Caleb's Blessing(46)
“Caleb don’t you dare, I’ll go crazy if I can’t work in the garden. And the guys have been talking about getting me some of those hardy bushes that’ll grow in the fall.”
“I’ll get you house plants and tell the guys to shove it. No, and I think we’ll hire a cook and I’ll have the cleaning service come out more often, or do you want to hire someone fulltime?”
“Caleb I’m not giving up my kitchen, we might have to fight for that one.”
“Oh yeah, you think you can take me?” I wasn’t thinking when I lifted my hand and pretended to hit her, but in the end I was glad that I’d done it.
She didn’t even flinch, just threw a punch of her own into my shoulder as she roared with laughter.
I kissed the look of surprise off of her face when I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. I didn’t let her up until we both needed air.
“What was that for?” She patted my chest as I pushed the hair back from her face.
“Just because I’m in love with the most beautiful girl in the world.” And because she could have no idea, how much her reaction, or lack of one meant to me.
When she’d first shown up here she’d jumped at her own shadow. It might not be much, but for me it meant everything that she’d trusted me not to hurt her.
Chapter 23
We had our first argument that Monday morning at the doctor’s office. We’d been lucky enough to get an appointment that same day and I was only too happy to get things rolling.
The trouble didn’t start until we were seated in the doctor’s office after hearing the wonderful news that I’d already spent all day yesterday celebrating, by staying buried inside her all day.
It had got so bad that the guys took turns coming to the bottom of the stairs and calling up to harass my ass.
Then Jonah had threatened to throw water on both of us because Brutus was acting up again and they needed me to go calm his ass down.
Now as I was basking in the glow of pending fatherhood she sent me into a panic.
“Natural what? Oh hell no baby.” I’ve seen enough calves and foals come into the world to know that that shit was out.
“Caleb, it’s not that bad, lot’s of people do it these days.”
“I’m afraid she’s right Caleb...”
“You stay out of it doc; as for you, no.” I got up to leave I was so flustered. “Are we done here doc?”
“Yes, Tess will give you a little packet with all the particulars and you two need to look it over together. Now Amanda if you’re serious about the natural childbirth I know a place where there’re a few excellent midwives...”
“Doc, not gonna happen, you give her that list we’re gonna have words.” I tried hustling her out of there.
“Caleb, leave the doctor alone. I’ll call you later sometime this week Dr. Crenshaw, thanks for all your help.” She actually rolled her eyes at the doctor but this one I didn’t like.
That looked like one of those ‘he’s being an asshole jerk’ looks I’ve seen females passing behind their man’s back.
“Amanda, baby, I’m sorry. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t give you, except this, you’re not doing that shit, no way no how.”
“Caleb Dunbar I’ll thank you not to tell me what I can and cannot do with my body.”
“It’s not yours anymore, that shit belongs to me and I say no way you’re putting yourself or me through that shit.”
“And I say it’s my choice.”
“Think so do you? Hey where’re you going?” She was flouncing off across the street with me hot on her ass.
“I feel like having some of Millie’s pie, because the last time your...whatever the hell she is spoiled it. Or am I not allowed pie either?”
“Whoa-whoa-whoa, you wanna bring it down a notch? First of all this is not the time or the place to discuss this shit, and second, that’s not some shit you just spring on a man without discussing it first.”
“I don’t see what the big deal is, women have been doing it for centuries.”
“Yeah but you don’t have to. Come on baby, wouldn’t you much rather have a nice team of doctors there to make sure that you’re perfectly safe?”
“You’re right, now’s not the time or the place, buy me a slice of pie handsome?”
She smiled and my heart was a puddle at her feet. I was just about to reach for her when a voice stopped me from behind.
“Caleb, Amanda, fancy meeting you here.” Shit, it was Diane. There was no hiding the fact that we’d just left the docs, and we’d been so busy arguing that she hadn’t had time to put the pamphlets and stuff away.