Free Dorothy Garlock - [Wabash River] by River of Tomorrow

he added when she moved up so that the tip of his maleness nestled against her soft down.
    “What is it you’ve wanted more than anything?” she whispered.
    “I be wantin’ nothin’ more than havin’ ye where ye are, sweet wife,” he growled, and moved her rhythmically against the hardness that lay between them.
    “I love you. Have I told you that today?”
    “Aye, but ye can tell me again.”
    “We’ve been wed ten years, Gavin. I love you more now than I did when you and Rain were taking me to Belle Point to be wed to Will Bradford.”
    “Aye. Ye be more than I dreamed a havin’.”
    “I know you’ve been disappointed we haven’t had children,” she said in a small, tight voice.
    “’Tis God’s will. I not be blamin’ the mon. I got more’n my share, right here.”
    “Gavin . . . I think we are.”
    “Ye be thinkin’ we are what, love?”
    “I be thinkin’ we’re going to have a baby.”
    Gavin was silent for the space of a dozen quick breaths, then the air exploded from his lungs.
    “B’gorry! B’God! What’er ye sayin’?”
    “I think we’re going to have a baby,” she said slowly, spacing out the words. “I haven’t bled in two months. Haven’t you noticed, you big ox?”
    “Aye . . . nay . . . I thought, I thought . . . I dunno what I thought! Air ye sure?”
    “Reasonably. I waited until I could talk to a midwife before I told you.”
    “Ah, lassie! Ah, love! ’Tis grand, but will ye be all right?” he asked anxiously.
    “I’m only thirty-three, silly. Some women have babies when they’re forty or more.”
    “But I been . . . lovin’ ye somethin’ fierce. I could’ve hurt ye!”
    “No. I asked the midwife about that too. She said I could pleasure you right up to the last month.” Eleanor giggled. “I should have asked her if I could pleasure myself on you. She would have been shocked speechless.”
    Gavin put his arms around his wife’s small body and held her tenderly. “It’s almost more’n a mon is due, havin’ ye and a bairn too. I love ye so, lassie. Ye be my heart and soul.”
    “And I love you, my big wonderful man. Come Christmas we may have a wee laddie. What was your papa’s name?”
    “Charles.”
    “Charley McCourtney,” Eleanor said against his throat. “How does that sound?” She leaned up to look into his eyes. The moonlight coming in through the window shone on his face. She could see the sparkle of tears in his eyes. “I want to go home, sweet man, and wait for our son to arrive. But tonight you’re going to get loving better than any you could get in bed with one of those high-priced floozies down in New Orleans.”

CHAPTER FOUR

    D aniel spent a restless night. He was up before daylight and down at the barn, where he curried his buckskin and a mare that was kept for pulling the light wagon. Blackbird sat watching. Jeems came to the barn to milk the cow.
    “How’s things going, Jeems?”
    “Only fair ta middlin’, Mistah Dan. Ya want that I start the plowin’?”
    “If that piece out beyond the rock fence is dried out, you can start. Did the corn you saved for seed winter all right?”
    “Yessah. Mistah Farr got wire ta string it on. It’s tied high up in da barn so da rats can’t get ta it.”
    “I’ll send Jasper and his boys over to help you when they get their plowing done. Meanwhile, you can grease the wheels on that light wagon. We may be wanting to use it.”
    “Dey all be greased, Mistah Dan. I ’bout ta start spadin’ da garden spot. Miz Quill be back ta see ’bout dat garden. She set store by dat garden.”
    “Yes, she does.”
    “Miz Quill be mighty put out if’n they ain’t no garden.”
    “She’ll not be here to see it, Jeems.”
    “It make no never mind. Missy see it growin’ ’n’ tell Miz Quill.”
    “Have you seen any strangers hanging around?”
    “Days ago I seed two good-fer-nothin’s lookin’ ’round. Dey jist look, didn’t do no hurt ta nothin’.”
    “You keep close, hear?