Amandas's Mail Order Cowboy: The Story of A Mail Order Bride and Her Mail Order Husband (Mail Order Brides Book 14) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page A

said.
    “A bassi… Are you trying to tell me something?” he asked, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
    “I am. I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a baby.”
    “No fooling?” he asked.
    “I would never kid you about our baby,” she said.
    He swept her in his arms, and hugged her to his chest. “We’re going to have a baby! Are you sure?”
    “I’m always right on the dot with my monthlies, and I’m three weeks late. My nipples are tender, and not just from your teeth,” she laughed. “I’m pretty sure.”
    “We’ll need to get you checked by the doctor,” he said. “You’re going to have to be careful now too.”
    “Consuela,” he called out.
    She bustled into the room, wiping her hands on the ever present apron. “Sí Señor?
    “We’re going to have a baby,” he said.
    ¿es cierto?
    “If that means is that right, the answer is yes. I think so,” Amanda said.
    Abby had walked into the room, her two dolls in her hand; she looked puzzled. Her papa had her mama lifted off the floor, her feet dangling in midair.
    “Would you put me down,” she laughed. “I want to tell our daughter the news.” She sat on the divan. “Come here, honey. I want to tell you a secret.”
    Abby climbed into her lap. Amanda whispered in her ear. Abby nodded as she listened. “Would you like to have a little brother or a little sister,” Amanda asked.
    Abby nodded. “Why did I think that would be her answer?” Amanda asked.
    “A sister. I want a sister.”
    “Well, we’ll have to wait a while and see. “You will have to help me take care of her,” Amanda said.
    “I am so happy for you, Señora. You will be a good mother. Señor Rance will be a good papa.”
    “Thank you, Consuela. We’ll have to get you some help,” Amanda said.
    “It is not necessary. I can do it,” Consuela said.
    “I will need you to help with the baby,” Amanda said.
    That night in the bedroom…
    “What’s the matter?” she asked Rance.
    “Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to hurt you,” he said.
    “You’re not going to hurt me, I’m the same girl you made love to last night,” she said.
    “I didn’t know you were with child then,” he said.
    “You won’t hurt me,” she said. “Now kiss me.”
    “I love you more than I can tell you,” he said.
    “Try,” she responded.
    “More than I love my horse,” he said.
    “That’s a start, not a very good one, but a start,” she laughed. She moved his hand onto her breast. The tingles started racing through her body. She pulled his head down and kissed him hungrily. “I want you, now,” she said.
    He started off cautiously, the small cries of pleasure assured him all was well, as he moved with her and within her, speeding up when he felt the tension from the onrush of her climax begin.
    “There, that wasn’t so bad was it?” she asked.
    “Bad?” It was great.”
    As they lay there basking in the warmth of the afterglow, he asked, “Do you want a boy or girl?”
    “Do you mean first? It doesn’t matter; I just want her to be healthy.”
    “Me too,” he said.

chapter Twenty-Two
    The Surprise
     
    The doctor confirmed Amanda’s diagnosis. “You can continue your normal activities,” he said.
    “Tell my husband,” Amanda said.
    The doctor laughed. “It’s like that with most first time fathers. She’s not crystal, son. She won’t break. Just don’t do anything stupid.”
    “I have to write Mama and Papa and tell them they’re going to be grandparents,” Amanda said. “They will be thrilled to death.”
    It was a perfect pregnancy. At each three month checkup, the doctor pronounced her healthy.
    The baby’s moving…
    Amanda and Rance were in the bed. She felt something in her belly. She grabbed Rance’s hand and placed it on her belly. “There. Did you feel that?” she asked She moved the hand slightly. ‘How about that?”
    “I felt it. I’m actually feeling our baby. It’s incredible,” he said.
    The next day, she was lying