The Marshal's Mail-Order Bride by Heidi Vanlandingham

Author:Heidi Vanlandingham [Vanlandingham, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadowheart Press

Chapter 7

Alayna held on to the side of the seat with one hand and cradled Jenny's swaddled body in her other as the wagon bounced over the rutted trail leading down the mountain and into Santa Fe. Jenny was no better, even with the herbal remedies, and Alayna was beginning to worry. She glanced behind her where Carl and Jake sat on opposites sides of the wagon, each holding on to their own side wall with white-knuckled grips. Their little faces were pinched with apprehension.

When Jenny hadn't improved by breakfast, Riddick had, thankfully, made the decision to take her to the doctor in town. When he told the boys to get ready to leave, they didn’t have to tell them twice.

Underlying her worry about Jenny, finding out that Sanchez was the outlaw Riddick was chasing ate at her, making her feel even more ill.

Glancing down at the baby's face, Jenny's cheeks were a bright red, and when she opened her eyes, which wasn't often, they were glassy and dull. Alayna swallowed, fighting her nerves as her stomach lurched around inside of her, making her feel a bit nauseated. She'd made a promise to both boys, and she was going to see that she kept it.

“Is she still feverish?” Riddick asked, never taking his eyes from the trail.

She dragged her attention back to Jenny. “Yes. I can feel the heat through the blanket and my sleeve.” Her chin trembled as she turned her gaze to her husband's profile. His face could have been chiseled from stone, except for the slight clenching of his jaw. “Riddick.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I'm really scared.”

Transferring the reins to his other hand, he wrapped his good arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, tenderly kissing the top of her head. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped onto the pink blanket. “What if—”

“Don't go there, Alayna. She hasn't gotten worse, which is a very good thing. Doc Williams will know exactly how to break the fever and get her all better. You'll see.”

Her head rested in the curve of his neck, the steady beating of his heart calming her nerves. As they drove into town, even her stomach relaxed, and she no longer felt as if she were about to throw up. Her thoughts turned back to the night before. What had gotten into her? Because of his injuries, she'd insisted Riddick sleep in his own bed—the one she'd claimed her first day there. It hadn't seemed right for him to sleep on the sofa.

A tiny smile curled her lips when she remembered how surprised he was when he'd awakened that morning to find her in the bed with him. She hadn't planned on sleeping in the same bed, but had been exhausted after helping him take off his boots and vest. The problems began when he fell asleep with the rest of his clothes on. She'd been able to slip his shirt off but wasn't sure about removing his pants. After a long struggle, she'd finally managed to get them off without waking him.

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