by Laura Beers
Audrey regarded him for a moment before saying, “No, thank you.”
Leaning back against the wall, Warren stifled a smile because he saw the merriment lighting his wife’s eyes.
The mayor looked back at him in confusion, and Warren just shrugged. Sighing, Mayor Brown tried to address Audrey again. “I don’t think you understand, ma’am. We are firing you as a deputy.”
She reached for a stack of papers and started shuffling them. “This may be a good time to remind you that the town does not pay me any wages.”
“Be that as it may…” Mayor Brown started.
Audrey cut him off. “Have I done something to displease the town?”
“No.”
“Have I done something to displease you?” she asked, putting the papers down.
“Heavens, no.”
“Been neglectful in my duties?”
The mayor frowned. “Not at all. But that…”
With unshed tears in her eyes, she pressed, “If you are pleased with my work, then why would you want to fire me?”
Mayor Brown crumbled at the sight of her tears. “I have spoken out of turn, ma’am. You can keep working as a deputy as long as you want.” With quick steps, he walked toward the door and put his hand on the handle. Before he opened it, he said, “Please don’t cry. I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
Once the door closed behind the mayor, Warren grinned and applauded slowly. “That was impressive. How did you conjure up tears so fast?”
Audrey gave him a sassy look as she blinked away her tears. “A Lady Pinkerton can always cry on demand.” She slowly rose from her seat and placed a hand on her protruding belly. “I assume you put the mayor up to firing me.”
Smiling unrepentantly, Warren walked over to his wife and put his arms around her. “You are due any day now. You should be home resting.”
“I prefer to be with you,” she said as she put her arms around his neck.
He leaned down and kissed her. “And I prefer to be with you, as well.” Deciding he was not satisfied with the one kiss, he kissed her again, slowly and sweetly.
Their interlude was interrupted when the office door swung open, and a cheerful male voice greeted them. “Morning, Mrs. Rockwell. Sheriff.”
Chuckling, Warren lifted his head and turned toward his young deputy, keeping his wife in his arms. “Morning, Deputy Rogers.”
The deputy stepped to his desk and sat down on his chair, sniffing appreciatively. “Do I smell Mrs. Tanner’s cinnamon rolls?”
Audrey laughed as she left Warren’s arms to open the top drawer of her desk and remove a covered plate. “You have a remarkable sense of smell, Rogers.”
The deputy grinned as Audrey waddled over to him with the plate.
“Why do you think I put up with you both all day long? I know I will be rewarded with delicious baked goods.”
Setting the plate down, Audrey smiled fondly at the deputy. “Hiring Mrs. Tanner as our housekeeper was the best decision I’ve made in a long time,” she paused, and looked back, “besides getting married, of course.”
Warren huffed, amused. “I should say so.” Turning his gaze toward the deputy, he advised, “Rogers, when you start courting, make sure your woman knows how to cook and clean. It was rather a surprise to discover that my wife could do neither.”
Audrey chuckled. “Don’t listen to him, Rogers. The sheriff practically begged me to stay on as his wife. It was quite pathetic, if you ask me,” she teased, giving him a private smile that made him wish they were alone.
Chuckling, Deputy Rogers removed a cinnamon roll from the plate as he asked, “How much longer are you planning to work, Mrs. Rockwell?”
“Today is my last day. I was actually just finishing up my paperwork,” she admitted. “Dr. McCaskill told me that I need to keep my feet up until the baby comes.”
“Dr. McCaskill is very wise,” Warren observed, “and I believe I said the same thing.” He stepped up beside her and put an arm around her waist. “How about I walk you home, and you can rest until lunchtime?”
Audrey’s eyes shone with love as she smiled back at him. “That sounds delightful.”
As they strolled toward their home, Warren couldn’t believe how incredibly lucky he was. A year ago, he was assigned to partner with a stubborn, insubordinate woman who had turned out to be his greatest triumph. How he managed to earn Audrey’s love still humbled him, because she was perfect. And she made him a better man.
He smiled to himself. Who would have thought that what started off as a fake marriage would have produced so much joy and happiness?
Suddenly, Audrey stopped on the street and gripped his arm forcefully. “Audrey, what is it?” he asked, fearfully.
“It is time. Go get Dr. McCaskill,” she said in a surprisingly calm voice.
His wide eyes dropped to her protruding belly. “I thought there were supposed to be signs when the baby was about to come?”
Her other hand rested on her lower back as she let out a loud grunt. “I have been in pain all morning, but I had assumed it was the muscle contractions Dr. McCaskill warned us about.”
His mouth gaped open. “This is clearly not just muscles contracting.”
With an iron grip on his forearm, she repeated her earlier request, “Go get Dr. McCaskill.”
His eyes darted around the street in a panic. “I can’t leave you here.”
“Nonsense,” she insisted, “our house is only a little way up the street…” Her voice trailed off as he picked her up, cradling her in his arms.
Running towards his house, he saw Mrs. Tanner standing on the porch. “Is it time?” the middle-aged woman asked.
“It is!” Warren and Audrey exclaimed at the same time.
Then Warren added as he continued to run, “Please, fetch the doctor!”
Heading into the house, he jogged up the stairs and went straight towards their room, placing her on the bed. Before he released his hold on her, he kissed her soundly on the mouth. “I love you,” he said, leaning back.
“I love you, too,” she replied before her face grimaced.
Holding her hand through the contraction, Warren knew his life was about to change, again. Soon, they would add a child to their family, and he finally had everything that his heart had longed for. And that was something he would never take for granted.
The End
Coming Soon by this Author:
An Agent for Darcy
The Pinkerton Matchmaking Series
Release Date: Feb 1st, 2019
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About the Author
Laura Beers spent most of her childhood with a nose stuck in a book, dreaming of becoming an author. She attended Brigham Young University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.
Many years later, and with loving encouragement from her family, Laura decided to start writing again. Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.
You can reach her at [email protected]