Authors: Cynthia Woolf
Liam (21 page)
“Thanks, you two.”
“Yes, thank you both,” said Eleanor. “Liam, would you please put me down now? I can walk.”
“Very well.”
He set her on her feet. She swayed a little bit. He reached for her and she swatted him away.
“Just give me a minute to get my bearings.”
“You lost a lot of blood, you’re liable to be light headed and weak,” said Liam.
“I know, but the best way to rebuild my strength is to move around on my own. Thank you for carrying me. I don’t know that I had enough strength to walk here from doc’s. It’s a fair distance.”
“That it is. Let’s get you to bed. Becky do you have a nightgown Eleanor could use?
“I sure do,” said Becky. “Already on the bed, waiting for your arrival. There’s a robe, too, and I’m making some tea. It’ll help sooth you.” She cocked her head in the direction of the kitchen. “Come on, follow me.”
They got to the lovely room off the kitchen. This would be for the cook and housekeeper, or in Becky’s case, because she loved to cook, it would be just for the housekeeper.
The room was set up simply, but it was charming. There was a double bed with brass head and foot rails, and nightstands on either side. A beautiful, brightly colored quilt graced the bed. The closet was built in and the door was opposite the bed. There was a bureau and a tall boy dresser along with a commode. All of the wooden pieces matched and were done in dark wood, maybe walnut or mahogany, Eleanor wasn’t sure. Becky had the wall done with paint and wallpaper. A pale green brocade wallpaper went down to the chair rail and the rest of the wall was painted a cream color below the rail. The effect was gorgeous.
“I do love what you’ve done with the room. It’s delightful. A wonderful place for me to recover. To that end, I think I’d like to get into bed now and,” she said to Liam, “perhaps take some of that laudanum the doctor sent over with you.”
“Of course. I’ll help you get undressed and get into bed, then get the medicine for you.”
“Becky can help me while you get the laudanum.” She wasn’t ready to be alone with Liam. Right now, after having nearly died, she wasn’t so sure what she felt about him. He said he couldn’t love her. If that was true, could she live her life with a man she loved who didn’t love her back?
Liam looked at her strangely, then smiled. “Becky, Jake, would you excuse us, please?”
“Sure thing. Becky, let’s get dinner going,” Jake looked over at Liam, “or better yet, why don’t we get a cup of coffee and sit on the porch for a spell.”
“But…” sputtered Becky as Jake shuttled her out of the room.
“Later,” he whispered to her.
Becky looked first at Eleanor and then at Liam. “Oh,” she said with sudden clarity. “Right. See you both later.”
Liam closed the door after them and leaned back against it, gazing at Eleanor.
“What do you want now, Liam?” She tried to wrap her arms around her waist, but her side hurt her.
“I want to know why your upset?” He said, not moving.
“Well, where should I start? I’m kidnapped by a lunatic who wants my husband and his entire family dead, including me. Then I get stabbed and think I might die…” she was sobbing now, and that was not what she wanted to be doing. “…without ever knowing love. You see my husband has already told me that he can never love me, and I love him so much it hurts. I don’t know if I can live like that.”
He shot off the wall and was by her side in a second. “What did you say?”
She turned away from him. “I don’t know if I can live like that.”
He turned her back to face him and lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Before that. What did you say before that.”
She sniffled. “That I love him so much it hurts.”
“That’s the part.”
He reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks, then leaned forward and took her lips with his in a gentle kiss. Holding her by the shoulders he brought her closer. “I don’t want to hurt your wound but I want you close enough to hear and understand me. I love you, Ellie. I may have since you first fell into my arms. I was an idiot, thinking I couldn’t love you. I was afraid. Afraid to lose you. Afraid to take a chance because I couldn’t go through that pain again. Will you forgive me?”
She gazed up into the beautiful gray eyes that always captured her with just a glance. Those same eyes that were icy when he saw Jordan, were now soft, like an overcast sky.
“You love me? Are you sure you’re not just saying this because I was stabbed today? I couldn’t take it if you changed your mind when I’m well…I…”
He put two fingers on her lips, stilling her words.
“I’m not going to change my mind. Not now, not ever.”
She started crying in earnest.
“Ellie, what’s the matter? I thought this would make you happy.”
“I am happy.” She grinned at him and sniffled. “Now help me out of these clothes.”
“Yes, ma’am, but we aren’t going to do anything. I’m just going to hold you until your medicine takes effect.”
“I hope you’ll hold me a lot longer than that.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Now that I’ve found you, I’m never letting you go. You belong to me and the kids.”
“Speaking of the kids, shouldn’t you tell them I’m all right.”
“Becky and Jake will take care of that. Right now,
you
are my main concern.”
He helped her out of her clothes, taking care not to disturb the bandage that covered her wound. Then he helped her into Becky’s nightgown, which was about six inches too short.
“Now lay back while I get your medicine.”
“No, don’t leave. You’re the best medicine I need. Take your clothes off and lie with me.”
Eleanor turned down the bedcovers and climbed in. Liam followed her quickly and pulled the covers up over them. She laid her good side against him and cuddled close.
“This is the best part of all that’s happened. Being close to you. Feeling your heart beat beneath my cheek.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “I would have us always be this close.”
“So would I.”
They were silent for a while, Eleanor simply enjoying being next to Liam. Feeling his skin under her fingertips, smooth over strong, lean muscles. And he was hers. He loved her. It was something she’d long quit dreaming of. That a family could be hers, would be hers, meant all of her dreams were coming true. Yet her new family was incomplete.
“What about Zach? How long will he be gone?” she asked Liam after they’d been lying together for awhile.
“He’ll hunt Jordan until he finds him. Then he’ll probably have to kill him. I don’t see Jordan as the type to give himself over to the law.”
“Do you think Jordan will come back here?”
“I’m almost certain of it. He wants the family dead. He’s not going to give up so easily. Zach will be back here and I believe the end will be here. One way or another, Jordan will not be a threat to this family any longer.”
She cuddled closer but her nightgown got in the way. Kicking off the covers, she got out of bed and tried to pull the offending garment over her head.
“Oww!” she said from underneath the gown.”
“Here, sweetheart, let me help you.” He pulled the nightdress over her head and tossed it away.
“I’m afraid that with this bandage I’m not very attractive…”
“Shh,” he said raising his fingers to her lips again. “I won’t have you disparage yourself, not to me, not to anyone. You are beautiful and you will always be beautiful to me. The bandage does nothing to hide that beauty.”
“Oh, Liam, you say the nicest things.” She leaned up for a kiss.
He seemed more than happy to accommodate her, leaning down and taking her lips in a scorching kiss. Well, as scorching as it could be without him touching her anywhere else.
“Hold me.”
“I can’t, your wound…”
“…will survive. I can’t feel much pain now, and you could use your right arm and only hold me partially, but I need to feel you, all of you. I need to know there are good things. I nearly died. I need to feel alive. Make love to me, Liam.”
“I might hurt you.”
“You’ll find a way not to hurt me.”
“Well…we could…”
She shook her head. “Show me.”
And he did. They didn’t make it out for lunch but out of respect for Becky and Jake, and the kids, they did make it out for supper. But that night, Eleanor and Liam made love long into the early morning. Reiterating their love for each other again and again, until both fell into exhausted slumber, wrapped in each other’s arms.
EPILOGUE
Late February 1878
Eleanor walked into the bank, her bulk making her anything but graceful. She and Doc Cochran were sure and it was time to tell Liam, since their blessed event could come early, actually could happen any day. She’d already started having some pains she considered warnings.
“There you are. I wondered if you were going to be able to join me for lunch today,” said Liam, rising from behind his desk. The sign on the door said Liam Anderson, President and below that Anderson Bros. Bank. “Are you feeling all right? You looked a little flushed. You better sit down.”
He held one of the straight-backed oak chairs, that sat in front of his desk out for her.
She sat gingerly and then massaged her aching back. “I’m fine, I just came from the doctor’s place. Do you think we can get someone to bring us lunch back here? I’m a little tired right now.”
“Sure, I’ll send Bart. What do you want?”
“Just a bowl of stew and some bread. Nothing too heavy. The babies are pushing everything out of the way and I can’t eat very much.”
“One bowl of stew coming up… Wait a minute.” He stood stock still. “Did you say
babies
?”
She nodded, grinning. “Maybe you better sit down,” she said patting the chair next to her.
“Yes, sit,” he repeated. “Babies. As in more than one.”
She chuckled. “Yes. More than one. Two to be exact.”
“Two. Babies.”
“That’s correct. Are you going to be all right? Liam?”
He sat in the chair and hung his head between his legs. “Two. Two babies. At once. Two.”
She chuckled and patted him on the back. “Don’t worry, Daddy, you’ll get used to it.”
Suddenly she stopped chuckling as a pain like she’d never felt hit her. She stood up, leaned on the desk and held her back until the pain passed.
Liam was on his feet, standing next to her. “Ellie? Are you all right?”
“Just a pain, but I think we better get me home. Doc said the babies could come early because there are two. Oh, my!” She looked down at the floor and saw the liquid spreading from beneath her skirt. “Liam, we need to go home now or these babies are going to be born in the bank.”
She took a step forward but her crazy husband bent and scooped her into his arms. “If you think I’m letting you walk all the way home while you’re in labor, you’re crazy.”
“Well,” she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her cheek against his chest. “The town is used to seeing you carrying me around, so no one will think anything about it. And with the look of panic on your face, they’ll get out of the way.”
“You’ve gained weight,” he teased.
She punched him in the chest. “I’m carrying two babies, you dolt, of course I’ve gained weight.”
He laughed, carried her out of the bank and all the way home.
Ten hours later Liam and Ellie Anderson welcomed babies Nathaniel and Suzanne.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cynthia Woolf
is the author of six historical western romance books and one short story with more books on the way. She 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.
Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia’s father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy not a bounty hunter and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now) not the ranch owner.
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
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