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Grief and Disgrace make good bedfellows ( Lady Luna and Wolvenrogue)

Nelly nodded shakily deciding it was best to listen to him. She smiled a little when she saw the baby looking up at her. "Do we really need the doctor to come here? You could just carry me to the wagon. I don't want to make the doctor have to come all the way out here. After all I'm not bed ridden... not completely at least."
 
"The doctor goes out to the fort on a case like this. Besides, are you planning on riding in the wagon dressed like you are, and holding a baby? that would be a sight. The doctor will come here. After all he has two patients here.
 
Nelly blushed at the thought. He was right as usual. "Can't I have a longer nightgown? At least to my knees. That won't interfere with my foot and it's drafty in here dressed like this."
 
He pulled the covers up over her legs. "That is what they make blankets for.. How would you lift it to sit on the chamber pot when I am holding both your hands so you dont fall?. The next few weeks will be a bit awkward but at least we are married." He knew she hadn't yet accepted all that that meant just yet. But when she did, life wuld be easier, especially now.
 
Nelly groaned slightly and shifted the blanket so it was off her foot. "If you put it by the bed I could just lower myself onto it by holding onto the bed for support. I won't fall if I'm holding onto the bed." She didn't like having to depend on him so much, especially for that.
 
"You may ask the doctor about that tomorrow , until then, I'm holding your arms till your sitting down. I am not taking chances. " He took Elizabeth out of the cradle and handed her to Nelly. "now stop fidgiting and feed the baby. It will make you both feel better." he said as he added cumin to the chili. He knew that when Nelly had the baby it always made her happy. "
 
Nelly huffed and took the baby. When she saw the toothless grin she couldn't resist smiling as well. As she fed the baby she made use of the nursing cape Robert gave her. "That smells really good." She said as she got a whiff of the chilly.
 
"By the time the baby is fed, it should be time to feed you. You will be getting meals in bed for a while. of course a lot depends what the doctor says about the break. As Robert was just getting ready to serve the chili, there was a knock at the door. Since they ere not expecting any one Robert picked up his Colt pistol and warily answered the door. When he opened the door a crack he saw the battered man whose jaw he had broken the day before at the door. "what is it you want? I will not tolerate any violence from you of any kind." " Just to see my daughter, I will be peaceable if I might see her." "You wait outside, I'l l see if she wishes to see you." He closed and latched the door and walked over and ask Nelly. "Your father is here. Do you want to see him?"
 
When Nelly heard her father was there, she had a look of surprise, then excitement, and lastly panic. "Of course I do. He's my father. Carry me to the chair. I don't want him to see me like this.. Get me a lap blanket and a shawl as well. Hurry. I don't want to keep him waiting."
 
Robert kept his word and he placed her in her rocker by the fire and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders then covered her legs in a blanket. He put the baby in its cradle and set it beside her chair. He set a kitchen chair before the fire for her father and then allowed him in. Robert kept his pistol in the pocket of his jeans.
 
Nelly fidgeted nervously as she watched Robert walk to the door. She managed to still herself when her father walked in. "Hello father... please forgive me for not standing to greet you. I am a little tired this evening." She didn't want to tell him she was hurt so she made up a small lie. It was true she was tired, but not that tired. "What brings you here?"
 
"I wanted to see you. I thought that if we were to talk you might come to your senses and come home, instead of staying with this stranger. You cannot know him well. Surely you are better off at home. " Robert was angered by the man's words but held his tongue in check. He waited to see how Nelly would answer.
 
Nelly was both hurt and angered by his words. How dare he talk bad about Robert? He was the one who helped her when she had no one. "This is my home and he is not a stranger. He is my husband." She lifted her hand to show the ring as proof. "He took care of me when you kicked me out. I will not go back. My place is here now. If that is all you have to say to me, you can leave."
 
Robert smiled at her response, butt waited a moment for the man to respond. "Well I am shocked at your lack of good sense, but so be it, don't bother to visit. You are not welcome!" Seeing the hurt in Nelly's eyes Robert said "The time has come for you to leave. Don't return until you can respect my wife about and our home!" He saw the man to the door and off of their land before he returned to comfort Nelly.
 
It was all Nelly could do to stay calm until he left. The second the door was closed, she broke down. She didn't even notice Robert come back in as she sobbed. The tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. She couldn't understand how a father could just throw away his daughter like that.
 
Robert stood by the rocker and pulled her face against his thigh. "I'm sorry Nelly, the man has no morals left! No common decency let alone love. " He picked up Elizabeth even though she was sleeping and put her in Nelly's arms. The little girl was what her mother needed right now. " If you are comfortable like that in the chair you may stay that way. I can always remove the shawl and blankets before I move you. " He thought she might be more comfortable there than in the bed when she was awake. "
 
Nelly hugged the little bundle as she continued to cry. She heard Robert say something to her, but she didn't know what it was nor did she care at this point. She was too consumed by her own grief to pay any attention to him.
 
Robert went to the stove and stirred the chili, then added water from the kettle. He was pretty sure she would not be interested in eating just yet. For now he sat in his chair and picked up the dulcimer. He played a soft and mornful tune.
 
After a while, her cries quieted and she stared at the fire blankly. There was hardly any movement other than the rising and falling of her chest as she breathed. She had been rejected so many times and it kept chipping away at her heart. Why did it have to hurt so much? She wished someone could take away her pain.
 
Robert picked up Elizabeth again and tucked her back safely in the crib. Then he scooped up his wife and carried her back to the bed where he laid her down on the bed. he kicked off his shoes and climbed in beside her and pulled her against his chest. "I will love you if you let me" he said softly and just held her.
 
Nelly sniffled, on the verge of tears again. She hugged him tightly and mumbled. "Thank you... for showing me there are still some good people in this world."
 
"yes and you are one of them." he pulled her up close to him and wrapped his big arm around her back. As he did his hand fell on the bare flesh of her thigh just below the night shirt. It wasn't purposeful but once it had happened he was afraid to move. he just waited hoping she would not be angry.
 
Nelly pressed her forehead to his chest as she snuggled against him. She felt his Hanson her thigh, but was enjoying the closeness too much to care at that point. "I don't know about that... seems like everything I do makes things worse."
 
"You have made everything better for me. " He pulled her tighter to him and as he did his hand gripped thigh tighter. He gently kissed her forehead as her face was against his chest. And, you are everything to our little girl!"
 
Nelly lifted her face to look at him. Her eyes were red from crying and her cheeks were streaked with tears. "Really? Even though I can't cook and I'm clumsy?"
 
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