Drew took Carrie to the middle of the dance floor, much to everyone's surprise. He wasn't nervous anymore. Their kiss or kisses had been perfect and now, he just wanted to hold her close.
Her blue eyes staring into his green eyes rendered him speechless, so he just danced and she blushed.
Elizabeth watched her son with Carrie. He seemed pretty comfortable out there. "Whatcha looking at?" Jack whispered in her ear.
"Your son and his girl."
"I think they make a nice couple."
"How is it we are old enough to have two married children with children of their own, one in college, and a couple more old enough to like a girl?"
"Time flies." He kissed her cheek and smiled. "Wanna dance?"
"Actually, I have a better idea." She took his hand and took him into the other part of the barn where it was nice and quiet. "Do you think people will think it's strange that our baby and our grandbaby will only be six months apart in age?"
"No probably not. Why do you care what people think anyway?"
"Mostly I care about what you think."
"I think you worry too much." He took her hand and pulled her close, dancing in the moonlight that shone in the doorway. "Hang on. Who are we talking about? Kylie is almost three and Logan is two. That's a year, not six months and from what I remember, no one gave a hoot."
"Jack, I thought you graduated top of your class."
"I did, why?"
"Think about it, babe. What's nine plus one?"
"Ten." She stared at him and waited.
"Oh good heavens, love. I'm having a baby. In June, six months after Maddie."
"What! That's great! I knew we could do it." He picked her up and spun her around. "Told you we'd have ten! You said three."
"Yes, sweetheart. You were right and I was wrong." She rolled her eyes and moved back into his arms.
"Lets go tell everybody."
"Who everybody?"
"Everybody everybody. They're all here."
"We are not announcing to the whole town that I'm having a baby."
"Why not?"
"Because that's not what we're doing."
"Fine. Let's at least tell the kids."
"We will. Maddie and Nate are coming for dinner tomorrow night and so we'll tell them then."
Maddie held her sleeping five month old in her arms all the while dealing with the kicks and jabs from the one inside her.
"Here, give me my granddaughter. You go dance with Nate," Dee offered.
"Thanks Dee." Nate had been asking her to dance all night. She honestly didn't feel good so she kept telling him no. Now, she figured they should dance at least once and then they could go home.
She walked over to where he was talking to his dad and Travis. "Hey, you ok?" he asked her. "You look pale."
"Want to dance with me before we head home?"
"Sure." They headed to the floor and she winced at the hard kick she received.
"Hard one?"
"Yeah." She wrapped her arms around his waist and put her head on his shoulder. "Ow! Something's wrong, Nate." She had a sharp pain shooting across her stomach.
He picked her up and carried her over to her chair. "What's wrong?" Dee asked.
"She said something is wrong." He ran over to his dad. "Get the doc. Maddie isn't feeling well."
Brandon ran out to find the doc and Nate told his mom to get Jack and Elizabeth. "I'm taking her inside." He carried her up to the house.
"Nate, you're going to hurt yourself carrying me."
"It's fine, Maddie. I just need to get you upstairs." He got to the top and then took her straight to the guest room, laying her gently on the bed.
"Nate.."
"I'm going to get you some water." He ran downstairs and got a glass of water.
"Thank you." She took a long drink and sighed.
Jack, Elizabeth, and Dee with Rachel came in the room.
"Mama," Rachel said, noticing her on the bed.
"Hi, sweetie." Dee handed her to her Mama.
"How are you feeling, Maddie?" Elizabeth asked.
"Ok right now. I had some shooting pains while we were in the barn."
Nate sat next to the bed, his head in his hands. "You were working too much. I never should have let you work."
"Excuse me? Nate Carlin, you did not let me work. We decided I would work."
"I should have told you no."
Jack raised his eyebrows and looked at Elizabeth.
The doctor and Brandon walked in. "Ok, everybody out. Nate take your daughter. I'm going to examine my patient."
"Mom, will you stay?" Elizabeth nodded and sat down next to Maddie on the bed.
Nate took Rachel who immediately started crying. "Mama!"
"Shhh, sweet pea. Are you hungry?" Rachel continued crying as they walked out the door.
DOWNSTAIRS
"Jack, do you have any sweet potatoes or mashed fruit?"
"Lets take a look." Jack was able to find some applesauce for Rachel. "Nate, you ok?"
"Aside from being angry at myself, sure."
"If I know my daughter, it wouldn't have gone over very well to forbid her to work."
"Yeah, well."
Jack sat down next to him and started feeding the applesauce to Rachel. "Nate, I know you're scared."
"Yes, sir, I am."
"We don't even know what's going on yet. It could have just been gas."
"Gas?"
"Sure. Happens all the time. Indigestion is very common during pregnancy."
"Jack, what if it's not gas? What if there's something wrong?"
"That's why the doctor is here. He will figure it out and then we'll know."
Rachel babbled as she ate, making Jack smile. "You make it sound so simple."
"It might be. Let's just wait and see."
"I can't lose them. Um…can you take her? I need to go up there." Jack put Rachel on his lap.
"Ok, sweet pea. Just you and me. I think we need to go get you some milk, what do you think?"
Dee was in the living room. "Hey, Dee?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"We will need some goat milk for Rachel. Would you be able to get us some?"
"Sure, but why don't I just take her with us tonight? We'll bring her back in the morning."
"I'll ask Maddie. She's never been away from her at night."
"Trust me, Maddie needs her rest."
"She can rest here. I just don't think taking her daughter out of the house is a good idea."
"Maybe you're right. I'll send Brandon back with some goat milk."
"Thanks Dee."
THE GUEST ROOM
"I'll come back in a few days. Send someone to get me if you have any more pains, ok?"
The doctor left and Nate sat next to Maddie. "Sweetie, I'm sorry about before. I was scared. I'm still scared."
Maddie took his hand and placed it on her tummy. "Feel that, honey? The baby is ok. I'm ok. You don't have to worry."
"I don't want to lose you. Either of you."
Maddie touched his face. "Nate, I'm not going anywhere." Elizabeth stepped out of the room to give them privacy and to check on the rest of the kids.
"Come lay behind me." Nate crawled over her legs and wrapped his arms around his family.
"I love you so much," he said through his tears.
"And I love you. We will get through this. A few weeks of bed rest and I should be able to get back to normal."
"He said you were doing too much. I don't think you should work anymore until after the baby. It's too much of a risk."
"I won't, Nate. I will be careful and I will stay home." He nodded, snuggling closer. "Where's Rachel?"
"She's with your dad."
"She's going to need to have a bottle soon. Can you get her for me?"
"Sure. We'll need to get some milk. I'll be back."
ON THE WAY BACK TO THE HOGANS
"I hope your sister is ok." Carrie squeezed his hand.
"She will be. The doc is there and my parents."
"It was a nice dance. Thank you for inviting me."
"Thank you for saying yes." He stopped and smiled, resting his hands on her waist. "So, before when we…."
"Kissed?"
"Yeah. Was it ok?"
"Are you asking me if you are a good kisser, Drew?" She laughed, moving her hands to his shoulders.
"No, I just, I wanted to make sure that you still like me."
"Yes, I like you. A lot."
"So it would be ok if I kissed you once in awhile?"
"Yes, it would be fine. My dad might not think so, but we'll worry about that when it comes up." They started walking again. "As far as whether you are a good kisser or not? I don't have anything to compare it to, but when we kissed, my heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest. I think that's a good sign."
He smiled and blushed, grateful it was dark. He watched as she walked inside and then went home, relief and happiness he hadn't known before making him smile.
The next few weeks were difficult for Maddie. Staying in bed made her tired and restless. Happily, she had many visitors throughout the days so she wasn't bored. Her mom took care of Rachel for the most part but brought her to Maddie for feedings.
"She keeps asking for you, Maddie."
"Thanks Ma. Hi, sweet pea."
"Mamama!" Rachel grinned and reached.
"How are you feeling, Ma?"
"Just fine, why?" Jack and Elizabeth decided not to tell the kids until Christmas about the baby. They just needed to hide it for two more months.
"You look pale and tired."
"Don't worry, Maddie. Everything is just fine." Elizabeth put a clean diaper on the bed just in case. "Nate should be here soon so I'm going to go start dinner."
"Ma, thank you for letting us stay here. I'm sorry it's so much extra work."
"Nonsense. I know you'd rather be in your own home."
"Maybe the doc will let me get out of bed after he comes tomorrow."
"I hope so, but if not, I love having you here." Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, feeling dizzy.
"Ma, when are you due?"
Elizabeth opened her eyes and smiled. "June, but it's a secret. It's our Christmas surprise for all of you."
"I'll act surprised." She patted the bed beside them. "Come lay down. You need to rest too."
"Sounds wonderful but I need to start dinner soon and…"
"You need to rest."
"Maybe just a short nap." She untied her apron and kicked off her shoes. "Nothing like a feather bed to cure what ails you."
Maddie giggled. "Is it a boy or girl?" Maddie knew her mom usually guessed right.
"I think boy. I just have a feeling."
"Mine's a girl, I think. I keep having dreams that it is, anyway." She rubbed her tummy where she felt the baby sitting. "Either way, I can't imagine loving it more than I do already."
Elizabeth had fallen asleep so Maddie and Rachel did as well, loving the quiet.
Jack and Nate walked in with the rest of the kids, including Kiki who had been at the boarding house. "Hmm. No dinner started. I wonder if Elizabeth fell asleep?"
"I'll help you cook, Dad," Drew offered.
"Deal. I'm going to go wash up. I think she was planning on making a few chickens that are in the ice box if you want to start cleaning them."
"Ugh. Can I change my mind? I hate cleaning chickens."
"I'll clean them," Carlie told him. "If you'll feed the pigs for me in the morning before school."
"Deal!"
Jack wandered upstairs with Nate to find their wives.
They found them asleep with Rachel snuggled between them. The girls continued to sleep for a few hours until Rachel got hungry.
Nate brought a bottle in and picked her up. "Nate?"
"Hi, babe. Go back to sleep. I'll feed her and give her a bath."
"I wish I could help you. I feel useless."
"You are doing what's important right now." He leaned down and kissed her. "Love you."
"Love you."
Elizabeth smiled, grateful Maddie had found someone so wonderful. "He's a good husband, sweetie."
"I know. The best."
"Actually your father is the best."
"Let's just say they're both the best."
FOSSIL CANYON, THE NEXT DAY
Caleb cringed at the telegram in his hand. He was being sent to Vancouver to stake out a new assignment. He was excited, he just didn't know if Amy would be happy or not.
"Babe? You awake?"
"I am but the kids are asleep," she said as she walked in the room. "You're early." It was just past lunch, about three hours earlier than normal. He held a telegram in his hand and suddenly she was nervous. "How long will you be gone?"
"I'm thinking a few weeks." He held his hand out and led her to the couch. "I have a new assignment. They are sending me to Vancouver. I'm going to meet with my new commanding officer and secure us a place to live."
"There are a lot of Mounties in such a big city. Why you?"
"I proved myself here and when I helped with the robberies a few months back. It's time for a new position with more responsibilities."
"More danger."
"Yeah. Good thing is, Dad knows a Mountie in Vancouver. Scott Andrews and his wife Jennifer. They have small children too and I'm hoping you two can help each other. I know it's been hard here without too many people to talk to."
"It has. What about the house?"
"I sold it. I'm using the money to pay off our debt and help us get all our things to Vancouver. This is not a bad thing, sweetheart. Vancouver has so much to offer."
She nodded. "So you sold the house? How long before we need to be out?"
"A month. I will be back in time to move us to the city."
Another move. Another city with more danger and people she didn't know. If there was ever a time she needed to trust her husband, it was now. "Ok. I guess I better make some lists."
"I'll help."
"You don't need to do rounds?"
"Already done. I'm home for the night."
HARRIS TOWN
"Dad?"
"Yes, Drew."
"Can I talk to you?"
"Of course."
"I want to help you run the ranch."
"You already do that."
"After I graduate, I mean. I want my own farm one day."
"It's a good way to support a family. What kind of farm?"
"Pigs and chickens."
"It's a good plan. I think that once you're eighteen, I will sell you a few acres and you can start it, build a house and everything."
"I need a house before that."
"Oh, for you and Carrie, maybe?" Jack teased, but he had been around young love enough lately to know what he was seeing.
"Maybe. Next summer, I am going to work for Uncle Lee in Hope Valley and earn my lumber. I already made a deal with him. By the time I'm sixteen, I hope to have the house at least started."
"I'm proud of you, Drew. I'll match whatever you earn and then help you build it."
"I appreciate that." He wanted to provide for her himself but he knew he would need help if he hoped to get anything started before he was twenty.
"Do you know where you want to build?"
"Yes, but I'll talk to Carrie first."
"Are you two officially courting?"
"Not official, but I know how we both feel."
"Try not to move too fast, Drew."
