Read Online Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mona Hodgson
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off her feet with one tender glance. Although she looked forward to the completion of their new home and having more elbow room, she would miss the closeness this one-room cabin afforded them.
Morgan set his razor next to the basin. “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” He took slow, exaggerated steps toward her. “You just had to write another story about your charming husband, didn’t you?”
Kat giggled. The man was impossible. He’d heard all about her trip to Victor and the interview.
Impossibly irresistible .
Morgan sat across the table and laced his fingers with hers. “Do you plan to write a story about Ida?”
“Perhaps. Or a story about Mollie O’Bryan. A western businesswoman would no doubt be of interest to my readers.”
“You know I’m partial to industrious women of independent means.” He winked. “But I fear your sister may not know what she’s getting into.”
“Working for Miss O’Bryan?”
He nodded. “And the men who dominate the mining and investment companies here.”
“She’s the ‘big sister,’ remember? I think she’ll keep those fellows in line and do just fine. Besides, if she does run into any bullies, she has at least one noble brother-in-law who can offer her counsel.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Mrs. Cutshaw, I do believe you have me right where you want me.”
“Ready to lose at a game of checkers, are you?”
“I’ll do my best”—he pushed his chair back and stood—“but I may not be able to stop myself.”
Kat smiled. She was already a winner, and this man the prize.
“We’ll see. I’ll put these things back in my trunk while you get the board.” Kat stacked her writing materials and rose from her chair. She’d taken only a few steps when the room began to spin and her insides started to convulse.
Morgan rushed to her side and handed her a tin bowl. Fortunately, she didn’t have to use it. When the gagging subsided, Kat straightened and drew in a deep breath.
Her husband, looking as pained as if he’d just smashed his finger, guided her back to the chair at the kitchen table and knelt in front of her. “Feeling better?”
She gave him a slow nod. She felt better, but she didn’t know how long it would last. Her body had been at odds with her since the moment she’d raised her head off the pillow that morning.
“Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you?” Morgan asked.
“You’ve eaten what I’ve eaten.” Kat shrugged. “Nell and I spent much of the day giving Ida a walking tour of town, and then she was here with me this afternoon. Too much excitement, I suppose.”
The creases in his brow told her he wasn’t convinced. “Have you noticed any other changes?”
“It was nothing. Really.” She raised herself from the chair to prove it. “I feel much better now.”
He stood beside her, his hands open as if he expected to have to catch her.
Now that she thought about it, she had made more trips to the outhouse the past couple of days. And she’d felt like a newborn calf on wobbly legs today.
Newborn calf .
Kat’s mind raced, trying to remember. The last one began the day before she’d received the August issue of Harper’s Bazar with her third story printed in it. That was August 10. This was September 29.
She pressed her hands to her abdomen.
“You missed it?” Morgan’s voice had suddenly gone flat.
She nodded. He’d been through this before.
“You’ve been feeling a little queasy for the past few days?”
She nodded again.
“More frequent visits to the room outside?”
Another nod.
Tears pooled in his green eyes. “Our house may be ready none too soon.”
Her eyes were wet too. A baby should’ve been wonderful news. A pregnancy would’ve been cause for celebration for Nell. But Judson had never lost a wife and unborn son in childbirth.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be silly.” Morgan laced his fingers in hers and drew her hand to his lips.
Morgan set his razor next to the basin. “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” He took slow, exaggerated steps toward her. “You just had to write another story about your charming husband, didn’t you?”
Kat giggled. The man was impossible. He’d heard all about her trip to Victor and the interview.
Impossibly irresistible .
Morgan sat across the table and laced his fingers with hers. “Do you plan to write a story about Ida?”
“Perhaps. Or a story about Mollie O’Bryan. A western businesswoman would no doubt be of interest to my readers.”
“You know I’m partial to industrious women of independent means.” He winked. “But I fear your sister may not know what she’s getting into.”
“Working for Miss O’Bryan?”
He nodded. “And the men who dominate the mining and investment companies here.”
“She’s the ‘big sister,’ remember? I think she’ll keep those fellows in line and do just fine. Besides, if she does run into any bullies, she has at least one noble brother-in-law who can offer her counsel.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Mrs. Cutshaw, I do believe you have me right where you want me.”
“Ready to lose at a game of checkers, are you?”
“I’ll do my best”—he pushed his chair back and stood—“but I may not be able to stop myself.”
Kat smiled. She was already a winner, and this man the prize.
“We’ll see. I’ll put these things back in my trunk while you get the board.” Kat stacked her writing materials and rose from her chair. She’d taken only a few steps when the room began to spin and her insides started to convulse.
Morgan rushed to her side and handed her a tin bowl. Fortunately, she didn’t have to use it. When the gagging subsided, Kat straightened and drew in a deep breath.
Her husband, looking as pained as if he’d just smashed his finger, guided her back to the chair at the kitchen table and knelt in front of her. “Feeling better?”
She gave him a slow nod. She felt better, but she didn’t know how long it would last. Her body had been at odds with her since the moment she’d raised her head off the pillow that morning.
“Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you?” Morgan asked.
“You’ve eaten what I’ve eaten.” Kat shrugged. “Nell and I spent much of the day giving Ida a walking tour of town, and then she was here with me this afternoon. Too much excitement, I suppose.”
The creases in his brow told her he wasn’t convinced. “Have you noticed any other changes?”
“It was nothing. Really.” She raised herself from the chair to prove it. “I feel much better now.”
He stood beside her, his hands open as if he expected to have to catch her.
Now that she thought about it, she had made more trips to the outhouse the past couple of days. And she’d felt like a newborn calf on wobbly legs today.
Newborn calf .
Kat’s mind raced, trying to remember. The last one began the day before she’d received the August issue of Harper’s Bazar with her third story printed in it. That was August 10. This was September 29.
She pressed her hands to her abdomen.
“You missed it?” Morgan’s voice had suddenly gone flat.
She nodded. He’d been through this before.
“You’ve been feeling a little queasy for the past few days?”
She nodded again.
“More frequent visits to the room outside?”
Another nod.
Tears pooled in his green eyes. “Our house may be ready none too soon.”
Her eyes were wet too. A baby should’ve been wonderful news. A pregnancy would’ve been cause for celebration for Nell. But Judson had never lost a wife and unborn son in childbirth.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be silly.” Morgan laced his fingers in hers and drew her hand to his lips.
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