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Authors: Linda Weaver Clarke

Tags: #romance, #romance historical, #bear lake valley, #idaho

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BOOK: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger
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“But you’ve just got to eat something to ward
off the morning sickness.”

“Nothing sounds good to me. I just don’t know
what I want right now.”

“Are you sure?”

He had been so attentive and sweet but Melinda
just waved him off and turned toward the window and stared off
toward the Wasatch Mountains, avoiding his accusatory look. She
figured her ornery attitude had stemmed from being helpless. Her
husband had pampered her and waited on her, but she wanted to be
independent. She wanted to go out and take a walk or tidy up the
house a bit and make it clean and neat. Since she was down in bed,
her stepdaughter, Jenny, had been keeping the house clean and doing
a good job, too.

This was so frustrating because Melinda enjoyed
her independence. Now she was dependent upon others for her every
need. In the past, she never had enough hours in the day to have
some quiet time to herself and read. And now that she had all the
time in the world, she couldn’t pick up another book if she tried.
She was all read out.

Melinda shook her head with irritation. What was
wrong with her? She loved reading. Perhaps her orneriness was
affecting her attitude about everything. When sixteen-year-old
Jenny and her son, John, were out of school they sometimes headed
for Aunt Martha’s to visit and that was where they were today.
Melinda was alone now, and she decided that it was time to rise and
take control of her life. After all, she could take a little stroll
into the kitchen and get a snack all by herself with no one
hovering over her. What harm would that do?

Melinda placed the book she had been reading on
the bed, pushed the covers aside, and slid her feet to the cool
wooden floor. She looked down at her small, round belly and stroked
it once again. She was only four months along and was barely
showing. She had not felt any movement yet, but she couldn’t wait.
She was feeling pretty good and had not had any cramping now for
over two weeks and was very much relieved.

Two months ago, she began having cramps five
minutes apart. When they wouldn’t stop and became stronger and
unbearably painful, Gilbert ran for the doctor. Melinda was put in
bed indefinitely. Since she was bedridden, she hadn’t had any
problems and what cramps she did have were very minor. Surely, it
would be all right to get out of bed for a few minutes.

Melinda slowly rose to her feet and walked over
to the wardrobe, pulled her robe out, and slipped it on. She
grabbed a brush, looked critically at herself in the mirror, and
began brushing her dark auburn hair. Her thick tresses had a
natural curl, and when the sunlight shown through the window, they
shimmered with a reddish glow.

Melinda was a strikingly beautiful woman
with a smooth, velvety complexion and fine, delicate features. She
was thirty-four years of age and was unusually tall. She had
beautiful green eyes that twinkled when she smiled. Gilbert had
told her that her eyes were the color of shamrocks, and they
brightened when she was happy.

With a smile of satisfaction, she laid the
brush on her dresser and walked down the hall. Just as she entered
the living room, she heard a deep warm voice, as if chiding a small
child.

“Ah, ah, ah!”

Melinda was startled. She quickly jerked her
head around and saw her husband sitting on the sofa with his arms
folded across his chest and a broad grin on his face. He had the
look of a parent catching a child with her hand in the cookie jar,
and he was enjoying the shocked expression on his wife’s face.

At the age of thirty-eight, Gilbert was
ruggedly handsome, had expressive dark brown eyes, and his strong
jaw gave the look of authority, but his soft eyes betrayed him. He
was as mellow as a cuddly kitten, good-humored, and tolerant. And
the love and devotion he had for his wife shown in his eyes. His
dark brown hair was thick and wavy. He was a cattle rancher with
broad shoulders and was an imposing figure. He stood six-foot-two
inches, and every inch of him was muscle. It was impossible to
ignore especially when he folded his arms across his chest so he
could look stern when making his decisions.

That was the expression he had at this very
moment. His arms were folded, accentuating his biceps. His face was
stern, but his eyes glistened with amusement because he had caught
Melinda out of bed.

Inside, he was suppressing a grin, hoping to
look like a stern parent as he asked, “Melinda, what are you doing
out of bed?”

“I…” Her mind feverishly searched for an
answer.

“Yes? I’m listening.”

“I…uh…you see.” She took a deep breath and
plunged in. “Gilbert, I’m sick of my bed. I’m sick of reading. I’m
sick of being waited on. And I’m sick of the pictures on my
wall.”

Gilbert chuckled. “All right, I’ll buy you new
pictures.”

Melinda placed her hands on her hips with
indignation and stared at his broad grin. He was amused at catching
her out of bed. This irritated her to no end. How did he know that
she would sneak out of bed after he left the house? Looking at his
amused expression, she asked soberly, “How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“I heard you walk outside. I heard the door
shut. How did you know I would get out of bed?”

Grinning even wider, he rose to his feet and
walked over to her, took her by the shoulders, and looked into her
large green eyes. “Do you think I don’t know you? When I asked you
if you needed anything, you got a little impatient with me. Snapped
a bit, as I recall. Then when I leaned over to kiss you goodbye, I
could see it in your eyes. I knew what was on your mind. So, I just
turned around and snuck back into the house.”

Melinda slumped and dropped her hands to her
sides. She wanted to defend herself but knew she would lose even if
she tried. She looked at him and said softly, “I’m feeling better,
though. I haven’t had any cramps now for two weeks.”

It sounded lame, and she knew it. She even knew
his answer even before he spoke.

“That’s because you’ve been in bed. There’s
no need getting out when I’m here.”

At that moment, Melinda felt ashamed. She
realized that Gilbert was trying to help. He was the most unselfish
man she knew, and she should never take his helpfulness for
granted. Not every man was this supportive, and she knew it. She
needed to be more patient and tolerant.

Melinda knew that she could never love a man
as much as she did Gilbert, and the love she had for her husband
was deep. She had been so absorbed with self-pity that she had
taken her frustrations out on her dearest possession: her husband.
She was not thinking of anyone but herself, and she did not like
who she was at that very moment.

Why had she taken her frustrations out on
the one she loved most? Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes
as she admitted her failings to herself. She wiped them away with
the back of her hand as they trickled down her face.

With a quivering voice,
she said,
“I’m sorry. Please forgive
me.”

Gilbert smiled as he pulled her into his
arms and held her lovingly, listening to her sobs of regret. As she
quieted down, he pulled back and looked at her tear-stained
face.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket and
gently dabbed her cheeks as he said, “Don’t worry, my Love.
Everything will be all right. I’ve got Joe doing most of the chores
on the ranch for me so I can be close to home and check on you from
time to time.”

“I know, Gilbert. I just don’t like being
dependent on others. I’m not used to it.”

Melinda’s eyes lowered with
humility. A few small strands of hair had fallen appealingly about
her face, and being with child had caused her countenance to glow,
giving her a
radiant look. Her expression was so enchanting
that it had an effect on Gilbert, making his heart swell. He
slightly lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes and the message he
communicated was one of devotion and adoring love.

He tucked his finger under her chin, lifted it
toward him, and kissed her tenderly. Her lips were warm and sweet
as he gave her a lingering kiss, one of tenderness and longing. A
warm glow filled his heart at the touch of her lips, and his heart
picked up speed. How he loved this woman!

As he stroked her silky hair that had cascaded
around her shoulders, he let it slide through his fingers. Then he
wrapped his arms around her. He held her close to his chest and she
melted into his arms.

When Melinda felt his strong and protective arms
tighten around her, she gave in to the delicious warmth spreading
through her as she returned his kiss with just as much longing,
turning her senses to mush. Lost in the wonder of his kisses, all
her depression and concerns began to fade away. She marveled at
what a delightful pleasure it was to be in love.

Gilbert snuggled his face into her tresses and
whispered, “I love the way you melt into my arms when I hold
you.”

The way Melinda responded to his hugs always had
an effect on Gilbert. She had responded like this from the very
first day he held her in his arms, and he had never had anyone
react to his hugs like that before. Gilbert pulled back and gazed
into her eyes with affection.

“I just worry about you, Melinda. I don’t want
any harm to come to you. Besides, you have miscarried several times
before. If you won’t stay in bed, then we’ll have to do what the
doctor suggested.”

Melinda instantly jerked
back and looked into his eyes with shock.
“No, Gilbert. I won’t take alcohol to stop the cramping. It’s
against my beliefs. You know that. Besides, what would it do to the
baby? I can’t risk hurting her.”

Gilbert grinned at her
spunk.
“I know how you feel about it,
Honey. But we need to do whatever it takes to protect our baby. So,
you’ll go to bed then?”

Melinda nodded. She was defeated and she
knew he was right. She could not fight it. She didn’t want to lose
another baby, and Gilbert was only trying to protect her and their
unborn child.

Then with a jolt of
surprise, Gilbert’s eyes widened as he asked,
“Did you just say ‘her’?”

Melinda nodded.

“How do you know?”

“Just a feeling. Don’t bet on it,
though.”

Gilbert chuckled with
delight.
“How about if I make a bed on the
sofa for you, and you can watch me fix supper?”

Melinda nodded.
“I’d like that.”

The living room and the kitchen were
situated in one large room with the kitchen on the left side and
the living room and fireplace on the right side. Against one wall
was her pride and joy. Gilbert had bought her an upright piano when
they were first married. He enjoyed spoiling her with gifts, and a
piano brought her great pleasure. She hadn’t had a chance to play
since the morning sickness set in about three months ago.

Gilbert took her hand and
led her to the sofa. Before she sat down, he placed his hand on her
round belly and asked,
“Any movement
yet?”

Melinda smiled. He was just as
eager as she was and it pleased her beyond words.
“No. But I’ll tell you when I do.”

The concern and worry in Gilbert’s eyes was
obvious, and he had every reason to be. As he protectively took her
in his arms without saying a word, he leaned his head against hers
and took a deep ragged breath. As he let it out slowly, he tried to
put aside his uneasiness, his apprehension.

Melinda could feel something was bothering
him and suspected what it might be. She felt his arms tighten
around her and heard him breathe in deeply.

“Gilbert, what’s wrong?”

He shook his head.

“What is it?”

Melinda leaned back to look into his face
and his eyes had misted.

“Melinda, I couldn’t bear it if something
happened to you, too. Please listen to the doctor’s advice. Do you
understand what I’m trying to say?”

Melinda realized why he had become emotional
and held her so protectively in his arms. She had married Gilbert
just seven years ago. Jenny was Gilbert’s daughter from a previous
marriage. After nine months of marriage, his former wife died while
giving birth to Jenny. He had blamed himself for years because he
had brought her to Paris, Idaho, where the west was quite wild and
good doctors were few. That was sixteen years ago, but the memory
of it was still vivid in his mind, and he was worrying that the
same thing would happen to Melinda.

Feeling remorse for being
impatient, Melinda gazed into his eyes and knew the anxiety he felt
at that moment.
“Gilbert …” She hesitated
as she bit her lip, and then said softly,

I’m sorry I was ornery with you.” She wiped his unruly hair
back from his forehead, noticing the concern in his eyes.

I love you and will be more careful from now
on.”

Gilbert pulled her close
to him again, held her tightly against his chest, and whispered in
her ear,
“Be as ornery as you like, but
just stay in bed. Please? You’ve only got five months to
go.”

“Five months?” Melinda groaned in
despair.

 

 

 

Chapter 3
The New Ranch Hand

 

David was standing in line at the Cozy J to
be interviewed for the cattle drive by Gilbert Roberts. As he
waited, twisting his hat in his hands, he turned toward the porch
of the large ranch house and saw an attractive young woman. She had
hair that was the color of wheat and large blue eyes. She was tall
and slender with fine and delicate features. Her hair was pulled
away from her face, allowing him to see her youthfulness and
innocence. The afternoon sun accentuated the silkiness of her hair
as it hung over her shoulders, and this young teenage woman
intrigued David.

BOOK: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger
9.89Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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