Simple but beautiful. Yates, she breathed. It's lovely. But how traded some work with the silver smith in Clearwater? He explained a hint of color rising in his cheeks.
Thought you deserved something pretty with all you've endured this year. Tears pricricked at Delilah's eyes as she pinned the brooch to her dress. The thoughtfulness of the gift moved her deeply, not just for its beauty, but for what it represented Yates, seeing her as a woman worthy of beautiful things, not just a convenient partner in a practical arrangement. "Thank you," she said softly, meeting his gaze across the table. In the lamplight, his eyes were warm, and something in their depths made her heart beat faster.
The moment stretched between them, charged with unspoken feelings. Then Yates cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "There's a one more surprise," he said, rising from the table. "Wait here." He disappeared into his room, returning moments later with a small package wrapped in brown paper. "This came with the last supply delivery," he explained, handing it to her.
Mrs. Johnson at the general store ordered it special from Fort Worth. Delilah unwrapped the package to find a book, not just any book, but a modern medical guide for midwifair and infant care. She gasped, running her fingers reverently over the embossed cover. "Yates," she whispered overwhelmed.
"This must have cost. You needed it," he said simply. With the baby coming in February and the nearest midwife 20 m away, I thought, "Well, knowledge is power. Isn't that what your father said?" The fact that he remembered that detail from one of their conversations that he'd gone to such trouble and expense for her peace of mind unleashed the emotions Delilah had been carefully containing for weeks. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched the book to her chest.
Hey now," Yates said gently, moving to kneel beside her chair. "It's Christmas. No crying on Christmas." "Happy tears," she assured him, wiping at her cheeks. "I just never expected," she broke off, unable to articulate the depth of her feelings. Yates reached up, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"The tender gesture seemed to surprise him as much as it did her, his hand lingering against her skin. Delilah," he said softly, her name a question on his lips. In answer, she leaned down, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a tentative kiss, gentle and questioning at first. Then, deepening as Yates rose to his feet, drawing her up with him, when they finally parted, both slightly breathless, Yates rested his forehead against hers.
"I didn't plan for this," he confessed quietly. When I made that offer in Dallas, I never imagined. Neither did I, Delilah whispered. But I'm glad it happened. His arms tightened around her, careful of her advanced pregnancy.