The Forgotten Ones (A Completed Steamy, Historical Romance)

September 19, 1861

I was waking to the morning sun, when I heard Mimi scream.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! Come quickly!" My door burst open.

"What is it Mimi?" My pulse quickened.

"There's a man in the field headed this way. I believe it's our sir!"

I dashed down the steps not even fully dressed. I saw the figure she is speaking of, and I would know that man anywhere. I ran, ran so fast, my body barely kept up with my legs.

I was out of breath and stopped just before he caught up to me. His hands immediately cupped my face and his lips slammed down on mine. My legs were weak, and my mind was spinning.

He pulled his head away. "Naomi." He rested his head on mine, and we both tried to catch our breath.

He pulled me in closer and kissed me again. Our hands and bodies moved so quickly, we ended up on the ground.

"My god, you're beautiful." He looked me over, and his eyes grew large when he saw my midsection.

"Our baby." He breathed out, then kissed my very noticeable bump.

He climbed on top of me, and I laughed. "I believe we have an audience."

He looked up and smirked. "Bub." He shook his head with a smile looking down at me.

"How is this possible?" I asked.

"It's only temporary. We mustered out, but will return in a few weeks."

He kissed me again, before standing up and pulling me into his arms. He carried me bridal style past our loved ones.

"Welcome home sir." They greeted him, but he just kept walking. "Thank you, and I'll see you all later. Right now I have a wife that needs tending to." 

I threw my head back and laughed, as did everyone else, including his Uncles.

I yelled back. "Mimi, Claire, have a bath drawn immediately!"

"Yes ma'am!" They giggled.

"I love you dearly, but you need a bath and shave." He only looked at me with a smile.

The woman ran ahead of us to prepare our chamber bath, while I dug out clean clothes for my husband. He sat on our bed and still looked like he was in disbelief.

"How far did you walk?"

"I met some fine folk in Indianapolis and caught a ride in their buggy, then walked from Corydon."

I knelt down and pulled off his shoes, exposing his blood stained socks. I took a bowl and dipped out some hot water and soaked his bloody feet that are now stuck to his socks.

One at I time I slowly removed the water soaked socks. "How did you manage on these feet?"

"Many men are worse off than me. I'm Calvary and didn't walk to and from Virginia. I rode, so my feet are nothing compared to other men."

"Where's my father and brothers."

"Home, they caught a straight ride close toward Cincinnati and will only need to walk a few miles."

The bath water was ready and I helped my husband strip out of his clothes. He has obviously missed a few meals.

I helped him into the bath and soaped up his back and chest. He grabbed my wrist and looked at me. "I need you soon."

I smiled and nodded. "You'll have me as soon as you're clean."

"The baby?" He looked concerned.