A/N Don't forget to read chapter 71 if you missed it while the site was down :)

...

I sat on the swing on the back porch with Eleanor curled up beside me. Chief was laying at my feet, one ear cocked and his tail wagging slowly.

It was a beautiful day, the early July sun warming the air and the bright blue sky broken up by the occasional puffy cloud.

I looked up when Jane laughed. She was riding on Lady as Jack led the horse around the yard.

"Horse!" Ellie pointed.

"That's right, Ellie. That's a horse." I ruffled her hair. "Once you get a little bigger, you can ride her, too."

She leaned against me, placing her little hand on my stomach. "Baby."

"Are you excited to meet the baby?"

"No."

"No? You don't want a baby brother or sister?"

She shook her head. "No."

I laughed softly. "Hopefully you change your mind, because we can't give the baby back." I put my hand next to hers. "Let's see if we can get him to move, huh?" I moved my fingers until I found his head and pressed lightly. He shifted just a bit.

Ellie giggled.

"Did you feel that? That was the baby. You used to move like that when you were in my belly, especially when it was time for dinner. And speaking of dinner," I carefully stood and held out my hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's go see if your dad and sister are ready for lunch."

...

"Hi, Meg." I smiled as she toddled over. "How are you?"

She grinned at me, waving her chubby little hand.

"She's gotten so big."

Faith picked her up and took a seat across from me. "I know. I can't believe she's walking and starting to talk."

"Just wait until she starts talking back. Ellie's current favorite word is 'no.'"

"Oh dear." She chuckled. "Hopefully this little one doesn't learn that word for a while."

"They do outgrow it. Eventually."

"Thank goodness." She smiled. "Anyway, how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. I'm starting to get really uncomfortable, but I know that's normal considering I'm only a month away from him being born." I rubbed my stomach, and the baby kicked. "I'm more than ready for him to be out of me. I have a feeling this one is bigger than the girls were."

"Have you decided where you want to have this baby?"

"I think I'd rather have him at home. Unless, of course I happen to be in town when labor starts. Then it would make more sense for me to have him at the infirmary."

"You're still convinced this one is a boy?"

"Yes. And yes, I remember that I was convinced that Jane was a boy." I chuckled. "It's different this time."

"Well, we'll all find out soon if you're right." She kissed the top of Meg's head. "Oh, before I forget, Carson and I have to go out of town for a couple of days to pick up some supplies. We leave tomorrow. But don't worry, we'll be back long before your labor starts."

"Good, because I don't think Jack would particularly enjoy having to help me deliver the baby."

She laughed. "I imagine that would be quite a sight."

...

I woke when I heard shuffling in our room. I squinted in the dim light coming from the lamp. Jack was standing near the wardrobe, his back toward me. "Jack? What are you doing up? It's early."

"Ned called a few minutes ago. I'm surprised the phone didn't wake you. A telegram came in. They need me to go to Benson Hills this morning." He pulled his serge from the wardrobe. "It shouldn't take long. I'm expecting to be back this evening, or hopefully this afternoon."

"Okay."

"I need to get going, but I'll see you soon." He came around the bed and leaned down to kiss me.

"Be safe."

"I will." He kissed me again, resting a hand on my stomach. "Take care of our boy. I'll say goodbye to the girls before I leave. I love you."

"I love you, too."

I heard his footsteps retreat down the hall to the nursery, where he spoke softly to Ellie. Then he crossed the hall, and I heard Jane's sleepy little voice. A few moments later, he poked his head into our room, said goodbye again, and was off.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling. It never got easier to see Jack leave, even knowing he wouldn't be in any danger. I put my hands on my stomach.

"Good morning, little one. What do you suppose we should do today?" I winced as the baby moved and caused a sharp pain. "Are you trying to get more comfortable in cramped quarters? You just need to stay in a little while longer. We want you to be big and strong when you come to meet everyone. But not too big, okay?" I laughed softly. "You don't want to hurt mama, do you?"

"Mama!" Eleanor's voice floated down the hall.

"Well, that's your sister. We should probably get up and get started on breakfast before Aunt Rosemary gets here."

...

I rubbed my back and let out a breath.

Rosemary glanced over at me, concern etched on her face. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. He's just trying to get comfortable in there."

"That's the third time in the past hour that you've acted like you're in pain. Are you sure you aren't going into labor?"

"I'm sure. I'm not due for almost a month yet. It was the same way when I reached this point with the girls, too." I stood up. "I think I just need to take a little walk. Is it okay if I leave the girls with you for a bit?"

"Of course. We'll be fine. Take your time."

"Thank you." I walked across the room to where Jane and Ellie were sitting on the floor, playing with Patrick. "Jane, Ellie, I'll be back soon. You stay here with Aunt Rosemary, okay?"

"Why go, mama?"

"I just need to take a little walk, Janie. I promise I'll be back in a few minutes, and then we can go to Aunt Abigail's for lunch." I kissed the top of her head, then Ellie's. "Be good, girls."

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the dress shop. The pain in my abdomen had subsided as the baby shifted into a new position.

The gravel crunched beneath my feet as I walked down the street. A few people were milling about, and I said hello as I passed them. It was another beautiful day, the air warm and the sky clear.

When I neared Abigail's, I suddenly felt a pain and a rush of fluid, and my stomach dropped.

I burst through the back door of the café, startling Abigail.

"Elizabeth! What's going on?"

"My water just broke."

"What?!" she gasped.

"The baby is coming, and Carson and Faith are out of town."

She dropped her dish cloth on the table. "Is Jack at the jail?"

I shook my head, clutching my stomach as a pain shot through me. "He had to go to Benson Hills this morning. He isn't back yet."

"And the girls?"

"With Rosemary at the dress shop. Abigail, I think this baby is coming quickly." I was already feeling intense pressure, and having given birth twice before, I knew it wouldn't be long before I felt the urge to push.

"We'll just have to do this ourselves, then. You just go settle in upstairs. I'll send Cody to let Rosemary know what's going on, and then I'll be up soon."

I paused in the doorway of the bedroom, leaning against the wall when another pain hit. Shortly after I got settled on the bed, Abigail came up, carrying a basket full of towels and blankets.

"Well, let's get ready to meet this little one."

"Abigail, this baby is a month early." I felt tears stinging my eyes. "What if—"

"Shh." She squeezed my hand. "Everything will be fine. Do you remember Carla's twins? They were born early, and they were just fine. This baby is going to be okay."

I leaned back. "I need Jack here."

"I'm sure he'll be here soon."

I shook my head, the tears spilling down my cheeks. "I can't do this without him."

She put a hand on my shoulder. "You might have to, Elizabeth. You can do this."

I lay on the bed, working through contractions and praying that Jack would arrive before the baby came.

An hour and a half later, Jack burst through the door, out of breath. "Good. I didn't miss it." He sank onto the bed beside me, the same place he took during the births of both of our daughters. "I guess Carson and Faith picked a bad time to go out of town," he chuckled.

"Jack," I moaned, "this isn't the time for jokes."

"Sorry." He kissed my temple.

"Okay, it looks like this baby is eager to meet you. You're ready to push, Elizabeth."

Jack took my hand, coaching me through the birth.

Just over two hours after my first contraction, we welcomed our third child into the world.

Abigail looked up at us with a grin, the baby screaming in her arms. "Want to tell her, Jack?"

"It's a boy." Jack leaned his forehead against mine, tears filling his eyes. "A son. We have a son, Elizabeth."

Abigail wrapped him up in a blanket and placed him on my chest. I blinked away tears as I looked at his tiny, perfect face. "Hello, little one."

...

Rosemary entered the room, holding Eleanor in one arm, her other hand grasping Jane's. "Little Thorntons one and two are ready to meet Little Thornton three."

Jack chuckled, taking Eleanor from her. "Well, girls, this is your little brother."

Jane climbed up on the bed, peeking over the blanket at her newest sibling. "Brover?"

"That's right, Janie. Now you have a little sister and a little brother."

"What's brover's name?"

I looked up at Jack, and he shrugged. "He doesn't have a name just yet. We weren't expecting him to be born for another month." I shifted the baby in my arms. "Would you like to hold him, Rosemary?"

She smiled. "I'd love to." She lifted the baby from my arms. "Well, aren't you just darling?"

"I hold?" Jane reached out toward her brother, then looked back at me.

"In a minute, Jane. It's Aunt Rosemary's turn right now."

"He's lovely, you two."

"Thank you." Jack met my eyes and smiled.

"And it seems you were right this time. You have your little boy."

"Our son." I squeezed Jack's hand, still a bit incredulous that our boy was finally with us.

"Well," she passed the baby back to me, "I'll leave you all to have some family time. Lee and I will watch the girls tonight so you can get that little guy settled in at home."

"Thank you, Rosemary."

"I'll be by in an hour or so to pick up the girls."

Jack took a seat on the bed, releasing Eleanor so she could get a closer look at her brother. "Look at us. We're a family of five now."

"We have three children." I let out a breath. "Are we crazy for having three children so quickly?"

Jack chuckled. "Maybe a little. But look at them." He nodded toward the girls, who were staring in wide-eyed wonder at their new brother.

"Girls, what do you think of your brother?"

"I love brover." Jane reached out and touched his cheek.

"That's sweet." I smoothed down her hair. "He loves you, too."

"What do you think of him, Ellie girl?"

"No."

I chuckled. "Silly girl. I know you can say more words than that. Do you like him?"

She nodded. "Wuv."

I looked over at Jack and smiled. I felt like my heart could burst as I sat surrounded by my little family, the room filled with so much love.

...

After Rosemary and Lee took the girls with them, Jack drove me and the baby home. We ate the dinner that Abigail had sent with us, then we just settled down in our room, marveling at the little life we created.

"I forgot to ask. How did you know I was at Abigail's?"

"Lee was waiting outside the jail, and he told me what was going on. Apparently, he had called the Mountie office in Benson Hills, but I had already left by then."

"I'm so glad you arrived in time. I don't think I could've done that without you."

"You could've done it." Jack smiled as the baby yawned. "You know, I think he's bigger than the girls were when they were born, even though he came early."

"He definitely is." I shifted in the bed, wincing at the soreness that had settled into my muscles. "I could tell before he was even out of me. No wonder I felt bigger this whole time."

"You're amazing, Elizabeth." He stroked the baby's cheek. "He's perfect."

"You know, I think he looks a lot like Jane: a good mix of you and me."

"We still need one that looks just like me." He winked.

I laughed softly. "Let me recover from this one, and then we'll talk." We both stared at the baby as he slept soundly in my arms. "Jack, he still needs a name."

"What about Levi?"

"Hm." I touched the baby's cheek. "Levi Jack Thornton. I like it. It fits him."

"Levi," he whispered, curling his hand around the top of the baby's head. "When we got married, did you ever expect that we would have three children before our fourth anniversary?"

I shook my head and chuckled. "I don't really know what I expected. Maybe I should have expected this, considering you kept going on about the 'Thornton clan' when you showed me the plans for our house."

"I'd say we're well on our way to having a clan. And we're over halfway to a whole baseball team now, if you and I are included." He leaned in and kissed my cheek. "I love you, Elizabeth."

"I love you." I smiled when Levi grunted in his sleep. "I suppose we should put him in the cradle and try to get some sleep ourselves."

"Just a few more minutes." He sighed contentedly. "I can't stop looking at him. We've made three perfect little tiny humans."

"We're so blessed."

"That we are." He kissed me softly. "So very blessed."