Jack turned to her and smiled. “Do you want to bake the cake now? And I can give you your presents at lunchtime?”
“Presents? When did you have time to get me a present?” She was surprised he’d even thought of anything. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down for a kiss. “You’re the best husband in the whole world. You know that?”
“You don’t even know what I got you yet! What if I got you some new linens so you can make me underwear? Or some yarn so you can make me socks?”
“Then I’ll thank you kindly for giving me something to do to get me through the longer winter months.”
He shook his head. “Well, I should have thought of those things then!”
She smiled, enjoying his playfulness. So often he was serious, and she loved it when he showed this side of himself. “Whatever it is, I will be thankful that you even remembered my birthday.”
“How could I forget?” He looked into her eyes, making it clear that he remembered very well what his promise to her had been. “This is a date that I have had in my mind for a good while now.”
She blushed. “Well, it’s finally here.”
“Bake the cake. I have just a few more papers to grade while you do, and then I can take the rest of the weekend off to be with you.”
She smiled at that. “All right. I’ll get to it right now.”
“Stay out of the bedroom for the rest of the day, will you?”
“What?” She turned to him. “What are you doing back there?”
He shrugged, a huge grin on his face. “Just stay out until I say you can go in.”
“Whatever you say.” Coral turned away, unable to stifle the smile that spread across her face. He had an air of secrecy about him that was a lot of fun for her.
She started by baking some bread, so they’d have enough to make it through the weekend and then used some of the venison she’d shot the day before to make another stew. Venison stew was his favorite meal, so she did her best to make it as much as she could. She’d started curing the hides of the animals as well, knowing they would be able to sell them eventually.
She baked gingerbread, knowing it was his favorite and topped it with whipped cream. He stayed back in the bedroom, and a couple of times she heard him grunting, as if he was doing something hard. She heard hammering as well and wondered what on earth the man was doing in there.
Finally, it was time for lunch, and she called to him. “Jack? It’s time for lunch. Are you finished?”
“I’ll be right out.” Jack slipped through a very narrow opening in the door, not trusting her not to look. “I’m finished, but you still don’t get to go in there until after we’ve had our cake, and I’ve washed the lunch dishes.”
She sighed. “I’m going to die of curiosity!”
He shrugged. “Patience is a virtue. Don’t you want to be virtuous?”
“Not particularly.” Usually, she did, but right that second, she just wanted to see what he’d been working on.
He caught her arm and turned her toward the table. “Eat first.”
“Fine.” She sat down at the table she’d already set and waited for him to take his spot. After their prayer, she started asking him questions. “Can you give me just one hint?”
“You’ll like it.”
“That’s not a hint! I want a real hint!”
“Coral, you’ll never get to see it if you don’t hurry and eat.” Truthfully, he was impatient as well. He’d been working on her birthday surprise for over a month, and he couldn’t wait for her to see what he’d done.
Coral ate quickly, wanting to know right away. She’d never been so impatient to see what a surprise was in her entire life. When she was finished, she sat back and patted her stomach. “I don’t think I’m hungry enough for cake.”
He frowned. “I guess we’ll wait until you get hungry enough for cake for your surprise then.”
She glared at him. “Fine. I’ll get us both some cake.”
“I’ll get the cake. You sit here.”
Instead of obeying Jack, she jumped up and put the dishes in the basin. She’d already started the hot water boiling so the dishes could be done immediately.
Jack got them each a piece of the gingerbread and a glass of milk. “I said to stay seated.
“I’m just trying to help it go quicker!”
He shook his head. “You’re worse than a small child!”
She shrugged. “I’m sorry.” The truth was, no one had ever bothered to get to know her well enough to give her a gift that she cared about before. She knew Jack would be the first, and she couldn’t wait to see what he’d done.
After her cake, she jumped up and put the dishes in the basin. “May I help you wash them?” she asked.
He sighed. “You can wipe. I’ll wash.”
She knew she could wash them faster, but she didn’t protest. At least they’d finish faster by working together. “Leave the pot of stew for our supper.”
He nodded, knowing better than to throw away that much food.
Finally, they finished. He turned to her. “Put your coat and mittens on.”
She looked toward the bedroom door with a frown. “But…”
“Coat and mittens.”
She decided not to argue, pulling her coat on quickly and buttoning it. She watched as he put his coat on as well. She had no idea where they were going, but she could tell he was going to be stubborn and insist they do whatever it was before they went into the bedroom for her surprise.
She pulled her mittens on and looked at him. “I’m ready.”
He took her mittened hand in his. “Come on.” He led her out to the small barn that was on the property. It was barely big enough to call a barn, but it housed one cow and two horses. He opened the big door leading into the building and waited for her to precede him.
As soon as the door opened, Coral could hear yelps. She squealed and hurried around Jack, rushing into the barn and stopping short as she saw a puppy pulling at a rope that was tied around his neck. “Oh, Jack! He’s beautiful!”
She dropped to her knees and hugged the jumping, yelping dog to her. He was only about knee-high, but his feet were huge. He was going to be a big dog.
“Will that help you stay happy while I’m working?”
She jumped up and threw her arms around him, hugging him close. “I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift. Thank you so much!”
Jack smiled, stroking her back. “I’m glad you like him. Do you want to take him inside with us when you see your other gift?”
“I can’t believe there’s more!”
He reached down and untied the puppy, leading him into the house. The animal was thrilled to be there, sniffing around everywhere exploring. After they’d both taken off their coats, he took her hand and led her to the bedroom door. “I’m not quite finished, but it’s close enough for you to know what I’m doing. And really, I think you’ll want to do the next part yourself.”
She looked at him curiously, but didn’t ask. Instead she waited as he opened the door and she peered inside. “Oh, Jack.” Tears filled her eyes. No one had seen her cry since she’d been a small child, but she couldn’t control herself. She stepped into the room and walked to the small book case he’d built for her, stroking it with her hand. “I can’t wait to put my books on it.”
He shook his head. “That’s not your present.”
She looked at him, the tears streaming freely down her face now. “It’s not?”
“No, that’s where you will keep your present.” He indicated a large crate in the corner of the room.
She walked over to the crate and lifted the lid off. Her breath caught, and she sucked in a breath. “Jack! How—” She asked nothing else as she flew to him again, burying her face against the front of his shirt.
He held her to him, happy she’d reacted as he’d expected. “I love you with everything inside me, Coral Smythe.”
She smiled up at
him, pulling his head down for a kiss. “And I love you even more, Jackson Smythe! And I’m not just saying that because you got me a crate of medical books for my birthday!”
He grinned. “It’s not all medical books.”
“It’s not?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s mostly medical books, but there’s one book on how to add a room to your home. I thought we could do that together this summer.”
She smiled. “And what will we do with that room?”
“I think a new room is needed for a midwife’s office, don’t you? And we’ll make sure there are bookshelves all around for your ever increasing library.”
“Wait—you wouldn’t mind if I opened a midwife practice?”
He shook his head. “It sounds like you’ve spent enough time learning under an experienced midwife. You know medical books better than most doctors. I made certain to get you books that would concentrate on pregnancy. Some are general knowledge, of course, but at least half are about the birthing process.”
“Do you realize the gift you’re giving me?” she asked softly. “Not just by giving me the books, but by telling me you don’t mind if I work?”
He nodded. “I know what you want and need, because I know you. You are truly a marvel, Coral, and I’m not going to let you hide your accomplishments from the world. I don’t want to share you, but you’re too special. I don’t have a choice.”
The tears were flowing again, more freely than before, as she buried her face against his shirt. “I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve you, Jack.”
He held her to him. “It’s I who am blessed to have you.”
Epilogue
Coral sat on the edge of her sister’s bed, wiping Esther’s brow. “Trust you to do everything wrong, Esther. Do you just try to be difficult?”
Esther glared at her sister as she lay back, resting between pushes. “I’m not doing anything wrong! I’m having a baby!”
“Yes, but you’re having an upside down baby. It’s coming out feet first!”
Esther closed her eyes and laid back. “So now what?”
Coral shrugged. “I’m going to have to reach up and help him come out.” She frowned. “I need you to wait until I tell you to push, and then I’ll help guide him out. It’s the only way.”
“Just do it.”
Coral didn’t blame her sister for being grumpy. She’d been laboring for more than twenty-four hours, and they were both worn out.
Twenty minutes later, Coral handed the now-clean baby boy to his mother. “He’s perfect, Esther. You did it.”
Esther reached out and took Coral’s hand in hers. “No. We did it. I’m so glad you were with me. Now you need to have a little boy, so my son can have a cousin.”
Coral patted her round belly. She had two more months to go until her precious baby came into the world. “I don’t know. I want a girl first.”
“What does Jackson say?”
Coral grinned at that. “Jack? He says he wants a dozen little girls who will be just like their mother.”
Esther smiled wearily. “I’m glad we came out here and found good men.”
Coral smiled, knowing if their father had never been discovered to be embezzling money, and Esther’s fiancé hadn’t thrown her over, she would never have been able to be a midwife, and she certainly wouldn’t have found happiness with a wonderful man like Jack. “I wouldn’t change any of the events of the past thirteen months for the whole world.” She stood. “I’m going to go get Brody. I think it’s time he met his son.”
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Montana Sky: Mail Order Marvel (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7