Page 89 of The Formation of Us
Duke didn’t know either. It would have been easier if Adam, like Cora, was Faith’s child. But he wasn’t, even though she treated him as such. So that left Duke feeling like a father, but relegated to brother-in-law and guardian. “You’re nearly a man, Adam. Why not call me Duke?” He hoped the acknowledgment would allow them to be friends, and still give Adam someone he could depend on.
“Sure, Duke.” Adam sat up a little straighter on the mattress. “You and your brothers sure did some crazy things when you were boys.”
“You will too, Adam. I just hope you’ll be smarter and more careful than we were.”
Adam grinned. “I promise I won’t ride a sled off the barn roof.”
“Thank you for that small blessing.” Faith kissed his boyish cheek. “Enjoy your new bed and sleep well.”
“I will.” He flopped to his side and bunched a thick feather pillow beneath his head.
Duke extinguished Adam’s lantern, then they went to Cora’s room. She was sprawled sideways across her bed, lightly bumping her heels against the wall and singing to herself.
“Time to tuck you in,” Faith said, turning back the coverlet. She swept Cora into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. “Sweet dreams, honey”
Cora kissed Faith’s cheek, then reached so naturally for Duke, he felt his heart do a crazy little somersault. “Goodnight, Daddy” she said. She squeezed his neck with her skinny arms, and kissed his cheek with her puckered lips.
Being a sheriff for eight years had numbed Duke in some ways, making him able to handle life-threatening situations with a cool head, but nothing had prepared him for the rush of tenderness he felt for Cora. He’d tucked his nieces and nephews into bed many times when his mother kept them overnight, and though he loved those children with all his heart, they belonged to his brothers. This little rose-scented girl with her bright eyes and blabby mouth was his—the daughter he would love and protect and rescue from being fatherless.
“Goodnight, princess.” He barely squeezed the words from his thick throat. Another few seconds of holding her, and he wouldn’t be able to breathe. “Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” he added, tweaking her side.
She giggled and squirmed away. Faith caught her and guided her into bed, following with a smacking kiss on Cora’s forehead. “No playing. It’s late.” She pulled the sheet and blanket over the child. “See you in the morning.”
They extinguished her lantern, left the door open, and hurried to their bedchamber.
Duke closed the door then started to unbutton his shirt. “Last one to undress has to shut out the lantern.”
“No fair,” Faith protested. “I’m wearing twice the clothing you are.”
“Ah . . . but you’ll have twice the help undressing.” Burning with desire for his beautiful new wife, he gathered her soft, slender body against him and covered her mouth with his, feeling that his arms and heart were full at last.
Chapter 28
When Adam got to the swimming hole in the gorge, Rebecca was in the water. He hadn’t seen her since Faith and Duke’s wedding three weeks ago, and it was making him crazy. Did she considered him her cousin now? Could they still be friends?
“Set this in the shade,” Faith said, handing him the huge basket of food she’d brought for the picnic with Duke’s mother and brothers. Everyone from Adam’s family was there, and Doc Milton and Patrick and Cyrus were tagging along too. It seemed like the men were always around now, but Adam liked listening in on their naughty jokes.
The stones on the creek bank burned his bare feet, and he hurried to the water. Submerged to his shins, Adam watched Boyd swing over the creek on a wild grape vine and drop into the water with a splash.
“I want to do it!” Boyd’s four-year-old son Colter grabbed the vine.
“All right, but hold on until I tell you to let go.” Boyd treaded water in the middle of a deep pooled area of the creek, fanning his muscular arms to stay afloat.
On the bank, Kyle lifted the boy, made sure he had a firm hold on the vine, then gave him an easy push over the water.
“Let go!” Boyd shouted. Colter released the vine and fell. As soon as he surfaced from the water, Boyd grabbed him and swam ashore with his dripping, grinning, dark-haired son clinging to his strong back.
Teaching courage and daring, and giving rescue, was something fathers did that Adam hadn’t known about.
Rebecca’s dad went in next, then waited for his sons. William swam ashore on his own, but Joshua needed some help. After a while, the fathers and sons got all mixed up, and Adam learned that fathers take care of their brothers’ children. Another slice in his heart. Why didn’t his own father want him?
“Adam!” Rebecca waved to him. “Come try the swing.”
Anything was better than standing on the bank thinking about a man he hated. The swing was exciting, but it would have been more thrilling if the drop was longer.
His aunts and Rebecca’s grandmother each took a ride on the swing, hooting and laughing so loudly it embarrassed him. Tansy blew a kiss to Cyrus, then dropped into the pool and pretended she was drowning. When he swam out to rescue her, he stole a kiss. Iris hooted like the boys, and kicked her feet so high when she rode the swing, her red drawers showed. It made Patrick whistle like a fool. And Duke wouldn’t stay away from Faith for a minute. She blushed and laughed and pretended to push him away, but she liked Duke’s teasing. Only Aster and Doc Milton behaved themselves while everyone else acted foolish.
Adam swam downstream where the water rushed over rocks. Alone, he dug up stones and piled them in different shapes, liking the way it changed the sound of the burbling water.
