Chapter Eighty Two
"Tobias? How is the studying going?"
"Very well. Without you my love to distract me—-two more volumes to go. I wonder if Jarrod has the last one just in case. I brought only the next one with me."
"You know he does. His law library is one of the best in the state."
"I am doing this for us. Once I sit for the bar examination, we can start anew. I have my Pinkerton work and private investigation if I need it. But Tobias Macklin, Esquire—-attorney at law. It has a nice ring to it. And I will come home to you every night."
She smiled at him, "I am proud of you, Tobias."
"And you my girl—-will have a ring on her finger soon. I can take my pension soon from the marshals and I have quite a bit saved. To us!"
She quietly reached over and touched the stubble of the day on his cheek, "Us. I like that."
The exuberant Macklin found himself almost speechless again in Esther's presence. He leaned over and chastely kissed her on the cheek.
"Now let me quiz you on those precedents—we can do this together."
"Together." and he handed her a parcel of notes to call out to him..
—-&—-
Grete was unbraiding her hair as Heath came upstairs. She was wearing the blue nightgown and robe from Audra. Desire coursed through his body despite his anger from the day.
"Grete, when this is all over, we need a honeymoon. A real one. Just get away. Like most folks do when they marry. I still want to start building a house in the fall."
"That sounds ægte."
"Good right?"
She smiled as he was picking up her Danish quickly, "Yah more like truth, a good truth,"
He smiled at her, "We just got started at the end of May, Grete. It has been rocky but I wouldn't trade a minute with you. Not one. I shall thank Silas until the day I die."
"Silas?"
He sheepishly grinned as he took her hairbrush from her hand and began brushing her luxurious blonde locks.
"He sent me to the bakery. Said you was someone I ought to meet. And boy howdy he was right. He also figured out why you said No to go to the cattleman's."
Her face dropped not wanting to disparage Davina.
"Yep that you might not have a fancy dress so it was better to come to Sunday lunch."
She sighed in relief and he thought she was enjoying his touch. He began massaging her shoulders and caressing her breasts.
She arched her back into him and he pulled her to standing.
"Grete, ain't going to let nothing come between you and me. Nothing is going to hurt you."
"Heath?" and she placed his hand on her stomach.
He continued to caress her and kiss her neck.
"I have missed my courses."
He continued to kiss her intent on pleasure. He pulled back a minute or so later realizing what she said.
"A baby?"
"Yah. It's still too early but I am two weeks past my moon."
His eyes widened, "How?"
She giggled and said, "I think you should know,"
He nervously laughed and pulled back. He looked at her with love and new eyes.
"A baby?"
"I think so,"
He pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Nah—my baby's father could never hurt me. Lay me down."
He pulled her down on the bed on top of him, "I love you Grete."
—&—
Jarrod quietly pushed open the door to Lisette's room. He checked down the hall to make sure no one saw him enter.
"Especially Henry or Kai. I don't want to let those boys down. It's bad enough that my own Mother suspects,"
Lisette was sitting on the window seat looking out at the ranch. The moon was coming in the lace curtains.
"Lissy?"
She smiled at him and extended her hand. Her beauty took his breath away. The auburn curls flowed down her back and he could see her form under the long white, proper nightgown. She wore very modest clothes at the ranch at all tamped down his desire. He would do nothing to shame Lissy or his family—and Henry.
He took her hand and pulled her into an embrace. He kissed the top of her head. He just stood there holding her. HIs hand rubbing the green cameo on her hand and wishing he could replace it soon.
He finally released his grip and sat beside her on the window seat.
"Lissy, Macklin came with some news. We are getting closer. It's possible that Buck did buy the casino. He and Miller are both missing now though. So—Macklin brought a female Pinkerton. She will pose as a family friend and stay with you for a few days. I don't know if Heath will tell Grete who she is—and Nick tells Anna? We both knew her as a friend of Davina originally."
"So keep it to myself unless they mention it?"
"Yes, that would be best. Mother does know."
"I am keeping the derringer close by."
"Good. Nick and I have to go to the site tomorrow. I don't want you to see it yet. It is a battlefield of muck and destruction. I think the framers can get back to work when the mud dries up and we can start the mine pump again to fill the pond—once Heath is exonerated. And I will wire Gene to send more landscaping. If it is any bright spot, that beautiful fountain is the only remarkable spot left. It's a perfect focal point of the project. And to think it covers and protects the drain."
"I am so glad they built it too. Hadn't thought of even with his sour moods created a thing of beauty."
"So you need to get some rest Lissy. I am worried about you."
"I love you, Jarrod Barkley." and she kissed him deeply.
He groaned and ran his hand over her bodice. She flinched.
"Did I hurt you?"
"No it is just the uh, curse."
"Your time?"
"No not yet. Should be soon."
He nodded glad she couldn't see his face in the dark room. He knew by his reading it could be a baby.
"Lissy, let's get you to bed."
She smiled, "And you do smell terrible."
"You should smell the engineer." He chuckled.
He stayed with her until she fell asleep holding her. He tiptoed out of the room into the dark hall. Silas had already trimmed all the lights.
He took his pants off in the room and smelled them, "Oh she's right. I guess I got used to the smell after several hours."
He laid down in the large mahogany bed thinking of Lissy and becoming a father.
"Will we end up in France this year or not?"
"I need to write to Nate in the morning again when I wire Gene. To push Paul Franklin again for a divorce—-"
The hotel site crashed his thoughts next—"Well it's fixable at least just costing time and another payroll. As long as nothing else happens."
And he drifted off finally to sleep counting the months to a possible baby and a hotel.
—-&—-
The whole house awoke as a summer thunderstorm crashed and clammered against the mansion. Lightning and thunder—-sideways rain driven by high winds—-hail pelted the roof.
Henry and Kai slept through the storm. All of the adults thought to check on them and would pass each other in the hall in their robes and hastily added trousers.
Nick and Jarrod being the last left in the hall.
"I guess the good Lord wants the pond filled back up." Nick chuckled and shook his head.
"And we just thought the mud was bad today. See you in the morning Brother Nick."
"Nite."
"Night."