Donovan's Daughter (The Californians, Book 4) (40 page)

The end of the second week of school was upon her,
and Marcail waved the children off before straightening
up her room for the weekend. Class was going very well,
and Marcail couldn't have been more pleased. The students, all but Sydney, were still staring at her hair and
clothing, but she knew they would eventually grow
accustomed to the different dresses and hairstyle.

Each morning Alex drove the buggy as far as the
school, and then left it at the side of the building until he
returned for Marcail. For some reason, he was late this
day. Marcail didn't mind since it gave her some time to sit
and pray.

She poured her heart out to the Lord over her spouse.
She now knew she was in love with Alex, but she didn't
have the faintest notion as to how to tell him. She knew
he would welcome the words, but they simply would not
leave her mouth.

She also knew that when she told him, Alex would
make her his wife in every way. There was no fear within her at the thought, just a little breathless anticipation.
Marcail was finally in a position to heed her sister's
words of long ago: "Marc, when the man you marry
takes you in his arms, you won't feel fear. You'll desire
him as much as he desires you. That's the way God
meant it to be."

Marcail now understood those words, but she also
knew she was the person who would have to initiate
something, and here she drew a blank. She prayed until
Alex came for her, but was no closer to a decision than
before.

Alex saw that she was very quiet when he picked her
up, and assumed she was tired. She was as sweet as ever
through the evening, and he even found her watching
him on several occasions. When he questioned her, she
only shook her head. Alex wished she would share what
was in her heart.

Once in bed for the night, Marcail found herself with
the same wish. She knew she'd had several opportunities to tell him, but she had stayed silent. Now she
wondered how she would feel if he was called away and
something happened and he never came back? She
would never have had the joy of telling him of her love.

Her tortuous thoughts did not lead to a good night's
rest. Within two hours of falling asleep, Marcail awakened in the midst of a vivid nightmare. For the first time
in their marriage, Alex woke to find her moving about
the house in the middle of the night.

"Marcail?" he called softly to her as he came to the
bedroom door. He found her standing before the window, hugging her arms around herself.

"Marcail, are you all right?"

"I'm sorry I woke you."

She sounded breathless, and Alex realized she was crying. He came forward and put his arms around her.
She let her back fall against his chest.

"Bad dream?"

"Yes." Her voice was little more than a whisper.

"Want to talk about it?"

Marcail turned in his arms, "I wouldn't have let you
fall," she told him, the light from the full moon catching
the tears on her face.

"In your dream I was falling?"

"Yes," she said, her voice catching. "You were falling
from a cliff, and I was at the top. You kept begging me to
catch you. You said if I loved you I would catch you, but I
couldn't reach you. I wouldn't have let you fall, Alex-I
wouldn't have!"

"Shhh." Alex pulled her against his chest. "It was only
a dream. Of course you wouldn't let me fall."

"You don't understand." Marcail pulled away from
him, feeling desperate to make him understand. "What
if you really did die, and I never told you I loved you. I
couldn't stand it, Alex; I just couldn't stand it! I do love
you, Alex, more than I can say. I wanted to tell you all
evening, but I couldn't find the words."

Alex continued to hold her and spoke softly. "I'm
sorry you had the dream, but I'm not sorry about what
you told me."

"You don't seem very surprised," Marcail whispered
to him and hiccuped.

"I've known for some time that you were in love with
me."

"Why didn't you say anything?" This question accompanied yet another hiccup.

Alex chuckled and admitted. "There are some things a
man likes to hear voluntarily."

The word "voluntarily" hung between them. Alex's
greatest desire was to lift Marcail in his arms and carry her to the bedroom. But just as he had waited for her
admission of love, he also needed to give her time to
desire their physical union. In his own mind, the two
went hand in hand, but he realized that Marcail probably
did not feel that way. He knew he'd done the right thing
when Marcail stepped from his arms.

"Better now?" he asked softly.

"Yes, Alex. Thanks."

They moved of one accord then, back to their own
beds. Marcail settled in quickly on the sofa, but sleep was
miles away.

What did I do wrong? Did he not understand? Marcail
didn't know when she'd experienced such confusion. I
think he's taking his cue f rom me as usual, but I don't know how
to do this.

An image rose in Marcail's mind of Alex taking her in
his arms, and she knew real fear that swiftly turned to
anger. After turning over uncomfortably on the sofa, she
scolded herself.

You're such a coward, Marcail. Afraid of everything including your own husband. When are you going to grow up?
Marcail carried on in this vein for the better part of an
hour without a single thought of sleep. She remembered
much later than she should have that she needed to pray.
She had barely said ten words to the Lord, when she
realized she had to talk with Alex about the way she was
feeling.

You know he'll listen, she told herself as she rose from
the bed. However, he might wish you had waited until morning. Marcail sat up on the edge of the sofa in a moment of
indecision. When she finally moved soundlessly through
the living room, she had decided on a plan.

The house was very dark, but Marcail moved with
purpose toward the bedroom. The door was open, and
she stopped on the threshold. Very softly, Marcail called Alex's name, knowing that if he was already asleep her
voice wouldn't disturb him.

To Marcail's surprise he stirred instantly. She peered
through the darkness as he rustled around and lit the
lamp on the bedstand. When the room was illumined in
soft light, Marcail saw that Alex had come up to rest on
one elbow to watch her in her simple, sleeveless nightgown with its deep V-neck and buttons down the front.
Her own eyes went to Alex's bare chest above the sheet
and then back to his eyes. After taking a deep breath, she
spoke.

"Katie told me a long time ago that when a man and
woman are in love, there is nothing to fear. I seem to be
struggling with believing her right now. I know I must
seem like a child to you, but really I am afraid."

Alex's look was more tender than Marcail had ever
seen. She watched him draw the covers back from one
side of the bed in invitation. Of their own volition,
Marcail's feet propelled her forward. She crawled onto
the bed and knelt just a few inches from her husband.

"Katie is right." Alex's soft voice was deep, and Marcail felt a chill down her spine. "There is nothing to fear
because we do love each other. I've never thought of you
as a child. If you were a child, you wouldn't be ready to be
my wife-and you've proved that you are by joining me
tonight."

Marcail took great comfort in his words and found that
all cowardice had melted away. She leaned forward until
her lips found Alex's. She kissed him tenderly and when
that wasn't enough, she reached to hold his face in her
small hands and kiss him some more, hardly aware of
the way Alex's strong arms had come up to hold her.

Alex's own heart threatened to thunder from his chest
at her touch as well as the softly spoken words of love she whispered again and again. He knew this was a beginning for them, even as he knew she would spend this
night and every night in his arms. Again Alex found
himself asking if she had been worth the wait, and
without a doubt, he knew that she had.

Willits, California

April 21, 1882

Alex arrived at the schoolhouse a little early, so he
stood and watched his wife play with the children in the
schoolyard. It was a beautiful spring day, and the entire
class had joined hands and was moving in a circle. A
sweet song rose in the air, and Alex was content to stand
and listen.

Alex watched his tiny wife from 15 yards away. Her
skirt was dark, but her blouse was snow white, accentuating the dark color of her hair and eyes. He heard her
laughter drift through the air and smiled. She was such a
delight.

They had been married over a year, and Alex could say
in all honesty that it had been the most joy-filled year of
his life. The start had not been altogether easy, but now
they were as close as a husband and wife could be, and
Alex believed that with God as the head of their home,
the future would hold many more years of love and joy.

The group broke up some minutes later, and the children greeted Alex as they filed past him up the steps to
retrieve books and sweaters. Marcail did not follow them inside, but stood opposite Alex at the bottom of the
schoolhouse steps. One little boy, on his way up the
stairs, stopped to speak with Alex before going inside.
When the child was gone and Alex finally looked up, it
was to find Marcail's eyes on him.

"What are you thinking?" he questioned her softly.

"That I love you." Her voice was equally soft.

Very aware that the children would be reappearing at
any moment, Alex pointed a finger at her. "That's not
fair, Mrs. Montgomery. You're not allowed to say that
when I can't kiss you."

Marcail's smile was impish, and Alex's look told her
he'd collect that kiss another time. The children did
appear just seconds later, and both Marcail and Alex
talked with each one as they saw them off for the weekend.

"Mr. Flynn came to see me today," Marcail told him as
soon as they were alone.

'About?"

Marcail hesitated. "He wanted me to sign another
two-year contract."

Alex's brow rose. "I take it you didn't tell him about
the baby."

Marcail frowned, and Alex laughed incredulously.

"Marcail," he said, laughter still filling his voice. "I'm
your husband and a doctor. When are you going to
believe me?"

"But I don't feel pregnant," she protested.

"I assure you, darling, all the signs are there. If it
would make you feel better," his voice became very dry,
"write Katie and describe your symptoms to her. Having
four children makes her the expert."

Now it was Marcail's turn to laugh. She moved close
and put her arms around his waist. "I do believe, Dr.
Montgomery, that your feelings are hurt."

"No, but when you start to rival Kelsey for size, I'll just
say I told you so." Alex hugged her back, and dropped a
kiss on her head. "It's certainly a compliment that the
board wants you for two more years, but now you have a
decision to make."

Marcail leaned back in her husband's embrace, allowing her to see his face.

"Do you really think I'm expecting?"

"Absolutely."

Marcail smiled at the surety in his voice.

"Well, then," she spoke as a smile of pure contentment came over her face, "I believe the decision is already
made."

Visalia, California

May 18,1884

Pastor Sean Donovan stood at the front of the church
and watched as his father came in from the side door,
Rigg just behind him. He smiled down into those eyes
that were so like his own until he let his gaze travel out
over the congregation. He reflected for a moment on how
much he liked having a wedding immediately following
the sermon on Sunday. It had been Sadie's idea, and an
excellent one at that.

Minutes passed and the organ played, allowing Sean to
look out at his family and friends. Kaitlin stood with her
four-Gretchen, already so tall, Donovan, a sturdy fouryear-old and next to him, Molly, still a picture of her Aunt
Marcail. Katie held 18-month-old Zachary in her arms.