The Midwife's Dilemma by Delia Parr Read Free Book Online Page A

even faster. When he set the brake and removed his hat, she noted with some dismay that he had yet to sport a single gray hair. With patrician features and ebony hair, he was more handsome in her eyes than any man had a right to be. A full head taller than she was, he was nearly as trim and fit as he had been when he first proposed to her twenty-five years ago, and now he was twice as charming as he had been then. His smile made her so weak in the knees she was glad she was sitting down.
    â€œI suspected you’d be heading back on this road,” he said before he climbed down from his seat in the buggy. After quickly introducing himself to Mr. Crowder, Thomas easily convincedthe man to let him take her home. Given the man’s urgent mission, Martha could hardly argue against the idea.
    With her fate decided, Martha resigned herself to the inevitable. The only saving grace to her situation, if she could find any at all, was that she and Thomas would have time alone together to discuss a number of issues that had awaited his return to be resolved. Unfortunately, she had not yet resolved those issues in her own mind and knew he would not be pleased.
    While Thomas quickly transferred her things from the wagon to the buggy, Mr. Crowder helped her down from her seat to the ground. “We expect your discretion,” he said, and his words were very firm despite how quietly he voiced them.
    She stiffened at being reminded of any of her duties. “Understood.”
    He tipped his hat when Thomas reached Martha’s side. “Much obliged to you both,” he said, then climbed back aboard his wagon and pulled away.
    Thomas took Martha’s hand and turned her about until they were facing one another with mere inches between them. When he tilted up her chin, his simmering gaze darkened with concern. “I was hoping Fern and Ivy had exaggerated, but I can see for myself they didn’t describe by half how exhausted you are. They told me about Grace, too, which is why I decided to fetch you home myself. I’m sorry. I know how much you relied on her. We can talk about replacing her later, but you can borrow one of my horses in the meantime.” Without missing a beat, he swooped her up and into his arms.
    â€œThomas Dillon! Whatever do you think you’re doing?”
    He chuckled, carried her a few steps, and lifted her into the buggy. “I’m taking care of my future wife.”
    â€œI’m not so exhausted that I can’t walk on my own two feet, and I’m not your future wife. If you’ll recall, I never fully accepted your proposal, and we both agreed to keep our relationship secret until and if I did. And replacing Grace is my problem, not yours.”
    He ignored her words as he tucked a thick blanket around her shoulders and offered her another smile that left her exasperated. “And as I recall, you said yes to my proposal, assuming I’d agree to any number of conditions you were going to think about while I was away.”
    She huffed and readjusted the blanket so it was a bit less snug. “Well, you certainly allowed ample time to do that, considering you were gone four months longer than you originally said you would be.”
    He leaned forward, held on to the side of the buggy with both hands, and cocked his head. “I wrote and told you that we’d all been delayed.”
    â€œYou did, but that was early in February. I hadn’t heard from any of you since then, and I didn’t know what to think. All I could do was pray that nothing awful happened to keep you all from returning.”
    He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “I’m sorry if we caused you any worry, but if you had any doubt about my intentions, then I’ll make them very clear right now.” He lowered his face so close to hers she could feel his breath on her face.
    She almost forgot to breathe.
    â€œI love you, Martha Cade. I want you to be my wife, and I