SAM

Changes

Two months later, Bryan watched her picking at her dinner, she had lost weight again and he worried that she was feeling ill. "Something wrong with you dinner?" he asked.

Sam's face shot up in surprise, "No. It's that I don't feel particularly hungry today." She had been feeling queasy every morning but didn't want to worry anyone. Ann was already watching her as a hawk and she knew that if she was ill, Bryan wouldn't let her go riding with him.

"Are you feeling ill?" Bryan asked.

Sam sighed, not wanting to lie to him. What could she say?

Bryan's eyes studied her carefully, there was a slight darkness shading her gray eyes, her hair was growing beautifully, she tied it back with a bow. He saw her biting her lower lip and he knew she was ignoring his question. "Samantha-" her back straightened, he only used that name when they had something important to discuss or when he was angry. She looked at him, his eyes intensely blue. "The den."

Sam got up and reached him as he waited for her at the door. They walked in together and she sat folding her hands on her lap. Bryan sat beside her, he stroked her hair.

She stalled, "Bryan--,I don't feel ill, it's just that I'm not really hungry. I feel queasy some mornings and I thought it would go away if I ate carefully."

Bryan felt an electric shock course through his veins. She was with child and didn't know it!

Sam saw his shocked face and cursed herself for worrying him like this. "I'm sure it's nothing." She started trying to reassure him. 

Bryan got up and pulled Sam to him feeling a knot in his throat, he kissed her softly and stroked her cheek, Sam's eyes watched him wondering what was happening.

Bryan saw her questioning face and chuckled pulling her tightly to him. "God. How I love you!" Bryan exclaimed, his voice deep with emotion.

Sam looked at him in awe, wondering about his strange behavior, what had happened? Had she missed something? "What is it?" Sam asked innocently.

Bryan pulled her on his lap. Sam loved sitting there, she felt safe and warm in his arms. She raised her face wanting to be kissed, he smiled and complied kissing her with such passion that she felt suddenly hungry for him. Sam ran her hands over his chest and down his stomach, she heard him sigh. Bryan took her hand in his. He wanted to talk to her, things were going to change and it would affect her greatly. "Sam, when was the last time you had you monthly flux?" Bryan watched her blush, intensely embarrassed by his question.

What did that have to do with anything? Why was he mortifying her with these questions--something dawned on her.

Since she married she hadn't had to stay in the house except for the day after their wedding. Bryan watched her eyes widen, as she realized what he already knew. Sam looked at Bryan, her eyes shining with emotion, the golden flecks dancing. "A baby?" was her whispered awe.

"Yes love." Bryan kissed her mouth. "You are going to have a baby." 

 "How?" Sam blurted out and blushed knowing exactly how. Bryan laughed holding her close to him. Sitting on his lap with the knowledge that she carried his baby inside she felt ecstatic, she kissed his eyes his nose, his chin, his lips. Bryan laughed in happiness. 

 Bryan took her chin in his hand suddenly serious. Sam's smile froze on her face. "What is it? You didn't want a baby?" she asked feeling her heart constrict at the possibility.

"Of course I want our baby, it's not that." Bryan said and watched her face fill with relief. "Samantha, now that you are carrying our child, I am afraid we will have to cut our riding short."