“I swear it.”
“I’ll need more proof,” he came back gruffly.
Before she could think, his head descended, blotting out all light. He’d trapped her mouth with his own.
The force of his passion drove her back against the pillow. Ashley let out a slight gasp before she found herself being hungrily devoured.
Caught completely off guard, she began returning her husband’s ardor with a ferocity that knew no bounds. Without realizing it, her hands crept up his chest to clasp him around the neck. Their kiss deepened. She never wanted it to end.
Somehow, she didn’t know how, Cord had stretched out on the hospital bed beside her, the fingers of one hand twisted in her short hair as he covered her face and neck with kisses.
“Darling,” he whispered against her lips, kissing them over and over again. “Last night you fell asleep on me, and now I want you so much I’m burning alive. You want me, too. I can tell because wherever I touch you, you tremble,” he murmured provocatively against her throat where a little pulse raced. “Sit up a little so I can remove your—”
“Good morning you two.”
“Vince—” they both cried at the same time.
Turning every shade of red, Ashley pulled the sheet over her head.
“Sorry to disturb. It looks like you two forgot about breakfast. I’ll come back in five minutes. All right?”
“I guess it will have to be,” Cord mocked dryly. She felt the mattress give as he got to his feet. “But I’m letting you know right now your timing is lousy.” Ashley heard Vince’s delighted chuckle before he left them alone again.
“While you turn yourself into a decent woman, Mrs. McKnight, I’ll put on some clothes and bring us back whatever’s left of breakfast.”
Anything she might have said in response was smothered by another hungry kiss before he helped her from the bed.
“Oh, boy,” she muttered in self-disgust as she fairly waddled across the room.
Cord’s teasing laughter didn’t help as she closed the bathroom door on him. She never expected to hear that happy sound again and leaned against it for a minute. This morning, her joy could hardly be contained.
Fortunately for her and Cord, Vince gave them closer to a half hour before he returned to the room. In that amount of time they’d eaten, and Ashley had made herself presentable in one of her pants and flowered tops.
Every time she looked at Cord’s virile, good looks, dressed for comfort in well-worn jeans and T-shirt, her heart turned over.
When all three were seated, Vince glanced from one to the other, his gaze speculative. “Was it only Monday morning that the two caring, intelligent people in this room couldn’t talk to each other because they were in so much pain?
“Now it’s Friday, and lo and behold, not only do I discover that you’re both still here— I find I need to make appointments with you so I won’t walk in on the late late show.”
Ashley laughed quietly while Cord sat there grinning.
‘‘I take it this time at the clinic has done wonders for your marriage.”
Cord grasped Ashley’s hand and held on to it. “It has, Vince.”
“Thank you for putting up with us,” Ashley chimed in.
“I couldn’t be happier. Naturally I’m hoping that because you’ve resolved some major problems, your desire to smoke will diminish and you’ll use the tools you’ve learned here to combat the urge when it does crop up.”
“To be honest, Vince, while we’ve been in here, I haven’t even thought about it.”
“That’s good. But remember that this has been a safe place. There will come a time after you’ve left the hospital when you’ll be vulnerable again.”
Cord’s dark blue gaze sobered as it flicked to Ashley and lingered. “We both realize that.”
We do. We still have Sheila to face.
“All right. Now, for some information which we need to discuss. The hospital has planned a surprise weekend outing down to Bryce and Zion Canyons. It was announced at breakfast but you weren’t there.”
Ashley blinked in surprise.
“We’ll be leaving in the vans within a half hour. It’s important that Cord goes. There will be group therapy sessions during this period which are a vital part of the program.
“But at this late stage in your pregnancy, Ashley, the discomfort of riding long distances, plus the walking and horseback riding make it prohibitive for you to go. In fact, Dr. Drake won’t allow it because he wouldn’t want you to be that far away from your doctor in case of an emergency. There would be legal ramifications, as you can imagine.
“Therefore you’ll have to remain behind while I ride with Cord. Just remember that you’re free to stay here at the hospital until our return Sunday afternoon for a final meeting. But if that doesn’t appeal, you’re welcome to go home, whatever you prefer.”
“She’ll stay here,” Cord made the split-second decision in no uncertain terms.
“Good.” Vince got up from the chair. “Then I won’t keep you two any longer since you’ve got some packing to do. Meet me in the lounge in twenty minutes, all right, Cord?”
Ashley shouldn’t have been so upset by the announcement that her husband was going to have to leave her for a couple of days. The whole reason he had come into the hospital was to take advantage of the therapy offered.
When she thought about it, an outing in nature sounded like a wonderful idea, something all the people involved in the program needed at this point so the walls wouldn’t close in on them.
But she and Cord had just gotten back together and the idea of another separation, no matter how short— “I’m in as much pain as you are,” Cord whispered, coming up from behind to slide his arms around her. “Lord—leaving you is the last thing I want to do right now. I had no idea a trip was part of the program.”
“Neither did I, but it will be good for you. As for me, I’ll do a little shopping for the baby and finish the quilt.”
“Don’t go out, Ashley. We’ll shop next week. Just stay here where I know you’re safe. I don’t want you taking any chances. Promise that you’ll mind me this one time.”
She heard his fear and knew he worried about her condition. About Sheila.
Ashley’s eyes closed tightly. “I promise.”
The next few minutes passed by in a blur while Cord showered and dressed. Ashley automatically helped him pack what he would need, but the silence between them was testimony of a new tension brought on by the knowledge that they were going to be separated again.
Once he’d shut his case, his probing gaze studied her closed expression. “I can’t do it, Ashley.” He shook his dark head. “I can’t leave you.”
She realized it was up to her if he went or not. When she’d run away from him almost eight months ago, it had done even more damage than she’d realized. To both of them.
“You have to go.” On a burst of pure inspiration she ventured, “Would you feel better if I went to the orphanage and stayed there until you came for me? I always have a place with Sister Bernice. She’ll guard me with a vengeance.”
Actually when she thought about it, being around the wise nun was exactly what Ashley needed right now.
Though he didn’t immediately say anything, something flickered in the recesses of his eyes, giving her his answer. He wanted her safe, out of harm’s way. Out of Sheila’s way… He trusted Sister Bernice.
“Only if I thought you wouldn’t do any work.”
She smiled. “Taking care of the babies is a joy. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt me to have one last refresher course before my permanent job begins. If you have the opportunity to be near a phone during the trip, all you have to do is call the orphanage.”
“You would do that for me?” Though his breath sounded ragged, she could hear his relief.
“I think my presence here this week should convince you that I’d do anything to make our marriage work.”
In the next instant she was crushed in his arm
s, baby and all. “So would I, Ashley. Anything.”
His mouth descended on hers in a fiery kiss that burned its way through to her soul. “I love you, darling,” he whispered before finally lifting his head.
Her blue eyes stared longingly into his. “I love you, too, Cord. From the very first moment you appeared on that mountain ledge, my life has never been the same. If our awful separation has taught me one thing, it’s that my world makes no sense without you.”
“Amen,” he muttered fiercely. After one more soul-destroying kiss, he helped pack her things. As they passed the nursing station, he informed the person in charge of their plans. With another aside to Vince who said the vans were parked at the west entrance, she and Cord left the floor together.
Not satisfied until she was in her car and had backed out, he stood watching with that proprietorial look she loved, hands on his hips. “Expect me sometime Sunday afternoon.”
She leaned out the window for one last kiss. “You stay safe, too,” she ordered before driving off, her eyes misty. “I—I couldn’t handle it if anything happened to you.”
His face darkened with lines. “Nothing’s going to happen. Not to either of us. We have a son to raise and the rest of our lives to love each other. Just hold that thought.”
“I will.”
The hardest thing Ashley ever had to do was drive away from him. Thank heaven she was going to St. Anne’s.
When she reached the orphanage twenty minutes later, it appeared she’d walked in on a minor crisis because several of the help were down with the flu. Ashley could see another pair of hands were needed.
Sister Bernice appeared thrilled to see her and told her she was welcome to stay. But when Ashley offered to help out, the nun refused, reminding Ashley she needed to take care of herself this close to her delivery date.
Naturally Ashley recognized that there were a lot of jobs she shouldn’t do. But she knew the orphanage routine blindfolded, and after depositing her things in one of the rooms designated for new arrivals, she went to the nursery. Sister Bernice wouldn’t get too upset if Ashley helped feed a couple of the babies.
Though thoughts of her husband never left her mind, Ashley found that being with the babies made the hours fly by. When she went to bed that night, she was asleep before her head even touched the pillow.
Saturday she slept in, but by afternoon, she reported to the nursery again. She hadn’t been there long before she was called to Sister Bernice’s office.
“There’s a call for you,” the nun said with a decided twinkle in her eye before she left the room to give Ashley her privacy.
She thanked her, then picked up the receiver with trembling hands. “Cord?”
“Darling?”
Ashley sank down on the chair. “I—I’m so glad you called.”
“Then you have some idea of how I’m feeling right now,” came his impassioned murmur. “This was my first opportunity. Sister Bernice told me you’ve been helping in the nursery. She also said you were an angel sent straight from heaven, but I could have told her that already.”
Too overcome with emotion she could only murmur, “It’s therapy.” After swallowing hard, “How are you? How is it going?”
“It’s good. I’m learning a lot. Being down here makes me hunger for the life we’re going to have in the Tetons. I’ve got plans, Ashley. I can’t wait to talk to you about them when I get home tomorrow.”
She gripped the phone tighter. “Do you know when that will be?”
“Around five in the afternoon. Vince has taken pity on me and says I don’t have to stay for the last meeting at the hospital. I’m free to come for you.”
She sucked in her breath. “I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I. Two nights away from you are killing me. After tomorrow we’re never going to be parted again.”
“No. Never.”
“Ashley—” He started to say something, then she heard voices. “Darling? It looks like I have to get off. Someone else needs to use the phone.”
To have to hang up now came as a crushing blow. She fought to stay composed, but her voice cracked when she said, “I understand. Goodnight, my love.”
“See you in my dreams.”
The phone went dead.
Sister Bernice had just said goodnight to one of the children and was returning to her office when she saw Ashley. “Is everything all right with your husband?” Ashley nodded.
“Good.” The older nun smiled. “But I sense the next twelve hours or so are going to be hard to get through without him.”
At that comment, Ashley blushed. “I’m transparent. I know.”
“It’s wonderful to see you so happy. I want you to stay that way when you go home with him tomorrow. No matter what problems you have to face, always remember how you’re feeling tonight—and you’ll get through them.”
She nodded. “I plan to take your advice.”
“Good. Now let’s talk about tomorrow. I have an expectant mother coming to see me in the morning. She’s thinking of giving up her baby.”
A subject Ashley understood only too well. Her own biological mother obviously couldn’t have given Ashley a good life and did the right thing by bringing her to the orphanage.
“She’ll be here at the time I normally conduct the singing and stories for the Sunday school.”
“I’ll be glad to do it for you,” Ashley said without having to be asked. Sunday school was a favorite time for the children and staff, and it was the kind of job she could handle at this late stage in her pregnancy.
“Bless you. I’m afraid you’ll have to handle everything by yourself. Sister Clarisse is still sick and won’t be able to accompany you on the piano.”
“That’s all right. We’ll get along fine.”
Before Ashley went to bed, she set things up in the room where she herself had attended hundreds of religious instruction classes. After mentally working out a program for the next morning, she went to bed exhausted but excited because tomorrow afternoon Cord would be coming for her.
Sunday turned out to be a warm, beautiful day. Ashley woke up feeling euphoric and set about her tasks with joy.
Following procedure, as soon as the closing song and prayer had been given, the children were excused from class to go outside on the enclosed grounds and play until lunch.
Satisfied that everything had gone well, Ashley put all the pictures and charts back in the cupboard and then headed for the kitchen to grab a bite of lunch.
But an all too familiar figure in a stunning lime green dress had just come out of Sister Bernice’s office. Ashley’s heart dropped to her feet, and she came to an abrupt standstill.
Sheila.
For the moment they were alone. Obviously she had either phoned or gone by the hospital to see Cord. When she had discovered that he was unavailable, she’d somehow managed to wangle Ashley’s whereabouts from the clerk on the floor.
It would be dangerous to ever underestimate Cord’s stepmother who allowed nothing to get in her way when she wanted something. Or someone.
Cord would be furious, but no more so than Ashley. Dispensing with civility she demanded, “What are you doing here, Sheila? What is so important that you couldn’t have waited until Cord and I arrived home tonight?”
The other woman’s eyes silently mocked her. “You have an inflated sense of your own self-importance, Ashley. As it happens, I didn’t come to see you and had no idea you were here. But I should have guessed. After all, this is where you belong.”
“That’s correct. St. Anne’s is my home away from home. I have the legitimate right to be here.”
“If you’re implying that I don’t, then think again. It’s a state-run institution. Anyone from the streets is welcome here.”
“True, Sheila. Even you…”
Ashley couldn’t help turning the insult back on the other woman with the greatest of relish.
Sheila’s pewter eyes darkened a trifle. “Cord never did have a clue tha
t behind your insipid facade you’re as tough as nails. It’s incredible that for such an intelligent man, he wondered needlessly about how you would fend for yourself after you left him. The poor thing was on the verge of worrying himself sick over your disappearance, fearing you had no place to go, no one to take care of you.”
That news was music to Ashley’s ears. “Cord always was a giver. He always will be.”
She thought Sheila’s mouth hardened a fraction. “Nevertheless, when he couldn’t find you, I urged him not to worry and reminded him that Greg was extremely fond of you. Naturally he would see to it that you didn’t end up abandoned the way you once were as a child.”
Ashley could sense exactly where this conversation was headed. “As Cord and I explained earlier, Greg’s not the father, Sheila.”
It felt good to know that for once Ashley could trust the source of her information, which was herself.
No doubt Sheila had planted that particular poison about Greg in Cord’s mind the very first day of Ashley’s disappearance. No wonder Greg’s name was the first one to pass Cord’s lips when he saw her last Monday morning in the advanced stages of pregnancy. It could have destroyed his friendship with the other man.
Thank heaven Greg had refused to allow that to happen. If anything, he’d risked Ashley’s displeasure when he’d broken his promise to her by giving Cord her phone number.
But he’d done it for the purest of reasons. No greater love can a man show, than he lay down his life for his friend. Ashley loved Greg for staying loyal to both of them through such a dark period. One day she’d find a way to thank him properly.
“Whatever you came for, it will have to wait until tonight. I have work to do.” She put a hand on the banister to start up the stairs, aware of Sheila’s unflattering perusal.
“Those swollen feet look sore.”
Another jab which should have hurt, but didn’t. “Swollen feet, stretch marks, weight gain—they’re all a small price to pay for bringing a child into the world. Especially a miracle child.”
It was obvious Sheila didn’t know what to make of this new dimension to Ashley’s psyche which allowed her to stand her ground instead of retreating from the enemy.
Baby In A Million Page 12
