Rocky Mountain Wife (22 page)

Claire’s heart twisted, touched beyond words as she always was by the man she loved, the man who’d healed her wounded heart. She’d found love was sweeter the second time around. She was a lucky, lucky lady.

Her hand landed on her still flat stomach. She’d only told Joshua last night when she was absolutely sure. Come spring, they would be welcoming a baby into their little family. Joy filled her up to bursting as she heard his footfalls behind her in the grass. She turned, and there he was, towering over her with love in his eyes.

Happiness looked good on him. He’d recovered fully from his bullet wound and was as strong as ever. Although who had shot him had remained a mystery. The sheriff had released Mason McKenna, saying the evidence against him was questionable. Whatever that meant. But the lawman had promised he would find who was at fault. That was a mystery yet to be solved. Claire had faith in the sheriff, but what really mattered was that her Joshua was alive. She’d almost lost him, and she knew how precious he was.

“There’s the love of my life.” Joshua took her into his strong arms.

She smiled up at him. “You’re the love of my life, too.”

The moment their lips touched, she felt a surge of pure love moving through her like the sun through the flawless blue sky above. Passion leaped in her womb, and her blood heated for him. She couldn’t wait until they were alone tonight, loving one another.

Only in dreams were people this happy.

The past few months had been pure bliss. They were man and wife in every way, heart and soul. It had been the best time of his life, as he’d told her.

It had been the best of hers, too.

“I spotted a buggy pulling up.” He gave her lips one last nibble before he turned away. “It was Lucy. Tell her to leave her mare and buggy at the post, and I’ll unhitch her horse and let her in the corral to graze.”

“I will.” Claire wanted to kiss him one more time, because really, how could she ever stop kissing him? She wanted to hold onto him forever, but Ivy called out.

“Yo there, you scurvy pirate! Surrender or I’ll shoot.”

Joshua grinned. “Guess I’d better go. I have a battle to lose.”

“But I hear there are cookies in the brig, so it will turn out all right.” She laughed, taking a backwards step so she could drink in the sight of him a few moments longer. “I made oatmeal. Your favorite.”

“See, now I’m going to have to love you forever and ever.” He placed his hand over his chest, and she could feel the affection in her soul double. She loved him more with every passing day and every time they touched.

“I guess I’ll have to love you forever, too.” She could not describe the depth of her feelings for this man she’d come to love with all her might. But she had to go. Her friends were arriving for an afternoon of talk and sewing and cake.

Oh, there was going to be so much happiness ahead. She took a moment to let the dappled sunlight filter over her. She gazed out at the flawless sky and the crops growing in the fields. As Ivy’s laughter rang on the air, and Joshua fell to the ground with a pretend wounded toe.

This was true happiness. She blew a kiss in their direction before twirling around and rushing into their house. What a beautiful life they were going to have.