The Outlaw Takes a Bride (42 page)

“What about?”

“You, mostly. I don’t think he quite trusts me with his daughter yet.” Johnny reached for the saddle.

Sally’s face crinkled. “He’ll learn. Did he scare you?”

“Maybe just a little. But I figure I deserve it.”

She smiled, and everything came right inside him. He let go of the saddle and stepped toward her. She came into his arms, and he kissed her, not caring if the world saw.

Lady nickered, stretching her long neck over the fence. Sally pulled away from him and laughed.

Johnny tugged her back against his chest. He wasn’t ready to let go of her.

“I love you, Sal.”

Her smile lit her face, and he determined to say those words more often. She stood on her toes and kissed him again.

“You don’t mind having Ma and Pa in our room, do you?”

“Not so long as it’s not permanent.”

“Maybe we could build another room on the house,” she said.

“For company?”

“Or a nursery.”

He half closed his eyes and studied her face, trying to determine what she meant by that.

“Think we’ll need one soon?”

“Maybe so. And Ma says she’ll come back when it’s time.”

He wanted to crow, but he remembered what had happened in the past with her other babies. “Did you tell the doc?”

“I did mention it to him. He said to come see him in a month if I still think… And sooner if anything seems wrong.”

“So, you’re not sure,” Johnny said.

“It’s early, but…pretty sure.” Her hands tightened on his back. “Johnny, I want this one to be right.”

“So do I. No more lifting and lugging things for you, you hear?”

She laughed softly. “Doc said that after what happened with Pa—being in the well and holding him up so long—if I wasn’t strong enough to carry, I probably would have lost it then. If there is a baby.”

“There is.” He pulled her head tight against his heart. “There is, and we’ll pray every day that he grows strong and healthy.”

Sally jerked a little, like a hiccup, and he leaned down to see her face.

“You’re not crying, are you?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

He smiled and rubbed her back. “If it’s a boy, we’ll name him Mark.”

“I’d like that.”

They stood there for a long time, until she gently pushed him away. “You’d better get going, Mr. Paynter, and see if those cattle have enough to drink.”

He hated to leave her now, even for an hour, but she was right. He needed to make a success of this ranch, as well as his marriage.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said. “And that’s a promise.”

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than fifty novels in the romance, mystery, suspense, and historical romance genres. A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky with her husband, Jim, a retired news editor. They are the parents of six, and the grandparents of nine fantastic kids. She is a past winner of the Carol Award, the Will Rogers Medallion for Western Fiction, and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. Susan was named Favorite Author of the Year in the 18th Annual Heartsong Awards. Visit her website at:
www.susanpagedavis.com
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Also available from Shiloh Run Press…

The
OUTLAW TAKES
a
BRIDE

Unabridged Audiobook

The Prairie Dreams Trilogy

The Bride’s Prerogative

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