
He said quietly:
“Can I kiss you?”
No game.
No assumption.
Audra’s heart slammed.
She looked toward camp.
Men working farther away.
Then back.
“Why?”
Reed almost laughed.
“Terrible question.”
“Answer.”
“Because I've wanted to since Christmas.”
Her breath caught.
“Why didn't?”
“You were grieving.”
“I’m still grieving.”
“I know.”
“Then?”
“I stopped assuming grief meant absence of anything else.”
Audra stared.
He waited.
“Can I?”
She looked at his mouth.
Then eyes.
“Yes.”
Reed kissed gently.
Audra had forgotten some sensations.
Warmth.
Beard against cheek.
A man’s hand hovering near waist but not touching until she leaned closer.
She did.
Reed’s palm settled at her side.
Her body was far broader than his reach.
For one instant old fear flashed.
Too much.
Too large.
Then Reed pulled her closer without hesitation.
Audra relaxed.
When kiss ended she looked stunned.
Reed smiled.
“That bad?”
“Quiet.”
“Good?”
“I said quiet.”
He laughed.
She smacked his shoulder.
From fifty yards away Jasper shouted:
“Finally!”
Audra turned red.
Reed yelled:
“You're fired!”
Jasper waved ledger.
“You need me!”
He was right.
Their courtship became camp entertainment.
Audra hated.
Reed pretended to hate.
Men took bets.
Not on whether they would marry.
On who would propose.
Audra discovered and confiscated betting pool.
Then kept money for kitchen.
Justice.
Their romance was not simple.