LEATHER AND LACE
Chapter 14-Travels
Various locations, Virginia, Mid September to Late October 1817
Sam woke up alone. They had slept in his bed, fully clothed, no bolster. She allowed him to embrace her as he slept; their bodies pressed close together. She always could slip out of bed undetected and back into the main house. For his trip, he packed his two suits, a couple pair of trousers, a couple shirts, socks, and his journal. He hitched Clyde and another horse to his wagon and tossed in his bag and Quinn's pillow and a couple quilts, then drove to the workshop to begin loading the furniture he and Peyton had been working on. He did all this in the dark.
Quinn's mother woke her up a half-hour before sunup to help put the lunch pails together for the menfolk. Quinn hurriedly dressed in her work clothes and tied her hair back with a handkerchief.
"I knew you'd probably want to see Mr. Evans off," her mother said to her in the kitchen.
"Thank you, mother, I do want to see him off, and of course papa and Peyton too," she laughed.
"I think this short break will be beneficial to you both…you can visit Kate and keep her company and when Samuel returns I'd think it'd be safe to start planning your wedding ceremony," her mother told her.
Quinn squealed and clapped. Her father entered the kitchen.
"Papa! Papa! Please, if you could check Richmond for lavender satin…a light purple…I need approximately 12 yards…is that possible papa?" Quinn asked him, gripping his arm tightly as he moved around the kitchen.
"I'll be sure to check, young lass, for a dress, you say?"
"Yes papa…my wedding gown!" Quinn squealed.
He smiled. "We'll check for you…12 yards lavender satin, correct? What if I can't find satin? Do you prefer lavender of any material?" he asked.
"Certainly papa…and if there is no lavender I'll wear my dark green velvet gown…" she said, pulling on her shawl and picking up the lunch pails. "Have a safe trip, papa, I'll miss you all!"
She ran out the door to the workshop.
"She's topsy-turvy over that boy, isn't she?" he asked Miranda.
"Reminds me of a young lass nearly 20 years ago," Miranda replied, smiling.
Quinn found Sam in his workshop. She sat his lunch pail on the seat of his wagon, set the other two on the floorboard, and walked up to him. His back was to her, but he felt her presence close to him. She laid her hand on his forearm.
"G'morning Quinn," he said quietly, not looking at her.
"Good morning Samuel…" she said. He wouldn't look at her, busying himself with a picture frame. "I brought your lunch…"
"Thank you…this frame needed some work before I load it on the wagon…" he mumbled. He knew if he turned and looked at her, he'd never be able to leave that morning.
Quietly, she said, "Thank you for letting me stay last night…it'll make the next month bearable."
He turned and looked at her finally, tears in his eyes.
"I'll miss you so…" he said, pulling her into a tight embrace. He held her face in his hands and pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'll miss you so much, Quinn Amelia…" He then kissed her on her lips gently.
She pulled away from him. "I wasn't going to do this today," she said, tears falling down her cheeks. "I wasn't, Sam. I'll miss you too."
He kissed her again and let her go. She grabbed the other two lunch pails and ran off to deposit them in the other wagons.
xxxxx
When the men stopped for lunch, Sam opened up his pail and on top of the wrapped up sandwich and apple he found a bundle of tiny notes, tied together with red ribbon. On the top of the stack was a note:
Read one each day to think of me ~Q
He decided before bed each night was when he would open a note.
When they stopped again to make camp, they were nearly halfway to Roanoke, making good time. The travel was boring. There was no one to talk to so one was left alone with their thoughts.
The three of them were sitting around the dwindling campfire that first evening when Peyton broke the silence.
"I wish I would've brought Martha…"
Sam looked at him. He wished he could've brought Quinn.
"I might have to find a wench to bed in Ro'noke…I'm used to relations every night," he boasted.
Sam thought it was inappropriate for Peyton to speak of his wife that way in the company of other men but who was he to say anything? Thomas Fabray guffawed at Peyton's every night remark.
"You are still newly wed, son, the newness wears off eventually…"
"It's going to be a long month…" Peyton mumbled.
"I miss talking to Quinn," Sam said quietly. "She's smart and we always have interesting conversations."
"I'm happy that you two are compatible in that way, son," Thomas said. "I hope you are compatible in other ways, as well. I want many grandchildren. Peyton is lagging behind his baby sister already."
Peyton snorted. "We try every night, papa!"
Sam just hoped the conversation didn't turn to him again. "I think I'll turn in…" He went to his wagon and retrieved Quinn's pillow and her notes. He lay down on his sleep pallet and pulled the blanket up over himself, laying his head on her pillow, gazing up at the stars.
I hope she's looking at them too…he thought, reaching for the bundle of notes.
He took the first one off the stack and opened the folded-over paper. The first thing he noticed was her handwriting, curvy and feminine. He could picture her sitting at a desk, carefully writing these words to him.
I walked to the gate tonight to look at the stars, thinking of you ~Q
He re-folded it and put it on the bottom of the stack, retying the ribbon. He looked up at the starry sky and began counting.
xxxxx
The first night Sam was gone she walked to the gate after supper, wrapped in her shawl. She stood at the gate like she and Sam had done many times and looked up at the night sky. Please, please let him be thinking of me, she thought. She walked back to the house to talk with her mother and Martha, who was staying at the Fabrays while Peyton was on the trip.
In the sitting room, Quinn picked up a tiny quilt she was working on for Kate.
"I wonder how Kate is doing in her new home," Quinn said out loud.
"She's probably a little homesick; I was," Martha said.
"The only good thing about this trip the men are on is you staying here!" Quinn said to Martha.
Martha sighed a little. "I was looking forward to them going on the trip…I needed a break."
"A break? From what?" Quinn asked, completely clueless.
"Your brother is very anxious to start his family, I'll say," Martha said, blushing a bit.
"Oh my…" Quinn said, suddenly regretting asking Martha about it.
"Maybe you girls could go visit Kate tomorrow, take her a loaf of bread," Miranda suggested.
"Do you think her new husband will mind?" Quinn asked.
"I'm sure during the day while he works will be fine," her mother said.
"Okay, we shall," Quinn said, happily. That will occupy most of my day tomorrow to keep my mind off Sam being gone, she thought.
She went to bed early that night to hopefully fall asleep and get through the night easily. She dreamed of him; he dreamed of her. It was a long night.
xxxxx
The next day, Quinn and Martha set out for Kate's new cabin shortly after breakfast.
"I feel so refreshed, sister," Martha said, cheerfully. "That's the first full night of sleep I've had in weeks!"
"I'm glad you slept so well. I was visited in my dreams by Samuel; I wish he were here," Quinn mumbled.
"I know you miss him," Martha reached over and gripped Quinn's arm. "I imagine I'll begin missing Peyton soon."
They both giggled over that admission.
Quinn steered the buggy down the drive next to the Martins' main house to Kate's cabin. Smoke was coming from the chimney and James' buckboard was gone. The girls hopped from their buggy and went quickly to the door, rapping quietly.
Kate opened the door quickly, looking shocked.
"Quinn! Martha! Oh!" she said, hugging them both. "How happy I am to see you both! Come in!"
The ladies entered the cabin and sat at the table. It appeared as if Kate had cleaned every inch of the home at least twice. At present, she was dressed in work clothes and sweaty.
"Your home is spotless, Kate!" Quinn said, jumping up to hug her again. "I've missed you, sister."
"And I've missed you and the family. So far, I haven't been too lonely, only during the day while James is gone."
"How are you getting along?" Martha asked. "It took Peyton and myself awhile to get into a routine that satisfied us both."
"I've been battling illness every morning, I think due to my condition," Kate said. "I have tea if you'd like."
She poured three cups of tea and sat down with Quinn and Martha.
"I miss home," Kate said. "When James gets home, he wants to eat, maybe sit outside a bit, and go to bed. It's so quiet here."
"Do you two speak to one another?" Martha asked.
"I ask him about his day and that's about all. I don't think he wants to know anything about this pregnancy; he never asks. He seems distant. We're only a couple days in, though, so maybe things will change."
They talked about the other Fabray family members and folks in the community. Kate thanked Quinn for the tablecloth; Quinn had noticed it immediately when she entered the cabin.
"It was such a pleasant surprise to find that amongst my belongings from home and I knew instinctively that it was your handiwork," Kate told her.
After a couple hours, Quinn and Martha decided they had better return home so Kate could get back to her chores.
"Do you need any help, sister? You looked exhausted when we got here. We can help you with whatever you need," Quinn implored.
"No, no, I wouldn't dream of asking such a thing! I was mostly done with my morning chores when you arrived," Kate said, genuinely smiling for the first time since her guests had arrived.
"If you're sure..." Martha said.
"When will you return? Soon, I hope!"
"When are you doing your wash? We'll come that day and help you," Quinn suggested.
"Two days from now."
"We'll be here then," Martha replied.
Kate waved at them until they were gone from her view.
"She seems lonely already," Martha said on the ride back to the Fabrays.
"Yes, she does. I hope it gets better for her and James. She said he loves her. Maybe he is still in a state of shock that they're married?" Quinn pondered. "Was Peyton that way?"
"Not really. He was just interested in relations...and still is!" Martha said, laughing.
"I guess Kate and James are past that point," Quinn mumbled.
At home, Quinn tried to busy herself with anything to keep her mind from drifting to thinking of Sam. There was plenty of work to be done, but she found even while helping her mother with housework and chores he was invading her thoughts. There was endless food preparation to be done, endless mending and sewing, candle-making, spinning woven material, cooking, cleaning. Quinn was exhausted at the end of the day, choosing to rock on the front porch to finally allow herself to think of Sam.
xxxxx
In Roanoke, Thomas collected his monies from the sales of the furniture and unloaded more for them. Sam had time to write a quick note to Quinn to be sent from Roanoke.
Dearest Quinn,
In Ro'noke now, doing well. Goods are seling well. The travel is loenly, isolated. I miss you increbidly. I foudn your notes; I reed one at nihgt before sleep. Your words seem to stave off the lon'l'ness for the night. We leave fore B'ford in the morning.
All my love,
Samuel
They slept outside that evening since the weather had not turned unbearably cold yet. Sam was fine with that; he could watch the stars until he fell asleep. A lot of his time traveling was spent thinking of her, what she was doing, whether she thought of him, what it would be like to be married to her eventually. When they stopped to eat, Thomas and Peyton talked enough for all three of them, so he stayed quiet, listening to them go on and on, occasionally answering or adding his own perspective to whatever the conversation was about.
The night after they left Roanoke, her note to him had read: Even though I write this in the future, you can be assured I have thought of you often and cried many tears during your absence. I miss you dearly even now, while you sleep in your cabin.
He thought of her writing that, looking at his cabin from her window of a room he had never seen, and sadness washed over him, missing her voice, her touch, just seeing her. Falling asleep that night, tears ran down his face.
xxxxx
Quinn and Martha arrived early to Kate's the morning they helped her with her laundry. Kate had a basic idea but had not really worked through the whole process while living at home. Quinn and Martha actually arrived while it was still dark and Kate's new husband was still there.
"We need to start this early...it could take all day, Kate," Quinn told her. "Have you gathered any clothes and linens that need to be washed?"
Kate had thankfully done that so they moved to the bucking bin to pre-soak everything. James found them outside and quickly pecked Kate on the cheek before leaving for work.
"James clothes are quite filthy," Kate said once he had left. He worked as a day laborer at other farms in the area and most times did get stuck doing the dirtiest work on the farm.
"You're really supposed to do this the day before, but I don't think your clothing is that dirty," Martha said.
"We'll bring water from the creek while this is all bucking, Kate," Quinn said. "What's the easiest way?"
Kate pointed out the path, and Quinn and Martha headed off with buckets.
By the time the water was heated, they figured the clothing had soaked long enough so they began the washing process, showing Kate how to heat the lye and reheat the lye over and over until boiling water was washed over the clothes. It was a long drawn-out process, collecting the water as it drained from the tub and reheating it to use again. They used a "dolly" to punch the clothing, or agitate it, in the boiling water. Then, there was the rinsing of the clothing with clear water. Quinn and Martha returned home after dark that day, exhausted.
"For only having a few items to wash, that sure took the day, didn't it?" Martha asked Quinn.
"It did. My arms are weak now," Quinn replied. That night, Quinn collapsed into bed, with just enough energy to turn her thoughts to Sam before sleep took over.
xxxxx
Five days after the men had left, Quinn had to travel to Rocky Mount with her mother and Martha for supplies. There was a letter waiting on her from Sam from Roanoke. There were also letters waiting on Miranda and Martha from their respective husbands, all short missives that the women read quickly before entering the small general store there. She was so happy she wrote the little notes and snuck them into his lunch pail before they left. It seemed he was enjoying them. She was so happy to receive his letter she could've read it and re-reading it all day; she memorized it and thought of it often that day. She and Martha poked around the store a bit while Miranda stood at the counter reading from her list. Quinn spotted a small leather-bound book; she picked it up. It was empty, just blank pages. Then, she realized it must be a journal, something like Sam kept.
"Mama! Did papa send any money?" Quinn asked her quietly.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to purchase something for Sam, maybe to give to him when we wed. I'll work for the money, mama," Quinn told her.
"What caught your eye, Quinny?"
"This..." She handed her mother the journal.
"How much is this, Mr. Smith?" Miranda asked the shopkeeper.
"For you, miss, just two dollars!"
Quinn's heart sank. Her mother turned it over and opened it up, realizing what it was.
"Add it to the rest then," she said, flatly. To Quinn, she said, "We'll work out your chores at home."
xxxxx
He noticed it out of the corner of his eye...movement. He slowed the wagon and reached for his musket slowly. He aimed and fired. The bird fell limp, a plume of feathers flying up off the bird. Thomas' wagon and Peyton's wagon stopped at the sound of the gunfire. Sam was already to the large bird and walking to Thomas' wagon with it, holding it by its legs.
"A wild turkey! Great job Sam!" Peyton yelled. They had been eating mostly squirrel and rabbit only if they could catch one of those and sometimes fish.
"I'm puttin' him in your wagon, Peyt, for you to dress," Sam said, walking to the back of Peyton's wagon and depositing the bird.
That night, they fried the turkey meat over an open fire and Sam thought he might have the energy to at least make it to Bedford.
xxxxx
The men had been gone for a week. Quinn was responsible for the laundry until they returned to pay her mother back the two dollars for the new journal, plus her regular chores the rest of the week. While going through the mundane process with much more laundry than Kate had, Quinn's thoughts would drift to Sam...had he been through Bedford yet, did he miss her like she missed him, did her pillow help him sleep? It was easier to get through her days now, at a week since he'd been gone, but she still slipped out to his cabin a couple nights and slept in his bed. It felt like him there, masculine, clean, simple. His smell was on his pillow and bedsheets and quilt. She could always feel his presence there, even with him so far away.
They had been through Bedford, dropping off items, picking up their money, and were on the road to Lynchburg. Sam sent Quinn a quick note from Bedford.
Dearest Quinn Amelia,
We're passing threw Bedford now. I shot a wild turkey a few nights ago, tasty bird. Your pa's bussines is going good. The days are passing quikly now. Soon, we'll be to L'burg, then to R'mond, and then I'll be home to you. Last night I dreamed you were with me, kissing me. I miss you, Quinn.
Love, Samuel
xxxxx
He was right; the days were passing by quickly, for both of them. While she wasn't working at home, she was at Kate's cabin helping her.
Sam's travel was moving more swiftly since their loads were lightened. They moved things around so each wagon had an even load and were making good time to Lynchburg. Once in Lynchburg, though, Thomas passed along some disheartening news.
"I'd like to make one more trip before the end of the year, before the bad weather sets in," he told the two younger men that night around their campfire.
"This entire route again, pa?" Peyton asked.
"Just to Richmond...that's where we make our money, boys!" Thomas replied. Sam remained quiet.
"Before Christmas?" Peyton asked.
"We'll be back before Christmas so that you two may spend it with your precious lassies!"
Sam was relieved to hear that, at least.
That night, he untied the ribbon and opened the next tiny note in the stack. This one read: But I carry this feeling, when you walked into my house, that you won't be walking out the door...
He knew exactly what she meant, he thought tracing a finger over her writing.
xxxxx
Two weeks after Sam had been gone, Quinn received her next letter, this one posted from Lynchburg.
Dearest Quinn A,
We're now in L'burg. The travel is faster because loads are lighter. Still miss you teribly tho. Your pa told us that he wants to make one more trip 'fore the end of the year, to R'mond only. We'll be back 'fore chrissmas. I promise you we'll wed soon after that trip. And you were right, when I walked into your house, I knew I'd never want to leave...
All my love, Samuel B
She cried happy tears when she read those words from him.
Martha was helping her with laundry that day because she was bored too.
"I must admit I miss Peyton. Maybe not as much as you miss Sam," Martha said, laughing.
"You must miss Peyton a lot, then," Quinn laughed. "I miss Sam something fierce."
"Are you excited about your upcoming wedding?"
"I wish it could be taken care of when they return…very excited! Mama said we can start planning it when Sam comes home. It won't be until after Christmas though. Did Peyton tell you the news?" Quinn asked.
"What news?"
"Pa wants them to do another trip before the end of the year," Quinn said sadly. "Sam said they'd be home before Christmas, though, and that we'd wed as soon as we could then."
"Your wedding will be lovely…a winter wedding!" Martha said.
"I can't wait to be his wife…" Quinn said, daydreaming of being Mrs. Samuel Byrum Evans.
xxxxx
On October 3rd, after nearly three weeks of travel, the men arrived in Richmond. They went to the same hotel they stayed at previously, checked in, and then went to the general store to take care of business there. They were only spending one night in Richmond so they could begin their trek back home as soon as possible.
At the general store, they found all the pieces had been sold, so they unloaded what they had left in their wagons. Then, they had some shopping to do.
Sam noticed Thomas looking at the fabric goods.
"Young man, do you have any lavender satin perchance?" Thomas asked the young salesman.
The salesman went to a section of all satins on bolts. The light in there was dim so he went off to retrieve a lamp so they could see the colors better.
"Did Miss Quinn request anything, sir?" Sam asked Thomas. "If so, I'd like to buy it for her."
"Well, she did ask me to bring her 12 yards of lavender satin; she wants to make a dress from it," Thomas told him.
"Lavender like the flower?"
"A light purple, yes," Thomas replied. "That's a lot of fabric, son. I think she was going to make her…" He cleared his throat suddenly, deciding not to tell Sam about her making her wedding gown. "…a dress from it."
Sam looked at Thomas strangely. "I'd still like to purchase it for her, sir, if I may."
The salesman returned with a lantern, casting better light over the bolts of fabric. He pulled out a pale purple satin.
"How much?"
"Twelve yards, please," Sam answered.
The men made a few more purchases and returned to the hotel.
"This has been a highly successful trip, gentleman!" Thomas said, leading them to the tavern next to the hotel. "I'd like to buy you both a drink."
Sam and Peyton looked at one another. Peyton was totally fine with that; Sam was not much of a drinker. Thomas bought them a round of rum shots. Sam choked his back; Peyton drank his like a professional. Thomas ordered another round but Sam begged out of it, saying he was exhausted and was going to go upstairs to their room and rest. He was sure Peyton would take care of the shot he passed on.
In their room, Sam sat down at the table and pulled out his journal. He noted that it was well worn and nearly full. So many memories, he thought.
Oct 3, 1817 Trav'ld to R'mond Va. Fabray Fine Goods doing very well here. Bought lavinder satin for Quinn; her pa said she wants to make a dress. I'm cureous…a wedding dress? We leave for home t'morow….thank the Lord.
He opened the next note from her. There were only a few more to open before he'd start over.
I hope to see you soon, Samuel. Missing you has become a way of life for me now…I love you dearly.
He thought of her as he wrote his letter to her.
Dearest Quinn,
Am in R'mond now. Woodwork doing good here. We leave t'morow for home. I can pictur you writing the notes to me. Those notes have made this trip barable for me. I am bringing you back a sirprise. I love you so much.
Love, Samuel
He sealed it and took it to the front desk to be delivered.
xxxxx
Quinn decided to clean Sam's cabin before he returned. There was no laundry to be done; her chores at the main house were light that day, and she had been to visit Kate so often she needed a break from her. She collected the cleaning supplies she'd need and wandered out to his cabin.
It was a beautiful autumn day, sunny, a little warm, and the world around her on fire with color. She thought after she cleaned she'd take her easel to the front porch to paint.
In his cabin, there really wasn't much to do; he kept it as neat as a pin himself but with no one staying there dust had collected. She dusted every available surface and then swept the dust and dirt out toward the door of the cabin. She moved a box from a corner to sweep behind it and glanced inside it. The picture she had seen previously on his nightstand was on top. She gently reached inside and brought it closer to herself.
It was her, his late wife, she knew it instinctively. The picture was just a drawing, possibly pencil or chalk, and was beginning to fade already. She wasn't smiling really, as was custom, just sitting primly to be drawn, maybe a hint of a smile on her lips. Quinn wondered if Sam had been watching her, trying to get her to smile. She had a tiny waist and tiny hands, her hair done up in a tight bun. Her dress was a dark color, black or brown, with a simple lace collar. She did look young. Quinn thought of how unjust it was that people were taken for sometimes no apparent reason; although it was a fact of life that it happened and unfortunately happened often, it still stung. Quinn had not even known this girl yet she had touched Sam's life deeply and that meant something to Quinn. She thought of how noble Sam had been in this girl's final hours, her final minutes, what a strong man that made him. She whispered a quick prayer over the small picture. Quinn realized this was most likely the only thing he owned related to that time of his life. She put the picture carefully back into the box where she had found it and continued cleaning.
Later that afternoon, she rode with her mother and Martha to Rocky Mount. She was anxious to hear from Sam or even her father or brother. It had been 10 days since his last one had reached her. At the general store, also the post office, there were three letters waiting for Quinn, her mother, and Martha. Quinn squealed; he was on his way home finally.
xxxxx
The empty wagons moved swiftly down the road from Richmond to Lynchburg. It was mid October and as soon as they returned to the Fabray farm, harvesting would be in full swing. Sam was expected to help at the Feazel farm during harvest. After harvest, he'd be working diligently in his workshop with Peyton to get the new orders filled in time for their next trip, leaving right after Thanksgiving. He had a feeling that from that point until he married Quinn he wouldn't be seeing very much of her.
Since the wagons were empty and the nights were chillier, the men were sleeping there instead of camping outside. They had caught catfish earlier that evening and fried it over an open fire after cleaning it. Peyton complained of a stomachache afterward and retired early. Sam sat up with Thomas, looking at the stars.
"How long have you and Missus Fabray been married?" Sam asked him.
Thomas thought for a moment. "It'll be 20 years March of next year."
"That's a long time, sir. I hope to be married to Quinn at least that long," Sam said quietly.
"Every man needs a good woman in his life, a helpmate. I found that in Miranda. I feel Quinn will make you a good wife," Thomas told him.
"I feel that way, as well, sir," Sam replied.
"I realize you and Peyton are anxious to get home to the ladies; I'd say we're two days outside Lynchburg, so possibly a week from home," Thomas said. "I must agree with Peyton; the catfish had an odd taste about him. I think I'll take some bicarb of sodium and go lay down. G'night son."
Thomas hefted himself up and walked slowly to his wagon. Sam felt fine, actually. The fish was not having the same effect on him as it was the other two men. Bored, he went to his wagon to get some rest.
In his wagon, he fixed his sleep pallet and lay down, resting his head on Quinn's pillow. He thought of her, thought of seeing her in a week. His eyes fluttered shut.
He walked to his cabin; the door was opened slightly. He pushed it open slowly, walking in. In his bed, Quinn was there, laying there in her shift. He was suddenly at the bedside; his hand on her thigh moving her shift upward. She sat up a little, staring at him. His hand was in her blonde hair. He couldn't stop staring into her eyes. He was in bed with her, kissing her suddenly, feeling her body underneath him. He felt her pull her shift up more; she unfastened his trousers, exposing his manhood. They lay back down and he felt he was in her, moving back and forth slowly, kissing her neck. He felt her knees raise up next to his hips and felt her moving with him.
He startled awake suddenly, his heart racing, gasping, the front of his pants soaked. He sat up partway, looking down at himself, still rigid. He looked at the lantern, still lit. He must've fallen asleep. Nothing like that had ever happened to him. He attributed it to the catfish, not the fact that he hadn't felt her touch in three weeks.
Two days later while in Lynchburg, he sent Quinn a short note:
Dearest Quinn,
In L'burg…will be home soon! I've missed you. I dreamed of you a few nights ago, a beautiful dream.
Love, Sam
xxxxx
Quinn received Sam's letter from Lynchburg two days later. He is probably in Bedford by now or almost there, she thought excitedly. She was also happy to read he had dreamed of her; she had been dreaming of him as well. Most times she'd wake up from the dreams drenched in sweat, heart pounding, her hand clutching her shift at her chest. She could only recall bits of the dreams, sometimes in his embrace, sometimes him over her, sometimes his hand under her dress, sometimes his mouth on her. Sometimes she'd wake up feeling his hot breath on her neck, his tongue against hers, his stiff length pressing against her center. After these dreams, it'd take her a long time to finally fall back asleep, thoughts of him racing through her mind. She knew he would be home in just a few days…if she could only hold out that much longer.