Free West For Love (A Mail Order Romance Novel) by Karolyn James, Claire Charlins

asked.
    His question came from a place Anna
never expected it. The tone of his voice, the look in his eyes. It wasn’t quite
heartbreaking like things had been with William and her parents, but it felt
pretty close. So close, Anna couldn’t control her emotions as she began to tear
up. A tear fell down her left cheek as she stared back at Thomas.
    “That’s what I thought,” Thomas
whispered.
    He reached up and touched the tear
on Anna’s cheek, transfrering it to his finger.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
    “No, my Anna, no. You have to show
your pain too. To me.”
    “I can’t wait forever then,” Anna
said. “Although my body and mind say yes, I’ll wait, my heart doesn’t.”
    “Since there is no forever, you
won’t have to wait that long,” Thomas said.
    His words were sharp and
purposeful. Beautiful at that.
    Thomas used Anna’s candle to light
his own. He handed one of the candles to Anna, signaling the return to the
bedroom to finish their last hour or two of sleep before morning would bring a
fresh day of life. As they walked side by side through the house, Anna felt a
little more at home. She didn’t like to see Thomas hurting or confused, but she
liked to see the honesty of how he acted. It gave her hope. Then Thomas slipped
his hand over Anna’s hand, taking it and holding tight.
    They walked in the darkness, two
candles as their only light. Trying to find their way together.
    Somehow, everything was falling
into place and Anna felt herself falling for Thomas.

Chapter Nine
     
    In the early morning the house came
to life. The sounds of Thomas Jr.’s crying demands for nourishment brought
everyone out of their sleep. Anna woke and watched as Thomas climbed from the
bed and dressed himself for another day of work. It must have been the routine
that saved him, which was a blessing. But it made sense too. The routine of
life and nature kept everything moving. The harshest winter could come, but spring
would undoubtedly follow. The hottest months could dry the dirt into flakes of
Earth, but nature would eventually bring rain. Hurt could still exist inside
Thomas but routine allowed him to live each day and work towards happiness.
    When she got out of bed and dressed
herself she went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast and found Thomas holding
his son. It was the first time she saw father holding son and it was a moment
that deserved to be captured forever. The way Thomas looked at Thomas Jr. and
the way the baby looked right back at its father was pure love. No matter what
Thomas did or said to the infant, Thomas Jr. smiled. Even when Thomas looked at
Anna and wished her a good morning, Thomas Jr. smiled. A big, toothless smile
with a small dribble of drool at the corner of his mouth.
    “Would you, for a second?” Thomas
asked as he started to hold Thomas Jr. out to Anna.
    Anna thought about yesterday and
hesitated. But she couldn’t deny the preciousness of the baby and her motherly
instinct and need to hold and care for Thomas Jr.
    She took him into her hands and
pulled him to her chest. He turned his head, wanting to see his father, still
smiling. Anna bounced him a little and she felt his hands close around her
shirt. He was holding onto her! He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t kicking. Thomas Jr.
turned his head and looked up at Anna. He had the biggest eyes she ever saw on
a baby, the eyes that were absorbing the world around him at an amazing rate.
Anna just knew Thomas Jr. would grow to be a smart boy and a strong man, just
like his father.
    “Hello Thomas Jr.,” Anna whispered.
“I’m so happy to be here with you.”
    Thomas Jr.’s head bounced side to
side for a second and his mouth started moving. His head fell forward to Anna’s
chest and she looked down and saw the movement of his lips. His hand pulled at
her as his mouth started to close over her shirt. He was near her chest and it
made Anna giggle.
    “I think he’s still hungry,” Anna
said.
    She looked at Thomas, who