by Sharon Kull

Created on: October 14, 2008

From: Adios Desperada

"Pack up your paints and bloomers, Ashley, we're heading west!" Sammuel bellowed as he slammed open the backdoor to their pale yellow little house and stomped into the kitchen. His coat was wide open, exposing a blue plaid shirt crossed by red suspenders.

About to set a kettle on the stove, she hesitated, swinging her gaze to focus on her husband of six months. The sight of him nearly always set her twenty year old heart to thumping, and not only because he was just about the most handsome man she'd ever seen. However, at this moment there was every temptation to bop the kettle she was holding against his head.

"What did you say?" she whispered hoarsely.

"We're going to start a new life out west."

"Yetch!"

"Does that mean you don't like the idea?"

"Have I ever said that and been favorable?"

"Well, no, not that I can think of." He gave pause, then tried, "You haven't seen the glory of the west."

"Haven't seen the glory of the inside of a privy hole, either. I don't need to have a look to know I don't want to go there. What's wrong with Kentucky, Sammuel Smite?" She had a feeling her day had just been ruined.

"We're going to start over, away from the crush of civilization." They resided in rolling forest land, and Barth, the closest town, had all of three hundred and fifty-seven people living within rock throwing distance of it. "I've sold the house and bought us a covered wagon. Why aren't you packing yet?"

Thunking the kettle onto the Franklin stove eased a teensie, weensie bit of frustration. However, there was a whole lot more where that came from. "You might be leaving, but I'm not!" Ashley countered defiantly, glaring at Sammuel for all she was worth. She didn't care if every other woman she had ever heard of allowed their husband to make all of the decisions. It wasn't in her to be treated like a cowering pet, rather than as a person.

Sammuel grinned knowingly. Two axe handles wide, his shoulders were capable of carrying heavy burdens. Keen of wit, he wasn't above challenging the world to attain his goals. Reserved, yet bold. He wasn't satisfied to be a store clerk in a small town, nor did he want to move to a city, so he had let Matthew, his father-in-law, talk him into pulling up stakes and heading westward. To homestead, for certain. To perhaps raise mules as Matthew's partner, or to have his own carpenter shop. Ashley was not going to change his mind. He'd married her because he loved her deeply, because he was certain they could make each

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