Chapter 13

It was dusk now and Adam and Rebecca were close to home. They were riding slower as Rebecca hadn't travelled this route before and wasn't sure of her horses footing also. She was a bit in back of Adam and as they were going around a corner of trees Rebecca felt ill again and became a bit dizzy. She shook her head a bit and it became worse. Then she became light headed and then_

"Oh Nooo, Adam." she fell from her horse.

"Rebecca?" Adam turned sport around and went back to her. Before sport came to a full stop Adam was off and at Rebecca's side. "Rebecca, sweetheart." He held her in his arms for a few minutes and then got his canteen and tried to give her a drink. "Rebecca, please drink some water."

"Adam!."

"Yes sweetheart, I'm here. Take a drink OK."

"OK. What happened to me?"

"You fell off your horse. Honey were you not feeling good again?"

"I think so. I got dizzy."

"OK, I'll put you on sport with me. We'll go to Pa's and I'll have Joe go and get Paul. And no arguments."

"No arguments. I promise."

~0~

"Adam, what happened?"

"Pa, Rebecca fell off her horse. Can you send Joe for Paul?"

"Yes of course. Bring her in the guest room down here."

~0~

"Joseph, ride to town and get Paul. And hurry please."

"Alright Pa."

Within an hour Paul was at the Ponderosa. Joe found him on the road from another house call.

~0~

"Paul, come in please. Rebecca is in here."

"Alright Ben."

"Adam, Paul is here."

"Oh good. Hi Paul."

"What happened Adam?"

"She got dizzy and fell from her horse. Paul she has been feeling ill for quite a while off and on."

"Alright, well I'll check her out Adam. You can wait with the family."

"Alright."

It didn't take long for Paul to discover what was really Rebecca's medical problem.

"Well Rebecca. How long has it been since you have had a monthly flow?"

"Oh well, I'm not sure. I think maybe I have missed two now. Why?"

"Rebecca, when a women misses her monthly flow that usually is for a very good reason."

"Oh OK, well that's one thing that Cora didn't tell me. So what doe's it mean?"

"Rebecca, you are a little over two months pregnant."

"What? Oh my. Are you sure?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure. You and Adam are going to be parents in about six and a half months."

"Oh my gosh. It didn't hurt the baby when I fell from my horse?"

"No, everything looks good. However, no more riding for you. And no heavy lifting."

"Alright."

"Well, my work is done here. Should I let the family know?"

"Yes, maybe you should."

"Alright, goodbye now."

~0~

"Paul, how is she?"

"She is just fine Adam. They both are."

"Oh thank go_wait, They?"

"Yes, congratulations Adam. You're going to be a father in about six and a half months."

"I'm_I'm_ a father? Rebecca is?"

"That's what I said."

"Well Adam, look at you. For once you have no words."

"Joe, shut up."

"Adam, I want her to stay in bed for at least a day. Everything looks good but I just want to be sure. Just cater to her for the rest of the day and tomorrow."

"Well that won't be a problem Paul."

"Good Adam. Now I better be going."

"Thank you Paul. Goodnight now."

"Goodnight Ben."

"Well, if anyone needs me I'll be in with my wife."

"Alright son. And congratulations."

"Thank you Pa."

~0~

"Rebecca, sweetheart. How do you feel?"

"Adam, I'm fine. Did Paul tell you what was wrong with me? Why I keep feeling ill and dizzy all the time."

"Ah, yes he did. It looks like your worries of not getting pregnant have all vanished."

"Adam, are you happy?"

"Rebecca I am very happy. I couldn't be happier. And you?"

"Yes Adam. It is after all what I was worried about. And here I was already pregnant."

"Yes you were. And to be safe, Paul has said he wants you to stay here in bed the rest of the night and tomorrow."

"Adam can't we go home?"

"No sweetheart. We'll stay here until tomorrow evening."

"But I don't have any clothes here Adam."

"I think you do. I will go upstairs and check to see. You stay in bed."

"Alright, I will. I promise."

"Good. Be right back."

~0~

"Adam, how is she?"

"Oh she is fine Pa. She wants to go home. I told her no. Not till tomorrow evening."

"Oh good."

"I'm going up to see what was left her in the way of clothes for her."

"I'm sure there are a few things left up there."

~0~

"OK, here we go. You had a nightgown and robe, and a couple of dresses up there. And a few undergarments."

"Oh Adam, thank you. Are you going to sleep here with me?"

"What do you think?"

"Ya, I guess that was a silly question."

That night and the next day Rebecca was fine so Adam took her home. He watched her close for the rest of the week and all she suffered from was nausea and a bit tired otherwise she continued on with her daily routine and Adam continued to go out to work with his brothers on the ranch.

After she was five months into her pregnancy she started to really show her baby bump and her clothes were to tight on her. Cora Nordstrom had made some new clothes and came to see Rebecca to give them to her.

"Hi Rebecca. Oh you look so beautiful."

"Thank you Cora. Please come in."

"I have some things for you."

"Oh really."

"Here you go. And it looks like not a moment to soon."

"These are great. Thank you so much. I think I will go and change into one of these right now."

~0~

Rebecca put on a wrap dress that Cora had made. She felt so much more comfortable. By the time Rebecca was seven months along she was feeling very tired all the time and complained she couldn't see her feet. Adam thought that was comical and then every evening he would massage her feet and legs.

"Adam, do I look fat to you?"

"What? Rebecca, you are not fat. You are seven months pregnant. And very beautiful."

"I'm sure I am not beautiful."

"Yes you are."

~0~

It is close to Rebecca's time to deliver and Adam was staying close to home now. He had a signal worked out for someone to go for Paul when Rebecca was ready to deliver. And today was that day.

"Oh no, Adam. Adam." Adam was in the yard and ran into the house.

"Rebecca."

"I'm here Adam." she was standing in a pool of water.

"Oh, Oh Rebecca, It's time?"

"Yes Adam, it is."

Adam went outside and fired off two shots to let the main house know to send for Paul.

"OK sweetheart, Paul should be here soon. Let's get you up to bed." Adam picked her up and carried her upstairs to their bedroom.

~0~

"OK, how are you feeling?"

"My back is killing me. Ohh, oh Adam, I have cramps."

"You're in labour Rebecca. The cramps means the baby is coming."

~0~

Out on the road to Virginia city, Joe was in luck once more. Paul was on his way to check on Rebecca as he knew her time was very close.

"Is it Rebecca Joe?"

"Ya, come quick."

"I was on my way already."

~0~

"Adam, Paul is here."

"Upstairs Paul, hurry."

"Alright Adam I'll take over now."

"Thank you Paul."

"Ohh, Adam stay here please."

"That's fine Adam, you can stay. Hold her shoulders."

"Ohh, it hurts."

"You're doing good Rebecca. Push with your next contraction."

"Oh OK. Ohh here it comes."

"Push hard Rebecca. That's it, there is the head, we have to get the shoulders out so push as hard as you can Rebecca."

"Oh, my back hurts."

"OK, here comes another contraction, now push hard."

"OK, ohh."

"Here comes the shoulders. One more big push and you will have your baby." Then there was a whale from a tiny little voice. "You have a fine beautiful daughter Rebecca, Adam."

"A girl? Adam we have a girl."

"Yes sweetheart we do."

And so Adam and Rebecca had their first of many children to come. They had named her

Elizabeth Rebecca Cartwright

And she was a dark haired, hazel eyes, with two little dimples. She was the apple of her daddies eye.

~0~

The end

Of part two

United we stand-Divided we fall

"Raising children'

Part 3

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