Surrender to Love (22 page)

     His laughter brought her gaze back to his face, afraid that she had said something wrong. "And you always know what to say."
     She relaxed as he kissed her and his fingers moved down her belly to the triangle of hair between her legs. Her insides pulsated as a finger slipped inside her, moving in and out, a moment later his thumb played over sensitive flesh. She felt as though she were being unwound nerve by pulsating nerve.
     Pushing her legs apart with his knee, Shane slowly inched his way into his new bride. Her eyes were wide, staring at him, biting into her bottom lip. She was so tight, so sweet. Sweat began to bead on his brow, and as he came up against the proof of her virginity, he kissed her and plunged. She gasped against his mouth, and he stilled, letting her get used to the size of him.
     But it was torture. Her tight sheath was so hot and slick he couldn't wait any longer and finally began to move, and with every thrust he felt her relax a little more until she matched his rhythm.
     With great restraint he held himself back and was greatly relieved when he began to feel the soft flutters of her climax. Her eyes closed, her head fell back against the soft pillows, her mouth opened as she cried out, and a moment later he followed her.
     As he lay with his wife at his side, he pulled her to him, kissing the tip of her nose. "I love you, Mrs. Catalono."
    Her eyes so soft, looked misty with tears, and for a moment he thought he had hurt her, but her fingers moved along his jaw, and then without lifting her head off the pillow she kissed the air. "I love you, too, but I'm so tired I can't even lift my head."
    He laughed then, and cradling her head on his shoulder, wrapped his arms around her, content to stay that way for the rest of the night.

Chapter 26
    IT HAD been over eleven years.
    Eleven long years since she last stood at this spot, looking at the slain bodies of her parents as four Indians rode away, never to be found and convicted of the crime.
    Jordan stood at the front door of her ranch, fighting back emotions that had been long hidden away. But as the front door of the cabin creaked open, so did the memories, and along with it tears that slipped down her cheeks unchecked.
    Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stepped inside the small room that at one time had seemed so large. White sheets that covered furniture were covered with dust and grime. The curtains her mother had spent days crocheting were now yellowed and brittle.
    Her small chair sat by the fire, beside it, one of the dolls her mother had made. When they had left for Virginia, she'd only taken one with her, and the twins had destroyed it, cutting off its golden hair and pulling the arms off its body. Picking the doll up, she squeezed it tight. She would keep it for the daughter she would have one day, even if that child was not the one she now carried in her womb.
    She moved to the kitchen, thoughts of her mother humming as she made dinner, mingled with memories of the sound of her father's greeting when he came home after a long day out in the pasture, taming wild horses. The feel of his strong arms as they lifted her high and held him to her, telling him how much he loved her. And then she had watched her parents kiss and hug. They had truly loved one another. As a child Jordan hadn't realized to what extent, but now as an adult, having loved herself, she knew what they had shared.
    The bedrooms were the hardest, because things were still as they had been when she'd left all those years ago. Her mother's brush and comb sat on the dresser. Her father's pocketwatch sat on the table by the door. As usual he had forgotten to take it with him, as he did most every day.
    Shutting the door behind her, she went to her room and sat down on the small bed. It was strange how everything now seemed so small. From the eyes of a seven-year-old, it had all appeared so much larger.
    By the time she stepped back into the Living room she was both physically and emotionally exhausted. Lighting a candle, she sat down in her mother's rocking chair and waited for dark.
    A feeling of total peace came over her as she thought about the future.
    This is what she wanted. This is what she needed. This was her dream, and she would have it, and have it soon.
    She was nearly to sleep when she heard the pounding of hooves outside. Her heart skittered remembering the day eleven years ago when her life had been upended. She came to her feet just as footsteps fell on the front porch. She froze, unable to do anything but stare at the door.
    A moment later it opened and she nearly fell to her knees, for standing before her was no enemy, but the man she loved more than life.
    Gray Hawk's face was drawn. He looked so tired, and almost--angry.
    "You left me," he said, his voice harsh.
    "How could I stay, Gray Hawk? No one wanted me there."
    He frowned. "I wanted you there."
    How could she tell him that from the minute she'd left the village, she almost turned back a thousand times, knowing that a life without him would be unfathomable. Yet she'd been unable to return, knowing she could not turn her back on her dream, and she wouldn't take him away from his.
    Silence filled the small room, and it seemed for a minute that he was about to leave, but he had only turned to shut the door behind him. He leaned back against it. "My father died the morning you left."
    His grief was obvious and she wanted desperately to comfort, but couldn't find any words other than to say, "I'm so sorry."
    "I once thought being chief was all I would ever want, yet I found when I was given the opportunity it meant nothing, because I didn't have you."
    Her heart lurched.
    "I know you would never be happy in the village. When we went there, I hoped that you would change your mind."
    "I belong here, Gray Hawk. This is my home, this is my dream. I know we come from different places, and I knew it would one day come to this. I cannot return with you, no matter how much you want it."
    He walked toward her in slow strides, his gaze shifting over her in a way that made her heart race and long for things that could not be. How desperate she was to have him take her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. How she longed at this moment for him to make love to her.
    He stopped before her and took her hands in his. "Marry me, Jordan."
    "What?"
    "Marry me. Be my wife."
    "But I can't leave my ranch."
    His lips curved into a smile. "I never asked you to."
    As comprehension set in, her heart swelled. "You would stay with me? You would give up being chief?"
    "Iron Bear will lead our people. He is their chief."
    She threw her arms around him, holding him close. "Yes, I will marry you."
    Lifting her chin with his fingers, he kissed her softly. "I know I don't have much to give, but I promise you I'll work endlessly to make this ranch prosperous."
    "And I'll work endlessly to make you happy."
    His face softened as he stared at her. "You've already made me the happiest man alive."
    She shifted on her feet, uncertain whether to tell the news that soon they would be parents. Knowing there was no better time to be honest, she took a deep breath and blurted, "I'm pregnant, Gray Hawk. We're going to have a baby."
    His gaze left hers to settle on the soft swell of her belly, which his hand moved to, splaying there. When he looked at her again, there were tears in his eyes. He opened his mouth, and without saying a word, he hugged her tightly to him.
    Never in her life had she known such happiness.
         A BLISSFUL two weeks had passed for Jordan. In that time, she and Gray Hawk had been married by the minister of the small church in Fife. He had been a kind man, who didn't question the differences between she and Gray Hawk. The man's wife had served as the only other witness.
    They returned to their ranch that same day, where they celebrated by having a quiet meal out by the creek that ran in back of their home. There they had made love under a starry sky, promising each other the world.
    Jordan felt like the luckiest woman alive.
    Yet the next afternoon a young man rode up to the property, and her heart lurched in her breast, even though she knew she was beyond her uncle's touch now that she was married. Yet fear for her ranch made her call out to Gray Hawk, who was nearby working on a corral.
    "Are you Jordan McGuire?" the young man asked, taking the hat from his head and running a hand through his sweaty hair.
    Gray Hawk put his hand out toward the man in greeting. "She is, and I'm her husband, Gray. Can I help you?"
    "I've a letter for you."
    He handed Jordan the envelope, and instantly her heart sank recognizing her uncle's penmanship. "Thank you," she replied to the young man, who left as quickly as he arrived.
    "Are you alright?" Gray Hawk asked, watching her intently.
    "It's from my uncle." She took a deep breath and with trembling hands, opened the letter and read it out loud.
    
"Dearest Jordan, I fear I have done you a great injustice. Not only have I behaved horribly toward you all these years when you needed my love the most, I have also betrayed you to which lengths you cannot imagine. That is why I write this letter to you. Your father was a very wealthy man, and when he died he left you the ranch, and a considerable sum of money which was left in a disclosed location. Your father was never one to trust banks, and therefore, saw to it to hide the money on your land, in your home. He entrusted me with this information, so I in turn would tell you.
    
In the homestead, at the base of the stove there are bricks lining the floor. Toward the back you will find several that give way. Therein you will find a steel box, which was opened before your arrival--there you will find the deed to your ranch, along with enough money to buy those horses you always talked about as a child. Oh, Jordan, I cannot take back all the years of ill that I caused, but I do hope in my heart that you will one day forgive me. I am on my way back to Virginia, and if God wills it, I shall see you again one day. Until then I remain, your Uncle Frederick.
    She looked up at Gray Hawk, whose wide smile mirrored her own feelings. "I don't believe it."
    "It's yours, Jordan. No one will take it away."
    "I have my ranch," Jordan said, tears stinging her eyes. "And we have money, which means we can buy lots of horses and make this ranch one of the largest in the region."
    Gray Hawk pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. "I'm so happy for you."
    "I'm happy for us. This is
our
money, Gray Hawk. This is
our
ranch. And what are we waiting for?" she asked, as she ran for the house, stopping just short of the stove.
    She turned to Gray Hawk. "Do you want me to do it?" he asked, motioning toward the stove.
    "No, I'll do it," she said, and with shaking hands she unearthed the steel box.
     "You open it," she said, trembling with excitement and a sense of fear, as she handed it to Gray Hawk, hoping it wasn't a cruel joke.
    Taking his knife, he pried the lock off and opened it up. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight that met her. Never in all her years could she have imagined that this kind of money existed in her family. Hers had been a simple upbringing with little in the way of frivolous things. But her parents had obviously put away for a rainy day, not realizing their own lives would be cut short.
    "Do you know what we can do with this money?" she asked, meeting Gray Hawk's stare.
    "I have a feeling you're about to tell me."
    "We can build onto the house, make more rooms for our children."
    "Our children." He smiled. "I like the sound of that." His eyes darkened and he tossed the box aside as though it were loose change.
    Jordan laughed, knowing that money was the last thing on his mind.

Epilogue
    JORDAN AND Kari sat on the porch swing, watching their husbands as they tried to tame the wild mustang.
    Kari laughed under her breath as Shane was thrown yet again. Grimacing, he stood and rubbed his worn-out backside.
    Though Jordan was content with the life she and Gray Hawk had made before she'd discovered the money, there was no question it had made a huge difference, enabling them to start their ranch sooner than expected.
    Already they had an impressive selection of horseflesh, and they had queries from people in nearby counties who had heard the McGuire Horse Ranch was up and running again.
    The only distressing thing for Jordan was that Gray Hawk didn't allow her to lift a finger, afraid that it would harm the baby. So she was resigned to doing the housework and tending the garden, while he and Jake, a young hand from Shane's spread, worked on breaking the wild horses they had acquired.
    "He's so happy," Kari said, bringing Jordan out of her revelry.
    Kari and Shane had arrived early last evening. They'd spent the entire night catching up on the months that had passed. Jordan squeezed Kari's hand. There was no denying how good it felt to have Kari with her.
    Jordan smiled as Shane attempted to mount the spirited mare without success. Her gaze shifted to her husband, who laughed and stepping into the corral, soothed the horse, talking to it in low tones. He moved to its side, then mounted with an ease that surprised all of them. The horse bucked a few times, but Gray Hawk held on, and as though realizing the man on his back wasn't about to give up, it calmed down and pranced around the corral.
    "Show off," Shane said with a defeated smirk, while sitting on the rail, shaking his head.
    Gray Hawk's grin stole the breath from Jordan's lungs. He winked, and jumped from the horse, laughing at something Shane said.
    With a smile Jordan turned to Kari, whose hand rested on her protruding stomach. Though her cousin was due two months after her, she was almost as big. Just last month the doctor had told her he'd heard two heartbeats. Kari at first had been frightened by the news she was having twins, but Shane had been thrilled.
    Kari took her hand in hers and squeezed it tight. "We got everything we ever dreamed of it, didn't we?"
    Jordan looked from her to Gray Hwak, who was now patting Shane on the back. Her heart filled with love for the man who had stolen her heart. "Yes, we certainly did."
Julia Templeton
    An avid reader all her life, Julia discovered historical romance when she was nineteen, and to this day she still gets excited when she walks into a bookstore. She is a member of Romance Writers of America: National, Rose City Writers, and Hearts through History Chapters.
     SURRENDER TO LOVE is her second historical romance to be published. Julia loves reading all sub-genres of romance, as well as all time periods.
    Julia lives in Brush Prairie, Washington, with her husband and their two teenagers She is currently at work on her next historical romance. She loves to hear from her readers. Please feel free to email her at [email protected].