“Yes, darlin’, the baby is fine.”
Angel blushed and smiled, holding her hand out to clasp his.
“And when were you planning on telling me?” Nate said with a grin.
“Soon. I didn’t know how you would feel about six children.”
“The more the merrier.” He kissed her again. “The doc wants to keep you overnight, so I’m staying here with you.”
“No, Nate,” she pleaded. “Please, go on home to the children. They’ll be scared. You need to reassure them everything is all right.” She laid her finger against his lips when he began to protest.
“Please, I’m worried about our family.”
Nate kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand. “All right, honey, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Nate?” Angel reached up with her good arm to caress his face. “Did you ever suspect Amy’s death wasn’t from natural causes?”
“No, I never did. I still have a hard time digesting that. I never suspected such a threat from Lucy.”
“Where is she now?” Angel yawned.
“She ran off after she shot you. The sheriff is out looking for her.” Pulling up the blanket Mrs. Penrose had placed on her bed, Nate kissed Angel once more. “Go to sleep now, sweetheart. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Angel’s voice drifted off.
Nate had finally bedded all the children. It hadn’t been easy. Julia-Rose continued to cry for her mama, and the boys were concerned about Angel being shot. After many reassurances they would all see her tomorrow, they finally relented and went to sleep. Julia-Rose fell asleep in his lap with her fingers in her mouth, clutching her rag doll. Her eyelashes were clumped together from her tears, her baby cheeks flushed.
As he laid her in bed, he considered another baby. But this baby would be half Angel. His Angel who came through the mail. He smiled at the thought.
He poured himself a small drink of brandy and had just sat down when a knock sounded. He opened the door to find the sheriff standing there, holding his hat.
“Come on in, Sheriff.” Nate stepped back so he could enter.
“Thanks, Nate. I’m afraid I have bad news.”
“Angel?” Nate said, the blood draining from his face.
“No, it’s about Lucy.” The sheriff took the brandy Nate had poured for him, and sat down with a sigh.
“After she left here, she took off toward Willamette County. Apparently, either because she was drunk or distraught—probably both—she took a curve too fast and crashed her buggy. She flew out of the carriage and broke her neck.”
“Oh, my God.” Nate closed his eyes.
“Do you know how to get in touch with Eli?” The sheriff sipped his drink.
“Yes, I think Sylvia told Angel where they were staying in San Francisco. I can look for the information so you can get word to them.”
Shaking his head, the sheriff said, “It’s a heck of a way to end a honeymoon.”
Angel had never been so fussed over in her life. This morning, Nate had carried her into the bedroom, even though she insisted she could walk. Since then, she had a string of children in and out, bringing her books, food, tea, blankets and her sewing. She wiped her sweat-beaded forehead.
The boys had to retell their story over and over about how brave they had been, and how scared at the same time. They examined Angel’s injury and patted her for comfort. Julia-Rose sat alongside her in the bed, holding tightly to her rag doll, her fingers in her mouth. Every once in a while, she would reach out and rub Angel’s arm and say, “Mama boo-boo now.”
“Okay, everybody out.” Nate entered the room, rolling his sleeves down. “Mama needs to rest, and I want some time alone with her.”
The boys all crawled off the bed where they’d been keeping Angel company. Nate picked Julia-Rose up. “I’ll be right back. Time for her nap.”
About ten minutes later, Nate returned. Angel’s eyes were closed, her dark lashes resting on her pale cheeks. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep. He studied her, and chuckled at the memory of when she departed the stagecoach, just about a year ago. She’d sure looked a mess.