“Now, Doc—“ “Yes, Shiloh?” She interrupted with exaggerated sweetness, and fluttered her eyelashes. Shiloh grinned. “I dunno, I musta gone crazy there for a minute. I was actually going to try to talk you out of something. But don’t worry, I’m okay now.”

“She is wonderful,” Cheney said a little breathlessly. “But I can see that long rides on her would be tiring. She doesn’t just walk along, does she?” “No,” Shiloh said in a low tone, his eyes alight. “She dances.” He was staring directly at Cheney, and she lowered her eyes and blushed.”

“The bayou certainly has a wild beauty of its own, although it is undoubtedly hostile to man,” Richard Duvall mused. “But then, many things that are quite beautiful are hostile to man.” “Like women?” Shiloh suggested.”

“So many men treat their wives badly, or indifferently, or with barely contained impatience. Josh doesn't mind-- no that's not right--he insists on openly showing his love and respect for me.”

“Sweetie. Look at me.”She did, but it was difficult now, when she could never remember a time she hadn’t wanted to look at his beloved face. She blinked, trying to forcethe fresh torrent of tears back where they belonged. It just wasn’t possible. No, there was no emptiness now. She was bursting at the seams, overflowing.“Don’t cry,” he said gently, swiping her cheeks with his thumbs. “You cry and I want to break something. Or someone. What is it?”

“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “I want to feel you inside me.”“I couldn’t stop now, even if I wanted.” He kissed her, marking her with all the passion and yearning she had felt for so long. “I need this. Damn it, I need you.”And then he plunged into her with one deep stroke.”

“-Do you love this girl ?-I'm fucking crazy about her.-Fucking crazy I've gathered. But I asked if you love her. I'm talking true, enduring, unconditional, hold-her-hair-while-she's-pucking-from-the-morning-sickness love.”