Chapter Two

Adam and Ming Lin both came back to the bedroom bearing a tray of food and a pot of coffee. Setting the pot of coffee and cups on a table by a chair, Ming Lin excused himself as Adam waited for Shiloh to sit up in bed so he could place the tray over her lap. On her plate were eggs and fried potatoes, and on separate plates, biscuits and bacon; enough to share. The setting also included a honey pot and butter.

Preparing two cups of coffee, Adam took one to Shiloh, and then retrieved his own, staying near the table to look out the window. "It looks like a storm's coming in."

"If it's going to be a bad storm, I want my foundation horses in the big barn. Tommy and Johnny can move them there. How close does it look?" Just as she asked, a single, large raindrop struck the window.

"It's almost on top of us. Excuse me," he said, setting his cup of coffee on the table. "I'll go find them." He hurried out of the room.

"Adam!" When he stuck his head back in, she said, "I want Eli and Sampson in the barn up here."

"Why?" he asked with furrowed brows.

She raised her eyebrows. "Because that's what I want."

He rolled his eyes and disappeared.

Moving the tray off her lap onto the bed, she got up, tied her robe around her and stood by the window, watching Hank, Adam, and some of the other men running around the yard, moving wagons, feed, hay, and saddled horses to the barn. Adam and Hank spoke, and in another minute, Hank ran into the bunkhouse. Soon, Johnny and Tommy came out in rain slickers, heading for the back corral. When Adam turned back to the house, he glanced up at the bedroom window and stopped, looking directly at her with his hands on his hips. She could easily see the deep breath he took, exasperated she was sure. Smiling, she moved the tray to the table and sat in the chair, sipping her coffee.

When he stepped into the bedroom, he wore the same annoyed expression he had looking up at her from the yard.

She smiled up at him, appreciating that he was trying so desperately to take care of her and their child. She really couldn't be angry with him…but she would stand her ground…to a point. "You need to relax. I'm not on my feet, and I'm sure no one would object to the few steps it took to get to this chair. Now, I've warmed your coffee, and there are extra biscuits and bacon for you, so why don't you sit with me and tell me about your morning?"

His flared nostrils and furrowed brow slowly melted to a slight smile that created small dimples at each corner of his mouth. As he walked toward her, he opened his mouth slightly and crooked his jaw, she guessed, to prevent an all-out grin.

"You really shouldn't try so hard not to smile," she said in a teasing tone that took over her eyes.

He sat down and took a biscuit out of the towel in which they were wrapped. It was still warm enough to melt the butter he spread over it after he gently pulled it open. Finally, he set it on a plate and dripped honey over it. He then set the plate next to her and began another one for himself. "I assume you haven't eaten anything because you were waiting for me," he said, looking up at her from under his brow as he moved several pieces of bacon to his plate next to his biscuit. He was on to her little game of being purposefully sweet to the point that one couldn't quite argue.

She tightened her lips into a defeated smile, beaten at her own game, and then picked up her fork and began to eat.

The rain began to pour down and with it came lightening and a thunderclap that made both of them jump. "That got bad fast," she said. "I hope Paul wasn't already on his way out. He'll be drenched by the time he gets here."

Twisting his mouth, Adam looked out the window, and then cut his eyes back to her.

She interrupted the motion of her fork to her mouth, setting it back on her plate, and leaning back in her chair. "You're not telling me something. Out with it."

"It may be awhile before Paul gets out here," he replied, wiping his mouth, and looking straight into her eyes. "There was an accident at one of the mines. They don't have everyone out yet, and Paul has his hands full with the men they've gotten out."

"I thought you said cave-ins weren't as likely with the square set timbering."

"This mine doesn't use square sets."

What little appetite she had was suddenly gone. Even though she wasn't directly affected by the cave-in other than Dr. Martin being delayed, she still felt sad. She had seen wives receive news that their men were never coming up out of the ground. It made her heart sink. She stared off into the space of the room. "Adam, promise me we will never be ruled by silver or gold. I don't want to become some faceless mine owner who cares nothing about the people who work for us; who only thinks of suspended production when our men are killed or injured, and who does nothing to help the families left behind by mine accidents."

Reaching across the table, he covered her hand. "Sweetheart, we've never been that way, and we're not about to start now. Try to eat a little more, please."

She moved the plate of eggs and potatoes away and pulled the biscuit that Adam had prepared for her forward.

"No more eggs?"

She winced. "They're cold."

Pouring a glass of milk, he set it in front of her. "Drink this, then." He expected a complaint, but instead, he got a coy smile as she moved her hand to her stomach.

"Adam?"

"Mm hm," he grunted with his mouth full of bacon.

"I'm not going to die. Neither of us is going to die."

He hesitated for a moment, and then picked up his coffee cup and sat back. "Of course you aren't."

"Why is it that you expect me to share everything with you, yet you can't share your fears with me?"

Another clap of thunder roared and shook the house followed by a shout from downstairs. "Hey Adam!"

He stood and went to her side. "I need to see what Micah wants," he said as he bent to kiss her. "Finish your breakfast. I'll be back up in a few minutes to help you back into bed."