The Cowboy's One Night Bride (15 page)

Epilogue

“Annie, grab her bags, will you?”

“I got them, Daddy. You just get her to the car.”

“Gianna,” Anthony reached for his pregnant wife. “Come on, babe, it’s time to go.”

Gianna hissed as she wobbled to her feet. “
Mio Dio
, this hurts. This baby had better be worth it.”

Anthony snorted with laughter. “It’ll be fine.”

“Oh no,” Gianna retorted as she walked to the car, wincing with every step. “If you think I’m ever going to have sex with you again, think again. I’m not ever letting you near me ever again. Nuh uh, that horse has ridden, cowboy.”

“Right on, Mama, I mean, Gianna!” Annie giggled at the withering look Gianna shot her as she opened the car door. “Come on, I’ll drive.”

“Don’t you have to stay home with Denver?”

“No way, I’m not missing the birth of my baby brother or sister. David will stay with him.”

Annie’s eyes gleamed with determination as she settled into the car next to her stepmother. Taking her arms, she told her, “Breathe, Gianna. Remember what we said? Just focus on every breath.”

Shaking his head, Anthony hopped into the driver’s seat.

“Everyone ready? Alright then, let’s go birth a baby.”

++++++++

Anthony paced the corridors of the hospital incessantly, running his fingers through his hair. “What’s taking them so long?” he muttered.

“Daddy, sit down.” Annie patted the seat next to her. “This isn’t a cattle birth. Labor can go on for hours and hours.”

Anthony shook his head. “No, no, I’m fine where I am.”

Annie shrugged and picked up a newspaper. “So, have you decided on any names yet?”

“We’ve been … talking about it. Well, more like arguing.”

Annie raised her eyebrows. “Ooh, do tell.”

“Well, for some reason, she’s being vetoing all the names that I’ve suggested.”

“Well, what are they?”

“Oh you know,” Anthony waved his hand as illustration. “Clover, Betsy, Daisy …”

“Dad,” Annie’s voice dripped with patience, as though she was speaking to Denver. “You do realize that those are names you give to cows, not human children.”

Anthony laughed. “So, she keeps telling me.”

“On a serious note, we were thinking of Richmond for a boy.”

“Ooh, I like that,” Annie enthused.

“Yeah, that one was her idea.”

“I guessed as much,” Annie giggled as her father poked her in the ribs. “And for a girl?” Anthony eyed his daughter carefully.

“We were thinking of naming her Esther.”

“Esther,” Annie’s eyes glistened with tears. “Yes, Daddy, I love that.”

He wrapped an arm around her.

“So, will you and Gianna be settling down in Markleeville right away?”

“Well, we were thinking about it,” Anthony told her. “But I’ve been considering another possibility. I haven’t run it by her yet, but I think it could work out.”

“Oh?” Annie looked interested. “And what’s that?”

“I was thinking of going with her to Italy. I know she misses her parents. The good Mrs. Beauchamp just wired me a portion of the weekly profits from the hotel. I’ve been saving up secretly, so I think I’ve got enough for us to spend a couple of months there.”

“That sounds amazing, Daddy,” Annie beamed at him. “I’m sure Gianna would love that.”

“Excuse me?” A nurse in a white uniform was standing in front of them. “Are you the husband of Gianna Davies?”

“Yes, that’s me,” Anthony jumped up.

“Congratulations, Mr. Davies. Your wife has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Both mother and daughter are healthy. They’re resting in the ward now, so if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to them.”

Anthony turned to Annie with tears in his eyes. “A baby girl.”

“Congratulations, Daddy.” Annie wrapped her arms around him. “Now go say hi to my baby sister.”

++++++++

Anthony entered the room and his heart swelled as he saw Gianna lying on the bed. In her arms, she cradled a little sleeping infant with dark, curly hair and an olive complexion.

“There are my girls,” Anthony leaned down and kissed Gianna on the lips. “Thank you so much, my love. She’s beautiful.”

Gianna smiled up at him. “I love you, Anthony.”

“Hello, little Esther,” he cooed as he tickled the baby’s tiny pink cheek. The baby tilted her head to the side, and nipped at his finger with her toothless mouth. Anthony laughed. “She’s quite the little wildcat. I wonder who she got that from.”

Gianna laughed, and the baby roused at the sound of her mother’s voice. “I see that she’s got her father’s eyes.” Gianna laughed, squeezing Anthony’s hand in hers, as a tear of relief rolled down her cheek.

Anthony smiled. “Yes, she does.”

The baby’s eyes were the deepest shade of blue.

***

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He's a wealthy southern gentleman that any women would go through hell and high water to marry. So why has he secured a bride through a mail order bride service?
Madeline doesn't know, and she's concerned by rumors of his dominant personality - but rumors are just rumors after all, and she knows he's one of the few eligible bachelors left.
A letter in the mail, a hurried goodbye, and a long train ride later she meets her new husband - Robert Cortege. Tall and handsome, she begins to think that everything will work out after all.
Little does Madeline know her life is about to spiral out of her control, and there's only one man who will have the power to put her life back together - Mr. Cortege. That is, if he doesn't push her to the breaking point first.
There will be no mistake as to what is expected of her - total submission. She'll spend a lot of time bent over his knee with a bare bottom, and torn between pleasure and pain as the charming millionaire wastes no opportunity to make her moan shamelessly, no matter who's in earshot.
With a sick mother in another city, and multiple harlots chasing her husband and threatening to end her marriage soon after it begins, she doesn't know whether to fight tooth and nail or hope everything works out.
After all, if there's one thing Mr. Cortege teaches her, it's just how good surrender can feel.
This is a full length, stand-alone novella with a satisfying ending. No cliffhangers.
This historical western romance involves adult themes of spanking, sexual submission, alpha male domination, first time lovemaking, and domestic discipline.