Maggie & Forrest - The Christmas Story

December 1936

Forrest slowly opened his eyes. Something had woken him. His gaze instinctively flicked to his bedside table to check his gun was still within reach. The room was dimly lit with pale moonlight spilling in through the bedroom window, quiet except for the sound of Maggie's soft breathing.

He was lying on his side and he could feel her curled against his back, her long slender legs tucked under his, one hand curled around his bicep. He half smiled as he turned to face her. She was sleeping soundly, her other hand tucked under her cheek. Her red gold hair spilled over her neck and shoulders, her skin pale in the moonlight. He smiled ruefully at the amount of space she needed in the bed.

Maggie slept on as Forrest watched. That hadn't changed. Nine months of marriage and he could still lay and watch her forever. His green eyes moved over her, noting the changes in her body. Only a few weeks to go before her time, she was as slender as ever except for the firm round mound of her tummy. He placed his hand on her bump, large and tanned against her porcelain skin and felt his son moving, a little fist or foot pressing against his palm. The baby kicking must have woken him earlier.

Impending motherhood suited Maggie. Her hair and skin glowed, her eyes shined brighter and bluer. She had serene quality too and a gracefulness, totally at odds with her growing bump. Forrest would watch her sewing little clothes for the baby or just sitting in the rocking chair on the porch and he could see the contentment in her. She'd look up and catch him watching her and give him a soft smile, totally beguiling him as she always had.

Forrest's eyes moved from his own hand up to her breasts and he swallowed and growled softly. They were larger, faint blue veins slightly more pronounced, nipples darker. He could feel himself getting hard and shifted uncomfortably. He'd better move or he'd need to go and throw himself in the freezing creek.

Forrest slipped quietly from the bed with a soft rustle of bedclothes and sighed as he remembered the day. Christmas Day. Maggie had invited Howard and Jack and their families to the station. Seven people arriving including Jack's boys and Howard's little girl. He grumbled to himself as he pulled on some clothes, glancing back at Maggie to check she was still sleeping as he left the room.

He'd been annoyed when he heard Maggie inviting them all for Christmas. So close to her time, she should be resting, not tiring herself cooking for his brothers and their families. When he had spoken to her about it, she had grinned, looping her arms around his neck, pressing the growing swell of her tummy into his hips and kissed him softly.

"I'm not ill Forrest. I'm just havin' a baby."

He had growled against her lips. "Well it's my baby, you're havin' and I want you rested and well."
He had placed his hands on her bump and they felt the baby move. Smiling blue eyes met concerned green and Maggie had kissed him again, her lips lingering against his.

"I rest all the time. You've been treating' me like a piece of cut glass for months, since I told you about the baby." She shrugged. "Besides, Lucy and Bertha will help. I won't be doin' everything."

Forrest had muttered and grumbled, but had let her have her way. He never could say no to her. The bright flame of his desire for her burned steadily on, neither diminishing or wavering. Nine months married and the years before and he was as smitten as the day they met. He was thankful every day that she had come into his life, even if she did dance rings around him with her wicked humour and fiery spirit.

The kitchen was cold and dark and Forrest hurried to light the stove, his face illuminated briefly by the flare of the match. He started the coffee, staring out towards the woods, as he waited for it to brew. It was still dark outside and he could see the thick covering of snow glistening in the moonlight. They had had a heavy fall earlier in the week and snow was falling again now, thick flakes piling in neat lines on the tree branches and fences. He wondered if the snowfall would be heavy enough to keep his brothers away, but shook his head resigned. They'd be here.