San Antonio Rose (Historical Romance) (36 page)

Tenderly the big man took the tiny infant in
his arms and stared at her in wonder. "I wets
just leaving to hunt for Emerada."

Emerada opened her eyes and stared at
Domingo as if she'd seen a ghost. "You are
alive!"

"It takes more than a bullet to kill me," he
said, grinning down at the baby as if she was the most precious creature in the world.

Tears crept from between Emerada's eyelids
and slid down her cheeks. "I thought you were
lost to me, Domingo."

At that moment Hank and Sara came out of
the stable, and Ian explained what had happened. "I'll have to lift her carefully. Her arm's
broken."

"It's lucky for everyone concerned that I
chose today to deliver the supplies Emerada
ordered," Hank said in amazement. "I can't
wait to hear what happened, Colonel."

Sara took the baby from Domingo and
walked toward the barn. "Men," she murmured. "Make me a bed for Emerada, and I'll
want lots of water, warm enough to bathe them
both." She turned around and looked at the
three men. "Well, what are you waiting for? Do
it now!"

Ian glanced at Hank, and the innkeeper
grinned. "I found me a gem in her. We're gonna
get married."

Ian nodded wearily. "I believe we'd better do
what she asked. You know how women are
when they're riled."

Since Emerada couldn't be moved again, a
bed and mattress had been brought from town
for her. Sara had taken over her care and that
of the baby.

Ian sent for a doctor from Victoria, and he
pronounced both mother and daughter healthy. He told Emerada that Ian had done
well in setting her arm. He laughingly told her
that if word got around about the Indian
women delivering babies, he might lose his
practice to them.

Emerada had not seen Ian to thank him for
all he'd done for her. He'd been gone for three
days and was supposed to return to Talavera
today.

Emerada glanced down at her daughter,
happy to acknowledge that she had Ian's blue
eyes.

"She is a miracle, Sara," Emerada said, kissing the soft cheek of her sleeping daughter.

"That she is," Sara agreed, "and not the first
babe to find shelter in a stable. I can't imagine
what you went through, delivering this child
under such primitive circumstances. I don't
know if I could be that strong."

Emerada smiled at Sara. In a very short
time, they had become fond of each other. "If
you do not have a choice, you can do anything,
Sara."

Sara had been brushing Emerada's hair, and
she laid the brush aside. "You haven't asked
me about Pauline, and I know you must be
curious."

"I have not asked because I do not want to
know."

"She went back to Virginia."

"Oh." Emerada lay back against the pillow. Now that the baby was born, she would give
Ian his freedom, and he could go to Virginia to
get Pauline. Emerada heard the sound of wagons and men talking, and she was confused.

"Sara, what is happening out there?"

"Why don't you ask your husband?" Sara
answered, smiling and moving away as Ian
approached.

Ian's eyes were so brilliant that Emerada
lowered hers. "Ian, I'm glad you came so I
could thank you for all you did. My daughter
and I owe you our lives."

He knelt down beside her and placed his
hand on the small head that was covered with
black hair. The baby looked right at him, and
he felt a lump forming in his throat. "She is so
amazing, this daughter of mine."

Emerada glanced up at him. "You know I
wasn't truthful to you about-"

He reached forward and placed a kiss on her
lips, silencing her. "Let that be the last time either of us is not completely honest with the
other."

She was puzzled. "Very well." At that moment there was a loud noise just outside. It
sounded like someone stacking lumber. "Ian,
can you tell me what's happening out there?"

"Of course. Workers are unloading supplies."

"What kind of supplies?"

"To build a house."

She tried to sit up, but she turned her arm wrong and decided to remain still. "I gave no
such orders."

"I did. Let me tell you about what I want to
do for you. If you approve, the building will
begin immediately."

The baby grabbed the finger Ian held out to
her. He laughed and kissed the tiny hand.
Emerada's heart swelled with love for the man
who had given her this daughter, and it seemed
he loved the child.

"Tell me what you are doing with the lumber," she said in a voice that trembled with
emotion.

"I reasoned that you wouldn't want to build a
house where the first one burned. So if you
have no objections, I thought we could have a
garden there-a place with flowers and fountains. A place dedicated to the memory of your
family."

Her eyes widened. "Why would you do that
for me?"

"Let me finish. Do you know that place on
the hill with all the oak trees, where you can
see the entire valley?"

"Si. I know the place."

"What would you think about our building
the house there? I have brought plans for you
to look at. But I thought we'd keep to the Spanish style. What do you think?"

She wrinkled her brow in thought. "Ian, we
said that we would always be honest with each other, and I will not have this lie between us. I
know that you love Pauline, and that the two of
you would have been married if not for me. I
do not want you to devote yourself to a life you
would grow to detest. I want you to have your
freedom."

He scooped up his daughter and carried her
outside to Sara, who was supervising the men.
Then he came back, and shut and locked the
door. He sat down beside Emerada and took
her hand. "There are too many people around
here, and I want to talk to you undisturbed."

She knew what was coming, and she dreaded
hearing it. Please, she thought sadly, don't let
him tell me how much he loves Pauline. "I know
you are an honorable man, Ian. And I know
that you would stay married to me for the
baby's sake. But I do not want to have a husband who loves another woman."

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Would you have any objections to having a
husband who can't think of anything but you
from sunup to sundown? Would you object to
having a husband who loves you with every
breath he takes?" He raised her chin and gazed
deeply into her eyes. "Would you mind that so
much, Emerada?"

"But I thought..." She shook her head. "I
thought you loved the golden-haired American."

"You couldn't be more mistaken," he said, his gaze sweeping across her face, his eyes moist. "God help me, because I lost my heart to a
dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty who is obstinate, brave, stubborn, compassionate, and
very, very desirable."

She was still afraid to believe him. "We said
we would be honest with each other."

"I have just opened my heart to you, Emerada." His voice deepened, and he lay down so
he was beside her. "I don't know if I fell in love
with you that first day you landed in my arms,
or the night you danced your way into my
heart. I only know that I love you, Emerada."

A lone tear trailed down her cheek. "How can
that be?"

He breathed in the fresh scent of her and
took her in his arms. "You know I love you, but
I don't know how you feel about me."

She moved back so she could see his eyes.
"Oh, Ian, I have loved you for so long-at least
it seems a long time. I know the seeds of love
began to grow in my heart that very first day
when I stumbled into your arms. Each time I
saw you, the love became deeper and deeper.
Then I learned I was going to have your baby."

She attempted to put her arms around him
and then laughingly drew away when the splint
on her broken arm became wedged between
them.

His voice deepened. "Hurry and get well,
Emerada. I want to show you just how much I
love you."

She laughed, feeling happiness for the first
time in so long. "Ian, I wonder what they are all
thinking out there with us locked in here?"

"They're thinking I'm one damned lucky man.
I have captured the San Antonio Rose for my
wife." He pulled back and looked at her. "From
now on, you dance only for me-understood?"

She parted her lips and waited for his kiss.
"Understood. I dance only for my husband."

Emerada stood beneath the spreading
branches of a live oak tree, gazing lovingly out
on Talavera. From her vantage point, she could
see fat cattle grazing in the pasture and spirited
horses galloping around a fenced grassland.

A warm breeze touched her cheek and rippled through her hair. Talavera had come back
to life-Ian had done that for her.

Her gaze went to the garden, where the previous ranch house had stood. The blackened
ruins no longer scarred the land. In the garden
were exotic trees and plants and flowers of
every color. There were three fountains, many
marble benches, and a giant angel monument
like the one that stood guard by her Aunt
Dilena's grave in New Orleans. On the base of the monument the names of her father and
brothers were carved. Ian had kept his promise
to her. He had given her a place to heal, a place
to sit and remember the wonderful things
about her father and brothers, and not how
they died.

She turned to the huge, white, Spanish-style
hacienda that sprawled among the trees. With
its fountains, courtyards, and cool tile floors, it
was so beautiful. But more than that, it was a
home where love dwelled.

She could hear her daughter laughing in the
courtyard while she was watched over by her
ninera. No doubt Domingo was keeping a
watchful eye on the child as well, just as he'd
done with Emerada.

Life was good. Her days were filled with such
happiness that she could hardly bear it.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned
to see Ian approach. She rushed into his arms,
and he held her to his heart.

"Mr. McCain, shouldn't you be supervising
the branding?"

"I'm no use to the foreman. I can't keep my
mind on what I'm doing."

She gazed into his wonderful eyes. "And why
is that?"

He looked at her rakishly. "Because I was
thinking how I'd like to take you to bed."

She laughed and turned back to gaze at the
valley. "What a wonderful mind you have, Mr.
McCain."

He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I
had a letter from Mother today."

"How is she?"

"She wants to come for another visit," he
said hesitantly, not knowing how Emerada
would feel about another visit, because it
would be his mothers third in two years. "It
seems she has a great fondness for Texas."

"Why do you not have her move here? She
needs to be near her family, and we need her. I
love your mother, Ian."

He looked at her in surprise. "Do you really
mean that?"

"I can assure you that I do. She is so gentle,
and life has not always been kind to her."

He laughed to hide the tightness in his
throat. "What were you doing when I came up,
Emerada, surveying all your kingdom?"

"I was numbering my blessings. I have so
many."

He smiled down at her. "Am I one of your
blessings?"

She pressed her lips against his, and his
arms tightened. "You are the most important
one," she said in a throaty voice.

He gazed at her in wonder. "Why is it, Emerada, that all you have to do is look at me with
those melting brown eyes and I want to take
you to bed?" He pressed her tighter to him, and
she laughed, pulled away.

"That would explain why I am expecting
again."

He pulled back, his eyes glowing with
warmth. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. A woman knows these things."

He placed his hands on each side of her face
and drew her to him, kissing her gently.

They had built a home and a life on this
Texas land. They would have strong sons and
happy daughters. Their roots would reach deep
into the soil and heal all old wounds. Their love
would nourish and grow beneath the blue
Texas sky.