His Little Lapis (The Red Petticoat Saloon) by Renee Rose

Author:Renee Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2016-04-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

He rose before dawn and pulled on his clothes as he gazed at the angel sleeping in his bed. Blonde curls splayed like a halo around her head, she looked even sweeter in slumber. As precious as a child.

Mrs. Rockwell. His wife.

His stomach clenched. His wife the former prostitute. The shamed governess who'd left her last employment pregnant. He didn't care about those things—hell, she could be a bank robber and he'd still love her. But polite society would never accept her. He'd be hard-pressed to protect her from shame and derision here in Culpepper Cove.

He'd have to start looking elsewhere for a job—somewhere far from California and Boston. Somewhere they could start fresh, as Louise and William Rockwell. No more Little Lapis. No more Louise Small. As soon as his brother built his house and took Polly, he'd sell his property and seek a new job. It shouldn't be too hard to find something, not with his credentials. He wouldn't mind going back to surveying full time, although he liked serving as mayor.

The light pad of little feet on the floorboards preceded a joyful, "Uncle Will, where's Miss Small?"

Louise's eyes flew open and she yanked the covers to her chin.

He chuckled and held the sheet draped across the room closed so Polly couldn't enter. Peeking his head out to the makeshift corridor formed by the sheet, he said, "Good morning, squirt. Auntie Lou isn't quite ready for visitors yet. I see you dressed yourself already. Why don't you run out and feed the chickens while she gets dressed?"

"Will you come with me?"

"No, Pollykins. You go on ahead. You don't need me to help."

Polly gave an exaggerated sigh, but tromped off out the front door.

He drew his head back into the room and winked at his naked bride.

She threw the covers back and jumped out of bed, rushing to dress. When she reached for the governess dress, he snatched it up before she did. "I don't prefer this gown. And little girls should dress to please their daddies."

She skidded to a stop, eyes going bright at his daddy-talk. "What does daddy want me to wear?" She batted her eyelashes.

A liquid warmth ran through his body. Nighttime couldn't come fast enough. He wanted her alone again. Now.

He threw open a trunk against the wall. "I wonder if any of these would fit you? They were Polly's mother's. Thomas saved them in case the fabrics might be reused for curtains or dresses for Polly."

He picked out a light blue dress that would bring out her eyes and handed it over.

"Who's Thomas?"

"Polly's father—my brother. He's building a house on his land out past Dos Piedras."

"Oh." She looked surprised. "So does that mean he'll come back for her at some point?" She looked stricken.

He lifted his chin at the dress she clutched in her hand to remind her she still wasn't dressed. "Yes, I'm afraid so. I will miss her terribly."

"As will I." She looked so sincere. He had no doubt she meant it, even though she'd only met the child the week before.

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