Sacred Terrain (Traveled Hearts Series Book 2)
Page 25
“You’re asking me to raise another man’s child. A family? No, not in the real sense.”
“You can adopt him or her, and the child will be yours in name and, hopefully, in your heart.”
“I see you have this all figured out. I suppose you had time to think about it. Jacob deliberately kept you to himself, and you went along with it. How can I forgive that?” He turned away from her, his voice nearly lost in the night. “When is the child due?”
Feeling more hurt than any beating she received from Mallow, her chest heaved with emotion. Her voice shaky, she said, “I think July.”
“And if I choose to tell Jacob?” His question felt like a threat.
“For the sake of the child, please don’t. What will we tell him or her– an innocent child?”
He slapped his hand on the railing, his profile etched in anger. “Goddammit, you should have thought about that before you let your damn lust get the better of you! I assume it was mutual.”
“Caleb!” Jessica grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. “I love this baby. It comes from love, but I choose to be with you. I love you with all my heart.”
“All of it? I think not.” His sour tone sparked her anger.
“Stop it!” Her words echoed in the stillness of the night.
He slowly turned from her and bowed his head. His words came low. She could hear the sound of them breathing. “I’m sorry.”
“Caleb.”
“Will I have to share you with him? I don’t think I can do that.”
“No, you are my husband.”
“Life is never what one plans. Because I’m still in love with you, we will stay together and I’ll keep your secret.” Turning to face her, he looked her in the eye. “But someday, Jessica, it will come out, and you and I will have to deal with the consequences. Nothing happens without consequence.”
“I don’t see how it will be exposed if only you and I know.”
He shook his head. “I hope you’re right.”
“I promise to keep your secrets also.” She knew she had lit a fuse, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want his pity, only his respect, and for them to be on level ground.
“What?”
“I heard my brother and Jacob talking, though I’m sure they thought I was ignorant of it.
What happened in Colorado, and what had that to do with my kidnapping?”
She had stunned him into silence, her nerves on edge. Did she really want to know?
He fished in his pocket for a cigarette but found none. Scratching his head, he began to speak. “We worked together, Will, Jacob, and me, along with a group of gunrunners.” He spoke without looking at her. “There was an incident in Colorado. Jacob saved my life. We had no idea of the ramifications, only that we needed to leave the camp and head out in separate directions. I went to Oregon, and Will and Jacob went south. The scout, Rex Conrad, was hired to look for us and take us back to Colorado… to stand trial. Instead, he was looking to make a buck off the incident and hired the Indians to take you. I guess he thought they could hold you while he came to me for the ransom. He got himself killed instead.”
“Stand trial?” He looked at her, his expression was serious, almost cold. A shiver run up her spin. “Keaton. The burned camp. I read an article about it on my trip out west.” She brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh God, Caleb. I can’t believe you and my brother and Jacob could be a part of that.”
“Believe what you want. The truth still remains the same. We never could have imagined that …” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t discuss this with Will or Jacob.”
“If that’s what you want,” she said softly.
He turned to her. “Looks like we have another secret between us.”
She pursed her lips. “Are we safe?”
“I think so, but I’ll always be looking over my shoulder. Let me worry about that.” The puff of air escaping his lungs was white in the cold night. “Now I need your forgiveness.”
She wasn’t sure what to say. Her life had been dramatically altered by the two men she loved, yet their futures would be intertwined forever with hers. “For the baby, I forgive you.”
“Sounds like a trade—my forgiveness for yours.” He stood closer.
“I don’t want to bargain with you. I will raise this child alone if I have to. I can take care of myself.” She didn’t know why she was being so defiant. Were her survival instincts still in charge?
“Getting yourself back here proves that.” He brought her to sit with him on the bench. “I won’t ever put you in harm’s way again. The honest truth is, I love you, Jessica. That hasn’t changed.”
She nodded and came to sit closer to him. They found each other’s hand and held on tight. The sharp edges of their defenses having been filed down, Jessica felt that her little family’s future held more promise than peril. The moonlit landscape, sparkling with dew, captured her attention. She breathed a sigh of relief. This was her home … her heart … her sacred terrain.
THE END
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank everyone who encouraged me to continue with my Traveled Heart series.
It’s been such a joy to write.
I also want to thank my team– Julie Christine Johnson for her insightful developmental editing.
Jane Dixon-Smith for her wonderful cover design and great formatting. Joyce Mochrie, my copy-editor and proofreader for her meticulous editing and proofreading. Without these talented ladies I would not have the novel I present to the world today. Thank you so much!
Thank you to my family– my daughters, Star and Heidi, my grandchildren, Nathan, Dylan, Miles, Liam and Dalila, my sister Beth and brother Earl, and special thanks to my wonderful husband, Jeff. Your love and support is invaluable.
Thank you to my readers and their feedback. I will always keep you in mind as I continue to write. You are the inspiration that keeps me wanting to put out my very best work for you to enjoy.
I’d like to thank the women who came before me who had the courage to pursue their dreams even when those dreams and desires contradicted the rules and restrictions of society.
Peace and Love,
Veronica
Traveled Hearts
The first in the Traveled Hearts series begins with a dangerous romance and society’s restrictions. Both will lead Jessica Messing, a budding artist down paths filled with hardship and discovery in Victorian Age America.
Veronica Mahara is the maiden name of Veronica Stoneman who lives with her husband and two cats surrounded by her family and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. To find out more about the author and future publications visit: veronicasunmahara.com