July 4th, 1879

Emily Morton snuggled next to her husband Zack, as they finished eating the delicious BBQ dinner. The day had been wonderful, and she was glad that everyone had insisted she attend. It wasn't that she didn't want to celebrate the 4th – everyone had talked about nothing else for the last month almost. Rather, she had given birth to David Rhys Morton on June 1st, to great fanfare of everyone at the Rising M.

She had woken up a little 5:00am, with a feeling of pressure against her femaleness. Thinking it was yet another trip to the bathroom, she had waddled into the room, where a sharp pain caused her to almost double over. Emily held tightly to the sink, until it passed, but as she straightened up she had felt a rush of wetness down her legs.

Her scream brought Zack into the room; he'd not been sleeping well for the last week, sensing Emily's time was very close. Arriving in the bathroom, he took the scene in and knew what was happening. Zack gave her a reassuring hug, as he explained he was going to go get Ruth, and Dr. Merar. Emily was reassured about Ruth, because the woman was a well known midwife in the valley. Her husband's reassuring hug and calm demeanor made her feel better, before another contraction hit her.

Once Zack was away from Emily he felt a rush of panic overtake him, as he woke up his father and brother, before heading down to Ruth's room at the back of the house on the main level. Ruth took over right away, and told Rufus to take Zack downstairs, while JR went for the doctor. She was pretty sure the baby would arrive before the doctor would, but his presence would help the menfolk feel better. Miss Emily had also said that Catherine Barkley was to be told, but not if the birth happened in the middle of the night.

JR came back fairly quickly; having gotten into town double time, to announce that the doctor was doing emergency surgery at the Fairson ranch. A messenger had been sent out, and Dr. Merar would be at the Rising M as soon as he finished with his patient. Rufus reassured Zack that Ruth knew exactly what she was doing, as the expectant father lit another cigarette, while his brother offered him a shot of whiskey that he passed on.

Dr. Merar arrived almost five hours later, and was quickly taken upstairs, where he discovered he had nothing to do. Shaking his head ruefully at the Morton men, he exchanged knowing looks with Ruth, before he headed downstairs. He took great pleasure in telling Zack that he had a son, as the young man hugged him before heading upstairs.

For Emily, the month since her son's birth had almost been a blur of feedings and love. Zack had presented her with a heavy gold chain bracelet, with a diamond frame that would hold a picture of the baby – the bonus of being able to add to it. He was so in awe of his son, and loved to watch Emily feed the child, liking how soft and maternal she looked as she nourished their son.

Rufus had given her a lovely choker necklace, and matching earrings of amethysts and diamonds, which took her breath away. JR, as his gift, had completely refinished the cradle for them, to match how Emily had decorated the nursery. Catherine had arrived right after lunch, bringing a bottle of Jack Daniels for Zack, with compliments of Nick. She was a big help to Emily, as she explained knowledge that was passed from one woman to another. Emily was glad for her support, and also Anita, who had been hired as the nursery maid.

When the 4th of July events had come up, Emily was afraid that she would have to miss them, not sure how to take such a young baby into town. Catherine and Samantha came to her rescue though, even as Jarrod and Nick were taking Zack under their wing. Jarrod and Samantha were opening their house for the summer, and Emily was reassured that she, baby David, and the nanny, were welcome to stay with them.

Audra Barkley Winters was already going to be there, with one baby, and another on the way. Catherine too was bringing Tab into town, along with her nanny. There was great excitement because the ladies all knew that she was enceintes again, being due in January. Emily, hearing all this, felt much better about coming into town. She knew that both Zack and Pa wanted to show off the next generation, and was glad that her friends had come to the rescue.

Now, as the sun set she looked over at David, nestled in the portable cradle that the ranch hands had put together for her. Emily had fed the baby, before bringing him out to the picnic, where he looked around eagerly. It had been wonderful to have the chance to take part in the day's events, liking how Zack had won the shooting contest. Being with him now, she could hardly wait to get back to the ranch.

Dr. Merar had given them the ok to resume relations the day before yesterday, and she knew that Zack was as eager as she was. They had certainly had a lot of fun coming up with other ways to achieve satisfaction, but both of them missed the union of spirit and body they experienced when having relations.

"Zack, Emily, let's go down to the river, to see the fireworks, ok?" JR came bounding up, with Kirsten in tow. They'd been keeping company steadily since April, much too both families' delight. JR had cleaned up his act completely, and even ate dinner every Friday night with Kirsten and her family. Rufus had invited them, along with the Barkley's out for a spring garden dinner, and everyone had gotten on famously.

"Oh, I would love to, but I gave Anita the night off to see family." Emily exclaimed, wishing she could go down to the river. Zack gave her an understanding look and was all set to tell JR and Kirsten no, when Rufus' voice rang in their ears.

"You two go down to watch the fireworks, Emily and Zack! David and I will do just fine together; just so you are aware, I do know about babies!" Rufus followed his statement up by reaching into the cradle and rocking his grandson. Emily, watching the proud man look at his grandson, smiled in understanding.

"Pa, thank you so much! You and David try not to have too much fun, ok? And no cigars until he's sixteen?" Emily joked, giving the older man a loving hug and a teasing smile. Rufus' laughter rang out over the area, and more than one person turned to look at the normally stern man as happiness over took him. He beamed at his daughter-in-law with love; not only had she given him a grandson, but she trusted him too with the baby. Several friends of his had daughters-in-law that barely let the older man around their grandchildren, let alone watch the child.

Jarrod Barkley watched a while later, as Rufus Morton hailed Senator Wayne Hutchings, to show off his grandson. The older man carefully lifted the baby out of the cradle, putting a cloth over his shoulder, as he cradled the baby's head. Rufus was gentle with the bundle, as he nestled the child against him. Jarrod was trying to contain his amazement when his mother came up next to him, and inquired what was so interesting.

"Mother, not even a year ago Rufus Morton was threatening to haul Wayne into court, about some legislation he wanted to pass. The man was fire and brimstone about something that even Hutchings admitted was a bugaboo. Now, he is introducing his grandson to the man, like they are old friends!" Jarrod was totally taken aback by what he was seeing unfold in front of his eyes.

"Son, Rufus is a grandfather now – a pretty girl married his oldest son, and brought love back to the ranch." Victoria looked at the scene in front of her, and thought back to that long ago morning in her son's office. "Jarrod, do you remember when I came to you, all concerned about Nick's feelings for Catherine?" She inquired, and he nodded his head in understanding, as he remembered the conversation. Victoria had been struggling with Catherine and Nick, even as he'd tried to explain the relationship to her.

"The cycle of life, lovely lady? You do know that it is because of Catherine that Rufus has what he has, right?" Jarrod observed with a merry smile, wanting to add that if it wasn't for his lovely sister-in-law he wouldn't have Samantha either. Victoria gave him an understanding smile, before she made her comment.

"That Spanish Land Grant is responsible for more than just the waterway is my opinion, but no one is complaining from what I can see!" The older woman offered, before she went off to fuss over her grandchildren. Samantha came up next to him, asking about fireworks, and he followed her down to the river. As the dazzling lights blazed over the valley, the Barkley's and Morton's were all very happy with what their lives were.

Epilogue

Rufus, who had been thrilled to have one grandbaby to fuss over in July of 1879, was overjoyed when Diana Grace Morton was born in May of 1880. In September of that year JR and Kirsten, who'd married the previous December presented him with Miles Jackson in September. The years brought many children to Zack and JR, giving Rufus the large, loving family he'd always wanted.

The rose garden Rufus had given Emily that first Christmas, had blossomed into the central attraction on the garden club tour every year. It was at its most dazzling when; in 1898 Diana had married Tab Barkley in June, as the roses bloomed. Everyone but Nick Barkley gushed about the ceremony, and it was only because it was a party he wasn't hosting. He loved Diana, and was glad that his son was marrying the daughter of his wife's best friend. He and Zack had gotten totally wasted the night before, as their sons carried them home, to Catherine and Emily's rueful smiles.

Nick, who had finally, on Ian Macgregor's death received the marinade recipe gave the ultimate party in 1901 when David Morton married May Barkley. Her twin sister Sophie had married a Crocker, and spent most of her time in San Francisco or New York. Mary, otherwise known as May, had never wanted to live anywhere else but the valley.

The twins had spent a year in Europe, touring and getting culture. Sophie had loved every minute of it, while May had only liked adding to her wardrobe, just wanting to be home. David was four years older than she was, but they had always been great friends, because of their mothers.

The wedding was dazzling, and everyone agreed that while the bride was lovely, the mothers of the bride and groom were beautiful women too. Nick and Zack gave a funny speech at the wedding, before they toasted each other's children, and grandchildren they would have. The party went on all night, as fireworks lit up the sky in celebration.

Finis