“You have my word,” Mr. Inman said quickly. “There are doctors in Chicago. I can take her back there. I’d hoped that coming here, to somewhere new, would cure her . . .” He looked wistfully at his wife. “I was too embarrassed to bring her to a doctor back home. But I will. Now, I will.”
“Pack your things, then,” Marshal Hunt said. “You can fetch your wife in the morning for the first train out.”
Mr. Inman swallowed and nodded. “I’m sorry for all of this,” he said again.
“Let’s go.” Merrick took Eleanor’s arm and guided her out the door. Deirdre followed them, and they parted ways with a hug once Eleanor and Merrick reached their home.
Safely inside, with the door latched behind them, Merrick built a fire while Eleanor cuddled Davy in one of the armchairs. With warmth ensconcing the room, Merrick came to kneel by her chair. He reached over and took Davy’s tiny hand.
“I’ve never been so afraid in my life,” he confessed.
“Neither have I,” Eleanor replied. She rested a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to kiss it.
“I’d be angry with you for leaving when I told you to stay here, but I can’t, considering you found him.”
She smiled. “I’m glad I guessed correctly. Poor Felicity. I don’t know what will become of her.”
Merrick looked at her as if she’d lost her own mind. “You have a deeper well of sympathy than I think I’ll ever possess.”
Eleanor shrugged as he clasped her hand. “I saw the good parts of her. She loves children, and I honestly hope that one day she is better and able to have her own baby.”
Merrick said nothing to that, but he turned her hand over in his and kissed it again. “Can we not speak of the Inmans again, at least for tonight?”
“That sounds like an excellent idea. What should we talk about then? This perfect little boy? Or the supper we never ate?”
But she looked up to find his eyes on her. “How about we discuss exactly how much I love you?”
Her heart seemed to thud to a stop, and then it took off, racing as fast as it could as she looked into those warm brown eyes. His hair fell into his face, and Eleanor thought she’d never get enough of seeing him, of having him near her, and . . .
Kissing him, she thought as he pressed his lips to hers. His free hand moved to her cheek, and all the uncertainty and fear of the hours before melted away. She pulled back, just for a brief second, long enough to say, “I love you too, Merrick,” before he claimed her lips again.
She lost herself in him, willingly and thoroughly—until Davy emitted a cry loud enough to wake half the town.
Eleanor fell back, laughing, as Merrick jumped in surprise. She stood and lifted the baby to her shoulder, dancing back and forth with him. She reached out an arm, and Merrick joined them.
He rested his arm around her shoulder, pulling both her and Davy close to him. And together, their little family rocked back and forth, safe and content in the love they shared.
Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER .. .
