Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 1)

by Kinslow, Nanette

  “No, I want to go back, really. I miss Stavewood very much. It is home,” she assured him.

  “Then something else is wrong. What is it?”

  Rebecca moved slightly and winced again.

  “It’s nothing, really. I’ve got a stitch in my side.”

  The third spasm was harder to ignore and Timothy scooped her up and carried her to the bed, despite her protests.

  “Timothy. Honestly, it’s nothing. It will pass. It always does.”

  “Always does? How long has this been going on?” He stood over her, his face dark with worry as she lay on the bed.

  “A while. Timothy, please don’t make such a fuss. I’m fine.”

  “Since the shack? Is that when? Birget told me she noticed you favoring your side. Mark said you may have been kicked. Is that it?”

  “It’s fine, really.” Rebecca knew her time of the month had come and gone and supposed she might be expecting, but did not want to speak before she was certain.

  “Has it been the same pain since then? The truth, Rebecca.”

  “It’s the same place, yes,” she whispered. “But it might be something else.”

  “Something else?” he looked at her questioningly.

  “I missed my time, but I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure.” She lowered her eyes self-consciously and sat up on the bed.

  “A baby?” He sat down beside her and watched her closely.

  “I’m not sure though. I’ve never had this happen before,” she replied tentatively.

  “Are you unhappy that you might be expecting, Rebecca?” He touched her cheek.

  “No, not at all, it would be wonderful!” She looked into his worried eyes. “I just wanted to be sure before I got too excited.”

  Timothy kissed her face eagerly, overcome with relief.

  “Timothy,” she asked with surprise and worry. “Why are you crying?” She put her slender hands on either side of his face and turned him to her, his eyes meeting her own.

  “It doesn’t matter, Rebecca, remember? What happened before, it doesn’t matter.” His face was dark and serious.

  “No, it doesn’t. Corissa was expecting once, wasn’t she?” She had suspected it before, recalling her trip up to the attic at Stavewood. Now she wanted to hear it from him.

  “Yes,” he whispered, “but she didn’t want another child and she had been with Jude. She found a doctor in St. Peter. Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “More than anything in the world, Timothy. I would be overjoyed.”

  Rebecca felt another stitch and Timothy walked up to the main house to get his mother, despite Rebecca’s quiet protests.

  Isabel sat beside the girl on the bed and talked to her softly, while Timothy paced the parlor impatiently.

  “I’m not a doctor, Rebecca, but I’ve carried four children and you should not be having these pains. You can’t think of yourself as being a burden. If you are carrying a child then you must think about your baby and let a doctor examine you. Phillip has gone to fetch him now and if there’s nothing wrong then we’ll all be assured and you’ll know.”

  Rebecca sighed, she was so concerned about the fuss everyone was making and thought that, since the pain had lingered for so long, she could just continue to live with it. But if she was expecting it was different. She agreed to let the doctor examine her.

  Isabel held Rebecca’s hand beside her as the doctor completed his examination. He confirmed that she was indeed expecting, but expressed concern. Timothy’s parents excused themselves, retiring to the parlor so the doctor could talk to them privately.

  “There’s no question in my mind that you are going to be a father, Tim,” the doctor began, as he stood at the foot of the bed.

  Timothy kissed Rebecca’s hand and she smiled up at him sweetly.

  “From what Rebecca has explained to me, and the nature of her discomfort, I suspect she’s had some damage to her rib cage. Her condition is causing some pressure and may become much worse as her situation progresses. Any other time I would consider binding her ribs, but in this circumstance it is out of the question.”

  Timothy ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Tim, listen to me,” the doctor spoke sternly. “Rebecca is in perfect health otherwise and her confinement appears quite normal in every other way. The damage is not too severe and there appears to be a fair amount of healing. There is no reason to think your wife and child are facing any serious risk.

  “Rebecca will experience some discomfort. In fact, she may be quite uncomfortable from time to time, and she is to avoid any strenuous activities until the baby is born. You keep her fairly quiet and I expect you’ll be bouncing your first-born on your knee before you know it.”

  The big man shook the doctor’s hand, thanking him as he left the room, and then knelt beside the bed.

  “I’m so sorry, Timothy.” Rebecca whispered.

  “If I ever find Dianna, I swear I’ll kill her!” He ground his teeth.

  “Timothy, stop it. The doctor said I’ll be fine. I feel fine now, and for all of the time we’ve been here I’ve been feeling wonderful.” She smiled at him reassuringly. “You told me yourself that I’ll be trapped by the snow soon. Now I have something to do. I’ll work on a new baby!”

  Timothy looked into her eyes and swallowed hard.

  “Like the doctor said, you’ll be bouncing our baby soon. Please stop your worrying. We’re going to have a baby!”

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Timothy paced the parlor of the cottage angrily. “Rebecca, it’s out of the question. We’ll stay here until the baby comes and I think it’s safe to make the trip, not a minute before.”

  “It’s just a few feet of snow. I’m feeling fine today, I’m sure the ride would be alright. I can’t imagine making you stay here for months.” Rebecca was disappointed not to be returning to Stavewood, but she was sure Timothy was devastated.

  “You’re not making me stay. I just think it’s the only way. Why risk it? If something went wrong neither of us would forgive ourselves.” He sat down beside her at the table, taking both of her hands and looked at her openly.

  “I’ll be back first thing in the morning with everything you need and we’ll just stay here. You loved this cottage when we first came. It’s just a much longer honeymoon than we ever imagined.” He smiled and kissed her hands.

  “Not much of a honeymoon now, I suppose,” she sighed.

  “We can continue to satisfy your curiosities in no time, it’s always a honeymoon to me.” Rebecca had to smile at the twinkle in the man’s eye.

  “I will enjoy that very much,” Rebecca blushed. “I’m anxious for that myself.”

  Isabel walked onto the porch and held Rebecca by the shoulders, standing behind her on the cottage porch, as Timothy pulled away in the carriage.

  Rebecca turned, unable to watch the man leave, and cried onto the older woman’s shoulder.

  “He’ll be back soon, Rebecca. It’s not good for you to make yourself so upset. Come inside out of the cold and we’ll have something naughty and delicious to eat.”

  Rebecca allowed the woman to lead her inside and sat at the table, a faraway look in her eye.

  “He wanted so badly to return to Stavewood right away, right after we were married, he even stated it as we were leaving there. Oh, Isabel, I feel so terrible.” Rebecca fought back her tears. “He was so worried I would feel trapped at Stavewood like Corissa did, and now I have trapped him here away from home. I feel fine really, a little twinge sometimes, but not much more than before.”

  “Before now you didn’t have your baby to consider. Think about it, Rebecca. Inside of you a part of both of you is growing, depending on you to take care of yourself so it can come into the world healthy and strong. Timothy is a grown man and he knows he can’t just do as he pleases. He has a family now and he understands that. He loves you so much. Trust him to make the right choice. I assure you, he does not feel trapped any more than y
ou did at Stavewood.”

  Rebecca smiled. She accepted Isabel’s perspective and tried to understand. She sighed and decided that something to eat sounded wonderful.

  “I have to admit to you, Rebecca,” Isabel opened the basket she had brought down from the main house and revealed a collection of delectable pastries. “I’m rather pleased you’ll be here to have your baby.”

  “Are you excited about becoming a grandmother at last?” Rebecca pulled one of the chairs closer, arranging the pale yellow gingham cushion and propping up her feet.

  “You can’t imagine! I’m also quite happy that you convinced Timothy to bring Mark back with him. Phillip and I have never had the chance to get to know him, though we certainly have wanted to. Corissa would have none of it.

  “When you told me about being up at the cabin for so long I could have killed Timothy for leaving the boy there while he was away. We would have loved to have had him here. It’s a good thing he’ll have you to teach him to be a more responsible parent. He never cared much for our methods.” Isabel chuckled, tasted the pastry, and rolled her eyes.

  “I don’t know anything about it myself. I don’t know how well I might teach him.” Rebecca tasted the pastry and agreed with Isabel’s’ appreciative expressions. “Timothy gave me a kitten, for practice he said, right before we left to be married.”

  “See, Rebecca. There’s a perfect example! Timothy is thrilled that you’re expecting.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Rebecca sighed. “I just feel as if everything has gone badly and I can’t stop wanting to cry about every little thing.”

  “That’s part of how you learn to be a mother.” Isabel placed her hand upon Rebecca’s on the table. “You cry over everything. Sad, happy, sweet, silly. When your baby comes you understand how important every little emotion can be and you understand so much more. You’ll feel your baby’s every sensation and know how to communicate and care for him.

  “That however, does not apply to men. With men you understand less and less.”

  The two women laughed and Rebecca began to understand that Isabel was the perfect person to help her prepare for her baby.

  In the morning Timothy returned as promised, grinning broadly, with Mark beside him, holding the mewling kitten in a basket. The big man began unloading the carriage, taking out a boxful of yarn in every shade of blue.

  Rebecca hugged him fervently and ruffled Mark’s hair as she accepted the kitten.

  “Pa said you need more practice.” Mark’s eyes were twinkling and Rebecca was sure they must have had some interesting conversations about the baby.

  “He said I was getting a brother or a sister in the spring and I needed some practice, too.” The boy was visibly pleased.

  “I see you expect me to spend much of my time knitting. But only in blue?” Rebecca smiled at the two males, lifting her eyebrows and examining the bundles in the box.

  “Well,” Tim said devilishly. “If not blue, you could use these!” He reached inside the vehicle and pulled out an equally large box filled with pinks.

  Rebecca laughed, and, taking Mark by the shoulder, led him inside.

  Later, Phillip and Isabel took Mark up to the main house with promises of wonderful books and toys, threatening to tell stories of how badly Timothy had behaved as a child. Their son and Rebecca were left to enjoy their evening alone.

  “You thought you might be expecting before we came to town, didn’t you?” Timothy was lying on the bed, Rebecca’s head on his chest as he played with her hair.

  “Yes,” she whispered, drowsy with the pleasure of his fondling.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I didn’t want you to marry me just because I was expecting.”

  “Afraid you’d be trapping me?”

  “Yes, rather. I talked to your mother after you left. Do you remember when you asked me if I would feel trapped in the winter at Stavewood?” She moved slightly to free her hair from beneath her, allowing him more to play with.

  “Yes, vividly. Why?” He let a long strand fall from his fingers.

  “She told me that it was the same thing, my thinking I had trapped you here. Is that true?”

  “My mother is a very wise woman, Rebecca. She’s exactly right.”

  Rebecca ran her slender hand along his thigh, stopping short of being too intimate.

  “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” He held his breath.

  “It’s fine. I asked the doctor when he stopped by yesterday.”

  “You asked him what?” He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.

  “If it would hurt me if we made love.”

  Timothy cleared his throat, embarrassed to imagine what the conversation must have sounded like to the doctor. “What did he tell you?”

  “No swinging from the chandeliers and no standing me on my head. He suggested that there were ways we might enjoy one another I hadn’t thought of before.” Rebecca smiled up at him, a twinkle in her eye.

  “What? I don’t want to envision that conversation at all.” The big man blushed.

  “That’s what he said,” she grinned at the memory. She was nervous about asking, but the doctor was open and frank with her, professional, yet understanding.

  Timothy groaned, still uncertain and terrified that he might hurt the girl or her baby in some way.

  “You’re afraid, aren’t you?” She asked, laying her head back against his chest.

  “Very,” he responded softly.

  “Then why don’t you just let me satisfy my curiosity and you just lie back?” She began to stroke his thigh a bit more boldly.

  “Possibly,” he whispered cautiously. “Just exactly what are you curious about?”

  “I’ll show you,” she whispered as she turned and crawled up to face him.

  Chapter Sixty

  Patches of the rich soil had begun to show through melting snow in the woodland surrounding the cottage and the spring day was unusually warm. A bright collection of crocus was beginning to bloom along the pathway.

  Mark was seated beside Rebecca as she read aloud on the porch swing. “Grandmother Isabel told me that if I asked you might let me feel the baby pushing. She said to ask very nicely so you wouldn’t be uncomfortable.”

  “Grandmother?” Rebecca asked, watching the boy’s face.

  “Sure, she’s going to be the baby’s grandmother, so that makes her my grandmother too, right?”

  “Yes, you’re exactly right!” Rebecca watched the sleek black cat chase her yarn on the porch and then rub affectionately against her leg.

  “So, does the baby really push?”

  “Yes, quite well in fact.” Rebecca took the boy’s hand and pressed it to her rounded belly where the baby had kicked soundly just moments before.

  As her unborn infant pushed a tiny foot firmly against her Mark nearly leapt from the chair.

  “I felt it!” he exclaimed and held his hand carefully against her. “There it goes again! What’s it doing in there?” Mark was clearly amazed.

  “Getting crowded, I expect.” Timothy walked out onto the porch, having listened to their conversation from inside the doorway.

  “You should feel it, Pa! It’s pushing really hard!”

  “I have. It pushes me all night.” Timothy placed his hand lovingly on Rebecca’s shoulder.

  Rebecca shifted her position slightly.

  “Mark, let Rebecca be now. Why don’t you take the cat for a walk up to the house so Rebecca can get her nap?”

  The boy patted Rebecca’s belly softly, leaned close and whispered. “It’s spring now, you can come out pretty soon.” He jumped from the porch, calling the cat, which followed him as he ran up the path.

  Rebecca laughed and Timothy shook his head.

  “I guess he’s getting excited,” Timothy chuckled.

  “I’m just getting uncomfortable,” Rebecca sighed.

  Timothy helped her from the chair and took her arm, leading her inside. They both knew
that the baby was becoming difficult for Rebecca to carry now, but her pregnancy had gone well and her date was not far away.

  “I feel like a human pumpkin,” Rebecca remarked as Timothy helped her into the bed.

  “The most stunning pumpkin I’ve ever seen.”

  Rebecca settled against the soft, propped pillows and studied her husband’s fine face.

  “Something happened while you were up at Stavewood. I know it, please don’t deny it.”

  “You have enough to worry about. Let it be and I’ll sit with you if you like.” Timothy lifted her legs easily and placed her feet on his lap.

  “If you don’t tell me I will continue to worry and might imagine something far worse than the truth. I’m only expecting, Timothy. I’m not an invalid.”

  He rubbed her slender foot slowly, wishing she had not seen the concern on his face and hoping she would abandon her questioning.

  “I’ll only keep asking. Tell me please. You don’t need to worry alone.”

  Timothy sighed and looked her in the eye.

  “There’s talk that Dianna is back in the area. Someone may have seen her in the woods surrounding Stavewood.”

  “Oh, Timothy!” Rebecca tried to sit upright in the bed.

  “Sit back. I told you, you have enough to worry about. It’s fine. Nothing has happened for months. They could have been mistaken.” He sat her back and covered her legs with a light quilt.

  “Timothy,” she scolded. “Dianna is not a woman you tend to mistake for anyone else.”

  “Maybe it was just a huge moose,” he smiled.

  “Oh, you!” Rebecca smirked. “You’re just trying to keep me from worrying.”

  “Most definitely, woman. You let me worry and you sleep.” He tucked her in and sat carefully on the bed beside her.

  “I’m not in the least bit tired.” She took his hand gently.

  “Because you are going to lie here and worry now.”

  “No, that’s not it. I’ve felt rather energetic all day I just don’t move quickly enough for anyone to notice.” She giggled.