“Edward, this is such a wonderful gift. I could never have imagined it. Oh, to have a real chair!” She closed her eyes and rocked back and forth without speaking. It was almost like being home. No. This was home, and it finally was starting to feel that way.
“Do you like it?”
She opened her eyes and jumped up. Without thought towhat she was doing, she went to him and hugged him close. “I don’t just like it—I love it. I have never had a better gift.”
She lifted her face to his and felt her heart skip a beat. He was smiling and gazing down at her with such a look of tenderness ... and dare she say love? Without warning, he lowered his face and let his lips claim hers. Her first grown-up kiss. A kiss unlike any she had known. And from a man with whom she was falling in love.
Marybeth wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. But just as quickly as the kiss had started, Edward put an end to it. He pushed Marybeth away and muttered something under his breath. He stormed from the room without another word, leaving Marybeth staring after him with mouth agape. What had happened?
She went to the still-open door and gazed out after him. Where would he go? It was Christmas, and they were due to go to church in two hours.
“Please come back,” she whispered. “Please.”
I kissed her. What a fool. I actually kissed her.
Edward muttered to himself and kicked at the snow like an adolescent who’d just been reprimanded by his father.
Why had he let it happen? No. Why had hemadeit happen? He was to blame, pure and simple. She had embraced him, that much was true. But he was the one who wanted to kiss her. He’d looked down and seen the joy in her expression over a chair. A stupid rocking chair. A standard comfort of life that shouldn’t have mattered so much. But it did. She had given up everything to come west with him. The impact was really starting to bother him.
Edward had taken her from the home she’d shared withher mother and father and brought her to the wilds of the Dakota Territory. To this hell-on-wheels town, as so many referenced it. The poor woman couldn’t even go shopping without an armed escort.
“You’re a fool, Vogel. A pure and simple fool.”
And now he’d kissed her, and she’d returned the kiss. He’d given her a promise of something he could never fulfill. He’d given her false hopes of a husband who could love her as a wife deserved to be loved.
He glanced around the neighborhood. It was Christmas morning, for pity’s sake. People were celebrating the joy of Jesus come to earth. And he’d kissed Marybeth Kruger. Marybeth Vogel. His wife.
“Now what? What do I do now?”
He drew a deep breath and headed back to the house. He’d apologize. He’d explain it was the joy of the moment. Seeing her happy. Feeling happy himself. She’d understand. Marybeth was that way.
Carrie was still playing with her blocks when Edward walked in. Marybeth was putting dishes away.
“I’m sorry for my actions. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It wasn’t right.”
Marybeth looked up at him as if nothing had happened. She smiled. “We all get caught up in the moment when things are going well. We should probably get our things together and get ready for church.”
Edward studied her for a moment, then nodded. He went to where he had his things and took up his Bible. She wasn’t upset with him. That was a relief. He wouldn’t have been able to stand it if she’d cried or felt uncared for because of his words. That would have troubled him more than he could say.
He glanced at her from across the room and frowned. But why wasn’t she upset?
Marybeth hated herself for not being honest with Edward. She knew it was her fault for letting the kiss happen. She’d gone and lost control and hugged him. It was only natural that they should kiss. Wasn’t it?
She helped Carrie into her coat, then did up the buttons.
“Pretty,” Carrie said, touching each cloth-covered button. “Tanks.”
“Oh, darling girl, you’re welcome. Merry Christmas.” Marybeth pulled her close and kissed Carrie’s forehead.
Carrie surprised her by wrapping her arms around Marybeth’s neck. “Wuv you.”
“I love you too.” Marybeth felt tears come to her eyes. They weren’t because of Carrie, however. “You’re so sweet.” She hugged Carrie and put her face against the little girl’s neck, hoping she could get control of her emotions before Edward saw.
“You my mama,” Carrie said, and this time Marybeth gasped and pulled back.
“What did you say?”
“Mama.” Carrie patted her cheek. “My mama.”
