“Denver,” Belle gasped. “You’ve woken up? I’ve been so scared. How do you feel?”
“Hurt, all over.”
There was a small laugh. “I’m sure you do. You really made a mess of yourself.”
“Connor? Is he all right?”
“Scared, thinking you’ll hate him, that it’s his fault.”
“No, should have checked the tree. Must have been rotten.”
“It was. The trunk shattered.”
“How bad?” He really wanted to open his eyes and look at her, but just couldn’t.
“Broken arm. Massive lump on your head. Bruised legs.”
“Seems about right from how I feel.”
“Doc has left some laudanum for today and tonight. Willow bark tea from Hattie for later.”
“Tired. Going to sleep now. Tell Connor I love him. Neva too. Not his fault.”
“I will. Sleep, love. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Gentle fingers stroked his cheek as he slipped into sleep.
~~~~~
Belle had changed into her nightgown and was sitting in the chair next to Denver. She’d made a pallet on the floor. If he began thrashing with pain, Belle would be close enough to know immediately.
Connor and Neva had come in to see him before they went to bed. Denver had been awake for a few minutes and even opened his eyes this time. Belle had nearly burst into tears when he reached out to Connor first, then to Neva telling them he’d be okay and they weren’t to worry about him. And that he loved them. He’d stopped Connor from claiming to be at fault.
In the dimness of one lantern turned low, she saw him lick his lips. “Are you thirsty?”
“Yes.”
“Here.” Belle lifted his head and gave him several sips of water.
“Did you mean it?” Denver asked. His eyes searched her face.
“What?”
“That you loved me?” There was a very slight smile on one side of his mouth. Even in the low light, she could see a twinkle in his eyes.
“I believe I said I loved your eyes,” she teased back.
“What about the rest of me? Because I love you. As we fell in that tree, all I could think of was that I’d never told you. That and making sure Connor wasn’t hurt.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and gripped his hand. “I was so scared when Connor came yelling for help. Scared that you were going to die. That I’d never be able to tell you how much I love you.”
“Come here, carefully.” Denver pulled on her hand. Belle stood and leaned down. “Kiss me,” he said. She did. “When I took this job, I knew Silverpines wanted a developer. I just didn’t know I wanted to develop into a family man with a woman I love and her children. I’m so glad I answered the letter Nathan Ryder sent, telling me about an opportunity here.”
Belle kissed him again. “I am too.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Belle stepped back when she heard the growl come from the office they’d set up in the dining room. Denver was becoming irritable. It was three weeks since the accident. For the first few days, he’d slept most of the time. Laudanum helped keep him out of pain and to get the rest his body needed to begin to heal. When he’d begun using willow bark tea, the battle to keep him down had begun.
Doc insisted he not do any sort of work until the following week. He’d restricted Denver to the house. That hadn’t gone over well, but between Belle and Geneva, they’d made sure he obeyed the medical man.
It had fallen to Belle to go to the office each day, get the mail, schedule meetings to be at the house, and spaced with enough time between for him to rest. Denver hadn’t realized that until one of the men who came to see him mentioned it. Since then, he’d been a growly bear. Belle just laughed at him most of the time. Lately, even that hadn’t worked. He was getting grouchier and grouchier. Hopefully, the news she had to give him would make him happy.
Belle waited until silence came from the room again. Carrying the tray she held, she entered. “Hi, I thought you could use some coffee and cookies.” Denver sat at the dining room table, maps and papers spread out before him. He slammed a pencil down and heaved a sigh.
“Yes, I could, but only if you’ll join me.”
“I will if you will stop being so irritable.” She pushed some papers away and sent the tray down. When Denver quickly picked them up and straightened them, she gave a little giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are getting back to your oh so neat ways. That must mean you are feeling better.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He pulled her down onto his lap with his one good arm. “I’ve been telling you and Doc that. I’m ready to go back to the office.”
Belle walked her fingers up his chest. “Even though you still have three more weeks in that cast.” She rapped it with her knuckles. “I saw Doc today. He said you can go back to the office on Monday.” She pressed her fingers to his lips when he tried to speak. “Provided, you only work half days for one week. He doesn’t want you to overdo. No walking all over town inspecting the work that’s going on.”
Denver pulled back to spear her with mischief in his eyes. “Well, I suppose I’ll just have to spend the week dictating letters for my assistant to type.”
Belle laughed and accepted his kiss. Or was it kisses?
~~~~~
Belle and Denver looked toward the front door as they heard many running footsteps and the screen door slamming. She jumped off his lap, not wanting whichever child was coming with several of their friends to see her in that position.
“Mama, can Fern, Grace, Opal, and Ida stay here? Their mama is going to have the baby.”
~~~~~
I can hear your frustrated screams now. You want to know what Millie and Clay have. So do I. I decided they needed to tell their story of the fire and its aftermath. It will be a Silverpines Companion tale. It’s beating at the back of my head right now. With two other books with hard deadlines, it will be coming this summer. I promise.
~~~~~
A note from Sophie
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Sophie Dawson is an award-winning author of Christian fiction romance both historical and contemporary. An eclectic conglomeration of interests and accomplishments, she has made up stories in her head all her life. Now she types them out. Her critically acclaimed series include Cottonwood, Stones Creek, and Love’s Infestation. She’s also been part of several Multi-Author projects.
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