by Barbara Goss
Dr. Childs opened the door, took one look at Caro, grabbed her from Max, and ran into the exam room with her. He took a bottle down from the shelf, filled a syringe with the liquid, and injected it into Caro’s arm.
“Thank God,” Dr. Childs said. “I just got this adrenaline last month. A biochemist named John Jacob Abel discovered that when it's injected into an allergic reaction such as this, the symptoms subside almost immediately.
They both watched as Caro’s symptoms improved. Her lips returned to their natural color, but it took a while for her breathing to return to normal.
“Where’s the bee sting?” the doctor asked.
“Caro,” Max said, “where did the bee sting you?”
Caro pointed to her arm. Dr. Childs put something on the bite. “I’m afraid Caro is allergic to bee stings. Does she have any other allergies? Has this happened before?”
“Not that I know of.” Max stroked Caro’s cheek. “You’re going to be fine, Caro.”
When someone pounded on the doctor’s door, the doctor answered it, and Dawn and Laura ran into the exam room. “Is she all right?” Laura asked, hugging Caro.
“She’s recovering,” the doctor said. “Has she had any other allergies?”
“I don’t know,” Laura said. “She had a bout with asthma as an infant and now and then she gets a rash, but I don’t know what sets it off.”
“There’s a doctor in Portland that can do some testing on her so you’ll know what she’s allergic to. In the meantime, I’m going to make sure I'm always well supplied with the adrenaline.”
“Thank you, Max, for thinking so quickly, and thank you, Dr. Childs, for saving our daughter,” Laura said.
Dr. Childs sat Caro up. “I’d like to keep her here overnight, just to be sure she’s fully recovered. Would one of you like to stay here with her?”
“I will!” Dawn, Laura, and Max all responded at once.
Chapter 17
Dawn gave Laura a meaningful look. “I’ll stay with her and bring her home in the morning if you leave my buggy here.”
“Are you sure?” Laura asked.
“I’m positive.”
Laura looked at Max. “I don’t have a horse here. Any chance we could ride double?”
Max was tongue-tied for a moment. He shrugged. “Sure.”
Max climbed up onto Hunter and reached down to help Laura up onto the horse behind him. “I won’t go too fast.”
Laura put her arms around his waist, and he nudged the horse forward. He felt Laura resting her head on his back. It felt so right. Max loved her. He was still disappointed with her, but he was no longer angry.
As they trotted along, he tried to analyze why she’d taken the money out of the bank without consulting him. Could there have been another reason other than her lack of faith in his judgment?
When they reached home, he helped her down to the ground and told her, “I’ll take care of the horse.”
“Max, I want you to come right in after settling the horse for the night. I need to talk to you. It’s important.” She'd spoken sternly, so he wouldn't think he had a choice.
He dismounted and nodded. “I’ll be in.”
After checking Hunter’s hooves for pebbles or stones, he brushed him. Max was in no hurry to go in and have it out. He didn’t know what she’d tell him. Max wanted them to have peace again, but he didn’t want a wife who didn’t trust his judgment. He loved her, but he didn’t want a marriage if he was nothing more than a horse breeder. Max supposed he should get it over and done with.
He locked up the stables and walked slowly to the house where Laura was waiting for him in the sitting room with a tray of tea.
“Have a seat, Max.”
He sat on the far end of the settee.
She poured a cup of tea and held it out for him. The cup was too far away for Max to reach, so he had to slide over to be closer to her.
“Max,” she said, “I realized that I never told you that I loved you.”
Max nodded. “I’m more than aware of that.”
“I do love you, Max, and I’m so sorry that I took the money out of the bank. I'd intended to tell you, but things got busy and I forgot. It wasn’t that I didn’t think you worthy of consideration in the matter—it was more of an impulsive move on my part.
“I saw the wanted posters with the pictures of bank robbers on them. I went to the bank and asked the manager what would happen if the bank was robbed. He said sometimes the bank’s owner would try to repay some of the money, but certainly not all of it. I panicked and withdrew it and put the money back in the sugar bowl where it’s always been kept.
“I do value your opinion and judgment. You’ve done a wonderful job with the ranch, and you’re a wonderful husband and father. How could I not love you?”
Max was speechless. He’d jumped to conclusions. She'd withdrawn the money on an impulse; it hadn't been a planned move to ignore his judgment.
“Why have you never told me that you loved me? I’ve told you how I felt.”
“Oh, Max! It’s been a long time since I’ve told a man I loved him. I said it to you but just not aloud. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t said it. I love you with all my heart. I could never ever find a husband that I love and respect more than I do you.”
Max pulled her close. “I’m sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusions. I should have known—”
“That’s the problem. We don’t know each other well even though we’re in love. It will take time to adjust and learn how each other thinks and acts. I was so afraid I’d lost you, Max.”
He leaned back into a reclined position and pulled her down to lie beside him on the settee. “I just want to hold you for a while.”
Laura looked up, found his lips, and kissed him. “I do love you, Max.”
“I love you, Laura Winters.” He kissed her passionately. “So very much!”
Epilogue
Catherine didn’t stay in Silverpines long. When Jake didn’t welcome her either, she made a hasty departure. Max thought she’d heard about the inheritance they’d both received—it would have been enough to make her travel all the way to Silverpines.
A few months after things had been smoothed over between Laura and Max, they announced the imminent birth of a baby. Caro was thrilled and ran around telling people she was going to have a baby.
Jake visited, but so far there were no obvious signs of romance between him and Dawn, but there was always time.
One never knew what might happen…unless they read the next book in the series by Barbara Goss.
THE END
Next book in this series is: Wanted: Gunsmith by Lynn Donovan.
Click the link below for a sneak peek.
http://georgemcvey.weebly.com/silverpines-preview.html
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1. Forbidden Legacy
2. Captured Heart
3. Stolen Heritage
4. Dangerous Illusions
5. Silent Love
6. The Final Vow
7. The Kissing Bridge
8. Drawn from Darkness
9. Temptation by Moonlight
10. The Romantic Ruse
11. Shadow of Shame
12. Shadow of Deceit
13. Shadow of Regret
14. Shadow of Hope
15. Shadow of Love
16. Shadow of Faith
17. Shadow of Second Chances
18. Sunshine in the Rain
19. Yesterday’s Rain
20. Mail Order Mishap Book 1
21. Mail Order Vixen Book 2
22. Mail Order Ruse book 3
23 Mail Order Calamity Book 4
24 Mail Order Compromise Book 5
25. The Guilty Proposal
26. The Reckless Proposal
27. The Shotgun Proposal
28. The Housekeeper’s Proposal
29. Dan McCall’s Bride
30. Looking for Love:
31. Delightfully Deluded
32. Ricochet Romance
33. Wanted: Horse Breeder – summer 2018
34. Lawfully: Rescued – summer 2018
