Expedition of Love (35 page)

He smiled into her loving eyes. “Miss Peterson, I believe you actually would."

"You may count on it, sir.” Her bright smile softened. “Stephen, I adore you, the way you think, the way you lecture, everything about you. There is no other man more suitable, more perfect for me. I love you.” Lifting up on her toes, she kissed him deeply, driving every doubt from his heart.

"Thank goodness,” her father said. “For a moment there—I say, you two really need to stop that and get in the wagon. You're making quite a scene."

Laughing, they ended the kiss, but stayed securely wrapped in one another's arms.

"Perhaps you should marry post-haste,” Edwin grumbled.

"I think that would be wise,” Stephen said. He leaned closer to her and whispered, “Because if we aren't married before the day is out, your reputation will be irrefutably ruined, Miss Peterson."

"Is that a promise, Doctor Baxter?"

"A guarantee. For I will never again open my eyes to the light of a new day without you there beside me."

"I can think of no better way than to greet the morning sun. Oh, and by the way, I detest opera."

Smiling, he tasted her lips, bathing in their velvet warmth. Each kiss was as overwhelming as the one before.

"Come, come, you two."

"Is there a problem, Professor?” Antonio said with a chuckle, strolling up beside them.

They finally stopped their unseemly display, and pulled apart—for the moment.

"Antonio, my boy,” Edwin said. “Where have you been? I was afraid you would miss the boat."

"I had to make a few last minute arrangements with my father, before I could leave."

"Miss the boat? Arrangements? What's going on, Papa?” Kristina asked.

"Antonio is coming with us, my dear. I hope you don't mind, Stephen. It would seem the information Kristina and the authorities received from that young man who nearly killed you, suggests that the cattle rustling was being orchestrated from home. The government has asked Antonio here to investigate further, and I offered transportation."

Clenching his teeth slightly, Stephen said, “No, not at all.” Although he knew the things that had happened weren't really Antonio's fault, he couldn't help but feel a bit of animosity toward the man. If it weren't for him, Kristina would never have been kidnapped in the first place, nearly getting them both killed.

With a bright smile, Antonio took Kristina's hand and pressed a small kiss to the back. “I am glad you have decided to see the truth, Chica, although my heart is broken."

"Liar.” She stepped out of Stephen's arms and kissed Antonio's cheek.

Stephen refrained from snatching his love away from the suave Argentinean, but not by much.

"Did I hear someone say something about a wedding?” Antonio asked.

Her bright smile filled Stephen's heart to overflowing and all thoughts of the gaucho fled his mind.

"I can see by your smile, Chica, that I did.” Antonio looked down the street and pointed to the small church. “Father Michael will be happy to perform the ceremony."

"Capital idea, Antonio,” Edwin said. “Everyone climb aboard. We have another stop to make before we reach the dock."

Laughing, the lovers climbed in the back while Antonio took a seat beside Edwin. The other wagons rambled along behind with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Thomas driving the teams.

Settling on a crate across from his soon-to-be-wife, Stephen watched her as they made their way down the street.

"Is something wrong?” she asked.

One corner of his mouth turned up and he shook his head.

She grinned impishly. “Then why are you sitting all the way over there? Are you tired of me all ready?"

He shook his head again, but didn't dare move any closer.

She glanced up at Antonio's back then pinned her dark brown gaze on him. “Are you that bothered about him coming with us? It wasn't his fault, you know. If I'd been paying attention, that horrible man wouldn't have been able to surprise me. You know I can—"

"Take perfectly good care of yourself,” he finished for her with a wide smile.

She smiled in return, and for the remaining minutes of their ride, they sat silently loving one another with their eyes.

The wagon jerked to a stop, and he helped her down out of the wagon. She paused and looked up at the cross topping the building as the remaining wagons pulled up beside them.

He leaned close to her ear. “Are you sure about this, love? It feels a bit like a shotgun wedding."

Turning, she looped her arm through his. “You wouldn't make me shoot you, would you? I would much rather have you with all ten toes."

Chuckling, he pulled her back into his arms. “Woman, what am I going to do with you?"

"Love me."

"For the rest of my days.” They kissed long and lingering.

"You see, Padre? I'm in a bit of a fix,” Edwin said.

"Sí, señor. I understand completely."

Edwin abruptly severed their kiss as he snagged Kristina by the elbow and ushered them into the church. Antonio and a pair of grinning graduate students trailed behind. Stephen cringed at the colorful tales the young men were bound to tell once they returned to New York. The stories would roam freely and without mercy around the campus. Not to mention the jokes regarding the scientist and the beauty.

He turned his gaze to Kristina as they reached the altar. To the devil with the stories and gossip. All that mattered was they were together and would be for the remainder of their lives.

"Are we ready to begin?” asked the priest.

Stephen tightened his hold on her hand. He couldn't help but fear she might change her mind at the last moment and dart out of the chapel.

She moved closer to him and gazed into his eyes. “I couldn't be more ready."

With a silent sigh of relief, he turned toward the priest to exchange their vows. The impromptu wedding flew by in a mix of Spanish and English, but stopped when the time came to exchange rings. Stephen nearly panicked. He hadn't brought along any jewelry on their trip, not even his class ring.

He looked frantically to his assistants, even Antonio, hoping they would have something he could use as a substitute, but they all shrugged their shoulders in apology.

"Just a moment, Padre,” Edwin said.

All eyes turned to the professor as he dug in his vest pockets. His hand emerged cradling two gold bands. “Your mother would have wanted you to have these, Kristina."

"Oh, Papa."

Stephen heard her soft sniffle as he looked into his old friend's eyes. “I'm honored, Edwin. Thank you."

He nodded, seemingly choked with emotion as Stephen took the smaller ring and slipped it onto Kristina's finger. It was a perfect fit.

She smiled tearfully up at him then slipped the remaining ring onto his finger. A little large, but it served its purpose, binding them together for the rest of their lives. The priest announced them man and wife, and Stephen kissed the bride—his bride.

"Thank goodness that's over. Thank you, Padre. You can't know how happy you've made this old man."

"From the looks of things, señor, I think I can imagine."

"All right, you two. That's quite enough. We are in a church, you know,” Edwin grumbled.

Stephen reluctantly allowed his new wife to step back a bit, putting between them a proper amount of space. His own beliefs, his views of propriety had been severely challenged by this woman, and he would be forever changed. He no longer cared what the world thought of him as long as she stood beside him and loved him. His work, although important, paled in comparison to his new task of making certain she would be happy sharing his life.

Both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Thomas hesitantly kissed her cheek in congratulations, but when Antonio moved closer to take his turn, Stephen stiffened.

"Do not worry, Doctor. You have won the love of a most magnificent woman, and I am sorely jealous. Ah, if only there were another like her."

"God, forbid.” Edwin's cheeks turned bright cherry red amid his silver beard. “Uh, sorry, Padre. I meant no disrespect."

The priest nodded with a knowing smile. “I am sure none was taken."

"But,” Antonio continued, turning his attention back to Kristina. “I think I would like to see New York alive, so I shall limit my congratulations to kissing your hand, Chica."

Stephen's chest filled as he realized the truth in Antonio's words. He had won her heart and now her hand. How could he stay mad at the man, at anyone, when his greatest dream had come true?

"Well, we must be off,” Edwin said. “There's a boat waiting to take us home. Come, children.” He ushered the small group out the door as he called his thanks to the priest once more.

Bouncing along the streets of Confluencia in the back of the wagon, proper or no, Stephen took his wife into his arms and fervently kissed her. Never again would he think dreams couldn't come true, and never again would he allow propriety to interfere with a chance to kiss the woman who held his heart. But his blood began to surge and flow through his veins, thickening with each passing second.

"Kristina, we need to move,” he said softly, so her father and Antonio wouldn't hear.

She slid into his lap, her lips teasing the side of his neck as she unbuttoned his jacket. “Moving sounds good."

"No, love. Apart. We need to move apart.” He'd forced the words through his lips, but his hands had yet to get the message as they continued to roam over her body, caressing every curve and mound.

Slipping an arm around his neck, she nibbled on his earlobe. “Stephen, this is one of those moments you'll need to learn to live with, because this wife has no intention of obeying her husband.” She kissed him as she sank one of her hands deep into his hair, her nails raking against his scalp.

A soft moan rumbled in his chest. The things she could do to him with a simple touch.

He pulled his lips from hers, grimacing at the loss of the connection. “If we don't separate, we're liable to cause a scene."

She quickly undid the center buttons of his shirt and slipped her hand inside. “Why do you think I sat
between
the crates?"

With a quick glance forward and back, he realized they were totally hidden from view. Sweat broke out on his brow. He couldn't take her in the back of a wagon with her father sitting only a few feet away. He may have vowed never to let propriety stand in the way of a kiss, but what he was thinking was far more involved.

Stephen shook his head and clamped his eyes closed, trying to clear the dangerous thoughts and the beguiling image of his wife, his beautiful wife, lying beneath him in the throws of passion.

Her cool palm cupped his cheek. “Oh, Stephen, I'm sorry. I should've realized you weren't fully recovered. Can you ever forgive me?” She ran her hand over his face, swiping the drops of perspiration from his brow.

He opened his eyes and looked into hers, now bordered with tears. She cared for him, she worried over him, and she loved him. Reclaiming her lips with the full force of his desire, he drank in her love.

"It's not the wound in my side that pains me, Kristina. I hurt for you, I want you so much.” Clutching her to his chest, he smothered her face with kisses. Never again did he want her out of his arms.

"All right newlyweds. Out with you. We've got work to do and you two will be in the way with your cooing and such,” Edwin bellowed.

Stephen pressed his forehead to hers, their rapid breaths mingling. He couldn't believe they'd already reached the river. In her arms, caressing her sweet form, tasting her delectable lips made time pass without notice.

"Why don't you see to our cabin while I help the men stow the crates,” Stephen suggested.

"Do you think it's wise? The crates are awfully heavy and you've just been released from the hospital.” She pressed delicate kisses to his lips and chin as she spoke. “I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

He groaned softly. “You have a point. I imagine I'll be spending a great deal of time recuperating. In bed."

"Yes,” she breathed. “A great deal of time."

"It's time to get aboard,” Edwin called again.

Stephen got to his feet and extended his hand to his wife. They climbed down and boarded the steamboat, quickly disappearing into their cabin. Their companions looked on with wide grins, but never said a word. Something for which Stephen was immensely grateful. He would hate to have to spoil their wedding day by punching one of his students or Antonio squarely in the jaw.

Throwing the lock on the cabin door, he pulled Kristina back into his arms. “Where were we?"

"Discussing your recuperation."

He moved his lips along her cheek to her ear. “Oh, yes. I've been thinking that work would be the best form of therapy."

She pulled back from his embrace, her stunned expression priceless. “You can't possibly mean that."

He chuckled as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “The kind of work I'm referring to, love, has nothing to do with crates or bones. I think we should begin working on those grandchildren your father is so insistent upon."

She relaxed against him with a relieved giggle. “Why Doctor Baxter, I do believe that marriage is having a serious affect on you."

"I believe you're right, Mrs. Baxter."

"Mmm, I never thought such a thing would sound so heavenly."

Neither did he.

Jo currently resides in North Carolina with her patient and supportive family while she juggles her writing career and her position as a programmer analyst. In her early years, she wrote folk songs, poetry, and an occasional short story or two, but never dreamed of writing a book. She didn't even like to read! But one fateful day, she picked up a romance novel and found herself hooked. Not only did she discover the joy of reading, but the joy of writing books. These days, if she isn't tapping away at her computer on a story of her own, she has her nose buried in the latest romance novel hot off the presses, and is enjoying every minute of it.

She's a member of Romance Writers of America, participates regularly in a critique group, and attends various seminars and classes, constantly honing her writing skills, determined to squeeze as much time into developing her craft as she does creating new stories about the quest for love. Someday, she hopes to take off her programming hat and write full time. So many of her dreams have already come true. What's one more?