Capital Bride (16 page)
Authors: Cynthia Woolf
John followed, buried his face in her neck and collapsed on top of her.
She loved the feel of him on her. His big body covering hers, pushing her into the mattress. Of course, she could only take it for a short while before his size seemed to swamp her. He knew this and always rolled off of her before he became too much and she had to push him.
This time when he took her with him and clasped her to his side the feelings were different. She was different. The baby must have known it too; he kicked for the first time.
“Did you feel it? He kicked,” said Sarah.
“I did.” He took his hand and rubbed it over her belly, willing the baby to kick him again. He was rewarded for his efforts.
“I think he wants us to leave him alone,” she laughed as John rubbed her stomach again, trying to get the baby’s attention.
“Too bad. I want him to know his father.”
“Oh he will. He most certainly will.”
They lay there, basking in their love for as long as they dared.
“We need to get up.”
“I don’t want to, “said Sarah.
“I didn’t hurt you did I?” asked John, his hands roaming her body, checking for what he didn’t know.
“No, you didn’t hurt me. I loved it and I love you. I’d prefer to be able to spend the entire day in bed, but we can’t. I shouldn’t complain. Soon enough I won’t be able to get out of bed and will be glad to be able to get up again.”
“You didn’t have any complications with MaryAnn did you?”
“No, everything went fine and it’s all good with this one, too. You wait and see.”
* * *
Five Months Later
John paced the parlor. From the door across to the window in front of the sofa and behind the wing chairs. Back and forth again and again. His nerves were shot. He didn’t remember being this nervous when Dorothy had Katy. Maybe because he didn’t know any better or maybe because he didn’t love Dorothy like he did Sarah. Nathan Ravensclaw came over to sit with him and he was thankful for the company even if he didn’t talk to him much.
“Are you sure all this is worth it?” asked Nathan who was still a bachelor and had no children.
“She assures me it is. And I have to admit I don’t know what I’d do without my girls. They and Sarah make me the man I am. Without them, I don’t know what I’d be or where.”
“I understand the need. I’ve decided to get a mail order bride. Mrs. Selby and I have corresponded and her man came to interview me last week. I gave you and Sarah as references. I hope that was alright.”
John finally stopped his pacing and sat on the wing chair opposite Nathan.
“Of course. The man stopped by here last week and talked to both Sarah and me. He made lots of notes and seemed pleased by what we said. I remember how nervous I was when he came to see me, but it all turned out good for me. The best thing I’ve ever done was get Sarah and MaryAnn. You’ll be happy with the wife Mrs. Selby picks for you, as well. You may not think so to begin with, but she has a knack and it definitely worked for Sarah and me.”
There was an anguished cry from upstairs. John popped up out of the chair and looked up toward the stairs.
“It was just Sarah. I know this is hard on you, but the Arapahoe women do this all the time. They put strips of rawhide between their teeth so they don’t scream. Sarah would be a good Arapahoe.”
Then they heard it. Sounds of boots on the stairs. The doctor came into the parlor.
“Well, John you have a brand new son. Your wife would….”
John didn’t hear what the doctor had to say after son. He bound up the stairs two at a time and ran down the hall to his and Sarah’s bedroom. Bertha was helping Sarah into a fresh nightgown. The baby lay on the bed next to Sarah. John went to the bed just as Bertha finished. He sat on the edge of the bed next to her.
“You look beautiful.”
“I look a mess. But I’ve done the most wonderful thing. Look at him. Isn’t he beautiful?”
He looked at his son. So tiny and so perfect. Bertha hadn’t swaddled him yet so John could count the fingers and toes. He saw his fine black hair and blue eyes. He was going to be a miniature of John and look more like MaryAnn than Katy.
“The girls are going to be excited when they get back from the Blacks. It was nice of Roger and Addie to offer to take the girls when the time came. I don’t know what I would have done if they were here. I wasn’t good company to Nathan.”
Bertha came and swaddled the baby in a soft blanket then handed him to Sarah.
John lay back and put his arm around Sarah. She leaned back, cushioned by his chest and they admired their son.
“What shall we call him?” she asked.
“We could call him John Junior but I don’t really like the idea of a junior. Maybe if my name were something other than John. What about your father, what was his name?”
“No, I won’t name my son after the man who threw me out when I was pregnant with MaryAnn. What was your father’s name?”
“Samuel.”
“What about Samuel John Atwood. We’ll call him Sam.”
“I like that. Sam. Father would be proud.”
They looked down at little Sam. He started to whimper and Sarah put him to her breast. With a little encouragement he began to nurse.
“He’s beautiful.” She brushed her hand over his downy head. “Just like his daddy.”
“But he has his mother’s eyes. He’s going to look more like MaryAnn than anyone.”
“That should please her. She and Katy are going to spoil him rotten. You know that don’t you?”
“What else are big sisters for?”
He looked at his beautiful bride. “Thank you for giving me a son to go with our beautiful girls.”
“Would you have been disappointed if he’d been a girl?”
“Never. You can’t have too many girls.”
“I intend to give you lots more of both.”
“I intend to help you.”
They laughed.
All the sons and daughters that followed were straight and tall. And loved by parents who were lucky enough to have found each other by mail.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cynthia Woolf 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 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 was and 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 about a little boy she liked at the time.
She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after graduation and there was little time to write. Then in 1990 she and two friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates. She found that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories. In 1992 she joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded she not renew her memberships and her writing stagnated for many years.
In 2001, she saw an ad in the paper for a writers conference being put on by CRW and decided she'd attend. One of her favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, was the keynote speaker. Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat at Ms. Coulter's table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed to get back to her writing. She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and hasn't looked back.
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
OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE
HEIRESS BRIDE
CENTAURI DAWN
CENTAURI TWILIGHT
CENTAURI MIDNIGHT
TAME A WILD HEART
TAME A WILD WIND
TAME A WILD BRIDE
TAME A SUMMER HEART
THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA
THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA
THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA
