She walked toward him.
He looked up.
“Lara?”
She smiled.
“Could you come inside for a moment?”
He immediately dropped the tool.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He studied her face.
“Are you sure?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
He followed her into the farmhouse.
She led him to the kitchen.
The same kitchen where she had cooked their first supper.
The same stove.
The same wooden table.
The same Dutch oven resting on the shelf.
She had placed two small bowls on the table.
Elias noticed.
“Expecting company?”
Lara shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
He frowned.
She took his hand.
“Elias, do you remember when you first saw me cooking?”
He smiled.
“Of course.”
“What did you think?”
“That I'd finally gone mad from hunger.”
She laughed.
“I'm serious.”
He drew closer.
“I thought a miracle had walked into my kitchen.”
Her eyes filled.
She touched his cheek.
“Well…”
Her voice trembled.
“I think another miracle may be coming.”
Elias stared.
Then his eyes widened.
“Lara?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked down at her belly.
Then back at her face.
“Are you telling me—”
“We're going to have a baby.”
For several seconds, Elias did not move.
Then he sank into a chair.
Lara laughed nervously.
“Are you all right?”
He looked up.
His eyes were full of tears.
“A baby?”
She nodded.
“Our baby.”
He stood immediately.
Then stopped, uncertain whether he should embrace her tightly.
Lara laughed and opened her arms.
“Oh, come here.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
Carefully.
Tenderly.
He buried his face against her shoulder.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then Elias whispered, “I didn't think I'd ever have this.”
Lara closed her eyes.
“Neither did I.”
He stepped back.
Touched her cheek.
“Are you happy?”
She laughed through tears.
“Terrified.”
He smiled.
“Me too.”
“But yes.”
She placed her hands over his.
“Very happy.”
Elias lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
Then he knelt before her and rested one hand gently against her belly.
“Well, little one,” he whispered, “your mother has already saved this ranch.”
Lara laughed.
He looked up.
“And I reckon you'll have some mighty large boots to fill.”
The pregnancy changed life at Whispering Pines.
Elias became protective.
Sometimes excessively so.
He insisted Lara stop lifting heavy pots.
She argued that she had been cooking all her life.
He reminded her that she now employed enough people to delegate.
She reminded him that she was pregnant, not made of glass.