Page 28 of Beyond Montana's Sky
She’s leaving.Cai had to accept the truth. But he wasn’t about to let her take his heart, and possibly a child in her womb, to Boston. His chest tight, he watched Edith arrange the bedding to her satisfaction, spreading the bearskin over the top.
For privacy’s sake, he snuffed the lantern light, hearing the rustle of movement as she finished getting ready for bed. Once she was silent, he glanced over to see her sitting up in bed. In the dim firelight, he noticed she hadn’t taken off her robe, for it wasn’t tossed or folded anywhere. The firelight rimmed her shapely form, and he drew in an audible breath, before finding his words. “The temperature’s too cold to bank the fire. I’ll wake up and tend to it.”
“Very well.”
He smiled. Her tone sounded anything butvery well. Rather snippy, in fact.
“Goodnight, Edith. Sweet dreams.”
“Under the circumstances, I doubt I’ll dreamsweetly.”
Cai couldn’t help chuckling at her tart response but didn’t respond.
She pulled onMormor’snightcap, tying the strings under her chin.
Edith should have looked silly.Doesn’t everyone when wearing nightcaps?But she looked beautiful, and, in spite of how he’d ruffled her feathers in commenting on her marriage,approachable.
So, he dared to approach, just a bit, rising to walk over to her bed.
Edith watched him, her face tipped up, her eyes wide and dark. But she didn’t shrink away.
He leaned to drop a kiss on her forehead. “You dream however you want, darlin’. You’re safe with me.”
“Goodnight, Cai.” This time, her tone was softer. She snuggled under the covers. He pulled up the bearskin. “This fur belongs to you now. No matter where you rest your head, when you lie underneath, you’ll have sweet dreams of Montana.”
She smiled, and then turned on her side, facing away from the fire.
If this storm lets up, we can leave tomorrow.
Morning kisses right before we leave…now those, I can control.
CHAPTER NINE
The familiar sounds of her father building the fire gradually nudged Edith into wakefulness. The room was cold, and she ducked her face under the covers and snuggled into the warmth. She felt safe, loved, protected.I haven’t felt this way in a long time.
That last thought brought her fully awake, and Edith blinked her eyes open and gasped, realizing she wasn’t a girl in the small cabin where they lived while the big house was being built. Cai, not Black Jack, built up the fire.
She peeked out from her covers.
Cai was dressed but still in stocking feet. He must have heard her, for he turned and grinned. “Mornin’, sleepyhead. While you’ve been snorin’ away, sawing logs—”
Edith popped her head out. “I don’t snore!”
He laughed. “How would you know? You were asleep.”
“Bah.” She slid back under the covers.
“The storm stopped, and the sun is out meltin’ the snow. Doesn’t look like we had more than a couple of inches. We can head home today.”
The news should have relieved her. Instead, Edith wistfully wished the storm hadn’t been quite so accommodating. She wasn’t ready to end her private time with Cai.
What am I thinking? My family will be so worried.
Sitting, he pulled on his boots. “I’m going to see to the horses. That will give you some privacy to get dressed.” He nodded toward the fireplace. “The coffee pot has water heating.”
Now that newswasa relief.
He donned his outerwear, and with a grin, he went out the door.
