Chapter 14
Victoria insisted that Harper be moved to the main house. Heath protested at first, but Victoria reminded him she'd be alone when he was working and he knew he'd never forgive himself if something happened to her or the baby if someone wasn't there.
Harper was moved into the same room where Heath had been after he'd been shot.
Once they were left alone, Harper looked at her husband with concern.
"Heath, I'm worried. I'm not sure this was the best decision," she said quietly.
Heath came to sit with her on the bed after closing the door.
"I know. But Victoria is right. I don't want you alone right now."
Tears gathered in Harper's eyes and Heath drew her to himself.
"Shhh…don't cry, love. You need to be calm. Remember, the doc said no stress," he whispered to her. He felt Harper nod against him. Heath pulled back and put his hand under her chin, raising her face to his. He kissed her tenderly, allowing Harper to feel loved and cherished.
"You just relax…become a woman of leisure," he said, a teasing gleam in his eyes. Harper smiled.
Heath left the room and Harper tried to find a comfortable position. She placed her hand on her swollen belly.
"Please baby," she said quietly. "Please let me feel you move."
Harper pushed on her stomach but nothing happened. She took a deep breath, telling herself to relax. She eventually fell asleep hoping that when she awakened everything would be alright.
Heath walked down the stairs. It was close to midnight and he knew he needed to get to bed soon. He wanted to go back to his and Harper's small house and gather a couple of things he thought she would need.
He quietly exited the house and made his way toward the small cottage. He entered, leaving the front door open, expecting to only be there for a few minutes. He walked into the bedroom and opened some drawers, pulling out what he thought Harper would want. He heard a knock and looked out into the parlor, seeing Jarrod and Nick standing in the doorway.
"Heath, we…uh…" Nick started and then he glanced over at Jarrod.
"Help you boys with something?" Heath asked. He set the clothing in his hands down and came into the parlor.
"Heath, we'd like to discuss something with you," Jarrod said and Heath looked from one to the other.
"And that would be?"
Nick took a deep breath.
"Why did you have that news clipping of our father's death?" Nick finally asked. His hazel eyes watched the blond man before him.
Heath looked from one brother to the other, wanting nothing more than to go back to be with Harper but decided he needed to explain now.
"I grew up in a mining camp. Never knew who my father was. My mother never spoke about him and I finally stopped asking. After Harper and I married, I went to introduce her to my mother only to find she was ill and wouldn't last much longer. Just before she passed, she showed me that article. She told me who my father was."
Jarrod and Nick glanced at one another.
"What mining camp?" Jarrod asked.
"Strawberry."
The three men stood in silence. Heath was eager to get to Harper and he was exhausted. He wanted to try to get a few hours of sleep before work.
"It's late," Heath said. "Can we finish this discussion tomorrow?"
Jarrod nodded. He and Nick left reluctantly and Heath put the clothing he'd gathered in a small bag. He glanced over at the trunk that had once belonged to his mother and knew he needed to open it soon. It might yield some answers.
As he walked toward the big house, he admitted he was surprised at how calmly the two Barkley brothers took what he'd said. He expected Nick to come out swinging. Instead, Heath saw a look of almost resignation. It was almost as though they knew already.
Heath quietly entered the house and made his way up the stairs. He opened the door to the bedroom where Harper was and set down the things he'd brought. He removed his clothing and climbed into bed next to her, listening to the sounds of her even breathing. He placed his hands on her swollen belly and held his breath. He wanted to feel the baby move. Just to know he or she was alright. Nothing happened and Heath felt tears sting his eyes. He was about to roll over when he felt the familiar thump come from Harper's stomach. He smiled.
"Whoever you are, you are letting me know you're there, aren't you?" he said quietly. Heath felt a rush of relief. He drew Harper into his arms and fell into a peaceful sleep.
"Victoria, it really isn't necessary for me to stay here any longer. You heard Dr. Merar. Now that the baby is moving we should be alright. I should be getting out of your way-"
Victoria raised her hand to stop Harper's protest.
"We want you and Heath here, Harper. You're getting close to your time. I'm grateful the baby is moving more. I know how scary that is. Heath is working longer hours and we just want to make sure you're taken care of."
Harper regarded the woman before her. She had no reason to believe she wasn't being told the truth but Heath had told her about the conversation he'd had with Victoria's sons. He said they seemed accepting of what he'd said but Harper couldn't imagine the Barkley Matriarch being accepting of a son born from her husband with another woman.
"Now, would you like to come downstairs to have some lunch? Or I can bring something up here," Victoria asked. Just at that moment, Audra knocked and opened the door.
"Oh please come downstairs, Harper. It's such a beautiful day. We can sit out in the garden," Audra begged, having overheard the question from her mother.
Harper nodded and followed the women down the stairs. She admitted she was hungry and being out on the sunshine would be nice.
Living in the big house the last week had been nice with all the amenities but Harper was missing the privacy of the small house with Heath. The doctor had told them both to refrain from the marriage bed, something both were sad about, but even without that intimacy, Harper was missing having her husband all to herself. He would take his meals with her in their room but after it seemed every evening, Heath was asked by Nick or Jarrod to play a game of pool or to meet in the study. Victoria and Audra would always keep Harper company.
Heath said nothing more was discussed regarding the news article or what Heath had told them. Harper found it odd. Heath said he felt as though there was an uneasy truce between them all. That perhaps the Barkley brothers were trying to figure out how to proceed.
Harper enjoyed a leisurely lunch and was happy to be left alone for a bit while Victoria and Audra went off to take care of some tasks. She placed her hand again on her stomach and felt the baby moving, smiling. Then her stomach hardened and Harper became extremely uncomfortable. She wasn't due for another six weeks at least but she recognized that she was having a contraction. It passed, but was quickly followed by another. Harper stood, hoping the change in position would help but cried out in pain and collapsed.
Heath paced in the parlor, being watched by Jarrod, Nick, and Audra. He'd refused anything to eat or drink. He'd walk over to the veranda doors and look out onto the landscape but nothing was registering. Then he'd walk back toward the bottom of the stairs, looking up to where Victoria and the doctor were with his wife. This went on for hours.
One of the hands had ridden out to where Heath and Nick were repairing the sections of fence Heath had found several weeks before. He didn't even remember climbing onto Charger or arriving at the house. He just remembered walking into the bedroom he and Harper shared in the big house and seeing her writhing in pain, clutching her stomach.
The doctor arrived shortly after and shewed him from the room. His blue eyes met the gray ones of Victoria.
"We'll be down with news as soon as we have something," she promised.
Heath had just turned back to the parlor when the sound of a newborn was heard. The dark haired brothers and Audra all came to stand beside Heath at the bottom of the stairs. Nick clapped Heath on the back in congratulations and Jarrod pulled out a couple of cigars, passing them to his brother and Heath.
Heath's eyes never left the top of the stairs. He was happy to hear the baby's cry but he was worried about his wife.
It seemed to take an eternity but finally Victoria came to stand at the top of the stairs. Heath ran up to meet her.
"How is Harper?" he asked.
Victoria had tears in her eyes and Heath's heart slammed in his chest.
"She's…it was rough, Heath. You should go to her," was all Victoria said and Heath walked toward the bedroom door. His feet felt like they were tied to anvils, and he couldn't make them move. He paused with his hand on the knob and took a deep breath, opening the door.
Harper was sitting up in bed, looking pale. Her hair was plastered to her forehead by sweat. She'd truly labored to bring the baby in her arms into the world. Heath barely registered the doctor who was standing off to the side.
"Harper?" Heath spoke and Harper looked over at him. She smiled weakly.
"Heath," she said, a small sob escaping.
Heath walked over and noticed that Harper was holding two babies. One was moving, a small fist finding its way to the baby's mouth. Twins. Heath looked to the other baby and noticed it was significantly smaller and not moving, the color not the same as its sibling. He looked to Harper, questioning.
"Heath," the doctor said. Heath turned to the man.
"What happened?" Heath asked.
The doctor sighed.
"Harper did well. It was a rough delivery but she'll be alright. She needs to stay in bed and rest to regain her strength. And you have a daughter. She's alive but small. Has a lusty cry so I'm not too concerned," the doc said and then he paused.
"Unfortunately, her twin, a boy, didn't survive. I think he passed away before he was born which is what caused Harper to go into labor early."
Heath couldn't stop the tears from gathering in his eyes. It was like joy and grief had collided. He wanted to be happy with the birth of his daughter, that Harper was going to be alright but he couldn't help but mourn for the son he'd never get to know. He sat next to Harper and took the still form of their son in his arms. He brought the baby close and wept.
The doctor slipped from the room to give the couple some privacy.
A small grave was dug in the church cemetery and the body of their infant son was placed in the ground. Heath held onto his wife, not knowing who was holding up who. He felt as though he were living in a haze, going through the motions.
He glanced down at the small baby in his wife's arms and again was thankful she had survived. Harper had barely spoken since the babies were born.
The Barkleys stood off to the side, wanting to give the couple a moment to say goodbye privately. Audra wept softly, Nick's arm around her shoulders. Jarrod stood next to their mother who leaned against him, unable to stop the flow of tears that fell down her cheeks. Victoria had stayed close to Harper after the births of the babies and Jarrod knew she was exhausted. He'd finally convinced her to rest although she only slept for a few hours before she was back to help the new mother.
Heath turned his wife toward the family and nodded to them, seeing the sorrowful looks in all their eyes. Harper kept her eyes on the baby she held, trying to keep from sobbing as she thought about leaving her son in the cold ground, the thought almost too much for her fragile heart to accept. If not for her husband's arms around her, she wasn't sure she could have taken a step.
The group made their way back to the ranch. Victoria insisted that they stay in the big house a few more days until Harper was stronger. Neither Heath nor Harper had the energy with which to argue.
All helplessly watched as Heath and Harper walked up the stairs and to their room where they closed the door behind them. Victoria decided to give them a few hours and then she'd bring them some food. She lifted up a prayer for the couple and the long journey of grief they faced.