It was almost noon and Ben was sitting in his room waiting for Dr. Martin to arrive. Kate laid resting in their bed with her eyes closed. Ben found himself once again in that place he had visited far too many times before, forced to sit and wait in helplessness. His heart was in turmoil. This was the second time in their eight months of marriage that he had kept a vigil over Kate. This room held a mix of memories for him, and yet it was their haven. The heavy, dark wood furniture was warm and solid like their love for each other. It was the place where they shared blissful, intimate moments, but now the tiny life that their love had created was hanging in the balance. Ben ran his hand through his silver hair as he shifted in his seat to adjust Mary's position in his lap. She was exhausted after the morning's ordeal and now she laid sound asleep against his gray shirt. Little Hannah was playing quietly on the rug, happy just to be near her aunt and uncle. Ben slid down in his chair to offer Mary more comfort as the events of the previous hours played in his head.
The crisp, cloudless April morning had worked its magic on Ben, helping to clear his mind of his worries about Kate and the girls coming to the work site. It had also helped to make the labor on the new house invigorating and enjoyable. Joe and Jamie nailed wood shakes on the roof while Ben and Hoss hammered floor boards into place to build the porch that Gabrielle had been promised for observing brilliant sunsets over the magnificent Sierra Nevadas.
Ben smiled at his first glimpse of Mary bouncing along on her little paint pony, her new black hat sitting atop her head. Though he thought it was a bit early for Kate and the girls to show up for lunch, he knew that Mary would have pressed her aunt into leaving sooner rather than later. Ben and his sons laughed and commented how the pretty little girl would someday give the boys her age a run for their money in more ways than just riding a horse. But then it became clear that she was alone and pushing Patches hard. Their frivolity came to an abrupt halt and they dropped their tools and ran out to meet her. Mary barely managed to choke out that Kate was hurt before Hop Sing raced up in the buggy. Ben had no time for the Chinaman's haranguing once Mary's message was confirmed. Ben shouted orders to his sons right and left before he gave Buck a good kick and headed for the ranch house. His horse moved quickly into an unfamiliar gallop; Buck's hooves threw up clods of soil as Ben cut cross-country to shorten his route.
Ben's face was tense with worry as he reined up hard at the hitching rail by the house. He flew off his horse and bolted toward the porch. He was calling for Kate as the heavy wooden door swung back. She jerked in surprise and answered back. He ran to her almost tripping over Hannah who was still sitting half asleep on the footstool. Ben flung his hat and gloves into his red chair and knelt beside the settee. Hannah wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her onto his knee.
"Oh Ben, I'm so glad you're home. Where's Mary?" Kate asked, her brow knitted with concern.
"Not to worry, she's in good hands. I left her with Hoss and Jamie. How are you feeling?" He offered her a weak smile as he took her hand and searched her eyes for an answer.
Kate sighed in relief. "I was so worried." She hesitated. "I've had some pains, but they seem to be slowing down. Is Paul coming?"
"Joe rode to town to get him. Hopefully they will be here soon." Ben smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. "Tell me what happened?"
"We were planting garden. I fell trying get the girls away from a snake. Stupid me. I tripped over the hoe."
"Now Kate, it could have happened to anyone. It must have been frightening for all of you." He pressed Kate's hand in reassurance then glanced at Hannah and patted her arm.
"And then Mary heard me talking to Hop Sing and took off. Please don't scold her too much, Ben. She was only trying to help."
"I know, Kate. I understand that. Thankfully she's fine. Right now we need to focus on you and the baby."
Ben placed Hannah on her feet and asked her to go find her doll so he could have a moment alone with Kate. The little girl trotted obediently up the stairs.
Kate reached up and placed her hand on Ben's cheek. "I'm sorry." She quickly turned toward the back of the settee.
"Kate. Sweetheart." Ben gently brought her face back his way. His eyes glistened in response to her tears. "No matter what happens, I love you."
She nodded, unable to speak. Hoping to ease her distress, he leaned down and placed a kiss in her coppery tresses.
A little while later, a blur of gray and black burst through the door. With her black hat banging against her back, Mary ran to the settee. Kate pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh Mary, thank God you're alright. You scared me to death."
Mary slipped out of Kate's hold and looked at her aunt in confusion, the magnitude of her error still not registering.
"You needed Uncle Ben. Hop Sing said he couldn't go. I went to get Uncle Ben."
Kate glanced at Ben for help.
"Maybe we should talk about this later." Ben offered from his chair. He really did not want to add any more tension to the already difficult situation.
Convinced she had done the right thing by riding for Ben, Mary looked at him with hurt in her eyes.
"I wasn't bad. I told you Aunt Kate got hurt. You came home. I helped Aunt Kate."
Ben knew there was no getting around the determined five year-old now. He called her to come stand in front of him, his large hands engulfed her shoulders.
"Mary, sweetheart, I know you were just trying to help Aunt Kate, but it's dangerous for girls, even girls older than you, to be riding alone out in the countryside. What if something had happened to you?"
"I'm a good rider...I did it all by myself...I helped." Mary reached for Ben as her tears came and he held her against his shoulder as she sobbed.
He could not deny that everything she said was true. This time it was he that was looking over Mary's shoulder to Kate for help.
Kate gazed upon her niece with understanding and responded in a calm, caring voice. "Yes, Mary, you did help. Thank you. But next time, you must ask someone before you ride away from the house by yourself, even for something important. Ok?"
Mary released Ben's neck and turned toward her aunt. The little girl wiped her tears with the back of her hand clearing her vision enough to see that Kate was smiling at her. Mary nodded that she understood.
Her tears had dried by the time Hoss and Jamie came in from the barn. Ben asked his big son to carry Kate up to their bedroom where she could get more rest. Hop Sing unpacked the lunch that he had meticulously placed in baskets. He served it to a quiet lot at the table with Ben and Kate receiving theirs up in their room. The uncertainty about the baby hung thick in the air making everyone uncomfortable. The boys tried to keep the little girls downstairs, but then Mary sneaked up to her aunt and uncle's bedroom. She remembered what she had been taught about knocking first. Kate coaxed Ben into letting the girls come in as long as they played quietly. Mary soon returned with Hannah and some toys. They played for a time keeping their voices low. Eventually Mary, still dressed in her riding clothes, went to Ben wanting to be held. He lifted her into his lap and whispered.
"You sure look good in your new outfit."
Mary gave him a solemn glance as she nestled her head into his chest. "Is Aunt Kate ok?"
Ben ran his hand down the side of Mary's dark hair and tightened his hold on her. He really did not want to get into a discussion about the baby and tamped down his emotions. "She just needs to rest for a while and maybe you do too."
As he came back into the moment, Ben was thankful that Mary had asked no more questions and fallen fast asleep. He took advantage of the quiet and closed his eyes as well. He did not see Kate taking in the sweet scene. Neither could he hear her thoughts as she struggled with not knowing if she would ever see Ben hold their child with the same love and tenderness he had shown Mary. Kate instinctively placed her hand over her womb and turned aside not wanting to risk Ben seeing her tears. Though at first she had been afraid tell him about the pregnancy, now there was nothing in the world she wanted more than to bear him this child.
Ben jerked when he heard a knock at the bedroom door.
"Pa, Doc Martin's here." Joe called from the hallway.
"Come in." Ben replied.
He lifted Mary to his shoulder and rose as Joe and Dr. Martin entered the room. Mary eyed them still in the haze of sleep.
"Watch out for the toys." Ben pointed to the rug beside the bed.
"Joe!" Hannah's eyes lit up and she held up her arms to him.
He brought her up into a hug. "Have ya been a good girl?"
"Yep!" The little blond responded with bright eyes.
"That's my girl." Joe placed her back on the floor and took her by the hand.
"Heard you had a busy morning." Dr. Martin said to all, and then looked directly at Kate.
"Not one of our better ones, I'm afraid." Kate was trying hard to keep her anxiety from her voice.
"Well, let's have a look. Maybe the rest of you could give me a moment alone with Kate." Dr. Martin's calm, green eyes radiated reassurance as he gave Mary a pat on the back.
"Sure Paul. We'll be downstairs if you need us." Ben paused and looked at Kate with soft eyes.
A few minutes later, Dr. Martin appeared on the stairs with his jacket draped over one arm and his bag in hand. All eyes turned toward him. Ben rose quickly from his red chair, anxious to hear what Martin had to say.
"Well?" Ben searched the doctor's face for any clue.
After finishing a button on his sleeve, Dr. Martin moved closer to Ben and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can relax, Ben. I believe that Kate and the baby are fine."
"But the pains?" Ben asked not yet convinced.
"Are not of great concern since they have subsided and there don't seem to be any other signs of problems."
The tension in Ben's shoulders eased and he released the breath that he had not realized he was holding. He was greeted with relieved smiles when he turned to look at each of his sons.
The doctor continued. "I did, however, recommend to Kate that she take things easy and stay off of her feet as much as possible for the next few days, just as a precaution."
"Thanks, Paul." After offering the doctor his hand, Ben eyes betrayed the unspoken question.
"Go on upstairs. I know my way out." Martin answered suppressing a chuckle. After Ben cleared the stairs, the doctor commented to the boys who were scattered about the living room. "You'd think this was his first child the way he's acting."
Joe came to his father's defense. "Guess I'm the living proof that he's more than just a little out of practice, Doc." Everyone laughed. "How about a cup of coffee before you take off?"
"Thanks, I think I will." Dr. Martin glanced back over his shoulder toward the stairway and smiled.
Upstairs, Ben was sitting on the edge of their bed holding Kate's hands.
"You're gonna stay put even if I hafta sit on you." He scolded, pretending to be serious.
Kate smirked and was about to give a smart response, but then her emerald eyes began to shine.
"I know I've been giving you a hard time of late. She paused and bit her lip. "But this scared me Ben." With tears in her eyes, she whispered. "I don't know what I would have done if I had lost..."
Ben put a finger to her lips to stop her words. He cupped her face with his hands and placed a tender kiss on her lips. "I love you."
He leaned to the side and rested his head on her shoulder. Moving his hand in gentle circles over the bulge under the skirt of her dress, his chocolate eyes became soft and warm as he whispered. "And I love you, too, precious one."
Kate ran a hand through his silver hair and stroked his head. A lone tear trickled down her face as she exhaled away the tension of the day. Feeling incredibly blessed, she thanked God for the day she married Ben Cartwright.