Mary Beth woke up to the morning light, and felt Will's arms around her waist. She could feel the blanket and his hands on her bare skin, and she felt happy. She and Will had been together, mostly in a flirting relationship, for a couple of weeks, and last night they took the next big step in their relationship. For the first time she had spent time with a man, in that way, and she felt amazing after. Feeling Will pressing against her, she felt a little sensual so she moved her hand around on her own exposed breasts. She let a little moan out as she rubbed her sensitive nipples and then quickly shut her mouth. She was trying to not make sound so Will wouldn't move or wake up, but her mistake had already been made. Will stirred, and she felt him tighten his arms around her. He kissed her neck and moved his own hand over her chest. She was pleased, but rolled over instead of letting him continue. She kissed him on the lips and pushed his hair back.

"Mornin'," he said, pulling himself out of bed to get dressed.

"Mornin', Will. Why don't you come back here before getting dressed? Maybe we could mess around like yesterday."

"Sorry Mary Beth, I can't. Dutch asked me to help him with stuff this morning."

"Not even a quick one?"

"Sorry, no." He paused for a second. "I mean no offense by this but you are quite needy. Was taking your virginity yesterday not enough for now? And I did what you wanted near the end, even if I was scared cause it risked you getting—you know."

"Will. That may be true but it's just cause I love you. Come back to bed. Dutch can wait."

"I love you, too, Mary Beth but I skipped out on duties yesterday with Dutch to do what we did."

"Please?" There was wanting in her eye.

"Fine, but quickly.

She smiled, and as he got on the bed she pulled down his drawers. When they came off, she straddled him, and to get things done fast she took no time before she put him in her. She pulled him over so she was on top, and she got up and bounced, up and down, up and down. He made a soft moan, but resisted from then on because Javier was in the next room. She rode him for a while, and when she started pulsing and then came, she felt him spend on her stomach after he pulled out only a little later. She rolled off of him and slid back under the bedsheets.

"That was great," she whispered in his ear. Then she kissed him.

After they finished kissing, Will said, "You were perfect." They kissed again.

"Thank you."

"I should probably go see Dutch."

"I'll walk you out, I left my clothes in the hall."

When they got up and started walking out after Will got dressed, Will shot her a quick look and asked, "Could ya leave my sheets in my room?"

"Are you crazy, Will West? I'm not decent right now and I have no idea if Javier's in the living area, or if he will come out while I'm indecent. Do you want Javier seeing me indecent?"

"No ma'am." He looked scared.

"Good. Then I'll take the sheet with."

Will tried to focus ahead on the way out, but he noticed that her nipples poked through his then bedsheet. They walked out, and Will regretted shutting his door so hard because he figured it woke up Javier. He walked Mary Beth to the door, and she looked around the house for her clothes.

With a worried face she said, "They're not here. Neither are the clothes you had on last night."

"Miss Grimshaw must've come and taken them. She knows me and Javier leave stuff around all the time so she comes and takes them and washes them. I should've remembered. I would've told you to bring them in the room but I totally forgot when we were—you know. It's my fault."

"No you're fine. I'll figure it out."

"I'll go grab some from your wagon."

"No, you can't. Karen and Tilly saw you walking away when we were by the fire, and they said some stuff. You getting caught grabbing clothes for me would only make them more suspicious, if not absolutely sure."

"Well what can I do?"

"Nothing. I'll just stay in here till I can figure something. Maybe Grimshaw will drop your clothes off and leave mine in the pile."

"Probably not but there's a little hope."

Out of the corner of his eye, Will saw Javier leave his room. Javier looked at Will, and then saw Mary Beth was wearing nothing but his bedsheet. He saw Javier backing into his room, but Will had an idea about how Mary Beth could get some clothing.

He blurted, it was quick and lacking of any thought, but it worked. "Mornin', Javier, can I do somethin' for ya?"

Javier just stood at him staring, but started to answer with an "Eh…," but Mary Beth had decided to turn around. Will knew that even though Mary Beth was wearing something, it wasn't doing much to hide her upper body's shape. Javier stood there for another second staring, and Will could tell exactly where his eyes were. Then Javier seemed to get back in the moment and said, "I'm just pretty hungover. Drank that bourbon we was savin'."

Will knew why Javier had drunken the bourbon. When he and Mary Beth barged in yesterday he seemed really confused and embarrassed. It probably was messing with him. Will probably would've done the same in his position. But Will decided to play along.

"We've been savin' that for months," he said, fake disappointment on his face, "thought we were savin' it for like a big take or somethin'."

"I know," Javier said in return, "it's just I needed a drink and didn't feel like letting Pearson upset me."

Will knew why Pearson would upset Javier. A few days earlier, Javier accompanied Pearson to a trip into the nearest town for supplies as protection, but they had unfortunately run into problems. Some O'Driscolls were hanging outside town, and they recognized Javier from a fight a few weeks back. A gunfight broke out, and Javier missed one of the bastards. The one he missed had shot Pearson, not in any lethal way it barely skimmed his arm, but he had been milking it. He had given Javier shot for days, and him and Javier argued a few times when Javier when to get supplies.

"I guess it's fine," Will said, acting like he was caving, "I can always swipe another."

"I'm sorry, Will. Really just needed a drink."

Will was about to say something along the lines of no worries, but Mary Beth got a glint in her eyes and started blurting. Will's plan when he first stuck Javier in the living area was coming around. At least he believed it was.

"Javier," she said, "if it's no problem do you mind grabbing me some clothes from the wagon? The stuff I had here got taken, I 'spose Grimshaw took clothes to wash them, and if Will goes Karen and Tilly 'll be suspicious. They saw me and Will by the fire the other day and started sayin' things."

Javier pondered for a second then said, "Yes ma'am I'll get that done."

Will had decided to stay with her until she could get some decent clothing, and was sitting at the table. He and Mary Beth had started talking, a lot of it being about where their relationship was going.

A few minutes later, Javier came back with a few bunched up pieces of clothing in his hand. Mary Beth turned toward him and was the first to speak.

"Javier, do you have my clothes?"

"Yes, I do. Here ya go, I grabbed some stuff I thought would be appropriate."

"Thank you, Javier, so much."

Will saw her go to hug him, she had always been a person who gave hugs. That didn't make him any less jealous. Javier was a good friend of his but he had been fearing he wasn't good enough for Mary Beth.

A second later she put her arms around him and her reaching had loosened the tucked bedsheet, which fell a second later. Will was really jealous now because Javier was staring at her bare chest, but he knew that it was neither of their faults. Just a little mistake. Mary Beth blushed and picked up the bedsheet, wrapping it back around her. She then took her clothing from Javier's hand.

"I am so sorry," she said to Javier, "I should've paid attention." She scurried toward Will's room and kissed him quickly, he guessed to make up for her flashing his friend, even if it was by accident. She shut the door behind her. He saw Javier talk under his breath, and then his friend said, "Will, I didn't mean to…," but was cut off when Will responded.

"It's fine," Will said, "not your fault. You mind getting out of here for a little? I want to talk to Mary Beth, privately."

"Yes, no problem," Javier responded. And then he left the cabin.

A minute or so later Mary Beth came out of the room dressed in one of her usual blouse and skirt combos, but she was still blushing. "Will," she said softly, "I didn't mean to…" Will interrupted her just like he did with Javier.

"Isn't your fault," he said, trying to calm her, " just a silly mistake. She kissed him.

"Thank you, for forgivin' so easily."

"Isn't hard when you did nothin' wrong."

He gave had returned to its normal color, but she then started blushing again. Will figured it had to do with his calm reaction, not the incident.

"I should be off," he told her, " Dutch is expecting me in the next couple hours or so. And Miss Grimshaw is definitely waiting for you showing up late."

"You're right. Always are," she said, rolling her eyes. "I love you. See ya this afternoon."

"Love you too. Goodbye." He walked out the door and started going to Dutch.

Mary Beth had been worried. Not before, but what Will said worried her. She was decently late to her duties for Miss Grimshaw and the woman was not known for her kindness and forgiveness.

"Girl, over here."

She recognized the voice. It was Grimshaw.

"I'm sorry, Miss Grimshaw. I know I'm late I just slept in. I promise I'll get my chores done fast today, ma'am. I won't mess around, I swear."

"Come with me, girl. I need to speak with you, privately."

Mary Beth was worried but followed the old woman anyway. Eventually they had gone a few hundred feet from camp, and Mary Beth was uncertain why Grimshaw took her back here.

Grimshaw turned quickly and made sure Mary Beth stopped.

"You been whoring around, girl?"

Mary Beth was shocked by the question. "No ma'am. I know I'm late but I don't take pay from the men in the camp. I pride myself upon that. I swear I don't sleep around, I told ya I just slept in."

"That's not why I'm asking. I went to get Mr. West and Mr. Escuela's clothes this morning and I found a few items of women's clothing mixed in. Miss Jackson and Miss Jones were in their bedrolls and Miss Roberts was with her son. So I'll ask you again, girl, are you whoring around?"

"No ma'am, I swear. I was a virgin until last…." Mary Beth stopped there. She realized she had messed up.

"Until when? Last night? Is that why I found your clothing mixed in with them boys'?"

"No ma'am, I didn't mean that I just wanted to say…"

"Which one? Which one, girl? Mr. West or Escuela? Or maybe Dutch and you were bunking in their cabin to hide from the rest of us? No point in hiding it, girl. I know you did it with someone. Which one?"

"Miss Grimshaw, I…"

"Which one, girl?"

"I don't want to talk…"

"Which one, girl," she shouted at Mary Beth.

In a moment of frustration and fear, Mary Beth caved. "Will. Will West. I slept with Mr. West. Out of wedlock. Like a fucking whore," she said, "I was fine with it and he haven't been paying me, but I slept with him and even risked pregnancy to make my first time feel good. I'm a fucking whore." Mary Beth collapsed and Miss Grimshaw went to comfort her.

"I'm sorry I went off on you, asked if you was whoring. I just found the clothes and was worried 'bout you. You aren't a whore. Just cause you slept with man before you was married don't make you a whore."

"I let him take my virginity, and I'm not even sure how far this relationship is going. We mostly just been flirting but I let him take it," she cried.

"It's okay, girl. Well it may be okay. I just have one question. Do ya love him?"

"I do. Why are you…."

"Cause if you love him and you think he loves you then there's nothing wrong with y'all showing it. And I'll let you know I'm fine with it, as long as you don't start slacking on your chores. And as long as you don't stop reading and writing those little love books you like. Don't let him take that away from you.

"Thank you, ma'am. Thanks for helping."

"Now get back to work you got chores to do."

"Yes ma'am."

Mary Beth scurried off to go start her chores and Miss Grimshaw watched her and shook her head.

"Good God I hope that boy don't break her heart."