A ragged, young mother, who looked as if she hadn't slept since her child had been born, brought a fussy baby about 6 months old up to Sister Ruth and Kid Cole after the revival. The infant was pulling at his ear as he cried tired, pitiful cries.

"I saw what you did for those people. Can you heal my son's ears?" begged the mother.

"No, I can't," Ruth answered. "That's not how the faith healing I do works, but I'll be glad to pray for him."

Ruth took the baby in her arms and the gentle bouncing and soothing words were enough to temporarily distract the baby. "Might be you could try soaking some cotton in vinegar and stuffing it in his ears," she offered after the prayer. "Might offer him some relief from the pain if nothing else. God works through creation as much as He does through miracles."

"Thank you. I'll try that." She didn't look too hopeful though.

Ruth took pity on the woman. who looked dead on her feet. "Why don't you go get some sleep? My husband and I can watch him for a few hours. We'll be right in that hotel over there."

"Oh, thank you!" The woman looked truly grateful this time and hurried away before Sister Ruth had time to change her mind.

Ruth offered the baby a finger to clutch on and he tried to pull it up to his mouth to suck on it.

"Afraid you won't get much out of there," she told him as if he understood every word, "but I got some applesauce if you're hungry and we'll see if that vinegar don't help you out some."

As they headed for the hotel, he was starting to whimper again, but Ruth hiked him higher on her waist and began singing him a hymn, distracting the child from his pain again.

"You're such a natural with children," Kid commented with a soft smile. "It's a shame you never got the chance to be a mother."

July 1, 1836

Sister Ruth was beyond ready to have this baby. The middle of summer was the worst time to be heavy with child. She'd heard somewhere once that going on a long walk could sometimes bring on labor. She was willing to give it a go.

She looked out the window. It looked a little cooler than it had been at midday. At least, a few folks were out and about now.

Santa Fe, though still situated in the same sandy valley with the same snowy peaks in the distance, was no longer Mexican territory but claimed by the newly formed country known as The Republic of Texas. It was still a small town despite being the start of the Santa Fe trail, but the midwife there was supposed to be unparalleled and the town could even boast a sober doctor now.

Not only that, but if she couldn't experience this part of womanhood with her mother. Rosa, the motherly boardinghouse owner who'd rooted for her and Kid to get together, was a nice substitute. Neither Rosa nor her boardinghouse had changed a bit in 8 years and that was a comfort.

"I thought you were supposed to be upstairs resting," Kid chastised the moment he saw her.

"I feel a little better and I'm going crazy with boredom up there. I decided to go on a walk."

"By yourself?" Kid asked. "I don't think so. I've got half a mind to carry you back up the stairs, but I guess a short walk won't hurt as long as I go with you."

Rosa smiled as she stirred whatever was on the stove.

"I didn't know you'd become a doctor in the 2 hours we were apart. That's impressive." She looked over at older woman. "Remind me again why I married this man?"

"Because you love me and you can't get enough of me," Kid answered, beating Rosa to it. "And I'm counting this time standing here as part of your walk because you should be in bed."

"Well, let's go then," Ruth said, moving toward the door.

"We're having carne de carnero for supper and it's almost done, so hurry back," Rosa said. "Nothing worse than cold meat."

They assured her they would and then went out on the walk.

Ruth found she waddled more than she walked though she tried hard not to, but you couldn't exactly help it when you were as big as a house out in front.

Kid thought it was funny. "You're cute. You know that?"

She gave a snort of disbelief. "Remember those whales we saw when we sailed to Virginia? That's what I feel like. A whale."

"You're the most beautiful whale I've ever seen then."

"That's sweet, I think."

They pretty much had the narrow streets to themselves. It was still too hot for comfort. Only the poorest of the poor were out, trying to sell their meager wares.

Kid coughed a little.

"Are you okay?" she asked full of concern.

"I'm fine." His cough had returned just as the stranger at the store had predicted, mild but present. He didn't have time to worry over it though. His focus was on Ruth and the baby. He wanted her pregnancy over too, not only because he wanted to meet his little son or daughter but also because he worried over her health. So many things could go wrong and he worried over them all.

Ruth stopped and pain crossed her features.

Kid's worry turned into full blow panic. "Is it time?"

The pain was sharp and sudden and signaled that the baby could indeed be on his way. "I think so."