Page 133 of The Enchanted Land

“I have been caring for sick people and bringing babies into the world since I was just a girl, and I have learned that you do not ask tired mothers anything, you give orders. If they do not obey, you give them a reason why they must. Now, let us go to work. I need water to brew a tea.”

“He won’t drink anything.”

Lupita arched an eyebrow at her. She didn’t tolerate disobedience from her helpers, either.

Roselle left the room to get water.

Seth led Morgan to the big work table in the middle of the kitchen. He put bread and cheese, cold chicken, and milk in front of her.

“I can’t eat, Seth, really I can’t.”

“Lupita’s right. Neither of us is any use to Adam. We’d be in the way.”

Roselle entered to get the hot water. Morgan stood up to follow her out. Seth unceremoniously pushed her back into her chair. “Eat!”

Morgan began to eat, at first lightly and then with gusto. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. “I guess I was hungry,” she mumbled through a mouthful of bread and cheese. “He is going to be all right, isn’t he?”

Seth held her hand, squeezing the fingers. “Now that Lupita’s here, I think he will be. Finished?”

“Yes.” Her body felt so heavy, worse than when she’d carried Adam. She must rouse herself, because she had to go back to Adam. She’d been away too long. She started wearily toward the door, her eyes blurring.

Seth grabbed her skirt to stop her.

“Adam might call for me.” Her goal was the kitchen door—such an ordinary thing really, but now it seemed impossible.

Seth lifted her in his arms.

“I’m too heavy. You…”

“Heavy! You nit! You hardly weigh more than Adam. Now that I’m here, you are going to be taken care of. Right now I am going to put you to bed.”

She leaned her head against Seth’s shoulder. It felt good to depend on someone else for a change, and there was no one she’d rather trust than her Seth. She sighed. “Her Seth” once again.

He set her on her feet again in the bedroom. “Get out of that dress and tell me where you keep your nightgowns.”

“Third drawer.” Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with the buttons. Seth was in front of her and pushed her hands away as he unfastened the row of little buttons. She watched his face and knew that he, too, was very tired. She touched his hair. It seemed that the more tired he was, the more gray there was in his hair. Right now he looked like an old man.

She stepped out of her dress and Seth began to unlace her corset. She let out a sigh as it fell to the floor. She thought she’d probably never get used to that tight, stiff thing binding her waist and rib cage. Seth removed her chemise and she stood nude under his gaze.

“Why do you wear that thing? You have red marks all down your body where it cut into you.” His big hands rubbed at her sides, briskly.

She felt slightly uneasy under his touch. “My gown.”

“First, a wash.” He pulled her to the basin on the table and began washing her face and hands. She stood still, enjoying the way he scrubbed at her skin. He dried her and then slipped the clean, soft nightgown over her head. “I should be hanged for covering all this up.” His hand lightly caressed her breast. “If I tried to take advantage of you now, it’d be like making love to a wet dishcloth.” He smiled into Morgan’s drooping eyes. “I think I’ll wait. Let’s go, little one.”

Again he picked her up and carried her to the bed. She was practically asleep before he had tucked the covers about her. Seth started toward the door.

“Where are you going?” she murmured.

“To my room. Lupita seemed to think I need some sleep, too.”

“Stay with me. I need you.”

An incredible joy surged through him. “Yes,mi querida, I’ll stay with you … for as long as you want.”

Morgan immediately turned back onto her stomach and went to sleep. Seth took his time washing himself, and then he removed his clothes and climbed into the bed beside his wife. “Damn nightgown!” he murmured as he pulled her close. Their bodies fitted together with an old familiarity. Seth’s breath became slow and even and he, too, slept.

Adam didn’t know who held him or who forced the bad-tasting tea down his throat, but he knew the voice of command. It hurt terribly, but no matter how much he complained, the cup was always there again. His body hurt and ached so much, yet someone kept lifting him, turning him, and putting hot cloths on him. He didn’t like this at all. He wanted to be outside. “Horse,” he whispered, but the word didn’t come to the surface.

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