Page 513 of Conveniently Wed
She took a step toward him. “I want my son to be raised in a happy home.”
“That’s exactly what I want for him, too.” He pulled his hands free and crossed his arms over his chest.
Lorinda stood for a moment, not saying another word. Without taking her eyes from his, she finally whispered, “If you’re really sure, I’m willing to follow through with this.” She dropped onto the sofa as if her legs couldn’t hold her a moment longer.
What should he do now? A momentary feeling of missing something essential rushed through him.
Franklin sat beside her, but not close enough to crowd her. He felt as if his throat was stuffed with cotton, and a lump rested in his chest.
After a discreet cough, he cleared his throat. “I’d rather no one else know the true nature of our relationship. I don’t want any questions about our intentions. And I believe everyone will respect you more as my wife if they don’t know the circumstances. It’s enough they know we’re getting married. And they need to see us as a family of three.”
Franklin didn’t know what to do now. If it had been any other kind of proposal, he’d be kissing her rosy lips, but he couldn’t let himself think about that. “How...how soon can we have the wedding?”
Her eyebrows rose, and she turned her questioning gaze toward him. “I don’t know.”
“Our friends at church will want to be a part...of the celebration.” He rubbed his sweaty palms down his denim trousers. “This is mid-May. I’ll need to round up the cattle in September. How about October? That way you can plan whatever kind of wedding you want.”
He felt as if he were babbling, and he was usually a man of few words.
All she did was nod.
Joy filled him because soon he would have a son and heir.And even a wife.
Suddenly, everything felt off kilter.
13
Lorinda didn’t know what to expect after her announcement, but somehow everything felt off kilter. Franklin just stood there after he suggested the time for the wedding. At first, a slight smile barely tilted the sides of his mouth. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He really wasn’t looking at her, but something must be making him happy.
Then like a curtain falling across the window blocking out the sunlight, a confused expression descended over his face. She glanced around, wondering what she should do now. Leave the room? Or stay? She clasped her hands in front of her waist and realized she still wore the thin gold band Mike had placed on her finger at their wedding. As unobtrusively as possible, she slipped it off and slid it into the pocket sewn into the side seam of her skirt. When she got back to her bedchamber, she’d find a safe place to put it. For a moment, she felt as if she had torn her heart from its moorings inside her chest. The ache was real as it took her breath away. Michael would still keep her tied to her first husband, but soon her second husband would become his father...and her a wife in name only.
She sensed, rather than saw, Franklin turn toward her.
He clasped her free hand. “Let’s go share our good news with Mrs. Oleson.”
Lorinda almost missed the words. Franklin had never touched her since she’d recovered from having her son, except for inadvertent brushing of fingers when they passed Michael from one to the other. The newness of the strong connection of his touch raised all kinds of questions inside her. Questions she didn’t want to consider. But she couldn’t prevent the shiver that skittered up her stiff spine. She felt as if her body were betraying her husband’s memory. But that would soon change. She’d have a new husband...and yet not really. A sigh escaped, and she trembled even more.
“Are you too cool in here?” More than friendly concern accompanied his words, but she didn’t know what.
“No...I’m fine.” She barely forced the words through her tense lips.
He accompanied her out the door and down the short hallway. Mrs. Oleson, who was busy working on cleaning up the kitchen, turned to glance at them. Then her gaze dropped to their clasped hands. A question quirked one eyebrow.
Lorinda peeked up at the tall rancher just as he gazed down at her. A broad smile lit his face like a lantern and twinkled in his eyes. She’d never seen him smile like that before. The sight stole her voice.
Mrs. Oleson rested her closed hands on her hips. “Is everything all right?”
Franklin escorted Lorinda into the warmly-lit kitchen. “Yes...we have something to tell you.”
The older woman pulled out a chair and sighed as she dropped into it. “I hope it’s good news.”
At her comment, Lorinda realized she was probably frowning while Franklin smiled.
He looked down at her once again. “I think so, don’t you, Lorinda?”
She nodded with as warm a smile as she could manage. She expected him to go ahead and tell Mrs. Oleson what had happened, but after the silence lengthened uncomfortably, Lorinda cleared her throat and blurted, “Franklin asked me…to become his wife.”
“That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Oleson jumped up with amazing energy for a woman her age. “I’m so glad you’ll...” She paused and gave Lorinda an intense stare. “Did you accept his proposal?”
