Spring Blossom (35 page)

She laughed and threw her arms around his
neck, hugging his fiercely as she pressed her cheek against his. “I
think I might be expecting your baby, Hunter Maguire,” she said in
a small voice that was filled with hope and excitement.

And for the first time, of all the times she
had thought about having a child, she realized that their baby
might never see the place where she had been born and raised.

Perhaps Treemont could not be saved.

On the heels of that thought, Maggie
realized she had found another haven and that haven was Hunter
Maguire and the children he would give her. Treemont was a place
she loved but it was, after all a place. Hunter and the love they
shared was her very life’s support.

CHAPTER 26

The holidays proved to be difficult despite
the Fletchers’ best efforts. Christmas celebrations without
Alastair were simply too painful, and Maggie found herself wishing
the holidays behind her.

Between Christmas and the New Year Hunter
forced himself and the two remaining stable hands into long hours
of hard labor. They began by erecting new paddocks, and he drew up
plans for a second stable. Maggie watched all this activity with
growing curiosity, but Hunter remained steadfastly closemouthed
about what he was doing.

They were absolutely certain now that Maggie
was pregnant, and as Hunter washed up for lunch one day in the
warm, cozy kitchen, he broached the subject of telling Florence and
Jennifer that they would be aunts come summer.

“It’s hardly a subject one talks about
openly,” Maggie said primly.

Hunter turned toward her as he dried his
hands. “It’s hardly a thing we have to hide in shame, Maggie,” he
said logically.

“Well, of course not,” she returned, her
eyes widening at the very idea.

“Do you want to wait until the girls begin
to eye your growing figure with curiosity? They are your sisters,
love. Don’t you think they have a right to know, and to hear it
from us?”

“It’s…just…”

He laughed, wrapping his arms loosely around
her. “You’re embarrassed!” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Silly,
chit. I do love you, Maggie,” he added lightly.

Her brows arched worriedly as she frowned up
at him. “They’re so young.”

“Not so young anymore, darling. And the
mention of babies will not be totally strange to them. They live on
a farm after all…they’ve seen all kinds of four-legged babies
here.”

Maggie rested her forehead on his chest.
“Jen will ask a thousand questions,” she groaned.

“Then we shall answer them.”

“We?” she questioned, looking up at him
again. “You mean me. I know you do.”

Hunter shook his head. “I won’t abandon you
when the time comes if you need me there.”

But the experience was relatively painless
for Maggie. Florence smiled and blushed and Jennifer grinned,
kissed Maggie’s cheek, and went on her merry way.

Over the next few weeks Maggie’s condition
began to show just a bit and Hunter watched her carefully. He
insisted she was not to lift anything heavier than her
hairbrush…and she obeyed, as long as he wasn’t looking. However,
that was not often and Maggie found he was forever getting in her
way as his hands magically appeared to bear any greater loads.
Frankly, it was beginning to drive her crazy. She could hardly
object, however, for not too many months ago Maggie would never
have dreamed of being the recipient of such loving. Hunter seemed
to have boundless energy when it came to so many things.

Maggie’s nature took on a decidedly domestic
cast as she discovered newfound pleasures in providing small
comforts for those she loved.

Hunter was off working and Maggie was
attempting to make an apple pie one day in March when she heard
footfalls on the porch near rear kitchen door. Turning, she opened
her mouth in amazement when she saw a familiar face just beyond the
window pane in the door.

“Jeffrey,” she called excitedly, smiling as
she wiped her hands on her apron and rushed across the room to
greet Jeffrey Winter. “Come in,” she said happily, hurriedly
opening the door. “I’m so happy to see you.”

The man with the shy brown eyes ducked his
head in greeting. “Wasn’t sure I had the right place,” he said.
Maggie reached up to offer a welcoming hug, whether he wanted one
or not.

A yellow pup raced through the door, whined
and then barked until finally Maggie tried to hush him.

“Who’s this?” Jeffrey asked, squatting down
to make friends with the animal.

“Mr. Finnegan,” Maggie stated and laughed
when Jeffrey’s head snapped up, questioning the probability of the
name. “My younger sisters named him.”

“He’s a cute one,” he said shyly.

“Give me your coat,” she said. “Sit while I
get you some coffee. What are you doing here? How is
Marie-Louise?”

“I’ll be glad for some coffee in a minute or
two. But first I need you to come outside with me for a minute.”
Jeffrey turned toward the door again.

Maggie steep out onto the porch behind him,
Mr. Finnegan running at her heels.

“You brought Pride,” she cried
unnecessarily, as the stallion was standing before her. “Why?”

“That’s what Mr. Maguire wanted,” Jeffrey
explained as he walked around to the far side of the wagon. “I’ve
brought something else as well,” he said.

Maggie’s curiosity peaked to the point she
could no longer remain on the porch. Following Jeffrey, she rounded
one end of the wagon. There, knees bent as much as possible given
her condition, and giggling into her hands, was Marie-Louise.

“I don’t believe it,” Maggie crowed. “How
could you come all this way in your condition?” But she couldn’t
wait for an answer as Jeffrey helped his young wife to the ground.
Maggie was upon the younger woman and they were hugging each other
fiercely, even as they laughed for the pure joy of being together
again.

“The trip proved easy,” Marie-Louise said as
she drew back, wiping her teary eyes with one hand and holding
tight to Maggie’s hand with the other. “Jeffrey took good care of
me and it was snug and cozy sleeping together under the canvas
covering the wagon.”

“You two had best get inside out of the
cold,” Jeffrey said sensibly. “I’ll take the animals to the
barn.”

“You’ll find Hunter there,” Maggie called as
she led her friend up the steps and into the house. Then she turned
on Marie-Louise again. “I am so happy to see you,” she exclaimed.
“I’ve thought about you so often.”

“Me too,” the younger woman said as she
struggled out of her heavy coat. And that was when she first looked
down at Maggie. “Oh, my God,” she breathed, her eyes widening. “Are
you?”

Maggie nodded happily, her hands
automatically dropping to her stomach. “I’m only just beginning to
show.”

Marie-Louise laughed at that and dropped her
coat on the floor. Maggie gaped at the size of her. “Wait until you
catch up to me,” she crowed, smoothing her grown over her enormous
belly “Mind you, I’ve only got a couple of months to go.”

Mr. Finnegan was whining and sniffing around
the coat on the floor. Marie-Louise smiled down at the pup. “Cute,”
she said. “I’d scratch his ears but bending over that far is
impossible.”

Maggie laughed and retrieved the coat. “Come
in and sit. I’ll make you some tea.”

Maggie hung the coat on a peg near the door,
filled the teakettle with water and set it on the stove. She turned
as her friend was easing onto a wood chair. “Have you been well,
Marie-Louise?” she asked. “You look wonderful”

The younger woman laughed. “I look like the
cow that wandered into the alfalfa,” she returned lightly.
“Bloated. But I've been very well and I feel good.”

“I’m glad.” Maggie joined Marie-Louise at
the table and sat in a chair opposite. “But you came all this way
just to bring Pride to us? That’s too tiring a trip…”

Marie-Louise frowned and stared blankly.
“Don’t you know?” she asked. “Mr. Maguire asked us to stay on here
for a time.”

Maggie straightened in her chair, obviously
surprised but pleasantly so. “That’s wonderful,” she cried.

“Maggie,” Marie-Louise ventured softly. “If
you don’t want us here, you just have to say.”

“Don’t be a goose. I’m thrilled that you’re
here. Hunter is always full of surprises.”

Obviously that wasn’t a problem. “You’re
happy with him then?”

“Yes, I’m very happy.”

“I had my doubts there for a little
while.”

“I was a foolish, frightened girl then,
Marie-Louise.” Maggie flashed another quick smile. “But he’s made a
new woman of me.”

The other woman eyed her belly and grinned.
“Obviously.”

Maggie was still blushing when the men
entered the kitchen.

Jeffrey took one look at the women and
marched over to his wife. “What have been saying now?” he
teased.

Marie-Louise grinned up at him. “Honestly,
Jeffrey,” she murmured, “sometimes I think that Maggie is
permanently pink.”

And then Hunter was standing beside her,
waiting patiently. “Hey, where is my hello?” he asked as he reached
for her hand. “Jeffrey tells me you’re well.”

She flashed him one of her most beautiful
smiles. “As big as a house and twice as healthy.”

He bent and kissed her cheek. “I’m grateful
you could make the trip and happy you are both here.”

“Well, you said we could help, and we’re
here and ready,” she said, looking expectantly from Maggie to
Hunter and back to Maggie.

Maggie looked confused and then
exasperated.

Hunter looked chagrined and then
concerned.

And Marie-Louise frowned as she realized
there had been a lack of communication between her friends.

*

“I have a plan that I want to discuss with
you,” Hunter said, taking Maggie’s hands and resting them across
her midsection. She was sitting with her shoulder against his
chest, her legs stretched out on the sofa in Alastair’s study.

“You’ve had this plan for a long time, it
seems.” She was miffed and didn’t bother to hide the fact. “And you
didn’t choose to discuss it with me.”

Hunter sighed and lightly stroked the back
of her wrist. “The plan can be set aside if you’re not in
agreement, little one. I just wanted to firm all the details in my
mind before we started tearing it apart.”

“But you’ve already sent for help.”

“Aren’t you happy that they’re here?”

“I am,” she returned, still frowning, “but I
think I should be miffed with you.”

“All right,” he sighed. “You can be miffed,
but in all fairness, they’re a week early. I had fully intended to
tell you they were coming. And even if you don’t like my plan,
isn’t it nice to have our friends here?”

“I hate it when you’re rational and I’m
not,” she muttered.

He laughed. “I know.”

There was a long, strained moment between
them, and then Maggie tipped her head back, smiling. “I’m happy
you’ve brought them here,” she confessed. “I’ve missed
Marie-Louise.”

Hunter smiled tenderly and dropped a brief,
sweet kiss on her lips.

“But this scheme had better be good,” she
teased, “or I’ll vote it down.”

“The ultimate decision is yours,” he said,
laughing at her attempt to be severe. “I want to have a…show, of
sorts, as soon as the weather turns warmer. Possibly by the end of
April or early May.”

She was frowning, trying to comprehend. “A
show?’ What sort of show?”

“A showing of Passion’s Pride. To introduce
a stud service that will provide for the care of the mares as
well.”

Maggie was silent for a time, giving him her
complete attention.

“The stallion will be like black gold for
us,” Hunter added. “What do you think?”

She was still not certain what to think.
“Could you explain this to me in more detail, please?”

Hunter pulled her up on his lap and turned
her to face him. “People will bring their prize mares here to
Treemont to be put with Pride. The owners will pay a fee, a flat
rate, for the servicing of the mares until they are caught. They
will also pay a monthly fee for us to care of the mares, as long as
they wish to leave them here…until after the birthing, if they
wish.”

Her eyes grew large as he continued with the
explanation and the merit of the plan settled in her mind. “Of
course,” she whispered with growing excitement. “Not every owner of
fine animals can boast a stallion like Pride.”

“That’s right.”

“But Pride is yours, Hunter.”

“Pride is ours, my love. It’s my hope that
he will help us save Treemont.”

Maggie’s eyes grew suspiciously moist as she
stared at him in awe. “Do you think it will work?”

“I do.” He was counting on it working. And
he was so convinced that Pride would be a huge draw to other
stables, he had gone ahead and started building the new facility to
house the pregnant mares.

“How will we get people to come?” Maggie
asked abruptly, breaking into his thoughts.

“We’re going to offer a Sunday afternoon
outing,” he told her. “We’ll advertise in town and in newspapers.
People will come to see the stallion and over-look the property and
facilities. Everything about Treemont must be spit and polished. We
want the owners of prospective mares to trust the cleanliness and
the care we can give their animals. The second stable must be
completed and the old one well cleaned and whitewashed. Your task,
with the help of Florence and Jennifer…and Marie-Louise, if she’s
not too burdened by then…will be to entertain the ladies with tea
and cakes or whatever. Jeffrey and I will show the men around the
place and convince them of Pride’s merits and our capabilities to
look after their prize animals, based on our vast experience.” He
winked at her and teased lightly, “so you can see the importance of
entertaining the ladies away from those sorts of conversations; we
don’t want to offend their tender sensibilities.”