Laura finished straining Fawn's new milk and set the pan aside. It was only five o'clock, but the day had been so full that she felt somewhat tired. There was the hurried preparation for the drive to Reverend Brown's, and then the celebration meal at home. Finally, Ma and the girls had helped her pack up all of her things to take to the new little house that Manly had built for her. After doing the chores and putting everything in its proper place, Laura felt estranged. She wiped her damp palms on her calico workdress and recalled the night before. Ma had taken her aside to explain to her about married life. Her "marital duties", Ma explained, were an unpleasant but necessary obligation that she must fulfill without question. Laura was so lost in thought that the bottom dropped out of her stomach when Manly came up behind her. "Oh, Manly!" she gasped in surprise. He felt her tiny waist in his hands and he gave her a little squeeze. Laura was so nervous that her corsets felt far too tight. In the August heat they nearly suffocated her. "I've got threshing to do tomorrow at the Webbs'," Manly said quietly, "so I think it best we get to bed early tonight." Laura quailed at what lay ahead. Ma mentioned that it would hurt terribly but there was no help for it, that was how babies were made. Laura's tongue was so dry in her mouth that she could hardly speak, but somehow she choked out, "Do we have to?" Instead of answering, he led her by the hand to the back bedroom. There stood the wide bed, all fresh and crisp with its plump goosedown pillows and the Dove-in-the-Window quilt she had made as a girl spread upon it. Her bed had always meant sleep to Laura before, but tonight she knew it would mean something terribly different, and tomorrow she would have to wash the bloodstains from the snow-white sheets. She longed to run to the linen closet and at least put a towel down, but Manly would know why she did that, and it would just be too embarrassing. She would rather do the extra work. "It's strange to be going to bed while it's still light out," she offered, not quite knowing what to do. "I expect we'll be going to bed later on, most days." Manly sat carefully on the bed and removed his boots. They made a thump, thump sound as they hit the floor. "You're not getting undressed in front of me, are you?" Laura was shocked. Manly stopped what he was doing. "Of course I am, Laura. We're married now, we're husband and wife." As his shirt came off she saw the hard-muscled chest and arms. They were tanned and had little golden hairs on them. Laura wanted to touch him, to feel the smoothness of his skin under her fingertips. The boldness of her thoughts embarrassed her. She blushed and turned her back. Laura unbuttoned the front of her dress and stepped out of it. She let the silky thickness of her long brown hair slide past her shoulders, grateful for the screen it provided. Manly watched as she undid her corset and quickly reached for her bleached muslin nightgown. She slipped it over her head and only then did she remove her shoes, drawers and petticoats. Manly didn't bother putting on his nightshirt. He loved Laura, ever since he had seen her as a girl of thirteen. She and Carrie were lost among the tall grasses of Big Slough and just happened upon him and Royal, mowing hay. He knew right then when he saw her blue-eyed merriness that he wanted her for his wife. That was five years ago, thought Manly, and she sure doesn't look merry now. Laura could feel his gaze at her back. She could hardly bear the strain of it all. She dreaded getting into that bed but she knew she must. Quick as a flash she was there beside him. And then Laura saw that Manly was completely bare as she lifted the quilt to get in. A lump came to her throat when she saw how big he was. "I don't want to do this!" she blurted. Concerned, Manly asked,"But why, Laura? Don't you love me?" "Of course I do, but I don't want you to hurt me and Ma says there's no other way!" She was almost in tears as she sat limply down on the bed. "Laura, I promise that I will do my best not to hurt you." Manly was very earnest."And if I am doing something you don't like, I will stop if you ask me." He took her small hands in his, and she relaxed a little. At Manly's request she took off her nightgown. They snuggled down together, and to Laura it was strange to feel his bare skin against her own. Deep inside she felt a wobbly little tingle. As for Manly, the feel of her against him inflamed his desire more than he ever knew possible. He touched her glossy hair and buried his face in the smoothness of it. He gave tender little kisses to her white neck. Laura was so small, so delicate and perfect, that he was afraid he'd break her. Manly's large, strong hands gently stroked her, as he would a cat. A sound, like a purr, came from deep inside her throat. He stopped, surprised. "I don't know where that came from," she made apology. "I don't mind, Laura--whatever you do is fine with me." Strangely the sound had increased his need for her. The sounds increased as Manly continued to knead and stroke her beautiful body. Laura moaned and gasped, she writhed under his touch. She felt a warm dampness between her legs as his lips met her nipple. She dared a kiss to his salty neck, and then opened her mouth to tease him with her tongue. "Oh, God!" Laura's tender advances made Manly ache with hunger. He took her hand and placed it for her on his hard tool. At first she pulled back and then, intrigued, she tightened her grasp. The smoothness of his sex surprised and delighted Laura. The way Ma had described it she expected it to be rough and sharp. A clear drop of liquid rose to the top and perched on the tip. Without thinking, she tasted it. It was salty. Manly groaned a deep groan and then gasped as she sucked on the head. My God! Where had she learned to do that? Laura was really only satisfying her own forbidden yearnings. They had begun just three years before when Manly first gave her a ride to school in his new buggy. She didn't know that he'd had his eye on her for some time, but his friendly manner and rugged good looks had opened a place in her heart that she had not known was there. The wetness between Laura's legs continued to grow as Manly firmly stroked and massaged all of her backside. He snaked his hand between her legs and gently rubbed her there. The force of her reaction both startled and aroused him even more. Manly could smell her clean perspiration and something more that drove him wild. He licked and pawed her breasts, thighs, navel. Then he smelled her fragrance most strongly. It came from between her legs. Irresistably Manly was drawn closer. Suddenly he was licking the soft folds of her sex and tasting of her erotic flavor. The incredible tightness in his groin was almost more than he could stand. Laura lost herself in the smooth, buttery feeling that came from down there and spread all throughout her body. Strangely, the bottoms of her feet felt hot and her face was flushed. Her erect nipples were like roses on the white of her breasts. Manly reached up to caress one and rapidly rubbed back and forth with his tongue. "Oh, Manly! What are you doing to me?" Laura wanted to laugh and cry and sob with pleasure all at once. Manly knew he could hold himself back no longer. "Laura, I'm coming inside of you now, okay?" His breath was rapid and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Laura spread her legs wider, feeling a squirmy ache within her that she longed to be satisfied. Manly guided his swollen head into her untried sex. With one hand he held himself up, fearful of putting too much weight on her, and with the other he stroked and massaged the button at the top of her silky petals. He went in carefully, inch by inch, knowing he must do it right, for Laura's first time. She gasped and writhed beneath him. Droplets of sweat delicately beaded her forehead. He felt how close and hot she was, and he almost lost control of himself. Manly saw some blood but Laura made no mention of pain. She felt a small amount of discomfort but it almost went unnoticed as she was carried away by wave after wave of ecstatic pleasure. She clenched every muscle and cried out when the orgasm hit her. Manly thrust firmly and deliberately, barely holding on, but her obvious climax so inflamed him that he came just as her's was winding down. The fiery joy that washed over him was beyond anything he had expected. His cries joined Laura's own and then he collapsed on her, drained. They lay there in a tangle of arms, legs, and twisted sheets. Only their heavy breathing and the nightbird's song were heard. They had filled each other with a kind of love that was so rare, so new, that to speak would seem to burst its delicate shell. The sun set just beyond the little house on the hill. Laura and Manly sank into sleep right along with it, knowing that tomorrow was a new day for love.