by Gem Sivad
“You don’t understand. If Sally’s old enough to work now, she’ll want her for sure.” He looked at Comfort, afraid she wouldn’t protect Sally. Having met the Blain woman, Comfort could understand his fear.
Comfort stood with her arms around both children when the man and woman came through the outer office and left. Their loud squabbling left no doubt that Mary Blain had not been successful in her attempt to steal Sally back. Neither the awful woman nor her cohort, Will Talent, so much as looked at the kids on the way past.
“Come with me.” Comfort led Jacob and Sally into Mr. Kincaid’s office as soon as Hamilton gave her the signal. As the kids watched, she and Hamilton signed the official papers making both kids, Quinces.
Hamilton signed his name with a flourish and then walked across the room and scooped up Sally in his arms. “That’s it, your my daughter and carrying my mama’s name, Cordelia Sarah Quince. She’d be proud as punch to see this day.”
Sally studied him with a serious frown, and then smiled. “So, I can call you Pa, now?”
Hamilton’s startled look changed to a big smile. “Little darlin’, you always could. I hope to hear you saying it often while we’re shopping today.”
Comfort held back her tears, grabbed Jacob’s hand and thanking Mr. Kincaid, hurried them from the law office.
“Now, we get ready for Christmas,” she announced, suddenly ready to buy out Wichita.
Hamilton carried Sally, and Comfort linked hands with Jacob. They explored the streets of Wichita, all of them proud members of the Quince family.
Chapter Nine
It was the day before Christmas and Comfort fussed around the house trying to make sure every last detail was perfect.
“You’ve plumped those pillows three times already.” Naomi chided her for her restless wanderings. “What’s on your mind, Comfort? You should be happy, instead, every time you forget to play act, you look like someone shot Santa Claus.”
“Then my performance needs to improve. I will not let my disappointments ruin the children’s first Christmas on the ranch.”
Naomi, of course, jumped on that tidbit and worried at Comfort with questions until she capitulated and shared her distress. “Every day, Sally looks more like Hamilton’s mother, Cordelia. Both children have Quince features stamped all over them.”
Naomi said nothing, waiting for the hurt to be said aloud.
“He lied to me, Naomi. He had a long affair with the children’s mother. It’s too obvious to ignore. At the same time that I’m thrilled that Sally is truly a Quince and his blood, I’m devastated by his deceit.”
Comfort laughed shakily, swiped tears from her cheeks, and waved away an offered handkerchief. She retreated to the kitchen, followed closely by her sister. Naomi filled two mugs with coffee, serving Comfort before she faced her across the table.
“Well if you don’t want to cry about it, which in my opinion is wasted effort anyway, then what’s to be done?” Naomi asked.
“Nothing,” Comfort answered flatly. “Hamilton has stated he strayed from our relationship once, which—given the circumstances of my marriage to another man at that time—is extraordinarily benign in the grand scheme of things. Had he admitted a longer affair, one spanning several years, I would have understood that too. But…”
“He lied to you.”
Comfort frowned at her sister, immediately feeling the need to defend Hamilton.
“I’ve known him a long time, Naomi and he’s never been a liar. He hated every secret tryst we ever conducted in the one room cabin he built so we’d have a place to meet.” She stopped and looked around the kitchen. “This part of the house is all we had then.”
She blushed, remembering the first time they’d made love. Hamilton had made a nest of blankets in front of the fire. After he’d undressed her, he’d held her a long time, just talking to her, making her easy each step of the way. She’d fallen in love with him all over that day. Her lips trembled now, remembering their affair.
“Well, of course he had enough sense to know it was wrong,” Naomi continued. “You would have been better off if he’d shot Owen Bailey the first time he saw evidence the animal beat you.”
“He couldn’t do that. Owen had already contrived with rustlers to steal the Double-Q. At the time, if Owen had turned up dead, either Quincy or Hamilton would have been the first accused.”
Comfort grimaced at the reminder of her former brutal treatment, but then her expression changed as she remembered a secret she and Hamilton shared.
“Hamilton gave me the money to buy the Mercantile. I knew he couldn’t afford it. The Quince brothers were struggling to keep their cattle fed after a bad winter. Money was tight everywhere.
“After a particularly bad incident that left my arm in a sling, Hamilton said he’d had enough. I thought he intended to stop seeing me. Instead, he arranged for me to get money. Wired it to me and I pretended I’d inherited the funds.”
She rubbed her arm remembering the pain of the wrist Owen had broken.
“Hamilton helped me come to an agreement with Mr. Bailey, the old man who sold me his store. I’d clerked for him for several years, so he knew me and he didn’t like Owen any better than anyone else did. I used Hamilton’s loan as my down payment. Since Mr. Bailey knew I could run the place, he agreed to let me pay the rest of what I owed, in payments over time. Owen was furious when he thought I’d cheated him out of my inherited money. But, I survived the beating that time too.”
“I didn’t know any of that, Comfort.”
“Nobody does. I didn’t know Owen Bailey was a murderer but I knew he was a thief. It was only a matter of time until he was found out. I saw a way to gain some independence from him, and Hamilton helped me make it happen.
“He gave me my first chance at a real life, Naomi. If he’d slept with twenty women during that time, I couldn’t blame him.” Another tear trickled down Comfort’s cheek and she swiped it away.
“Hamilton had his own reasons for getting you clear of Owen Bailey and he benefited from the move as much as you did,” Naomi told her brusquely. “I know you paid the Quince brothers back their money, with interest no doubt, so don’t take on guilt where it’s not deserved.”
Naomi looked at her shrewdly and added, “Comfort, if gratitude is the only reason you’re staying with Hamilton, you should leave. You don’t owe him any more than he owes you. You’re even.”
Comfort flinched. Her sister’s advice wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“On the other hand,” Naomi paused and cleared her throat, “If Charlie Wolf McCallister told me something was true I’d believe him over any evidence ever produced that went against his word. If your heart says Hamilton’s telling you the truth and your head says his words don’t make sense, trust your heart.” It was unexpected advice coming from her usually skeptical sister.
*
Hamilton looked at his brother-in-law morosely and said, “Comfort thinks I lied to her.” He’d seen it in her face when she studied Sally and compared her features to his. When Charlie remained silent, Hamilton muttered, “She should know me better than that.”
Charlie’s expression was one of stoic deliberation when he said, “Sally’s the spittin’ image of your mama.”
“I know that,” Hamilton answered desperately, “but it can’t be true because I visited the kid’s mother one time only and unless the two are twins, there’s no way she’s mine.”
Charlie tilted his head sideways and considered what Hamilton had just said. “You have the birthing dates and details?”
Hamilton shrugged. “No, but Jacob said she was five to his six.”
“Don’t suppose he might have had reason to change her age do you?” Charlie asked. “Now that the kids have had a steady dose of food, they’ve both filled out and grown some. Even before, Sally being a girl, was a mite smaller and more delicate than your boy. Easy enough to pass her off as younger.”
Charlie puzzled over it aloud, forcing
Hamilton to consider the possibility.
“If that’s the way of it, I’d be blessed for sure. I’ll talk to Jacob when my nephew, Alex, brings the kids home. Comfort wanted them out from under foot while she wrapped presents.”
Charlie was one step behind him when Comfort greeted them as they walked through the kitchen door.
“I think Jacob and Sally are twins, Hamilton,” Comfort said, offering the same conclusion Charlie had reached. “How can we find out for sure?”
* * * * *
Comfort lay next to Hamilton that night, running her fingers up and down his arm, letting her mind roam free. She was satiated from their lovemaking, and lazily contemplating what seemed obvious now. The kids were twins.
Jacob’s words at the lawyer’s office came back to her.
“Hamilton, Jacob once mentioned Mary Blain intended to put Sally to work when she was old enough.” The full import of those words made her shudder as she said them out loud.
“Sonofabitch. That’s why…”
“He’s been protecting his sister the best he could. Oh, Hamilton, he’s such a wonderful child. He’s brave, smart, and stubborn. He’s so much like you.”
“Well, at some point,” Hamilton said gruffly, “we need to get the children to tell us the truth. It has to be bothering them to start life with us, harboring a mistruth.”
“How can we get them to share their secret?” Comfort wanted to know the truth. But in her heart she already did.
Hamilton hugged her close and growled, “I guess when Jacob trusts us enough, he’ll let us know. Until then, we have a five year old daughter and a six year old son instead of twins.”
Chapter Ten
Christmas morning Hamilton woke to the sound of the kids sneaking around in the front room where the tree stood. He started to roll from the bed, but Comfort stopped him, drawing him back to her side.
She murmured softly, “Let them play for a time. They’ve not had enough Christmas magic yet.” He settled back in Comfort’s arms and left the kids to discover the toys and gifts Santa had left for them.
When they finally crept into the living room to see the children, Sally and Jacob sat on the floor, amidst the unopened packages, patiently waiting for the adults to rise.
Hamilton grinned at Comfort when she sank down to her knees and began handing out the packages and urging the children to unwrap their gifts.
A game of checkers for Jacob and three new outfits for Sally’s baby doll were the most prized presents until Hamilton carried in the puppy he’d gotten for his daughter.
“Jacob has his horse. I figure you need something to take care of too.” Sally cuddled the spotted puppy, stroking her fur and giggling when the pink tongue lapped her face.
She whispered, “Thank you, Pa.” She looked at him shyly and then grinned. “I’m naming her Honey, because honey’s the sweetest thing in the world.”
“No it’s not,” Hamilton corrected her as he pulled on his new boots and checked their fit. He stood up and stomped his foot seating it better as he smiled smugly.
“Sally,” he said, “Honey’s a fine name for your pup. But make no mistake about it, your mama’s sweeter than honey. And God bless the day I found a sweet woman like her to put up with a man like me.”
*
Comfort stood at the side of the room, surrounded by riches beyond any she’d ever dreamed possible when she’d been a poor Parker relative from Perry County, Alabama.
“Sally,” Comfort told her daughter, “we need to take Honey for a walk.” Comfort paused to ruffle Jacob’s hair, before planting a kiss on Hamilton’s cheek.
When he caught her around the waist, ready to claim more, Comfort laughed and leaned against his big frame.
“Hungry?” he teased, nibbling on her earlobe. “I am.”
She blushed. Even though they’d made love twice during the night, she suspected his hunger wasn’t for food.
“I’m hungry, too,” Jacob informed them from where he’d crouched next to the pup on the floor. “Will breakfast be ready soon?”
“Merry Christmas, brother,” Sally said, grinning at Jacob as he scratched her puppy’s belly.
How did I ever miss seeing it? Of course they’re twins. Comfort watched as the brother and sister wore identical expressions of glee.
“Guess you’re wondering what present I got you, Jacob,” Sally teased. “Mama said we should give you something you’d never forget.”
She hooked the leash to Honey’s collar and gave a tug. “Ready for our walk, Mama?”
“Absolutely,” Comfort nodded and slipped on her jacket.
“Wait.” Jacob held up his hand as if to stop them. “Before you go outside, give me the present I’m never going to forget.”
“Well as to that,” Sally’s grin grew big enough to include Hamilton this time. “You’ll have to share with Pa. Mama said we’re giving you both the stove for Christmas.”
While Hamilton and Jacob wrangled over who’d scramble the eggs and who’d peel the spuds, Comfort and Sally slipped outside into the unseasonably warm, Texas sun.
As Sally played with Honey and watched her roll around in the grass, Comfort gazed at the bright sky and whispered a silent prayer.
Thank you, God, for sending me children to love and giving me Hamilton Quince—a husband more precious than gold.
The End
Five Card Stud
Book Five, Eclipse Heat, the series
When Sam McCallister faces Eden Pace across a poker table, the lady gambler is all set to clean out his pockets. The lady is the prettiest woman and the best card sharp Sam’s ever met. But he has a few cards to play Eden’s not expecting. She’s wanted for murder and he’s the bounty hunter planning to bring her in.
Eden’s doing her own outlaw hunting. She’s on the trail of the man who killed her husband and though she’d like to forget the past and let Sam McCallister give her a reason for a future, she can’t do it. She’ll bring her husband’s murderer to justice or die trying. Seduction becomes her weapon of choice. Eden uses Sam’s attraction to her to free herself from the handsome bounty hunter who’s been dogging her steps.
But Eden’s got more trouble chasing her than Sam McCallister. The most dangerous outlaw in Texas, wants her dead. And it will take both Eden and Sam playing a high-stakes poker game to find the master criminal manipulating Texas justice and organized crime.
An Excerpt from Five Card Stud
Sam watched Eden kneel beside the shimmering bubbles as she tested the water—expecting, he was sure, to find it frigid. Instead, he knew heat pulsed under her touch, water as warm as the bath she’d taken in Wichita Falls.
“Are we in for the night?” she asked without taking her eyes off the pool.
“Yep.” His one-word answer seemed to be enough this time.
“What do you plan to do with me?” Eden asked over her shoulder as she disrobed. Sam could see that she didn’t intend to play shy around him. That was good, because if she was waiting for him to look away, she’d be an old woman when she gave up.
“Plenty.” He worked the one word through lips almost as stiff as his cock. She was a sight to see and she knew it, standing there flaunting her wares at him.
“All right,” she huffed. Her words were filled with irritation as she stepped out of dress and chemise in one fluid motion. “Is that what this is about?” She sounded genuinely surprised when she asked, “You’re not interested in the bounty?”
Eden turned to face him as she gathered her long mane of hair, re-pinning it on top of her head. She stood naked on the rim of the rock pool, surrounded by torchlight.
Jesus, the woman's trying to kill me. Savoring the creamy skin covering her slender curves, he followed the lift of her arm and watched her rounded breast tilt upward. Licking lips suddenly gone dry, Sam let his eyes center on the patch of dark curls at the V of her thighs.
“You were on the top of my wanted list as soon as I set eyes on you. Handbill or not, I’d ha
ve claimed you,” he admitted gruffly.
“Ohhh, this is wonderful.” Her soft moan of pleasure echoed in the cave as Eden walked around the hot spring and followed the ancient steps down into the pool.
His voice sounded pretty rough to his own ears when he called over to her, “You plannin’ on fuckin’ me senseless again so you can escape?”
Her laughter bounced off the walls, followed by her answer. “Yes.”
If there was one thing Sam enjoyed more than the chase, it was the challenge of keeping the prey once caught.
“Give me a minute to get us settled for the night, pretty lady. Then you can commence your getaway attempt.”
End of Excerpt
More Books by Gem Sivad
Historical Westerns
Eclipse Heat series:
Quincy’s Woman
Intimate Strangers
Wolf’s Tender
Tupelo Gold
Five Card Stud
Breed True
Trouble in Disguise
Whispering Grace
Unlikely Gentlemen series:
River’s Edge
Outrageous Pride
Cerise Amour
Stand Alone Titles:
Staged Affair
Pinch of Naughty
Historical Paranormal
Jinx series:
Cat Nip
Blood Stoned
Contemporary Paranormal
Bitter Creek Holler series:
Call Me Miz
Miz Spelled
Ursus Horribilis
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Smoke, Inc. series
Cowboy Burn—Ring in a Cowboy Anthology 2015
Rhythm (Coming soon)
From the Author
Hi. I’m Gem Sivad and I live in the southern part of an enchanted kingdom where I write paranormal, contemporary, and historical romance.