Taboo Love in the West Part 1: A Heart Off-Limits (Wild West Adventures in Love Book 3) by Ella Camsen Page A
Authors: Ella Camsen
Ads: Link
Gwen is probably the most well-travelled baby in town!”
“My pleasure. I am so glad she is finding it useful. Your women so often look burdened by their babies. I have never seen ours look that way.” Amitola had thought long and hard about the gift he had chosen. Traditionally new babies would be given a dream catcher or other more spiritual gifts, but he had decided that with both Emmeline and Judd being such practically minded people that a practical and highly useful gift would be more apt.
“How is everything going down at the school? Emmeline says that Eliza is a great teacher. That your children are in the best hands,” Judd added. He was a generous and kind man, and Amitola often felt that the cowboy saw more in others hearts than he ever let on. He wondered if he had picked up on the undercurrents between himself and Eliza the other day.
“It is going very well, even better than I think any of us had hoped. Emmeline is right. Eliza is doing a wonderful job; the oyate are really starting to take her to their hearts.”
“Hey, I know you are probably busy, my friend, but why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? You’ve not been by since Gwen was born. She’s grown so much, and I know Emmeline enjoys your company.”
“I would like that, if you are sure it would be no imposition, my friend?” he reflected Judd’s words warmly.
“None at all, come on – I know my wife. She will have cooked enough to feed an army!”
The two men rode companionably as they so often did, in silence, towards the house. They quickly rubbed down their horses and gave them food and water before washing up at the pump in the yard and headed on to the porch. “Emmeline, I hope you don’t mind. I invited Amitola to join us for supper.” Judd called as he went through the screen door.
Emmeline appeared at great speed to greet her man with a warm kiss and a passionate hug. “I thought I heard more than one horse – was wondering if I had gone crazy!” She twinkled at them both, clearly pleased to have her husband home safe. “Eliza stopped by today too. I invited her to stay and take pot luck, so the more the merrier.” Amitola jolted at the mention of her name and tried to excuse himself. He wasn’t sure he could take the proximity and intimacy of a meal with her. It was hard enough keeping his emotions in check in the school.
“I couldn’t possibly intrude if you already have a guest. I will go.” He turned to leave, but Emmeline and Judd were having none of it.
“Don’t be so ridiculous,” they said in tandem. “I have made more than enough, and you will make a welcome addition to our table,” Emmeline continued as her husband grinned at her. He leant over and kissed her warmly.
She ushered her men inside, and smiled as Judd bent down to kiss his daughter, lifting her out of the crib and whirling her around enraptured with her tiny features. Understandably a little upset by the sudden movement and being woken from her peaceful slumber, Gwen let her displeasure be known with a sudden cry that she simply wouldn’t quit. Eliza ran through from the kitchen to see what had upset the little girl and almost cried out loud herself when she saw who else was in the room with them. Judd looked completely nonplussed by the squalling infant. Obviously he hadn’t yet learnt to quiet her grizzles. Amitola gestured to him to hand over the child, currently unaware that Eliza was there, and just as Judd passed him the child, he looked up and noticed her there.
“Hello, Miss Gillespie.” He greeted her formally as he always did. It helped him to keep his feelings in check, at least a little. He was grateful that he had already been aware of her presence in the house, especially as he saw the look of dismay on Eliza’s face that she politely tried to cover as quickly as she could. Amitola focused on the task in hand and tucked Gwen tightly into his big arm and rocked her gently, crooning little songs in his native
“My pleasure. I am so glad she is finding it useful. Your women so often look burdened by their babies. I have never seen ours look that way.” Amitola had thought long and hard about the gift he had chosen. Traditionally new babies would be given a dream catcher or other more spiritual gifts, but he had decided that with both Emmeline and Judd being such practically minded people that a practical and highly useful gift would be more apt.
“How is everything going down at the school? Emmeline says that Eliza is a great teacher. That your children are in the best hands,” Judd added. He was a generous and kind man, and Amitola often felt that the cowboy saw more in others hearts than he ever let on. He wondered if he had picked up on the undercurrents between himself and Eliza the other day.
“It is going very well, even better than I think any of us had hoped. Emmeline is right. Eliza is doing a wonderful job; the oyate are really starting to take her to their hearts.”
“Hey, I know you are probably busy, my friend, but why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? You’ve not been by since Gwen was born. She’s grown so much, and I know Emmeline enjoys your company.”
“I would like that, if you are sure it would be no imposition, my friend?” he reflected Judd’s words warmly.
“None at all, come on – I know my wife. She will have cooked enough to feed an army!”
The two men rode companionably as they so often did, in silence, towards the house. They quickly rubbed down their horses and gave them food and water before washing up at the pump in the yard and headed on to the porch. “Emmeline, I hope you don’t mind. I invited Amitola to join us for supper.” Judd called as he went through the screen door.
Emmeline appeared at great speed to greet her man with a warm kiss and a passionate hug. “I thought I heard more than one horse – was wondering if I had gone crazy!” She twinkled at them both, clearly pleased to have her husband home safe. “Eliza stopped by today too. I invited her to stay and take pot luck, so the more the merrier.” Amitola jolted at the mention of her name and tried to excuse himself. He wasn’t sure he could take the proximity and intimacy of a meal with her. It was hard enough keeping his emotions in check in the school.
“I couldn’t possibly intrude if you already have a guest. I will go.” He turned to leave, but Emmeline and Judd were having none of it.
“Don’t be so ridiculous,” they said in tandem. “I have made more than enough, and you will make a welcome addition to our table,” Emmeline continued as her husband grinned at her. He leant over and kissed her warmly.
She ushered her men inside, and smiled as Judd bent down to kiss his daughter, lifting her out of the crib and whirling her around enraptured with her tiny features. Understandably a little upset by the sudden movement and being woken from her peaceful slumber, Gwen let her displeasure be known with a sudden cry that she simply wouldn’t quit. Eliza ran through from the kitchen to see what had upset the little girl and almost cried out loud herself when she saw who else was in the room with them. Judd looked completely nonplussed by the squalling infant. Obviously he hadn’t yet learnt to quiet her grizzles. Amitola gestured to him to hand over the child, currently unaware that Eliza was there, and just as Judd passed him the child, he looked up and noticed her there.
“Hello, Miss Gillespie.” He greeted her formally as he always did. It helped him to keep his feelings in check, at least a little. He was grateful that he had already been aware of her presence in the house, especially as he saw the look of dismay on Eliza’s face that she politely tried to cover as quickly as she could. Amitola focused on the task in hand and tucked Gwen tightly into his big arm and rocked her gently, crooning little songs in his native
Similar Books
