To Wed in Texas by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Love Stories, Historical, Texas, Historical Fiction, Romance Fiction
ISBN: 9780425175163
Google: VkTJc1sT9gIC
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: 1999-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

D ANIEL WOKE TO A ROOM ALREADY WARM WITH morning. Karlee had gone from his side without a word. He lay silent for a long while thinking of what they’d talked about last night and what he’d done.

A question kept lurking in the back of his mind. Why hadn’t she protested or said something when he’d felt of her breasts so completely? Was she simply enduring what she thought she had to in a loveless marriage? Dear God, he hoped not. Then, his touch would have been something dirty and cruel.

If she liked his exploration of her body, she’d shown no sign of it. Surely, if his touch affected her a fraction as much as it had him, she would have said something. He could still feel the fullness of her against his palm.

The only thing he knew for certain was that she must not have hated it or she’d have reacted. She wasn’t a woman who kept her feelings to herself.

But, then, why hadn’t she said anything? He’d lost a night’s sleep thinking about what he had done, and she hadn’t bothered to say a word. He wasn’t sure he could ask her. He had a strong feeling he didn’t want to know the answer.

Allie brought his breakfast. One bite told him Karlee hadn’t been the cook.

“Where’s my wife?” Daniel mumbled between bites of unburned eggs.

“She took the twins into town to shop,” Allie answered in her usual shy little voice. “She said she’d be back by noon. We needed some supplies, and she mentioned something about buying a nightgown and more material.”

“Material?”

“She makes the most wonderful dolls for the twins. She buys cotton for a dress and uses the scraps to fashion dolls like I’ve never seen.”

“I’ve heard her working.” Allie’s praise surprised Daniel. She usually talked to everyone, except Wes, as little as possible.

“Adam’s talked her into making one of her dolls for his daughter, and Valerie said she wants one to keep for her children someday.”

“Where is Adam? He’s usually in to check on me by now like a mother hen.”

“One of the Buchanan boys came for him before dawn. Willow’s time is coming a month early.”

Daniel tried not to react. Willow would do fine. Women had babies all the time without dying. But the girl was a part of his family. “Is everything all right?”

Allie didn’t answer for a moment too long. “I think so,” she finally said as she hurried from the room. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”

Wolf’s assurance a few minutes later was no more convincing. Daniel didn’t have to ask for details. Something was wrong. Birthing at the Buchanan house was a normal occurrence, not something they’d send to town for a doctor to help with.

He tried to listen to Wolf’s account of all the trouble brewing over who might be responsible for the fire, but all Daniel could think about was poor little Willow. He’d been through a night of labor with his wife and watched her die in his arms.

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