Every Blue Moon
Page 12
“I love you, Bronson. And I’m so sorry,” she told him between kisses.
They made love, the passion coming quickly and taking away any reservations, replacing the fire of anger with a different type of heat.
Later, she lay in his arms, her entire body like liquid having melted from the intensity of their joining that lasted quite a long time.
“Are you asleep?” Bronson asked, his hand sliding down her side.
“Ummm, almost.”
He lifted her face and kissed her swollen lips. “I fell in love with you that night, in the cabin. Just so you know. When I asked you to marry me, it was because I really wanted you. I wanted you so badly I was terrified you’d not want me.”
“And I said no. I was a fool.”
“Yes, you were.” He laughed when she hit his shoulder. “Ouch.”
They lay in each other’s arms in contented silence for a few minutes.
“Goodnight, Bronson.”
He hugged her closer not answering.
“Why don’t you ever say goodnight?”
Her reply was a soft snore.
Movement and shuffling woke Olivia. She stretched and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. Then she saw what was happening. Bronson had his back to her. He was folding clothes and putting them into a bag that seemed to be halfway packed.
“What are you doing?” She sat up pulling up the blankets to cover her chest. “Why are you packing?”
With an easy grin, his gaze swept over her. “I thought you wanted to go to town.”
“I don’t understand. I thought after last night…” she couldn’t bear to finish the sentence.
“I’m going with you. I reckon we can look at staying at your parents’ house for a while so you can help your Pa while you can. I can work on the ledgers from there, as a matter of fact, until it gets closer to the babe comin’.”
“You’d do that for me? Move to town?” A smile tugged at her lips. “And you won’t mind?”
“It’s only until we find ourselves a place of our own. Might even see about building something just a short distance from town so I can still come out and help when they need me.”
Not caring about her state of undress she flung the blankets away and rushed to Bronson with so much force he stumbled backward. “Why did it take me so long to realize what a wonderful man I married?” Tears pricked behind her eyelids and she blinked.
“Don’t cry,” Bronson lifted her face to him. “I didn’t help things, either.”
They kissed, his hands roaming over her and she didn’t mind one bit.
“We may have to put off packin’ a bit.” He carried her back to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Josiah rode the now familiar route near where Laura Foster lived. He reined in his horse a distance away and watched the cabin. It was a sunny day and he wondered why the family did not have the children outside to enjoy the weather.
A woman exited and shaded her eyes with her hand, looking into the distance. She scanned across until catching sight of him. Laura. She remained still, looking in his direction until he lifted his arm in acknowledgement. She waved and went to the clothesline, took the garments off and hurried inside.
For the last months, he’d made a habit of checking on her. Each time she spotted him, she waved and seemed to relax, her shoulders lowering. No one should live in fear like this woman did.
Josiah spurred his horse onward and he rode away toward his cabin. This was not his problem. He shouldn’t be involved.
The sound of hooves from the direction of town got his attention. The horseman caught sight of Josiah and turned his horse and raced away. Josiah gave chase, but the rider had too much of a head start and soon disappeared.
Could it be that Laura Foster’s fears were about to become reality?
Seven Months Later
“It’s another Cole boy,” Dottie Dougherty announced with bright, shiny eyes.
His father slapped Bronson’s back and gave him a bear hug that was followed by embraces from his brothers.
His mother, Grace and Nora were still in the room with Olivia and Bronson clutched his hands together, anxious to see his wife and son. The baby wailed inside the room and he wondered why it was taking so long for them to bring his son to him.
The other men seemed more at ease, but when the baby wailed again all three stiffened. “He doesn’t seem happy at all to make his entrance.” His father tried to get him to relax by laughing.
The bedroom door finally opened slowly and both Nora and Grace came out. Both held a baby. His mother came out, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, Bronson, beautiful twin boys.”
“What?” The floor swayed and, instantly, Grayson was at this side. Bronson pushed his twin away. “Olivia?”
“She’s exhausted but insists on seeing you.” Dottie moved aside as he raced past everyone into the room.
Olivia held out her arms as soon as he entered. Her beautiful, flushed face made lovelier with a smile. Bronson kissed her brow, not sure what else he could do for her. “Do you need anything?”
“Yes.” Her eyes were beginning to droop. “Lay here next to me for a few minutes.”
“I’ll lay next to you for the rest of my life,” Bronson replied.
“I know you will.” Olivia lifted her hand and cupped his jaw. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
“Yes, they are.” He hadn’t spared the babies a glance wanting to see his wife first, but he didn’t dare confess that to her at the moment. He watched over her as she fell into an exhausted slumber.
The door opened and his mother peeked in. “She’ll sleep for a long time. Do you want to see your sons?”
Bronson got up and allowed the women to reenter. He went out to meet his sons.
Later that night, the babes were tucked between him and Olivia as she’d insisted it would make it easier to feed them. Bronson was too scared of crushing them to sleep, so instead, he kept watch.
The moon rays shone bright that night and he watched the blue-tinged moon in the sky.
His life was complete. It had been worth every minute of heartbreak, every ounce of wondering and every single second of hurt to arrive at this moment.
The End.
About the Author
Bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves entering unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of romance in Highland Historical, Western Historical and contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.
Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons, she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.
Hildie’s favorite pastimes are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.
She resides in beautiful, small town Georgia with her super-hero husband, Kurt, an unruly boy Chihuahua and a spoiled rotten girl Chiweenie named Lola.
Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
Instagram: @HildieWrites
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
About the Author
ueen, Every Blue Moon