Page 70 of Texas Splendor
“I think so.”
He drew her closer. The night was warm, unbearably hot, but he kept her within the circle of his arms. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her he’d be the one to wake up with nightmares, but he’d discovered that as long as she was nestled against him, he could hold the hated memories at bay.
“Tell me about your wedding.”
Loree stopped kneading the bread dough and glanced up at Maggie’s expectant face. The child sat at the end of the table, her legs tucked up beneath her bottom on the chair, the hand holding the stub of her pencil poised above the journal.
“My wedding?”
Maggie nodded briskly. “I want to write a story about it.”
Loree glanced at the window. She saw the gray skies. She could not believe how quickly autumn had given way to winter. She turned her attention back to Maggie. “Do you write lots of stories?”
Maggie bobbed her head.
“When do you write all these stories?”
“Nighttime is the best. It’s usually the quietest ‘cept when Pa gets a hankering for a bunch of kisses. He’ll say he wants to see Ma’s toes curl, and she’ll start giggling. Then suddenly, it gets really quiet. Do your toes curl when Uncle Austin kisses you?”
Loree felt her face warm. She had to admit Maggie wasn’t a shy child, but she couldn’t wait to tell Austin that she knew what Maggie was doing at night when her light again became visible in her room. She started pounding the bread dough. “Sometimes.”
“I bet Aunt Becky’s toes curl. When Uncle Cameron married her, he kissed her a really long time. Until Uncle Dallas cleared his throat real loud. Made me jump outta my skin.”
Loree imagined any noise Dallas made on purpose would startle her. “Was their wedding nice?”
Maggie shrugged. “It was tiny. There was just us. And Aunt Becky was so silly. She started crying. She said she didn’t think we’d come on account of her lovin’ Uncle Austin first and then lovin’ Uncle Cameron.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “But once you love someone, you don’t stop lovin’ ‘em.”
“No, I guess you don’t.” Loree wondered where the child had gained her wisdom, and if she’d lose it once she grew older.
A brief knock sounded on the door before Houston opened it, a panicked expression on his face. His other three daughters were with him, their eyes wide. “Amelia’s having the baby. Can I leave the young ‘uns with you?”
“Certainly.” Wiping her hands on her apron, Loree crossed the room and ushered the children inside.
The cold November winds whipped around Austin as he guided Black Thunder home. He drew up the collar on his sheep skin jacket and pulled his hat lower over his brow. Night was closing in, and he relished its arrival.
Evenings had become his favorite time of day. Loree welcomed him with arms open wide, a warm meal, and a warmer kiss. They sat in front of the fire, curled around each other, waiting for their child to move.
Austin had grown up around a brother who bred cattle, a brother who bred horses … and yet the wonder of a child that he’d helped to create growing within a woman he cherished … humbled him.
He brought Black Thunder to a halt, dismounted, and impatiently set about the task of tending to his horse before seeing to his own needs. He saw the lamplight spilling out from the window, and the chill of the night gave way to an unexpected warmth.
He finished his task and strode to the house, anticipation hurrying his step. He threw open the door and froze.
“Uncle Austin,” three little magpies chirped and raced across the room to wrap themselves around his legs.
“We’re makin’ baby cookies,” Laurel said. “Want one?”
The one she extended toward him had a bite taken from it. Loree strolled across the room and began to tug the girls back. “Come on, girls. At least let Uncle Austin get his jacket off.”
He met Loree’s eyes as he shrugged out of his jacket. She looked at him imploringly. “Amelia went into labor this morning. Houston brought the girls over so I could watch them.”
Austin looked past her to the table laden with cookies. “I said we’d bake cookies until the baby was born. I didn’t know it would take all day.”
The door swung open catching Austin in the middle of his back. Maggie pushed her way through. “Not yet. Pa says anytime. So can we bake some more cookies?”
“Don’t you think you have enough cookies?” Austin asked.
“But Aunt Loree said—”
