Chapter Twelve 12/14
Bella's stomach dropped with Heath's fumbling around with his words. His eyes in her opinion still loved her but the rest of her seemed to have some hesitation, some regret—-
She blurted out, "Heath it's ok if you got to thinking and don't want to marry. I don't want to tie you to a promise made when I was uh, hurt."
"What? Oh no, I messed this up." And he took both her hands in his large, calloused ones.
She sighed with some relief, "if it's not that, why do you look so sad?"
"Cause I don't want you hurt—Bella, I wanted to have everything all out in the open with us. No surprises."
She squeezed his hands, "Go on"
"Bella, I want every part of you. I really want you in the way a husband wants his wife. But Bella, I can wait. I want to go up to the lodge but nothing has to happen, I promise. I didn't want ya worrying the whole time we was up there if I was going to press my suit. You tell me when it's time. I want a long, good marriage, forty—-fifty years or more. That pompous cur hurt ya. I want you to have time to heal right in your heart. I just want you to know—at the big house too. You will be moving to my room on account of all the people but I won't touch ya that way—-I promise. Now I plan on sneaking kisses the way we have been doing all week" and he gave her a tentative lop-sided grin.
She started to cry and she squeezed his hands tightly. "Oh Heath, I do love you and Liesel was right. A good man can heal what a bad one did. I have been worried about it and here you go, setting it all straight in my head. Mama Marie says all men think with their —Nevermind what she said. You just proved her wrong."
They smiled at each other. She leaned over and kissed him. He closed his eyes and made a small noise.
"Nice," he said, "real nice."
She leaned into him and kissed him again for longer. He resisted the urge to pull her closer; he didn't want to startle her.
"Kiss me again, Bella".
She did as he lay down on his back. Smiling, she ran her fingers through his hair and traced his sideburn. She felt the stubble of his face and rubbed it with her palm.
Her hands moved to his neck and to the open button of his shirt. She twirled his chest hair in her fingers.
He made a soft noise. "I like that Bella"
His hands were still at his side. He allowed her to control the moment.
"Can I kiss you again, Heath?"
"You better. I am counting on hearing that the rest of my life. Wait, no—-you never need to ask me."
She leaned over again and kissed him. She kissed his face and ear lobe.
"Oh my, little lady. That's really nice"
She kissed his neck and closed her eyes with a sigh. "I liked that too Heath"
"Can you hold me for a while?"
"Yes ma'am I sure can"
And they stayed in each other's arms for an hour until it was time to head back. They chatted all the way back, content to just be with each other.
As they made the bend to the house, two Isabella mares and a stallion were being brought into the corral by Barkley men.
McColl met the rig and helped Bella down.
"These just came a while ago with this note."
He pulled it out of his pocket.
Mr. and Mrs. Heath Barkley,
Please let us congratulate you on your nuptials and wish you all the best for a long and happy life together. Please accept our wedding gift to you and the beautiful Isabella—-herself.
Roberto and Maria de Alvarez de Sana
He handed the note to Bella, his face unreadable.
"It's up to you"
She read it and looked at her fiancé.
"I think we should keep them as a reminder that good can come from pain"
He gave her a wink, "I like that".
And they looked up to see Jarrod and Jane's family coming up the road.
McColl blanched and Heath patted him on the shoulder, "It will be fine."
He walked in with his arm around Bella the back way to freshen up.
"Ya know I have seen Duke face down a killer, get shot at by ranchers, rustlers, and land grabbers, shoot a full-grown grizzly, break up fights, get a bottle busted over his head, stop a robbery and pull a man out of a well with his bare hands. And I have never seen the look on his face that just happened."
"I pray they will take this well. In France, there would be all sorts of problems. I believe America is different on that account."
"I hope you are right, Bella." He looked around the empty hallway, "Now how about one more of those special kisses"
She obliged him with a grin and a quick kiss.
—&—
McColl met the buggies and helped the ladies down. Jarrod jumped down first and introduced them.
"Will, Joe, I want to introduce you to the finest man on Barkley land, Douglas McColl. My father credited him with all of his success. He owns land with us here."
"Pleased to meet you." and both men shook his hand.
"I have known these Barkley boys their whole lives. Proud to be part of the Barkley holdings."
He helped them get their bags down and all of the children started running out of the house.
"See you at supper tonight" Jarrod nodded towards him as he picked up the toddling Rose.
Jack and Tab were already introducing themselves to Joey and Trey. Cate and Susannah hung back to their mothers until Jane came out. They ran to their grandmother.
"Mimi, we missed you so much!"
"My darlings"
The boys ran over next and Jane was engulfed in her grandchildren's arms.
McColl hung back and watched, "Janie looks so happy with her family here. I just hope I don't mess this up".
He headed back to the foreman's cottage to clean up for dinner.
Jane looked up for him and he was gone.
Jarrod saw Liesel in the doorway; he carried Rose on his hip. He kissed her on the lips. Rose laughed and broke up the kiss.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better. I missed you."
"I missed you as well. Come let me introduce you to my cousins. I am quite proud of my beautiful wife." and he took her arm.
The family gathered in the parlor for drinks. Cate and Elisa immediately connected with Isabella and Liesel as well as Katarina, heavily pregnant, conversed with the ladies graciously. They chatted about children and the move to California.
Heath came downstairs next.
"Will, Joe, meet Heath, my brother."
They firmly shook his hand and Heath felt immediately comfortable. They definitely had their mother's warm personality.
Victoria looked at the family all happily re-connecting after all these years. "Tom and Bill—this is mine and Jane's family now"
She heard the door open and she went to greet her foreman. Jane looked expectantly at the foyer and took a deep breath.
He was wearing a gray suit and black boots. Jarrod and Heath never saw him this way and their faces registered semi-covered smiles.
Jane proudly walked over and took his arm, "Will, Joseph, Anne, Elisa I would like you to meet Douglas McColl."
Her body language and the possessive way she was holding onto his arm spoke volumes to her very surprised sons. Her daughters-in-law were smiling widely but her sons were stone-faced.
Silas came in, "Dinner is served."
They all walked uneasily into the dining room.