Chapter 10

Honey looked across the campfire at Caleb's sleeping face, a practice that was rapidly becoming a habit. Both slumber and the haze of the fire made his features appear soft, almost child-like in innocence. Her palm increasingly ached to reach out and caress his cheek, as a mother might touch her sleeping child to confirm that such perfection was real, but her feelings were far from motherly. Sighing quietly, Honey closed her eyes in an attempt to sleep, but Caleb's dark hair and lashes, rugged mouth and strong jaw line followed her even then.
Caleb and Honey had been on the trail to San Antonio for several days and with each mile, Honey was forced to accept that she was falling in love with her companion. She'd grown up around plenty of boys back home, but none had made her heart pound in the way that Caleb affected her. He made her feel more womanly in britches and bindings than any of the boys she had known when she had been dressed like a lady. More than that, he treated her as an equal.
Honey wished she could deny her feelings, but growing up with parents like Jimmy and Lou made that impossible. Honey had watched the love between them her entire life; it was an education that made her own feelings all the more apparent.
Again, Honey opened her eyes to watch Caleb. 'Even if I had fallen asleep, I would have dreamed about him,' she thought ruefully.
She was much too practical to try and deny the attraction, yet the admission was bittersweet. Caleb had not shown even the slightest hint of reciprocating. Oh, he was courteous and certainly a gentleman, but hardly full of ardor or even lust. Friendly was the perfect term, with emphasis on 'friend.'
Along with that practicality, Honey was steeped in a healthy dose of pride -- her very nature made it impossible to tell him how she felt. To throw herself at him or blatantly flirt would embarrass the both of them; Honey refused to make Caleb feel awkward with sentiments he obviously did not return.
The next morning, Caleb awoke with the sunrise. He glanced at Honey's sleeping form before he rose to find a bush. With that first order of business taken care of, he returned to camp, building the fire back up from the burning embers.
Honey awoke to find Caleb's long legs squatting beside a fire and a breakfast of fresh rabbit roasting on the spit.
"You been up long?" she asked, her voice heavy with sleep, or lack thereof.
"Longer than you," he grinned.
Honey wrinkled her nose at his teasing. "You coulda woke me up," she retorted.
"And miss listening to your snoring?"
"I do not snore." Honey's low tone was firm.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, his eyes twinkling with merriment and his mouth curving.
"I don't snore loudly," Honey amended, biting back her own grin.
The dark eyebrow rose higher as the curve became a full-blown smirk.
"Get that look off your face," she warned.
"Or what?" Caleb did not look intimidated.
"Give me time to wake up and I'll think of something," Honey said, rising.
Caleb's smirk disappeared as he watched her walk into the trees. She had to have the curviest backside he'd ever seen. For the upteenth time he wondered how anyone could mistake her for a boy. Suddenly uncomfortable, he rose from his squatting position, hoping the evidence of his attraction would disappear before her return. Caleb began to busy himself by packing up their camp, hoping to block out thoughts of Honey. Cleaning away breakfast would surely rid his mind of the cute way she snored, her playful banter, and most especially, rid himself of the image of her hips as she moved away from him, swaying under her pants like prairie grasses dancing in a summer breeze.

Perhaps it was pleasant weather or even the good company, but Honey and Caleb's trek to San Antonio was both quick and uneventful. They entered the growing town well after dusk, and immediately began searching for a hotel.
San Antonio was the epitome of Texas myth, legend and fact. It was a city of cowboys, cattle and horses, rich in Spanish and Mexican history and the home of the Alamo. Honey recalled many an evening of Teaspoon talking about the exploits of the Texas Rangers. Entering the city, familiar only by the older man's recollections and yarns, almost felt like a homecoming for Honey. If nothing else, she would see part of Teaspoon's past and even though he was gone, she'd still share a part of his life.
The Texan Hotel touted itself as "San Antonio's finest," but the duo failed to see why. Built of adobe with the flat roof common to the area, it didn't appear distinct from any other nearby lodging. The only noticeable difference seemed to be the vacancy sign hanging over the entryway of the establishment and the possibility of a soft bed and clean sheets drew the young couple like a magnet to its door.
"Can I help you two gentleman?" the clerk solicited upon their entrance. If he noticed their dusty, trail worn clothes, his demeanor withheld any obvious judgment.
Caleb's eyebrows rose at the clerk's inability to see through Honey's disguise. Even after all these weeks, he was still baffled how people could be so blind to something so obvious. "We'd like two rooms," Caleb replied.
"Errr," the clerk grumbled as he checked his book. He then turned and looked at the key boxes behind him. "I'm afraid we only have one room available," he offered with an apologetic smile. "I'm sure you two boys won't mind sharing a room for one night."
Caleb was momentarily speechless; this was a dilemma he had not foreseen.
"We'll take it," Honey answered in a husky tone.
Caleb muttered something unintelligible under his breath while he signed the register. Honey was bemused when he would not look her in the eye. 'Is he worried I might throw myself at him?' she then worried silently. 'Does he suspect how I feel?'
"Up the stairs, second doorway on your left," the clerk instructed. "Baths are next door for a bit and Mabel's Diner across the street offers a delicious breakfast," he added with a helpful tone.
"Thanks," Caleb and Honey responded in unison. The two trudged up the stairs, both lost in thought. Caleb was torn -- should he view this as an opportunity or a curse? As much as he'd love to sleep in a cozy bed, cuddled beside Honey Hickok for an entire night, he was sure the temptation to remain awake would prove too much.
The trail journey had been agonizing, and as his desire steadily escalated, he had becoming increasingly grateful for the bedroll that hid his nightly yearnings.
She was a young woman, alone. He had taken it upon himself to protect her, but how long would she remain safe from him?
A frown creased his brow, and Honey cringed at the furrow. 'Was staying in the same room with her that repugnant?' Unconsciously, she straightened her spine, completely unaware the movement drew Caleb's eye to her concealed breasts. He audibly sucked in his breath.
She looked at him curiously, but said nothing. They had reached the appointed door and Caleb fumbled with the key. When they finally entered, Honey's temper was completely frayed by self-doubt.
"Is there a problem?" she demanded, moving into the room.
Caleb followed, kicking the door shut behind him. She thought his jaw clenched.
"Well, I'm not looking forward to sleeping on the floor," he replied with a terse tone. 'Calm down,' he instructed himself. 'It's not her fault you can't control yourself.'
"And the problem with us sharing the bed is...?" she demanded.
Caleb's eyebrow rose higher than ever before. "We can't share a bed," he stammered, horrified.
Honey placed a hand on her hip. "We've been sleeping just a few feet apart for quite a while now. What's different?" Although she knew he wasn't interested in her, it hurt to know just how little he desired her. Right now, he didn't even act like he wanted to be friends.
"It ain't proper," he said, clearly exasperated. "On the trail, we had a campfire between us."
"You're just being foolish," Honey declared. "Why, I'm safer with you here, surrounded by folks, than I was out in the middle of nowhere!"
Caleb's face was mutinous. 'Why was she making this so difficult?' he wondered. 'Didn't she realize being in a room, alone, with a bed, was so much more enticing?'
"Fine," Honey said in a huff. "I'll sleep on the floor, and you take the bed."
"Don't be a ninny," he retorted.
"A ninny?" Honey barked. "Why did you come to San Antonio with me Caleb Tucker?" Honey demanded. "So you could call me names?"
"You're acting like a child," Caleb said dismissively, but he only wished it were true -- if she were a child, he wouldn't be so tempted to treat her like a woman.
Instead of a rebuttal, Honey took a deep breath. She simply stood, staring at him for a long moment, her eyes narrowed slightly. She was being childish. It was not his fault that he didn't want to use that bed for loving. No more than it was her fault for loving him. Caleb had always treated her with utmost respect, and that extended to sharing a room. Honey was grateful for his consideration, as well as his protection on the long, lonely trail.