Read Online Capital Bride by Cynthia Woolf - Free Book Online Page B

a little longer on her waist or was it just her imagination making wishes?
    If that was the case she had some other wishes. She wished they were alone so she could tell him what she’d just discovered herself that morning. She hadn’t had her menses…she was pregnant probably from the first time they made love. It seemed she was very fertile.
    Tonight she’d tell him. Hopefully he’d be happy about it. No, she was sure he’d be happy. He doted on the girls. A baby would bring them all closer together. She wanted this baby so very much.
    The carriage made good time and before long she was brought out of her reverie by the sight of Golden City. The streets were packed with pedestrians and vendor stalls. They’d closed off Main Street. Carriages, buckboards and buggies of all sizes were parked on the north end of town by the stable.
    John pulled to a stop and put on the hand brake. Then he jumped down and helped each of them out. Sarah first. Did he feel the snugness of her skirt? Could he tell she was expanding?
    “You girls go with Bertha and stay at her side. Your mother and I will be along in a moment.”
    He turned back to her. “I just wanted a minute alone to kiss you and remind you that you’re mine.” He pulled her close and ravaged her mouth. “There’s something different.”
    “John, I have something to tell you. I was going to wait until tonight but now is just as good.”
    “What is it?”
    “I’m pregnant.”
    His eyes got wide and his eyebrows shot up. “Pregnant?!”
    Sarah nodded.
    He picked her up and swung her around in a circle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life.
    Their antics drew raised eyebrows from some passersby. John didn’t care. He shouted for the world to hear, “We’re having a baby.” Those same passersby now burst into applause.
    “John let me down. John!”
    “Alright.” He lowered her to the ground then placed his hand gently on her stomach. “When?  
    “Near as I can tell, early February.”
    “February. That’s not a lot of time.”
    “It’s seven months. What do you need more time for?”
    “I want to put water in the house. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while and always put it off but now….”
    “That will be wonderful but,” she pulled his hand, “now we need to tell our daughters.”
    They walked fast to catch up with Bertha and the girls. They found them outside the ice cream parlor.
    “Ah, just what I was wanting. How did you girls know?” asked John.
    “We didn’t but we’re awful glad you did.”
    The five of them went inside. There was one table unoccupied. John sent Bertha and the kids to get it after getting their orders.
    John and Sarah returned with the ice cream. “Chocolate for my girls and strawberry for Bertha. Your mother and I are sharing a scoop of chocolate and one of vanilla.”
    Everyone got quiet, concentrating on their treats.
    “Are you going to tell them?” Sarah whispered.
    “Tell us what, Mama?” asked MaryAnn.
    “Well, it seems we are expecting a baby. You’re going to have a little brother or sister. What do you think about that?”
    MaryAnn leaned over and whispered something in Katy’s ear. Katy nodded and then looked expectantly to John and Sarah.
    “We think we’ll like having a little brother or sister but what we’d really like is a puppy. Can we get one instead?”
    John, Sarah and Bertha all laughed. So did some of the other customers.
    “It’s not a question of a puppy or a baby. We’re having a baby,” said Sarah.
    Seeing their little faces filled with sorrow, John said, “Maybe we can get a puppy, too. If we find someone who has some to give away.”
    “Oh dear, boss, ya shouldn’t a said that. We passed a farmer with pups to give away on the way here.”
    Katy and MaryAnn both smiled and nodded.
    “Well, hell. I guess we take home a puppy.”
    They finished their ice cream and went in search of the farmer with the pups. They found him by the mercantile. He