Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3) (17 page)

Julia sobered. “I bet you’re here to get out those stitches aren’t you?”

“Yes and I am definitely ready. They are itching something awful.”

“Well, I’d say it’s time. Matt’s doing some paperwork in his office. Let’s go see what he says.” She stood.

They walked back to the small room to the right of the surgery.

Matt sat behind a small desk that seemed dwarfed by his size, so much so that it looked like a child’s desk.

“Matthew,” said Julia. “Someone is ready to have her stitches out.”

Matt looked up and smiled. “Molly. Good to see you. You’re looking well. Let’s go into the surgery and take a look at that wound.”

“I’m going back up front. Holler if you need me.” Julia turned and walked out of the room.

Matt and Molly walked next door to the surgery. Molly slowly got up onto the examination table. At about seven months pregnant, she was moving slower.

The doctor examined her cheek, pressing a little in different places. “Does this hurt?”

“No.” Molly answered the same each time he asked.

“Well, the wound appears to be healed so I’ll remove the sutures.” Using a small pair of scissors, he worked quickly and had all twenty stitches out in no time.

“The scar is will be a little red and raw feeling for a while, but you’ve done very well taking care of it. Just continue what you’ve been doing but add some salve to the routine. I’ll give you the ointment.”

“If it’s horse balm, don’t bother. We already have some. Ben has used it on me before.”

Matt chuckled. “No, this isn’t horse balm but petroleum jelly. It will help prevent more scarring.”

“Oh, all right.” She accepted the little jar of clear salve.
I’ll try anything to help make the scar go away.

“Put it on twice a day, morning and evening.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m serious Molly. It will help fade that scar from the angry red mark it is to a small white line, that even you won’t notice that much.”

“You’re wrong Matt. Every time I look in a mirror, I see that scar. It reminds me how very lucky I am to be alive.” She placed her hand on her ever expanding belly. “How lucky
we
are to be alive. He could have taken both our lives if not for Ben and he would have taken Ben’s life if not for Gil. I won’t ever forget that.”

Matt nodded. “I understand and you’re right. You were lucky that maniac didn’t take out his frustrations on your baby. Apparently he wanted you to be maimed more than dead otherwise I think you would be.”

“In all ways, I’ve been extremely lucky. Thank you, Matt. I’m going to go pack now. I want to get moved to the house.”

“You’re still planning on moving today?”

“Yes. I want to have a real home. I want to have my baby in my home.”

“Are you letting Ben move there with you? Or are you staying separated?”

“We’re not really separated. He just sleeps in another room. I’m sure he’s told you.”

Matt laughed. “Yes, he’s complained about it to me, to us, probably to anyone who wants to listen.”

Molly chuckled. “Do you think I’m being too hard on him?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. It took me weeks to realize that I loved Julia and wanted to stay married to her. I almost lost her, too. It gives you a different perspective.”

“I’ll probably let him move out there with me. I don’t want to be rambling about in the house by myself. I’ve hired a cook—one who’s been trained by Sadie, specifically for the position with us. And I have a woman who will be the housekeeper, so I won’t be totally alone. But I still think I’d like for Ben to be there.”

“Good, because I want to be there.”

She whirled and looked behind her. Ben stood leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest. Her heart fluttered as it always did when she looked at her husband. But she was holding him to their arrangement. He was courting her and they would get married again, in the church, on Sunday. Until then he was barred from her bedroom.

“When did you sneak in?”

“I didn’t sneak in.” He pushed away from the door and walked toward her. “But I was here long enough to hear that you’d like me to come to the house with you. To that I say I agree. I heard nothing else, I promise.”

“That’s enough,” said Molly, staring up at him. “You weren’t supposed to know that until I asked you. I wanted my request to be a surprise.”

He took her hands in his. “It still is, just not when you wanted it to be. But I thought you wanted to be alone.”

She rubbed the top of his hands with her thumbs while he held her. “You know I don’t. I simply want you there when I want you, which happens to be now.”

Ben smiled and shook his head. “You make no sense, Molly King. None whatsoever.”

“Are you sure you want to talk about this in front of Matt?”

“He already knows everything that’s happened. As a matter of fact I think the whole city knows what happened.”

“I’m still angry with you, but the house is too far out for me to be there alone all the time, so I want you to live there with me, but until we are married on Sunday, you won’t be sleeping with me.”

“You know you’re being totally unreasonable,” said Ben, with a grin. “And Matt left the room, so we can talk about anything you want.”

Molly tried to sit up on the examination table but her bulk made it difficult.

“Take my arm and hold on.” He moved and pulled her up.

She hung her legs over the side and let them dangle. “I want to know why you suddenly decided you love me. What could possibly have changed? You still loved Julia, last I’d heard.”

He sat beside her. “I nearly lost you. It took that to make me realize what a fool I was and to know, in my heart, that you were the most important person in my life. But I’ve known I love you for the longest time.”

“What about the Julia?”

“I love Julia.”

Molly turned her face away, so he wouldn’t see the hurt.

He put his arms around her shoulders and with his finger brought her face back around so she faced him. She kept her eyes closed so he wouldn’t see the tears.

“Molly, look at me darling.”

Darling? That was new.
She opened her eyes and looked into his tear filled ones.

“I made a lot of mistakes with you, with us. I thought my love for Julia was that a husband or fiancé would have, but I was wrong. I didn’t know until I knew I loved you that what I feel for her is friendship. Nothing more. You are the love of my life. I spent so much time missing out on that love. I don’t want to miss another moment. I love you, Molly McGregor King. You are my heart and soul. Without you I am an empty shell.” Tears rolled down his cheeks, but he made no move to release her hands and wipe them away.

Molly’s own tears fell unrestrained. What about the baby?”

“The baby is a bonus and I love him—”

“Her.”

Ben smiled. “Or her very much. But that doesn’t change my love for you.” He lifted his finger to her cheek. “Now why are you crying?”

“Because what you just said is beautiful.”

“It’s not so good if it makes you cry. Please, don’t cry sweetheart.”

“You called me, sweetheart.” She balled even harder.

Ben ran his hands through his hair. “Julia told me you would be emotional, but I never expected this.” He sat next to her on the table and wrapped his arms around her.

She leaned into him and sobbed.

He rubbed her back. “Everything is going to be fine.”

Molly sniffled and then hiccupped, but her tears stopped.

“Let’s go home, honey. You need your rest.”

She nodded and scooted off the table.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“No. I’m perfectly capable of walking myself at least for another two months.”

Together they went back to the hotel.

Julia insisted walking was good for expectant mothers so unless she absolutely had to take the carriage, she walked.

Ben went with her on her strolls now. Since he’d decided to let his managers manage he had lots of time to spend with his wife.
I like him being home with me. Even though we are apart, we’ve never been closer.

“Have you decided to forgive me yet?” He covered her hand in the crook of his arm with his hand as they walked.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. You know I shouldn’t.” She put on a fake frown. I should make you suffer like I have.”

He grinned. “But you won’t because you love me.”

She lifted a brow. “Awfully cocky about that, don’t you think.”

“Nope, because it’s true.”

“Maybe.” She smiled a little smile. Yes, she’d forgive him, but not until after their wedding on Sunday.

She’d talked to Walt, Matt’s grandfather, and asked him to walk her down the aisle and give her away at the wedding. He’d graciously agreed. Now all she had to do was not get to anxious about the ceremony. Even though they were all ready married, she felt as nervous as a first time bride.

CHAPTER 13

Saturday, Molly spent the day packing, forgoing her walk. She was moving to her new home. Ben was going with her, because she didn’t want to be by herself and she really had forgiven him.

He’d done everything she asked. On Sunday he brought her a box of chocolate candy, which she’d devoured in just two days and flowers, which managed to live for a week. On Wednesday, he took her to the theater at Schieffelin Hall for a performance of Lillie Langtry. Thursday and Friday, he ordered in intimate dinners in their suite for the two of them rather than going to the dining room.

She could barely keep her hands off him and couldn’t wait for their wedding tomorrow. Molly was tempted to let him into her bed tonight rather than waiting, but she’d promised herself she’d wait. She wanted their first time to be special. Well their first time in a long while.

Molly had asked her seamstress to make her a white wedding dress. She knew the idea was scandalous, but she hadn’t worn a beautiful gown to their first wedding. She made Ben go sleep at Matt and Julia’s tonight. She didn’t want him to see her before the wedding.

Now she was so excited she couldn’t sleep so she was still up packing what she hadn’t been able to complete during the day. All of Ben’s knick knacks, his clothes, and the special quilt his mother made him as a boy. The things she knew were important to him.

The baby seemed to be as excited as Molly was. She was kicking up a storm. Either that or she wanted her mother to quit and go to bed. That was what she should do, but anticipation of the coming events kept her from being sleepy. She glanced at the clock on the bureau. Two-thirty in the morning. Just the thought of the late hour seemed to make her tired after all.

She lay down on the bed on her side, the baby too big for her to sleep any other way. Thinking about tomorrow night and how Ben would hold her after making love. She shivered with pleasure at the picture in her mind and closed her eyes, hoping these final thoughts before sleep would bring on good dreams.

* * *

The next morning, Molly dressed with care. Lizzie who was standing up with her, came by to help her.

“Oh, Molly. This dress is just gorgeous. You’ve had it designed in such a way that even a woman who is not expecting could wear it.”

“I hope to someday pass it down to my daughter.” She rubbed her hand over her belly and looked down at her swollen body. “Hopefully, she won’t be with child when she gets married.”

“You weren’t with child when you married the first time.” Lizzie pointed out.

“True and that’s why I wanted a design that could be worn either way. I want my daughters to have the ability to wear this, whatever their situation may be.” Molly chuckled and knew that re-affirming their vows was the right thing to do.

Lizzie and Mal came to take her to the church. Everyone else was already there. She saw Ben’s surrey. He had parked it so it wasn’t blocked by anyone else. The Brandons’ walked up the church steps in front of her. Walt waited for her at the bottom of the the stairs.

“Are you ready, little lady?” Walt asked as she approached.

“I am.” She was more than ready. She wanted to be Mrs. Ben King in all ways again.

She took Walt’s proffered arm and together they walked up the stairs into the church and then down the aisle until she was standing next to Ben. He was resplendent in a black suit with white shirt and black cravat, tied perfectly. His wavy brown hair curled just above his collar and was not slicked down as was the practice of the day, but left to curl on its own. He also opted for a clean shaven face which she preferred over the mustache and beards most men wore.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” said the reverend.

“I do,” answered Walt. Then he took Molly’s hand and placed it in Ben’s

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy wedlock…” The reverend went on with the service and Molly answered at the right time with a clear “I do.”

After giving a wide smile, Ben answered the same.