It was over and fortunately was resolved without bloodshed. Penny knew that if she ever encountered any of the thugs who had murdered her man, she would kill them without a second thought and hang for the consequences if she had to.<em>An eye for an eye and a life for a life.</em>She watched, slightly amused, the awkward attempt at affection between the two sesesher women. As Jess went off to fetch more water, she smiled at Beth. "You're a lucky woman to have such a fine man".<br/><br/>There was just the tiniest hint of sarcasm in her voice, but in truth she was impressed by the way Jess had acted. The Southern lady had managed to establish that the three were not to be messed with, and had managed to do so without killing anyone, barely. Gaining a reputation as a hot-head may be no bad thing, she felt. at least people would think before challenging them if her - No,<em>his</em>reputation was such that the challenge could end in gun play.<br/><br/>Over supper she tried to explain the sleeping arrangements she proposed, with herself on one side, Jess on the other, and Bethie in the middle, but it seemed that the other two were somewhat distracted. The stew was surprisingly good and Penny complemented Bethie on it, regretting her earlier comments in her private journal. She would see about correcting that later.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Amienne;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 20pt;">It seems I have done both my companions an injustice. Bethie's cooking is easily the equal of my own. Jess acted with bravery today. Whether from true nobility of spirit or from a desire not to be exposed, I know not, but her defence of Beth's honour was worthy of praise none the less. I am thinking that perhaps the company I am keeping is not so evil as I first thought.</span></span><br/><br/>The back flap of the wagon lifted and Penny closed her journal, setting the pen down and capping the bottle of ink. She stowed all away as Beth entered the wagon. Penny was already in her night shirt and had the lantern lit to help as she wrote in the gathering dusk, She turned the light low so as not to cas a silhouette of her "sister in law" to any watching outside as the younger woman undressed.<br/><br/>"I will sleep here, Jess will sleep there and you sleep between us. This way if any should notice, they would not think it unseemly." She shrugged. How likely it was that someone would enter the wagon unbidden she did not know. She had her pistol nearby loaded and ready, close to hand, just in case.<br/><br/>She settled down to sleep, with Bethie's back pressed close against her own to leave room for Jess. It had been a long tiring day, and as the fire outside died down to embers and the last of the setting sun vanished from the sky, Penny fell into a deep and untroubled sleep, comforted by the warmth of another human being sleeping close in a way that had not been for several days.<br/><br/>When it was that the contact vanished, she could not say. She half awoke, feeling the absence as she had that first night she slept alone. But no, there was someone in the bed with her. Still mostly asleep, she rolled over, murmured "Joseph", and fell back to sleep again, an arm draped loosely across the body.<br/><br/>At first the hand on her hip didn't wake her, the soft hand caressing her flesh invaded her dreams. the kiss on the nape of her neck brought her partly concious. The smell of her husband was in the wagon with her, and for a moment, a magical moment, loosing him had all just been one horrible nightmare.<br/><br/>"Joseph", she mumbled, turning towards the man behind her, gathering him into her arms, pressing her lips to his. Her hands began exploring his body, her left hand on his firm, manly chest, her right heading south in search of his erection...<br/><br/>"Oh!" She gasped in shock, as wakefulness hit her. "Jessie, what are you doing!" She hissed, struggling out of his -<em>HER</em>embrace, catching Beth in the ribs with an elbow by accident as she did. "I'm Penelope, not Beth, and besides that, you Sesesher women have some<em>real</em>strange ways of behaving, if you was planning what I think you was planning!"