Choices of the Heart (16 page)

The two of them had not taken time to consider much. When Chloe came back into the room and picked up the baby, she kissed Reese on the cheek. After she went back to bathing the children, he kicked out of his shoes and removed his coat and tie.

Collapsing on the bed, he covered his eyes with the back of his arm. Hard to believe all that had happened in less than twenty-four hours.

What a hell of a day!

Chapter Sixteen

Chloe settled into bed next to Reese, having just fed baby Charlie one of the glass bottles filled with
Franklin Infant Food
. Had the brilliant desk clerk not thought ahead, they’d be in quite a state of panic—a screaming baby and no food.

Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this. At the hospital, she’d fed many a baby who wouldn’t take milk from its mother, yet she hadn’t even considered this one would need to be fed before going to bed and possibly again in the middle of the night.

She snuggled closer to her sleeping husband, wondering again what he was thinking about the whole situation. He’d not voiced an opinion yet, and she was worried about what he was holding inside, worried that maybe their marriage would be that way—holding everything inside until it got so crammed full of stuff he’d feel as if he’d want to explode. They never related that way before she left; he’d been her constant confidante, and she’d told him everything, knowing he loved her unconditionally. Now she wasn’t so sure.

Reese stirred, and she wrapped a hand around his waist. He smelled so good. The aftershave he wore reminded her of the nights they’d spent like this, before she went away to chase her dreams. She found herself drawn in closer to him, as if she couldn’t get close enough to his scent.

She nibbled at his ear, kissed down to his neck, following the strong line of his jaw. She knew he was awake when he craned his neck so she could get to his lips.

“The children…” he whispered.

“They’re in the other room, sleeping soundly.”

That seemed to be all he needed to hear. Sheets pushed aside, his body pressed her back onto the bed. His lips teased hers open, and their tongues joined.

She found the waistband of his pajamas and slid them off his hips, caressing his buttocks as the pants went lower, down his thighs, over the back of his knees and finally fell onto the floor. He moaned and drew back.

She smiled and pulled his lips back to hers, feeling alive and possessed by desire. He dropped the straps of her gown off her shoulders, pulling the silken garment to her waist. His tongue traced a line from her jaw to her breast, stopping at her peaked nipples, turning them into even harder buds. She moaned, and he continued the assault, seeming to remember how she liked to be pleasured.

Her hands tangled in his hair, drawing him even closer to her breasts, hoping he understood she liked the intimacy.

“So impatient.” He chuckled.

“I need you, Reese. Touch me. Feel me.”

He rolled away from her, just long enough to peel her gown fully off. “I need you, too, honey, but I want to enjoy this, take our time. No rushing tonight.”

She reached for him, caressing him and loving how his whole body reacted to her touch. He took her hand away and settled her on his hips, straddling him. “You remembered.”

“I remember everything about this, Chloe Anne.”

He thrust into her, filling her so fully that she cried out.

His hands rested on her bottom, guiding her hips in a rhythm they’d learned together years earlier.

“Oh, Reese,” she moaned. Her pleasure mounting, she met his thrusts with equal pressure.

“I’m close, honey,” he whispered through a clenched jaw.

She increased her gyrations until he grabbed her hips and called out her name. His whole body went taut and then as soon as it came, the tension flowed from him. With a deep sigh, he pulled her down on top of him.

“Oh, my God.”

“What?”

“Years, Chloe.” His voice was thick. “Years without this. Without you.”

His jaw bumped the top of her head, and when he kissed her, she squeezed up even closer next to him. That answered her question, the one she’d been too nervous to ask. She had wondered if any woman had found a way into his bed. Such pleasure filled her, knowing she was his only lover.

“I’m here now,” she whispered. “I’ll be here for always.”

~*~

Were that the truth, Reese could have rested easier. Hours later, he still lay awake, watching Chloe’s chest rising and falling in the moonlight streaming in through the windows. Everything had happened in such a rush, he had doubts. She might have married him, but would she stay forever? And, if she did, could he keep her happy?

There was a man in Broken Bow he knew rather well named Graham Whitman.
His
wife had gotten bored with the town and left him. Of course, she’d been a mail order bride, and Graham had not known her well when she’d arrived. After that wife left, he found love with another woman, who was now expecting their second child in as many years.

Reese knew Chloe better than anyone. At least he did before she moved away to Lincoln. She was back now, though and it was up to him to make her happy to stay with him. He felt love from her—from the moment they met at the train station again, she’d seemed to feel the same for him as she ever did. It would work. He would make it work!

He pulled his arm gently from under her neck and braided his hands behind his head. The ceiling was blank, and he wished his mind might be equally clear. What had he gotten himself into?

Going from a bachelor to a husband and then to a father of three. Becoming a provider for four other lives. Having to answer and account to someone else would take a major adjustment on his part.

Life for the near future would be challenging.

Charlie was waking up in the attached room. Reese could hear him slurping on his thumb and kicking the mattress of the small crib they’d set him in.

What would Bobby think?

When the baby started crying, Reese crawled out of bed, careful not to awaken Chloe. What would a baby need in the middle of the night? This was all new for him—for both of them. Would they cope? Most new parents had months to prepare for a child.

Reese peeked through the small slit of the door and spied the infant rolling around. He went in a little farther and smiled, seeing Rosie lying next to Charlie in the crib, rubbing his back. Had she crawled in there with him? He smiled at the child’s tenderness. So much love abounded within their newly created family. Something told Reese they’d all be just fine.

He silently backed out of the room, satisfied that Rosie could comfort her infant brother. He returned to the bedroom he and Chloe shared. He chuckled when he saw how his wife had spread herself across the bed. Clearly used to sleeping alone, she’d taken up every inch of the plush mattress.

Reese crawled back onto the bed and wrapped Chloe next to him. It was a hot night, and although it made his skin sweaty and sticky to touch her, he refused to let her go. She was real, and she was here, and he would relish every minute they had together.

Charlie slept through the night. At least Chloe thought he had. She’d been so exhausted from the turmoil they’d faced the day before, she’d passed out shortly after she and Reese had made love, barely taking the time to slip into a nightgown, and then she’d slept like a log. Stretching to wake and opening her eyes a mere crack, she turned on her side.

A chuckle escaped her lips. Reese was lying on his back, pillows propping him up. Baby Charlie rested quietly on his naked chest, sucking his thumb. So much for him sleeping through the night. Movement at the bottom of the bed caught Chloe’s attention. Little Rosie was curled up in a ball, holding on to one of Reese’s bare feet.

Naked feet. She laughed again. You couldn’t get much more intimate with a person than to see their naked feet.

“Good morning.” He smiled at her.

“Good morning, yourself.”

“Chloe, what in the hell have we done here?” He motioned toward the sleeping children.

“We’ve formed a family, Reese.” She cuddled to his side. “A real family for these two, with parents and grandparents who will love them, not make them hunt for food in garbage piles.”

“So I guess that means you’re staying on then?” he asked.

“Where?” She didn’t understand what he meant.

“At the farm. Broken Bow.”

“Where else would I go?” She sat up straight. “We’re married now, remember? There was that day in front of the judge. You wore a suit—”

“But what if—?” He cut her off.

She covered his lips with a finger, silencing his concerns. She wanted to be as happy and content as they were that moment, forever. Unlikely, but they could at least try. They were married, and she would make it her mission to make a happy marriage, to be a good mother. A good wife.

“It’s eight o’clock already,” he continued. “At home, we’d be up doing chores. You sure you’re up for all that?”

“It’s a little too late to be asking me that now, don’t you think?” She leaned over and kissed the spot where her finger had rested against his lips. She turned her attention to Charlie, gently rubbing his back as he continued to slumber on Reese’s muscular chest.

“Mornin’,” Rosie whispered from the end of the bed, smiling.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Chloe opened her arms to the little waif and embraced her. “Did you have happy dreams?” she asked, brushing back the girl’s hair from her eyes.

“Not so happy, no.”

Rosie pulled away and tapped Reese on his shoulder. He had closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

“Hey, will we be going to that farm a yours today?”

Chloe laughed as Reese opened one eye. “Hey yourself, little lady.”

He poked her back on the shoulder and she giggled. Already there was a change in this quiet little girl.

“You sure you want to come back with us? You’ll have to help your new Ma out in the kitchen, you know.”

Rosie nodded.

“And collect eggs from the chicken coop.”

Rosie seemed to think about it, but she soon nodded.

“And keep your toes and nose clean.” Chloe reached forward and tickled Rosie’s feet and then tweaked her nose. Cleaned up, she was adorable.

“And you’ll have to go to school and learn to read and write so you grow up to be a smart gal, like Chloe.” He nodded toward her.

“I can do that.” Rosie nodded. “I’m already smart as spit. Least that’s what Pa used to say.” A sad look crossed her face.

Chloe looked at Reese, hoping he could say something to cheer up the little girl.

“He sure was right!” Reese said. “Why don’t we get dressed and go down for some breakfast? We’ve got the banker visit and our train pulls out at four. I sure don’t want to miss it!”

Reese stood up, gave baby Charlie to Chloe and whisked Rosie up into his arms. He carried the little girl to the window and pulled back the curtain, letting bright summer sunshine flood the room.

Chloe cuddled Charlie, trying to get him to giggle or have any reaction to her. There was something not quite right about the baby. She had a bit of medical knowledge but failed to come up with any idea regarding what could be wrong with him.

She went through all the normal procedures the doctors would do to test the wellbeing and health of a baby. His eyes followed her finger, and the pupils responded to light when she covered his eyes with her hand and then removed it. She tried his reflexes and found solid responses. Maybe the baby was simply not used to being loved.

“You going to get out of bed today, Mrs. Lloyd?”

Chloe laughed at her husband and did as he suggested. It would be a long ride home with a lot to think about. The sooner she got up and packed, the sooner she could get back to Broken Bow and put all the threats of gangster violence and ugly sadness behind her and start a new life with her husband and children, avoiding her father’s vileness at all costs.

~*~

It was late, well past dark two days later, when the train finally pulled into the station at Broken Bow. Traveling with two small children had been more of a hassle than Reese would have ever guessed. They wiggled and whined, cried and sang. They needed frequent potty breaks and diaper changes. The baby wasn’t content for more than a few minutes at a time the entire trip, and Reese wondered if the poor boy even got two straight hours of sleep.

But they were home now. Maybe life could fall into some kind of a routine. Who was he kidding? Life certainly wouldn’t be boring anymore. He didn’t want to admit he was scared. Chloe and three small children lived with him now. Bobby would have been enough of a challenge, and here they now had two other children.

As if sensing his anxiety, Chloe reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a tight squeeze. They would manage, no two ways about it. Struggle probably…a lot…but manage, nonetheless. He gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand.

Both children were sleeping as the train came to a stop at their home station in Broken Bow. Reese gathered Rosie in his arms, along with Chloe’s handbag and carryon case, and headed down the aisle, knowing his wife would follow with sleeping Charlie.

He stepped onto the platform and turned to help Chloe. They were the only passengers to get off at Broken Bow, so the conductor quickly propped up the wooden stairs and shut the door behind them. Their trunks were unloaded by the stationmaster and rapidly stacked in front of his father, who stood under the gaslights waiting for them.

“Howdy, Pa.” Reese walked up to his father and shook his hand.