Keturah walked across the yard to see if Daniel had started working without her. Her mouth dropped open as she took in the complete form of the barn. She darted to the other side and swept her gaze over the top. Every last inch of the roof had been covered in the wooden shingles they had finished preparing the day before. How had Daniel worked so quickly?
Daniel truly seemed to be coming into his own on the homestead. Though he remained inept with a gun, she could overlook that fact for his many redeeming qualities. Such as that he had proved to be quite handy when it came to manual labor. And had an eye for architecture. Without him, she was not sure how she would have ever completed the barn.
But here it stood, in all its glory. Would her fatherhave been proud? She frowned as the thought sliced through her. Keturah raised her chin. Nay, it did not matter whether he would have approved or not. She was proud of the work she and her husband had done alongside one another, and that was all that mattered. Where was that man, though?
Keturah glanced around. “Daniel,” she called.
“In here,” came the reply from within the depths of the barn. Keturah followed the sound and found him standing outside Gilly’s stall.
“How is she?” She was apprehensive about asking the question considering the pig still had not delivered her piglets. Keturah had half come to expect that they would lose them all, the gilt and babes included. After all, her father had told her the animal would farrow out in the spring, and it was nearly fall.Lord, please let him have been mistaken on that account.
“Come see for yourself.” Daniel’s smile was broad as he invited her over.
She joined him and peered into the stall. A gasp flew from her lips. There, nestled beside Gilly, were ten little piglets, all rooting and nursing. Keturah found herself laughing and smiling so wide that her cheeks hurt as she watched the little ones. Here they were, standing under the newly completed barn, with all the piglets delivered safe and sound.
“Did all of them make it?” She turned to Daniel for confirmation.
He nodded as he gave her a gentle grin. “The best that I can tell.”
Keturah breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”
She and Daniel stood watching the pigs for some time longer before he turned back to her. “You slept quite late. Is all well?”
Keturah’s cheeks heated, and she peered up at Daniel through her lashes as she gave him a tentative smile. “I dinnae mean to.”
“But you are feeling well?” Daniel looked at her pointedly, and his concern was heartening.
“Aye. I must have worn meself down a bit. Or the bairn is takin’ me energy.” She rubbed her middle, though it had yet to begin its expansion. Simply knowing a tiny life grew within was miraculous.
“Well, you should take a well-deserved break today, then. We should have a picnic lunch.”
Keturah grimaced as she glanced out into the sunlight. The garden needed tending. “I dinnae…”
Before she could finish, Daniel held up a hand. “Whatever it is, it will keep. Come on, enjoy the day with me.” As he held out his hand to her, he flashed her his winning smile—the one that had the power to melt her resolve even in the midst of a disagreement. She returned it with an impish grin of her own before placing her hand in his.
Warmth spread upward from her hand, and she knew their plans for the afternoon were about to change. After all, her desire for her husband had onlyheightened with the pregnancy. It was little surprise with how well the man balanced her out. He was her complete opposite and perfect compliment.
“You are sure you do not want to lay on my arm?” Daniel gave her a teasing grin as he settled into bed and held his arm out.
“Nay.” Keturah chuckled.
For three nights, Daniel had used the plight of being injured to attempt to entice her into sleeping in his embrace. Each time they had tried to sleep in such a position, though, she’d laid awake for hours. Until Daniel finally rolled over.
She did, however, take his hand and curl up next to him, her other hand resting on her middle. A smile stretched her face.
Daniel brushed a kiss over her forehead. “Good night,” he whispered huskily.
A still tranquility fell over the dark cabin, and Keturah poured her silent thanks out to the good Lord above.
Suddenly, a cry pierced the night. Keturah’s grip tightened on Daniel’s hand as her eyes popped open. “What was that?”
She closed her eyes and cocked her head to better listen. The cry came again. An eerie, garbling cry that stood the hairs on the back of her neck. Almost that of awoman, but different, louder. In a way, it reminded her of the strange yips of the coyotes when they hunted. But they did so in packs, and this was a single voice. Plus, this was…rougher.
Every so often, the sound repeated, drawing closer. “A cougar.” Keturah finally identified it. “But normally, they only mate in the winter.”
Daniel climbed from bed and begun pulling his breeches back on. She slipped from the covers as well. As she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, he went for the rifle over the hearth.
Keturah stopped him with a hand to his arm. “What are ye to do?”
