Chapter Two

It was unusual that Shiloh was able to watch Adam as he slept. He usually woke before her. It wasn't that she woke any earlier than she normally did. Adam was slowly wearing himself down, and if she hadn't been quite sure of it before, she certainly was now. He was up in the mornings like clockwork...except for this morning.

She had already been up twice with Abel, and each time she had come back to bed, Adam seemed peaceful enough, but now so close to his waking time, his faced showed the tension he was about to face in his day, his brow was creased, and his lips taut rather than relaxed.

He'd stayed away from her all night, barely within reach he was so close to the other side of the bed. But his presence made all the difference in the world to her, and though she had gotten up several times, her sleep was restful. She jumped when Adam sat straight up.

His eyes darted around the room, his search finally falling on Shiloh, and he slowly let out a breath that seemed to deflate his rigidness. Falling back down on the bed, he stretched his arm out, finding Shiloh's arm and squeezing gently.

"Was that a dream?" she asked.

He rolled to his side facing her, moving his hand up to caress her cheek. "I was late getting into town and missed the morning stage."

"If that's not a sign you're working too much, I don't know what is. Fear over logic. The afternoon stage would be fine, and you know it."

He gave her cheek a gentle pat as he moved closer for a morning kiss; just a quick peck before he rose to sit on his side of the bed. "You know I want to get the drawings on the morning stage."

"I do, but I never imagined it would disturb your sleep."

"I suppose it's because it's one thing finished. Like I've made some progress."

She reached across the bed for him, and in doing so, her body twisted. She groaned.

Quickly turning toward her, Adam leaned forward and moved her to her back amid her protests.

"I'm all right."

He froze as his eyes met hers. "I was just trying to help."

Her tension slowly melted into a smile as her hand moved up his arm. "I know," she said softly. "But sometimes I feel..." She glanced up at his eyes, then down again. "I don't want to add to your responsibilities when you have so many. And I suppose I feel a little...well...I don't want to bother you."

Shifting to her side of the bed, Adam slowly leaned over her, judging if he was hurting her from the slight changes on her face. He was pleased nothing significant showed and settled himself half over her.

Closing her eyes, she relished the feeling of his body against hers. It had been so long.

"Sweetheart, you're doing what you need to be doing at the moment, and that's taking care of Abel."

"I know that, but I could be doing more..." her face saddened. "If I could ride, I could take care of the ranch, I could get supplies, and I could run errands for you."

Taking a breath, Adam slowly let it out as he made a decision. "I'm spending the day with you." Shiloh's eyes widened as her mouth opened, but just before a protest came forth, Adam put a finger to her lips. "I'll send Shorty to town with the drawings, and while you spend your morning with Abel, I'll ride over to the mine, and then to the Flying W to speak with Hank. How do you feel about riding over to Pa's house today? Micah's been asking to see you and Abel. And I think you just might be able to handle the buggy ride over."

"What about everything else?"

"It's Sunday, Sweetheart. I know we haven't been slowing down on weekends, but maybe it's time everyone had a day off. When men get too worn down, accidents happen."

She gently pushed him up and sat up on the side of the bed. "So when are you going to take your own advice?"

Leaning into her ear, he said, "Today," before he kissed it.

Shiloh finished her morning routine in the washroom and as she stood in front of the wardrobe deciding what to wear, she called back to Adam. "Is Micah able to get up at all?"

Adam's voice was raised a bit so she could hear him from the washroom. "He's been up on the side of the bed, but Dr. Martin doesn't want his feet on the floor yet. He says they could still become infected."

"I have an idea."

Walking into the bedroom in his white drawers, he stopped next to her and reached into the wardrobe. "And what would that be?"

She gave him a quick glance as she braced herself, thinking he might not be receptive to the idea. "What if we take the wheelchair over to Pa's...for Micah. We could move him into the downstairs bedroom, and then he'll be able to get anywhere he needs to go." She held her breath and waited.

He stopped for a moment, but then slowly pulled a red shirt out of the wardrobe. "And what will you do in the evenings when you're too sore to stand?"

"I'll sit in a chair without wheels. The last few nights, the wheelchair has stayed in one place in your study." She took her skirt and blouse over to the bed and sat down. "I'm tired of being an invalid. I just need to push myself."

He turned to face her as he pulled his trousers on. "And what does Paul think about you pushing yourself?"

"I have no idea. I haven't spoken to him about it. Even so, I don't think I really need the wheelchair. We have plenty of chairs." When Shiloh was dressed, she sat quietly on the bed.

Adam approached her as he tucked in his shirt. "All right. We'll take it with us, and while we're there, we'll get him moved downstairs." He reached out his hand to her. "And we does not mean you."

"What if he doesn't want to?" she asked, moving toward the nursery.

Raising his brows and wearing an impish grin, Adam replied, "We'll tell him he can't hold Abel until he's moved."

Shiloh brought Abel into the bedroom and looked at him before looking back at Adam. "Is he still in pain? Maybe he won't be able to hold him?"

Adam nodded, but said nothing. When he bent to lift her into his arms, she stepped away. "I'll tell you what. If you'll carry Abel, I'll walk down the stairs."

Adam's mouth dropped open as he gave her a sidelong look. "Considering how you're still limping pretty badly, I don't think that's a good idea."

She harrumphed, lifted her chin into the air and left the room.

xxxxxxxx

When Adam exited the buggy in the yard at the main house, he leaned back in over Shiloh. "I'm going to carry you inside. You barely made it down the stairs, and I'm not having you collapse in the yard."

Abel had been fussy since they'd left, and though Shiloh only had a mile to work with, she managed to satisfy his appetite before they drove into the yard. She pushed a sound asleep Abel into his father's arms, and very slowly lowered herself out of the buggy.

Adam glared at her. The only thing that stopped him from barking was his fear of waking Abel.

"Stop glaring at me," she spit as she hobbled around him. "If you carry me into the house and Micah sees or hears of it, you'll never convince him to keep the wheelchair."

He commented even though she had already turned away, "I'm not sure I should try to convince him."

When she stopped, she didn't look back at him, but Adam saw her back stiffen. Looking forward, she said quietly, "No matter what you do here today, Adam, I will not be using the chair again. So he might as well have it available." She didn't wait for an answer and continued slowly to the house.

Hurrying to catch up, Adam reached for the door latch around her just as she had raised her hand to knock. "Anybody home?" he asked as he pushed the door open.

"Adam?" Ben's voice carried around the corner from the desk as he followed it. "Well, what a surprise! I would have thought it was much too soon for you to be up and out," he said as he bent to kiss Shiloh's cheek.

As much as she hurt, she put on a smile for him. "I actually came to see Micah and bring him a present, but I'm just as happy to see you. And," she glanced back at Adam, "we need to speak with you as well."

"Oh? Is everything all right?" he asked as he moved to Adam's shoulder and spied his grandson.

"All is well, Pa. Do you want to hold him? I need to bring...something...in from the wagon."

Wearing a wide grin, Ben reach into Adam's arms, lifting Abel and then cradling him in his arms. "And before I forget, I need to talk to you, Adam. Council business."

"All right. I'll be right back," said Adam, heading out the door.

"Shiloh, why don't we sit down," said Ben, nodding toward the living area at the same time he smiled down upon his grandson.

She paused at the side of the settee considering the chairs, and when she had decided which one she thought would be more comfortable she hobbled over, turned her back to the chair, reached back so that her hands touched the arms and slowly lowered herself onto the firm, blue cushion.

Ben watch her slowly, stiffly sit. "Are you sure you should be up, darling?"

She looked down at her hands in her lap and smiled. "Pa, I was never one who could sit still for very long, yet that's all I've been doing since Abel was born. I feel if I don't just get up, I'll never get up." She looked up toward the door when Adam pushed the wheelchair through. "That's why I'm leaving the wheelchair for Micah. Right now, he needs it more than I because he's the same as me. If he doesn't get out of that bed soon and move around, even in the wheelchair, he might not. I don't want him to give up."

Pushing the wheelchair near the base of the stairs, Adam stepped in front of it and sat down. "We thought we'd move Micah down here," he said, indicating the bedroom next to the dining room. "He has more room to move around down here. He can go out on the front porch and enjoy spring, and whenever he's tired, he can go into his bedroom without much help. If we put some linen on the floor next to the bed, he might even be able to move from the chair to the bed by himself."

Looking earnestly at her father-in-law, Shiloh added, "I imagine he's starting to feel he's a burden. I think he'll feel better about being here if he can do some things for himself, Pa."

Ben looked from one to the other and slowly nodded. "You could be right. But I'd rather wait for Paul to say whether he can stand. His feet are still very raw, and Paul said they'll be very tender for awhile."

"Well," said Shiloh, pushing herself up from the chair. "Shall we go tell him?"

"You mean ask," said Ben.

"No, I mean tell," replied Shiloh definitively. "He's coming down whether the likes it or not."