Donovan's Daughter (The Californians, Book 4) (22 page)

Alex and his mother went on talking for the next few
minutes. Marcail's attention began to wander around the
room, and she found it as well equipped as Alex had described. The bed was spacious, with a lovely headboard and footboard. There was a small dining table
with four chairs, and a small sofa, much like the one in
Alex's living room. The room even boasted its own little
pot-bellied stove.

Marcail's gaze moved past the stove and then shot
back when she spotted a dog lying next to it. At least she
thought it was a dog. It was big enough to be a small
horse. Marcail was unaware of the way both Alex and
Helen had stopped to watch her. Marcail's eyes were like
dinner plates, and her mouth opened but no words came
out.

"Come here, Danny," Helen finally spoke.

The enormous dog responded immediately, and as he
slowly approached, Marcail moved back on the bed until
she was against the footboard. Alex's arms seemed to
come out of nowhere, and Marcail relaxed when she felt
them.

"He won't hurt you," he said softly in her ear, and
Marcail let her head fall back against his shoulder. She
couldn't believe how good it felt to have him touch her. It
wasn't that his family frightened her, but everything
here was new and strange, and the feel of his arms was as
secure as the feel of walking in the front door of her own
home.

Danny came forward on Alex's command, and Marcail
reached out to pet him. His entire back end moved in
ecstacy over that attention, and Marcail knew in an
instant that Danny was as gentle as Alex declared.

After a few moments Helen sent Danny to get Ida,
something he'd been trained as a puppy to do. The
housekeeper brought a light snack that was enjoyed by
all, including Danny. Time seemed to race by, and Marcail was surprised when Alex said it was after 5:00 and he
wanted to take her upstairs to get settled before going to meet his father and brother. Following Alex's lead, Marcail kissed Helen as they left the room. Alex reminded his
mother they'd be back soon.

Alex and Marcail didn't see the smile that passed
between Ida and Helen on their exit. Both women were
thinking the same thought-their precious Alex had
found a jewel.

Alex and Marcail had not reached the stairs before his
father and oldest brother, Skip, came from their shared
office to meet Marcail. Their smiles were warm and their
hugs strong as they welcomed this "petite Montgomery," as Skip instantly called her.

Some moments went by before the Montgomery men
turned their attention to Alex to congratulate him and
wish him an early birthday greeting. Suddenly, and
without hint of a noisy arrival, the house was converged
upon by Montgomerys. In the space of a few seconds
Marcail and Alex were separated, and Marcail was left
alone to meet the rest of the family-one more brother,
two sisters-in-law, one sister, one brother-in-law, and
nine nieces and nephews.

Their welcome of her was exuberant, and Marcail was
looking very pleased, if not slightly overwhelmed, when
Alex finally made his way back to her side for the next 20
minutes.

All the families had brought food to eat, and a meal
was in preparation when Alex led Marcail from the
room. He headed her up the stairs, their bags once again
in hand. In the hallway at the top of the stairs, Marcail
finally spoke.

"I need to go down and help with supper."

Alex continued to usher her along. "They have all the
hands they need. You haven't had a moment to yourself
since we arrived. I think you should get settled in our
room."

Marcail was escorted into a large, immaculate bedroom. The inviting room was tastefully decorated, but
Marcail's attention was riveted to the wall opposite the
door. The wall displayed the headboard of a solitary, fullsized bed. Marcail walked slowly into the room and
stood at the footboard. She heard the door shut behind
her, but she stood still, certain she could not face Alex
just now.

"Look at me, Marc," Alex commanded softly.

Marcail hesitated before turning to find him in the
room's only chair, the bags at his feet.

"If you're thinking this is a setup to get you to do
something you're not ready for, you couldn't be more
wrong."

Marcail swallowed audibly, but didn't reply.

"There are other beds up here, but I feel our marriage
is a private matter. I'd just as soon we stay in the same
room." His voice was very reasonable, and Marcail listened attentively. "We have three nights here. If you feel
at all threatened after we sleep in the same bed tonight,
and I do mean sleep, I'll move across the hall."

Marcail stared at her husband and then at the bed. It's
certainly wide enough, was her first thought. And he's
proven to you repeatedly that he'll not hurt you. Aside from all
that, he is your husband.

"Marcail?"

Alex's soft calling of her name made her remember she
hadn't answered him.

'All right, Alex," Marcail agreed, noting that he didn't seem triumphant or even very pleased, just accepting of
her decision.

The family had a bit of a surprise for Alex and Marcail
when supper was over. They all gathered in Samuel and
Helen's bedroom so each family could present them with
a gift for their home. Marcail was so surprised she wasn't
sure what to say. Samuel and Helen gave them six teacups with hand-painted flowers and matching saucers.
A large mixing bowl came from Skip and his family.
Jeremy and Susan presented them with embroidered
pillow slips. Quinn and Hannah gave them ornate candlesticks and tall, tapered candles.

After the gifts were opened Marcail and Alex thanked
everyone with grateful warmth. Marcail did so because
the family had made her feel so accepted, and Alex
because he'd so wanted his wife to see his family for the
warm, generous people they were.

The celebration over, the children were served dessert
and then stayed in Grandma's room for a story. The
adults, all but Helen and Samuel, headed toward the
large dining room table for pie and coffee.

As the family became acquainted with Marcail, and
she with them, the dialogue took many twists and turns.
Marcail was on her second cup of coffee when the conversation turned to a family, new to the area, that Quinn
and Hannah were counseling. Alex asked how things
were going, and Marcail had the distinct impression that
the marriage was in trouble.

"How many kids do they have, Quinn?" Sue wanted
to know.

"Four. All under the age of six."

"I spend a lot of time praying for those kids," Hannah interjected, "since their folks fight whenever the two of
them are in the same room."

"It seems they don't even like each other," Quinn's
voice was sad on this note.

Marcail, having just taken a sip of coffee, spoke without thought. "They must like each other a little if they
have four kids."

The table grew abruptly quiet. Marcail, eyes still on
her clean pie plate, became very still. She raised her head
slowly to find every adult at the table grinning at her.

Marcail felt the blush begin on her chest and work its
way upward to her throat and face. The smiles around
the table grew wider, and before Marcail could guess
what was about to happen, Skip grabbed the lantern and
held it close to her face.

"Would you look at that face," he nearly whispered.
"Lit up like a house-afire."

Marcail's face was so hot she thought it would flame.
Turning her gaze to Alex, she found his look to be compassionate, but it also told her there was nothing he
could do.

"Well, if there were any doubts in our minds about
why Alex married Marcail, and there weren't," Quinn
spoke now, "they're all put to rest. Montgomery men
love a girl who blushes."

There was laughter around the table, and some of the
attention was turned from Marcail. She was able to relax
to a degree, but Alex had been right; they did tease her
from time to time just to see her face flush.

Her deepest blush came when everyone decided it was
bedtime, and they all left to go home for the night. What
no one knew was that her blush this time had nothing
whatsoever to do with her in-laws.

Marcail stood across the bedroom from Alex, not fully
believing she'd agreed to share this room and bed.
They'd just come in together, and Marcail watched as
Alex sat on the bed and pulled off his shoes. His back
was to her, but she told herself she'd sleep in her dress
before she'd take her clothes off right then.

Marcail's thoughts were beginning to turn tortuous
when Alex stood, went to the commode, and lifted the
pitcher from the bowl.

"I'll go down and get some water for the morning," he
said, as though he was simply mentioning the weather.
Whereupon he strolled casually out the door.

Marcail stood frozen to her spot for a few seconds
before, in her haste, she nearly tore the buttons from
her dress. She didn't know how long she had, but she
planned to be in her nightgown, under the covers, and
sound asleep before her spouse returned.

Alex made his way slowly downstairs, and as he
expected, found his father in the living room reading a
newspaper. The elder Montgomery laid the news aside
and smiled as Alex took a chair across from him.

"Is Marcail settled in?"

"I think so. She's getting ready for bed."

Something in his son's voice alerted Samuel. He was
very close to all of his children, but Alex was the most
like him. There was something on his mind, and Samuel
knew if he stayed quiet, Alex would share.

"She's not like Linette," Alex commented softly.

"Yes, I'd noticed. Does that bother you?"

"Only for Linette's sake."

This remark might have confused someone else, but
Samuel knew his son to be extremely loyal. He had loved
his first wife and always wished she could have been
happier.

"You were both very young when you started out,
Al," his father reminded him. 'And Linette never liked
surprises, not even as a child."