After the family picture, Caleb and Amy stayed with everyone while Jack and Elizabeth went out.
Elizabeth grabbed Jack's hand as they walked to the restaurant. "The picture was a wonderful idea, love."
"I thought so. I've been wanting to for awhile." He looked at her and smiled.
"What?"
He stopped walking and turned toward her. "You look really nice in your dress, Sweetheart. Are you happy with it?"
"Yes, I am. I actually feel pretty wearing it. It's been a while since I've felt that way." She looked down and stared at their hands.
He slowly kissed her forehead and then her cheek. "You look lovely," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers and then, tilting his head, he captured her lips with his.
Before they got too carried away, she pulled back. "Let's eat so we can get home."
BACK AT THE THORNTONS
Caleb and Amy sat in front of the fire while everyone else was taking baths. "Ames? What're you thinking about?"
"Nothing much," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Come on, tell."
"My Mom is pregnant."
"She is? That's great!" Amy didn't smile. "Isn't it?"
"I don't know how I feel about it. She wants me to help her with the birth and be a part of her doctor appointments."
"Well, isn't that what a midwife does?"
"Yes, Caleb," she said in an irritated tone. "But this is my mother and Kevin's baby. I don't have the same relationship with them that you have with your parents." She stood up. "We aren't the same! Our lives aren't the same!"
"Ames, why are you upset?" She never yelled or even raised her voice to him before.
"Life isn't as simple as you think it is. Your parents have the perfect marriage. Mine didn't. I grew up with an abusive father and it got so bad that my own mother had to kill him to save us. You live here, with your wonderful family and nothing bad ever happens."
"Ames, nothing bad? My father and baby sister died when I was five. I saw my own mother shoot herself because she couldn't handle losing them. I was scared and alone and cold and starving until Jack found me. Yes, my new family is wonderful and I love them, but our lives aren't perfect. Elizabeth lost a baby. Did you know that? Before the twins. I remember how sad she was, her and Jack. Just crying for days and it hurt me too. All I knew is I didn't want them to be sad anymore so I loved them the best I could. My Papa, Grandma Grace's husband, died in a stage coach robbery protecting her. I went to his funeral and saw him put into the ground and watched her cry over him. It wasn't fair, Amy. I was a little kid. I shouldn't have had to deal with all that and neither should you." He stood up and hugged her tight against his chest. "You had a horrible father but he's gone now. You have a second chance to be happy like I did. Don't fight it."
She held on to him, sad for all that he had gone through in his life and grateful that he was there to make her feel loved.
"You deserve to be happy Ames."
"You make me happy, Caleb. I don't need…"
"Maybe you do. Kevin is not like your father was. He will take care of you, if you give him a chance."
"Next month, I turn sixteen. I'm grown. I don't need a father." She stood on her toes to kiss him goodnight. "I'll see you tomorrow. It's getting dark, I need to go."
"Ames. I love you."
"I love you back."
THE THOMAS RANCH
Amy opened the door quietly, hoping to slip undetected down the hall to her room but Kevin walked into the room as she shut the door. "Hi, Amy."
"Kevin." All the things that Caleb said ran through her mind.
"Did you have a nice afternoon?" Was this how a father was supposed to act? All she had known was a demanding, overwhelming, controlling father. Kevin didn't seem that way.
"Yeah. Caleb's family took a family photo." She wasn't sure why she shared that information, it just came out.
"That's a great idea."
"Well, I should study. Goodnight."
"Night."
It hadn't been a long conversation and really it could be considered small talk, but Kevin was happy. He felt that they had made progress, finally.
BACK AT THE THORNTONS
Caleb waited for his parents. The conversation with Amy had made him long to talk to them and tell them how much he appreciated them and the second chance they had given him. He knew they would be home soon because J.T. would be hungry so he waited on the couch.
He looked up as he heard them walk in. "Caleb? Sweetie, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked, seeing the tears on his face. He shook his head and looked down at his hands. A moment later, he stood and hugged both of them. "Are you ok?" she asked, concern etched into her face.
"Yes," he said, wiping his eyes and sitting back down. "Can I talk to you both?"
"Sure, do you mind if I feed your brother while we talk? He's going to be screaming any second."
"Of course."
A few moments later, his brother was settled under a blanket having his meal and his parents were waiting, wondering what could have made Caleb upset enough to cry.
"I just want to say thank you, Dad, for saving my life that night," he paused, his voice breaking. "You gave me a second chance and now I have so much. I'm so grateful." Jack moved over on the couch next to him, putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Caleb, we needed you so badly. We had a wonderful family but something was apparently missing until I found you, because you filled a hole in my heart that I didn't know I had."
Elizabeth watched her men crying and started sobbing herself. "Oh, gosh. Both of you crying and now look at me."
"Mama, thank you so much for loving me like I was your own. I needed you so badly and I always will."
She moved closer, wrapping her free arm around his back. "You are my boy, Caleb. You are my son and you always will be." She kissed his cheek. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too."
"Caleb? Did you have an argument with Amy?" She assumed that was what brought the conversation on, but she wasn't sure.
"No, not really, but we did talk and I realized that I needed you both to know how much you mean to me."
"Is something else on your mind?" she wondered.
"No, I think I just need to go to sleep." He stood up and hugged them one more time and then went upstairs.
Elizabeth found herself worried about him, even though he assured her everything was fine. It was so unlike him to be upset enough to cry.
"Don't worry, sweetie. He's ok."
"I think there is something else bothering him, Jack."
"Maybe, but he will tell us if he wants to."
"What if I went up and talked to him?"
"Honey, you can try, but I think he wants to be alone."
"I just have a feeling. Call it me worrying too much or mother's intuition, but I need to try."
"Ok." He knew she would worry about it all night if she didn't try, so he wasn't going to say anything more. "Here, give me J.T. and we will wait here for you."
"I'll be back soon."
Elizabeth walked up to Caleb's door and knocked.
"Come in," he said quietly.
"Hi, sweetie."
"Hi, Ma. I figured you would be in." He moved over on his bed so she could sit down.
"You did? What made you figure that?"
"Because I know you. You're worried, right?"
"Yeah. I don't want to push, but I had a feeling something is bothering you and if you want to talk about it, I will listen."
She sat down next to him and waited, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Nothing is really bothering me. I just worry about Amy, I guess."
"Why, sweetie? She seems happy, or at least you make her happy." He hesitated to answer. "I'm sorry if that's too personal. You don't have to answer."
"It's ok. She struggles with her parents. I think she still has a hard time trusting Kevin as a father figure and now that Maggie is pregnant and wants her help, she feels even more like she doesn't want to be involved."
"Maggie is pregnant?"
"Yeah, you didn't know?"
"No, I guess I have been so worried about things myself with a new baby and everything, I haven't talked to her lately."
"Why have you been worried, Ma?"
"Nothing important."
"If you want to talk about it, I will listen." He smiled and waited.
She kissed his cheek. "You are a silly young man, Caleb Thornton."
"I know."
"I guess I realized that I'm getting older and things aren't the same as you get older."
"Like what?"
"Like losing the weight from the baby."
"Ma, you better not say that you don't like the way you look. You are so beautiful and Dad tells you all the time."
"Thank you, Sweetie. Yes he does tell me, but that doesn't make me feel it. It tells me that he loves me, but I needed time to feel good again, on my own."
"So you got a new dress?"
"Your father got me a new dress."
"Did it help?"
"Well, you know, it some ways it did, but then I realized it didn't matter as much as I thought it did."
He nodded. "You're a great Ma. I hope you don't ever doubt that."
She leaned on his shoulder again. "Just be there for Amy. She needs you, Caleb."
"I need her too."
Elizabeth left Caleb's room and went to change for bed. She was surprised when she walked into the bedroom and found Jack rocking J.T.
"Hey there. I thought you were going to be downstairs waiting."
"He needed a new diaper, so I brought him up here." He kissed his sleeping son and laid him in his cradle.
"I'm going to get ready for bed." She said the words but didn't move.
"Ok, me too." He raised one eyebrow when she still didn't move. "Need some help? I'd be more than happy to get those buttons for you."
"Oh, you mean the ones here on the front of my dress? I can handle it, thank you." She smiled and stared at him.
"Want to help me with mine?"
"Jack. I was hoping…"
"Seriously? You want me to leave?"
"Kind of, but it's not the reason you think." He squinted trying to figure her out. "Give me five minutes, then come back in."
"Ok then. Five minutes, Sweetheart." She nodded and smiled as he left the room. She quickly undressed and then slipped into her new nightgown and robe Penny made. White lace, thin straps, ending just above the knee with a white silk robe. She felt beautiful, like a bride, and she knew Jack would be speechless.
She turned to the mirror and smiled, removing the combs that held her curls back and loving the effect as they fell over her shoulders.
She turned when she heard the door open. She was nervous and didn't know why. He still gave her butterflies and she loved it.
He entered and then stared at her. "Elizabeth. Wow."
"You like it?" She knew the answer. It looked like he might fall over, even with his cane to steady him.
"Beautiful seems like such an inadequate term at this point." He sat down on the bed and smiled. She walked over, stood in front of him, and ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes at her touch, thoroughly enjoying every moment.
"Well, Mr. Thornton, you in this black tie and white shirt had quite the same effect on me." She slowly pulled on the knot of his tie to loosen it and pulled him close, kissing him silent. "Still need help with those buttons?"
THE NEXT MORNING, THE STORE
Constable Richards walked in to the store to buy coffee. He was completely out and coffee was something he couldn't live without. As he walked in, he almost bumped into a woman and her young son. "Pardon me, ma'am." He removed his hat as the boy stared up at him.
"I'm sorry, Constable." She smiled, making his heart beat faster. He tore his eyes away from her to look at the boy that was still staring at him. He put his hat on the boys head, chuckling as it slipped down over his eyes.
"Hey buddy. My name is Mike." He took the hat off the little guys head and held out his hand to shake.
"What's your name?"
The boy looked at him, giving a hesitant smile. "He's Mark," the woman said. "He doesn't talk much."
"Hi, Mark. What's your name, ma'am?"
"Penny Brier. It's nice to meet you Constable."
"You too, Mrs. Brier."
As a Mountie, his job was to be observant and he had been observing Mrs. Brier and Mark since he arrived in town, two and a half months before. Mark truly didn't talk much and Mrs. Brier was lovely. She had black curly hair, blue eyes and flawless skin. She was serious but she would smile when the occasion called for it. It was a beautiful smile, one that had the ability to pull him in, as much as he tried to fight it.
THE CARLIN HOUSE
Dee got up off the floor, exhausted, and nauseated. She was sick of feeling sick everyday. She had just crossed into her second trimester and still, coffee, eggs, and well, pretty much anything made her throw up. She decided she needed to go see the Doctor, but she needed someone to watch the kids since Brandon was working.
She heard Evie cry from her crib. Dee took a deep breath and sighed, then walked upstairs. By the time she got there, she and Ethan were standing, holding on to the sides of their cribs. "Mamama!" they said, smiling as she walked into the room.
"Hi, babes. Did you have a good nap?"
They held their arms up, begging to be held. "Mamama!"
She bent down, scooping one baby in each arm, ignoring the uneasiness in her stomach. "So who should I get to take care of you little peanuts while I go to the doctor?"
Evie patted her face with her little hands, "Mama." She smiled at her daughter, kissing her forehead. The more she thought about having a third baby, the more overwhelmed she became. The twins wore her out already, she didn't have any idea how she would be able to handle a third.
An hour later, Nate walked in the door from school. "Mama?"
She was in the kitchen feeding the babies mashed sweet potatoes. "In here, Nate," she answered.
"Hi, Mama." He walked over and hugged her and then sat down.
"Nate, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Can you get Leesa and see if she can watch the babies for me? I need to go to the doctor."
"Are you sick?" he asked with his face full of concern. They hadn't told him she was pregnant yet, but maybe now was the time.
"Yes, but I'm sick because I'm going to have a baby."
"Another one?" He had no idea, but she felt the same way.
"Yes. I need you to please go get Aunt Leesa for me, ok?"
"Ok, Mama." He stood up and hurried out the door.
THE CLINIC
Diana walked in the clinic and found Amy at her desk, pouring over a medical textbook. When the door jingled, Amy looked up. "Miss Diana, how are you? Are you sick?"
"Hi, Amy. I'm not feeling the best. Is Dr. Turner here?"
"Yes, let me get him. You have a seat."
Dr. Turner and Amy walked back in a moment later as Diana was hunched over, taking deep breaths.
"Mrs. Carlin? Amy says you're not feeling well. Is it your stomach?" Dr. Turner knelt down beside her and listened to her heart.
"Yes, I'm having horrible morning sickness."
"Well, come over here and lie down and we'll examine you." He helped her stand and then helped her down on the table. He pressed on her stomach and listened again through his stethoscope to her heart and her abdomen. After a few moments of explaining things to Amy and a more thorough examination, he helped her sit up.
"Mrs. Carlin, I can confirm that you are pregnant, about sixteen weeks. You seem to be dehydrated so that is a concern. I understand it is difficult to keep anything down, but you need to try. Some women find dry toast or crackers and peppermint tea first thing in the morning helps. You need to drink more water as well. Have you been dizzy?"
"When I first figured out I was pregnant, yes I was."
"If you drink more liquids, you shouldn't have that issue. How are Ethan and Evie doing?"
"They're just fine, thank you."
After a few more questions and more advice, Dee set up a follow up appointment in a month for him to check on her.
THAT EVENING
Elizabeth sat up in bed, listening to the frogs outside, and her husband's quiet snore next to her. J.T. slept peacefully on her chest with a full belly. She looked down at him, almost six weeks old, the spitting image of his father. Her heart overflowed with love for him.
"Honey?" Jack mumbled, his hand touching her arm. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I'm just thinking I guess." She got up and put J.T. in his cradle and came back to bed.
"About what?"
"Visiting Hope Valley. What do you think?" She leaned back against the headboard and waited. He thought and then moved over, wrapping his arm around her waist, resting his head on her chest.
"Taking the kids out of school?"
"No, I would take Carlie and J.T. The other kids would stay with you."
"Oh. So you would go without me?"
"I didn't think you could get away because of your helping Kevin on the ranch. I'm sorry, I should have asked." She ran her fingers through his hair as he laid there.
"How long would you be gone?"
"Just a couple weeks. Are you ok with me leaving?"
"You haven't seen your parents in awhile and I'm sure you miss Abigail."
"I do. I miss Julie too."
Jack knew that it would be good for her to go. Julie and Elizabeth hadn't seen each other in over three years so it was past time for a visit. He also knew that Grace hadn't been feeling the best so it would be important to see her as well. He just didn't like the idea of her traveling alone with two small children.
AT THE STORE
"Good morning, Elizabeth," Travis greeted when she walked in the store.
"Hi, Travis."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes, I need three tickets to Hope Valley, please."
"Oh, taking a trip?"
"Yeah, I'm going to see my sister and my parents. It's been a long time."
"Only three tickets?"
"Yes, I'm taking Carlie and J.T."
"Oh, well, here you go. Three tickets for tomorrow's stage." He thought it was very strange that Jack wasn't going along, and yet they needed someone to look after five other children.
"Jack has to work and the kids have school," she said, reading his face. He nodded and smiled.
"Let him know, Leesa and I would be glad to help if he needs us."
"Thanks Trav."
Kevin walked in as Elizabeth walked out, tipping his hat to her. "Mrs. Thornton."
"Mr. Thomas," she responded with a smile.
Kevin walked up to Travis. "Travis! How are you this morning?"
"Great! What can I help you with?"
"I need to order a few things."