The Nine-Month Bride. Judy Christenberry

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      Chapter Three

      “How?” Lucas asked hoarsely. He hadn’t intended to break down in front of Doc—or anyone for that matter. He was embarrassed and anxious to get back in control.

      “It’s simple. You marry the woman.”

      He stared at the old man. Doc must’ve lost his mind. “I can’t do that, Doc, and you know it!”

      “’Course you can.”

      He jerked away from Doc’s touch. “No, I can’t. I can’t let myself—I loved Beth!”

      “I know you did, son. But that doesn’t mean you can’t marry again. Lots of men do.” Doc moved back to his chair. “Come sit down and let’s talk about it.”

      “No! When I lost Beth and my baby boy, I vowed I’d never—I can’t do that, Doc!” He clenched his jaw. A man didn’t cry, especially not where someone else could see him.

      “You took a few hits that year,” Doc said calmly. “After all, your father had been dead only a few months. And your friend Billy died in that car crash in Denver. A rough time.”

      Lucas shook his head and stared out the window. He’d been doing a lot of that lately. But it was easier than facing Doc’s pity.

      “But that doesn’t matter, because I’m not asking you to love Miss Langston. Just to marry her.”

      Lucas turned to stare at Doc. If he’d thought him crazy before, now he knew it. “Come on, Doc. She wouldn’t even consider what I offered today. If I tried that idea on her, she’d slug me.”

      “Why?”

      “Why? No woman would consider that kind of marriage proposal! It’s an insult.”

      “It’s my belief there are a lot more marriages based on practical reasons than there are based on love. And if you look at it from a practical angle, it meets all of your and her requirements.”

      “I don’t see how,” Lucas said, but he took the chair in front of Doc’s desk, listening intently.

      Doc raised his hand and began counting off his reasons. “You get your son and someone to take care of him. And no gossip. She gets her baby and someone to support both of them. And no gossip.”

      Put that way, Doc’s idea seemed simple. But Lucas didn’t think a female would think the same way. “I don’t believe Miss Langston would agree with you. In fact, I’m sure she wouldn’t. She hasn’t agreed with anything I’ve said!”

      “Maybe you haven’t approached her right. You gotta give her a little romance, take her out to din—”

      Before he could finish, Lucas jumped up from his chair. “Wait a minute! You said no romance!”

      “Nope. I said no love. Women set a lot of store by romance. You know the things—flowers, gifts… All that takes is a little money and a little thinking.”

      “I’m not going to mislead her,” Lucas muttered as he stared at the calendar on Doc’s desk. He didn’t realize his mistake until he looked at Doc and discovered a big grin on his face. “I haven’t agreed to it!” he hurriedly said.

      “Just think about it, son. Just think about it.”

      Susannah pulled herself together after a few minutes. It was foolish to wish for what she couldn’t have. She’d learned that lesson a long time ago when the petite, pretty blondes, girls like Beth Boyd, took the roles of cheerleaders, homecoming queens and popular dates, while the tall, gawky, plain girls sat home, waiting for the phone to ring.

      It was no surprise that Lucas Boyd still loved his dead wife. And mourned his baby boy. His pain had touched her again. She could understand why he wanted a baby, even if he didn’t comprehend her reasons.

      But she couldn’t give up her baby any more than he could.

      She squared her shoulders and picked up the phone. She was going to have her baby.

      She dialed the number written on the pad. After a conversation with the fertility clinic in Denver, she felt a little better.

      Life was strange. Lucas Boyd had had all the things she wanted. Now, he was no better off than she was. Indeed, he was worse off, because he couldn’t have his child.

      She emerged from her office and Abby immediately searched her face.

      “I’m fine.” She even added a smile.

      “If Luke insulted you, or hurt you, you tell me, girl. I love that boy, but I won’t tolerate him not treating you with respect.”

      Susannah chuckled. Abby’s normally serene eyes were agitated and her lips were pressed together. It would be fun to see her take on Lucas Boyd. But Susannah couldn’t lie. “He didn’t hurt me, Abby. It was a misunderstanding, and he came to offer his apology.”

      “An apology that made you cry?” she asked skeptically.

      “I—I felt sorry for him. It’s so sad that his wife and child died.”

      Abby didn’t look convinced but she didn’t ask any more questions. Unfortunately she turned to the one subject Susannah wanted to avoid more than Lucas Boyd. “What are you going to do about this baby thing?”

      “Exactly what I planned to do. I called the clinic in Denver and I have an appointment next Friday for my initial examination.”

      “You’re going to close the library?”

      Friday was their second busiest СКАЧАТЬ