Page 64 of Colorado Bride
“Yes, the babies.How wonderful.”
“Jenny would be very upset that you called her a baby.She’s a big girl now.A big sister not a baby.She’s three.”
Emily laughed.
“Of course.Once they can talk and walk, or especially if they have a younger sibling, the children don’t want to be called babies any longer.”
“Being at the orphanage, you learned a lot about children.How long were you a governess?”
“I began as soon as I finished school at eighteen.The nuns found me a position right away with the Thiedes.I was with them for four years until the children started school outside the house and my services were no longer needed.Then I worked for the Evans for three years and I worked for the Slidells for more than a year…until, well you know that story.Before Sally mentioned marrying you, I never really believed I’d wed.Don’t get me wrong, I always wanted a husband and children of my own, but opportunities to meet men are scarce when you’re a governess.”
“Poor thing.An old maid at what, twenty-six?”
“Twenty-seven.I just had my birthday on September twenty-second.”
He looked down at her and lifted her chin until their gazes met.
“Why didn’t you tell me?I’d have gotten you a present.”
She shrugged.
“It has always been just another day.”
He took her hand and kissed the palm.
“Not any more.We celebrate birthdays here.In case you’re wondering mine is January eighth and I’ll be thirty-one.I expect a present.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I didn’t know I’d married such an old man.”
He tickled her.
She giggled.
Ben leaned over and kissed her.
Her laughter died.She wrapped her free arm around his neck and kissed him back.
“Help me forget today.Make love to me, Ben.Now”
“Yes.Now.”
They both stood and shucked their clothes leaving them in piles on the floor.
Emily lay in the middle of the bed.
Ben came down beside her and began touching her.Teasing her skin with his clever fingers.
She grabbed his hand.
“I don’t want soft and gentle.I need fast, and hard.I want to forget everything that happened today.Please Ben.”
“Whatever you want, I’m yours to command.”
With those words he covered her, made love to her and all the horribleness of the day left as feelings of joy consumed her.
Ben got up and left Emily sleeping.She’d been through enough for one day, she didn’t need to witness this.
