Page 115 of Texas Glory
“Maybe because that one minute is the one we’ve been waiting for,” Amelia said as she brushed her fingers over her daughter’s dark hair.
“Hand her over to Cordelia for a minute,” Dr. Freeman ordered, “while you and I finish up here.”
Cordelia took the precious child and wrapped her in a soft blue blanket she had planned to wrap around her own child. So tiny. With deep blue eyes, the child stared up at her. “Should I wash her?” Cordelia asked.
“Give her some time to get used to being outside,” Dr. Freeman said. “You can wash her while Amelia sleeps.”
“I want to see Houston first,” Amelia said.
Dr. Freeman brought the blankets over her. “Then I’ll fetch him. My job is done tonight so I’m gonna head on home, but I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” He pointed a gnarled bony finger at her. “You stay here until I say you can go home.”
She smiled softly. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, girl. This is the part of being a doctor that I enjoy the most.” He wrinkled his brow. “Come to think of it, it might be the only part I enjoy.” He patted her head. “See you tomorrow.”
Cordelia placed the baby back into Amelia’s arms. “You’ll want to show Houston his daughter.”
Amelia grabbed her hand. “Thank you. I know it was difficult for you—”
Cordelia squeezed her hand. “I didn’t want to be anywhere else.”
She stepped back as Dr. Freeman shuffled across the room and opened the door.
“Reckon you’re waiting to get inside here,” Dr. Freeman said.
“She all right?” Houston asked as he made his way past Dr. Freeman.
“Course she is.”
Houston crossed the room and knelt beside the bed, his gaze focused solely on his wife. Smiling, she folded the blanket back. “We have a daughter.”
“A daughter,” Houston said in awe as he touched a large finger to the tiny fisted hand. “She’s as beautiful as her mother.” He lifted his gaze to his wife’s. “I’m never gonna touch you again.”
Amelia looked at Cordelia. “Will you take her now?”
Gingerly, Cordelia wrapped the child within her arms.
“I mean it this time,” Houston said. “I know you do,” Amelia said as she touched his cheek. “Now, come hold me.”
Carefully, he climbed on the bed, lay beside his wife, put his arms around her, and pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “I love you.”
“I think that’s our signal to leave.”
Cordelia snapped her head around. She hadn’t heard Dallas come into the room, but he was looking at her with an intensity that had her heart beating faster than thundering hooves. “I need to wash the baby.”
He nodded. “I’ve warmed up the kitchen.” She followed him from the room, and he closed the door quietly.
“Are you all right?” he asked as they walked down the stairs. “Just tired.”
“Houston figured they had a couple more weeks, or he wouldn’t have brought them over today.”
“I’m glad they came. I’d like to think they needed us.”
They walked through the dining room. “Where are the children?” she asked.
“I put them to bed shortly after sundown.” He opened the door into the kitchen.
A warm cozy feeling settled around Cordelia, and she held the child closer to her bosom. Dallas removed a kettle from the low fire and poured water into a bowl. He’d already set towels and blankets on the table. “You’ve done this before,” Cordelia said quietly.
