“It must have been hard with you being with child. Tell me, where did you go after the baby was born? How long were you able to work at the hospital before the baby came?”
She smiled confidently. He could see it now. The calculating look she cast at him, the perfect smile and starry-eyed expression. She must think him a fool.
“I worked right up to the day he was born. I carried small, so they didn’t think I was near my time. I went to work as a housekeeper for a doctor. Dr. Beal was a nice man. He didn’t mind that I had Arnold. He worked much of the time.”
“That’s a relief. I’m glad you were safe. I looked for you, but I couldn’t find you. Alicia Goren didn’t exist.” And how would she explain that? “I guess I was also worried why you left. How long did you work for Dr. Beal?”
“About two years. Then he married, and his wife didn’t want any competition, so I left and found another position. I worked for a banker Mr. Parma. He was very fussy about everything, and he didn’t like that I sometimes went to lunch with Dr. Beal. He didn’t understand our friendship. My next position was working as a companion for an elderly woman. She died a month ago, and here we are.”
“A colorful life.”
She smiled. “Yes, that is a perfect way of putting it. I know Arnold is small for his age, but he’s sturdy. I knew you’d take us in.”
“I see.” He had nothing else to say. He’d send telegrams to the two doctors, and if he could get her name from Alicia without raising suspicions, he would contact the elderly woman’s family. He’d get to the bottom of it all. He stared at her, and she tilted her head, awaiting a kiss. There was a time he had seen those lips as perfectly shaped and oh, how he had longed to kiss her. But now, out of those lips lies spilled.
He stepped away.
“I’ll walk you home. Please be kind to Heaven. She needs to rest. She’s had a hard time of it. And don’t go anywhere without telling someone. We might have some gunmen wanting revenge coming our way.” He stopped at the door to the foreman’s house. “Good night.”
Dolly came out. “He’s ready for bed but he wanted to see his mother.” She said nothing else, just stalked to the ranch house.
“I’ll take my leave. Have a pleasant evening.” He didn’t wait for a reply. He needed to make a timeline and he needed to do some thinking. Lord please guide me in this.
* * *
Heaven watched as Alicia tilted her head waiting for a kiss then turned from the window. It would be too painful to watch. Her heart hurt. She loved Quinn. It was a disgraceful thought; her husband hadn’t been dead all that long.
Now she looked at herself in the mirror. Her whole body was bloated, and she was fat. Alicia was so pretty and petite. Arnold was not Quinn’s child; he couldn’t be for he was far too young. But it wasn’t up to her to say anything. He had loved that woman so much it almost destroyed him. Was he falling for her again? They’d walked arm in arm in the moonlight. It was hard to see, but she was pretty sure Alicia had been smiling.
Heaven sighed. Alicia wasn’t the intruder. She was. Quinn didn’t love her like a man should. She needed to be done with this sham of a marriage. It would only make him look bad if people thought him married but courting another. He couldn’t have known he’d ever see her again, and he had been planning to settle for her and the children.
Her heart hurt much more than she imagined it would. Yes, she’d have her child here and then she’d find her way. Maybe she could be a mail-order bride. But what would happen to the child she carried? People were cruel to half-breeds. She’d find a safe place where the baby would be accepted, she vowed. It just wouldn’t be here.
In the meantime, the bed looked inviting, and she lay down and was soon joined by Tim and Daisy.
“Is that boy going to live here?” Tim asked in a surly voice.
He lay on one side while Daisy lay on the other. She kissed both their heads and pulled them close to her. “I think he’ll probably be here for a very long time.”
“Daddy doesn’t want us anymore.” Tim turned his head away but not before she saw his tears.
“It’s not that. I’m sure he loves you both very much. He thought Alicia was… dead. He loved her with all his heart, and her being back has changed things. We won’t be leaving for a while yet, so don’t worry.
“I lub Dada.” Heaven didn’t know what to tell Daisy and tears ran down her face too.
“It’ll be just fine. We’ve been on our own before, and we did just fine.”
“No, not really. We were just waiting for those men to come and kill us.”
Heaven sighed. Tim was too perceptive.
“There are other places to live where there aren’t bad men. I know it hurts, but we are strong and brave. We can make it through this and remember God is always with us.”
Tim wiped away his tears and nodded, but Daisy wouldn’t be consoled. “Honey, your real daddy was a brave man, and he was shot. He would have stayed with you forever if he could have. He loved you both very much. He was proud of you both.”
Daisy’s cries quieted as she listened to Heaven, but as Heaven’s words slowed, the child went back to cries of deep, heartfelt pain. Daisy was too young to have her heart broken again. It wasn’t fair, but life was like that.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Teagan walked into the room. He scooped Daisy into his arms. “Your crying makes me sad.”
“I’m saddest. I never want another daddy.”
Teagan’s eyes watered as he glanced at Heaven. He rocked Daisy back and forth. She buried her face in his neck as she continued to cry out her grief.
Heaven had tried to be courageous, but a sob bubbled up and it took everything to be quiet. It wasn’t Quinn’s fault. It was just their fate. Alicia seemed nice enough. Heaven wasn’t the first woman to be jilted for another. Her eyes must be raw and red. Swallowing over and over helped her to pull herself back together. She hugged, Tim but he didn’t want to be hugged. She let him be.
Daisy stopped crying for a moment and Heaven glanced up. Quinn stood in front of Teagan with his arms out for Daisy. She practically jumped into Quinn’s arms, but her cries became worse. She would cry herself sick. Teagan quietly left the room.
“Perhaps I should put Tim and Daisy to bed now,” Heaven said, her voice raspy. “They’ll be fine. One thing guaranteed in life is change. When one door is closed, God makes sure there is another door that opens.”
She started to haul herself out of bed.
“No, stay and rest. I’m going to show these two the stars. We’ll be gone a while so no worrying, all right?”
She nodded, unable to find her voice. He was such a good man. He gathered up a quilt and put a hand out for Tim to take, and the three of them left.
Chapter Twelve
Quinn hadn’t thought out how the children would react. He’d told these two he’d be their dad. He loved them. How was this all supposed to work? He had no plans to marry Alicia. She didn’t know what truth meant. Had she ever?
He walked them into an empty pasture and spread out the quilt. Then he lay down in the middle. “Come join me.”
Daisy snuggled right up to him while Tim lay down but not as close as usual.
“Look up at all those stars. And over there that’s the moon. It—”
Daisy planted her chin on his chest and stared into his eyes. “Dada no lub me.”
It felt as though his heart was being ground to dust by a boot heel.
“I do love you, Daisy, and Tim, I love you too.”
“Mama?” She cried. Daisy glared at him.
“I love all three of you. I need to straighten a few things around, but I don’t want you to worry.”
“Is our mama a bad woman?” Tim asked.
“No, she isn’t. Where did you hear that?”
“One night a bunch of men pushed the door in. Daisy and me hid, but they grabbed Mama. She screamed and cried a lot and they told her no one would want her now. Is that what’s wrong? You don’
t want her?” Tim swallowed hard.
“Your mother is the bravest, most loving woman I know. What those men said isn’t true. Your mother is a good woman. You’re going to have a brother or sister soon.”
“A half-breed bastard.” Tim nodded.
Quin’s next breath stalled in his throat. “Where did you hear words like that?” he choked out. “Those men?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Never use those words again,” he said gently. “They are hateful words. God loves all his children. Every child. Sometimes people say mean things to people different from them. The baby might have a different color skin or eyes than you two, but it’ll still be your brother or sister.”
“Lub baby?” Daisy’s earnest stare was unnerving him.
“Yes, I do and I do love both of you as my own. Never doubt that.” Suddenly, he had to get back. “We’ll do the stars another night. Your mama might get worried.”
“But you told her not to worry,” Tim reminded him.
“I did.” He shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “But women tend to fuss and worry.”
Tim nodded as if he understood then got up and helped to fold the quilt.
Quinn could feel Alicia’s stare as they walked past the house where she was staying. He led the children into the ranch house. “Let’s get ready as quickly as we can so we can give Mama a kiss goodnight.”
Tim raced up the steps, and Daisy tried hard to follow. After a moment, Quinn picked her up and raced her to the top. “Can you dress yourself?”
Daisy put her finger in her mouth and looked at him. He hugged her to him and kissed her cheek. “Let’s find your nightgown.”
By the time he and Daisy walked into Heaven’s bedroom, Tim was already there smiling.
“I’m quick, aren’t I?”
“You sure are,” Quinn assured him. “We hit a few snags, but I think we got it right.” He put Daisy on the bed next to Heaven.
Heaven chuckled and gave him a beautiful smile.
“Kiss Mama.”
Heaven kissed Daisy a few times until she laughed.
Tim lifted his cheek toward her and she gave him a kiss too.
Gemma came in. “I hope I’m not intruding, I know a good bedtime story, but I can’t find Teagan. Maybe I could tell it to you two?”
Tim shot out of bed, and Daisy was waving her arms toward Gemma. Gemma took her and closed the door behind her.
“That was nice of her,” Heaven said. “So, did they get an education about the stars?”
Quinn took off his boots and climbed on the bed. This time he kissed her cheek and laid her head on his chest, pulling her as close as possible.
“No, we looked at a few and then they had a lot of questions. I’ve handled this whole thing badly, but I wanted to know what Alicia had to say. I know Arnold isn’t mine, but I felt if she was in some sort of trouble, I would have liked to help.” He heaved a sigh. “But by doing so, I broke those little ones’ hearts. I never meant to hurt them… or you. I hope it’s all right with you, but I told them that I am their daddy and the baby’s daddy too.”
She said nothing.
“I should have checked with you first.”
“No, I’m trying not to be a watering pot. I feel like I’ve been crying all day, but I think maybe I’m cried out. Quinn, Alicia is beautiful, and she has a nice figure, she’s not fat like me.”
He laughed. “You, my love, are carrying a child. My child. If you agree, I’d like to be wed before the baby arrives.”
“What’s the catch?” Her voice was so raspy.
“No catch. I just happen to like you.” He rubbed her back. “Let me tell you, Heaven, I never planned to smile at a woman again. I was set to live the rest of my life single. There are too many people around here to be alone. The first time I saw you standing on your front porch with your rifle aimed at those men, I knew you were special. I tried, the Lord knows I tried to just be a friend who was passing through.”
She sniffed. “I’m sorry my problems kept you with me.”
“That wasn’t what was wrong, what kept me from leaving.” A chuckle slipped out. “It was you and your two rascals. I’m proud to know such a brave woman. You are sweet and giving and you love. I see your love when you look at your children. Even though you were attacked, you still love the child you carry. You’re ready to let me go because you think it’ll make me happy.”
“Will it? Will it make you happy?” She lifted her head from his solid chest and stared into his eyes.
He smiled wider than he had in a very long time. “No. There is only one thing in this world that will make me happy. I would be extremely happy if you would marry me for real.”
Her face glowed, but her forehead creased. “Are you sure? Alicia was the love of your life. Quinn, we don’t have to make such a big life decision now. I’d rather take our time than live in regret later.” She held up her hand. “We can take it slow, Quinn. We need to weigh every aspect. I have no idea where we’d live or if you have other plans than to stay on the ranch. This house is really Gemma’s domain. After a while it would—” She sighed again. “There is so much to think on. You need to talk with Alicia a bit more. I’m not worried about the future. I’m sure God will provide.” She put her head back down and snuggled closer.
Chapter Thirteen
Quinn stretched as he woke. He’d slept beside Heaven all night. He hadn’t planned on it since most knew they weren’t married. He turned to see if she was awake, but she wasn’t there. Where in tarnation was she? She was supposed to stay in bed. He scowled and then rubbed his hand over his face.
He put his boots back on and clomped down the stairs. A loud moan came from outside. He rushed to the porch, and spotting her on the ground, he fell to his knees. “Heaven, what is it? The baby? How long have you been out here?” He gathered her into his arms. “Let’s get you back into the house.” Her skin was so very pale. She moaned again.
Quinn lifted her and struggled to his feet. He glanced up and saw Alicia sitting on her front steps, just watching. He gritted his teeth. Whatever was up, he didn’t have time to wonder about it now. He hurried inside and up the stairs. Gently, he settled Heaven on the bed.
Dolly and Gemma suddenly appeared. “I have water starting to boil and I started gathering things we’ll need,” Dolly said taking charges. “Gemma, I’ll need the oilcloths and sheets stored in the room you sleep in, in the wardrobe.”
“I know where they are.” Gemma ran out of the room.
Dolly stripped everything off the bed except for the sheet Heaven lay upon. She took the oilcloth from Gemma. “Quinn, I’ll need you to lift her while I put this on the bed to protect it and then a few other sheets.”
Quinn lifted Heaven while the two women went to work. They were quick, and he placed Heaven in the middle of the bed. “Should I go for the doctor?”
“Don’t leave me!” Heaven reached out and grabbed his hand.
“I’ll send someone,” Teagan said. He yawned and patted down the hair that was sticking up on end.
Quinn sat near the top of the bed near Heaven’s head. He’d helped birth many animals, but this was too different. Each time Heaven groaned; she squeezed his hand. He wasn’t sure if his fingers would all be in one piece by the time the baby came.
Gemma handed him a cold, wet cloth. “Wipe her brow and make her comfortable.”
He wanted to laugh. Comfortable? That probably wasn’t going to happen soon. He took the cloth and blotted Heaven’s forehead and then her face and neck. This time when she screamed and squeezed his hand, he wasn’t ready and he winced. She had a strong grip.
“I haven’t even thought about names for the baby,” she wailed.
“That can be done after.” Quinn smiled at her.
“It won’t be long now,” Dolly announced.
Gemma had laid out the scissors and thread and a threaded needle on a clean towel. She also had a pile of towels.
“How long were you outside?” h
e asked.
“Too long,” she screamed.
“It’s fine, your mama will be just fine,” Sullivan could be heard saying.
“See if Alicia can make breakfast!” Dolly yelled.
“Are you ready, Heaven? One more push should do it.”
Heaven nodded to Dolly and pushed. It all happened so fast. One minute Heaven groaned and her face was turning red, and the next the baby was born and Heaven sagged back onto the bed and let go of his hand. The baby gave a lusty cry, and it looked like they were cleaning the child.
“Girl or boy?” he asked.
“It’s a boy. A beautiful boy,” Gemma told them, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
Dolly put her hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Why don’t you wait outside? We want to get Heaven cleaned up and be sure everything is fine and change the bedding and such.”
He starred into Heaven’s tearful blue eyes. Leaning over he kissed her hard on the lips. “We have a son,” he whispered before he stood up.
Her smile made him feel so loved, so adored. If only he could stay and bask in it, but Dolly had already ordered him to leave. She would shoo him out any second.
“I’ll check on the other two.” He closed the door behind him and then leaned against the wall feeling exhausted. Thank you, Lord, for this blessing. Quinn pushed off the wall, drew a deep breath, and headed downstairs.
His boots had just hit the bottom step when Tim and Daisy came running. After stepping away from the stairs he hunkered down with his arms open. The two children raced to him and hugged him.
“You have a brother.”
Daisy pushed at him until he let them go.
“What’s wrong?”
“She wanted a sister,” said Tim, laughing. “I told her it would be a brother, but she insisted on a sister,” Tim said as he shook his head.
Quinn: Cowboy Risk: The Kavanagh Brothers Book Two Page 7