Chapter One
The wind howling outside kept distracting the young woman who stood at a wooden table in the log cabin, carrying out the dull task of slicing carrots. The sound of a crash caused her head to turn in the direction of the window behind her. She hurried to it and looked out. She could see nothing but other cabins dotting the landscape and miles of prairie.
Reflexively, her hand cradled her belly as she said softly, “Where could he be, little one? When will he get here?”
She turned back to the window and looked out longingly. Letting out a sigh, she returned to the carrots. She picked up the knife but after moments of staring into space, she set it down with a groan and headed to the front of the house.
The woman stood in the doorway, watching the swirling sky. Worry was bubbling in her heart and she was trying desperately to keep it at bay.What if he got caught in the storm? What if he was injured? What if he did not return? What would become of her and their baby?She caressed her stomach as the thoughts flew through her head.
The young woman shook her head vigorously, her ginger curls bouncing around.You cannot think like that, she told herself.The baby is not even up to a month old. Such thoughts are not good. Positive thoughts, only positive thoughts.
“It’s not so easy,” she said softly as she turned and headed back into the cabin. She could only resign herself to wait for him. Going in search of him was not an option. It would do both of them no good to be trapped out there together. It would certainly not do her baby any good, she thought with a slow nod.
What she could do was distract herself. Yes, she would distract herself with the cooking and cleaning, she resolved.
Three hours later she found herself back at the door of the cabin. She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. She hadno idea what she was more pissed about, if it was the storm that kept howling in warning but doing nothing like a toothless bulldog, or if it was the fact that her husband was still not back. She had decided to camp her ship in anger toward him, rather than worry about him.
She sighed for the umpteenth time that day and turned back into the house.
“Elaina my darling! Elaina!!!” a slurred voice called to her.
Elaina gritted her teeth as she turned around. She crossed her arms as she watched her husband James stumble toward her. He got to the door and grinned as he leaned toward her. James threw his arms around her as he cheered,
“My darling!! You look beautiful as always!! Have I ever told you how much of a lucky man I am?”
Elaina pulled herself out of his drunken grip and hissed, “You are drunk and you reek. Get off me.”
“My darling, that’s not true. I had just a couple of glasses, just a few. Believe me,” he winked as he stroked her cheek.
Elaina hissed and stormed into their cabin. “I regret the few moments I spent worrying about you. You were just busy getting drunk. Didn’t you see that there is a storm brewing? Why didn’t you hurry home from the mine? What if you were in caught in it? How could you do this to me and our baby?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, darling. It was just a very good day. We all got a bonus and had to celebrate!”
“It seems you forgot you have a family to come home to considering how you went partying immediately after you got off,” she quipped.
“I...” he stuttered. He scratched his head, unable to speak.
She rolled a pair of large hazel eyes. “I’ll get your food. Just sit and think about all the wrong things you’ve done.”
He lowered his head in remorse as she stormed out. Shereturned a short while later and dumped the bowl of soup and slice of bread before him.
“This should sober you up,” she grunted as she shoved a cup of black coffee into his hand. “Finish it. Not one drop must be left behind.”
“Yes,” he muttered, his head still lowered.
She rolled her eyes and headed back to the kitchen, still furious. There was another crashing sound just then, reminding her of the brewing storm. The reminder made her hiss as she remembered that only moments ago, her husband was out there, not out of necessity or urgency but simply because of leisure.
“Why does he never take care of himself? He never thinks things through and only thinks when he is done with his action,” she muttered.
She sighed as she dried her hands. She was angry at him now, true, but the truth was that she worried about him. They were going to be a bigger family soon, with more responsibility. How long was he going to keep living carelessly without giving more thought to his actions? She loved him and she knew he loved her too. But she needed him to step up and be more responsible and careful. It was not just them anymore. Soon they would have a little one counting on them for everything. They both had to be responsible for their child.
“I know what you are thinking,” a voice said from behind her.
She sighed, not turning around. From behind her, James wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his head on her shoulder.
“You have my word, my darling. Our child is not going to suffer from my carelessness. We are going to be the best parents ever.”
“Are you sure about that?” she asked softly as she leaned into him, enjoying his warmth. “You do so many things without...”
