AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Jane.” He gently shook her. “Stop giving me excuses and tell me now.”
She drew a deep breath and then said in a rush, “I’m going to have a baby.”
He blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. Why else would I leave MacDuff’s property where everybody had bent over backward to keep me safe? I had an idea I was carrying something very precious. I didn’t want to risk it. But I had to be sure, dammit.”
“I can see how you would,” he said slowly. “Would you care to tell me who T. S. Campbell is?”
“He’s a doctor,” she said. “He’s my obstetrician. I’d been feeling edgy and depressed for the past couple of weeks. I couldn’t understand why I felt as if I was caught, almost suffocated by everything around me. That night after I saw you in the stable, I thought that I noticed…changes. When I suspected I might be pregnant, I decided I had to be certain. But I didn’t want anyone to know until I found out, so I decided I’d go to Kilgoray to a doctor. I thought it was better if I went to somewhere no one was familiar with me. I made the appointment and asked Rodland to go with me.”
“What the hell,” Caleb said. “Didn’t it occur to you to talk to me?”
“No.” She straightened. “I had to get used to the idea myself. It was scary…and yet magical. Besides, I didn’t know if you wanted to have a child with me. There was a possibility that any child we had together would have the same blood gift you inherited. We’ve talked about it before, and you weren’t sure that you’d want to inflict that on any child.”
“But you said it wouldn’t matter.”
“And I still wouldn’t care. I was happy when I found out I was pregnant.” She moistened her lips. “I told you once that I thought you’d be a wonderful father. If for no other reason than you’d know whatnotto do with a child. But I didn’t get pregnant on purpose. I was surprised. It just…happened.”
“Which seems to occur frequently where we’re concerned. I really didn’t think you’d plotted to trap me,” he said huskily. “You’re too honest. It was you I was trying to protect anyway. Having a man like me around is difficult enough. You didn’t deserve to have a problem child to care for, too.”
“Yes, I do.” She met his eyes. “I do deserve it. No one can say my brother, Michael, isn’t a bit strange, and yet he’s loving and wonderful and I wouldn’t trade him for all the so-called normal kids on the planet. Don’t youevertell me I don’t deserve to have him or a child of my own who may not be what’s considered ‘usual.’”
“No, I won’t tell you that. You’re clearly a woman who has a mind of her own.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “But may I suggest that we don’t discuss this anymore right now? We’ve been going since dawn, and I can tell you’re exhausted. Then Bohdan pulled the rug out from under us in more ways than one. Why don’t we try to get some sleep and let it sink in? We’ll have decisions enough to make tomorrow.”
“Are you being soothing and trying to take care of me again?” She nodded. “I think you are. I’m not insulted. I don’t care. I’ll take care of you, too. It’s not such a bad idea. I don’t want Bohdan to occupy any more of our minds tonight.” She lifted her hand to cover a yawn. “You’re right, I’m very tired and everything seems to be a blur. Besides, I just want to think about my baby now. I haven’t let myself do that since the night I came back from Kilgoray. There seemed to be too many things getting in my way.”
“Then by all means.” He was laying out the sleeping bags and blankets. “You don’t want to let Bohdan cheat you of anything. We’ll work out how to take him down together. But right now, just let everything else go away.”
“Together,” she murmured as she crawled into the sleeping bag. “That’s what you said before. I was hoping that you meant it.”
“I meant it. Though I’ve been known to try to manipulate situations to suit myself, that’s all in the past.” He lay down beside her. “I didn’t even cross my fingers when I said it.”
“What a relief,” she mocked. “But then I told MacDuff that you never lied to me.”
“I would have been tempted this time. I could feel you edging away from me. I was afraid I was losing you.” He put his arm over her body. “You’re still shaking. Come closer to me.”
She didn’t move. “I’m fine. You can’t solve everything that’s wrong with me.”
“I won’t try. Perhaps I’m hoping that you’ll try your hand at solving everything that’s wrong with me. Heaven knows that would be a monumental task. It would make me feel less insecure if I could feel you close to me.”
“Insecure?” She lifted her head to look at him. “You?” Then she nestled nearer to him. “On the chance that you’re not joking, I wouldn’t want to deny you. I’ve always wanted you to have whatever you wanted or needed.”
“I know you have.” He cradled her head to rest on his shoulder. “And there’s something that I need to know.” He hesitated. “How soon, Jane?”
She stiffened. “When am I due? The doctor said I’m three months’ pregnant. I probably became pregnant during the weeks we were in London watching over Eve, Joe, and Michael.” She looked at him. “But I want you to know that I’m keeping this child. Whether you want it or not. I’ll take care of it, if you decide that you want to walk away. It will be my child and you’ll—”
“Be quiet.” His hand was over her mouth, silencing her. His hoarse voice was intense. “You’re right, it will beyourchild. Do you think that I’d ever walk away from your child? It will be a part of you. I’d never let either one of you go. But I have to know everything about it so that I can take care of it, and you. I’ve never had to worry about anything like this before. But you’ve got to tell me things and let me help you.”
“And I will.” She went into his arms. “You know more than you think. You’ll always know what to do. You practically raised your sister Lisa. And you did a great job. But we might have to learn together. I may have to call Eve and Joe and have another talk.”
“Later,” Caleb said. “I think I could handle Eve, but I don’t want to deal with an angry ex-SEAL at the moment. We have too much on our plates right now. Go to sleep and we’ll get everything settled in the morning.” He paused. “There is one other item. Would you mind if I fill in Rodland when he comes back to camp?”
“No, why should I mind? The last thing I want is to have to repeat any of Bohdan’s threats again.”
“Just checking. Our arrangement is too new for me to violate any of its clauses. Your relationship with Rodland did have certain secrets.”
“The only thing in the least confidential was our trip to Kilgoray. He didn’t even know who I was going to see.” She added suddenly, “Dr. Campbell. I’m worried about him. He was very nice to me. We’ve got to make certain Bohdan doesn’t hurt him.”
