The Bride Price (39 page)

Sophie leaned her cheek against his shoulder
and cried.

* * *

One week later, Sophie’s arm was almost
healed. The pain subsided, and an annoying itch replaced it.
Christine and Nona focused on her wedding celebration, asking on
occasion for her opinion but telling her she was in the way if she
tried to help.

With Jamie at the arena and her morning visit
with Samson completed, Sophie wandered the house, uninterested in
holing up in the library again. Just before lunch, she heard Jamie
call her name. “In here, Jamie.”

He rushed into the parlor and pulled her off
the couch. “You need to change.”

“Huh?”

“Go put your breeches on and then meet me
outside.”

“Why?”

Jamie kissed her and then grinned. “Just do
it, Ten-Cow.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow but did as he asked,
excited that they were obviously going for a ride. She took the
stairs two at a time and changed quickly.

As she stepped onto the porch, she heard a
trumpeting hello. “Samson?”

Shielding her eyes from the sun, Sophie saw
Samson saddled and sidestepping, as Jamie tried to keep him from
rushing the porch to get to her. Sophie let out a squeal of
excitement and clapped her hands as she ran and threw herself into
Jamie’s arms. “I get to ride him?”

Jamie grinned as he caught her. “You do.
Michael gave the okay. Are you ready?”

Samson nudged her back with his muzzle and
Sophie laughed. “Okay, boy, I’m coming.” She turned and stroked his
face. “Will you fly with me?”

“No flying, love. Slow and careful,” Jamie
said as he helped her mount. She’d worn light skirts over her
breeches, and she adjusted them for modesty while Jamie held
Samson. Once she told him she was ready, Jamie jumped onto his
horse and then led them toward the lake.

“Race ya,” Sophie challenged and dug her
heels into Samson’s side. Her heart soared as Samson responded.
With a yell of pure joy, Sophie guided him to a fence, leaned her
body forward, and gripped with her thighs. His front hooves rose
and flew over the hurdle, clearing it with several feet to
spare.

The sound of pounding hooves barely
registered behind her as she set Samson toward another fence. Once
he cleared it, she slowed him to a trot and then a walk, and turned
in surprise to find Jamie right next to her. “Hi.”

Jamie smiled, despite the look of fear on his
face. “Are you okay?”

“Are you kidding me?” Sophie grinned. “I am
the happiest I have been in a while.”

“Well, could you please be happy and slower
in the future?”

Sophie laughed. “Probably not.”

“Samson looks quite happy as well.”

“I love this horse and he knows it.” Sophie
slapped Samson’s neck and his ears went back to hear her voice.
Sophie turned to Jamie. “Your riding has improved.”

He smiled. “I’m in the saddle every day; I
would hope it would have.”

“Well, I’m impressed. And in love.” Her head
dropped back and she smiled at the sky. “And happy.”

“I have another surprise. Follow me.” Jamie
led them to the lake and dismounted.

He lifted Sophie from Samson and then
gathered the supplies he’d attached to their saddles.

“What have you got there?”

Jamie took her hand and pulled her closer to the
water. “I have food, blankets, and the rest of the day off to love
you.”

Sophie’s joy bubbled out with a laugh. “Well,
then, let’s not waste any time.”

* * *

Several hours later, as the sun rose in the
sky, Jamie suggested they head back for dinner but this time, their
ride back was slower and filled with conversation.

“Thank you for my life, Jamie.”

Jamie smiled and reached over to squeeze her
knee. “Thank you for living.”

The couple arrived back at the barn. Sophie
spent some extra time to shower attention on Samson. He was dozing
when she finally left his stall. Sophie took Jamie’s outstretched
hand and followed him to the house. Dinner included Andrew and
Christine, but Michael and Nona were with friends, so the four of
them lingered over their meal.

“I have what you’ve been asking for,” Andrew
said to Jamie.

“Where?” Jamie whispered.

“Perhaps we could have drinks in the
library.” Andrew stood. “We can discuss it in there.” Andrew led
them into the library before closing the door and slipping the
lock.

Sophie raised an eyebrow in Christine’s
direction, but her slender shoulder rose in a shrug. The three
watched Andrew make his way to the window seat.

Throwing the pillows to the ground, he pulled
out a rather large knife and pried a loose board of wood from the
top. Reaching inside, he pulled out a gun. Jamie whistled as Sophie
gasped.

“That’s the gun?” Jamie asked, despite the
obvious.

Andrew nodded. “Yes, it’s the most incredible
piece of artillery I have ever seen.”

Jamie removed it from Andrew’s hands. “It’s
some kind of Beretta.”

Sophie moved closer and ran her hand over the
serial number. “It kind of looks like a gun made in this century,
don’t you think? In fact, it’s a little uncanny how much it looks
like a Union issue rifle.”

“Yes,” Andrew said.

“That’s probably why they chose it.” Jamie
raised it to eye level.

“No, baby. Look. It’s been modified.” Sophie
pointed to the trigger mechanism.

As Jamie and Andrew studied the rifle, Sophie
watched her husband’s face flicker with several emotions, including
appreciation. “This is genius.”

“Why?” Sophie asked.

“They’ve essentially taken a Beretta and put
it inside a Union issue rifle shell. Unless you were really looking
at it, you probably wouldn’t know the difference.”

Andrew’s breath came out in a whoosh. “The
army could use this.”

Sophie shook her head. “That would be
dangerous, Andrew. We have to keep this hidden.”

Andrew frowned. “I know. I just wish there
was a way to utilize this for our side.”

“Without ammo, it’s pretty useless anyway,”
Jamie pointed out.

“Why the window seat, Andrew?” Sophie
asked.

“You seem to be here more than most, so I
figured it was the safest place.”

Sophie grinned. “Smart.”

Christine yawned. “Why don’t we put the gun
back and sneak away to bed? I, for one, am exhausted.”

Sophie nodded. “Good idea.”

Jamie lowered the gun and nodded toward the
door. “You girls go ahead. I need to speak with Andrew for a few
minutes.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow in question.

“I’ll be up in a minute, Ten-Cow.”

She reluctantly followed Christine out of the
library and closed the door behind her.

Jamie handed the gun back to Andrew and sat
on the edge of the hearth. “Tell me what happened with the
shooter.”

Andrew grinned. “You’re far too
intuitive.”

“I have been accused of that before.”

“He let it slip that he was Victor Cary, and
was angry that he had failed.” Andrew placed the gun back in its
hiding place.

“Did he slip, Andrew, or do you think he was
trying to throw us off track?”

Andrew sat on the window seat and settled his
forearms on his knees. “He convinced both Clayton and me, and I
doubt he could have done that if he weren’t who he said he was. He
had documentation proving who he was, as well.”

“What kind of documentation?”

Andrew pulled something from his pocket. “I
had never seen anything like this, so I confiscated it before
Clayton could see it. I assume it’s something from your time?”

Jamie stood and took it from him. “It’s a
license for Washington State. Most definitely from my time.”

“The photograph was accurate.”

Jamie slapped the plastic against his
fingertips. “Thank God this is over.”

Andrew nodded. “I assume you’ll want to keep
that.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I’ll take my leave, then.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Jamie walked Andrew to
the door, and then made his way upstairs. Easing the bedroom door
open, his heart slammed against his chest when he heard Sophie
retching. “Honey, what happened? Are you okay?”

Sophie groaned from her place bent over the
bowl on her dresser. “I don’t know. I’ve been feeling sick for
about an hour.”

Jamie rushed to remove some of her clothes,
quickly unlacing her corset to give her some breathing room.
“You’re probably just hot and overwhelmed with everything. Come on,
love, let’s get you into your nightgown.”

Sophie was sick once more before Jamie helped
her into bed and crawled in beside her. It didn’t take her long to
fall asleep, but she didn’t stay that way for very long.

Jamie, kept up all night with her, worried
more with each passing hour. She finally fell asleep for good at
three o’clock, so he stole a few hours of sleep. Woken at six by
Sophie’s groan, he reached for the bowl. “I’m getting Michael.”

He found him at the dining room table.
Michael grabbed his medicine bag and followed Jamie upstairs. He
was forced into the hallway and paced the aisle while Michael
examined her.

After what seemed like hours, Michael opened
the door and patted Jamie on the shoulder. “You can see her
now.”

Jamie bolted into the room, relieved to see
Sophie sitting by the window, looking much less green. “Baby?”

“Hm, mm.” Sophie smiled.

“So, what’s wrong? Why are you sick—” Jamie
stalled. “Sophie, why are you smiling?”

“Well…” Sophie laid her hand on her stomach.
“It’s not PMS.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow. “It’s not?”

“No. We’re going to have to build a bigger
house.”

“Why?” Sophie stared pointedly at him. It
took him a minute. “Seriously? NO way.”

“Yes, way. You’re going to be a daddy.”

He sat down and ran his hands through his
hair. “Wow.” He jumped up and pulled her into his arms. “WOW!”

Sophie laughed as he continued to repeat the
word and hold her tighter with each passing minute.

“Everything’s perfect.” Sophie reached up and
cupped his cheek. “We’re staying.”

He kissed her palm. “We’re staying.”

* * *

I was born and raised in New Zealand, and
that’s where my love of horses was formed. My grandfather taught me
to ride at four years old, and I couldn’t get enough.

My love and passion for Abraham Lincoln and
the entire Civil War era might have come from my American father;
however, he lays no claim to influencing me. My mother used to tell
me I was simply born in the wrong place in the wrong time.

I haven’t always wanted to write. It took me
a long time to get started, but now I don’t seem to be able to
stop, the joy of escaping to the 1860s is too much fun.

I’ve been happily married and gooey in love
with my husband for sixteen years. We live in the Pacific Northwest
with our two sons.

I hope you’ve enjoyed The Bride Price.

For other titles in the Civil War Brides
Series, please visit:
www.traceyjanejackson.com