He almost asked if she would go easily with him, but held his tongue, while admonishing his foolish thoughts. He had given his word to find his son and keep him safe, and that should be his only priority. He had no business thinking of anything but getting Alexander safely to his brother’s ship and sailing to America, where he could give his son a rich, fulfilling life.
“Let’s go,” Sara said, tugging him along. “This is actually good. We can enter the village arguing and ride off separately. That will give the villagers more fodder for gossip.”
“No,” he said, yanking her to a stop and wrapping her in his arms, to rain kisses over her face. “No more fighting today.”
“But—”
He captured her protest with a kiss, finishing with a deep hungry thrust that stole both their breaths. He rested his forehead to hers, his fingers stroking her neck. “No more fights, not today. Today we love.”
She lifted her head away from his and said sadly, “Just today. Just today we love.”
Was one day enough?
The thought startled him, and he shook it from his head, grabbing her hand and tugging her along after him. “Let’s go and enjoy the day.”
He didn’t bother to tell her he feared it might be their last, their only time to love without thought or consequence. He didn’t know why he thought as much, and it troubled him that he did, but it also made him seize the day.
Alexander ran to greet them, his father scooping him up before his short little wobbling legs toppled him over. He squealed in delight and gave his father a big, wet, open-mouthed kiss.
“He’ll learn,” Teresa assured Cullen, having kept pace behind the lad and stopping with a smile once the babe was safe.
“You’ll miss him, won’t you?” Cullen said, struggling playfully with a wiggling son.
Teresa’s smile was brilliant as she looked from Cullen to her sister. “More than ever, but he has taught me much and I am ever so grateful, especially since—” She stopped, her eyes sparkling with tears and her hand going to her stomach.
Sara screeched with joy. “You’re with child!”
Teresa nodded, and the two sisters hugged and laughed and grew teary-eyed and hugged some more.
Cullen forced a smile. Though he was happy for Teresa, it made him realize that Sara could very well be with child. What would he do then? He didn’t know why he hadn’t given it thought before now. Perhaps he hadn’t wanted to.
With Cullen’s arms and hands a makeshift swing, Alexander enjoyed the ride while his father listened to the two women blather about babies, names, and sewing garments for the little one.
Teresa finally ended it by saying to her sister, “I’m glad you’ve come to visit. I’m feeling tired and could use a nap.”
“Go,” Sara said with a gentle shove. “Our plan was to spend time with Alexander. We’ll take him to the creek.”
“I’ll get you a basket for lunch and an extra blanket so Alexander can take his nap. It’s a bit chilly today.”
Sara hurried after her sister. “I’ll help.”
Cullen watched them disappear into the cottage. He looked down at Alexander on the makeshift swing. “Women, my son, are something men will never understand,” he said.
The little boy giggled, squealed, and kicked his feet.
Alexander spent much of his energy throwing stones and bouncing up and down, his little chubby hands clapping with delight at every splash. He ate in between rubbing his eyes, his father folding back the sleeves of his beige knit sweater to keep them out of his busy mouth. It didn’t take long for the child to cuddle in the extra blanket and fall sound asleep.
With time finally theirs, Cullen whispered to Sara, “What if you’re with child?”
Her startled eyes met his and he saw in them a flash of joy that faded all too soon as her hand drifted to rest on her flat stomach.
She turned the question on him. “What if I am?”
“You would go with me,” he responded without reservation. He’d have no child of his growing up fatherless.
He watched her breath catch, and then she took a deep breath as if fortifying her courage.
“Perhaps it is best we no longer—”
“Make love, be intimate, lose ourselves in each other,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t think so.”
“We consummated our vows, so it isn’t necessary—”
“The hell with necessary, I want you,” Cullen said bluntly.
He was glad he made her smile. He loved when she smiled, her eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed pink and her rosy lips grew dewy and just ripe for kissing.
“We should be practical,” she advised.