Mystic Mountains

rubbing her neck. "Perhaps you 're right. He don't care enough to have such strong emotions where I'm concerned." Tiger ignored her, if anything. He was rarely home these days, and when he was he treated her with an indifference that was soul destroying.
    "Tiger 's a man who manages to cover his feelings well, Bella. Don't think he don't care, 'cause I'd say he bears the scars of what's happened same as you."
    "Huh! If he cared a fig, Thelma, he'd own up that it's his baby kicking inside of me right now." Tenderly she stroked her belly.
    "Is the little one on the move again?" Thelma grinned as she came to put a hand on Isabella 's swollen stomach. "Bless me if that isn't the liveliest child I've ever felt."
    Though she smiled Thelma 's eyes were filled with wistful longing. Isabella knew she'd prayed for a baby of her own, but her prayers had not been answered.
    "Isn 't it an energetic so and so?" They laughed, their heads together.
    The kitchen door opened and Tiger strode in. He came to an abrupt halt, his eyes riveted on their hands, still on Isabella's stomach.
    "The baby's a lively one," Thelma said, grinning.
    Tiger turned abruptly away, his attention apparently caught by a flock of parrots flying past the window.
    "Come and have a feel?" she invited, ignoring the scowl Isabella tossed at her.
    " 'Tis stopped now." Isabella pulled her apron down and turned back to the peas she'd been podding.
    Tiger gave Thelma a quick glance, then went through to his room. Tossing his hat on the floor he slumped on the side of his bed and ran his fingers through his sweat dampened hair.
    "Damn her to hell," he muttered when he realized his hands were trembling. He'd actually yearned to put his palm over her swollen belly; had felt a great longing to feel the baby stirring inside her.
    The woman had grown more beautiful as her shape changed. Her hair was lustrous, as were her green eyes. The eyes of a temptress. Whether she knew it or not each look she threw his way was filled with the same hot unbidden emotion that swirled inside him. This dark and terrible longing was engulfing his deeper feelings. Damn it, but often he awoke in a fever of heat, Bella's name on his lips.
    He spent too many hours away from his home. But since she 'd let Dougal back into her room, and obviously into her bed, he was ravaged by jealousy when he heard the muted sounds of their coupling on the other side of the wall.
    Fool! Why pine for something you willingly tossed away? Getting up impatiently, he bent to retrieve his hat. She could be sharing his bed now if he 'd been able to take what she'd offered. No, he could never be sure. What would a relationship without trust be like? Better this way by far.
    He 'd started courting Mistress Prudence Bacon. Her name suited her, she was the biggest prude in the colony. Her mother watched over her like a hawk protecting its fledgling. What a joke. Even if the girl was inclined to accept his advances he had no desire to offer her more than a chaste kiss on the cheek. Even that small show of affection seemed to send the maiden into a twitter of nervousness. He knew he scared her to hell, but all the better. As far as he was concerned once he had the ring on her finger he would leave her to her own devices, knowing she would be more than content to see him go his own way.
     
    * * *
     
    "Dougal, wake up." Isabella gritted her teeth as a pain quivered through her. "'Tis time, I think."
    Dougal shot to a sitting position, his eyes wide. "Are you sure?"
    "Of course I'm sure." She wasn't really but was scared, though she'd not admit it to him. He was already out of bed and pulling on his trousers. He reached for his shirt and began to push his arms into the sleeves, staring at her as if he thought she might deliver the babe that instant.
    "You 'd best get Thelma." Isabella put her feet to the floor, watching Dougal as he jumped about on one leg, pulling on a boot. "Don't get in a state. Just fetch Thelma, then light the lamp. Thelma will tell you when 'tis time to get Doctor Neale."
    Dougal was already on his way out, carrying his other boot. She heard him yelling for Thelma as he raced along the verandah. Tiger had insisted the doctor be fetched, although it wasn 't common practice to have more than a midwife in attendance. Isabella hated the local woman who helped at the births and wasn't about to argue with his decision.
    "Is everything all right?" Tiger asked warily. Isabella looked up as he came in and bent