Three years later
Caroline came to a stop at the open doorway of the study and took a moment to watch the man within. Castillo sat at his cherrywood desk with a single lamp switched on as he pored over the leather-bound ledger in his lap. Sitting with one ankle propped on his knee, he held it loosely in his grasp and mumbled something to himself as he made a notation on the paper. A strand of dark hair had fallen down across his forehead, but he brushed it back with his fingers.
Her own desk sat adjacent to his, nearly unused since she’d finished her studies back in the spring. Textbooks were stacked on one side with a few patient files taking up the rest of the surface. She was generally able to finish her work before she came home from working at her father’s practice.
“Did you miss me?” she asked, finally walking into the room.
Castillo looked up immediately and closed the ledger when he saw her. “I didn’t hear you come in.” A smile softened his features, and he stood to pull her into his arms.
Her arms went around him as she lifted her face for his kiss. She was usually home by dark, but as Caroline had been about to go home a father had brought his daughter in. The girl had taken his bicycle for a ride and without knowing how to properly operate it had fallen and fractured her wrist. Caroline had only just been dropped off at house she and Castillo rented.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said when he pulled back to look down at her.
“You can make it up to me later.” He smiled suggestively.
Caroline laughed, but his insinuations never failed to make her body come alive. She was already anticipating when they could go upstairs to bed. “Anything interesting happen today?” She nodded toward the ledger.
His grin widened. “I’ve sold all the foals. There isn’t one left that hasn’t been accounted for.”
While she’d been attending classes, Castillo had spent the past three years helping Hunter bring his prime horse stock to market here in Boston. Because of their superior performance in a few of the better-known races, Jameson horses had become something of a status symbol among the gentlemen in the highest social circles. “All of them?”
“All of them,” he confirmed. “There’s a waiting list and deposits for the foals that’ll be born in the spring.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m so proud of you.” He’d been at loose ends a bit when they’d first come to Boston, reluctantly accepting the money her father had settled on Caroline to help them make it through that first year. But by the second year, they’d been able to afford a modest lifestyle with his income.
He let out a little whoop and tightened his arms around her waist to lift her off her feet and twirl around with her. “If you’re proud of me now, just wait until we break ground on your new office come spring,” he teased, nipping at her bottom lip.
She laughed and wondered how it was possible that she could be so deliriously happy. How had she been lucky enough to find him? He didn’t want to use her father’s money to pay for their living expenses, but he’d had no problem suggesting they dip into his mining income to build her a respectable clinic in Helena. Of course, his relationship with his father had improved a bit over the past three years. Tanner had come to visit them a couple of times and had welcomed Miguel at Jameson Ranch when he’d graduated and shown an interest in the business.
As much as she loved her parents and was sad about leaving them behind in Boston, their family was in Helena and Caroline wanted to be there with them more than anywhere else in the world. Aunt Prudie had even indicated she’d be a frequent visitor when they moved and Caroline hoped her parents would follow suit. Her mother had come to like Castillo very much, and her father spoke often of retiring. Besides, there were few qualified physicians in Helena, and Caroline felt she could make a bigger impact there than in Boston.
“I can best your new office,” she teased.
His brow furrowed. “Impossible. You saw the sketches. It’s as fine as anything you can find here in Boston.”
“That’s not what I mean.” She shook her head for emphasis. She had no doubt the clinic would be the best in the state. They’d made sure it would be outfitted with the best equipment needed to cater to the medical needs of the women of Helena, along with the few brave men who might come to her for treatment. “I’ll have something even more amazing for you in the spring.”
“What?” He clearly had no clue what she meant, so she decided to put him out of his misery.
“A baby.” She couldn’t stop a gigantic smile from taking over her face.
His face went completely blank, and then a small smile tugged the corner of his mouth. His hands came up to cup her face. “A baby?”
She nodded.
“You’re certain?”
She nodded again. “Positive. I waited to tell you until I was sure.”
He stroked a strand of hair back from her face, and stared down at her as if she was the most precious thing in his world. Then that hand went down to her belly as if to check and make sure she hadn’t changed somehow since morning. She was only two months pregnant, so it’d be a little longer before he could feel it. He didn’t move his hand, though, and she covered it with hers.
“A baby,” he whispered, his voice husky and reverent. “I can’t think of a better way to start our new life together.”
She kissed him again, thinking that Aunt Prudie had been right all along. Her hope that things would work out had seen them through to this amazing life they’d created.
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