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"How is she?" Preston asked, leaping to his feet from the seat at the table as Michaela came down the stairs. Having found Rebecca, and realising that she couldn't get to her feet unaided, he had swiftly carried her up to bed and then ridden for the doctor as though the Devil himself was snapping at his heels. Fortunately, Michaela had still been in town and had followed him back straightaway. For the past fifteen minutes or so, he had been gazing into space, cursing himself for leaving Rebecca when she was clearly in a vulnerable state.
"She's resting comfortably," Michaela replied. "She's taken some digitalis and I've left her more gumshoe leaves, but this was one of the worst attacks she's had for some time."
"She couldn't even get up. When I found her, by the stairs..." his voice cracked slightly. "She must have been there all night..."
"Preston..."
"It's happening, isn't it? What we all feared?"
Michaela put her hand on his arm. "The pregnancy is causing a strain on her heart, there's no doubt about that, but the baby appears strong and healthy. Rebecca just needs complete rest now until such time as I can perform the caesarean section."
"Can't you do it now?" he asked.
She shook her head, "It's still too early. There's no way the baby would survive, as you know all too well. We need to wait at least another eight weeks."
"Eight weeks...but, she couldn't stand. That's never happened before."
"I know. It appears her condition is changing, but whether it's because of the pregnancy or not, I don't know."
"Is..." He gave voice to his fear, "Is she going to die?"
Michaela sighed. "Not if I can help it."
After she had gone, with the promise to return the following day, Preston couldn't help but think on her words and the fact that she could clearly give no guarantee of the future. In the heady joy of Rebecca's pregnancy, and the good health she had maintained until now, he had pushed thoughts of worry to the back of his mind. He had watched as her stomach had expanded, feeling a certain sense of pride and accomplishment that she was carrying his child, and had convinced himself that nothing could go wrong this time. God wouldn't be so cruel as to visit tragedy upon them again after what had happened with their daughter. Now, however, he wasn't so sure.
He brewed Rebecca some tea and carried it up the stairs to the bedroom, pausing in the doorway at the sight of her, lying small and fragile, in their bed. It reminded him of the first time he had seen her after he had found out about her condition, when she had been lying in Michaela's clinic proclaiming that she could never marry him. It seemed so long ago now.
She lifted her eyes and met his gaze with a weak smile. "I made you some tea," he said, gesturing to the cup in his hand. "It's good, old fashioned, ordinary tea, I'm afraid. I don't really have the first clue as to how to prepare that Indian remedy."
"Good, old fashioned tea is fine," she replied softly. "Thank you."
He placed the cup beside the bed and drew the easy chair alongside. "How are you feeling now?"
"Tired."
"Michaela says you're to have complete rest from now until the baby comes and I intend to see that you do. I see now that I should never have left you, I..."
"Don't, please," she took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. "There's nothing you could have done even if you had been here."
"You don't know that," he insisted. "Besides, had I been here you wouldn't have been lying there helplessly for all that time! I despise myself that I could have..."
"Darling..."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for it all. I should have told you about calling in Michaela's loan. Yes," he said as she shook her head. "And what I said about the farm..."
"Let's forget it," Rebecca interrupted him. "We've both said and done things we didn't mean. For my part, I should never have said that I disliked you, for nothing could be further from the truth. I'm so sorry if anything I said caused you pain."
"I can't..." he broke off as emotion threatened to overcome him. "I can't bear the thought of losing you..."
"Ssssh...I'm fine now, really I am," she reached up and gently touched his face. "Perhaps I've just been too cavalier with my health. Things have been going so well lately that perhaps I haven't respected my body enough these last few months." She placed her hand over her stomach. "Nothing is more important to me than this child...and you. I love you so much Preston and all I want now is for the three of us to be a family."
"My darling Rebecca," Preston said, climbing onto the bed beside her and drawing her close, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. "That's all I want too."
XXXX
"James, after your brother?"
"No."
"Matthew?"
"I think not."
"David?"
"I had an uncle named David. Couldn't stand the man, so no."
"What about Cameron?"
For the next few days, Preston shunned work at both the hotel and the bank in favour of staying home with Rebecca. Mr Gormley appeared to have recovered from his encounter with the Sterritt gang and seemed eager to continue his employment so, with Myra at the helm, Preston knew the bank would be in safe hands. As for the hotel, though it was busy, there was nothing that immediately commanded his attention, meaning he was free to spend the time at her side.
Initially, Rebecca was grateful for his company as he fussed over her and insisted that she do nothing more strenuous than lift a cup to her mouth. They talked for hours about everything and anything, leading her to conclude that they had probably discovered more about each other in that short space of time than in the years they had known each other. At night she lay in his arms, sometimes quietly and sometimes keening with pleasure as seemingly expert fingers created pleasure within her similar to that caused by lovemaking, which Preston now seemed reluctant to entertain, and she always ended every day by giving thanks for her good fortune in having found him.
By the fifth day, however, he was starting to irk her, if for no other reason than his dismissal of every male name she suggested that didn't happen to be Preston A. Lodge IV.
"Preston, I think it's perhaps time for you to return to work," she said, as her latest offering was met with a look of disinterest.
He looked at her, "But what are you to do all day?"
"I'm quite capable of amusing myself," she laughed. "I'm not afraid of my own company and surely you must be itching to get back to the bank?"
Preston paused. "I suppose I really should be making a start on those loan figures...no," he concluded quickly, "caring for you is more important now."
"But I don't need you to care for me," she protested. "It's enough for you to be here in the morning and again at supper time. I'm not bedridden."
"Yes, but Michaela said..."
"Michaela said I needed to rest. She didn't say I needed to sit in the one chair all day. Moving around the house is not going to do me or the baby any harm...and neither is attending the picnic on Saturday."
"Picnic?" Preston echoed. "What picnic?"
"The town picnic. The one held every year around this time? I'd forgotten about it until Colleen reminded me when she was here yesterday."
"Do you really think that's wise?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"I really don't think you should be gallivanting around town," he said. "What if something were to happen?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes, "It's hardly gallivanting, besides Michaela will be there should there be any problems." He looked unconvinced so she moved over towards him, wound her arms around his waist and looked up at him beseechingly. "Please?"
Preston felt his insides melt. "As if I could refuse you anything when you look at me like that. Indeed, it's probably due in no small measure to your gaze that you find yourself in your present condition."
Laughing, she kissed him lightly on the lips. "I'll have to remember that."
XXXX
Saturday dawned bright and fair and as Preston drove their surrey towards town, Rebecca couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of a change of surroundings. Whilst recognising the need for care in her delicate state, she could see nothing wrong in a short ride into town and a leisurely lunch in the sunshine. It would be nice to catch up with the townsfolk too, for though Michaela and made Colleen had both visited her over the last few days she longed to hear the rest of the town gossip.
"You look beautiful," Preston commented suddenly.
"Thank you," she replied, looking down at the simple pink dress, stretched over her expanding stomach.
"Mr and Mrs Collins made their loan payment on time," he said as they rounded the bend. "Mr Gormley told me yesterday when he rode out with the books."
"I told you they would."
"Yes you did," he glanced over at her. "Perhaps I should employ you at the bank."
"You've never offered me a position," she replied with a smile, "but perhaps you should."
"It certainly would be more convenient having you there rather than at the store, when you return to work after the baby comes."
"I didn't realise you were in favour of my returning to work," she said, "you certainly weren't keen on my working after we were first married, if I remember correctly."
"I've come to realise, Rebecca, that whether I'm in favour or not makes no ultimate difference." He smiled at her good-naturedly. "Whatever you decide to do, I'll support you."
Surprised, yet somewhat buoyed by his attitude, Rebecca sat back and enjoyed the remainder of the journey. Preston eventually pulled the surrey to a halt at the edge of the meadow just as Jake and Theresa came across towards them, the latter dressed in a deep green colour that set off her complexion beautifully. Rebecca couldn't help but think that it was nice to see her in something other than widows' weaves and the genuine smile on her face was a huge improvement on her original demeanour when she arrived in town.
"Jake, Mrs Slicker," Preston touched his hat as they drew alongside.
"Mrs Slicker," Rebecca greeted the other woman, aware that her newfound happiness clearly came from her recent marriage. "You're looking well."
"As are you Signora Lodge," Theresa replied. "I hope you are feeling better."
"Much better, thank you," Rebecca replied as Preston lifted her down.
"Can I speak with you?" Jake asked, drawing Preston away from their respective wives. "I'm hoping to come in and see you in the next few weeks about paying off the mortgage on Theresa's ranch."
"I see," Preston raised his eyebrows in surprise, "I didn't realise that..."
"I'm thinking I might be coming into some money," Jake divulged. "Fact is, I'm planning on selling my share."
"Your share of what?"
"The Gold Nugget."
"Really?"
Jake glanced around, "I ain't said nothing to Hank yet, so I'd appreciate it if we could keep this between us right now."
"Of course, of course..." Preston's mind was whirring. "Have you considered who you might wish to sell to?"
"Well I..."
"I can certainly say that I could be very interested for the right price."
Jake looked surprised. "Well, I guess I'd have to give Hank first refusal, given that we're partners and all..."
"Naturally, but if any offer he were to make you were to be...lacking...then I do hope you might give consideration to another offer." Preston clapped him on the shoulder. "Perhaps, when you're in a position to pay off your wife's mortgage we might talk again."
"Uh, sure," Jake replied, "Why not?"
"What was that about?" Rebecca asked once they were out of earshot.
"An interesting business proposition, my dear," Preston replied, lifting the blanket and picnic basket and guiding her into the meadow, "very interesting indeed. Jake was just saying that he's thinking of selling his share in the Gold Nugget."
"And you want to purchase it?"
"It could be a very profitable hotel if managed properly."
"I can't see Hank being too keen on the idea."
"He might not have much say in the matter."
"The two of you don't exactly get on," she reminded him. "I seem to recall a slight 'clashing of heads' when he suggested the two of you go into business together before."
"That's because our ideas of class and luxury differed widely," Preston said. "At present, the Gold Nugget is nothing more than a glorified whorehouse."
"But...?"
"But in the future, who knows?" he smiled at her. "Trust me, my darling."
"I do trust you," she replied honestly. "I just think that sometimes you have a tendency to get carried away. Oh, there's Andrew and Colleen!" She hurried forwards to greet the other couple and, blankets spread, allowed Andrew to gallantly help her to a seated position on the ground. "Where's Michaela and Sully?"
"Sully's out at the reservation," Colleen replied.
"Perhaps he should take up permanent residence there," Preston said.
"Ma's coming, but Grace burnt her arm at the cafe and needed seeing to," Colleen ignored him. "How are you feeling anyways?"
"Much better, thank you," Rebecca replied. "A trip away from home for a few hours is doing me the world of good. When do you go back to Denver?"
"Tomorrow, but only for a few weeks and then I have some time at home to study before final exams and graduation." Colleen stole a look at Andrew. "Andrew said he would help me with some of the bits I'm finding most difficult."
"Not that I think for a moment that I'll be any more able than Colleen is, of course," Andrew said. "But I'm happy to help where I can."
Rebecca smiled to herself as she watched the looks pass between them. It reminded her so much of those first few days and weeks after she and Preston had declared their feelings for each other, before other factors had gotten in the way and caused so many problems. To her satisfaction, the rest of the afternoon passed in good spirits. Michaela eventually arrived to join them and the five of them made pleasant conversation about all manner of things. Other townsfolk periodically wandered over to speak with them and, through course of conversation Rebecca learned, to her delight, that Myra was expecting again and, to her dismay, that Preston and Dorothy were still at loggerheads over the future of the Gazette.
"I don't consider this to be the time and place to discuss this, Preston," Dorothy eventually said after she and Preston had been conversing quietly together for several minutes. "Besides, I've already told you that I intend to finish and publish my book, regardless of what you think about it."
"Dorothy..."
"Rebecca, you're looking so well!" the other woman exclaimed, quickly changing the subject. "I was afraid we wouldn't see you in town again until after you'd had your baby."
"This may be the last time you see me if certain people have their way," Rebecca replied, glancing at Preston who looked thunderous.
"Yes, well..." Dorothy smiled. "I'll be sure to come out and see you at home one afternoon. When you're on your own."
"I'd like that."
"That woman..." Preston said, as they watched her walk away to speak to Grace. "I don't understand why she cannot see..."
"Let's not spoil what's been a lovely day," Rebecca interrupted hurriedly as, around them, people began to gather up their belongings. "I'm sure you and Dorothy can resolve this."
"I'm not so sure," Preston replied, helping her to her feet. "I might need you to help me convince her."
"Preston..."
"Rebecca, I'll come out and see you next week," Michaela said, suddenly coming up behind them and preventing Rebecca from finishing her thought. "Just to make sure that everything's all right. In the meantime, take care of yourself and keep using the gumshoe leaves."
"I will," Rebecca said, "and thank you, for everything."
"Yes, thank you Michaela," Preston agreed. "I'm...grateful for everything you're doing for Rebecca, truly I am and...I'm sorry if there's been discord between us in the past."
Both women stared at him.
"I know that things have been said...and done in an official capacity that...well...perhaps could have been dealt with differently but...well...I know that...that Rebecca's in the best possible hands and I'm very thankful for that."
"Well, thank you Preston," Michaela said when she had recovered herself. "I appreciate that." She touched Rebecca's arm. "Take care."
"What's come over you?" Rebecca asked her husband as they walked slowly back to their surrey, arm in arm.
"In what sense?"
"In the sense that you just apologised to Michaela for, I assume, calling in the loan on the homestead. I thought you were resolute in your mind about that issue?"
"I'm not entirely incapable of recognising when I'm wrong," he said, turning to face her and brushing a stray lock of hair away from her eye. "Besides, I'm not sure what we would have done without her."
"I agree," she said as he bent and kissed her. "Now, if it'll make you happy, I promise that if you take me home, I'll go straight to bed and rest."
"Straight to bed I agree with." Preston said, pulling her gently to him. "But looking as happy and beautiful as you do, I'm not so sure about resting..."
