LeClerc 03 - Wild Savage Heart (35 page)

“Yes.”^

“Tattletale,” she mumbled, taking his outstretched hand and walking back toward the house.

Maybe this being a member of a large family wasn’t going to be as great as she had first thought. With this many brothers a person couldn’t get away with anything! There was always someone around when you least wanted them.

Molly was muttering under her breath as she preceded Daniel into the house. Hawk stood in the entry way, his arms folded across his chest as he watched her guilty expression. She removed her coat and threw it on a convenient chair.

“Out back, throwing snowballs,” Daniel replied to Hawk’s unasked question.

“I wanted to play, too,” she defended herself.

Hawk’s expression didn’t change, his dark eyes glaring accusingly at her. “Well, I’ve never seen snow before either and I didn’t want to be stuck inside while everyone else was having fun!”

Unaware of her lower lip pouting, Molly fought back the tears that rimmed her eyes. Hawk walked over to his wife and picked her up as easily as he picked up Dara. Ignoring the amused faces of his gathered brothers, he turned and climbed the stairs. Molly leaned her head against his broad shoulder and closed her eyes.

This wasn’t playing in the snow, but if she had a choice, she’d take this any day.

Hawk carried Molly into their room and over to the windows. Setting her on her feet, he pulled the heavy curtains back until nothing stood between them and the snow falling heavily outside except the pieces of glass.

After throwing some wood onto the fire, he pulled a chair in front of the window, grabbed Molly’s hand and sat down, pulling her forcibly onto his lap.

“This is where you’ll see most of this winter, Molly. It’s too dangerous for you to be outside. Snow is slippery and there’s usually a layer of ice underneath the fluffy top layer. One wrong step and you’re on your backside in a snow drift.”

He turned her head to face his and he saw the defiance and disappointment in her eyes. Hawk nuzzled his nose against hers then softly kissed her lips.

“You’ll see the snow, sweetheart, but only if someone else is with you. You are too precious to me. I don’t want you to take chances.

“Don’t you know yet,” he asked softly, his voice filled with emotion, “You and our son are my whole world?”

Molly’s heart soared, and the baby kicked fiercely as if he, too, had heard Hawk’s voice.

Hawk’s head lowered to hers. His tongue tasted the soft silhouette of her waiting lips. Teasing turned to invitation, expectation became demand as fires of passion grew to surpass the fury of the storm building outside.

The tip-tapping of the snow on the window panes was soon forgotten as Hawk showed his wife another, more pleasant, way to spend a cold snowy day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The branches of majestic evergreens swept to the ground from the weight of their blanket of snow. Bushes sported snow flowers and layers of ice, as winter wrapped the world in a wonderland of white. Familiar landmarks became strange. Even an old barn badly in need of a coat of paint turned into a charming structure with rainbow icicles hanging from its drooping roof.

Molly had been surprised to discover how noisy snow was as it crunched underfoot or tapped against the windows. And after two months of nearly continuous snow, she was still delighted by its strange appearance. Her sizeable stomach made it difficult for her to maneuver on its slippery surface and Hawk forbade her from leaving the cabin without him.

They had moved into the old cabin that had been Linsey and Luc’s first home. The tiny two-room structure with its polished plank floors and glasspaned windows quickly became home for Molly. Furniture and other household necessities had been scrounged from the attics of the larger house and carted the short distance to the cabin.

In the last couple of weeks, as if sensing that Molly’s time was drawing near, Linsey had been a constant visitor. The two women had become more than friends as they openly shared their past with each other.

Molly had been surprised to discover that Luc had delivered all of Linsey’s children. The first two births had taken place before a midwife was in the region but Linsey had insisted on his help with the others.

Her voice had softened with sorrow when she spoke of the stillbirth of John. Her pain had been increased by the agony she had witnessed on her husband’s face when he held the small lifeless body in his large hands. She smiled as she told of Dara’s birth and the fact that Luc had expected yet another son and so he hadn’t checked on the baby’s sex. She chuckled when she described the way he rushed to confirm it for himself when she had brought it to his attention.

Molly stood at the door and watched as Linsey headed home on the well-traveled trail between the cabin and the house. The path was used frequently during the day, since the brothers were not at all bashful about stopping in to visit Hawk or to check on her when they knew he’d be gone.

They made no pretense that their visits were anything other than what they were. They would question her about the state of her health, carry in armloads of wood or buckets of snow to be melted for water. When they were satisfied, they left, but Molly was never alone for long. Soon another brother, or Kaleb or even Luc would stop in for a visit.

She enjoyed the visits, getting better acquainted with each man, but her days were lonely when H awk wasn’t around. He had spent several days hunting with Daniel before restlessness forced Daniel to leave. If he had told Hawk of his latest vision, Hawk had not shared it with Molly. She shivered at the horror of knowing something tragic was about to happen and being unable to prevent it. Her heart went out to the gentle man who kept his grief buried deep inside his massive body.

Molly rubbed her aching back as a twinge of pain traced from the middle of her back to her stomach. The light twinges, more of a nuisance than real pain, had started earlier in the day:

She had been plagued with similar aches and pains for several weeks, but rather than abating, these grew stronger in intensity as the day progressed. She knew that within a day or two, before daylight tomorrow if she were lucky, she would hold her child in her arms.

And, as the Bear had delivered his sons, so would Hawk deliver this child.

Molly grew restless and grabbed the broom to sweep the already spotless floor. That chore was finished all too quickly and she looked for something else to do. She wiped off shelves, rearranged clothing and food supplies, remade the bed and looked through Hawk’s clothing to see if any of it needed repairs. Finally, when everything had been straightened, cleaned, swept or polished, Molly picked up the dress she had begun sewing.

With Linsey’s help, Molly’s wardrobe had grown to several dresses, skirts and blouses and underthings, most of which wouldn’t fit until after the birth.

Plying the needle in and out of the fabric, Molly bit back a moan as a strong pain gripped her middle. When it released her from its clutches, she carefully folded the dress and climbed from her chair. With hands that shook from both excitement and fear of the unknown, she removed her shirt and skirt and slid into a warm, flannel nightgown. Another pain worked its way through her body, forcing her to grab for the support of the bedpost.

Between pains, Molly readied the necessary items for the birth. She had questioned Linsey repeatedly on the procedure and had gotten Linsey’s promise that she wouldn’t interfere unless there was an unexpected problem.

Molly was sitting at the table, a warm shawl around her shoulders and a soothing cup of tea in her hands when Hawk returned.

“The sawmill will be in production by spring,” he said as he closed the door and placed his long rifle beside it. “I’m starved, what’s for dinner?”

“Humm … “ Molly bit her lip as she waited for the pain to subside. “Nothing … I guess I forgot.”

“Molly?” Hawk stopped in the process of removing his coat and looked at his wife. “Are you all right.”

“I’m fine, I just got busy and forgot to cook anything for your dinner.”

“Busy with what?” he asked suspiciously, carelessly dropping his coat onto a chair.

“Things …” She wasn’t as successful at hiding the new pain, her moan alerting Hawk to her condition.

“Is it the babe?” He knelt beside her, taking her cold hand in his.

Molly nodded, unable to speak. Hawk remained beside her until he felt her relax then he gathered her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

“When did this start?” he asked, when he saw that the bedding had been folded back and a heavy padding of fabric was waiting to receive her. He placed her on the bed and noticed the other things she had placed within convenient reach.

“A few hours ago,” she muttered, unbuttoning the top of her gown.

“How many hours ago?” Hawk demanded, his arms folded across his chest as he stared down at her.

“Don’t you think it’s getting hot in here?”

“Don’t try to change the subject. How long ago did your pains start?”

Molly successfully changed the subject as another contraction laced knife-sharp through her body. Sweat beaded her forehead as she fought back against a moan.

“I’m getting Maman.” Hawk ran from the room and grabbed his coat.

“No, Hawk!” she called. “She won’t come.”

“Won’t come?” Hawk stood at the doorway, frantically pulling his coat on. “Woman, what do you mean she won’t come? She’s my mother and you’re my wife, of course she’ll come.”

“No, she won’t!” The last word was nearly screamed as the peak of the contraction stabbed through her.

Hawk turned and ran from the cabin. The house was a pleasant ten-minute walk from the cabin, he ran the distance in less than three minutes. Linsey was in the kitchen preparing the evening meal when he burst into the room.

“Maman, you must come, Molly is having the baby.” He grabbed her cloak from a hook by the door.

“I thought she was having some discomfort when I was there this afternoon. When did her pains start?” Linsey asked as she dried her hands on her apron.

“You left her when she was in pain?” he asked in astonishment. “I don’t know when they started but there’s no time to ask questions now. Come!” He threw the cloak around her shoulders and tried to usher her out the door.

“No, Hawk.” Linsey pulled herself free from his grasp and removed her cloak.

“No? No?” he asked in confusion.

Linsey stood firmly, “Molly wants you to deliver the baby. I’ll only come if you need me.”

“I need you! I can’t help her.”

“Yes, you can, son,” a deep voice said quietly from the doorway. Luc walked over to his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Go home to your wife, by now she is probably frantic with both pain and worry. Well send someone over periodically to check on her progress, but she needs you.”

“I’ve never asked anything from you before. You would deny me this one request?” Hawk asked with disbelief.

“It’s her decision, Hawk.” Linsey explained gently.

A frantic, terrifying emotion ran rampant through Hawk. He looked at the two people who had never betrayed him before and he suddenly knew how thin the line was between love and hate. He squared his shoulders and raised his head proudly, generations of Shawnee warriors were reflected in his face.

“From this day forward I will never again ask for anything from you. I will take Molly and the baby from the cabin as soon as they are able to travel.”

His eyes narrowed as he stared at them and his voice was harsh when he spoke. “I am no longer your son.”

Turning away, he didn’t hear Linsey’s gasp of anguish or see the fire of retribution that burned in Luc’s eyes. His thoughts were centered on the woman who waited for him, though his heart nearly broke at the betrayal of the two people he had always loved beyond all else.

“He didn’t mean it,” Luc said soothingly as he gathered Linsey into his arms.

“I know,” she mumbled, her face buried in his chest. “But it hurts so much to deny him something he so desperately needs.”

“Do you regret having me deliver our children?” he asked softly.

“No. I wouldn’t have changed that for anything in the world.”

“Then don’t deny him this chance. Molly is wise enough to know if she needs help. She’ll ask for you.”