The Lumberjack's Bride by Jean Kincaid

Author:Jean Kincaid
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460380079
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Julianne rocked Jonathan to sleep. Caleb would be home soon. Love for him and the baby swelled in her heart. They had settled into a daily routine without any major glitches to speak of. She marveled at the changes the last two weeks had brought into her life.

Her husband cared for her. He’d shown it in many ways. She loved that Caleb made sure to spend time with her. Every evening they took long walks in the woods and by the river.

Each morning they shared a warm breakfast before he went to work. She would straighten the cabin and then take the laundry down to the river.

Her mind swept back over the events of this morning. As soon as Caleb had left for the sawmill, she’d carried the laundry to the river and before she could set the basket down, the Indian woman and her friend had shown up.

“Hi.” Julianne swallowed nervously. She noticed there didn’t seem as much tension as at their first meeting.

The woman pointed to Jonathan, then pointed to herself. Julianne thought for a moment before giving her consent. The woman had asked permission this time before holding Jonathan. That showed that she had no evil intent, surely. The brave was there, too, so he could easily demand that Julianne hand over the baby, but instead he waited quietly also. Julianne reached to take Jonathan out of the sling around her neck. She noticed the flicker of relief in the brave’s eyes and the soft smile of happiness on the woman’s face.

Jonathan began to fret as he was lifted into the other woman’s arms. She snuggled his tiny body close and breathed him in, then settled him at her breast. Julianne felt a moment of envy.

“Morning. Star.”

Julianne startled. The man gestured toward the woman. “Her name. Morning Star.”

“You speak English.” Julianne stumbled in her excitement as she stepped toward them.

“Little.” He shrugged and a tiny smile tipped up one corner of his mouth. “Name?” When she was slow to comprehend, he pointed at her and repeated, “Name?”

“Oh. Julianne.” She kept her words to a minimum, copying him.

“Julie. Anne.” He nodded at his wife and repeated Julianne’s name to her.

Morning Star dragged her gaze from the baby and looked at Julianne with a smile as bright as the sun. She seemed to look into Julianne’s very soul, then she nodded as if coming to some decision and said, “Friend.” She lifted Jonathan to her shoulder and patted his little back. His head wobbled back and forth till he settled against her.

The brave wandered slowly upstream leaving the two women alone. Julianne sorted the clothes into two piles, whites and darks. The woman continued to feed Jonathan, paying little attention to Julianne. Julianne wondered what the lady did with her own baby. Did she have so much milk she needed to feed two? And what caused the look of sadness on the faces of both her and her brave? As if she sensed Julianne’s questions she burped the

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