by Ingis, Gail
“I wouldn’t cast stones, Mr. Millburn. You are just as scrawny.”
“Well,” Cornelia said, rising briskly, “we have a wedding to plan.”
Within two days, Cornelia had arranged for a pastor to marry them. Kate altered one of her dresses to fit Leila and pilfered lace from other garments to enhance it.
Standing in front of a full-length mirror, Leila stared at her reflection. There were no hoop petticoats, but the cream-colored dress with its high neck and full sleeves fell from her shoulders to the floor and curved at the waist in layers of lace. Wild flowers were woven into her hair with ribbons.
“Oh,” Leila gasped. She ran her fingers down the bodice and held the lace in her hand. “It’s so beautiful. The flowers—where did you find them? In the meadow? My goodness.” Her eyes misted. “Thank you.”
Cornelia hugged her. “Every woman deserves an extraordinary wedding day.”
Kate giggled. “Come on, let’s get you wed.”
Alone with Rork, he cupped her face and kissed her. “Mine at last.” He pulled her close. “I love you, Mrs. Millburn.”
“I love you, too,” she said. “You will learn, in time, to trust my decisions. I don’t want to hide behind you when there’s danger.”
He kissed her forehead. Leila put her palm on his cheek. “Learn to trust me.”
“I’ll try.” He drew her into his arms. “Now where were we?” He captured her mouth in a searing kiss, relaxing as she melted into him. “I’ve dreamed of this every day for the past months.” With a sigh, he ran his hand over the slight bulge of her belly. He inhaled her unique fragrance. It felt like they had known each other for a hundred years. This was his time. His soul had awakened, and there was a fire in his heart. He was at peace and loving it. Loving Leila.
She cupped his face in her hands and smiled at him.
Her indigo eyes held him captive, and he smiled back.
Epilogue
Rork paced the floor, listening to Leila’s cries of distress. “To hell with this!” He opened the bedchamber door and strode in.
A midwife had her hands between Leila’s thighs. “Push!” She glanced up and glared at Rork. “Get out, Mr. Millburn.”
“Not on your life. I’m staying with my wife.”
“Then make yourself useful and apply wet cloths to her face and body.”
Relieved that he didn’t have to lay the midwife out, he moved to Leila’s side and took a wet cloth from a bowl of water. Gently, he swabbed her flushed face. She bit her lip and cried out, arching as a contraction tore through her.
“One last push, dear.” The midwife smiled. “There we go.” She held up a baby; a slap resounded, followed by a wail. “You have a fine boy.” Cradling the baby in her capable hands, she beckoned her assistant. “Wash the babe and wrap him in swaddling clothes.”
Leila laughed and stretched out her arms. “Give him to me first.”
“Wait until he’s bathed and wrapped.”
“Give the baby to my wife,” Rork said through clenched teeth.
The midwife scowled but laid the bloodied infant on Leila’s chest.
Throat clogged with emotion, Rork stared at the tiny being. Tentatively, he touched the baby’s hand, and minute fingers curled around his huge forefinger. “He’s beautiful.” Leaning down, he kissed Leila and then his son. “Your joy is my joy, thank you!”
The baby emitted a howl. “Oh, my, he’s strong.” She looked up at Rork, her eyes glowing. “Just like his papa.”
Cornelia and Kate burst into the room, both carrying infants. “What is it?” Cornelia asked.
“A boy,” Rork said, beaming.
Kate giggled. “Your baby girl will have her work cut out, controlling two boys.”
Disturbed at the audience, the midwife firmly took the baby from Leila. “Y’all need to get out.”
Leila gasped as another contraction gripped her. “What now?”
Cornelia chuckled. “It’s just the afterbirth coming, Leila. Not much longer to go. We’ll see you later.”
Leila gripped Rork’s hand, pushing and grimacing. She fell back with a sigh. “Thank God that’s over.” She smiled wanly.
Rork slipped his arm behind her and held her close, kissing her softly. He looked down at her. “Leila?” Her eyes were closed and her breathing shallow. “Leila!”
The midwife laughed. “Relax, young man. She’s fallen asleep. But I need to stitch her up where she tore.” Taking a bowl of water, the midwife washed Leila, who woke up and groaned.
“Will it cause her pain?”
“She won’t feel much.” Working quickly, the woman soon sewed the tear. She washed Leila and had her on clean bedding and in a fresh nightgown.
Rork walked to the window and stared across the rooftops of San Francisco. Whispers of snow drifted on the wind and settled on the buildings. The sweet sounds of the baby’s soft snuffling noises and Leila’s even breathing were blessings. He sighed.
“Rork, lie with me, please.”
“With pleasure.” The bed dipped. He gathered her into his arms.
Leila pressed a palm to his cheek. “Maybe we should leave for Tis-sa-ack before winter sets in.”
“We’ll wait until spring when the blooms are radiant. I have no desire to paint in freezing weather.”
“What shall we call our son?”
“Please do not name him after me, your father, or my father. He is going to be his own person.”
Leila yawned. “What about Liam?”
“Liam is perfect.”
Holding his son, and with an arm around Leila’s waist, Rork gazed at the magnificent panorama before them.
Leila smiled and leaned against him. “Tis-sa-ack takes one’s breath away.” She glanced up at him, her belly fluttering as she studied his handsome face. “Are you inspired to paint?”
He grinned and kissed the top of her head. “Absolutely.”
Joshua helped Kate mount her horse and gave her their son. “I think Eli is hungry.”
Cornelia put an arm around Michael’s waist. “Shall I take Olivia?”
He held their baby girl against his chest. “No. She’s had her feed, and my princess is fast asleep.”
“Then we should get down to the village and find Galen Clark.” Cornelia looked at Rork. “Are you sure he has accommodations for us?”
“Well, when I had lunch with him last month in San Francisco, he said he’d hold rooms in the small hotel he runs.” Rork mounted his horse in one fluid movement with Liam in his arm. “Best we get going.”
Leila studied dark clouds billowing over the imposing cliffs of the valley. Flashes of lightning burst from a cloud’s belly. “We should hurry. I think a storm is coming.”
The first fat drops of rain fell as they rode into a small village. Rork hailed a passerby. “Excuse me. We’re looking for Galen Clark’s house.”
The man pointed. “That be his place over yonder.”
“Thank you.” They rode to a modest log establishment. Rork dismounted and walked to the open front door. “Hello, anyone here?”
A door opened into the entrance hall and a thickset man walked out. “Ah, Mr. Millburn, welcome to my humble hotel.” He looked at the baby in Rork’s arms, and his gray eyebrows beetled up. “I see you have a new addition.”
Rork grinned. “Yes. I’d introduce Liam, but he’s fast asleep.”
Galen Clark peered past Rork. “Well, don’t leave your party out there. It’ll be pelting down any moment.” He shook each person’s hand. “This must be the most guests I’ve had at one time.” He smoothed his full gray beard, his eyes twinkling as he perused them. “I can see you’ve all been busy populating our beautiful country.” He turned and strolled down a wide passage. “I’ll soon have you
settled. Dinner is served at six sharp. Plain fare, I’m afraid.” He opened three doors in succession. “There you go. I’ll get my servant to light fires in your rooms. Tis-sa-ack gets real chilly come night, especially when it storms.”
Carrying a picnic basket in one hand and holding Liam, Leila hurried down the road, sidestepping puddles. Today was the first clear day in two weeks. It was almost midday as she climbed into a borrowed buggy and lay Liam on the seat. Thoughts of having a picnic lunch with Rork at Pohono Falls excited her.
“Well, well, hasn’t life just gone your way—as usual?”
Heart lodged in her throat, Leila spun on the seat and stared into Sissy’s sneering face. She wore a daringly low-cut, red dress, but a scuffed hem betrayed the quality. “Sissy,” she said breathlessly. “I thought you were in New York City.”
Sissy twirled one red ringlet around her fingers, exposing nails in sore need of a manicure. “It didn’t suit me. The fashionable set isn’t interested in me without Hank around.” Her painted lips curled into a sneer. “You know how that feels.” She flicked a speck of dust off the lace falls on her sleeve. “You were always the little shadow in Hank’s life.”
Liam wailed.
Leila picked him up and rocked him gently. “Hush, baby.”
“Whose brat is that?” Sissy threw back her head, hooting with laughter before bringing her mirth under control. “Hank dies and you scurry off to the first man who’ll have you and spread your legs.” She snapped her fingers. “Your virginity was history.”
Leila’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your mouth.”
Sissy snorted. “And what can you possibly do if I don’t?”
“Don’t test me.”
Moving closer, Sissy jabbed Liam, causing him to howl. “So, whose bastard is this?”
Tight lipped, Leila soothed Liam and set him down again. She alighted from the buggy and faced Sissy. “You overstepped the mark when you touched my son,” she said quietly. Her arm came up in a blur, and she punched Sissy on the chin, sending her to the ground. Leila stood over her nemesis, shaking her aching hand. “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.”
“Bitch.” Sitting up, Sissy scratched through her reticule.
Leila stared down the barrel of a pistol and backed away. “You already have one murder on your conscience. Put the gun away, Sissy. You don’t want to do this.”
Scrambling to her feet while keeping the gun on Leila, Sissy snarled, “Oh yes, I do. You’ve waited all these years to punch me. Well, I’ve waited all these years to kill you.”
Leila held up her hands, as she moved away from the buggy, praying Liam wouldn’t start crying. “Think before you act, Sissy. This time you have witnesses who will not be so concerned for your welfare. Why ruin your life?”
“You ruined my life the moment you married Hank. He was mine, and you stole him.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I had no idea you were in love with him.”
A menacing laugh bubbled up from Sissy’s throat. “He took my virginity then swore he’d marry me.” She waved the gun. “Problem is, my father wasn’t willing to part with more than my not-so-substantial dowry. However, your doting papa was prepared to part with hundreds of thousands of dollars.” She shrugged, her mouth twisting down bitterly. “There was no contest. Hank chose you. Then I discovered I was pregnant.”
Regret and compassion welled up from deep within Leila. “I’m so sorry, Sissy. I had no idea.”
“You ruined my life.” Sniffing, Sissy brushed at tears, leaving a smear of dust on her cheek.
“What happened to your baby?” Leila moved away from the buggy slowly, hoping to get near Sissy before she discharged the weapon.
“Why do you care?” Sissy glared and jerked the pistol up, aiming at Leila’s head. “Stay where you are.”
“Of course I care. I’ve known you since we were children. We may not like each other, but I still care that you were ill-used by Hank.”
“My father sent my baby to a family in France. I haven’t seen her since I birthed her.”
“Oh, Sissy. I’m so sorry. Did Hank know?”
“Of course, but he didn’t want children—ever.”
From the corner of her eye, Leila saw Rork close in.
With a snarl, he ripped the pistol from Sissy’s hand and wrapped his arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides. “This time, you’ll not escape justice.”
Sissy screamed and struggled to escape. “Leave me alone, you son of a bitch.”
“Rork, no. Let her go.” Leila cried.
He stared at her. “Why? The bitch was about to kill you.”
“I’ll explain later.” Leila walked to him and tried to pull his arm off Sissy.
“No, my love. This time Sissy gets her comeuppance.”
“Hey. What ya doin’ with my woman?” a man yelled.
Rork spun, still clutching Sissy. “Your woman is a murderer. Now back off.” Rork leveled the pistol at a burly, bearded digger.
“Randy, help me.” Sissy screamed.
The digger’s lowbrow furrowed, his beady eyes shifting from Rork to Sissy. “What’s this fella talkin’ ‘bout, gal?”
“She murdered her lover a year ago and has just attempted to kill my wife.”
“Rork, release her!” Leila glared at him, her hands on her hips. She walked to Sissy. “I know you think I’m to blame, but had I known you loved Hank and that you carried his child, I would never have married him.” She placed a hand on Sissy’s shoulder. “I am so sorry for all you’ve suffered.” Leila glanced at Rork. “Please let her go.”
“You are much too soft.” He released Sissy, but he took her arm and forced her to face him. “I want you gone. If I ever see you again I will press charges of murder and attempted murder. Understand?”
Sissy nodded then wiggled out of his grip and walked to the digger. “Come on. Let’s get out of this place.”
Rork pulled Leila to his side and held her tight, his voice cracking. “My God, I thought I was going to lose you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Leila leaned her head on his broad chest. “What are you doing here? I was on my way to Pohono Falls with a picnic lunch.” She looked up at him through her lashes.
He grinned. “We must return for that picnic.” He helped her into the buggy, fetched his bag of art materials that he’d thrown down, and joined her, taking the reins. He glanced at Liam, fast asleep against her. “Tell me what happened.”
After she related the tale, Rork said, “I knew Hank was immoral, but I had no idea how far he took it.” Leila stared ahead to the falls in the distance.
“It hurts to see her brought so low.”
At the falls, Rork jumped down and put out his arms for Liam. She paused and then stepped down from the buggy. Rork laid the sleeping baby on the buggy seat, gathered Leila to him, and softly kissed her eyelids, her face, and her mouth. She moved her hands tenderly up his back. They melted into each other. Her hands slid down, and as if on cue, Rork did the same. She clasped Rork’s hands and looked into his eyes. He stared back, trying to read what she wanted him to know. She smiled, as if she knew what he was thinking and kissed his cheek. Rork ran his fingers through her silky hair. Nothing was said. Nothing mattered anymore except her and him.
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