by Connie Mason
His hands roamed over her lush curves. “You still look damn good in denims, but I hope you’ll abandon them for dresses when we return home. Somehow I don’t think there’s room inside these pants to accommodate a growing child.”
“Home,” Zoey breathed. A sudden thought occurred to her. “Where exactly is home going to be? I suppose Cully can manage the Circle F without me, but he’s getting on in years and it won’t be easy.”
“He won’t have to,” Pierce said. “Chad will return one day. He and Ryan can run the ranch without me. I thought we’d make the Circle F our home. It’s a fine piece of land.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“For us. For our child. Now,” he said, working the buttons loose on her shirt, “where were we before hunger drove us to the dining room?”
“Right here,” Zoey said, pulling his shirt from the waistband of his trousers.
Between slow, drugging kisses they rid themselves of their cumbersome clothing, arousing each other’s bodies until delicious agony licked through their veins. This time their loving was slow and easy and exquisitely satisfying. When the last erotic cry was wrung from Zoey, she closed her eyes and thanked fate for bringing her this stranger to love.
Zoey and Pierce’s honeymoon lasted seven glorious, fulfilling days. On the seventh day Marshal Kinder returned from Rolling Prairie. He called on the honeymooners at the hotel.
“Come in, Marshal,” Pierce invited when he opened the door to Kinder. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Kinder looked from Pierce to Zoey and grinned. They looked like a couple who had been enjoying every aspect of their honeymoon. “I hope you’ve been keeping yourselves occupied.”
Zoey blushed. Pierce gave a shout of laughter. “You could say that. What news do you bring from Rolling Prairie?”
“One of Willoughby’s men feared he was going to be made the scapegoat and enlightened us as to some of Willoughby’s illegal activities. Several people have been cheated out of land and money without realizing it. And Willoughby did order the attack upon your father, Mrs. Delaney.”
Zoey leaned against Pierce for support. His strong arms steadied her, offering comfort.
“He also confessed to breaking into your house twice to steal documents,” Kinder continued.
“Where is Willoughby now?” Pierce wanted to know.
“Unfortunately he’s where he can’t be brought to justice for his crimes.”
“You mean you let the bastard get away?” Pierce all but shouted.
“I mean Willoughby is residing in hell right now. He took the cowardly way out and killed himself when he learned the law was closing in on him. He couldn’t face his inevitable ruin. It’s perfectly safe now for you to return to Rolling Prairie and the Circle F.
“The newspaper printed a full account of Willoughby’s crimes. His men have been rounded up and will get a chance to have their say before a judge. Some had a hand in Willoughby’s illegal activities, but a few were unaware of his dirty dealings. They hired on because they needed a job. It will all be sorted out in court.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, Marshal,” Zoey said, relieved to learn that it was finally over.
“No thanks necessary, Mrs. Delaney. I was placed in this territory to protect the citizens and keep vigilante law at a minimum. If you’ll excuse me now, I’ve got reports to fill out.”
“We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning, Marshal. Zoey and I are grateful for your help. You’re welcome to visit us at the Circle F whenever you’re in the area.”
“I’ll remember that,” Kinder said, tipping his hat. “Try not to let your wife take any more midnight rides. It can’t be good for the baby.” Giving Zoey a friendly wink, he left the room.
Pierce turned to Zoey, his brow raised curiously. “He knows? Was I the last to know?”
Zoey shrugged. “I didn’t mean to tell him, it just happened.”
“Next time it happens I expect to be told first.”
“Next time?” Zoey teased, turning in to his arms. “What if there isn’t a next time?”
Pierce gave her a cocky grin. “As much as we enjoy making love, there’s bound to be a next time.”
Zoey nuzzled his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. “Think of all the fun we’ll have.”
“If you don’t kill me first,” Pierce murmured as he swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed.
Epilogue
Six months later
Pierce stood beside the cradle, regarding his sleeping newborn son with rapt adoration. He was a mite small, a tad red, and as wrinkled as Cully, but there was no denying he was a handsome lad. Pierce reached down and ran the back of his finger along a smooth cheek, wondering how he could have ever believed he didn’t want a wife and children. If not for Zoey, he’d still be living a lonely existence, filled with bitterness and distrust. Being forced to marry Zoey had been the best thing that ever happened to him.
“Do you plan on keeping him?” Zoey asked when she awakened and saw Pierce admiring his son.
“You’re awake. As for our son, I think I’ve fallen in love for the second time in my life.”
“I feel the same way.”
“How do you feel? Doc Colberg said yours was an easy birth, as far as births go. He said you were made to bear children.”
Zoey grimaced. “I wouldn’t call it fun, but I suppose I am lucky. Luckier still that he opened a practice in town after old Doc Tucker left so abruptly.”
“If he hadn’t left, the townspeople would have run him out on a rail. He was never sober long enough to do any doctoring.”
His gaze lingered on Zoey’s face, on the dark smudges beneath her eyes. “Go back to sleep, love. You need to rest and heal.”
“I can sleep later. Cully must be champing at the bit to see the baby. You can let him in if you’d like.”
“He’s right outside the door, acting every bit like a proud grandpa. I reckon Ryan will show up when he learns the baby has arrived.”
Zoey saw a shadow pass over Pierce’s face and knew exactly what he was thinking. She squeezed his hand in commiseration. “Don’t fret so, love. Chad will come to his senses soon and return home where he belongs.”
“It’s been months since anyone has heard from him. He could be dead for all we know.”
“You would have heard. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if both Chad and Ryan found women to love?”
“It won’t happen,” Pierce contended. “Both my brothers are confirmed bachelors.”
Zoey’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “So were you, until you found love.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Maybe you’re right. Neither one has met a determined woman like you. If either of my brothers is lucky enough to find someone to love, I’ll wager he’ll fall as hard as I have.”
“Can I come in?” Cully poked his grizzled head around the door, obviously anxious to see Zoey and the baby.
“Come in, Cully,” Pierce invited.
Cully walked into the room, twisting his battered hat in his hand. “You look plumb happy, Miz Zoey. A mite tuckered out, but that’s to be expected.” He glanced longingly at the cradle.
“Go ahead and take a peek, Cully,” Zoey said. “He looks just like his father.”
“He’s a mighty fine boy, Miz Zoey. Your pa would have been proud as a peacock. What are ya gonna name him?”
“We haven’t decided,” Zoey said.
“Yes, we have,” Pierce corrected. “We’re naming him for Zoey’s father.”
Cully appeared pleased. “He’d be right tickled. Well, reckon I’d best be getting back to the chores.”
“Thank you,” Zoey told Pierce once they were alone.
Pierce bent and kissed her softly on the lips. “No, love, thank you for loving a stranger.”
About the Author
Connie is the bestselling author of 60 books and novellas and counting. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as in American
locales. Connie has won awards from Romantic Times and has been listed in Who's Who of American Women for several years. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Connie is a world traveler. She has visited every country in Western and Eastern Europe, Greece, Asia and Northern Africa. Also, countless islands in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Connie enjoys spending time with her three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visit her Website and www.conniemason.com.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue