Page 41 of Huckleberry Hill (Saddles & Spurs #1)

Chapter Forty

The Ranch

“Easy,” Declan said, holding his hand out to me.

I grasped it and scooted across the seat, wincing as I put my feet to the ground.

My side ached and I wanted to get inside and rest. Even though I’d been sitting for several hours in a hospital bed, recuperating at home on the couch was the best form of medicine.

Dad had left the hospital an hour after we’d given him the news about the baby.

He wanted to stay, but I insisted he go.

There would be damage from the storm, and he might need to lend a hand to one of our neighbors since they’d done the same to help with our cattle.

He left with great reluctance, but I assured him I was fine—I had Declan, and despite Dad’s reluctance, he knew that Declan was more than capable of taking good care of me.

“I can carry you up the porch steps,” Declan offered.

It was late afternoon and even though the rain had stopped, the sky was still gray, and everything was slick and muddy. The last thing I wanted was for him to lose his footing and have us both go down.

I shook my head. “I just need to go slow.”

We finally made it up the porch steps and without a word, Declan crouched down to help me take off my shoes so I didn’t have to bend over.

Bathing was going to be interesting.

The front door opened, and Muddy stood at the threshold. “Thought I heard the truck. Wasn’t sure though. Hours of rain has my ears buzzing.”

“Did you talk to Dad?” I asked.

“Briefly,” she said. “He told me about your injury. Come in and sit down. I’ve got the salve ready.”

“Salve?” Declan asked as he closed the front door. He began helping me out of my jacket.

“Old family recipe,” I explained. “We put it on everything from scrapes to bruises to goose eggs on the forehead. It cures everything.”

“Fair warning, it stinks,” Muddy said.

I heard the clop of tiny hooves on the wooden floor before Tempest appeared. She immediately trotted over to me and pressed her head to my leg. I wanted to lean down and pick her up, but there was no way I could.

Declan scooped her up and held her toward me. I rubbed her head and sighed.

“How did she do during the storm?” I asked.

“Slept right through it,” Muddy said with a smile. “She’s a cute thing. Kept me company and didn’t cause any trouble. Well, she did eat a part of my crocheting basket, but I’ve forgiven her.”

“No accidents?”

“No accidents,” she said. “You should probably take her out though. It’s been a few hours since she’s gone.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Declan kissed my cheek and then headed for the front door with the baby goat in tow.

“You need to sit,” Muddy said, gently taking my arm and guiding me to the den. I eased down onto the couch and slowly lifted my shirt.

Muddy whistled. “Look at that battle wound.” She unscrewed the mason jar, the scent of the salve hitting my nose and making my eyes water.

“You gave us all a good scare, Hadley.” She scooped a finger into the salve. “I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

“I know.” I inhaled sharply at the touch of her finger. The salve was room temperature, so thankfully it didn’t chill my skin. “So Dad told you about my injury. Did he tell you anything else?”

Muddy shook her head which was bent to the task. “No. I’m sure he wanted you to be the one to tell me you’re having a baby.”

I gasped. “How did you know?”

She looked up and smiled at me, her eyes clear with wisdom. “I had a feeling.”

“A feeling?”

“A dream, actually,” she said. “Oh, about five days ago I had that dream.”

“What dream?” I asked.

“I saw a little baby with dark hair and blue eyes. Spitting image of Declan.”

“How do you like that?” I asked with a laugh. I winced as she rubbed the salve into my skin. “Ow, that hurts.”

“There.” She screwed the lid back on. “Now I’ll wrap it and we’ll get you settled on the couch. You need anything, you tell me and I’ll get it for you.”

“Wait a second,” I said. “You know I’m having a baby and you’re being pretty calm about it.”

“Ah, honey.” She cradled my cheek with the hand that hadn’t been drenched in smelly salve. “I know it’s what you’ve always wanted. Now tell me how your father reacted. Don’t leave out any details.”

I smiled, but held in another laugh, not wanting to jostle my side which had begun to tingle from the homemade ointment.

“He was very happy,” I said. “But also demanded that Declan and I get married right away.”

“Uh hmm. Not surprising.”

“Not surprising at all.”

“So? Is there going to be a wedding?”

“Eventually,” I said. “Declan hasn’t officially asked me to marry him. But he told Dad we were getting married so right now Dad is happy.”

“It won’t take him long to propose.” She wrapped my abdomen loosely with an old sheet that had been cut down and then lowered my shirt. “He’s crazy about you.”

“I’m crazy about him.”

“So he’s happy then, about the baby?”

“Very.” I sighed. “I called Salem and the girls to tell them the news. So as far as people go, everyone knows who needs to know. It’s so weird. Not that long ago, I was at rock bottom. It’s insane how fast things can change.”

The storm had blown itself out, but not without causing a fair bit of damage to the ranch.

Several fence posts needed repair, along with washed out roads and a creek bed that had shifted ten feet in one spot and rerouted itself to a new location.

We were lucky, though. All our livestock survived, and we had no water damage to any of the buildings.

The same couldn’t be said for some of the neighboring ranches.

Declan and I were staying in the main house, me in my childhood bed and Declan in Salem’s room.

And it had nothing to do with my father’s watchful eye or any antiquated rules about not being married and sharing a bed.

This time it was for my comfort as well as the fact that Declan was up before dawn. Everyone agreed I needed my rest.

Not just to heal but because of the baby. Apparently, I was supposed to live life on easy mode after finding out I was pregnant. Not that I was complaining. Especially since Muddy brought me breakfast on a tray while I lazed on the couch and watched TV, Tempest curled up at my feet.

We had family dinners, laughing and joking and my world felt complete.

But every now and again, I’d look at the empty chair where Salem was supposed to sit, and I’d have a twinge of sadness.

Not to mention the absence of my mother.

I imagined that as my pregnancy progressed, I’d miss her more and more.

I made an appointment with an OBGYN in Coeur d’Alene.

Huckleberry Hill had a small family practice, but no specialists.

I was desperate to know how far along I was.

I was worried. My infertility might have suddenly disappeared, but it had left a bad taste in my mouth and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

One night a few days after I’d gotten out of the hospital, Declan and I were getting ready for bed, brushing our teeth in the joint bathroom.

He spit into Salem’s sink. “God, I love how big this bathroom is.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty great,” I admitted. “I do miss our cute little cabin, though.”

“Well, we’ll be able to move back in there once you’re on the mend.” He looked at me. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. That salve is a godsend. It tingles and numbs the area. It does make my eyes water, though.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“It’s horrible.” I wrinkled my nose.

“I can hardly smell it, actually.”

“Really? Huh. I wonder if I’ve got pregnancy nose already.”

“Probably.” He set his toothbrush down and then dropped to his knees.

“What are you doing?”

He wrapped his arms around me, low enough on my hips that he didn’t touch my injury. Declan placed his ear on my belly.

I sifted my fingers through his hair. “A little early to be feeling any kicks.”

“I’m listening for sounds of the ocean,” he teased. He turned his head and kissed my stomach. He dropped his arms and rose. “I miss sleeping next to you.”

“Me too,” I admitted.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I miss having you against me in the middle of the night. I miss sliding my fingers into your panties and stroking you until you’re wet. I miss thrusting into you from behind, both of us half asleep but desperate for each other.”

I shivered and placed a hand on his chest. “I miss that too.”

He kissed me long and deep, his tongue touching mine. He kissed me until I was a drippy, needy mess and then he pulled back, his eyes dark with desire.

“Let’s put you to bed.”

“Stay with me,” I begged.

“Can’t,” he rasped. “Because I can’t keep my hands to myself, and you’re still hurt.”

Disappointment flashed across my face, but I nodded.

Tempest was already curled up in the center of my bed. We left the bathroom doors open in case she wanted to wander between us during the night.

Declan pulled back the covers and I eased into bed. He covered me and then kissed my forehead, my eyelids, and then my lips. “Can I get you anything else?”

“No, I’m good.” I paused.

“What is it?” he asked, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. “What’s got you thinking?”

“I’m so happy,” I whispered.

“And you’re terrified it’s all gonna go away?”

I nodded and set my hand on my stomach.

“Hadley, that’s not going to happen.” He smiled and lifted our hands and brought them to his lips.

Tears filled my eyes.

I sat up and Declan gathered me into his arms. I pressed my forehead to his chest, and clung to him. When my tears had abated, I pulled back and looked at him, sheepish.

“You okay?” He pushed the hair away from my face and tucked a strand behind my ear.

I bit my lip. “No.”

“No?”

“I’d be a lot better if you were in bed next to me,” I said, looking at him through a sweep of my lashes.

He sighed. “Like I’d ever say no to you. All right, bear snack, I’ll sleep in your bed. But if your father catches me in here, we might only have one child because he’ll make a gelding out of me.”

Sniggering, I shoved the covers down. He turned off the main light and gingerly felt his way to the bed. He climbed in and covered us. Tempest immediately moved up and under.

“Declan?” I murmured, my eyes drifting shut.

“Hmm?”

“How many children do you want?”

“As many as you want.”

Smiling, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of babies with dark hair and blue eyes.