“You just did. Besides, I was glad I could help.”
“I’m so glad Michael brought you into our lives, Selina.” He gave Selina a quick hug. “Now, go do what your husband says. Go home and get some sleep.”
“Yes. You heard the man. Do what your husband says,” Michael ordered, winking at her.
She pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze at him. Michael stood and took her arm. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s time to go home.” Had he just called her sweetheart? He glanced down at her. Judging by the way her eyebrows were raised, he must have. Well, what was done was done. He turned his attention to his brother. “Congratulations on your new son, Haydon.”
Haydon stood up straighter. “I have a son. Can you believe it?”
“Did you name him yet?” Michael asked.
“Yes. We sure did. His name’s Haydon. Haydon Junior.”
Michael didn’t think it was possible, but his brother’s chest puffed out even further.
They headed to the door and stopped.
“Tell Rainee I’ll check in on her tomorrow. Unless she needs somethin’ tonight. Iffen she does, you come get me, you hear?”
“Will do. Thanks again, Selina.”
“Take care of little Haydon Junior,” Michael told his brother.
“You can count on it.”
They slipped outside into the darkness and headed for home. All the way, Michael’s heart ached with envy. Would he ever know what it felt like to be a father? To hold a son or a daughter in his arms. To watch them grow up. Take their first step. Call him Father.
He darted a sideways glance at Selina. Over the past several weeks his affection toward her had been growing. There was more to his wife than her strange attire, her lack of education and her different way of talking. And it was time to find out even more about her. Maybe it was time to start courting his wife.
Chapter Twelve
Selina stretched in her bed. Sunlight lit her room. She wondered what time it was, so she tossed the covers aside to check.
“Oh, no you don’t. Stay right where you are.”
Selina froze with her hand holding the blanket midair.
Michael stepped into her bedroom carrying a tray and smiling. His blue eyes sparkled and so did his teeth. No stubble dotted his manly chin. He wore one of the new blue shirts she’d made and pressed for him.
He set the tray on the nightstand close to her bed. “I brought you breakfast. So sit up, okay?”
She eyed him warily.
He folded the blue blanket down around her lap.
He grabbed the extra pillow on her bed, gently shifted her shoulders forward and slid it behind her back. “There. That’s better.”
He set the tray on her lap and turned. With a single yank, he spun the chair around, set it down by her bed and sat. “I hope you like them. It’s about the only thing I know how to make.” His eyes held hope.
Selina glanced at the huge pile of flapjacks. “Where’s your plate?”
“I already ate. Those are yours. The coffee’s a little on the strong side. Isn’t as good as yours, but it isn’t bad.”
Selina kept watching him, shifting one eyebrow and then the other. “Okay, Michael. What are you up to?”
“Up to? What do you mean? Can’t a husband bring his wife breakfast in bed? You did it for me yesterday.”
“Ain’t the same. You were sick. I ain’t.”
“Do you have to be sick for me to do something nice for you?”
She dipped her head sideways, but her eyes stayed on him.
“Look, I know you’re wondering what I’m up to, but please, just eat your breakfast. See, I even heated the syrup.” He lifted the small pitcher and poured it over the stack of flapjacks with a large chunk of butter melting in the center. He cut a triangle out of the hot cakes, and brought it to her lips.
She opened her mouth, keeping her eyes on Michael.
His eyes slid to hers. She ate, staring into his beautiful blue eyes. “These are right tasty.” She took the fork from him and dove into the stack.
Michael chuckled. “That good, huh?”
“Sure are.”
“When you’re done eating, get dressed. You can even wear your trousers if you want.”
Her eyes darted open. She slammed her fork down on the tray. The dishes rattled and coffee sloshed over the side of her cup. “Okay, what’s goin’ on? You can’t stand my trousers.”
“I know. But I thought we’d go for a ride today and I figured you’d probably be more comfortable wearing pants instead of a dress.”
“Goin’ for a ride? Where?”
“It’s a surprise. Now finish eating and get dressed. I’ll see you downstairs.” He pushed the chair back near the window and headed out the door.
Selina watched him disappear.
He was acting mighty strange. She’d better hurry and eat and get dressed so she could find out what that polecat of a husband of hers was up to.
Michael whistled while he tossed two apples, a chunk of cheese, leftover biscuits, ham slices and gingersnap cookies into a flour sack. He had just finished filling the canteens with water when Selina glided down the stairs. Shock barreled through him. The woman wasn’t wearing trousers, but a lavender skirt, a yellow blouse and cowboy boots. Cowboy boots. He shook his head and chuckled. Now that was what he was used to seeing.
He met her at the bottom of the stairs and took her hand.
Just like she had when he served her breakfast in bed, she eyed him suspiciously. Well, let her be suspicious. She had every right to be because he was up to something. But he wasn’t telling her what—he’d show her instead.
“Sure you don’t want to wear your pants? We’ll be doing a lot of riding today.”
“Nope. See.” She pulled one side of her skirt off to the side, revealing the split down the middle. “They’re as good as britches. Rainee told me about them. Showed me hers. She even helped me make them.”
Michael laughed. He should have known. “Well, they look very nice on you, Selina.”
“Thank you. That’s mighty nice of you to say so.”
“Well, I have everything ready. So let’s go.”
“Don’t you have chores to do?”
“Nope. I already did them. Sound familiar?”
She frowned. “Oh, so that’s why you’re doin’ this. To pay me back. Well, I don’t want to be paid back. I did it ’cause I love you.” She gasped and slammed her hand over her mouth. “Um, we’d better go iffen we’re a goin’.” She darted away from him, slapped her cowboy hat on her head and grabbed her rifle, which was leaning against the bench near the door. Then she was out of the house before he could even pick up the canteens and flour sack filled with their lunches.
When he neared the door, he heard her mumbling. “Can’t believe I up and said that. The man doesn’t love you, so why’re you tellin’ him you love him, Selina girl? Ain’t you got no pride left? Or did you throw it all away on that man?”
While Michael smiled at her antics, at the same time he felt bad that he did not reciprocate her sentiment. All he could do was keep praying someday he would. He walked up beside her. “I didn’t get the horses ready yet. We’ll have to do that first.”
“Where we goin’?”
“Now, what did I read the other day about patience and letting it have its perfect work?”
“And what did I say about not havin’ any?” she shot back.
Was she ever fast at those comebacks. “You got me there. Come on. Let’s hurry.”
“Michael.” She laid her small hand on his arm and warmth spread through it, landing in his heart. “Can we check on Rainee first?”
“Already did. Haydon said she was resting and that she was doing very well. We’ll go by and see her later, okay?”
“Okay.”
He could tell she was disappointed, but he didn’t want to wake Rainee.
They hustled down to the barn. The familiar smell of horse, grain, hay and dust greeted his nose.
; “Hi there, Abbers.”
Abby whirled and tossed her hip-length braid behind her. “Selina! Hi.”
His little sister hugged Selina.
“What about me?”
“Oh. Hi, Michael.” Abby hugged him with less enthusiasm than she did Selina.
“Hi yourself. I see how I rate.” He winked at Abby and she wrinkled her nose up at him.
Leah stepped out of the stall, leading her horse.
“Hi, Selina. Boy don’t you look nice.”
“Thank you kindly. So do you.”
“Hi to you, too, sis.”
Leah gave him a quick wave.
“Where are you two heading off to?” Michael asked.
“We’re going into town. You want to come with us, Selina?”
Michael blurted, “No!”
Leah lips curled upward. “I see. And just where are you two going?” She waggled her eyebrows.
“That’s none of your business.” He smiled.
“A surprise,” Abby chimed in. “Ooo, I love surprises.” She walked over to him and cupped her ear with her hand. “Whisper to me what it is. I won’t tell.”
Michael leaned down near her ear. “No.”
Abby yanked her head back. “Oh, you. You’re so mean.”
He tweaked her on the nose. “And don’t you forget it.”
“Come on, Abby,” Leah said. “Help me get Lambie ready so we can go. I don’t want to miss…” She stopped and yanked her gaze over at Michael.
“You don’t want to miss what?”
“Nothing.”
“Le-ah. Who is he?”
Leah shook her head. “No one, Michael. I’m teasing you. Do you think I would take my little sister with me if I were going to see someone?”
“Yes.”
Leah blushed.
Something wasn’t right. He wanted to follow her to see what she was up to, but Abby was going with her, so the thought of her meeting someone did seem pretty far-fetched. Still.
“We goin’ ridin’ or what?” Selina tossed him a halter.
They readied their horses and rode off, making their way down the Palouse River into the deep woods. Michael followed the tracks until they came to a grove of trees. There they were, just as he had hoped.
He dismounted and held up his arms to her, waiting for her to refuse his help and jump down by herself like she always did. This time, however, she accepted his help, which pleased and surprised him. She swung her right leg over the horse’s withers and placed her arms on his shoulders.
He held on to her even when her feet touched the green grass below their boots.
She gazed up at him, and his lips curled upward. “You smell nice, Selina.”
“It’s that lavender water Rainee give me.”
He smelled her neck, letting his breath brush the hollow of her throat.
She swallowed. “What—what’cha doin’?”
“Enjoying my wife’s perfume.” He breathed deeply, his senses coming to full alert.
“I—I see.”
He raised his head, and when their eyes connected, the sun suddenly seemed brighter in spite of the clouds covering most of it.
Selina stared up at him.
He leaned and lightly touched his mouth to hers, whispering, “Your lips are so soft.”
She said nothing.
He pulled back and stars sparkled through her eyes. The urge to kiss her floated over him like the clouds above, but he wanted to take things slowly with her. “I brought you here because there’s something I want to show you.”
“O-Okay.”
Leaving her nearly speechless was something that rarely happened.
From out of his saddle bag he grabbed his spy glass and gazed through the trees with it. “Look.” He handed it to Selina and stood behind her. “Hold it up to your eye and look over there.” He reached his arm around her and pointed to a place in the midst of the trees. The scent of lavender and soap swirled around him like the air from a crisp spring day. He needed to concentrate on showing her what he’d found. Focus, Michael, focus. And not on Selina and how nice she smells and how good she feels in your arms.
Selina held the spy glass against her right eye and shifted her head one way and then the other. Michael knew the exact moment she spotted it. “Is that—is that who I think it is?”
“Yes. It’s your wolf pup.”
She turned to glance up at him. The surprised innocence of a child on Christmas morning clothed her features. “How—how did you find her?”
Those lips of hers so close to his were tempting.
Slow, Michael, slow, remember?
He forced his gaze from her mouth and onto the woods where the pup was. “I noticed the wolf pack the other day. I wondered if the pup you doctored was among them, so I kept track of their whereabouts until I could show you that she’s back with her family and doing well.”
“You—you did that for me?” She blinked.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Michael. That was mighty nice of you. I’m much obliged.” She walked in the direction of the pack of wolves.
Michael caught up to her and clasped her upper arm, halting her. “Stay here. It’s too dangerous. We’re taking a chance by being this close as it is.” Although his voice was but a whisper, he kept it stern along with the look he sent her.
“I just want to see if her leg is healed.”
“It is. If you want to see for yourself, then take a look through the glass.”
She held it up to her eye again. “Can’t see it. The others are in the way.”
“Just wait.”
“There’s that ole patience thing again.” She sighed.
“Sure is.” He chuckled. “They’re starting to get restless. We’d better go.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Michael, for bringin’ me here. It means a lot to me.”
“I know. That’s why I did it.”
“You sure can be sweet when you wanna be, you know that?”
“When I want to be, huh?” Mirth inched his lips into an upward curl.
“Didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know what you meant. It’s okay. You can be pretty sweet yourself…when you want to be.” He winked. “Now let’s go.”
They mounted their horses and rode through the woods. Wind foraged through the trees, rustling through the branches and finding its way to them.
Michael gazed up at the sky, wondering when it had turned so dark. Being in Selina’s presence and seeing her joy and surprise had him shutting out everything else around him.
Lightning flashed in the distance. Thunder rumbled above them within seconds.
“We’d better hurry and take cover. That storm’s moving in here fast. We’ll never make it home in time. Follow me.”
Branches and pine needles crunched under the horses’ hooves as they rode swiftly through the trees, bushes and foliage. She followed the path he cut.
The wind blew harder, lifting Selina’s hair, tangling the strands with its rising fury.
“Hurry, Selina.” The coolness of the storm descended on them. Lightning struck again and again and each clap of thunder grew louder and quicker.
The sky opened and rain pelted down on them, soaking their clothing.
Michael led Selina through the trees to a hidden cave he’d discovered deep in the hillside when he and his family had first arrived in the Idaho Territory. It had been dug years ago by an old prospector looking for gold.
They stopped at the large cavern’s opening and dismounted. Both Macy and Michael’s horse Bobcat were used to being in closed-in spaces, so he grabbed the reins from Selina and led them inside the dimly lit cave. Just inside the opening, he dropped their reins, knowing they would stand still as long as their restraints were in that position. Haydon had trained them well.
Wet horse and leather and a hint of sulfur filled the damp interior of the cave.
Chills rippled through Michael’s body.
Selina loosened th
e stampede string on her hat and let it fall against her back. She stood, rubbing her arms. He removed the blanket from one side of his saddle bags and draped it around her shoulders, closing it snug against her neck.
“Thank you kindly.”
He nodded.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“A little.”
“Well, here.” She moved one arm out in a gesture for him to join her under the blanket.
He nodded and she removed the blanket, draped it around him, tucked herself under his arm and pulled the ends of the blanket together.
“This is rather cozy, don’t you think?” Michael gazed down at her.
“Sure is.” She smiled up at him.
They stood there, staring outside.
Thunder rumbled above them.
Wind whistled through the trees.
But the sound Michael heard most was his own heartbeat pulsating in his ears. What was it about being so close to her that set his heart racing? Was this what love felt like, or was this just some physical attraction because of Selina’s beauty? Isn’t that what had lured Haydon to Melanie? Lord, help me to not make the same mistake. Guide me where Selina’s concerned, Father.
He continued to silently pray about the situation and for his wife until peace filled his soul.
Selina laid her head against Michael’s chest. His soothing heartbeat drew her soul further into his. She wanted him to kiss her again. She loved the feel of his lips on hers. And every time he kissed her, her toes curled and her knees turned to mush. Each day she was around him, she loved him more. If she wasn’t mistaken, he seemed to be caring for her more and more, too—and trying to make this marriage work. She sure hoped so, hoped it wasn’t just some fancy on her part.
The hankering to kiss him settled into her chilled bones. His body heat warmed her outsides, but his kisses would warm her insides. Of that she was certain. Wonder what he’d think if I kissed him. Only one way to find out.
Selina slid her head up his chest and raised it to meet his eyes. Smiling eyes that pulled her in faster than quicksand, only not nearly as dangerous. Or maybe they were. A heap of courage was what she needed to follow through with her plan to kiss him. Willing some into herself, she pushed forward, “Michael, would you mind kissin’ me again?”
The Unlikely Wife Page 17