Chapter 35
"Oh AJ! She's beautiful! I can see where she got her name from." Akaliiani walked up to the horse and stroked down her forehead to her inquisitive nose. She laughed when Cinnamon sniffed her hand.
AJ came up next to her and gave Akaliiani a piece of apple, "She's looking for this."
Akaliiani giggled when Cinnamon eagerly gobbled it out of her hand.
"Ready to ride?" AJ asked.
"Oh yes!" she told him giving Cinnamon another pat.
All four mounted up and they took off over an open field.
"We should go down by the pond," Gerald suggested. It had become one of his favorite places on the ranch.
"That was the plan," Adel told him with a smile.
They rode for a while before coming upon the pond where AJ suggested that they take a break. He could see that Akaliiani was looking a little peaked. She slid off into his arms when they stopped and her legs seemed a little wobbly so he held her until she steadied.
"Thank you AJ," she said in a low tone so only he could hear.
"It is my job to take care of you and our little peanut," he replied.
"Peanut?!" she giggled.
"Well until we know if it's a boy or a girl it would be really cumbersome to keep saying 'he or she' every time we referred to the baby so I just thought it was a cute idea, but if you don't like we could come up with something else."
"No! I like it! Our little peanut!" she said rubbing her tummy.
Seeing her do that Gerald became concerned and hurried over to her. "Are you alright Liiani?! And the baby? This ride didn't hurt the baby did it?"
"Pops, I'm fine and so is the peanut."
"Peanut?!"
She smiled, "That is the name AJ gave the baby."
"Oh," he said with an odd look on his face, not sure he liked the reference.
"I think that it's cute," Adel commented. "Now why don't we sit for a little while along the water?"
They rested for a time and then decided to head back to the ranch where they were sure Brenda would have a wonderful lunch waiting for them. When they got to the horses AJ handed Cinnamon's reigns to Adel and mounted his own horse. Akaliiani gave him a strange look as she wondered what was going on.
"I want you to ride with me Darlin'," he took his foot out of the stirrup and offered her his hand. "Come up here with me," he told her.
Taking his hand she stepped up and a moment later found herself sitting across his lap. With his arms around her she felt safe and secure. Akaliiani leaned her head on his shoulder with a sigh, and they headed back to the ranch.
Clem came out of the stables when they rode in and he was the one that steadied Akaliiani when AJ slid her tenderly to the ground. AJ quickly dismounted and put his arm around Akaliiani's shoulders to guide her to the golf cart for the short ride to the house.
Brenda greeted them and insisted that they all wash their hands before she would serve them the mid day meal. Stuffed pork chops and homemade baked applesauce was for lunch and it tasted twice as good as it smelled. For desert she served them lemon meringue pie. It was tart and sweet at the same time and just melted on the tongue.
After their meal Akaliiani told AJ that she wanted to lay down for a while. He agreed with her that it was a good idea.
Gerald and Adel were worried about Akaliiani and questioned AJ about her when he came back from tucking her in. He assured them she would be fine after a short rest.
Akaliiani slept until dinner time and unfortunately woke to the smell of bacon wrapped filets. She dashed to the bathroom and emptied her tummy of anything that was left from lunch.
By the time she came out of the bathroom all of the bacon was gone. Some had quickly been eaten and the rest had been packed away. Apologizing to Brenda for her reaction to her cooking and receiving one in return for Brenda not knowing the bacon would set off her morning sickness. Both agreed to forgive the other.
To be continued…..