by Leanne Banks
"That's the idea, isn't it?" she asked in a smoky voice that nearly undid him.
He growled and urged her onto her side. He lay behind her, with his hardness nestled against her bottom, and stroked her breasts.
"What are you…"
Noah pushed against her swollen femininity and she moaned, shifting to ease his entrance. He thrust inside her and they both made sounds of satisfaction. She arched her bottom against him and he pumped inside her silken recesses. "So tight," he muttered, holding on to her hips. "So good."
She clenched around him, and his climax roared through him, taking him by surprise. Her intimate shudders milked his release so that it went on and on, robbing him of breath.
Finally she stopped and, utterly spent, he wrapped his arm around her. After a moment, he felt her begin to cry. She was trying to keep it from him, he suspected, and the knowledge clutched at his heart.
"Martina," he said, rising a little and turning her onto her back. "What's wrong?"
She closed her eyes, but tears still seeped from the corners. "It's nothing. Darn, I've cried more in the last eight months than I've cried in my entire life."
He wiped her tears with his fingers. "What is it?"
She gulped. "I am in such deep doo-doo."
Her distress tore at him. He wanted to fix it. He wanted to spend his life keeping Martina out of deep doo-doo. "Why?"
The power of her gaze shook him. "Because I love you."
Noah pulled her close, wanting to absorb the love she emanated, wanting also to push away the glimmer of fear he saw in her eyes. He slept, embracing her the whole night through.
The next day her smile outdid the sunshine and he told her so. The day was so magical he allowed his brothers to share her only at dinnertime.
She surprised him when she talked cigars with Gideon. "How do you know so much about cigars?" Noah asked her.
She shot him a guilty look, but smiled. "I tried a few in college on a dare."
Noah did a double take. "I'm trying to picture this."
"Don't," she said. "I was about as smooth as gravel. Coughed the entire time."
"That's a nasty habit for a woman," Noah said, wondering what other surprises were in store for him.
"It's a nasty habit for anyone," she said sweetly.
"Touché," Jonathan said.
Gideon just threw him a grumpy look.
"I understand you're the best self-educated man in West Texas," she said to Adam, who had been silent and watchful during the entire meal.
"I like to read."
"Did you know there are several programs where you can get a college degree on-line?" she asked.
"No," Adam said, perking up, despite his caution.
"There are several, and many are self-paced, so you can work them around your schedule. I know of a man who completed his law degree in two years."
Adam's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What's the Web…" He paused, searching for the correct term.
"Web address?" she asked, and he nodded. "I'll write a few down for you and you can check them out."
She was winning them over, Noah thought, and took her hand beneath the table. No surprise there, he thought, catching a private smile she saved just for him. His heart squeezed tight at her revelation last night.
The doorbell rang, and Patch yelled that he would answer it.
"How was your first piano lesson?" Jonathan asked.
"This is going to take some work," she admitted wryly. "I asked her if she would mind fitting in two lessons when she visits."
Jonathan looked confused. "You want longer lessons?"
"No," Martina said with a sly smile. "I thought she could start teaching you."
Noah roared at the poleaxed expression on Jonathan's face. Jonathan stumbled over his protest, but Martina just laughed.
In the middle of her laughter, an angry male voice rang out. "Where's Martina?"
* * *
Chapter 12
«^
The sight of her brothers' angry faces stopped Martina's heart. "Brock," she said, standing, then wondering if her legs would support her. "Tyler."
Brock glanced at the Coltrane brothers with undisguised loathing. "Get your things," he said to her. "We're here to take you home."
"But—"
"But nothing," Tyler said, disdain oozing from his voice. "It's obvious the Coltranes have tricked you again. You just can't see straight when you get around them."
Noah stood in front of Martina in a protective posture. "Now wait just a minute," he said.
"We don't have to wait a second for you. You're the one who caused this trouble from the beginning. If you hadn't gotten her pregnant—" Brock said.
"It takes two to get pregnant," Martina interjected.
"You had to be insane at the time," Brock told her. He looked at her, his face full of disappointment. "You know better."
"Don't give her a hard time," Noah said, his nostrils flaring in anger.
"A little late to be protecting her," Tyler said. "You should have been protecting her when you got her pregnant."
Adam stood. "That's pushing it, Logan."
"Yeah, well, I've just started," Tyler snarled.
Martina's stomach roiled with nausea. She had never seen her brothers so angry. Every nasty quality was coming out now. "Stop it!" she cried. "You're making me sick. You're not even listening."
"This has been coming for a long time," Brock said. "You go get your stuff and we'll take you home."
"Martina may not want to go with you," Noah said.
Brock narrowed his eyes and moved toward Noah. "When it comes to Coltranes, she doesn't know what's best for her."
"You weren't invited on our property," Adam said. "I think you'd better be leaving."
"We're not leaving," Tyler said as he stood toe-to-toe with Adam, "until we take Martina."
"This could get messy," Noah said to her. "I don't want you to see this. Go upstairs."
"I can still hear from up there," she said.
"Let me handle this," he told her.
"There's no handling my brothers when they're like this," she whispered, growing more nauseated by the second. "Maybe I should leave."
"Go upstairs," Noah said firmly.
One too many orders for Martina. If her brothers and the Coltranes were stupid enough to come to blows over this, then she wasn't going to stop them. Too upset for words, she left the dining room, grabbed her purse from the end table where she'd left it and headed outside to her car.
The sky was cloudy and angry-looking just like the atmosphere in the house. Martina climbed into the Mustang and secured the convertible top. She started it, then gunned it down the driveway.
She'd known the Waterloo with her brothers was coming, but she hadn't expected it tonight. She couldn't believe the hate on their faces. Since she'd lived with the Coltranes the past few days, she'd gained a new perspective on the family. They were every bit as honorable as her brothers. They struggled to produce more with less. They cared about each other, and she cared about them. Nothing could make her stop loving her brothers, but she still cared about the Coltranes. She just wished her brothers could accept that. She wished they could accept Noah. She wished … a lot of things. Her stomach tightened at how mean her brothers had been.
Tumbleweed rolled across her windshield. She gave a start and glanced at the sky again. The clouds were even angrier, and it was obvious, from all the flying debris, that the wind was picking up. Not the best time for a drive, she thought, and turned on the headlights. She considered turning around, but the thought of returning made her stomach roil again. She couldn't bear to hear her brother's angry voices.
Tightening her hands on the steering wheel, Martina continued to drive until visibility all but disappeared. Wind whipped up, violently stirring dust and dirt. Her already low spirits sank to her feet when realization hit her. She was in the middle of a dust storm. She pulled to the side of the road, stopped and told herself to st
ay calm.
"Take a breath," she told herself. "Relax."
She inhaled, then felt the distinct sensation of water gushing down her legs. Alarm shot through her. "Oh, no. Houston," she muttered, "we have a problem."
* * *
Tyler took a break from hurling insults, and Noah heard the sound of dust and sand striking the window. He frowned, stepping closer to the window. "What the—"
"Noah Coltrane, I want you to stay away from Martina," Brock said.
"No," Noah said, frowning at the gray weather outside. "Not unless Martina tells me to stay away from her, and that won't happen because she's in love with me."
Sudden silence descended on the room. Then Tyler demanded, "She's what?"
"She's in love with me," Noah said impatiently. He had a sinking feeling Martina had not done what she'd been told to do. He rushed to the front door, and although the visibility was poor, he could see that her car was gone. His gut twisted into a knot. "The woman does not take direction well."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
In the distance, Noah could see a fierce dust storm, and Martina was probably right in the middle of it. "Listen," he said, his patience and tolerance shot, "you two might have the time and energy to keep a hundred-year-old grudge going, but I've got more important things to do. Damn," he muttered, feeling his skin grow damp with a cold sweat.
Tyler stepped in front of him and gathered the neck of his shirt in his hands. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Noah felt his brothers move in unison. He gestured for them to stay back. He removed Tyler's hands. "We're not teenagers anymore, Ty. We're not going to fight. There's a dust storm out there and your sister's probably in it."
Alarm widened Tyler's eyes. His gaze shot to the window, then back to Noah. "What do you mean?"
"I mean her little blue Mustang convertible is gone from the driveway and she's probably stuck in a dust storm."
"But we told her to get her stuff," Tyler said.
Noah laughed without humor. "When did Martina follow instructions?"
Realization crossed Tyler's face. "Oh, hell!"
"I'm going after her," Noah said.
"You won't be able to see a damn thing," Adam warned him.
"She's upset. I can't leave her out there by herself when I know she's upset. Anything could happen to her. She's pregnant, for God's sake."
Silence descended again.
"Why didn't she listen?" Brock asked. "I told her."
"I think she did listen," Noah said in a dark tone, "all too well. We all gave her an earful, didn't we?"
Her brothers had the grace to look ashamed. Maybe there was hope, Noah thought, but he was too concerned about Martina to give a damn at the moment.
"Take my truck," Adam offered. "But be careful"
"I'll check the opposite direction," Brock said, his face creased with worry.
"Don't get yourself hurt," Noah told Martina's brothers as he grabbed his hat. "She couldn't bear it if either of you got hurt." He ran out the door.
Noah barely cleared the driveway before the dust whipping against the windshield forced him to adjust his speed to a snail's pace. Noah hated that he hadn't protected her from the ugly scene at the house. He should have found a way to circumvent it. He should have confronted her brothers before now. Seeing their families at each other's throats had probably torn her up inside. The idea of her suffering hurt so much it took his breath away.
With each foot he crawled forward, he prayed she was okay. What if she'd gotten hurt? What if she'd lost control of the car? He began to sweat with outright fear again.
Why hadn't he told her she was the most important person in the world and he didn't know how he could live without her? Why hadn't he told her that he loved her?
Noah knew with every beat of his heart that he loved Martina. Why hadn't he told her?
Berating himself, he continued to drive forward. The wind slowed for a moment and he saw a flash of blue. His heart raced. Her car. He pulled over and got out of the truck, shielding his eyes with his hands. The wind whipped around him in a fury. He reached Martina's car and pounded on the window. The door opened and he quickly scooted inside.
"Noah!" she said, leaping into his arms. "I've been so frightened."
"You have been frightened!" he said, holding her tightly as he scolded her. "You should never have gone out in this weather."
He felt her tense. Her breathing quickened. Noah pulled back slightly and studied her. "Are you okay?"
She continued taking slow, shallow breaths. "Yes and no," she finally said.
Noah took in the flush of her cheeks and the strain around her eyes. "Explain that answer."
She gave a weak smile. "My water broke and I'm in labor."
Alarm shot through him. He swore. "We need to get you to a hospital."
Martina shook her head, her face tightening again with another contraction. "I don't think we're going to have time."
Noah fought panic. "You have to slow down."
She looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "I can't."
She couldn't have the baby in the car, he told himself. She couldn't. "How close are the contractions?"
She grimaced and cried out in pain, digging her nails into his palm.
"Close," he said. "Damn." He looked outside. Visibility was zero. He had never felt more helpless in his life, but he had never been more needed in his life.
Martina stared at him, taking quick short breaths. "I'm scared, Noah. What if something bad happens? What if the Logan curse is at work again?"
Her fears scored his heart. "Nothing bad is going to happen. You're going to have a baby girl and I'm going to be with you every contraction and you and her are going to be fine." He said it as much for himself as for her.
Her contraction passed and she drooped against the door. "I read about this in one of my pregnancy books. Some women have very short labors and get caught off guard. It's rare the first time." Her face contorted in another grimace and she began to breathe rhythmically. She held tightly to his hand. "I wish I had practiced my breathing more. Oh, Noah, it hurts!"
He felt her pain like a knife in his side. "Focus," he said. "Open your eyes and pick a focal point."
She squinted her eyes and stared into his. "Promise me," she managed in a ragged voice.
"Promise you what, Martina? I'll promise you anything," he assured her, still holding her hand, wanting more than anything to take away her pain.
"Promise me that if I die, you will always love and cherish this child."
"Honey, you're not going to die," he told her, his eyes growing wet with emotion. "Dammit, you're not going to die."
"Promise me," she implored him.
"I promise," he said, then made another oath. "I love you, Martina. I'm not going to let you die."
Her eyes rounded at his words. "You—" She moaned. "I want to push."
Noah alternately swore and prayed. "It's not time, is it?"
"I've got to push!" she yelled, and Noah wasn't inclined to argue.
Two contractions of pushing passed and Noah positioned his hands between Martina's legs. A little head crowned. "She's coming," he said in wonder.
"He," Martina cried. "He's going to look like you." She closed her eyes and pushed again, and the baby's head emerged. The tiny red-faced infant screamed.
"Omigod, she's already yelling," Noah said, trembling at the first sight of his child.
Martina gave one more push and the baby slid out in a whoosh.
"Oh, Lord, it's a girl!"
Martina gaped at him. "It's a girl?"
Noah nodded, tears flowing down his cheeks. "We have a girl. We have a baby girl. Damn," he said, holding her. "What do we do with her?"
Martina sank back against the door. "Put her on my stomach while we decide."
Noah looked around the car for a blanket, but there was nothing, so he stripped off his shirt and wrapped the baby in it. "I don't know what to do with th
e umbilical cord. Damn, I wish I'd read something about this."
"Even though he's a hardheaded jerk sometimes, this is when it would be handy for Tyler to show up," Martina said. She gazed at their child and touched the baby's tiny fingers. "Oh, Noah, she's beautiful. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Almost as beautiful as her mother," he said, staring with wonder at both of them.
Martina pointed out the window. "Look, the wind has died down."
"Figures," Noah said. "I'm getting you to the hospital."
A Jeep and Gideon's truck pulled alongside them and stopped. Brock and Tyler jumped out of the Jeep, and Noah's brothers rushed from the truck.
Noah opened the window. "You're all officially uncles," he said. "You have a niece."
All five men stared at him dumbfounded. The baby started to cry, and they looked at one another.
Gideon cracked a broad grin. "I'm armed for the occasion," he said, and pulled out cigars.
* * *
One week later, on a hot, sunny day, Martina's brother Brock gave her away in marriage to a good-for-nothing Coltrane, who had turned out to be good-for-everything for her. The small gathering included just the two families, who had made peace with the birth of Anna Logan Coltrane. Adam and Brock were discussing cattle, and Tyler expressed an interest in learning to fence with Gideon.
Since last week, Martina had learned a small meteor shower had precipitated the dust storm. That might not have been stars falling over West Texas, but it was close enough to be a sign for her. More importantly, she couldn't imagine not being with Noah Coltrane for the rest of her life. Martina chose a long, ivory, silk empire dress, and Jill had put flowers in her hair. Felicity held the baby while Noah took Martina's hand and said his vows.
"With this ring, I thee wed," he said, his heart in his eyes.
Martina still couldn't believe it. She repeated her vows, then whispered, "Pinch me."
His eyebrows lifted in disbelief. "What?" he whispered back.
"Pinch me," she said. "I can't believe this is happening."
"I can do better than that," he said, then pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
The minister gave a long-suffering sigh, and his lips twitched. "Most people wait, but I can tell you two aren't much on waiting. I now pronounce you husband and wife," he said.