Conner's Contrary Bride Barbara Goss (books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📖

He kissed her lips gently. “Anything.”

“I want a child.”

Conner’s arm loosened around her. He thought hard about his answer. “I’ll give you anything else your heart desires.”

“I want to move into our new home and start a family. We planned the house for a family, Conner. As a child, I played with dolls, and I couldn’t wait to become a mother one day. I’m disappointed.”

“I’ll make it up to you in other ways. Not only have I accepted Taffy, but I love that scrawny little mite. We can have pets. We’ll have a yard that’s large enough.”

Elsie remained silent. “Goodnight, Conner.”

“Goodnight, love.”

They moved into their new home. Conner and Elsie shared a huge bedroom upstairs, overlooking the forest behind the house. Bertie had the downstairs bedroom which put her nearer to the kitchen since she got up early to fix them breakfast. There were still two empty rooms, though he’d mentioned making one into an office-den, where she could write letters and he could read. Elsie hadn’t answered him.

He could tell Elsie loved the house, and she seemed happy the first few days they were in it, but then she seemed distant, and he knew something was bothering her. He was sure he knew what it was, but what could he do about it? Then an idea struck him.

In bed that night, he held her close and said, “The orphan train is coming through Hays next month. How about we give some poor orphan a loving home?”

Chapter Eighteen

Elsie was silent for several moments before getting out of bed and lighting the oil lamp. She slid back into bed, but instead of lying down beside Conner, she sat with her back against the headboard with her arms crossed in front of her.

“I’ve had it, Conner!”

“What?” Conner answered with wide, surprised eyes.

“I don’t want someone else’s child. I want a child that’s half of you and half of me. I love you and that’s what married couples in love do.”

Conner was sitting up, too. “You don’t want to give a home to a poor orphan?”

“I would love to give a home to a poor orphan after we get one of our own.”

Conner swung his feet over the side of the bed, sat with his back to her, and sighed.

“I’m angry, Conner Van Gates. You are cheating me out of something I’ve always dreamed of becoming: a mother. And I want you to make love to me in the way God intended. How dare you be so selfish?”

When Conner put his head into his hands. Elsie knew she’d hurt him, but while she felt bad, it tempted her to back off and ask him to forgive her, but she knew she couldn’t. The subject had to be brought out into the open. She couldn’t keep it to herself any longer—it was tearing her apart.

Elsie’s next words hurt her to say as much as she knew they’d hurt Conner: “Maybe we need to separate for a while. It seems like since the day we met, we’ve been at odds over everything. I didn’t mind conceding over the little things, but doggone it, I want to be a mother!”

Conner stood silently, grabbed his robe and pillow, and left the room.

Elsie had expected a good old-fashioned argument that would allow each of them to vent their feelings, but he simply left the room.

She felt so disappointed and frustrated; she laid down and cried herself to sleep.

Having woken up late, she dressed and hurried downstairs. She could see Conner’s empty chair and half-eaten breakfast.

Bertie put Elsie’s plate on the table. “Good morning, Elsie.”

After a hurried greeting, Elsie asked, “Where’s Conner?”

“I don’t know. He’s been acting mighty strange today. He hardly spoke to me this morning, and I can only assume he went to the clinic. He didn’t even finish his breakfast—and you know that seldom happens.”

Elsie wiped a stray tear away. “We had our first argument last night.”

“Ah, that would explain the pillow and blanket on the settee.” Bertie patted her shoulder. “All married couples have arguments, and if they say they don’t, they’re lying.”

Elsie looked up at her. “Bertie, I flipped my lid.”

Bertie sat down beside her at the table. “About having a child?”

Elsie nodded but remained otherwise silent.

“He loves you, so don’t worry. He’ll come to his senses, and things will go back to normal. I’ve known Conner for a long time. He seldom stays angry for long.”

“I said some very cruel things.”

“Don’t we all when we flip our lids?”

Elsie smiled, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.

“Now, you go to the clinic. I’m sure that’s where Conner is. Just assist him as you always do.”

“But Bertie, things will never be the same after what I said to him.”

“Yes, they will. I promise you—things will be better because you let him know how you felt.”

Elsie walked into the clinic. Conner glanced up from listening to Mr. Finch’s heart and then returned to the patient. Elsie stood beside him as usual, waiting for him to ask for something.

“Otoscope, please,” Conner said.

Elsie moved to the cabinet, removed the tool, and handed it to Conner, who looked into the patient’s ears with it.

“Tongue depressor.”

Elsie handed him every tool he asked for, but he wouldn’t look at her. She felt ill. There was a wall between them, and she’d built it. Still, she knew she couldn’t back down. She would become a mother. She wouldn’t compromise on that. She loved Conner with all her heart, but she wanted to have a normal marriage and a family.

Conner bid Mr. Finch goodbye as Elsie sterilized the tools. He locked the clinic door behind Mr. Finch and put up the closed sign.

Elsie simply stared at him,