His arms contracted. He’d never considered that as a reason for her wandering. He’d never dreamed she wanted a child so much.

“We’ve been married only a few weeks,” he whispered at her ear. “And the past several, I’ve been sleeping in another room.” He smiled faintly in spite of himself. “It takes a man and a woman to make babies. You can’t do it by yourself.”

She laughed softly, and he felt warm all over at the sound, because she hadn’t laughed in a long time.

“If you want to get pregnant, Mrs. Donavan, you’ll have to have a little help.”

She drew in a breath and looked into his soft green eyes. “Could you do that for me?” she whispered playfully. “I mean, I know it would be a sacrifice and all, but I’d be sooo grateful.”

He laughed, too. The joy came back into his life again. She was beautiful, he thought, studying her face. And he cared so damned much. His eyes darkened and the smile faded. Cared. No. It was more. Far more than that. He… loved.

“Kiss me,” he said, bending to her soft mouth. “It’s been so long, honey. So long!”

His mouth covered hers hungrily, and she felt her body melting into him, aching for his touch, for the crush of his mouth on her soft lips. She moaned, and his kiss became suddenly ardent and demanding.

“Merry?” Mrs. Jackson called suddenly from the hall.

Blake and Meredith broke apart with breathless reluctance, but there was a strange note in Amie’s usually calm voice.

Meredith moved to the closed door and opened it. “Amie, what is it?” she asked, wondering at the closed door, because it had been open when Sarah was in the room with them—”Where’s Sarah!” Meredith asked suddenly.

Blake felt himself pale when he remembered the argument. Sarah Jane had heard.

Amie grimaced. “I don’t know where she is. I can’t find her,” she said. “She isn’t in her room. And it’s raining outside.”

It was thundering, too. And it was almost dark. Meredith and Blake didn’t waste time on words. They rushed down the hall and out the back door, forgoing rain gear in their haste to find the child they’d unknowingly sent running out into the stormy night.

Chapter 11

Blake wanted to throw things. He searched the stable, every nook and cranny of it, and every one of the outbuildings, with Meredith quiet and worried beside him. The rain was coming down heavier now, and the last bit of light had left the sky, except for the occasional lightning.

“Where can she be?” Meredith groaned as they stood in the doorway of the barn and looked out into the night.

“I don’t know,” Blake said heavily. “God, I could kick myself!”

She slid her hand into his big one and held on tight. “I’m every bit as responsible as you are, Blake,” she said gently. “I was being stubborn and proud, too.” She went close to him, nuzzling her cheek against his broad chest. “I’m sorry for all of it. I never looked at things from your point of view.”

“That goes double for me.” He bent and kissed her forehead. “I wish we’d remembered that Sarah was in the room. She’s had nightmares about arguments her mother and stepfather used to have. Violence upsets her. Any kind of violence. When I yelled at her about getting in the corral with the horse she—” He stopped dead, remembering. He straightened. “No,” he said to himself. “No, she couldn’t be. That would be too easy, wouldn’t it?”

“What would?” Meredith asked as she tried to follow his train of thought.

“Come on!”

He ran toward the house, tugging her along behind him. They were both soaked. Meredith’s blouse was plastered to her skin, and her hair hung in wet tangles over her face. Blake didn’t look much better. His tan shirt was so wet that she could see right through it to the thick tangle of black hair on his chest.

“Did you find her?” Amie asked worriedly from the sink, where she was washing dishes.

“I’m almost sure I have,” Blake said. He dragged Meredith with him and shot up the staircase.

He opened the door to Sarah’s room, went straight to the closet and, with a silent prayer, opened it.

And there was Sarah Jane, sobbing silently in the very far corner of the closet floor, under all her pretty things.

“You…hate each other,” Sarah sobbed, “just like my mommy and Daddy Brad. I’ll have to go away…!” she wailed.

Blake eased into the closet and caught her up in his arms. He held her and hugged her and walked the floor with her while she cried. His shirt was soaked, but Sarah didn’t seem to mind. She held on with all her might.

“I love you, baby girl,” he whispered in her ear. “You’ll never have to go away.”

“But you fought!” Sarah said.

“Not the bad kind of fighting,” Meredith said, smoothing the child’s soft hair as she rested against Blake’s wet shoulder. She smiled. “Sarah Jane, how would you like to have a brother or sister?”

Sarah stopped crying and her eyes widened. “A real live baby brother or sister?”

“A real live one,” Meredith assured her. She looked up into Blake’s soft, quiet eyes. “Because we’re going to have one, aren’t we, Blake?”

“Just as soon as we can,” he agreed huskily, his eyes full of warmth and faint hunger.

“Oh, that would be so nice.” Sarah sighed. “I could help you, Merry. We could make clothes for her. I can sew. I can make anything.”

“Yes, darling,” Meredith said with an indulgent smile.

“And Meredith isn’t going anywhere,” Blake added. “Neither are you, young lady.” He chuckled as he put her down. “I can’t do without my biggest helper. Who’ll go out with me to feed the horses on weekends and help me talk to the men if you leave?”

Sarah nodded. “Yes, Daddy.”

“And who’ll help me eat the vanilla ice cream that Mrs. Jackson has in the freezer?” he added in a whisper.

Sarah’s eyes brightened. “Vanilla?”

“That’s right,” he said. “Left over from your birthday party. Would you like some?”

“Blake, it’s too late…” Meredith began.

“It is not,” he said. “It’s her birthday, and she can have more if she wants it.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Sarah grinned.

“I guess birthdays do only come once a year,” Meredith said, relenting. “I’ll go and get it. And some cake.”

“Amie will get it,” Blake said, eyeing Meredith’s clothes. “You and I have to change before we can join the party. We got soaked on your account, young lady,” he told Sarah with a faint smile. “We thought you’d run out into the fields.”

“Oh, I couldn’t have done that, Daddy,” Sarah said matter-of-factly. “I would have gotten my lovely party dress wet.”

Blake laughed with pure delight. “I should have thought of that.”

Mrs. Jackson had followed them upstairs and was sighing with relief. “Sarah, I’m so glad you’re all right,” she said, and smiled. “I was worried.”

“You’re nice, Mrs. Jackson,” Sarah said.

“So are you, pet. Want to come and help me dish up some ice cream and cake while your mommy and daddy change clothes? And we could even make some cookies if you want to. It’s not at all late. If your daddy doesn’t mind,” she added, glancing at Blake.

“Please, Daddy!” Sarah asked.

“All right,” he said, relenting. “Go ahead. Your mommy and I will expect some when we get showered and changed. And they’d better be good,” he added.

Sarah laughed. “Me and Mrs. Jackson will make lots,” she promised. She took Mrs. Jackson’s hand and went with her.

“We are a mess,” Meredith said, looking down at her clothes.

“Speak for yourself,” he returned. “I look great soaking wet.”

She eyed him mischievously, her gaze running possessively over his hard muscles. “I’ll drink to that.”

He took her hand. “Well, come on. We’ll get cleaned up together.”

She went with him, expecting that he’d leave her at the door to the master bedroom, but he didn’t. He pulled her into the bathroom with him and closed the door, locking it as an afterthought.