by Bold, Diana
Talon closed his eyes and leaned back, leaving his hand on Kate’s stomach, loving the feel of his child moving within her. She teased him sometimes about all the questions he asked and the way he liked to touch her stomach and the beautiful fullness of her breasts. But he’d missed all this the first time when she’d been pregnant with Beth, and he thought she understood.
He was blessed, and no one knew it better than he did. He had everything he’d ever dared dream of and more. His love for Kate grew with each passing day. His daughter was healthy and happy, and he’d proven he was worthy of being a father. Sutcliffe’s tainted blood had not destroyed his ability for kindness and compassion.
Yes, life was good.
He opened his eyes and gazed out at the tobacco fields, which stretched as far as the eye could see. In the end, he’d even gotten the land he wanted. Daniel had gifted him with Holyoke as his wedding present.
He’d been stunned by his brother’s generosity and tried to refuse the generous offer, but Daniel had persisted, and at last Talon had given in. It was meant to be yours, Daniel had insisted, and Talon had finally agreed.
Daniel had come to visit last year, and Talon had been glad to see the changes in his brother. Daniel was more mature, more content, and he and Beth had fallen in love with each other.
If the child Kate carried now was a boy, he would be Daniel’s heir, the future Earl of Sutcliffe. Deep down, Talon hoped it wasn’t. He’d be more than content with a house full of little girls.
But he trusted Daniel, enough to have agreed for his unborn son to go to England when he was old enough so he could see how the Sutcliffe estates were run.
Which meant Talon and Kate would need another son to take over Holyoke some day. He looked over at Kate and grinned lazily, thinking of all the baby making they had yet to do.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Kate gave him a suspicious glance and stole a drink of his lemonade.
“I’m just happy,” he told her. And it was true. His life had come full circle, everything sliding into place just when he’d almost given up hope. Despite the troubled path he’d taken to get here, he couldn’t imagine ending up any other way.
Kate smiled and squeezed his hand. “I’m glad, Talon. I’m so glad.”
They stared at each other, and for a moment Talon couldn’t even breathe. His love for her was still that strong, that deep.
In her eyes, he saw his weaknesses, but also his strengths. She’d told him once that she wanted to be there for him during the good times as well as the bad, and she’d proven it time and again.
She’d taught him love was stronger than hate, trust was stronger than doubt, and that there was nothing in the world they couldn’t do together. “You’re a remarkable woman, Mrs. Montgomery. I love you.”
Her gentle smile told him she felt the same.
The End
About the Author
Drawn into the happily‐after‐ever of fairy tales, Diana wrote her first story in elementary school and has been writing ever since, publishing over twenty historical romance and fantasy novels. She has won or been a finalist in over a dozen writing contests, including RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart. She lives in a small Colorado town with her wonderful husband. Diana loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.DianaBold.com.