Hannah: Bride of Iowa (American Mail Order Bride 29) by P.A. Estelle

before walking off.
    Lizzy ran up with hands covered in white frosting. “I have cake, Mama!”
    Maddie swung her up in the air and onto her lap. “I see that. Did you get any in your mouth?” She took a cloth and wiped the frosting off Lizzy’s hands and smiling face.
    The sun was setting in the western sky and Maddie sensed Samuel was itching to get home to make Maddie his wife in every sense of the word. After getting everything cleaned up and put away, hugs and kisses and thank you’s were passed around and the newly married couple finally started home.
    A silence hung in the air right after leaving Kate’s house. Samuel took her hand in his. “Are you tired?”
    “It was a bit emotional, but I’m feeling wonderful. I’m very happy, Samuel.”
    He put his hand on the back of her neck and brought their lips together, leaning her back into the crook of his arm. Her hand cupped the back of his head, as she gave all she had.
    Samuel gently pulled her up and looked around. “Did you hear that?”
    “I didn’t hear anything. What did it sound like?”
    “Like someone yelled from some ways off. It almost sounded like they yelled my name — Morrison.”
    Maddie looked around. Mostly she just saw corn stalks, but there was open land with a few stands of elm trees here and there. “When I was coming home from Kate’s the other day I thought I heard the neigh of a horse, but couldn’t see anything.”
    “Hmm.” Samuel looked again in the direction of the trees “Probably nothing.” He took her hand again. “You know we’ve never talked about children. Are you going to want any little ones running around?”
    She wasn’t sure how he wanted her to answer but after today she figured honesty was the only way to go. “I would like to have children, a couple of them as a matter of fact. But Samuel I would certainly understand if you don’t, after what you’ve been through and we’ll always have Lizzy.”
    His blue eyes darkened as he searched her face. “I want a bunch of young’uns running around, but I must admit the thought does tend to get my nerves sizzling. Not sure what I’d do if I lost you.”
    “You won’t be getting rid of me so easily my dear husband. I’m sure I’ll be around to get under your skin for a long time.”
    He kissed the back of her hand. “In that case I can hardly wait to get home to get started.”
    When Samuel pulled the wagon into their yard, he asked her if she would feed the chickens while he unhitched the horses and bedded them down for the evening. When they were done, hand in hand, they walked to the house. He opened the door and stopped her from going in.             
    “I didn’t want you going into our home without this.” A squeak of surprise flew from her when he scooped her up into his arms. “Welcome home, Mrs. Morrison.” With a kick of his boot, the door shut and he carried her up the stairs to their bedroom.
     
    * * * *
     
    What a glorious morning. Even the angry looking clouds, that seemed to hang low enough to touch, didn’t dampen her spirits. Maddie had snuck out of their bedroom to start a fire and warm up the cold home. She grinned when she realized how late they both had slept, but who could blame them? It had been three days and two nights since she had become a married woman. Blushing, she thought of all the things she had learned at the hands of her husband and sleeping had definitely suffered for it.
    Maddie bundled up and went to milk the cow. Gus and Bessie were bringing Lizzy home today. Her dreams had come true. She was part of a real family. So involved in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear Samuel sneak up behind her. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her up tight against him.
    “I’m glad you are up, husband. I need to admonish you for sleeping in. There are chores to do,” she said.
    “Can’t those chores wait a little longer?” He whispered, nuzzling her neck.
    Maddie giggled. “I believe our poor