Gabriel was relieved to see the Meadows farm come into sight. It hadn't taken him long to figure out why both Carson and Maggie had insisted he not ride while the cracked ribs healed. However, given the situation, it couldn't be helped.

A saddled horse outside of the horse indicated that Mr. Meadows had made it back home. As he reigned Apollo in, Gabriel was glad to know that Mrs. Meadows wasn't alone. Carefully, Gabriel dismounted his horse, trying to ignore the pain he felt. Right now he had a mother and unborn child that needed him. The pain had to be secondary right now.

Ignoring his protesting ribs, Gabriel tied Apollo's reigns around a fence rail and headed for the house. He had confidence that Davor would be right behind him. Reaching the door he knocked, but didn't wait for a reply.

"Mr. Meadows," Gabriel called out stepping into the home. He noted that the stove had a fire in it but nothing was currently on the burners.

"We're in the back room," the man called out. The reply was quickly followed by a moan of pain.

Turning to Davor, Gabriel grabbed the first aid kit the man held. "Put a couple of pots of hot water on to boil," he instructed.

Davor nodded and moved toward the kitchen area of the room as Gabriel headed for the back room. He knocked again, though he was pushing the door open without the response.

"You're not Maggie."

Gabriel wasn't surprised by the statement as he walked into the bedroom at the Meadows house. John Meadows was sitting at his wife's side, one arm around her shoulder and the other hand holding Melody's hand.

"I'm not," Gabriel stated easily, hoping that a calm demeanor might help sooth the woman a little. Melody wasn't the first expectant mother that hadn't been pleased at the idea that he would be delivering their baby.

"I told you sweetheart, Nurse Parsons got called away on another case," John told her patiently.

"I don't want my baby delivered by a Mountie," Melody said. "No offense," she added just as another contraction came over her.

"None taken," Gabriel said, taking out his pocket watch to note the time. He wanted to know just how far apart the contractions were. "However, right now a Mountie is what you have," he continued, keeping his voice as calm as he could as he approached the bed slowly.

"Do you even know what you're doing?" Melody asked him.

"Honey," John gently scolded, looking a bit uncomfortable about the whole situation.

Gabriel held his hand up to stop any further comment from the man while he held Melody's gaze. "I do," he assured her. "This will be the seventh baby I've had to deliver since becoming a Mountie," he told her. The fact that one of those babies had not survived was information he planned on keeping to himself. "Your husband mentioned the baby is coming it would be early. How early?"

"According to our estimates I should be about eight months along."

"Okay, that's good," Gabriel said. "Plenty of babies survive coming a few weeks early," he said, hoping that he sounded reassuring.

"I still wish Maggie was here," Melody stated.

"She'll be here as soon as she can," Gabriel said. "In the meanwhile, I got things under control, okay?"

Melody nodded as there was a knock on the door.

Gabriel moved to answer it, not surprised to see Davor standing there. Gabriel motioned him into the room.

"I've got the water on," Davor told him.

"Good," Gabriel replied. "Mrs. Meadows . . ." he began.

"Melody please," the woman said. "If you're going to be helping me deliver this baby, we're going to be far too intimate for a formal address."

Gabriel smiled. "Melody," he began again. "This is Constable Davor. He's never actually delivered a baby before, though he's had the same training I had. If you're okay with it, he's going to assist me, okay?"

Melody nodded, not looking any more thrilled at the prospect than she did about a Mountie delivering her baby in general. However, she didn't vocalize those feelings a second time, for which Gabriel was thankful. While he had experienced the unpredictable emotions of a woman in labor before, he had a feeling it would only make the nervous young Mountie more nervous.

Gabriel went about getting some things, like towels to wrap the baby in when it came, together. He chatted with Melody while he did so, both as a way to make finding things easier and in an attempt to help put the woman more at ease with him being there. He paused in his preparations when he noticed Melody close her eyes and squeeze her husband's hand as another contraction came over her.

Gabriel glanced at his watch. "About nine minutes apart. Has your water broke yet?"

As the contraction passed, Melody shook her head.

"Okay, we're just going to let mother nature take her course," Gabriel said calmly. "I do want to see how far dilated you are though, okay."

Melody wore a resigned look. "Like you said, you're what I have. Go ahead."

Gabriel grabbed the desk chair and moved it the foot of the bed as they heard a knock on the door.

"Davor, see who that is?" Gabriel said as he checked to see how far along in the process Melody was.

Gabriel was finishing when Davor stuck his head through the door. "It's Lucy Clay. She stopped by to see if Mrs. Meadows would like a woman presence with her?"

"Yes, please," Melody replied quickly, then looked up at her husband with a sheepish look. "Sorry."

John smiled down at his wife. "No, need to apologize, sweetheart," he told her placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Davor disappeared briefly to allow Lucy to enter. Lucy went to the opposite side of the bed that John was sitting and sat down on the edge next to Melody, taking her other hand.

"Thank-you," Melody said, the gratefulness coming through in her voice.

"You're welcome," Lucy told her. "However, the bad news is that Maggie went with the injured hand while he was transported to Clearwater. We sent a telegram ahead so she will be alerted to your labor and can come back, but it will probably be a few hours."

"And in the meanwhile, I have everything under control, Melody," Gabriel said reassuringly.

"I just want to hold my baby, this time," Melody said, her voice small and scared.

"I will do everything I can to make sure that happens," Gabriel assured her, saying a silent prayer that everything would go smoothly.

Maggie didn't remember ever feeling so tired. It had been a long day. Even with her best efforts, the Clay's ranch hand could still end up losing his leg. However, now that he was with the doctors in Clearwater, Maggie was fairly certain he wouldn't lose his life. Either way, he had a long recovery ahead of him.

Now she was riding a borrowed horse back from Clearwater to the Meadows farm. Other than the original message that was sent about Melody Meadows going into labor, she hadn't heard any more news. She hoped someone was with her and that things were going well. She also hoped to reach the Meadows farm before completely losing the quickly fading light.

Given how much she had been riding borrowed horses the last month, Maggie figured she should probably consider getting a horse of her own and learn how to properly care for one. Especially as she hoped to make Brookfield her permanent home. She had a feeling horseback riding would be a handy skill.

Approaching the Meadows farm, Maggie spotted three horses tied out front of the house. The one horse looked like Apollo, which meant that there was a good chance Gabriel had come out. Maggie wasn't sure how she felt about that but the fact that most of the tack had been removed told her that the horses had been there for a while. As she dismounted the horse she was riding, Maggie wondered if the baby had arrived yet or not.

Tying the borrowed horse next to Apollo, Maggie unhooked the handle of her bag from the saddle horn and headed for the house. She knocked but when there was no answer, she went in anyway. As she stepped inside, she heard the soft cries of a baby.

Following the sound, she headed toward a door opposite of the front door. The door wasn't all the way shut. Knocking softly she pushed it open.

"It's Nurse Parsons," Maggie called out, stepping into the room. Lucie Clay and John Meadows were on either side of Melody, still letting her grasp their hands. Constable Davor was at the foot of the bed. "Am I too late?"

"You're just in time," Gabriel replied from the one side of the room. He held a tiny bundle in his arms. The soft cries were coming from the bundle.

As the other Constable seemed to have been handling the afterbirth under control, Maggie headed toward Gabriel and the baby.

"The baby wasn't breathing at first, though she had a pulse," Gabriel told her softly as she stood in front of him. "I gave her a couple of gentle breaths, and she started breathing on her own but she's making the quietest baby cries that I have ever heard."

"Okay," Maggie said, putting her bag down.

With Gabriel holding the baby, Maggie reached into the bundle and found the baby's pulse. Satisfied that it was strong and normal for a newborn, she reached for her bag. Taking out her stethoscope, she listened to the baby's heart and lungs.

"She seems okay, other than being quiet," Maggie said to put her stethoscope back in her bag. "Perhaps she's just tired. I will keep a close eye on her," Maggie informed him. "How about you? You're looking kinda pale and tired."

"It's been a long few days," Gabriel replied, knowing that trying to brush off the nurse's observation wouldn't accomplish anything. "However, right now baby and mama need you."

"Okay," Maggie said, reaching out to take the newborn from Gabriel. "Perhaps you should sit for a spell before heading back to the orphanage, though."

"I will," Gabriel assured her as he headed toward the door of the room.

Turning, Maggie saw that Davor had left the room, and that Lucie was helping to get Melody settled in bed.

"Is my baby okay?" Melody asked, sounding worried.

"She seems fine," Maggie told her. "Though I want to keep a close eye on her for a day or so, "she admitted. "Right now though, if everyone except the parents will leave the room, I'd like to see if we can get this little one to nurse."

"Of course," Lucie said. Looking down at Melody she added, "if you need anything let me know."

"Thank-you for coming," Melody told her.

"You're welcome," Lucie said heading for the door that Gabriel was already walking out of.

"Oh, would you mind taking the horse I borrowed back to your family's ranch?" Maggie asked her. "I'll find another way home."

"I'd be happy to," Lucie told her before leaving the room.

Walking over to the bed, Maggie sat down on the opposite side of the bed from John. Maggie held the baby, while Melody undid the buttons on the blouse she was wearing. When Melody was ready, Maggie handed her the baby. "Let's see if this little one will nurse and then we'll see about getting you freshened up and comfortable for the night."

It took a bit of persuading to get the newborn to latch on, but once she did, she sucked hungrily.

"She's beautiful," Melody commented as she watched her little girl feed.

"Does she have a name?" Maggie asked.

Melody looked up at her husband. "I know we had agreed on Laura," she said, "but I'd like to call her Hope."

John nodded. "I think that is a beautiful name. Perhaps Hope Laura Meadows?"

Melody nodded. "I like it," she said, looking lovingly down at her daughter.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," Maggie proclaimed.