Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (47 page)

come up behind her but didn't move or speak, not even when

his arms came around her and he rested his chin on top of her

head.

"You're trembling." His voice was a whisper.

Stacy didn't reply.

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"I must admit to you that I've never looked at it * Drew's standpoint. Suddenly your actions make compl

sense."

"I meant what I said, Tanner."

"I know you did"

"Drew needs me to be as normal as possible."

"I understand."

They fell silent then, and Stacy felt bone weary witlm being sleepy. She thought her body could melt with exhaus3

tion, but her mind was still moving like a team out of control'

"I need to lie down, Tanner."

He didn't reply, but immediately lifted her and moved to

the bed. She landed softly against the mattress where his

hands gently tucked her in and made her comfortable.

"Can you go to sleep now?" he asked.

"I'm not sleepy, just weary."

Reaching to turn down the light, Tanner suddenly stopped

He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at Stacy.

"You've been busy lately," Stacy commented, not able to

read his thoughts through his eyes.

"Yes" was all he said

"Tanner," Stacy spoke, feeling suddenly brave. "Should we

talk about the Cradwell party now?"

"No." Tanner's answer was immediate, but not angry.

Stacy looked disappointed, so he explained.

"I realize now that Stanley was out of his head, and that

you were innocent of all he claimed, but I'm not ready to hear

what happened."

Stacy nodded, and a weight that she had become accustomed

to suddenly lifted from her shoulders. He believed her.

After all this time he knew she had been faithful. Thank You,

Father; thank You, Holy God

"How was your delivery with Drew?"

The question was so far from Stacy's own thoughts that she

didn't immediately answer him.

"Was it hard?" Tanner became more specific, thinking

she'd misunderstood him.

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"I think most deliveries are hard, but when you see the yy you tend to forget all about the pain."

r * Stacy saw that he was not satisfied with her answer. She

flossed around in her mind for what he needed, and suddenly

fHettie's face came into view. This was why Tanner had put 1 distance between them, why he had been working so hard

Hettie had talked and scared him about the birth. Stacy was as

certain of this as if she herself had heard the conversation.

With a voice tender with compassion, she asked, "Are you

worried about something, Tanner?"

He didn't answer. Stacy knew she had to be honest.

"They tell me I nearly bled to death after Drew was born. I

was rather out of it, so I don't recall everything. Drew was over

24 hours old before I was even coherent enough to learn that

I'd had a baby boy."

Tanner licked his suddenly dry lips. "And do you not dread

the coming birth?"

"No, I guess I don't. I was down for two weeks--"

"I know," Tanner cut her off. "You didn't write."

Stacy stared at him, confounded by the fact that he would

know this.

"I interrupted you; go on."

After just an instant, Stacy did. "I did lose a good deal of

blood and was down for two weeks, but after that I never

looked back. I have a peace, Tanner. I certainly have no

guarantees concerning life, but if I had to make some type of

guess concerning the future, I would say that I'll be here to be

your wife and a mother to the children.

"If in fact God's plan is quite different from that, I still

have peace. I know where I'm going, and I trust that He will

take care of the three of you in my absence."

Tanner refused to believe in something he couldn't feel or

see. Her peace and trust were a mystery to him, but he admired

her tremendously. At one time he'd thought of her as weak, but

now he saw that Stacy's faith made her stronger. However, he

had no desire to discuss any of this with his wife. He knew she

would gladly talk of it at any time, but the subject made him

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uncomfortable, and so he turned his attention to the baby.

Stacy saw his eyes go to her stomach.

When Stacy first arrived back at Winslow, and Tanner

seemed so fascinated with her shape, Stacy thought he would

be taking a more consistent interest, but this was not to be.

She finally understood the reason he had put space between

them; he'd been afraid of losing her.

Without asking this time, Tanner lowered the covers just

enough. The fabric of Stacy's gown was sheer, but even this

was too much. With tender movements and eyes centered

wholly on Stacy's extended abdomen, he moved the garment

aside, baring her stomach for his touch,

The baby had been quiet for quite some time, but Tanner's

gentle touch roused a response. Soon the baby was kicking

and making Tanner's face light with wonder. Tanner thought

he could stay in such a position all night, feeling Stacy's soft

skin and the child within her, but a glance at her face stopped

all movement. She was sound asleep.

Tanner stared at her a moment and then bent and quietly

kissed the skin of her stomach before softly restoring her

gown and the bedclothes. He quickly readied himself for bed

and climbed in beside her. Stacy moved only slightly when he

shifted close and put his arm around her. He didn't know

when anything had felt so good as to lie beside her and hold

her close.

Oh, Tanner, he said to himself as sleep crowded in. How

much you've missed.

"MAY WE GO FISHING TODAY, MUM?"

Stacy's attention was elsewhere, so she did not answer her

son. Tanner, who was breakfasting with his wife, heard

Drew's question and simply waited to see how she would

respond

"Mum?"

"Yes, darling," she now acknowledged him.

"May we go fishing today?"

"Oh, I think that would be fine. This morning?"

Drew nodded anxiously, and Stacy smiled at him before

glancing at her husband. Tanner's look was a bit stern, but

Stacy met his ga2e, her chin rising in the air ever so slightly.

Tanner quickly lowered his gaze to his own plate before she

could detect the gleam of amusement.

He'd wondered from time to time what it would take to

make a tigress out of his wife, and now he certainly had his

answer.

"When exactly will you be going?" This came from Tanner.

Even though Stacy's heart was pounding, she answered calmly.

"In about an hour."

Stacy sounded like she was addressing a servant. Tanner

felt like laughing, but kept it well hidden. He simply nodded

and went back to his breakfast.

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Stacy contemplated his bent head for a moment and i

speared a slice of tomato from her plate. The last three

together had been incredible. Tanner couldn't have

more attentive. He ate every meal with Stacy and Drew

even lay down with Stacy when she took her nap. She knew!

never slept, but he was there when she drifted off and th when she woke.

One such afternoon, before Stacy fell asleep, she ques-1

tioned him as to his recent business deal. His answer sur*l

prised her.

"I've turned the entire thing over to Edmond."

"I didn't think you trusted Edmond with business details."

Tanner shrugged. "It's his money as well as mine. If he

wants to mess it up, he'll be out as well."

"But what about your money?"

Again Tanner had only shrugged, causing Stacy to stare at

him until he kissed her and told her to go to sleep. She had

given way to slumber, but the memory came back so strongly

now that she paused in her eating.

"Is your food all right?"

"What?" Stacy gave him a blank look.

Tanner stared at her and stated the question again.

"I said, is your food all right?"

"Oh, yes. I was just wool gathering."

"Are you in pain, Stacy?" Tanner's voice was low.

"No," Stacy answered in surprise and wondered what her

expression had been. A glance at Drew told her he was attending

every word, so she smiled to reassure him.

"If you're done eating, Drew, please go with Mrs. Maxwell.

I'll come for you when I'm ready to go."

"Should I change into fishing clothes?"

"Yes, Mrs. Maxwell will know the ones."

Tanner spoke as soon as Drew had left the room.

"I'll meet you in the foyer when you're ready."

"You're going with us?" It had crossed Stacy's mind that he

might, but she had immediately dismissed the idea.

"Yes. I'll drive you out and bring you back."

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"Thank you, Tanner," Stacy said with a smile. Tanner's

warmed noticeably in the light of her pleasure.

I Tanner went back to eating, but Stacy was thoughtful.

(What a strange marriage they'd had thus far, but it seemed to

be coming around Stacy thought of how many other times she

had expected her marriage to improve only to be disappointed,

but swiftly pushed the thought away. This was here

and now, and this was what she would work on and pray for,

not dwelling on the aches and mistakes of the past.

Husband and wife parted soon after with plans to meet

and go fishing. Stacy took herself back to her room, and

Tanner, after ordering a small, enclosed buggy, told Price he

needed warm hunting gear. Less than an hour later, Tanner

stood wearing knee-high suede moccasins and buckskin

pants and shirt as he stared out the window at the pouring

rain.

He wasn't completely convinced that the sudden rain

would deter Stacy and Drew's plans. They were, he realized, a

hearty pair, and Stacy was most determined to please her son.

With a sudden, brilliant idea that he hoped wouldn't land him

in trouble, he moved toward the door.

Stacy moved toward the nursery, ready to find Drew and

start on their way. She knew it was pouring but told herself it

could stop anytime. If Tanner had ordered a covered coach,

they could just wait out the rain. The thought of being outside

in the rain at all gave her a sudden chill, but she pushed it away

and told herself to buck up.

Knowing that Tanner would be waiting, she walked on to

the nursery, a long, narrow room done in all shades of green

and filled with every conceivable type of toy. When she

arrived, however, she found that Tanner was not downstairs

but had reached the room ahead of her. He and Drew were in

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deep conversation on the rug. Tanner was stretched out on his

side by the fire, seemingly miles of him, and Stacy for once

was able to sit down and listen.

"What is it called?" Drew asked again, as he ran a hand

over his father's shirtfront. He was sitting cross-legged near

the older man's chest and speaking directly into Tanner's face.