B00BWX9H30 EBOK (8 page)

“Mr. Adams,” said Nathan as he extended his hand.

Daniel shook Nathan’s proffered hand. Then he touched his hat, “Ma’am,” he said to Ella.

She blushed and stepped closer to her husband. “Mr. Adams.”

“What is it that you do, Mr. Ravenclaw?”

Nathan put his arm around Ella’s waist and drew her closer before he answered. “I’m a rancher.”

“Ah. Ranching. I admit I know absolutely nothing about that particular endeavor.”

“I raise cattle for the most part.”

“Sounds like hard work.”

“It is. But worth the effort.”

Daniel didn’t like the way Nathan eyed him. Suspicion clear in his striking blue eyes.

“Excuse me Mr. Adams, but have we met before?” asked Ella her eyes narrowed as though she was searching her mind for their connection.

“I don’t believe so. I would have remembered a woman as beautiful as you.”

Ella blushed. “You flatter me, but thank you just the same.”

“Not at all. I only speak the truth which these gentlemen can attest to.”

He’d put them on the spot, but Ravenclaw and the storekeeper simply nodded in agreement. Amazingly, they really seemed to find her beautiful.

Now was the time to leave. He didn’t want to over stay his welcome.

He wondered if Ella saw the resemblance to their father? That was why he seemed familiar to her. He would use that to his advantage, as soon as he figured out how to do it.

“I must leave now, it was very good meeting you,” said Daniel as he tipped his hat to the two of them.

As Ella watched the stranger walk out of the store, she said to Nathan, “I don’t know what it is about that man, but he seems very familiar to me.”

“Maybe you met him in New York.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him before, but I believe I should know him. I’ll think of it soon enough”

* * *

Ella and Martha became fast friends. Being the only women on the ranch, they confided in one another.

Several weeks had gone by and they were in the kitchen fixing Sunday dinner when Ella finally broached the subject of Nathan’s reluctance to believe in love.

“Why is he so dead set against it?”

Martha stopped peeling potatoes and leaned her backside against the sink. “Oh, he wasn’t always. Fell real hard for the daughter of another rancher. All was well and good ’til they found out he wasn’t as lily white as they were. Being half Indian makes you dirt to most white folk. So Nathan picked up stakes and moved here, cattle and all. He made sure folks here knew his background and even so, they treat him fine.”

“Except women. No one would marry him.”

“Right. Except for that, but I don’t figure he ever would have asked anyone here anyway. He wasn’t gonna take the chance that he’d have to pull up stakes again.”

Ella wiped at the tears that filled her eyes.

“Now don’t you go feelin’ sorry for Nathan. He’d never want that. Sides I figure he done alright. He got you didn’t he?”

She laughed and sniffled. “That’s right and whether he knows it or not I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.”

“He doesn’t disagree.” Nathan leaned against the door jam, arms akimbo.

“Oh, my. How much did you hear?”

“Just that you’re the best thing that’s happened to me.” He grabbed her around the waist and gave her a smack on the lips. “Like I said, I don’t disagree.”

She kissed him back.

“Now that’s enough of that you two. We got dinner to fix,” scolded Martha.

“That’s what I stopped in for. I ran into John Atwood in town and invited him, Sarah and the kids for Sunday dinner. He accepted.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. I can’t wait to get my hands on that sweet baby boy of theirs,” said Ella, rubbing her hands together.

“I’m sure John and Sarah will be touched to know how much you want to see them.”

She swatted him with a dish towel. “You know what I mean. I want to see them, too.”

Nathan laughed. She knew he loved to get her dander up. He raised his hands. “Alright, I’ll quit teasing.”

“Good. Because iffin’ ya stay any longer I’m gonna give you a knife and get you peelin’ potatoes. As it is, you kin go kill me another chicken,” said Martha.

He nodded. “Okay. Be right back. Better get on a pot of water to boil.”

“I know how to pluck a chicken, now go on and get.”

A little while later he came back in carrying the dead chicken. Ella turned to him, saw the bloody chicken and everything went black.

* * *

“Ella. Honey. Wake up.”

“Nathan?” He was kneeling next to her and she was lying on the sofa in the parlor. “What happened?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing. You looked at me and fainted dead away.”

“I remember now. The chicken, the blood,” she sat up quickly and started to heave.

Nathan jumped back. “What the hell?”

Martha came running with a bucket. “Here you go. Smelling salts does that sometimes. But in your case I think it’s something else.”

Ella breathed slowly letting her stomach settle. “What else could it be?”

Martha shook her head. “Ella, how long you been here?”

“About two months.”

“And in all that time, have you had your flow?”

“Well, no. I….” She swung her gaze from Martha to Nathan. He sank to his knees in front of her.

“Are we…?” he asked.

She smiled widely. “It would appear we are.”

He stood up, pulled her into his arms and swung her around. “I’m going to be a father.”

“Thought you two might have figured it out on your own, but….” Martha put her hands on her generous hips. “What would you do without me?”

“Martha, you’re going to be a grandma. Stop your grumbling,” said Ella.

Now Martha got tears in her eyes. “Me? A grandma?”

“Well, what do you expect? You’re like a mother to both Nathan and me. Our baby couldn’t do better for a grandma?”

Ella wrapped her arms around the older woman’s shoulders and Nathan enveloped them both in his embrace.

“Boy, do we have some news to share with John and Sarah. You’ll have to practice holding a baby on little Sam,” said Nathan.

“Oh, I need to start sewing baby clothes. Can we go to town tomorrow and get some fabric? I know it’s not our regular day, but I don’t want to wait until Saturday.”

He grinned. “What’s one more trip to town?”

“You could always teach me to drive and then I wouldn’t have to take you away from your work when I want to go somewhere. And I’d be able to go see Sarah more often and….”

“Stop.” He rolled his eyes and said, “alright I’ll teach you to drive a team.”

She hugged him around the waist. “Thank you. While you’re at it you could teach me to ride, too.”

“Not on your life. Not with you expecting.”

“But Nathan I should be able to get around on my own.”

“You’ll have the buggy as well as the buckboard that you can drive as soon as I teach you. That’s enough. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Ella was thrilled to be pregnant. She wanted children more than anything, but a little part of her wondered if Nathan would be so protective if she wasn’t carrying his child. She put the thought aside refusing to let anything mar this moment for her.

Later that night when she and Nathan were alone in their bedroom, he made love to her with a tenderness he hadn’t before. After they were done and catching their breath he leaned up on one elbow and put his other hand on her stomach making lazy circles on it.

“Our child rests here. You don’t show yet.”

“I will soon enough. I’ll get as big as a house. Will you still want me when I look like one of your cows?”

“I will always desire you. You’re my wife. You carrying my child only makes you more beautiful to me.

“I’m glad.” She covered his hand with hers and wished he could, would give her more. Her feelings were as hidden as she could make them. The last thing she wanted was for him to care for her out of pity. Thus far she’d been successful. She gave all she could without letting him know, without saying it out loud, without telling him he held her heart in his hands.

He suddenly bent down and kissed her. “Thank you.”

She cocked her head to one side. “For what?”

“For giving me a child.”

She placed her hand along his strong jaw. “You’re welcome. I thank you for the same thing. I’ve wanted a child of my own for as long as I can remember.”

“As have I. It’s the reason I married. It was one of the requirements that I made of Mrs. Selby. The woman had to be of childbearing age. A woman, not a girl just out of the schoolroom. I wanted to be able to talk to her, not raise her. I’d say she did rather well.”

He leaned down and took one dusky rose nipple into his mouth. “I think she did very well.” He moved to the other one. “Very well indeed.”

She arched into him, her breath coming in gasps as his lips caused her core to heat. Grasping his head to her she said, “I can’t say I have any complaints either.”

He worked his way down her body and back up again. As always she was ready for him and he entered her in one long, smooth stroke. And so it began and she loved him all over again. Though she never referred to it as making love to him. But that’s what it was. She made love to Nathan and some day he would realize that’s what he did as well. He was one stubborn man. But she was even more stubborn and…patient. She could wait.

CHAPTER 5

Ella wouldn’t let Nathan out of the house until he agreed to give her a driving lesson that morning before he got involved in doing other things. She cajoled and bothered him until he gave in.

He went to get the buggy while she got her gloves and bonnet. She didn’t bother with the veil anymore. Most of the merchants knew her and didn’t flinch when she came in. The only friends close enough to see very often were the Atwoods and they accepted her without question. Any wife of Nathan’s was a friend of theirs. She and Sarah Atwood had become close friends, bonding over the fact they were both from New York and had become mail order brides. Something neither could have imagined in their wildest dreams.

She left the house and ran out through the courtyard to the yard beyond and waited for him to drive up, which wasn’t long. He drove up in the little two seat buggy pulled by two beautiful pinto horses.

Ella was so thrilled; she didn’t wait for Nathan to help her into the seat, but climbed aboard on her own.

“You better simmer down, missy. You’re going to spook the horses with all this enthusiasm.”

She laughed. “I’m just excited. I can’t wait to learn and be able to go around on my own.”

“Tired of my company already?” he teased.

“No. I just need to have a modicum of freedom. This will allow me that. I can go see Sarah when I want, they’re only about thirty minutes away or I can go to town when I need something before Saturday. It’s hard. Sometimes I feel so isolated. In New York I walked everywhere. Admittedly, not so much since the accident, but before that. And now that I don’t wear the veil anymore, I’m ready to get out and start socializing again. I’m not afraid of what people will think of me. That’s thanks to you. Does that make sense?”

“Yes, it does. I should have thought of it sooner. I guess I was trying to keep you all to myself.”

“That’s sweet, but unnecessary. I don’t plan on going anywhere but to town and to Sarah’s.”

“I know. It’s something I have to get over.”

She laid her hand over his. “Just because I can drive myself doesn’t mean we can’t still go together. It simply means you’re not forced to go with me.”

“Exactly. So let’s get this lesson started. Since you don’t ride, and don’t think I’ve changed my mind about that, I haven’t. Anyway this will be totally unfamiliar to you. These are called the reins.” He showed her the reins in his hand. “They are what guide the horses. Tells them to go forward, right, left or stop.”

“Reins. Guide horses. Got it.”

“To get the horses going slap them on the butt, like this. Giddyup.” He brought the leather straps down on the horses butts. They started forward. “If you want them to go faster, flick them again.” He showed her.

“What if I want them to go left?”

“Then you pull back on the left rein. To go right pull back on the right rein and to stop pull back on them both. You have a brake,” he showed her the hand brake to his left next to the seat. “But it’s just for when you’re already stopped to remind the horses they aren’t supposed to go anywhere. It won’t stop the buggy if they are of a mind to pull it.”

“Hold on tight to the reins. Don’t give the horses their heads. They’ll run away home if you give them the opportunity.”

“What happens if they do that? How do I stop them?”

“You pull back on the reins for all you’re worth, but if they spook and run you probably won’t be able to stop them.”