Fiona felt guilty when she climbed into the wagon. Not because she didn’t want to take Clint’s bed, nor because it was the first night she would sleep where she couldn’t reach out and touch Joey. It was because she was getting ready to sleep beside the woman who was married to the man who set Fiona’s heart to racing. And she didn’t want it to race. Rose has showed her nothing but kindness. How could she lust after the woman’s husband? It was against everything she’d ever been taught about the sanctity of marriage. She knew the commandment “not to covet thy neighbor’s wife” applied. The fact it was “thy neighbor’s husband” didn’t alter the fact it was wrong.
Trying to be quiet, Fiona slipped off her dress and dropped her nightgown over her head. As gently as she could, she eased down on the mattress beside Rose.
“I’m not asleep, Fiona. You don’t have to be so careful.” Rose’s voice was soft and calm. “I’ve been listening to you all outside.”
“I’m sorry. Did we wake you? I told Joey not to yell”
“You didn’t wake me. I haven’t been asleep.”
“Oh.”
There was a slight pause, then Rose said, “If you’re uncomfortable with Joey sleeping in the tent with Clint, there’s plenty of room for him in here.”
“Clint assured me he would guard Joey with his life.”
Rose chuckled. “He will, Fiona. When Clint makes a promise, he keeps it.”
“I thought he might.”
“Ouch,” Rose said as she turned sideways.
Fiona darted up. “Are you all right?”
“Calm down, Fiona. I’m fine. The baby decided to give me a good swift kick. He seems to want to get active at night and that’s the reason I’ve been unable to sleep.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” She took a deep breath. “There he goes again.”
“Could I feel him, Rose?” Fiona didn’t know why she asked, but for some reason she was desperate to know this baby was alive and well.
“Of course.” Rose took hold of her hand and placed it on her stomach. “Be patient. He won’t let you down.”
In only seconds there was a sharp thump against Fiona’s hand. “I felt it.” The baby kicked again. “Oh, Rose, how wonderful. Does he do this often?”
“He does it a lot.” Rose laughed. “I’m glad. It shows he’s growing strong and healthy, but it does get tiring at night.”
“I’m sure Clint wants it to be a boy.”
“I don’t think he really cares. Like me, he wants it to be healthy.”
They were quiet a minute, then Rose surprised her when she said, “I’ve been watching you with Joey. You’re a wonderful mother.”
Fiona wanted to tell her she’d never been a mother, but she only muttered, “Thank you.”
“Promise me something, Fiona.”
“What?”
“Don’t leave us until after the baby is born.”
Fiona was shocked. Did Rose think she would desert them? “I don’t intend to leave you, Rose. What in the world would Joey and I do without you and Clint?”
“I’m glad you need us, too.” Rose turned over on her side. “I think the baby’s calming down now. I’m going to try to go to sleep. You should, too. Clint said we have to get up at four to start breakfast so we can be on the trail by six.”
“I see. Good night, Rose.”
Soon Rose was breathing evenly in a peaceful sleep. It was much longer before Fiona was able to drift from reality.
* * * *
Though Joey went to sleep as soon as he got over his excitement and became still, Clint was having as much trouble dozing off as Fiona. He could hear the soft voices of the women and he couldn’t help wondering what they were talking about. He almost hoped Rose was telling Fiona about their marriage. If she knew, maybe she wouldn’t avoid him like she was doing. Maybe he could spend a little more time with her and get to know her better.
Damn, man, he thought. Quit thinking foolish thoughts. You can’t do that to Rose. You made a promise. You have to keep it. The best thing you can do is spend less time with Fiona, not more. You know Rose said she thought Fiona was getting skittish and might decide to stop at one of the forts or towns on the way to Oregon. The last thing you want to do is scare her off. You’re going to need her when the baby comes. You know nothing about babies.
Clint turned over and tried to think of something besides the beautiful blond sleeping in the wagon beside his wife. He had to get his head straight. Not only did he have to see that the crazy farmer from Kentucky didn’t get his hands on Joey and Fiona, he had to worry about Wade learning he and Rose had joined this wagon train.
“Hell,” he muttered under his breath. “When Rose sent for me I should have turned a deaf ear and stayed in Texas.”
This wasn’t the first time he’d told himself this. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help Rose or Fiona. He’d known Rose since their childhood in Baltimore. She’d been his best friend there. She was the one to help him when his options were running out in his hometown. He owed Rose and now since she’d been so much help, he owed Fiona, too. But he shouldn’t have to give up his whole life for them. He’d always wanted to be a rancher and he was living his dream on his little ranch in Texas. He worked with horses, he rode roundups, he played poker with his friends, and there was never a shortage of women when he felt the need of one. There he hadn’t been responsible for anyone except himself. The last thing he’d envisioned for his near future was a wife and a baby and another woman and a young boy who might or might not be her son, but there was no way around it. Here he was with them and he had to see it through.
But seeing it through would be so much easier if the beautiful Fiona Webb hadn’t been thrown in his path. Why couldn’t she have been a dried up old prune instead of the beautiful shapely woman she was? Why did she have to be the exact replica of the kind of woman he’d dreamed about almost as often as he dreamed of someday making his ranch one of the largest and most prosperous in Texas?
Clint pounded his pillow. It didn’t help. He still couldn’t get the woman off his mind. It was very late when he finally drifted off to sleep.