The Texan's Reward (28 page)

Suddenly, Nell felt like all the women were in a tornado. Wednesday might be the one having a baby, but they

were all working, helping, encouraging, and crying together.

Wednesday screamed, and Mrs. O’Daniel yel ed, “Push!”

Then, like silence following a storm, it was over. Mrs. O’Daniel lifted a baby and handed the wiggling boy to

Gypsy. Wednesday gave one more push as ordered, and then relaxed back against the pil ows as if she’d run ten

miles. Gypsy and Mrs. O’Daniel cleaned the bed while Marla brought in one of the dishwashing tubs to bathe the

baby. She might not have been able to stand the labor or delivery, but she was fascinated with the newborn. She

sang to him as she gently cleaned away blood and wrapped him in a blanket Wednesday had embroidered tiny

flowers around.

Wednesday whispered as she waited for them to pass him to her, “He’s real ugly, isn’t he?”

Nel laughed. “I think al babies look pretty much the same.”

“I don’t mind.” Wednesday smiled. “My ugliest brother was the nicest to me when I was little. It won’t make me

love him less if he’s pig faced.”

Nell watched in awe as Marla lay the baby in Wednesday’s arms. Everyone was laughing and crying at the same

time.

“He’s beautiful,” Mrs. O’Daniel announced.

“You think so?” Wednesday asked.

“Finest boy I’ve ever delivered. He’l grow up to be a handsome man.”

Gypsy grinned at the wiggling bundle. “I can tel by looking at him that he’s going to be the kind of man someday

who’ll take good care of his ma.”

“Really!”

“Sure. I can see the truth of a man at birth when he’s learned no lies. This little fellow is going to make you

proud every day of his life.”

The new mother smiled. “You think so?”

“I know so.” Gypsy winked. “I got the gift in my blood for knowing such things.”

Wednesday stared down in wonder, unsure what to do, then she pul ed the baby close and kissed his head. “You

sure caused a lot of trouble,” she whispered, “for no bigger than you are. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I

already love you, and I don’t plan on stopping loving you till I take my last breath.”

Nell laid her hand on Wednesday’s arm. “You’ll be a great mother.”

Wednesday looked down at the tiny baby. “You hear that? I’m going to be a great ma. I’l try not to ever yell at

you, and I swear I’ll never hit you with anything bigger than a twig.”

Mrs. O’Daniel proclaimed it was the easiest delivery in which she’d ever been involved.

“I thought I was going to die,” Wednesday whispered. “You mean it could have been worse?”

Nell had to agree with Wednesday. If giving birth could sometimes be harder, how could any women stand it?

It was dawn by the time the room was cleaned. Wednesday held her boy for a while, then careful y passed him

to Nell. The little mother ate breakfast as if she’d been working in the fields all night.

Marla, out of nervousness probably, had not wasted her time downstairs. She’d made several of Wednesday’s

favorites.

Harrison and the preacher came in to look at the baby. Harrison seemed fascinated by the tiny hand that

wrapped around his finger, but didn’t say anything. Brother Aaron went on and on about the beauty of a

newborn, pure and sinless.

Jacob came into the room next. He seemed far more concerned about Wednesday than the baby. He nodded

toward the little fel ow, but didn’t want to hold him. Mrs. O’Daniel had to assure him twice that Wednesday had

made it through the delivery without problems before he smiled. Unlike Harrison, the ranger was still unshaven

and his clothes had been slept in, but he had more color to his face than he’d had the day before.

With Wednesday falling asleep, they all moved out into the hall. Mrs. O’Daniel said she would sit with the girl for

a while and ordered all the others downstairs to breakfast.

Without asking, Jacob lifted Nell out of the chair and carried her down the steps.

“Your shoulder,” she whispered, remembering his wounds.

“I’ll manage,” he answered. “You look tired.”

She smoothed his hair back as he carried her. “And you look like you just rol ed off the couch.”

“I did. Tell me, darling, does this place ever calm down? I’ve had quieter nights sleeping out in the wilderness.”

Nell laughed, more because he called her darling than any other reason. “At least it’s not boring around here.”

She cuddled against his shoulder. “And you are right, I’m very tired.”

When he sat her on a kitchen chair, he kissed the top of her head before straightening.

Everyone gathered round the kitchen table and ate breakfast out of huge bowls Marla pul ed from the warming

drawers at the top of the stove. They all laughed as though they’d been a family forever.

When they were all stuffed, Nell asked Jacob to carry her back upstairs.

He silently lifted her up and left the room. Harrison had already taken his cup of coffee to his desk and was hard

at work. Gypsy and Marla were talking about taking a morning nap, and the preacher said he planned to keep

watch from the porch, which meant he’d be snoring within minutes.

Jacob climbed the stairs slowly. “It’s been a long night.”

Nell rubbed the whiskers along his jaw. “Mrs. O’Daniel says Wednesday will sleep most of the day, or until the

baby wakes her, wanting to be fed. He’s a sweetheart, don’t you think?”

“He must take after his father. No hair. No teeth. Red as a beet, and I’m not sure his eyes are open yet.”

Nell fought down a giggle. “He’s not a cat. Of course his eyes open.”

Jacob didn’t look like he believed her. He carried her into her room and gently laid her down.

As he tucked her in and leaned close to kiss her cheek, Nel tugged, pul ing him atop the covers.

“Lie with me a minute before you go.”

He raised an eyebrow as if to argue.

“Everyone else is already asleep except Harrison, and he’ll never climb the stairs without making an

announcement. Just lie next to me for a minute. I need to feel you near.”

“You don’t want to be alone?” he questioned.

“No, that’s not it. I want to be with you.”

Jacob stretched his arm, and she used it as a pillow, then he laid his free arm across her waist and stretched out

beside her. His weight shifted the bed as he removed pil ows and pul ed the cover to her chin.

“Comfortable?” She whispered, fighting not to laugh.

He moved his chin against her hair. “Yes.” He shifted again. “You?”

“Yes, thank you.”

The sensation of having him near rocked her completely with the rightness of him beside her. She closed her

eyes and drifted into sleep, knowing all the world was in balance for the first time in her life.

While she slept, he listened to her breathing grow slow and regular. He felt the slight movement of her body as

her breath went in and out. She wanted him with her. She wanted him near, he knew. Then why wouldn’t she

marry him? He could get used to being beside her like this . . . well, not just like this, he reconsidered. Less

clothes on maybe and definitely less covers between them.

The thought crossed his mind that she might be trying to make Harrison jealous, but that made no sense.

Harrison wasn’t the type to have such a feeling, even if he did love her, and he’d made it plain to Jacob that he

didn’t even believe in love. Near as Jacob could tell, the two of them never talked about anything but the

running of the ranch.

Lines worried their way across his forehead. If he wasn’t in the running for husband, then could she be just

toying with him? He knew he was her friend and more. Surely the kisses they’d shared proved that. Half the time

she acted like he was her Texas Ranger and not the state’s. She wanted him near. She wanted his touch. He had

no doubt about that.

He smiled. As long as he could give her what she wanted, he wouldn’t complain. Even now the memory of her

breast warmed the palm of his hand. He’d never known a woman to answer his kiss with such honest passion.

The thought of her last kiss reminded him that sleep was the last thing on his mind.

Maybe she was just trying to drive him crazy one last time. After all, near as he could remember, she’d been

having fun driving him to the breaking point most of her life.

But not like this. Not with passion.

“Nell,” he whispered against her ear, figuring if he were wide awake, she might as well join him.

“Yes,” she mumbled.

“Mind if I touch you again?”

“No,” she answered. “I don’t mind.”

“I mean really touch you, darling, like I did out on the porch.”

She stretched slightly and raised her arm above her head. When she moved again, he felt her body warm and

soft beside him.

He moved his fingers from her waist to her shoulder. She felt so good. With only her gown and robe on, he could

feel the outline of her body beneath, and every inch of it felt like perfection.

He slipped his hand beneath her robe and molded his fingers around the fullness of her. She felt like heaven, all

warm and willing.

“I could get used to this,” he mumbled against her ear. “Turn your head so I can kiss you.”

She did as he requested. Her mouth was slightly open when his lips touched hers, and the pleasure of it warmed

him several degrees. He took slow pleasure in exploring the kiss as his thumb crossed over the peak of her

breast.

When he pulled an inch away, it took several minutes for his breathing to slow and his brain to form thoughts.

He moved his hand back to her waist, fighting the urge to pull up her gown and feel her flesh against his.

“Good night,” she whispered as if the kiss had been no more than a way to say sweet dreams. She moved so

that the breast he’d been holding pressed lightly against his chest.

“Good morning,” he answered and closed his own eyes, deciding she was definitely driving him crazy. The

strange thing was, at this point, he didn’t even care why.

A FEW HOURS LATER, JACOB SLIPPED FROM NELL’S SIDE and walked to the window. The sun was high, but he

heard nothing moving in the house. He glanced back at Nel , not wanting to think about how good she’d felt

beside him, how right. He’d fallen asleep with her in his arms, but a part of him never totally relaxed. Old habits

were hard to break. He’d heard the rider coming even before anyone on the porch would have been able to see

someone approaching.

From the window lookout, Jacob spotted Sheriff Parker, his old hat flashing white in the morning sun. As he

always did on what he called his “good days,” he forced himself to sit a horse. Unfortunately, with one glance

anyone could see the ride gave him far more discomfort than riding in a buggy. His days in the saddle were

nearly over, no matter how much he swore he still enjoyed the freedom of being on horseback.

Most men the sheriff ’s age could sit back and retire while their sons ran the family business, but with lawmen,

there was no retirement. Most didn’t live past their forties, and those who did usual y switched to a safer career.

Parker had no family and nowhere else to go, as far as Jacob knew. He’d spent his life alone.

The ranger was down the stairs by the time Harrison let the lawman inside. While the sheriff poured himself a

cup of coffee, Harrison explained why everyone else in the house was stil asleep.

If the bookkeeper thought Jacob’s being upstairs was unusual, he didn’t comment about it.

“What did the little fellow look like?” Parker didn’t seem to care what the answer would be.

“Pink,” Harrison answered. “Tiny and loud, very loud.”

Parker nodded as if he recognized the breed. “Yeap. That about sums it up. Except it takes quite a while to fix

that noise part. Years, from what I can tell.”

The sheriff rummaged through the bread tin until he found muffins to go with his coffee and asked Harrison and

Jacob to take a seat. “We need to talk,” he mumbled between bites. “While the women are stil al asleep.”

Jacob pulled a chair out and sat. There was no hurrying Parker; he’d tell what he wanted them to know in his

own good time.

“First, I thought you’d like to know, Dalton, the posse brought in the three outlaws you let slip away.” He said

the words as if Jacob had simply waved farewel to the robbers and not been lying at the bottom of a gully after

being stabbed and fal ing ten feet.

“I know.” Jacob smiled. “Careless of me to leave them running around out there, wasn’t it?”

Parker took his time nodding agreement and then continued, “One of the three fel ows, Hank’s pa, didn’t look so

good. I think he must have suffered as much as you in that fight you said the two of you had. Maybe more. Both

his eyes are black and one, the left one as I recall, is swollen shut. He’ll be lucky if it’s open by the time they hang him.”

“Real lucky.” Jacob nodded, remembering how he’d heard bone break when he’d smashed his fist into the man’s

face. “He wasn’t much of a pa to the boy. I heard him say he wished he’d left Hank to starve to death. From the

little I remember, I think Hank’s mother is dead.”

The sheriff agreed. “When they brought him in, Hank’s pa seemed more angry that the boy was alive than happy

to see him. He’s a mean one. Been picking at the kid al morning, like it gives him some kind of pleasure. The

sheriff in Fort Worth thinks he may be one of several men who killed a few guards down in Huntsville and broke

out of prison a few months back.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Jacob remembered how he fought and how the man smiled when he’d drawn blood.

He wasn’t just trying to knife Jacob in the fight, he was trying to cause as much pain as possible. Men like that