Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I started this story. Back then I was a student, now I'm married with a 10 month old son! I will finish this story one day, I'm just sorry it's taking so long! I hope you'll continue to read and review.

28th May 1873

"I can't understand why people in this town are so excited at the prospect of watching two men beat each other," Rebecca said, pulling her shawl around her shoulders. "Even if it is someone as famous as Barracuda Jim Barnes. I don't believe I've seen Preston this excited about anything for months!"

Colleen made a face. "Andrew tried to pretend that he was attending the fight for medical reasons but I know he was only saying that. Ma said she can't believe Robert E would want to get involved in boxing. It's so violent and unnecessary."

"Are the rumours true? Have he and Grace separated?" Colleen nodded. "How awful. Perhaps this is his way of...letting out his frustrations."

"I'm sure there must be better ways. But, at least it means I get to spend the evening here talking to you!"

"I would have thought there were far more exciting things for a girl your age to be doing than sitting here with me!" Rebecca laughed.

"Are you excited? Only a few more days to go."

"I'm not sure," she replied truthfully, gently stroking her stomach. Her caesarean section was planned for 11am on the 1st of June. It seemed strange, having a distinct date and time for the arrival of her child. "Nervous...anxious is perhaps more like it."

"You trust Ma though, don't you?"

"Of course and I've no reason to think that anything would go wrong but..." she trailed off. "I suppose any sort of operation carries with it a risk. I only hope that all goes as planned."

"Of course it will," Colleen said supportively. "And when you wake up, you'll have a beautiful baby in your arms."

Rebecca smiled at the younger girl's enthusiasm, but her own fears made her keen to divert the conversation onto less worrying grounds. "What about you? Tell me all your news from Denver."

"There's not much to tell really."

"You've enjoyed college?"

"Yes, and with graduation only a couple of weeks away..."

"You still plan on going to medical school when you graduate?"

"If I'm accepted."

"Why wouldn't you be accepted?"

Colleen shrugged. "I don't know. I sent away my application to the Womens' Medical College but I haven't heard back yet...it's just..." she paused and looked down at the floor. "Things seem...different now. I mean, with Andrew and everything."

"Oh, I see," Rebecca replied knowingly.

"I mean, if I get into medical school, I'll have to go to Philadelphia," Colleen looked worried, "and that's so much further away from here than Denver is. I wouldn't be able to come home and..."

"You wouldn't be able to see Andrew." Colleen nodded. "It must be hard, making that choice."

"I just feel...I mean I think..."

"You think you love him?"

"I...I suppose I do."

"That's wonderful, Colleen. Finally realising that you've found the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with...it's a very special feeling."

"When did you first feel that way about Preston?"

Rebecca paused as she thought back. In one sense, it all seemed so long ago and yet, in another, as if it had happened only yesterday. "When he went back to Boston with Helen, I felt so empty inside and, at first, I couldn't fathom why. Then I realised that it was because he was gone and that, if he did come back, he might bring her back with him as his wife. I didn't think I could bear that and...I knew."

"And you don't regret it?"

"Loving Preston? Not at all. I regret some of the things that have happened, of course but I wouldn't change my life with him for anything..." she broke off suddenly and winced as a sharp pain went through her.

"What's wrong?" Colleen asked.

"Nothing, it's just..." she rubbed her stomach gently. "I just felt..."

"A pain?"

"No, I mean I don't think so..." The pain vanished as quickly as it had come on and she wondered if she had imagined it.

"Rebecca?"

"I think it was just a very impressive kick," she said finally. "This baby's just reminding me that he or she is still there."

Colleen looked at her stomach and laughed, "As if you could forget that."

XXXX

The fight had come to an end rather anti-climactically, Preston thought. Michaela had clearly taken leave of her senses, jumping as she had into the ring and trying to pull Robert E and Barracuda Jim apart. When Grace had screamed her husband's name, he had stopped his relentless punching and left the ring without so much as a backwards glance. Preston knew his investors wouldn't be happy, especially as they had placed large bets on Robert E emerging victorious.

"I suppose it's for the best," Andrew said sagely.

"How is it possibly for the best?" Preston asked. "I've just lost a considerable amount of money! You're not telling me that you think Michaela was right to stop the fight, are you?"

"Perhaps, on medical grounds," Andrew replied. "Mr Barnes was clearly..."

"He was losing, Andrew. Robert E was winning!"

"At what cost, Preston? The man was clearly in pain."

Preston waved his hand dismissively and looked around at the thinning crowd. "Well there seems little point in standing around here. Shall we return to the ladies?"

"Of course." They walked over to where Andrew had left his wagon and began the journey back to the Lodge home. "You must be looking forward to the birth," Andrew said as they wound their way out of town.

"Yes..."

"You sound apprehensive."

"I am apprehensive," Preston replied. "After what happened before, I doubt I will be happy until such time as I see both Rebecca and the child and know that they're both well."

"I think it unlikely there will be a repeat of what happened before. Rebecca is so much further on in her pregnancy this time and she hasn't been unwell lately, has she?"

"No, thankfully."

"But it's only natural for you to worry. I understand completely. Were it Colleen..."

"Oh yes?" Preston seized on the nugget of information. "Do I take from that remark that you and Colleen are courting?"

"Well...in a manner of speaking...I suppose..." Andrew blustered. "She's a fine young woman."

"Yes she is."

"And she will make a fine doctor."

"And what of her ability to make herself a fine wife?" Preston teased.

"I'm sure that...well... I wouldn't want to presume...especially as she will no doubt be accepted to medical school in Philadelphia."

"Let me give you a word of advice, Andrew," Preston said as the house came into view. "Don't delay. If your feelings are as you suspect they are, act on them. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by anyone or anything. I made that mistake and it almost cost me everything."

Andrew pulled the wagon to a halt. "So you think I should..."

"I think you should do whatever your heart tells you to do."

"But what if..."

"Andrew! Preston!" They both turned to see the door open and Colleen come hurrying down the steps towards them. "It's Rebecca. I think the baby's coming!"

"Now?!" Andrew exclaimed.

"But it can't be," Preston said. "She's due to have the baby delivered in four days."

"I don't think it's going to wait four days!" Colleen replied, hurrying back into the house, the two men close behind her. Rebecca was standing by the fire, holding onto the mantelpiece, her face contorted with pain.

"Oh, thank God you're back," she said as Preston hurried over to her. "It started about fifteen minutes ago..."

"I was going to ride into town and get you but I didn't want to leave her," Colleen explained.

"Do you think you're having contractions?" Andrew asked.

"I think so," Rebecca replied.

"Her water hasn't broken yet," Colleen said.

"Is that good or bad?" Preston asked.

"Good," Andrew replied. "The labour can't progress until the membranes have ruptured. One of us should ride for Michaela and we might need some of the equipment from the clinic."

"I'll go," Colleen volunteered.

"No, I should go."

"But you should stay here in case her waters do break."

"Someone go!" Preston declared, taking Rebecca's arm and guiding her to the chair. "This shouldn't be happening, not now..." He met her gaze and saw the same fear he felt himself mirrored in her eyes. "But it'll be fine," he continued, realising that at that moment, she needed him to be strong. "It'll all be absolutely fine."

XXXX

Later that evening, he began to doubt his positivity.

The noises coming from the bedroom upstairs were like nothing Preston had ever heard before. They ranged from what he imagined a cat would sound like were it being strangled, to low moans that reminded him of the time Horace came down with gallstones.

"How much longer?" he asked looking over at Andrew who was sitting opposite him at the table.

"I don't know."

"It's been six hours!"

"Labours can be long and arduous. It's not uncommon for women to take many hours to finally give birth."

"But Caroline came so quickly..."

"That was different. There was obviously a problem with Caroline that made that happen. Rebecca is nearly full term with this baby and, well, this is perhaps more normal."

"Perhaps more normal?" Preston echoed, searching the other man's face.

"I...I don't know, Preston. Michaela is far better placed to answer any questions you might have about it..."

"It was exactly this sort of protracted labour that Rebecca was told she must avoid!" Preston got to his feet and moved over towards the fire. "Her heart isn't strong enough to withstand it!"

Andrew glanced at the clock. "She seems to be doing all right so far...where are you going?"

Preston paused at the foot of the stairs. "Perhaps I should go up..."

"I wouldn't advise that, Preston." Andrew got to his feet. "Men...fathers...are usually kept well away from the delivery room, for good reason."

"Good reason?"

"It can be unpleasant, the miracle of birth," Andrew laughed softly, then coughed. "I mean...I think it's best you remain here."

"I wasn't with her the last time," Preston mused. "I couldn't be with her and I just think..." he placed one foot on the first step and then stopped as a blood-curdling scream filled the air. "But perhaps, perhaps you're right, Andrew." He moved back over to the table and poured himself another whisky. "Perhaps I should just remain here..."

XXXX

Far from the mere moments it had taken for her to birth Caroline, six hours later Rebecca was still fighting to deliver this child. Weak with exhaustion and damp with sweat, she found herself praying for it to be over. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand the pain and the fact that Michaela's initial cheeriness had descended into noticeable silence, was doing nothing to raise her spirits.

"You're doing really well, Rebecca," Michaela said suddenly, as though she had read the other woman's thoughts. "When you feel the next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can."

"Why...why isn't the baby coming?" Rebecca asked as Colleen wiped her forehead with a damp flannel. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Michaela reassured her. "Some labours simply take longer than others." She pressed her stethoscope against Rebecca's stomach and exchanged a look with Colleen.

"Something is wrong," Rebecca insisted. "What is it?"

"Your baby's heart rate is dropping," Michaela said.

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that he or she wants to come out and meet you. So I need you to push as hard as you can when you feel the next contraction, all right?" Rebecca nodded mutely, her face suddenly contorting with the familiar agony. "All right, push!" She bore down as hard as she could, gripping onto Colleen's hand, a guttural groan emerging from her throat. "Keep going!"

"I can't..." Rebecca panted, "I can't do this..."

"Yes you can," Colleen encouraged her. "You can!"

"One more push!" Michaela declared from between her legs, "Come on Rebecca, push!"

XXXX

Preston stood frozen to the spot, his heart in his mouth, hardly daring to breathe as the plaintive cry filled the air. He barely felt Andrew's congratulatory clap on the shoulder and continued to stare at the top of the stairs, waiting for the moment when Michaela would appear and tell him the news. He wasn't kept waiting for long and as she descended towards him, a smile on her face, he dared to allowed himself to think that everything was all right, that mother and baby were both well.

"Congratulations Preston," she said. "You have a son."

He opened his mouth to reply and yet found that no words would come out.

"Rebecca is fine," Michaela continued, as though reading his thoughts. "She's very tired, but there don't appear to have been any ill-effects from the labour. I'll need to monitor her over the next few days and weeks...but all appears well."

"Thank you," he finally managed to say, his voice thin and ready. "May I...?"

"Of course!" Michaela stepped aside. "Go and see them."

He wanted to run up the stairs but, instead, took them slowly, wanting to see and yet almost afraid to see the end result. He had a son...the words reverberated around in his head. It was too good to be true, surely? He expected Michaela to rush up behind him, barricade his way and tell him she had made a terrible mistake. But it didn't happen. Back downstairs, he could hear Michaela and Andrew's murmured voices and Colleen's coming from the bedroom.

He paused in the doorway and looked over towards the bed where Rebecca lay, a swaddled bundle next to her. She looked exhausted, her face still bearing the redness of her exertion, her hair wild around her, but she was smiling and it was more than he had ever dared to hope for.

"Preston..." she breathed his name. "I can't...can't quite believe it. Come and see," she encouraged him as he stood, seemingly rooted to the spot.

As Colleen gently moved past him, he walked over to the bed and sat down slowly beside her. Gently, she pulled back the shawl and revealed to him the face of his son. The pink, living, breathing face of his son. Perfection wasn't a word he would use blithely but, in that moment, it seemed the only fitting one.

"Meet your son," Rebecca said, gently moving the baby across and into his arms.

Preston stared down at his sleeping face, his emotions awash. He wanted to laugh, wanted to cry, wanted to whoop with joy...and as he looked back at his wife, he could see the same feelings in her expression. "My darling..." he leaned across and kissed her. "Sweet, wonderful Rebecca...you've made me so happy..."

"I'm glad," she replied. "I prayed to God through the whole thing that all would be well and it appears that it is."

"You feel well?" he asked her, lifting concerned eyes from his son's face to hers.

"I feel as though I've been run over by a wagon, but that's nothing in comparison to what I feel just looking at him, seeing you with him..." tears sprang into her eyes. "It's all so different from the last time, as it should be."

Standing up, Preston carried his son over to the bedroom window where light filled the sky. "Welcome to your world," he said softly. "I will make sure you have everything you have ever wanted, I promise you that."