CantrellsBride

by Suzanne Ferrell

  The passion flared between them, then suddenly he realized where this was headed and released Laura, almost dropping her back to her knees as he moved away from her.

  Stomping her foot, she grabbed him by the arm, forcing him to turn and look at her. Passion still raged in her fiery jade eyes.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Laura, darlin’, we have to think of the baby.” He ran his hands through his hair. Ever since he’d loved her the night of the barn dance, he’d been afraid this passion, this need he had for her would harm her or the baby. And the idea scared him worse than facing a whole battalion of Yankee soldiers back in the war. “If I did anything to harm it or you, then I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “You’re being absurd. I think I’ve had about all the coddling I can stand.” She pointed her finger into his chest, pushing him backward. “I’m not some fragile china doll that will break if you touch me. I’m a living, breathing woman, capable of carrying a child, doing all of my housework and finding pleasure with my husband without it affecting either myself or my child.”

  As she talked, she steadily pushed him back toward the large chair near the fireplace. He backed up not so much from the force of her finger or the look on her face, but from the sheer enjoyment of knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her, her passion and determination easing some of the fear in him.

  “Furthermore,” she said with one final push, which landed him in the chair. “I expect to continue helping with the school dances, the quilting bees and the church socials. I plan to work in the harvest this fall, learn to can and do anything else a farm wife is supposed to do. So you can either help me or get out of my way.”

  “Yes, darlin’, I understand.” He grinned at her. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “You can kiss me now, you big idiot.” She seated herself in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  There was nothing he could do but comply with her demands.

  * * * * *

  Laura awoke smiling at the memory of what had brought her to the bed in the first place. A woman could really get used to spending her days and nights in bed with Nathan. She was glad that woman was her.

  She stretched her arms then pushed herself up off the bed. The letter underneath her hand stopped her. Nathan must have put it there while she was asleep.

  Picking it up, she recognized Claudia’s handwriting. It had been months since she’d sent her friend a letter disclosing her exact whereabouts. She hadn’t wanted her to worry too much about her circumstances.

  Opening the letter, she began to read.

  Dear Laura,

  How are you getting along? I was pleased to hear you arrived safely in Colorado and that your husband and his daughter have made you welcome in their home. I was afraid you’d gone from one bad situation to another.

  I have some news I thought you might want to hear. They found the senator’s body washed up on the bank of the Potomac. They identified him by his missing left pinkie finger. I believe he told you he lost it in the battle of Gettysburg. His throat had been cut, just as you described. I still can’t believe you actually witnessed something that horrible.

  Officer Howard came by the morning the news broke to tell us. He still feels you’re safer staying away. It turns out the servant that he’d talked to at the senator’s resident wasn’t really a servant after all. He still hasn’t determined why the senator was murdered, but he is continuing to investigate.

  The second piece of news is that a certain party has left Washington. I haven’t been able to learn his destination, but I do know he traveled west. I thought I should warn you in case he somehow discovers where you are. I want you to be extra careful and I think you might confide in your husband about what is happening. He sounds like he would be capable of protecting you.

  I know you haven’t always trusted people, and with good reason, but you need someone on your side now. You can’t go this alone. At least consider it.

  All my love,

  Claudia

  Laura folded the letter with shaky hands. Her heart pounded hard. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to calm her nerves. She needed to think.

  Blackwood couldn’t possibly know where she was. He just couldn’t, could he? She didn’t dare tell Nathan, no matter what Claudia said. He said he wouldn’t keep a woman who had secrets. This wasn’t just a secret; this was a danger to him and Rachel.

  She put her hand over her tummy. And now a danger to this child.

  Don’t you worry, little one. She patted her slightly larger stomach. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.

  The news from her letter still fresh in her mind, she went downstairs to prepare dinner. It was later in the evening than she had imagined, so she threw together a meal much like the very first one she made when she came to live with Nathan. She’d just set the table when he entered the kitchen.

  “Laura, are you all right?” he asked, concern apparent in his voice.

  “Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?” she replied curtly. “I told you earlier, I’m capable of doing things without being coddled. Now wash up before the food gets cold. Next thing I know you’ll be saying I can’t even cook dinner anymore.”

  She slammed the bowl down on the table and ran from the room in tears.

  Puzzled, Nathan sat at the table absently helping Rachel eat her meal and listening to his wife sob in their bedroom. Finally he couldn’t stand it anymore and left the kitchen to see what was wrong. He set Rachel in her room with her doll then quietly went to the bedroom to check on Laura. All this crying couldn’t be good for her or the baby. He found her curled up in a ball on the bed, her sobs shaking her body.

  “Laura, what’s wrong?” He drew her back against him as he climbed onto the bed with her. “You have to stop crying. You don’t want to hurt the baby, do you?”

  “No-n-no. I wouldn’t d-do anyth-thing to hurt our b-baby,” she sobbed.

  Our baby. He liked the way that sounded and it was a good sign. He continued to hold her, stroking her arms and face as he tried to quiet her down. “Shh…shh. It’s all right. That’s it, just settle down now. You’re all right. Shh…shh.”

  Her body relaxed against his. He held her until he heard the gentle sounds of her breathing as she fell asleep. Sarah had told him there would be times when Laura would have uncontrollable bouts of crying. Sarah had also said that since Laura hadn’t been around anyone who’d been in the family way, she thought one of them should know what to expect over the next few months.

  What had set her off? It certainly couldn’t have been his desire to keep her from exhausting herself with farmwork. He eased himself away from her body and drew the covers over her once more. He placed a kiss on her swollen eyes, then turned to leave the room. The letter he’d left for her lay on her dresser and caught his eye.

  Was that what had her so upset? He knew he shouldn’t read her personal mail, but curiosity about Laura’s past and what might have gotten her so upset pushed him forward. Picking up the paper, he read the elegant handwriting.

  What it said nearly knocked his legs out from under him. He stumbled to the chair by the window and sat down hard.

  The lady described how the senator had been murdered as if Laura had firsthand knowledge. As he read further, something cold grabbed at his gut. His Laura had witnessed the entire event. Worse, she was in danger from the murderer.

  This Claudia was so concerned, she’d written to warn Laura that whoever killed the senator was coming west to track Laura down. His wife needed his protection but was unwilling or afraid to ask him for it.

  Nathan ran his hand over his face. How was he going to handle this mess? He could demand to know what was going on, but then she’d know he’d read her letter without her permission. Or he could wait and see what happened next. Hopefully she’d come to trust him enough to confide in him, which was very important to him. However by that time the killer might discover her whereabouts and tha
t would put both Laura and the baby’s lives in danger.

  He sighed and stared out the window that Laura had covered in white cotton and lace curtains. She’d taken to sewing like a fish to water, using her talent to help turn his house into a home. There wasn’t a window in the house that didn’t have a set of new curtains.

  His thoughts drifted to all the changes Laura had brought not only to the house’s furnishings, but to its occupants as well.

  Rachel thrived under his wife’s attentions. She’d gone from being nearly catatonic in her closed world to almost outgoing. Although she still didn’t speak, she could make her wants and needs understood. She no longer feared the touch of people. With Laura’s help, she fed herself and had learned to dress herself with little assistance. Laura even brought in one of the kittens from the barn as a pet for Rachel. The two were nearly inseparable.

  Rachel wasn’t the only one who’d changed under Laura’s influence. He looked forward to the evenings now, knowing she’d be there to share them with him. He enjoyed their conversations about the world, country, town and farm. She possessed a keen mind, quickly grasping the fundamentals of any topic he chose. He loved the feel of her in his arms, the touch of her hand in his as they walked together and the taste of her lips when they kissed.

  Even though she never used the word, she’d brought love to his home. She’d transformed his life from mere existence to happiness and excitement for the future. He’d finally learned what marriage should be like, and he wasn’t about to lose it or her now—and certainly not to some madman who wanted to kill her.

  Replacing the letter on the table, he quietly left the room, his mind already forming a plan.

  * * * * *

  “Nathan, what are you doing back in town today?” Frank looked up from the paper he was doing figures on. “I thought you’d be working on that cradle you bought the wood for yesterday.”

  “Not today, Frank.” Nathan looked around the store to see if anyone might overhear him. “I have something more important to tend to. Is Tom around?”

  “He’s out back chopping firewood for his mama. That woman is busy cleaning everything in the house with hot water, including children.” Frank laughed at the image. “I think Tom’s working up a good sweat to make taking a bath worth his effort.”

  Nathan normally would join his friend in a good laugh, but until Laura was safe, he doubted he’d find anything funny again. “Do you suppose you and I could go out and talk with him for a while?”

  Frank’s face grew serious. “Sure thing. Let me call Billy from the storeroom to mind things.”

  They found Tom outside chopping wood at a steady pace. The boy was overjoyed when they signaled him to cease his labor and join them.

  “That ought to be enough wood to keep your mama in hot water for the rest of the day,” commented Frank as he ladled up some water for Tom from the bucket by the back door of the store.

  “I don’t know, sir.” The young man grinned. “When she gets to cleaning like this, it’s best to stay out of her way or she’ll clean you too. Did you need me to help Billy in the store?” The affection Frank had for his stepson appeared to be returned in full measure by the young man.

  “No, Nathan here wanted to talk to both of us about something.”

  Both man and boy turned to see what their friend had to say. Tom settled himself on the porch rail while Frank and Nathan flanked the doorway, watching the store to be sure no one overheard what he said.

  “I’m in need of your help in a very serious matter,” he began. “I’ve learned that my wife witnessed a murder and is in danger.”

  “What?” Frank and Tom exclaimed simultaneously.

  Glancing around, Nathan signaled them to lower their voices. “I know. It’s hard to believe, but when she lived in Washington, she apparently saw the murder of that Senator Anderson from Maryland. You know, the one who was found with his throat cut.”

  “You mean she told you who did it?” Frank looked incredulous.

  “No, she didn’t. I found out without her knowing. Laura’s friend in Washington wrote her a letter to warn her the murderer might be heading West. I happened upon the letter by accident and that’s how I learned of Laura’s involvement.”

  “You read her mail?” Tom narrowed his eyes at Nathan.

  Chagrin crept over him. “I know it wasn’t the honorable thing to do, son, but since she became upset after reading it, I couldn’t think of a better way to find out the problem, could you?”

  Tom appeared to give this some thought, then shrugged as if he’d do the same thing if forced to protect someone he loved. “No sir, can’t say as I could.”

  “Seems to me the simplest thing to do would be force her to tell you everything, then alert the U.S. Marshal down in Denver,” Frank commented after a few minutes.

  “Can’t do that, Frank.” Nathan shook his head adamantly. “You see Laura thinks I don’t trust her. If she finds out I snooped into her personal mail she’ll never believe I’ve come to trust her with everything I hold dear. Winning her trust and keeping her safe are the most important things to me right now.”

  “So it’s that way with you, huh?” Frank gave him a knowing smile.

  “Yeah, I guess that’s the way it is with me.” Nathan smiled back. “So that’s where you two come in. If it’s not a problem for you, I’d like Tom to come out to live on the farm with us. He can help Laura with some of the household chores while I work in the field. And he can stick close to her, keeping an eye out for any strangers who might try to stop in.”

  “I suppose his mama and I could spare him for a while,” Frank said with a nod.

  “I’d be right proud to do that, sir,” Tom agreed, sitting a little straighter.

  “Do you have any idea what this murderer looks like?” Frank asked.

  “The only thing I’m sure of, the killer is a man. A woman wouldn’t have the strength to cut the senator’s throat. Other than that you know as much as I do. Hopefully before he shows up in town I’ll have gotten the whole story out of Laura.”

  Frank nodded, his face grave with concern. “What is it you want me to do?”

  “Since you see almost everyone who comes to town, I want you to let me know if you see anyone suspicious or anyone asking questions about Laura. I don’t want to put the whole town on alert. The fewer people who know about this, the less likely someone will make a mistake.”

  “I’ll be happy to do anything for that woman of yours. Sarah and I owe her an awful lot, as do most of the people in town. Have you thought about what you’re going to do when the murderer shows up?”

  Nathan shook his head. “To be honest, I’m hoping he won’t. If he does, I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep my wife and children safe.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Nathan grumbled as he drove the team around the bend and onto the main street of Doverton several weeks later.

  “I didn’t ask you to take me to town. You could’ve let Tom drive me, since you have him hovering around me like a mother hen.” Laura adjusted her grip on the buckboard to keep from flying off as they bounced over a rut in the road.

  “He’s already got his hands full watching Rachel today. And besides, this is a crazy idea no matter who drives the wagon. If you have to teach the saloon girls to read and write, they could just come out to the farm. A woman in your condition shouldn’t be traveling to town this much.”

  Laura laughed at his grumbling. “Nathan, I have to see Dr. Dawson once a month anyway. This way I meet Lola and Flora at Sarah’s, then I can walk over to the doctor’s for my visit.”

  He pulled the wagon to a stop outside the Jensens’ house, which sat behind the mercantile. He hopped down then hurried to help her off the wagon. Once she stood beside him, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips, staring into her eyes. “I’ll be back in an hour to walk with you to the doc’s.”

  “You don’t have to—” she started to pr
otest.

  He cupped the side of her face with his other hand and the concern in his eyes stopped her words. “I know I don’t have to. I want to. Promise me you’ll wait here until I come fetch you.”

  His words sounded as though she were incapable of finding her way to the doctor’s on her own, but she resisted the urge to roll her eyes and comment. The earnestness in his voice told her he’d worry if she didn’t let him walk with her. So she simply nodded.

  The door behind them opened. “Nathan, quit ogling yer wife and let her get in out of the hot sun,” Sarah ordered.

  Nathan winked and let go of her hand. “Yes ma’am. But you can’t blame a man for wanting to feast on the prettiest lady in town, can you?”

  Laura’s cheeks filled with heat, but she laughed as Sarah came to hug her.

  “Get on with ya now, she needs to come rest after that trip into town.” Sarah shooed him away as she slipped her arm in Laura’s. She pulled her into her kitchen where Lola was already seated at the table drinking tea.

  “Hello, Miz Cantrell.” Lola smiled over the rim of her cup as they entered. “Flora will be along in a minute. Miz Jensen sent her to the store to get slates.”

  “I told Billy to bundle up those supplies ya said we’d need, so the girl wouldn’t have to wait on Frank to do it.” She took the basket of books from Laura and set it on the table. “Speaking of children, how is that son of mine?”

  Laura settled into an empty chair at the head of the table. “Tom is fine. At first when Nathan told me he was going to stay with us, I was so angry I didn’t talk to him for two days. I thought it was another effort for my husband to coddle me. But then Tom has been so much help with the farming and chores, not to mention playing with Rachel, I had to admit to Nathan how right he was.”

  “Lord, honey, you’ll never hear the end of that now. Ya have to learn never to let yer husband know he’s right. Even when he’s right, make him think it was yer idea.” Sarah chuckled as she set a plate of pound cake on the table.