Adam laughed in delight at her wounded expression. “I know you too well, my love.” He nibbled teasingly at her lower lip. “You pout very prettily, Tanya, darling,” he said as she shivered at his touch. “It’s an invitation no man could resist.”
Tanya often did manage to sneak off undetected to meet Adam. However, the added tension and fear of discovery was telling in their lovemaking. While it added an element of forbidden excitement that enhanced their ardor, they felt hurried, often rushing into their union without preliminaries. Tanya yearned for the time they could be together all night, taking time to discover and arouse one another, pacing their passion to their needs.
Tanya complained of this to Adam, offering an alternative. “If I can sneak out of the house, surely you could slip in just as easily. Truly, Adam, making love hurriedly on the damp, cold grass is not my idea of comfort. It would be so much nicer to take advantage of that lovely soft mattress and the downy comforters on my bed.” Her golden eyes glinted up at his in the moonlight.
A mischievous look lit up his bronze face. “Are you suggesting I sneak into your room and make love to you right under your father’s nose?”
“Yes, why not?” Tanya wanted to know. “After all, you
are
my husband.”
Adam’s chuckle reverberated in her ear. “One good reason why not is that you make altogether too much noise when aroused, my Little Wildcat. You yowl like a feline in heat, whinny louder than your mare, and hoot like an owl!”
Tanya gasped in mock indignation, and poked a pointed finger at his chest. “Might I point out that I’m not the only one, Mr. Savage? My sounds are nothing compared to yours. You grunt as loudly as a rutting stag, groan with the force of a falling tree, and there are times I’d swear I’ve heard you out-howl a coyote!” “Woman, there you have it,” Adam admitted through his laughter. “Besides, I’d be willing to bet your bedsprings creak atrociously. With all that racket, how could we possibly manage to avoid getting caught? Your father would be storming into the room with his shotgun before we knew it.”
Tanya’s eyes shone with delight, and Adam could almost see her mind working feverishly. “What’s going on inside that head of yours?” he wanted to know.
“Well,” she said with a devilish smile, “you said you wanted a short engagement. That would certainly speed things up and put Jeffrey out of the picture at the same time.”
“I said I wanted a
short
engagement, not a dangerous one,” Adam corrected, shaking his head. “I don’t intend to damage either my reputation or yours. Certainly I don’t need to offend your family at this point, not to mention how distressed my own mother would be. I would like to at least introduce the two of you before our engagement is public knowledge.”
“I suppose you are right,” Tanya agreed reluctantly. Then she sighed. “Still, it was an exciting idea.”
Adam grinned, and his teeth flashed white against his dark face. “Oh, absolutely!” he said. “I can see the
Herald’s
headlines now: ‘SHOTGUN WEDDING HELD IN DARK OF NIGHT. The following story would read, ‘A surprise wedding was held last night in the Martin household. The bride’s family turned out in force, decked out in their finest firearms. The precipitous ceremony was held immediately following the discovery of Mr. Adam Savage (the groom) and Miss Tanya Martin (the bride) caught in intimate embarrassment amid the rumpled bedcovers of the latter’s bed.’ ”
Tanya tried unsuccessfully to stifle the giggles that rose as Adam continued. “ ‘The ceremony, though hurried, was festive. Mr. Savage, held captive by his bride’s beauty — and also by her uncle, Mr. George Martin — stood nervously to the left of Judge Kerr. Attired in robe and slippers, Miss Martin’s sister, Julie, preceded her down the stairs. The mother of the bride yawned regally in nightwear and rag curlers, while Elizabeth Martin, the bride’s aunt, played the wedding march, her face alight with Dr. Daniel’s face cream (guaranteed to prevent age lines and wrinkles).’ ”
By now Tanya was howling with laughter, her face hidden in Adam’s chest to absorb the sound.
Adam chuckled along with her and went on. “ ‘Edward Martin escorted his daughter. The shackles were barely visible beneath the flowing sleeves of his nightshirt. Like most brides, Miss Martin’s face was aglow — in fact, it was a brilliant shade of bright pink that perfectly matched her filmy negligee. She carried a matching feather duster as a unique bouquet.’ ”
“ ‘Miss Melissa Anderson, acting as bridesmaid and witness, had to be nudged awake several times in order for the ceremony to proceed, but she didn’t seem to mind greatly. Young Jeremy, official ringbearer, was noted pulling up his underwear only twice. Judge Kerr, dragged from a sound sleep, and still wearing his nightcap, got off to a slow start. Whether it was his spectacles or the fact that the book from which he read the ceremony was upside-down was never determined, but the start of the ritual sounded strangely like gibberish until he got the hang of it. It should be noted that the groom was lacking only his underwear, shoes, and stockings!’ ”
“Stop, Adam — hic — please!” Tanya pleaded between hiccups, clutching her aching ribs.
“Oh, but don’t you want to hear how it ends?” he teased. “ ‘In lieu of a wedding band, the groom placed a shiny brass ring on the bride’s ring finger — the parlor curtains are now missing but one. At the end of the rites, the bride (with her father’s help) placed a matching ring through Mr. Savage’s nose. Coffee and cocoa were served immediately afterward to those who were still awake. Miss Martin’s sons slept through the proceedings, and will awaken to a fine surprise this morning. The honeymoon was omitted, as it had been held in anticipation of the actual wedding. Best wishes to the newlyweds and any little bundles that may arrive slightly shy of the accepted nine months after the wedding.’ ”
Weak with laughter, Tanya clung to Adam’s shoulders, her tears dripping down his neck. “You crazy fool!” she hiccupped. “Are you trying to kill me with laughter? I’ve never laughed so hard in my life!”
“You wouldn’t be laughing if it actually happened that way, my love, and neither would I,” said Adam seriously.
Tanya nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“In other words, sir knight, you decline to join me in my bed.”
Adam bent to kiss a lingering tear from her spiked lashes. “For the time being, yes,” he answered softly. “Soon, Tanya. I hope to arrange to take you out to the ranch to meet my mother. Maybe there we can find more time and peace of mind — and privacy.”
Tanya bit her lip in a sudden attack of anxiety. “Does your mother know about us
— all
about us?” she qualified.
“Yes,” Adam admitted. “She is the one person besides Melissa who does know the truth. Who would better understand than she, who lived with the Cheyenne? She too loved a Cheyenne chief and bore his son. She knows what you have gone through; what you are feeling now.”
Tanya’s eyes searched his. “She truly understands?”
“Without doubt. She is anxious to meet the woman who finally won her son’s heart. Already she loves you, and wants to hold her grandsons close to her.”
The next day, Adam accompanied Tanya, Julie, and their mother on a shopping expedition. The entire day was delightful and lighthearted, with a final stop at the mercantile to advise Edward of his indebtedness.
As they were leaving the mercantile, Tanya glanced up to see Suellen and Mrs. Wright, the preacher’s wife, directly across the street, staring intently at them. For just a moment, Tanya froze, feeling her heart lodge in her throat. As quickly, she recovered, realizing Suellen’s intent to approach them.
Jabbing an elbow sharply into Adam’s ribs, she reached for the packages he was about to load into the buggy.
His startled “Oof!” was covered as she brightly exclaimed, “Oh, Adam! Haven’t you forgotten your appointment with Justin? As long as you are so near, why don’t you run in and see him now? We can manage from here. We’ll see you for supper,” she babbled.
One look at her pale face and over-bright eyes made Adam immediately wary. His dark gaze scanned the area, quickly noting the source of Tanya’s distress.
“You are quite right, darling,” he agreed quickly. “Thank you for reminding me. If I hurry, I can catch him in time.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek and hurried off in the direction of Justin’s office, his long strides carrying him swiftly away from Suellen’s sharp eyes.
“It is so fortunate you reminded him,” Sarah commented distractedly, taking the packages from Tanya’s outstretched arms. “What does he need to see Justin about?”
“Some business about the ranch, I suppose,” Tanya invented breathlessly.
“My goodness, Mother!” Julie exclaimed in amazement. “Do you realize Adam just called Tanya ‘darling’?”
Sarah’s head snapped up in surprise. “Oh, my!” A satisfied smile lit up her face. “He did, didn’t he?” Just then Suellen and Mrs. Wright appeared next to the buggy. “Hello, Sarah dear,” Mrs. Wright sang out in her high-pitched voice. “How nice to run into you! Is this your daughter we’ve heard so much about?”
A slight frown marred Sarah’s features, but she answered smoothly, “Of course. Tanya, may I present Rev. Wright’s wife, Ruth.”
Tanya nodded respectfully, but said nothing.
“We haven’t seen you in church, Tanya,” Suellen commented casually, but the venom in her tone rang out clearly to Tanya’s ears.
“How observant of you, Suellen. Are you quite sure you have time to listen to the sermon and count heads at the same time?” Tanya’s tone was honey-sweet, though her words were sharp.
Julie choked on her laughter as Mrs. Wright interceded. “Now, girls.” Turning to Sarah, she asked, “Who was that devastatingly handsome man we saw handing you into the buggy mere seconds before we arrived? I would have adored meeting him!” Her small rotund body fairly quivered with nosiness.
“Oh,” Sarah waved a hand dismissively while Tanya silently applauded her, “That was just Adam.”
“Adam?” Suellen pressed.
“Adam Savage, Tanya’s new beau,” Julie added, as if the information were unimportant.
“Rachel Savage’s son?” Mrs. Wright inquired.
“That’s right,” Julie confirmed.
“Oh, dear!” Ruth wailed. “I wish I could have met him — though he’s a Catholic like his mother, I suppose,” she added.
“I would assume so, Ruth. Not that it makes a jot of difference,” Sarah assured her, bristling.
“Well, not to some, especially as wealthy as the Savages are reported to be,” Mrs. Wright said.
Tanya noticed that Suellen was suddenly green with envy. Not only had Tanya effectively survived Suellen’s gossip, but was now being actively pursued by a handsome, wealthy young rancher.
“Are you no longer pining for your dear, missing husband, Tanya?” she asked cattily.
Tanya faced her squarely. “Actually, no, Suellen. How thoughtful of you to be so concerned.”
“That’s rather fickle of you, isn’t it? What will your Cheyenne lover think of that, I wonder, if he ever comes for you?”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that, and turn your poor overworked brain to other matters?” Tanya suggested in a kindly voice that contrasted wholly with her urge to strangle the redhead.
“Speaking of waiting for someone,” Sarah inserted, “When do you expect your parents to come for you, Suellen?”
“Not for a couple of months, at least. No one can get word to them until the snow clears from the mountain passes. They’ll know I’m in good hands with Rev. and Mrs. Wright, and I’m sure they’ll come as soon as they can. I can’t wait to shake the dust of Colorado from my feet permanently!” she declared.
“Neither can we!” Tanya echoed beneath her breath.
Suellen frowned. “By the way, how is Lt. Young taking your defection now that your interests lie in another direction?”
“He’ll survive, I’m sure,” Julie assured her with a stony glare.
Suellen persisted, “And how does your new suitor like your two children — or haven’t you told him about them yet?”
“So sorry to disappoint you, Suellen,” Tanya cooed, “but Adam
adores
my sons.”
Thoroughly frustrated by now, Suellen looked as if a thundercloud had settled over her head. “It never ceases to amaze me how some people constantly reap rewards they don’t deserve!” she muttered.
“So true,” Tanya added, staring intently at Suellen’s angry face. “Some folks just never seem to get what’s coming to them, do they?”
“Amen!” Mrs. Wright declared, blissfully unaware of Tanya’s true meaning. “Well, it’s been nice chatting with you, but Suellen and I have some charity work to get on with.”
“That would be an interesting change of pace for you, Suellen,” Tanya said as she climbed into the buggy and took up the reins. “At any rate, it will keep you off the streets.” With that, she flicked the reins, raised a hand in farewell, and drove off.
“TANYA IS in the back parlor.” Melissa’s voice floated back to where Tanya sat nursing Mark. For just a moment she tensed, ready to grab the small blanket near her and throw it over her exposed shoulder and breast. Then she relaxed as she heard Adam’s deep voice in the hall.
Adam stopped in the doorway, his eyes taking in the scene before him. Tanya sat proudly, her golden eyes glowing up at him as she held Mark’s dark head to her breast. Her lips parted in a slight smile, that revealed her pearly teeth as she and Adam shared this precious, intimate moment for the first time in six months. No words were needed between them, for their eyes expressed more eloquently than words the emotions each felt.
Adam’s eyes caressed her face, her breast, his small son suckling contentedly, and returned once more to meet Tanya’s flaming gaze. Without false modesty, Tanya accepted his avid look, his unspoken praise, his silent expression of pride and love. Her own look told him how proud she was to be his wife, his woman, the mother of his children.
Adam crossed directly to her and sat down next to her on the divan. A slight shaking of his hand betrayed the depth of his emotions as he reached out, caressing first a lock of her flowing tawny hair. His long fingers then trailed along her shoulder, lightly brushing the top of her breast before coming to rest on the downy black hair of his son.