by JoAnn Durgin
“I promise you, I don’t normally cause trouble.” Marc winced as Natalie applied gentle pressure to his throbbing temple and left eye. In all his years playing baseball, he’d never had a black eye. Interesting how it took a two-week trip to Montana to accomplish that feat.
Sam chuckled. “That’s Lexa’s goal in life.”
“Be careful, unless you want a shiner to match the one Marc’s going to have tomorrow morning.” Lexa steadied Sam’s chin and wiped the side of his mouth, checking his cut lip.
“My wife, ladies and gentlemen. From the moment I met her, she was as stubborn and rebellious as she was beautiful. I knew I was a goner the moment I looked into those defiant eyes.” Sam hauled Lexa onto his lap and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“What’s this was business?” Lexa demanded, feigning offense.
“You know I’ll always believe you’re the most gorgeous woman on the face of the planet. It’s simply semantics.” This time, the tender kiss was fully on her expectant lips.
“Get a room, you two.” Marc looked up, shooting Sam a look of apology.
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea.” Sam quirked a brow at Lexa.
“Just announce it to the world, why don’t you?” Lexa blushed and buried her head against her husband’s shoulder.
Sam rose to his feet, pulling Lexa up with him and steadying her. “Marc, since it’s the end of the evening, and I think we’ve gotten ourselves into as much trouble as we can tonight, I’m putting you in charge.”
Leaning back in his chair, he caught the keys Sam tossed in his direction. “And where do you think you’re going?”
“You know as well as I do.” With a possessive hand wrapped around Lexa’s, Sam’s piercing glance bore straight through him. “We’ll be out the rest of the evening. See you tomorrow. Don’t wait up.”
Warmth invaded Marc’s cheeks. “Of course,” he said. “You two have yourselves a real good night.” Pushing his fist against his mouth, he turned his head to stifle his grin.
“Care to tell me what that conversation was all about?” Natalie watched as Sam and Lexa slipped out the door, hand-in-hand.
“Natalie,” Marc said, taking her hand in his, caressing it, “one of these days I’ll be more than happy to tell you all about it. Trust me on that one.”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “When it comes to Sam and Lexa, anything’s possible.”
“I’m not sure the Lord was exactly pleased by my actions tonight.” He gave her a sheepish shrug.
She kissed his cheek, her lips lingering. “You were standing up for my honor, dear husband, and that’s definitely pleasing to the Lord.”
“I’ll accept your take on it.” Marc pulled her onto his lap in a move reminiscent of Sam with Lexa, pleased by how eager she was for his kiss. He liked sitting with her like this. He figured the height difference between Sam and Lexa had something to do with it, but it was pretty great, and he made a mental note to do it more often.
Wrapping her arms around him, Natalie giggled and raised her lips to meet his. As he sat at the kitchen table of the main house, kissing his wife, Marc prayed one of these days, he and Sam would need to flip a coin for that very special key.
Chapter 39
After working in the schoolroom all morning, Natalie was thankful to get away from the ranch when Lexa drove them into town for cooking and sewing supplies. Apparently Sam brought Marc, Kevin and Dean along with him to get some more tools and feed supplies for the cattle and horses.
She observed from a distance as Marc carried a bag of feed out to an older man’s truck, listening as the man’s wife asked his opinion on something she planned to cook for their supper. He grabbed something off a high shelf for a young mother and smiled at everyone. Marc could pin on a nametag and get hired on-the-spot for being so friendly and helpful.
Her husband’s mood had visibly improved in the last few days. Natalie smiled, knowing full well the upturn in their relationship had a lot to do with it. She couldn’t help but wonder if Sam and Lexa choreographed this particular trip to the store especially for their benefit.
Natalie’s smile suddenly sobered. Even though she couldn’t hear the woman’s words to her husband, it was plain as day what she was trying to do, what she hoped to gain as she flirted outrageously with Marc while he stood beside a rack of tools. He was trying his best to ignore her, but she was persistent. Even with a black eye, her husband was extremely appealing to members of the opposite sex, maybe even more so. It gave him that scruffy, bad boy image perhaps, and hinted at an element of danger. Some women liked that, and gravitated toward it.
Watching from several aisles over, Natalie bristled as the woman playfully tugged on Marc’s arm, leaning toward him and laughing a little too hard. Typical flirtatious moves, but she wasn’t exactly unattractive. Nothing new, and Marc could recognize the moves a mile away—with his eyes closed. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or give the woman a piece of her mind. What made it all the more precious was that her husband wasn’t aware that she, Winnie and Amy were standing nearby, witnessing the exchange. It took everything in her not to rush forward and claim her man. Marc said something, causing the woman’s eyes to widen as she looked down at his hand. For emphasis, he wiggled his ring finger in her face. Good gesture on Marc’s part, but, of course, that didn’t stop her. If anything, it excited her even more, and she put both hands on his arm.
“Okay, that’s my cue,” Natalie said between clenched teeth. “This is ridiculous. I can’t stand here watching this charade anymore.” With the other ladies looking on, she stalked toward the hussy with hands on her husband. “Oh, there you are, darling!” Both the woman and Marc turned in surprise. His cheeks colored, but he grinned from ear-to-ear, lighting his entire face as she reached his side. He pulled her so close she thought she might stumble over his boots. When his other hand traveled dangerously low on her backside, Natalie reached behind her to give it safe anchor while Amy, Lexa and Winnie attempted to stifle themselves. It wasn’t working. With one last lingering, flirtatious glance at Marc, the woman’s eyes narrowed as she tossed a withering glare her way before whirling on her heel.
“Unbelievable. Some women have absolutely no shame.”
Marc pulled her closer and nuzzled her cheek. “Thanks for saving me.”
“Oh, I’m certain you could have gotten yourself out of that little scene all on your own, but since I happened to be in the building, it was a whole lot more fun this way.” Natalie moved one hand to her hip. “Marc, really, must you always attract female attention wherever you go? I’m going to have to fight women off for a very long time, you know. I have to say, it’s exhausting being married to you.” She tweaked the slight cleft in his chin. “But totally worth it.”
“Let me rephrase.” Keeping his arm around her waist, Marc steered her away from the others. Pulling her behind a rack of feed, he kissed her, caressing her cheeks. “Thank you for fighting for me. I love you, slugger.”
“I’d fight anyone for you. I love you.” She kissed him again.
Marc sighed against her lips. “Hearing you say those words again, Natalie, I could die a happy man. God’s grace is so abundant.” He lifted his head and laughed. “I love Montana!”
Pulling his head down, her lips meeting his again, Natalie showed her husband how very much she agreed with the sentiment.
~~**~~
“Lexa.” Marc strode toward her, purpose in every step. Nothing was stopping his mission.
“Yes?” Lexa’s mouth upturned. “You look like a man with something on his mind.”
“And you’re a very intelligent woman. I need you to do me a favor.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged.”
“I need you to assign Natalie and me to kitchen detail tonight.”
Lexa laughed. “Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting, but consider it done.”
“Thanks. And there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?” Those aquamarine eyes pos
itively sparkled.
“I need you to keep everyone else out of the kitchen.” Not waiting for her response, Marc walked away. A few paces out, he paused and turned. Glimpsing the astonishment etched into Mrs. TeamWork’s expression, he smiled and winked. He could hear Lexa’s laughter all the way back to the barn.
~~**~~
As soon as he handed a dishtowel to Natalie that evening, Marc could tell something was going on. Oh, how he loved her playful moods. When their hands touched, the strong spark of static electricity startled both of them. Great thinking to ask Lexa for this particular favor. The atmosphere was charged in so many ways. “You’re quite shocking tonight,” he said.
She gave him a sly look, putting the towel on the counter and rolling up her sleeves, ready to plunge her hands in the dishwater. “Do you . . . like that?”
He laughed quietly. “Well, to be honest, I’d rather be shocked in more interesting ways.” Raising his brows, he cocked his head to one side, air kissing her. Natalie seemed receptive, and he prayed she’d be ready for what he had in mind. She was his wife, and he’d waited a long time.
Natalie pulled a pan from the counter and submerged it in the soapy water. Turning her attention to the task at hand, she smiled. “And what ways would that be?” She ran the sponge around the outer rim of the pan, but her eyes never left his as she scrubbed it with a secretive grin.
“Woman, you’re tempting me.” Sidling up behind her, Marc wrapped his hands around her waist. “You smell so good.” He inhaled deeply of her scent, dropping what he hoped were enticing kisses down her neck. “And you make washing dishes the hottest activity on this ranch.”
“I love it when you do that.” Leaning her head to the side, she allowed him much better access to her long, lovely neck. Natalie somehow managed to continue rinsing the pan, and placed it on the towel to dry.
How she could focus was beyond him. He had a one-track brain. “I know. Do you remember me doing this, too?” He ran his index finger from the top of her ear, tracing it down the back of her neck, not stopping until his finger reached the small of her back and then moved slowly and lovingly to the curve of her hip. Even through her turtleneck and sweater, Marc felt her tremble, and it pleased him.
“Yes,” she whispered, leaning back against him. “Stop it. We’ve got work to do here. Pick up that towel and start drying.” Pulling another pan from the counter, she submerged it in the dishwater, starting the same process all over again.
Marc was having none of it and continued. The dirty pots and pans could sit all night for all he cared. Rust out. What he was doing at that very moment was infinitely more important. “And do you also remember me doing this?” He moved his hands to places they hadn’t been in a very long while. Much too long. He felt bold, and Natalie wasn’t resistant. She leaned further back against him, her body softening and molding.
“Stop it,” she repeated, her voice gentle, yielding. Even though she said one thing, the way she said it told him she wanted more, needed more. Needed him.
“Take your hands out of the dishwater, Natalie.” Marc smiled at her quick response as she did as he asked, turning, hands raised in the air. Suds and warm water ran down her sleeves and dripped to the rug, but neither cared as she inched her hands around his neck. Her eyelashes, all dewy and damp, fluttered on her cheeks.
Finding them something beyond irresistible, Marc slowly kissed one and then the other. “I want you, Natalie,” he whispered in her ear, pulling her to him. “Tonight. You are my darling wife, and I must insist.” For emphasis, he kissed her long, slow and as deep as he dared. “And I pray no one walks into this kitchen right now or they’re going to get themselves a real good show.” All he needed was for Sam Lewis to walk in and find him groping his wife. Raising his head, he looked into her lovely eyes. “Are you ready for me?”
“Yes,” she breathed. The most beautiful word he’d ever heard. Smiling, Natalie reached into the pocket of her jeans and retrieved a small metal object. Opening his hand, she placed it in his outstretched palm and curled his fingers around it. She shrugged and gave him an irresistible grin. “Lexa told me about this special key earlier today. Just in case I might want to borrow it.”
Looking down at his hand, Marc smiled and pulled her close, threatening to topple them both.
~~**~~
Sam sat in the dining hall as they snuck out of the kitchen together. From the look on his face, Marc suspected Lexa already tipped him off as to his kitchen plans, and the fact that Natalie had already secured the key.
“We’ll take care of Elwood tonight. You two have fun, and take as long as you need.”
“Don’t you worry about that, Sam. Sorry about the dishes.” Shooting a grin the other man’s way, Marc captured Natalie’s hand in his protective grasp as he led the way to the door. Good thing he’d already asked for directions to the cabin and had the keys to the SUV tucked in his pocket. Foresight, hopeful thinking and tons of prayer paid off in the long run. Holding the door, he brushed Natalie’s cheek, catching Sam’s salute and smile as he followed her outside.
Marc could barely contain himself as he drove the short distance up into the nearby hill, keeping his eyes peeled for the fork in the road Sam told him was too easy to miss. By now, he had a one-track mind and nothing was stopping him. He’d waited so long to be reunited with his wife, and now that it was within reach, he could feel himself already getting worked up physically.
Down boy. You don’t want to scare her.
“Marc, turn the car around.” Natalie’s voice was shaky.
“Hang on, love. We’re almost there.” He reached for her hand as he looked out the windshield, watching for that stupid fork in the road. Where was it, anyway?
“No, I mean it. Now!” Her voice was practically a wail, something he’d never heard before. Chills ran through him.
Looking over at her, and seeing the fear in her eyes, he tried to suppress the rising panic. “What is it, sweetheart? Is it the baby?”
Nodding, Natalie’s eyes widened in horror. “I think I might be bleeding,” she whispered. “We should go to the hospital.” Her eyes were glazed, and she looked about ready to faint.
Swerving the SUV in a complete circle, he raced back down the hill to the main road. Remembering that a local hospital was about ten minutes away, he floored the accelerator, praying all the while he could get her there in time. About five minutes down the road, Marc heard the distinct sounds of a siren. Glancing in the rearview mirror, and darting a quick glance at Natalie and seeing her eyes were closed, he pressed his foot down even harder. “You can arrest me when I get there, sheriff, but I’m getting my wife to the hospital.”
Please, Lord, don’t take this baby from us now. Not after all we’ve been through together in the last few months.
The sheriff was intent on either stopping or at least slowing him down as he honked and increased his speed. Moving alongside them on the two-lane road, the lawman frowned and motioned for Marc to pull over.
Feeling like giving the ambitious deputy a select gesture of his own, Marc leaned back and motioned to Natalie, arcing his hand like the curve of a pregnant woman. By some miracle, the sheriff comprehended his meaning and, motioning for him to follow, pulled in front and escorted them the rest of the way.
Screeching to a stop in front of the small hospital a few minutes later, Marc flew to Natalie’s side in seconds. Gently easing her out of the SUV, he swallowed his fear when he saw a faint spot of blood on her seat. Please, God, no, he silently pleaded, carrying her through the door the sheriff’s deputy held open and into the ER. That blessed antiseptic smell invaded his nostrils, bringing unwelcome memories of their visit to the hospital in Boston only a few short months ago.
The nurses chatting at their station sprang into action as soon as they saw them. With his black eye and a limp woman cradled in his arms, they must make an interesting pair. They brought over a gurney and assisted him as he lowered her onto it.
“Don’t w
orry, we’ll take good care of her,” one kindly older nurse assured him, patting his arm.
Desperation flooded his sensibilities. Nodding at her, Marc’s eyes welled and a choke rose in his throat. Somehow, he managed to rasp, “Thank you.” His hands fell to his sides and he watched as they wheeled Natalie away, taking his helpless heart with her. After answering all the perfunctory questions, feeling like he was in slow motion and in some new nightmare, Marc stumbled to a chair and collapsed into it. Lowering his head to his hands, he prayed.
Startled in the midst of lifting his thousandth petition to the Lord, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Eyes wide, heart pounding, he snapped to full attention as he looked up at the young doctor.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Thompson.”
“Noooo. . .!”
Chapter 40
Marc’s guttural groan was so loud and anguished, surely everyone within a five-mile radius heard it. His head dropped to his hands again, and he shook it slowly back and forth. If possible, this was as bad, if not worse, than when he thought he might lose Natalie. Lord, this can’t be happening. Not our baby. Please!
“Mr. Thompson,” the doctor said, “I only meant I’m sorry I startled you. Natalie’s fine. She’s fine.”
It took a minute for her words to sink in. He raised his head, barely breathing. “And the baby?” He rose to his feet. “Please tell me our baby’s okay.”
The young redhead—who looked way too young to be more than an intern—nodded. They really needed to teach kids in med school not to start off with the words, I’m sorry, when speaking with family members awaiting word of a loved one in the ER. Blowing out a deep sigh, relief flooded his soul, but it would take a while for his breathing to slow and his heart to stop pounding.
“The baby’s heartbeat is strong. Natalie had some spotting. It’s not uncommon. Make sure she rests for a few days, doesn’t do any heavy lifting and doesn’t overtax herself, and she’ll be perfectly fine.” The doctor laughed in surprise as Marc gathered her in a huge bear hug and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.