Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3) (18 page)

“Now by the laws of the City of Tombstone, the County of Cochise and above all in the eyes of our Lord, it is my pleasure to pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Ben placed his palms on either side of Molly’s face. “I love you so much, Molly King. Thank you for marrying me.” Then he touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She tried to move back, but he dropped his arms to around her waist, leaned forward and brought her close. Then he kissed her. Really kissed her. One of those toe curling, soul searing kisses that she’d missed for the longest time.

The baby decided to kick and Ben pulled back with a laugh. “I guess she’s not forgiven me yet.”

“But her mother has. I’ve missed you so much.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Take me home, Ben.”

“We have obligations my love, back at the hotel. People who want to congratulate us, but more importantly, they want to eat Sadie’s food for free.”

Molly’s eyes widened and she leaned back to look at him. “But Sadie’s here.”

“She left her head cook to oversee the celebration meal.” He tucked Molly’s hand in the crook of his elbow. “Let’s lead the way to the hotel.”

She turned and smiled brightly to the waiting crowd.

All of a sudden, Mal Brandon stood and whooped. “Let’s get this party started.”

Molly and Ben laughed and walked down the aisle and through the doors into a bright sunny day. Ben helped Molly into the buggy. The hotel was several blocks from the church and even in the buggy, by the time they got there, Molly was tired and her back hurt. She couldn’t wait to take off her shoes and put up her swollen ankles.

Sadie and her cook, and wait staffs had outdone themselves with the decorations for the bridal lunch. There were signs of congratulations and the word cut out of paper hung on string. Streamers made of paper rings hung on the end of the letters ‘c’ and ‘s’ and each table had a vase of flowers or a small cactus that was in bloom.

Molly held Ben’s hand, happier than she’d been before and leaned into his side. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is.” Ben patted Molly’s hand. “They did a great job. I should give each of them a raise. As a matter of fact I think in honor of our marriage, I’ll give every one of my employees a raise.”

“Oh Ben, that’s wonderful.”

“And they have you to thank for that.”

She ducked her head at the praise. “All I did was fall in love with their boss, who did have the good sense to marry me. Twice.”

Ben took her hands and looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Molly. I think I have from our first kiss. I just didn’t want to believe it.”

“But why wouldn’t you want to believe it?”

“Because it was scary, there was no safety net and what if you didn’t love me back?”

“But I do and have for the longest time. Since the first toe-curling kiss you gave me.”

“Toe-curling?”

“Yes, your kisses, your real kisses, not a brush of the lips or a peck on the cheek, they make me feel like my toes curl.”

“You mean this kind?”

He kissed her and this time she felt all the love he gave her. This kiss curled her toes and set her heart on fire.

He was the first to pull back. “A kiss like that?”

“Oh yes, just like that. Let’s do the wedding dance and get this party started. That way you can take me back home sooner.”

Ben had hired a trio of musicians. He had them play a waltz, took Molly into his arms and began to move.

It had been so long since she’d danced, Molly’s first few steps were halting, but Ben never let her falter. He tightened his arm about her waist, the baby snug between them, and led her into the dance. They whirled in circles around the dance floor until Molly was dizzy.

“Let’s sit down, please. My feet are killing me.”

“Of course, my love.”

He led her from the floor to the head table where they would sit with the wedding party of Matt, Lizzie and Walt.

Matt and Julia were still dancing, Walt was at the table eating and Lizzie was sitting with her family—Mal, her mother Atina, younger brother Jamie and of course, baby Roy.

“You best get some vittles in you, girl.” Walt grabbed another dinner roll. “I’m expecting to get you out on the dance floor before too much longer and I don’t want you to keel over from hunger.”

Molly sat down next to him. “I am hungry.”

“You rest here and I’ll get you a plate.” Ben left to get the food.

“What did you think of my wedding, Walt? Wasn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes, it sure was nice. I never thought I’d get to see Ben actually get married in a church. I always figured he do just what you two did the first time. Get married by the judge. But this, this was a nice wedding. I’m thankful you let me play the part of your father.”

“My parents are gone and my brother is off in Europe somewhere chasing his dream to become a concert pianist. I’m glad you didn’t mind filling in.”

“Nah, didn’t mind a bit.” He waved his hand. “Ben is like another grandson to me. He and Matt have been best friends for years.”

Ben returned with a plate heaping with different food offerings.

He grinned and set the plate in front of Molly. “I wasn’t sure what you would want, so you got some of everything.”

“Oh my.” Molly couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “You know all of the dishes are my favorite. Sadie did this on purpose, knowing I wouldn’t be able to make up my mind and I’d eat everything.”

“You know I did,” said Sadie as she walked up to the table. “I didn’t want anyone to leave this party hungry, including the bride.”

Molly shook her head and smiled. She looked around at all the people who’d come to celebrate with her and Ben. These were her people, her friends and some of them, her family now. Matt and Julia, Mal and Lizzie, especially. She didn’t know what she’d do without them.

As much as she loved these people, her body was calling to her. She needed to rest. Another hour and she’d be done. She’d have Ben take her back to the suite and take a nap with her. Then when they woke, she’d have him make love to her—almost like for the first time. They’d had relations before, but never when both of them knew they each loved the other. Today would be special. The first of a long line of nights and days to come. Times when they would love each other and create babies together.

Her daughter kicked. And then again.

The jolts made Molly sit straighter. She grabbed Ben’s hand and quickly placed it on her belly.

“Do you feel her? She’s excited.”

“So am I. Are you ready to leave yet? We can have our last waltz and I’ll dance you out of the room.”

Molly laughed.

Ben didn’t. He stood in front of her and held out his hand.

She lifted her eyebrows. “You’re serious.”

“I am.”

What a good plan.
“Then yes, I’m ready to go.”

He signaled the band and they played The Blue Danube waltz by Johann Strauss II. The song was Molly favorite waltz, and even as they danced out of the room and down the hall, she heard the music play in her mind.

When they reached their suite, Ben opened the door. Molly started to enter but he stopped her.

“This time we’re doing this right.”

He bent and picked up Molly in his arms, carried her over the threshold and into their bedroom. The covers were turned down on the bed and a candle burned on each night stand. He laid Molly in the center and came down beside her.

“You are so beautiful. I’ve struggled very hard to keep from throwing you over my shoulder and having my way with you.”

Molly giggled. “You’re impossible. Can I tell you a secret?”

“Of course.” He stroked her hair and then took his finger and brought it down her cheek. “All your secrets are safe with me, my love.”

“I wanted to do the same thing with you.” She gazed into his eyes, happier than she’d ever been. “If you hadn’t been at Matt and Julia’s last night, I’d probably have brought you to my bed.”

“Is that so bad?” He made lazy circles on her belly and laughed when the baby kicked.

“No, but I wanted to wait for tonight. I wanted our lovemaking to be special and now it is. But please don’t make me wait any longer.”

“Your wish is my command and my desire.”

He helped her up and undressed her, then watched as she lay back on the bed. Next he was out of his clothes and on the bed next to her touching her, rubbing her belly and then bending down and kissing it.

“I love you Baby King. Do you hear me? This is your papa.”

Molly laughed and shook her head. “You are a crazy man.”

He took her into his arms. “I don’t know about that. She may be able to hear me and if she can, I want her to know I love her.”

Molly widened her gaze. “You’re saying her now, too. Will you be very disappointed if I’m wrong and the baby is a boy?”

“No. As long as we have a healthy baby with the right number of fingers and toes, I’m a happy man.”

He kissed Molly deeply. His tongue warring with hers, dueling, playing, tasting and loving. The kiss was one of those she did so love. The kind that curled her toes and warmed her heart and she knew now that she’d be getting those for many, many years to come.

Ben rose onto his elbow and took her breast in his hand. “You’re fuller, heavier than before.”

“Preparing for the baby.”

“I like it. There’s more for me to love and play with.” He rolled her nipple gently between his fingers, followed by his mouth. He suckled her.

She writhed with need, unable to last another minute.

“Make love to me, Ben. Now. Please.”

“You only have to ask.”

He moved her onto her side and entered her from behind in deference to the baby.

Molly loved the feeling of fullness. She felt complete when he was inside her.

Ben made love to her slowly, gently. He was thoughtful and cared for her comfort. She couldn’t have asked for a more giving lover.

Her orgasm sent her to a place she couldn’t adequately describe, other than to say it was heaven.

CHAPTER 14

The day after the wedding, Molly and Ben moved into the new house. Now, two months later, she finally felt the house was her home.

She had thought the memories of being tied up in the kitchen wouldn’t bother her, but she was wrong and the situation got so bad she was having nightmares. In the end she gave in and replaced all the items that caused her the bad dreams. She’d changed the dining room set for another so she wouldn’t constantly be reminded of Tom Marlow and being tied to the chair. The floor boards where he had bled out were replaced with new ones and the floor refinished so it didn’t show where it had happened. Finally, the nightmares stopped.

Now she was waiting for the baby walking around the house in circles. Her water had broken several hours ago and she’d started walking as Julia commanded. She was getting tired and her contractions were coming less than five minutes apart. She’d sent Ben to get Matt and wondered when they’d return.

The sounds of an approaching buggy came from the driveway out front and walked to greet Matt. Instead she saw Ben helping Julia down from the conveyance.

“How are you?” asked Julia. She still noticed the attention Ben showed Julia and had to remind herself he was showing manners, that’s all.

“I’m good, all things considered. I feel ready to greet my daughter. Was Matt unavailable?”

Smiling Julia, “I’m back to working now and have taken over his obstetrics work. Does it worry you?”

“No. Certainly not.”

“Ben, give us a minute, would you, please?’

He left the room.

“Molly, are you still concerned about Ben and me?”

She closed her eyes and then sighed. “I guess I am. The feeling is always there in my mind that he would rather have you.”

“I wouldn’t.” Ben stood in the doorway. He walked to Molly and took her hands in his. “Molly, I don’t want anyone else, not Julia not anyone but you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.” He leaned down and kissed her. “You are my world. This baby is joining our world and I love her”

Julia interrupted. “I’m sorry but I need Molly in bed now. I need to check your baby. Whoever this little person is, I think they’re ready to join us. How far apart are your contractions?”

“About two minutes now. I’ve been walking like you said to do.”

Ben stayed at Molly’s side. “She has been. Wouldn’t listen to me when I told her she should go to bed.”

“She was absolutely right not to,” said Julia with a nod. “She’ll have a much easier labor this way. You’ll see. Molly, let’s get you up to bed now though, so your baby can be born.”

Molly turned and lumbered toward the stairs.

Ben stopped her. “No, this time you’re listening to me and letting me carry you to bed.”

Molly sighed and then laughed as he swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs with the same ease he would have a pillow.

At the top, Molly moaned as a particularly hard contraction hit her.