Chapter Ten
Delilah sauntered down the street, enjoying the beauty of another warm spring day. When her father suggested they move to the “Denver of Oregon,” she never anticipated Baker City being a place she’d quickly consider home. The town not only boasted lovely weather, but also provided a variety of birds for her to study, and offered any number of luxuries like the opera house. Baker City also had more than its share of brawny, handsome bachelors.
Two particular bachelors, both of them deputies, came to mind.
Seth Harter had been incredibly attentive and friendly. In addition to escorting her to the play last month, he’d treated her to ice cream at the drug store, taken her for a drive in a buggy he borrowed from Milt Owen’s livery, and accompanied her to a choral performance. Seth was easy to talk to and laugh with, and he always made her smile.
Dugan Durfey was an altogether different beast from Seth. Oh, both men were hardworking, kind, amiable, trustworthy, and upright, of that she had no doubt. And both were charming, good looking, given to teasing and tomfoolery.
But Dugan hadn’t squired her around town at all. On the contrary, he’d not asked to accompany her anywhere.
Yet, several times, she’d looked up from her work in her garden to see him pulling weeds or scowling at Oliver, warning the raccoon to behave himself. He’d shown up to escort her to the weather station every day when she went out to gather the details for the reports she had to send twice a day: once in the morning at five, and again at five of an evening. Dugan would just appear out of nowhere, wait while she collected the information she needed, then walk with her to the telegraph office to send the message.
A few times when she’d been out in her britches studying birds in the woods behind the lumber mill, she’d looked down and spied Dugan keeping an eye on her. He’d invited her out to his farm one afternoon to see Prudence’s kittens. She’d knelt in the straw in a stall and held each one, but a little black kitten with a white paw and splash of white on her face was her favorite. Dugan had told her she could have one, or as many, of the kittens as she wanted, and she’d been strongly considering bringing one home. She just needed to figure out a way to train it to leave her birds alone.
If she asked Dugan, he’d no doubt offer an idea or two. For a man who let others think he was no smarter than the average dunce, he had a keen mind, sharp intellect, and was as well-read as anyone she’d ever met.
Comparing the two deputies always left her feeling at odds, mostly because she liked them both and didn’t want to have to choose one over the other. Seth was a fun-loving beau who made her feel cherished and special. Dugan was her self-appointed protector, champion, and a friend in whom she could confide.
The only thing she wouldn’t feel comfortable telling him was how much she’d enjoyed his kisses, how much she craved his attention.
Ridding her thoughts of the delicious taste of his lips or how magnificent it felt to be held in his arms against his muscled chest proved impossible. Honestly, Delilah didn’t want to set aside those thoughts, no matter how much she knew she should.
The kisses she’d shared out in the meadow with Dugan had been the single most entrancing, mesmerizing, toe-curling thing that had ever happened to her. Even knowing it was foolhardy to wish he’d take her in his arms again, to lavish her with his affections, she couldn’t help but wish he would.
Seth hadn’t even attempted to hold her hand. He seemed content just to cup her elbow and perhaps walk a little closer to her than was considered entirely proper.
Dugan, on the other hand, took every opportunity to touch her. Of course, it was mostly in a gentlemanly manner, except for those wild, wanton kisses they shared in the meadow.
Annoyed with her inability to focus on something other than Dugan’s all too tempting lips, she stopped on her walk and listened. Slightly cocking her head to the side, she heard sparrows tweet-tweeting and there was the song of a meadowlark. Oh, she’d have to find one soon. She was dying to sketch a western meadowlark up close.
With her thoughts on birds, she continued on her way to Edwin and Hattie Greenfield’s place. Since she’d discovered Thane had left Jemma there to await the arrival of their baby, Delilah had tried to visit frequently. Lady Jemma Bryan Jordan was as gracious and approachable as the other women of Baker City who’d garnered Delilah’s admiration. Although she hadn’t been in town a full six weeks yet, she considered Jemma, Brianna Barrett, Maggie MacGregor, and Allie Amick among her friends.
Delilah had stopped by the mercantile and purchased a few little treats she thought Jemma might enjoy. She was on her way to deliver them, but wasn’t in a rush due to the beauty of the warm afternoon.
When she’d been at the boardinghouse yesterday afternoon, Jemma had seemed fidgety and uncomfortable. Several times she’d rubbed her lower back. The poor thing looked like she was ready to burst. Hattie had hovered around her, fussing and clucking, until Delilah thought Jemma might scream in frustration.
Delilah didn’t know if Thane leaving Jemma at the boardinghouse was more for his benefit or Jemma’s. From what she’d observed, Thane adored his wife, even if they frequently clashed in their opinions. She couldn’t imagine him wanting to be away from her. If Delilah was the one about to bring a baby into the world, she’d much prefer to be in town, close to a doctor than on a remote ranch with no one but a sister-in-law to provide help since men made up all the other occupants of the place, except for Jack and Lily.
As she strolled along, enjoying the soft spring breeze, she concluded what Thane had done was for the good of his wife, even if Jemma remained angry at him for leaving her at the boardinghouse.
From what Delilah understood, Edwin and Hattie had worked for Jemma’s family for years. When Thane came to England to collect Jack and Lily, he’d married her and sold her home. He’d given the Greenfields generous monetary compensation, leaving them financially set for life. Hattie and Edwin had missed Jemma and the children so greatly, they’d traveled to America for a visit, and decided to stay.
Delilah was glad they had. Hattie was like a mother to Jemma and she could see the affection between Jemma and Edwin, like one would share with a doting uncle.
She was nearly to the boardinghouse when a sound like thunder boomed around her. She glanced at the sky, but it remained a beautiful shade of blue that put her in mind of Dugan’s eyes.
The noise grew louder and a cloud of dust swirled down the street. The ground vibrated and Delilah widened her stance to keep her balance on the boardwalk. She shaded her eyes with her hand and gaped at what appeared to be a sea of cowboys riding like the hounds of Hades had been unleashed behind them.
Before she could do more than blink, the men reined to a stop in front of the boardinghouse. Thane Jordan fairly leapt from his horse and charged up the walk without as much as a word of hello. The screen door squeaked in protest when he nearly ripped it off its hinges in his haste to get inside the house.
Allie Amick hustled right behind him, but she at least took time to smile at Delilah before rushing inside.
Tully Barrett, Ben Amick, Ian MacGregor, and two cowboys from the Jordan Ranch dismounted. The cowboys took the reins to the horses and headed down the street, Delilah assumed to take them to the livery or perhaps out to Tully’s place.
“Has something happened?” she asked, as Tully, Ben and Ian approached her.
“Jemma’s fixin’ to bring a new little Jordan into the world,” Tully said with a beaming smile.
If she didn’t know better, he could have been the proud papa. In fact, all three men looked about as pleased as any she’d ever seen as they motioned for her to precede them up the walk to the front door.
“She’s having the baby? Today?” Delilah asked as Ben pulled the screen door open and she stepped inside followed by the three men.
“Ian and Tully were out at the ranch helping us with a little project. Thane’s been building Lily a playhouse in the backyard so she’ll quit trying to run off every dad-busted time we blink,” Ben said, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “That lil’ gal of ours can find more trouble faster than you can turn around.”
“The playhouse is quite a sight to see,” Ian said, shaking his head. “It’s got a high-pitched roof and gingerbread trim, and even a little porch out front. Maggie, Allie, and Brianna are planning to finish the inside of it with wallpaper and curtains.”
“Allie had all she could to do keep Lily from grabbing a hammer and jumping right into whacking on nails,” Tully said with a grin. “Anyhow, Dugan rode out with the news that Edwin had sent for the doctor and Thane should light a shuck for town if he wanted to get here in time to attend his first-born’s arrival.”
“Where are the children?” Delilah asked, glancing from Tully to Ben.
“Sam, our bunkhouse cook, is watching them. Jackeroo didn’t cotton to being left behind, but Lily’s young enough that she didn’t exactly catch on to what’s happening today.” Ben removed his hat and hung it on a rack by the door. Tully followed suit but Ian hadn’t worn a hat. His wind-blown hair testified to that fact and how fast the men had ridden into town.
“I think Jack’s worried because his first mama died birthing Lily,” Tully said, walking down the hall toward the kitchen. “Sometimes that boy carries the weight of the whole world on his little shoulders.”
“Splendid! You’ve all arrived,” Edwin said as they walked into the kitchen. “Hattie is staying upstairs with Jemma, but I can pour lemonade and set out tea.”
Delilah had already learned what Jemma and the Greenfields considered tea was an elaborate affair of richly brewed tea, crumpets, little sandwiches, cakes, miniature pies, and cookies. Since she’d skipped lunch, the thought of one of Hattie’s teas sounded quite appealing.
“May I help you, Edwin?” she offered, reaching to take the pitcher of lemonade from him.
“Of course, my dear.” Edwin smiled at her as he continued taking things out of the new refrigerator they’d recently installed. “Perhaps, for the sake of simplicity, we might just enjoy it here at the kitchen table rather than the parlor.” Edwin set a tray of sandwiches on the table. “Unless you gentlemen prefer the parlor?”
“No, the kitchen is just dandy, Edwin,” Tully said, grinning at the man. “I reckon the rest of us can roll up our sleeves and lend a hand, too.”
Before they had all the food set out, a knock sounded at the back door and the two cowboys who’d ridden in from the Jordan Ranch appeared with Dugan at the screen.
“Come in, come in,” Edwin said, pushing open the door and stepping back for the three men to enter.
“Any news yet?” Dugan asked as he removed his hat and ran a hand over his hair. His face and hands were clean, but dust clung to him, like he’d ridden hard and fast, which Delilah was sure he had.
“No, nothing yet. The doctor arrived just moments before all of you. He said he’d conduct an examination then he’d have a better guess of when to anticipate things moving along,” Edwin said, setting more plates on the table. “I’m glad we don’t have any guests this evening. This might be quite a disturbance to them.”
“Shoot! In all the excitement, I didn’t even think to go tell Fred.” Tully grabbed a handful of sandwiches and two little pies, then stood from the table. “If I don’t tell my wife, she’ll never let me hear the end of it. I’ll be back shortly.”
“I better tell Maggie, too,” Ian said, rising from the table and snitching a sandwich along with three little cakes and two cookies. “Most likely, we’ll return soon.”
Ben leaned back and grinned. “My wife is upstairs so I’ve got nowhere else to be. With those two vamoosing, it leaves more of this good grub for me.” He waited until Delilah had added a sandwich and berry tart to her plate before he bit into a sandwich filled with a creamy egg concoction spread between layers of airy, light bread.
In spite of his rural turns of phrase and youth, Ben had fine manners. Delilah knew from speaking with him and observing his interactions with others he was an intelligent, gentle-hearted man.
Not more than ten minutes had passed when Tully returned with Brianna. Ian and Maggie joined them a few moments later.
With so many of them crowded into the kitchen, the women shooed the men out and decided to wash the dishes from the afternoon tea and put a roast in the oven for dinner.
Maggie and Brianna ventured upstairs to check on Jemma and returned shaking their heads.
“In the few minutes we were in the room, Jemma called Thane every name I’ve ever heard her use to describe him plus a few new ones,” Maggie said with a grin as she took a seat beside Ian on a settee.
“Honestly, Thane appears to be in much worse shape than Jemma,” Brianna said with a grin as she looked around the room for a seat. Since none were available, Tully patted his thigh and she settled onto his lap, looping her hands around his neck. “Doc suggested he come down here and wait with us, but Jemma clung to his hand and begged him not to go.”
Ben smirked. “I reckon her dogs are barking both directions right now.”
Delilah looked at Brianna then Maggie to decipher what Ben said. Dugan, who was sitting in the chair across from hers, leaned close and whispered, “he just means she’s not thinking rationally at the moment.”
“I see,” Delilah said, ignoring the little ripple of excitement that shot through her when Dugan’s gaze lingered on her lips. Was he thinking of the kisses they’d exchanged? Would he try to kiss her again if the opportunity arose?
Lighthearted conversation kept them all from dwelling on the sounds from overhead, especially when they heard Jemma scream.
Every last one of the men cringed and stared at the ceiling.
“Can’t Doc do something for her?” Ben asked.
“That’s all part of childbirth, Ben,” Maggie said, giving him a sympathetic glance.
“Well, I for dang sure ain’t gonna put Allie through that. No, siree,” he stated with assurance.
The other men snickered and Tully reached over, slapping Ben on the leg. “We’ll all remind you of that when we’re sitting around waiting for your first-born to arrive.”
Ben scowled at the sheriff and mumbled something under his breath before another scream from upstairs silenced them.
The screen door squawked and Jack ran inside, tears streaming down his face. “Someone has to help Mama. Please don’t let her die. Please?”
“Jackeroo, what are you doing here?” Ben said, hurrying over to the boy and enfolding him in a hug. “I thought we told you to stay at the ranch.”
“You did,” the boy sobbed. “But I wanted to be here. I snuck away when Sam was washing cake batter out of Lily’s hair.”
Delilah wanted to ask how the cake batter got on Lily’s head, but kept her mouth shut. From the look on Dugan’s face, he was dying to know the answer to the unspoken question, too.
“Did you let anyone know where you were going? It’s not okay for you to worry everyone,” Ben chided.
Jack nodded and snuffled. “Walt saw me leaving so I told him I was coming to check on Mama. He told me to be careful and that he’d let Sam know.”
“And you rode all the way to town by yourself?” Maggie asked as she moved over to where Ben held Jack. She brushed a hand through the boy’s brown, dusty hair, smoothing it away from his face.
“I did, Aunt Maggie. I’m not a baby, you know.” Jack snuffled again and looked upstairs. “I’ve been sitting outside for a while, listening, but I heard Mama scream. Is she gonna die like my first mother? I don’t want her to die, Uncle Ben. I don’t!”
“I know, Jackeroo. I know.” Ben held the boy closer and patted his back. “It’s gonna be okay. I promise. Jemma is one of the toughest little gals I’ve ever met. You mark my words, she’s gonna be just fine.”
Jack swiped his nose on his sleeve then raised his head from where he’d rested it on Ben’s shoulder. “You’re not just saying that? You really mean it? Mama will be fine?”
“She’ll be fine,” Ben said, giving Jack another tight hug before he set him down. “How about we find you a glass of milk and a few cookies to tide you over until supper?”
“Okay,” Jack said, going down the hall with Ben to the kitchen. Edwin and Maggie went with them.
Tully held Brianna a little tighter against him. “I sure hope everything goes fine with Jemma and the baby. That poor kid has lost enough in his lifetime already.”
“She’ll be fine, Tully. Let’s not borrow trouble where none exists. The doctor said it should be a normal birth with no complications.” Brianna glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m glad you thought to send Sammy to spend the rest of the day with one of her friends. I’d hate for her to be here right now.”
“She’d be as frightened as Jack, no doubt,” Tully said, glancing at the ceiling when another scream rent the air.
The ranch hands wandered outside along with Ian and Edwin, away from the sounds of pain and travail coming from Jemma’s room. Ben made sure Jack went with him to the backyard where they attempted to keep the boy occupied with a game of horseshoes. The clink-clink of the horseshoes being tossed drifted in the open parlor windows.
Another wretched cry from upstairs made Delilah clench the arm of the chair she sat in so hard, her knuckles turned white. Tully and Brianna glared upstairs while Dugan’s brows furrowed with concern.
“Don’t worry, Dilly. Jemma’s in good hands. Doc has delivered dozens and dozens of babies.” Dugan took her hand in his, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
“Who gave you leave to call me Dilly?” she asked, offering Dugan a perturbed look.
“I didn’t know I needed permission, delightful Dilly girl.” Dugan’s thumb traced circles across the inside of her wrist as he lowered his voice. “But if I needed permission, I assumed I had it the other day when you slobbered all over me out in the meadow by Ian’s place.”
“Why, I did no such thing,” she whispered, hotly. “You’re the one who… that… that…”
“What are you two discussing in such hushed tones?” Brianna asked, giving them a knowing look.
“Nothing at all,” Delilah said, shooting Dugan a quelling glance. “Except the lovely meadow out past Ian’s lumber mill. I ran into Deputy Durfey there the other day when I was studying a pine grosbeak.”
“A pine whats-it?” Tully asked.
To provide a much-needed distraction, Delilah gave them an abbreviated lesson about the bird she’d been studying then segued into the variety of birds she’d noticed in the area.
Dugan chimed in, telling them of the raccoon she’d befriended and named Oliver.
“Aren’t you afraid he might have rabies?” Brianna asked, eyes wide.
“No. He’s quite a friendly fellow, but I do have to be careful or he’ll pack off anything that isn’t fastened down.” Delilah smiled at Brianna. “One afternoon, I caught him trying to scale the fence with my garden trowel.”
“Won’t he cause problems with the birds in your yard?” Tully asked.
“I asked her that very same question,” Dugan said, giving Delilah a smug look.
“And, as I’ve informed the deputy, I plan to teach him to leave the birds alone.”
Tully snorted. “Good luck with that. If you can train that raccoon to not suck eggs by June, I’ll let you and my lovely Fred decorate my office anyway you like and leave it that way for the whole month.”
Brianna sat straight up and shot Delilah a hopeful glance. “If you need help training Oliver, I’m available.”
Everyone laughed, but the amusement quickly faded when a piercing, pain-filled scream echoed down the stairs. Delilah squeezed Dugan’s hand and wished she could take on some of Jemma’s pain just to relieve the poor woman’s suffering.
A loud thump, like a crash sounded overhead. More thumps followed then a door opened and footsteps rushed down the stairs.
As one, they all stood and moved to the parlor door.
Allie leaned over the banister halfway down the stairs. “It’s a boy! A beautiful, baby boy. Jemma and the baby are both fine. I’ll let you know about Thane.” Before anyone could ask questions, she raced back up the stairs.
Whoops from outside let them know the announcement carried out the open windows. Ben rushed in with Jack riding on his back. Ian, Edwin, and the cowboys followed.
“You’ve got yourself a little brother, Jack. Congratulations,” Tully said, patting the boy on the shoulder when he jumped off Ben’s back.
“Thank you, Uncle Tully. I’m gonna teach him everything I know.” Jack beamed with pleasure. “The first thing will be to ignore Lily’s screeching and storytelling.”
“You’ve got your work cut out for ye, lad,” Ian said on a laugh, giving Jack a pat on the back. “But you are up for the task, for certain.”
“Thanks, Uncle Ian. I would have made do with a baby sister, but I’m glad Mama had a boy. Are you sure she’s okay?” he glanced up at Ben.
“Why don’t I run upstairs and check?” Ben said, squeezing Jack’s shoulder in a comforting gesture before he took the steps two at a time.
The mumble of voices carried to those anxiously awaiting more news downstairs, but Delilah couldn’t make out the words.
The stairs creaked and then Ben appeared holding a tiny blanket-wrapped bundle.
“Hey, everyone. I’d like you to meet Bolton Bryan Jordan,” he said in a soft voice as he stepped into the room. Everyone circled around him, eager to get a gander at the newborn. Ben bent down slightly and held the baby so Jack could see his brother’s face. “What do you think, Jackeroo?”
“I think he’s quite spectacular,” the boy said, reverting to a thick British accent in his awed excitement. Jack glanced up at Ben. “Mum is well?”
Ben nodded. “Allie said she’s doing just fine and so is your dad.” The baby yawned and squirmed, making them all grin. “I think this boy picked a fine day to enter the world. After all, it is Good Friday.”
“You’re right. I’d nearly forgotten in all the excitement. He’s sure a tiny lil’ sprout,” Tully said, reaching out to touch the baby’s cheek, but Brianna caught his hand.
“No touching him until you’ve all washed your hands. That’s an order I expect to be obeyed,” she said, pointing down the hall to the washroom.
“Yes, miss bossy-britches,” Tully said, giving the baby one more glance. “Come on, everyone. Let’s get washed up. It’s about time for dinner anyway.”
“Oh, dinner!” Maggie exclaimed then rushed toward the kitchen with Ian and Edwin behind her.
“I better take Bolton back up to his mama.” Ben carried the baby upstairs and soon returned with an exhausted-looking Thane. A rapidly-forming bruise colored his left jaw shades of purple and green.
“What happened to you?” Tully asked, surveying Thane from his mussed hair and bruise to his rumpled clothes. It appeared his shirt was missing two buttons and one sleeve had been torn. “You wrestle a bobcat up there?”
A weary grin lit his face as he plopped onto one of the side chairs and expelled a long breath. “No one warned me females become violent in the throes of childbirth.” He held out his left hand and stretched the fingers. “I had no idea women were capable of tripling their strength.”
“But Mama’s okay, isn’t she Dad?” Jack asked, leaning against Thane’s chair.
Even in his tired state, Thane picked up Jack and settled him on his leg. “Your Mama did great, Jack. Hattie and Allie are getting her all settled to have company so you can go up and see her soon.” Thane gave Jack a long look. “Didn’t I tell you to stay at the ranch?”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said, dipping his head. “I’m sorry I disobeyed, but I was worried about Mama. I needed…” His voice caught and he drew in a sharp breath.
Thane held him close and kissed the top of the boy’s head. “It’s okay, Jack. I reckon this was a hard, scary thing for you to endure considering what happened with your first mother. I should have thought of that before I told you to stay at the ranch. But don’t make it a habit of disobeying me or riding into town all by yourself.”
“Nick and me rode straight here without any problem,” Jack said, then glanced at Tully. “I hope it’s okay I left him at your house, Uncle Tully.”
“That’s fine, Jack. We took the other horses there.”
“I know. I saw Galen and Del leading them,” Jack said then looked back to his father. “When can I see Mama?”
“You go on up, but knock on the door first,” Thane said, giving Jack a nudge toward the stairs.
“What happened to your face and clothes?” Tully asked, pointing to the bruise that darkened by the minute.
“I might have said something to Jemma she took exception to. In her distraught state, she hauled off and hit me.” Thane rubbed his jaw. “She had a time of it, I’ll tell you that. I don’t think I can put her through suffering and pain like that again. If something happened to her, I couldn’t…” Thane choked up and took several breaths before he could speak. “The experience of watching a woman you love more than life itself give birth is a miracle beyond description, but if anything happened to Jemma, I’d die. I just purely would die.”
“But she’s fine, isn’t she, Thane?” Brianna cast a worried glance upstairs.
“Yes. Doc said it was a normal, routine birth with no troubles at all.” Thane sighed again. “If what she endured was normal and routine, I can’t even begin to think about one that isn’t. You women have even more of my admiration because there isn’t a man among us who could handle what you womenfolk endure.”
The rancher’s words surprised Delilah, and she could tell he meant everything he’d said. Beneath that tough, rugged exterior, Thane Jordan held a gentleness she hadn’t expected. No wonder Jemma was so thoroughly smitten with her husband.
“Congratulations to you both, Thane,” Delilah said, offering the man a smile. “I’ll come back tomorrow to visit Jemma and the baby.”
“Oh, stay for dinner, Delilah. You’ve been here longer than we have,” Brianna said, looping her hand around her arm. “I’m useless in the kitchen, but perhaps you and I can set the table.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Delilah said, following Brianna down the hall. As they left the room, she heard the men offering more words of congratulations.
Twenty minutes later, the group gathered around the table in the dining room and enjoyed a lively meal. After they’d eaten, Thane went upstairs and retrieved his sleeping son, carefully carrying the baby downstairs.
Maggie and Brianna took turns holding Bolton then passed him to Delilah. She’d never held a brand-new baby before, but willingly took him in her arms and admired his features.
He had a thatch of curly hair that wasn’t quite gold or brown, but a shade in between. His chin was definitely the same shape as his father’s, although she thought his nose resembled Jemma’s. “He’s quite handsome, Thane. Is Bolton a family name?”
Thane grinned. “No. That’s the town where Jemma grew up and the place we first met. Bolton after the town, Bryan after her father’s family name.”
“It’s a good, strong name,” Delilah said, lifting the baby higher in her arms and breathing in his decadent, heavenly scent. “Oh, he smells better than a hundred bouquets of flowers,” she whispered.
“He really does,” Dugan said as he moved behind her and gazed at the baby over her shoulder. Tentatively, he stroked his finger over the baby’s smooth cheek. “He’s just about perfect.”
“Yes, he is,” Delilah said, handing the newborn to Tully when the sheriff stepped in front of her, ready for a turn.
“This little duffer doesn’t weigh half as much as the last loaf of bread my wife tried to make,” Tully said, tossing a rascally grin to Brianna.
She scowled at him as everyone chuckled quietly.
After Ian took a turn holding the baby, Maggie took him again and went with Thane to return Bolton to Jemma.
Glen and Del left to let everyone at the ranch know the baby had arrived and Jemma was in good health and spirits. Delilah and Brianna volunteered to do the dishes and clean the kitchen in exchange for Maggie doing most of the cooking. Edwin helped put the dishes away since Hattie and Allie had returned upstairs to check on Jemma.
When she finished in the kitchen, Delilah wiped her hands on a dishtowel, thanked Edwin for allowing her to stay, then made her way toward the door.
Quickly bidding her goodbyes to everyone, she stepped outside, only to find Dugan had followed her.
“I’ll walk you out to the weather station,” he said, falling into step beside her. “You’re late with the report tonight.”
She nodded then turned to him with a smile. “The miracle of welcoming a little one into this world is worth a late report or two.”
Dugan gave her a long, studying glance. “What about you, Dilly? Do you ever think about marriage and babies of your own?”
Caught off guard by his question, Delilah didn’t answer right away. Instead, she gazed up at the stars twinkling overhead and breathed in the night air. “I don’t really think I’m marriage material, Dugan. I’m far too independent and opinionated to be a good, obedient wife.”
He didn’t argue with her, but silently continued walking beside her until they reached the weather station located about two hundred yards up the hill from her house. “Do you suppose if you found the right man, he’d admire your independence and intelligence? Rather than squelching it, he might just encourage it.”
Delilah had never considered the thought that a man might not only allow but encourage her independence. Surely that man didn’t exist or she’d have found him by now. After all, most people considered her a spinster since she was closer to thirty than twenty.
Regardless, Dugan’s comment deserved consideration and exploration, just not now. At the moment, her heart felt so soft and raw, she feared she might say or do something she’d later regret. Holding baby Bolton had made longings she’d never known or acknowledged flood over her with a vicious force.
She continued her musings at the weather station as gathered the necessary data and walked with Dugan to the telegraph office where she sent off the report.
“You don’t have to see me home,” she said as he walked with her down the main street of town and turned to escort her to the cottage.
“Oh, but I do,” he said. When they reached her front gate, he pushed it open and accompanied her up the porch steps until she opened the front door. “Have sweet dreams, delightful, darling Dilly.”
Under the cover of darkness, he brushed a quick kiss across her lips before he hurried down the steps, shut the gate and disappeared into the night.
Delilah shut the door and leaned against it with a contented sigh. Even if she never surrendered to the longing for marriage or babies of her own, she certainly wouldn’t turn down a kiss, or a few dozen, from the handsome deputy.