Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3)
Page 14
She writhed with need, unable to last another minute.
“Make love to me, Ben. Now. Please.”
“You only have to ask.”
He moved her onto her side and entered her from behind in deference to the baby.
Molly loved the feeling of fullness. She felt complete when he was inside her.
Ben made love to her slowly, gently. He was thoughtful and cared for her comfort. She couldn’t have asked for a more giving lover.
Her orgasm sent her to a place she couldn’t adequately describe, other than to say it was heaven.
CHAPTER 14
The day after the wedding, Molly and Ben moved into the new house. Now, two months later, she finally felt the house was her home.
She had thought the memories of being tied up in the kitchen wouldn’t bother her, but she was wrong and the situation got so bad she was having nightmares. In the end she gave in and replaced all the items that caused her the bad dreams. She’d changed the dining room set for another so she wouldn’t constantly be reminded of Tom Marlow and being tied to the chair. The floor boards where he had bled out were replaced with new ones and the floor refinished so it didn’t show where it had happened. Finally, the nightmares stopped.
Now she was waiting for the baby walking around the house in circles. Her water had broken several hours ago and she’d started walking as Julia commanded. She was getting tired and her contractions were coming less than five minutes apart. She’d sent Ben to get Matt and wondered when they’d return.
The sounds of an approaching buggy came from the driveway out front and walked to greet Matt. Instead she saw Ben helping Julia down from the conveyance.
“How are you?” asked Julia. She still noticed the attention Ben showed Julia and had to remind herself he was showing manners, that’s all.
“I’m good, all things considered. I feel ready to greet my daughter. Was Matt unavailable?”
Smiling Julia, “I’m back to working now and have taken over his obstetrics work. Does it worry you?”
“No. Certainly not.”
“Ben, give us a minute, would you, please?’
He left the room.
“Molly, are you still concerned about Ben and me?”
She closed her eyes and then sighed. “I guess I am. The feeling is always there in my mind that he would rather have you.”
“I wouldn’t.” Ben stood in the doorway. He walked to Molly and took her hands in his. “Molly, I don’t want anyone else, not Julia not anyone but you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” He leaned down and kissed her. “You are my world. This baby is joining our world and I love her”
Julia interrupted. “I’m sorry but I need Molly in bed now. I need to check your baby. Whoever this little person is, I think they’re ready to join us. How far apart are your contractions?”
“About two minutes now. I’ve been walking like you said to do.”
Ben stayed at Molly’s side. “She has been. Wouldn’t listen to me when I told her she should go to bed.”
“She was absolutely right not to,” said Julia with a nod. “She’ll have a much easier labor this way. You’ll see. Molly, let’s get you up to bed now though, so your baby can be born.”
Molly turned and lumbered toward the stairs.
Ben stopped her. “No, this time you’re listening to me and letting me carry you to bed.”
Molly sighed and then laughed as he swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs with the same ease he would have a pillow.
At the top, Molly moaned as a particularly hard contraction hit her.
Worry clouded his face. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just need to get to bed. Now.”
“On our way.” Ben began to run. He got to the bedroom and waited while Julia stripped the bed, leaving only the sheets.
“Set her down on the bed, please. Molly, lay back and lift your knees for me,” Julia instructed. “I see you’ve already got towels and water here for me. Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”
Molly did as she was told and waited for Julia to examine her. “I didn’t want you to have to get all the supplies after the baby is here.”
“Well what do we have here?” Julia glanced up and smiled. “Looks like your little one is ready to meet us. She’s crowning. Ben, now is the time for you to leave.”
“No, I’m not leaving.”
Julia smiled. “Good man. Now go hold your wife’s hand. Molly I want you to start pushing. Squeeze Ben’s hand if you need to. The baby is ready to come. Okay, Molly, push.”
Molly pushed as hard as she could and then had to rest and catch her breath.
“Okay that was good, now do it again. Push.”
Again and again, she pushed, her hands grabbing onto the sheets or squeezing Ben’s hands. Followed by her gasping to draw in air.
“One last good one and the baby will be free. Push. Push.”
Molly bore down and felt the baby slide from her body.
Julia caught the child and held her up by the foot to let the fluids drain from her. “You were right Molly, you have a sweet little girl.” She cleaned the baby’s mouth with her finger and swatted her on the butt.
The little one let out a wail.
“Oh, let me have her.” Molly held up her arms.
“Let me get her cleaned up first.”
Julia cut the cord and tied it off then Molly watched as she wet a cloth in the warm water and cleaned the child, marveling at the tiny body and limbs. Then she wrapped her in a blanket swaddled her tight and handed her to her mother.
She looked at the incredible creature she’d just given birth to and was immediately in love. The baby cried, though they were such small cries it was almost a squeak. “She’s beautiful.”
Ben stood at the head of the bed. Molly looked up and smiled. “Meet your daughter.”
He sat next to Molly so he could see the baby. First though, he gave Molly a kiss. “Thank you for giving me my daughter.”
Brimming with happiness, she couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re not disappointed she’s not a boy?”
“Not in the least. Now let’s look at her.”
Molly unwrapped the baby so they could see her little body. Together they counted her fingers and her toes. They each ran their fingers through her soft brown baby hair. Her squalling let everyone know she was still an unhappy infant. Molly pulled open her nightgown and put the baby to her breast, nudging her with her nipple until the baby latched on. Molly gasped and winced as the baby began to suckle.
Ben looked down at his wife and daughter. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“What shall we name her?”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
“I thought you might since you knew all along we were having a girl. Though just how you knew I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either, but I was certain of it. Anyway, I thought we would name her Charlotte Roberta King. We could call her Lottie.”
Ben leaned down and kissed Molly’s forehead. “That sounds good to me. Look she’s opening her eyes. They’re blue.”
Julia was cleaning up the linens and herself. “All babies have blue eyes. It will be a while before you’ll be able to tell if she’s keeping those pretty peepers.”
“I’m taking these down to the laundry and then I’m heading home. You three get to know each other.”
Molly gazed at Julia, tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Oh, you’d have managed.” Julia smiled. “Women have been having babies forever. Ben would have had to do the catching is all.”
“I don’t know that I could have,” said Ben. “So I’m doubly glad you were here.”
Molly gazed up at her beloved husband. “Thank you for giving me Lottie. I’ve loved her from the moment I knew about her. I love you both so much; I don’t know how to expres
s the feeling, or what I would do without either of you.”
Ben had tears in his eyes, too. “I feel the same. You and Lottie are my life and I love you more than I ever thought possible.”
Molly marveled at how much Ben had changed. From the stern, inattentive man he was when they first married to the wonderful husband, and now father, he’d become.
She and Ben stayed there, watching their daughter, rubbing her little belly and then her back when Molly tried to burp her.
Molly felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She had a handsome husband she loved and who returned her love and now a beautiful daughter.
No one could ask for more.
EPILOGUE
June, 1893
Molly sat in the front pew of the church looking back toward the door just as everyone else was. Sitting with her were her children. Ben Jr., nine and as handsome as his father, sat on the opposite end of the pew, next to him was his sister, Mary, aged five.
Next to her were the twins, Amelie and Angela, two, who had made their father’s hair gray with their antics. Baby Matt, sat on Molly’s lap. He’d just learned to walk and was squirming, wanting down to walk.
Her first-born, Charlotte, looked beautiful in the pink gown her mother had bought her. She walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. Lottie was so beautiful. Today marked her christening. A bit late, but quite relevant for today’s town.
Molly couldn’t look at Lottie without seeing her as a brand new baby. They’d been through so much, Molly and Ben, before Lottie was born, ten years ago.
Now, their marriage was stronger than ever and they had five more little ones to raise. She wondered what Ben would say if he knew she was expecting again. She hadn’t told him because she didn’t want to ruin Lottie’s day. She didn’t think he would be too happy. Before the twins came, they’d been talking about traveling and had started those same talks again when Matt became old enough that he didn’t have to be carried everywhere.
Ben walked Lottie down the aisle and they stopped in front of reverend. Then Ben came and sat down next to Molly. He took her hand in his. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you’re expecting again?”
“Shh, we’ll talk later.”
Later came after the communion party guests had all gone home, the children were all tucked into their beds and Molly was braiding her hair for bed.
Ben lay on the bed, his arms crossed behind his head on the pillow. “So? Give me the news about the baby.”
“How do you know? I haven’t told anyone and I haven’t even been to see Julia or Matt so I know they haven’t told you?”
“Your body tells me. Your breasts are a little heavier and definitely more sensitive. That only happens when you’re expecting.”
“Well, I was going to tell you tonight. I didn’t want to ruin Lottie’s day with the news.”
“How would that ruin her day?”
“Well, I didn’t think you’d be too happy. The twins are only two and Matt is just one and now another one is on the way. At this rate we’ll never get to travel like you want to do.”
Ben was off the bed like a shot and came close. He knelt in front of her as she sat at her vanity. “Having another child is not what we expected that’s true, but I love and want every child we have together. They are a part of us, conceived in love and wanted very much by parents who love them.”
Molly felt the tear as it trailed down her cheek. “I love you so much.” She placed her palm on his jaw and brought his lips to hers.
He kissed her like he always did when they were alone. Even after all these years his kisses still warmed her heart and made her toes curl.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cynthia Woolf is the author of six historical western romance books and one short story with more books on the way. She was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.
Their closest neighbor was about one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006.
Cynthia is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance, of course, about a little boy she liked at the time.
Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia’s father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy not a bounty hunter and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now) not the ranch owner.
Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she’s made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.
Connect with Cynthia Online
www.cynthiawoolf.com
Facebook
Twitter
OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE
MAIL ORDER OUTLAW
The Brides of Tombstone 1
MAIL ORDER DOCTOR
The Brides of Tombstone 2
MAIL ORDER BARON
The Brides of Tombstone 3
NELLIE
The Brides of San Francisco 1
ANNIE
The Brides of San Francisco 2
CORA
The Brides of San Francisco 3
JAKE
Book 1, Destiny in Deadwood series
LIAM
Book 2, Destiny in Deadwood series
ZACH
Book 3, Destiny in Deadwood series
CAPITAL BRIDE
Book 1, Matchmaker & Co. series
HEIRESS BRIDE
Book 2, Matchmaker & Co. series
FIERY BRIDE
Book 3, Matchmaker & Co. series
TAME A WILD HEART
Book 1, Tame series
TAME A WILD WIND
Book 2, Tame series
TAME A WILD BRIDE
Book 3, Tame series
TAME A SUMMER HEART
short story, Tame series
TAME A HONEYMOON HEART
novella, Tame series
WEBSITE – www.cynthiawoolf.com
NEWSLETTER – http://bit.ly/1qBWhFQ
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
About the Author
Other Titles by Cynthia Woolf