A CowBoys Rose

28

Ever since last week, all Sam's done is coddle me. To the point I've actually told him off.
But I've now been seen by the doctor and I'm 4 month's. So I wasn't far off what I'd believed. I look out the window at Sam and Chris dealing with the sheep, trying to get the ram To show interest in the ewe.
We had the bull from another ranch the other day and he took to it very well!
But the sheep seem to be more shy!
It doesn't matter. They'll do it when their ready.
There's a knock on the door and it actually made me jump. Sams normally straight on it if someone's coming onto the farm.
I open the door and Thomas is stood there leaning on the door frame "morning Caroline"
"Hi Thomas, is everything alright?"
He nods "uh... Is sam home?"
So, not everything's alright. What's he hiding? But I step aside and let him in. He keeps his head down and I know something's wrong "he's out back"
Thomas nods and heads in through. I wonder what's happened?
I head back into the kitchen and watch them from the sink. Pretending to wash up.
Thomas stands like he does when he's working. And Sam and Chris have gone tense. Has something happened to Daniel? Surely not?
Sam starts shouting and hits a wooden bean that holds the fence. What in the-
I run out to him "Sam! Stop it!"
He looks back at me and he looks how he did when we found out Trudy was pregnant.
"Caroline, go inside"
"No! What's happened?"
"Nothing. Just go inside" he walks past me and I go to grab his arm but my arms grabbed instead. I look up at Thomas who just shakes his head "leave him a while"
"What's happened?"
"Some guys have been looking for him"
Some guys? "The bounties we collected" Chris wipes down his face "the sheriff said there was at least 10. We dealt with 6..."
"Ah shit" Thomas rubs his head "how bad were they?"
Chris shrugs "they were quick to pull guns so I'm guessing not great"
"Damn it... We'll have to let the town know. At most tell them they've never heard the name Gibbons. To open fire as soon as things get testy with anyone looking for someone"
"You have to kill them?!" They look at me like they'd forgotten I'm here! "Their coming after Sam?"
"Their looking for 2 men but they only have Sams name. Looks like your safe Chris"
"That doesn't put me at ease...hell! We dealt with 6, we can handle 4 more"
"Well, that's the problem. They've seen 10"
"Oh my god!" I hold onto the fence feeling sick all of a sudden.
"Caroline, you'll be staying with me and Trudy. Rosie and Harriot can stay at the Gibbons place until this is sorted"
"I'm not leaving my ranch! Or, my husband! If you think I am, you don't know me very well at all!" I head in the direction Sam went off too. How on earth do we deal with this?! 10 men! "Sam?" I dont see him in the stable, but I damn hear him. Throwing things and the clutter of equipment falling...
I head to the back and hes fallen back against the wall "Sam?"
"I've ruined everything... What if they find me Caroline? What if they find you?!"
"If they find me then I'll stand by you"
"No you damn won't! You listen to me right now women! If they find me! You tell them you are just the damn maid! You hear!"
"No, I won't"
"God damn it Caroline! I can deal with them killing me! But not killing you!"
"Then why are you so worried about them finding you?"
"Because-" he sighs and wipes down his face, calming himself down "because if I die, you'd be alone with the farm and a child- our! Child... I hate the thought of that happening!"
I head over to him and kneel in front of him "To have and to hold. In sickness and in health for richer for poorer. For as long as you both shall live... Thats what I promised you. And that's a promise I'll keep sweetheart"
He grabs my arms and pulls me into his lap, stroking my hair back and resting his forehead on mine "I won't see you hurt Caroline! I can't live with myself thinking you got hurt because of something I've done"
I lean into him putting my lips heavily onto his. His hand coming up into my hair, leaning back "I need you to promise me something" I dont want to promise him anything right now "if, they find me... You hide as long as you can before you come to my side. I'll deal with them better knowing they dont know about you... Promise me that"
I sigh, is thats unreasonable? "I promise"
He grabs my neck and pulls my face to him. His lips hungry for me.
"Sam?" Someone calls from the door.
"Get out" he kisses me again like we hadn't been interrupted. What if they come over?!
He turns me anyway, lying his body over mine "I'll protect the both of you as long as my hearts beats" his lips heavy on mine again, his hand coming to my thigh and sliding my dress put my leg.
"Sam, someone might-"
"I dont care! I dont care" his lips go down to my neck and his breathing gone heavy. And I feel a drop land on my chest...
I take his face and see his tears...
"Oh Sam"
He rests his head on my chest and holds me "sam... Make love to me" He looks up at me and gulps. I see his fear, like he said its not his own. Its all me. The way hes looking at me like I've been shot and I'm dying already. "Let me love you" I roll him over, pulling my skirts over us so my thighs are against his. He closes his eyes groaning as I circle my hips on him. But his minds not in it "their not here now... So we'll worry about it then" my hand goes down to his trousers "come on Mr. Gibbons... You've never let me down before"
He looks up at me and actually chuckles "well I shouldn't start now should I!" His hands squeezes my thighs making me gasp as he pulls me higher up his lap "your mine Mrs Gibbons!" He spins us over. Now on top of me "we'll see her born! And were going to be happy!"
I stare up at him "her?" I thought men wanted sons?
"Yeah, her... There's no way you've got this much fire in you if it isn't another girl thats in you"
A girl? I never considered having either. Its just a baby, but hearing them words, a little girl... I smile up at him excited