Chapter Thirty-One

"Why didn't you tell me you didn't live in that monstrosity of a house?"

Rebecca smiled at Brantley as she held Lorelie to her chest and he helped her from the cart they'd ridden in to the small cabin that Rebecca called home.

"Because I wanted you to decide to stay because you wanted Lorelie and I. If you were willing to walk away from us simply because of where we lived then you didn't deserve us."

"I was scared, Rebecca."

Rebecca knew it took a lot to get Brantley to admit to fear. She also knew that if there were anyone else around to hear his admission, he never would have made it.

She rose on her toes to kiss his jaw. "Scared? A big tough outlaw like you?"

Brantley grunted. "I'm not an outlaw anymore, remember? I got a pardon." He blew out a breath that swirled around his head in the cold air. "Let's get in out of this cold. I'll get a fire burning to thaw you ladies out."

Rebecca loved the feeling of Brantley's hand on her low back as he led her inside. She hoped he would like the cabin. She was sure he would. Every time she had stepped into it in the last few weeks she had thought of that shack they had shared. Did it make Brantley think of that time together as well?

Brantley didn't say a word as he looked around. He headed straight to the wood stove, opened it, added some fresh wood to the glowing ashes inside and soon had flames licking at the open door of the stove.

Closing it back, he stood straight and looked back at Rebecca. "Why are you still standing in that doorway? Get your backside in here," he urged, snapping her from her nervous trance.

She quickly stepped further into the cabin and closed the door behind her. She couldn't explain the awkwardness she felt standing there with Brantley in their home. So often she had dreamed that this would be reality.

"Stop gnawing on your lip like a damn squirrel," Brantley grumbled before swooping down and letting his lips dance across hers tenderly. "This cabin is perfect, Rebecca. It'll be the perfect place to raise Lorelie."

Rebecca felt the tension melt from her shoulders. "So, you like it?"

"I do," he replied, glancing around again. A small sofa sat beside the wood stove and a matching armchair sat beside it. There was a cook stove, a small kitchen table and counters with floral gingham fabric hanging down from them to cover the goods stored beneath.

There weren't many decorations, Rebecca did have one of her biggest splurges, beautiful copper pots and pans hanging from the ceiling behind the cook stove. And she had bought several paintings of mountain scenery to adorn the walls.

She was proud of the house she had helped make—and now that Brantley was here she knew it would finally truly be a home.

Brantley helped her from her coat before hanging it and her gloves, hat and scarf on the hook by the door.

"I'll go lay the baby down in her crib," Rebecca said as she carried the slumbering infant to main bedroom. She still had Lorelie sleeping in her room with her and would until the girl began sleeping through the night.

Rebecca could feel Brantley's presence behind her as she went into the room. She unbundled the infant who slept peacefully through it all before laying Lorelie in her crib and covering the girl with a soft, thin blanket.

Rebecca smiled up at Brantley who was staring hard at the sleeping babe. She left him to his thoughts and stepped into the main room. Her stomach was growling and she was certain Brantley must be hungry as well.

She donned her apron, grabbed several potatoes from the bin and began to peel them. She became lost in her own thoughts about Brantley and their future. She didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind her until a set of familiar strong arms closed around her middle and Brantley's breath teased her ear.

"Do you know how often I dreamed of doing this?" he questioned, holding her close.

Rebecca leaned into his touch. She had dreamed of it too. Dreamed of one day having a home with Brantley and sharing the kind of love that she had seen her mother and father share. It was hers now. She had it.

He slid his hand down her arm and took the knife from her, placing it on the counter. Brantley spun her around and she could see the hunger in his green eyes.

She was hungry for him too but she was also nervous. Now that she'd had time to think, she was scared to make love to Brantley once again. Rebecca's body was not the same as it had been when she had shared that shack with the man. Hidden beneath her clothes were extra pounds she'd gained in her pregnancy.. there were marks marring her stomach and breasts—her breasts were heavy and full with milk and not quite as firm and high as he'd remember.

Swallowing hard, Rebecca slipped under his arm and escaped. "I'm going to go get some meat from the smokehouse. You peel this potatoes so we can have supper. I'm sure you're hungry."

Without giving Brantley time to respond, Rebecca left the cabin like the chicken that she was.

***

Brantley grumbled under his breath as he picked up the knife and began peeling potatoes. He was hungry alright but it wasn't for a couple of spuds. He wanted the woman who had just rushed out the door as if her skirts were on fire.

Was she scared of being with him? Why the devil would that woman be afraid? They had only made love once but Brantley remembered it as being a damn good, life-altering experience—nothing that would cause the woman to fear sharing it with him again.

Brantley's thoughts were interrupted when Lorelie's cries rang out from the bedroom. The infant was screaming bloody murder and clearly in need of attention.

He glanced toward the door. It would be a good time for Rebecca to come back in now. The babe continued to cry.

Damn, that sound was ear-piercing. Brantley put the knife and potato down and wiped his hands on his pants before heading toward the bedroom. Shaking legs carried him unsteadily to the crib and he looked down at the red-faced screaming infant.

"Shh... be quiet now.." he ordered as gently as he could with that screaming in his ears.

Clearly being told what to do was not what the girl wanted—apparently she was like her father that way.

Brantley reached in and patted her gently. "Come on now, Lorelie. Settle down. Your mama will be back in a minute."

Still no change in that screaming.

Damn... he was gonna have to pick her up. How exactly did someone go about picking up a babe?

"Where is your damn mama when I need her?" Brantley mumbled.

His hands were shaking and he was pretty damn sure if someone entered the room they'd hear his knees knocking. Brantley didn't get nervous when he was picking pockets or stealing anything that wasn't nailed down. He didn't get nervous at a poker table full of killer outlaws. He didn't get nervous in a room full of bloodthirsty men looking for any weakness to attack. He didn't get nervous shooting a man in the head or stabbing him in the heart—hell his hands hadn't shaken as he'd cut a man's finger from his body...

But the thought of picking that screaming little babe up out of that crib had him as nervous as if he were handling lit dynamite with one hell of a short fuse.

"Okay now, little Lorelie, don't cry..." Brantley put a hand behind the girls backside and another behind her head.. he was pretty sure she'd have trouble holding that thing up on her own and he didn't want to be responsible for his daughter snapping her neck.

Brantley lifted the babe into his arms and stared at that red face. He held her against his chest, cradling her like he'd seen Rebecca do. As he bounced her gently and cooed softly, the little girl began to settle down.

Within moments she was laying peacefully in his arms as Brantley rocked her gently and whispered. Those blue eyes looked into his and Brantley's heart swelled.

This was his daughter... He loved her and he loved her mama and there wasn't anywhere else he'd want to be his entire life then wherever they were.

"I could certainly get used to seeing that," Rebecca's soft voice came from behind him.

Brantley turned and saw her standing in the doorway with a beautiful smile on her face. Brantley returned the smile. "I think I could get used to doing this."

***

Rebecca knew she was running out of excuses to avoid getting in the bed. The cabin was clean, the horses were tended to, Lorelie had been fed and would sleep at least another three or four hours before waking, and it was nearing eleven at night.

"Rebecca, is there a reason you're avoiding me?"

Brantley's voice caused her to flush as she chewed at her lip. "I'm not avoiding you."

"You are." He moved like a predator across the bedroom, lit only by the low-burning oil lamp on the bedside table. "I want you, Rebecca."

Her legs nearly gave out beneath her and a purely feminine ache of want built low in her belly. She let out a moan as she stepped away from him.

Brantley paused. "What is it?" His eyes went to the crib then back to her. "Is it too soon? Are you in pain?"

Rebecca shook her head. It had been a month since she'd had the baby and she had no pain. She knew her body was ready for Brantley... but was he ready to see the changes in her body?

Brantley sighed. He went to the bed and sat on the edge to remove his boots. He then unhooked his gun belt and tossed it in the side chair. Standing there in the low light, Brantley fixed her with the hungry gaze of a hunter when it eyes its prey. He held out his hand and hooked his finger, beckoning her closer.

"Come here, Rebecca."

She swallowed hard, her mind going back to that night at the shack so long ago when, in the darkness of the porch, Brantley had beckoned her to come to him in much the same manner.

The corner of his lip quirked upward and he hooked his finger once again. "Come on, now, Rebecca. Get your sweet little ass over here."

She forgot her fear and trepidations. Her feet took on a mind of their own and she was in Brantley's arms. His hungry lips found hers and Rebecca forgot how to breathe.

Brantley's lips trailed across her jaw, down her neck and nipped at her collarbones. She clung to the fabric of is shirt, her legs all but disappearing beneath her.

It took only moments for Rebecca to find herself rid of her clothes and, as Brantley's took in the sight of her, Rebecca's fear returned. Would he be disgusted by the fuller appearance of her stomach and hips? Would he frown at the stretched scars on her hips, stomach and breasts?

Her heart pounded as she slowly raised her eyes to his and what she saw there stole her breath.

Hunger. What. Need. Love. Tenderness.

Not a single ounce of disgust or dislike.

He took her left hand and kissed the scar where her ring finger once belonged. "Damn brutes," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

Rebecca smiled, remembering that had been his muttered curse when he'd cleaned her face the day they had met. She rose on her toes and kissed his jaw. Brantley growled and pulled her into his arms, lifting her from the floor before laying her gently upon the bed.

She watched him as he undressed himself in the low light. Every inch of his body was as hard and strong as she remembered. Muscles bunched and coiled with his movements.

Brantley grinned. "Enjoying your view?"

Rebecca returned the grin as she lay upon the bed with her hair wild around her on the covers. "Enjoying yours?"

Brantley growled. "Yes, ma'am."

When he joined her on the bed and began to love her body, showing her the pleasure that only he had ever given to her, Rebecca realized something.

And as they lay spent in each other's arms, hours later, she propped herself on her elbow and looked down at him.

"I found it, finally."

  Brantley frowned as he moved a lock of sweaty dark hair from her face. "Found what?"

"Happiness, Brantley." She kissed his brow as he squeezed her tighter. "I've found my happiness."

A/N: Here is the end of 'Captive Romance'! I truly hope y'all enjoyed it and I am so very very thankful to y'all for having patience as it took me FOREVER to finish this story thanks to the WORST case of writers block i've ever had. Almost two years I've struggled to write a few words at a time and in the last seven days i've pumped out the last half of this story! Thank you again! The next story I'm going to be going back to and (hopefully) finishing is 'The Survivalist and the Wild Man' so if you aren't following, then please follow and add Survivalist and the Wild Man to your library!

Thanks again!

~Nicole