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Susannah, clutching Lucas’s hand, followed directions. Only a few minutes later, Doc held the next generation of Boyd men in his hands.
“He’s a fine, healthy boy, Susannah,” Doc assured her.
Lucas glanced at his son, but his attention was focused on his wife. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Can I get you anything? Does it hurt?”
“You can bring our son here,” she said. When her baby was laid in her arms, Susannah beamed at her husband. “See, I told you everything would be fine.”
His hand trembling, Lucas touched first his child and then his wife’s face. “Yes, you did. And you were right, as always. I love you.”
He gently kissed her soft lips.
“So next time I can have a daughter?” she teased.
They’d had several arguments over the topic of more children. Susannah wanted them, but Lucas wasn’t sure he could risk losing her again. She’d made him promise to change his mind if she came through this delivery without difficulties.
“We’ll see. Doc can—”
“Lucas, you promised,” she reminded him, cuddling her infant against her. “Besides, we make beautiful babies together. How could you say no?”
He stared at his beloved wife and child and only shook his head. He’d been truly blessed when Susannah came into his life. He never wanted to chance losing her.
But he also knew he could never deny her anything. And he suspected he’d have difficulty doing that with his children, too. His son grabbed hold of his finger, trying to carry this new object to his mouth.
Lucas tucked Susannah’s head against his shoulder. “I suppose we could consider a little girl. In a year or two. If you’re sure.”
Smiling at him, her love filling her eyes, Susannah nodded her head. “Yes, in a year or two.”
“But only if you promise she’ll look just like you,” he added.
“Okay, but only if you promise you’ll love me when I’m fat and lumpy again.”
She’d worried about losing her figure, but Lucas had delighted in every change, holding her close each night, giving thanks for her.
“Done,” he agreed, with no hesitation at all. And with another loving smile, he kissed her again, a kiss that communicated all the husbandly devotion that swelled his heart.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4756-1
THE NINE-MONTH BRIDE
Copyright © 1998 by Judy Christenberry
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