A Bride for Cameron by Barbara Goss (read novels website .txt) 📗

this just happen, and they aren’t anyone’s fault. Your brother will be fine.”

The barber put some type of lotion on Georgie’s face and pronounced him well enough to go home.  “His wounds are little more than brush burns, and he hasn’t a concussion.  Children are much tougher than adults.  He’ll be fine.”

Hannah heard Cameron breathe a loud sigh of relief.  “There was so much blood—”

“Yes,” the barber answered, “but the bleeding has stopped, and I put some camphor on his sores.  He’ll be good as new tomorrow.”

“How much do I owe you?” Cameron asked, reaching into his pocket.

“Just fifty cents to cover the cost of the camphor.”

Cameron paid the barber—whose name they still didn't know—thanked him, picked up Georgie, and hugged him.  Hannah didn’t need any further convincing;  Cameron loved their children as much as she did.

Chapter Nineteen

The following evening, after a delightful dinner with Charles and Chloe Wilson, Cameron asked Hannah if she’d like to take a walk since it was such a gorgeous evening.

As they strolled hand in hand along the narrow lane that met the main road, Cameron said, “You called me Cam the other day.  I liked that.”

“I did?”

“You did.  It means we’ve grown somewhat closer.”

“Then, I shall call you Cam from now on.”

She smiled up at him, and Cameron noticed her eyes sparkled.  He took it to mean that she felt as happy and comfortable as he did.  “I had a wonderful evening.  I wasn’t sure I’d like being friends with a former client, but Charles and I get along great.  I think we could become good friends.”

“Really?” Cameron felt her squeeze his hand.  “Because Chloe is my best friend already.”

“I hear they are to become parents in six months—what do you think about that, Hannah?”

“It’s wonderful.”

“You enjoy being a mother, don’t you?” he asked.

“Very much so.  I never thought I’d ever be a mother at my age.”

“You’re a lovely woman—why has some young man in Chicago not swept you up by now?”

“My father and mother were extremely religious and wouldn’t allow me to date until I was eighteen.  They sent me to a female college to become a teacher.  After I graduated, I got a job in a small school system in Chicago.  They were very strict.   Not only was I not allowed to date, I couldn’t be seen in a buggy with a man unless it was my father or brother.  Any spare time I had, they said should be spent reading the Bible or some other approved book.  So, you see, I never had an opportunity to meet any men or be courted.”

“Are you serious?” Cameron was shocked.  “You might as well have entered the convent.”

“There were more rules, but those were the ones that kept me from being swept off my feet by some millionaire.”  She laughed, but he didn’t.  They’d reached the road. He put both arms on her shoulders and looked at her in the moonlight.

“Then I’ll have to send that school a thank you note for saving you for me.”

He could see Hannah trying to find the words to answer him, so he simply kissed her lips lightly.  He dropped his arms, took her hand, and they started the long walk back to the house.

“You’re still only twenty-nine,” he said.  “You could still… um... well... catch up to Chloe.”

Hannah halted suddenly.  “Do you mean have a child?”

“Yes. Our child.”

Hannah started walking again, and Cameron wondered what she’d say next.

“I’d love to have a child, but... we’d have to... be a bit… um...”

“Friendlier?”  Cameron laughed and spun her around to face him.  “I love you, Hannah.  I want you to be my wife in every sense.  I want you to move into the master bedroom very soon.”

Hannah’s heart raced inside her chest.  She just knew she’d say something dumb and he’d change his mind.  She was speechless.

“Well,” he said rubbing the back of his hand on her cheek, “it took bravery on my part to tell you, the least you could do is answer.  I’m a nervous wreck waiting.”

Hannah threw her arms around his neck.  “Yes, yes, yes.”

Cameron hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, “How long do I need to wait for you to move into my room?”

“This is too much for me to digest,” she said, wiping tears of joy from her cheeks.  “I’ve wanted to become your wife for real since your speech in the town square, but now that it’s going to happen, I’m nervous.”

“Tomorrow?” he whispered in her ear.

Hannah felt goose bumps run through her body.  “I can be ready by tomorrow night.  I’d like it to be special.  You know, candles, a nice dinner, and—”

“I have a great idea—let’s ask Chloe and Charles to have the children overnight so we can have a romantic evening.  That way we can romance a while before just jumping into... you know,” he said.

“Chloe will love that because Charles leaves first thing in the morning for Kansas City, so she won’t be alone.  She feels a bit on edge since they haven’t captured Monroe’s killer yet.”

“I need to see Joe in the morning to find out what’s going on.  The marshal should have arrived today.”

Cameron snuggled her for another kiss, but she pulled gently away.  What had she agreed to?  She wasn’t ready.  When she thought back to what her mother had told her years ago about what married couples do, she started to feel nervous.  Would he have to see her without clothes on?  Would it hurt?  How should she act?

“Cam,” she said looking up at him, “I don’t think I’m ready.”

He hugged her.  “When the time comes you will be, I promise.  It might not happen tomorrow or even the next night. It won’t happen until