Boaz's Wager Read online

  “You’re in luck,” Eva told him as she rose to her feet. “Supper is ready. You want to help everyone to their seats?”

  With a nod, he bolted for the kitchen.

  “One of these days, he’ll walk instead of run to the kitchen,” Eva said with a sigh.

  “You should take his excitement as a compliment,” Rachel said as she set the music sheet down next to the violin. “He loves your cooking.”

  “It is good,” Boaz agreed. “And you can’t blame Leroy for wanting to get away from Herb’s racket.”

  “Racket?” Herb asked. “Eva, if you want to hear some racket, you ought to watch Boaz on a horse sometime. He screams like a scared little girl.”

  Eva brought her hand up to her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh.

  Rachel let out a good-natured groan. “Alright, you two. Be nice or you’ll get no dessert, right Eva?”

  Eva lowered her hand and nodded. “Right. Now be good.”

  Noting Rachel’s grin, Eva chuckled and led everyone to the kitchen.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  In February, Mitch sent word to Boaz that Heather had a boy, but it wasn’t until March that the roads were clear enough so he could take Eva, Leroy and Hannah out to his brother’s place. Upon their arrival, Boaz’s mother gave him another one of her long hugs.

  With a chuckle, he said, “You’re stronger than you look, Ma.”

  “Oh you.” She let go of him and playfully swatted his arm. “You were always one to tease people.” Then with a smile, she cupped his face in her hands. “It’s good to see you as you used to be.”

  “Eva brings out the best in me,” he softly admitted.

  “Yes, she does.”

  Then she turned to Eva to hug her and proceeded to hug Leroy and Hannah. “My, my, but you two get bigger every time I see you.”

  “I’m five,” Leroy told her.

  “Yes, I remember,” she replied and patted his cheek. “You’re a big boy now, aren’t you?”

  From upstairs, Boaz heard a baby cry. He turned his head in the direction of the stairs, wondering when he’d get a chance to see his nephew. “How’s Heather and the baby?” he asked.

  “They’re doing just fine,” she said.

  “What name did they decide on?” Eva asked. “I remember Mitch’s letter saying they were having trouble picking one.”

  “Ian,” his ma replied.

  Eva nodded. “What a fine name. It sounds like the name of an author or a composer.”

  Boaz couldn’t help but chuckle. “Eva loves few things more than books and music.”

  Footsteps descended down the stairs and he turned his attention to Heather who came into the room with her infant son in her arms. Heather’s face practically glowed with joy, and his gaze went to the baby who looked equally happy.

  Mitch opened the front door and stomped the snow from his boots. “Glad you made it,” he told Boaz and Eva. Turning his attention to Leroy and Hannah, he asked, “Who wants to go on the sleigh?”

  As Boaz expected, they hurried out the door before he had time to blink.

  “I should have known what the answer was going to be before I asked the question,” Mitch commented with a chuckle. “Anyone else want to go?”

  “I’m going to get supper ready,” his ma said.

  “I’ll stay and help,” Eva offered.

  “I’m going to stay inside, too,” Heather added.

  Mitch turned his gaze to Boaz, but Boaz shook his head. “I’m with the women on this one.”

  “Suit yourself. The snow won’t be around much longer.” Mitch shut the door and Boaz watched through the window as he led the children to the sleigh that he and Boaz used to enjoy as children.

  “If you’re going to stay inside, you might as well take off your coat and hat,” his ma called out.

  “You’re right.” With a smile, Boaz helped Eva out of her coat and then took his things off and hung them on the hook near the door. “I can help you and Ma in the kitchen.”

  “No,” Eva replied and squeezed his arm. “You had a long day at McCormick’s ranch. You should rest.”

  After his mother and Eva went to the kitchen, he turned to Heather who was sitting in a chair, swaddling Ian in his blanket. The little boy’s gaze was on him, as if trying to decide what he thought of him.

  Smiling, he went over to Heather and gestured to his nephew. “Mind if I hold him?”

  “Of course not.” Heather held the baby out to him and he took him in his arms, his heart warming as the little one looked up at him with his wide blue eyes. “If you’re going to hold him, I should help your mother and Eva.”

  Before she could stand up, he stopped her. “Actually, I’d like to talk to you, if that’s alright?”

  “Sure.”

  He sat on the couch and examined Ian’s small face. Ian yawned then let out a contented sigh as he snuggled deeper into Boaz’s arm. Smiling, Boaz’s mind flashed back to the first time he saw Leroy and how happy his first wife had been. Despite the difficulty of the birth, they’d both been excited about the newest member of their family. He loved Leroy as soon as he saw him. Things hadn’t been so joyous when Hannah was born, but he still recalled how much he loved her. That was why he had to name her after his first wife. Even despite the situation surrounding her birth, he couldn’t help but be thankful for her. He had no idea seeing his nephew would bring back so many memories.

  Swallowing the lump in his throat, he turned his attention to Heather. “How did things go for you?” He cleared his throat. “During the birth, I mean.”

  “Everything went fine.”

  “You didn’t have any trouble?”

  “No.” She waited for a moment then asked, “Boaz, what is this about?”

  “I don’t know.” Well, maybe that wasn’t completely true. But how much did he really want to tell her? He sighed. “I love Leroy and Hannah. When I’ve had a rough day and I come home and they run into my arms, it’s as if all the bad things never happened. I just can’t imagine my life without them.”

  “They adore you. You’re such a good father, Boaz.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eva had often said the same thing to him, and it reminded him of how far he’d come since he finally changed his life for the better. One of the things he regretted most, besides being weak enough to put his first wife’s life in danger, was letting alcohol become such a big part of his life. Yes, it had dulled the pain, but it had made him sacrifice time he should have spent with his children. Time he was hoping to redeem more and more with each passing day.

  But Herb was right. He couldn’t keep living in the past. He had to press forward. The things that might’ve been had the possibility of robbing him of the best the future had to offer. He turned his gaze back to the infant who was still studying him, his eyes intent on memorizing his face. And Boaz couldn’t help but think of how easy babies and children embraced new things. They didn’t worry about things that might go wrong. They simply accepted whatever happened with hope.

  Just as Ian naturally embraced his life with his parents, Leroy and Hannah had accepted going back to live with him and accepting Eva as their mother. They didn’t have to think about it. They just did it. And in so doing, they made his life complete.

  “I think I want another child,” he whispered.

  “Do you?” Heather asked, leaning forward, her voice quiet.

  Blinking back the tears forming in his eyes, he nodded. “I tell myself I shouldn’t. I have Leroy and Hannah. That’s enough.”

  “If you knew Eva wouldn’t have any problems giving birth, would you?”

  The answer to that, of course, was yes, but he wasn’t sure he should tell her.

  “I can’t tell you what to do, Boaz. That is between you and Eva. But I will say that sometimes it’s worth taking a risk to get what you want. When Mitch found me in the saloon that night my brother tried to sell me in a poker game, I didn’t have to ask him to marry me, but I did because I knew he
was a good man and I didn’t want to miss the chance of having a happy marriage. I could have remained single. I could have gone back East to my aunt. Those would have been safer bets.”

  “You asked Mitch to marry you?”

  “I did. I chased him out of the saloon and gave him a good shock. But I’m glad I did because it brought me to where I am today.”

  He thought about what she said. With a glance out the window, he saw Leroy and Hannah in the sleigh as Mitch led them around the property. Even from this distance, he could see they were happy. And judging by the laughter coming from the kitchen, Eva and his mother were enjoying themselves as well. What if this time next year, he and Eva came here with another child? Another girl or boy to love and hug when he came home? Another girl or boy to bring more joy to their lives?

  He turned his gaze back to Ian and imagined—just for a moment—he was holding the child he and Eva had created together. And his smile grew wider.

  ***

  The following week when Boaz came home, Eva was in the parlor reading a book while Leroy and Hannah played with Leroy’s frog. It was a familiar scene. One that often gave him a warm feeling every time he came home. The only thing that could make it better was another child.

  Eva looked up from her book and smiled. “Did you have a good day?”

  He placed the coat on the hook then gave his children a hug. “I did,” he told Eva. “McCormick’s horse behaved today.”

  “Did he?”

  “Yep. The first time I went out to his ranch, McCormick didn’t think it was possible to tame that stallion and was ready to give up on him, but he’s singing a different tune now.”

  “What tune is that, Pa?” Leroy asked.

  “‘Singing a different tune’ is an expression. Basically, it means that he has changed his mind. He likes his horse now and intends to keep it.” He sat next to Eva and gestured to her spectacles. “You’re cute with those on.”

  With an amused smirk, she lowered her spectacles and shot him a pointed look. “Cute?”

  He patted her knee affectionately. “It’s a compliment.”

  “I know it is, but are you implying I’m not cute without them on?”

  “Sure you are. In fact, you get better looking every time I see you.”

  Chuckling, she kissed him. “I’ll accept that, but you must say that every time you mention how cute I am.”

  “Deal.”

  She shut the book and set it on the table. “Well, I should check on supper.”

  “Great. I’ll join you.”

  “Don’t be silly. You just got home. You haven’t even had time to warm up yet. Sit by the fireplace and rest.”

  While he appreciated her concern, he had thought over the matter of another child carefully and had finally decided it was worth trying for. That being the case, he didn’t want to wait anymore to ask her what she thought about it.

  As she left the room, he told Leroy and Hannah to stay in the parlor and followed her to the kitchen.

  With a laugh, she looked back at him and slowed her steps. “Did you want to talk about something?”

  “Actually, I do.”

  She stopped when she reached the kitchen. “What is it, Boaz? Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing’s wrong. I was just doing a lot of thinking ever since we were at Mitch and Heather’s.” He took a deep breath. “What do you think about having a child?”

  “I thought you didn’t want to risk it.”

  “Well, I didn’t until I held Ian and remembered how nice it was to hold Leroy and Hannah for the first time.” With a shrug, he reached for her hands. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about it and I don’t want fear to hold me back anymore. Leroy and Hannah have been a blessing. Any other children we’ll have will be a blessing, too. Your chances of being fine are good. Most women get through the process without any problems.”

  “Why don’t we do this?” she began as she squeezed his hands. “If there are any complications that come up during the birth, then in the future, we will go back to using a sheath. How does that sound?”

  “That sounds good,” he whispered before he leaned forward to kiss her. How often had he tried to talk to his first wife—to get her to compromise with him—but she wouldn’t relent? It was wonderful to know that he could come to Eva and speak his heart, knowing she would listen and consider his words without judging him. “Thank you, Eva.”

  “There’s no need to thank me.” Then with a glance at the cookstove, she added, “And you surely won’t feel like thanking me if I burn the biscuits.”

  Chuckling, he let go of her hands so she could take the tray out of the oven. “Do you need any help?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Hannah screamed from the parlor.

  “I take that back,” Eva amended. “Would you please go see what’s going on in the other room?”

  “I’ll be happy to.” With a smile, he left the kitchen.

  ***

  That evening, Boaz paused when he reached his bedroom. Eva had just tucked the children into bed, and she was in the process of removing her clothes. Leaning against the doorway, he watched her. She was an intriguing sight, one he never got tired of looking at. And she was even more so without her clothes on. She had taken off everything but her chemise when she noticed him.

  Unable to hide his grin, he shut the door and approached her. “Don’t let me stop you.” He lifted the chemise over her head. “I prefer it when you’re not wearing anything.”

  She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Do you?”

  “Oh, yes. You never look better. Well, except for one more thing.”

  “What is that?”

  “Your hair is much better when it’s not pulled back into a bun.”

  He brought his hands up to her hair and pulled the pins out so her dark hair fell softly down her back. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered then lowered his head so he could kiss her.

  He traced her lower lip with his tongue, prompting her to part her lips for him. She accepted him into her mouth and snuggled against his erection, an action which he rewarded with a low groan. She was a passionate lover, something he wouldn’t have expected since she was always so prim and proper outside the bedroom. But that was part of the appeal. No one but him knew how bold she was once her clothes came off.

  His tongue interlaced with hers as she worked on the buttons of his shirt then slid her hands beneath his undershirt. Encouraged by her passion, he helped her remove the rest of his clothes. He drew her back into his arms, savoring the heavenly feel of her naked flesh pressed intimately against his.

  While he continued kissing her, he traced her flesh, spending considerable time caressing her breasts. She, in turn, reached between them and stroked his penis in a familiar pattern she’d mastered. She’d brought him to completion this way on many occasions while they engaged in sexual play, and it seemed to him each time she did it, she got better at it. This time was no exception. After a couple minutes, he had to gently remove her hand from him.

  “You’re too good at this,” he teased her even though his erection ached for her to continue what she’d started.

  “Am I?” With a twinkle in her eye, she brought her hand to it once more and stroked him from the base to his tip and back down again.

  He groaned. “If you aren’t careful, we’ll have to start on that child later.”

  “Are you that close to losing control?”

  With a playful growl, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Giggling, she pulled him on top of her and wrapped her legs around his waist. In one swift motion, he entered her and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He shifted beneath her so that he was deeper inside her. Bringing one hand to her sensitive nub, he rubbed it with his thumb and she rewarded him with a moan.

  “You like this?” he asked, smiling as she bit her lower lip in the familiar expression that told him she enjoyed what he did during their lovemaking.

  Sh
e murmured that she did then proceeded to rock her hips in a way that drew his attention back to her breasts which jiggled nicely. All thoughts of teasing her fled, and he focused on her. She slid up and down his shaft, her wet warmth just as arousing as her hand had been.

  At the moment, however, he was focused on making sure she received her pleasure, so he continued rubbing her in the circular motions he knew she enjoyed. Her movements slowed when she came closer to her peak. The moment she did, she stilled and gave a soft cry of pleasure as her body clenched around him. He waited for her to come down from her heightened state of bliss before he resumed their lovemaking.

  Placing both hands on her hips, he thrust deeper into her, and soon he established the rhythm that ensured his completion. He released his seed, whispering her name as wave after wave of pleasure consumed him. His breathing raspy, he opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers.

  He smiled, taking in her flushed face and her disheveled hair which hung over her shoulders and partially covered her breasts. “You’re beautiful.”

  She returned his smile and leaned forward to kiss him. “You make me beautiful.”

  “Nonsense. You were beautiful the day I met you. I knew right away that you were special. You complete me. You make me whole.” Cupping the side of her face with his hand, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You make me hope for the best. It’s as if all the bad things in my past never happened.”

  “Thank you, Boaz.” She got off of him and rested beside him. “That means a lot to me.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I can’t explain why, but I have a feeling that we’re going to have many happy years together and live to see our grandchildren and maybe even our grandchildren’s children.”

  “I have a feeling we will, too.”

  His heart settling into a peace he didn’t understand but was very real to him, he closed his eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.