Chapter 35

Cassie, Emma and Sarah were all at Sarah's house, helping to put things away. Heath had taken Jonathon home with him and said he would come back for Cassie later. The three women talked and even managed to find things to laugh about. They got along well and enjoyed one another's company. Tori was playing in her room, the only room in the house to be somewhat organized.

Emma had just finished putting away some dishes in a cupboard when she felt her stomach tighten. She had been having these contractions off and on all day but hadn't mentioned anything to anyone. She was afraid she would have been ushered off to bed and she wanted to remain active. The contraction passed without Sarah or Cassie noticing, but another hit soon after that Emma couldn't ignore. She groaned slightly and Sarah turned to her.

"Emma, are you all right?" She asked, coming to her sister-in-law's side.

Emma gasped for air and reached out for Sarah's hand. "I think it might be time."

Sarah smiled and looked over at Cassie.

"Cassie, can you stay here with Tori? I'm going to get Emma home."

"Of course. Heath should be by soon and he'll keep me company."

Cassie helped Sarah get Emma into the waiting buggy outside. Heath rode up just as they were about to pull away and noticed Emma's pained expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Emma's in labor," Cassie explained to her husband.

"Heath, can you go get Nick? He's in town with Jarrod," Emma gasped out, holding her middle. Sarah raised her eyebrow at this but knew now wasn't the time to question her sister-in-law.

Heath nodded and handed Jonathon over to his wife. He promised to get the doc as well.

So, Nick decided to go in and see Jarrod? Sarah flicked the reins and started the horses off at a brisk pace. I wonder if it will help or harm? Sarah couldn't help but hope Jarrod would listen to Nick. They made it to the ranch house in record time and Sarah, with Victoria's help, ushered Emma into her room and began to prepare things for the baby's arrival.

Nick and Jarrod were sitting at a corner table nursing their drinks. They hadn't said much, but Jarrod was thankful for his brother's presence. Just having Nick there was a comfort to him.

"I've said some horrible things to her, Nick. Telling her she didn't try hard enough to save our son …Even accused her of doing something to cause Jay's illness when she carried him," Jarrod confessed. His eyes closed in pain.

Nick listened as Jarrod began to open up and tell him what it had been like the last few months. His anger toward Sarah and how he treated her. The obsession he had with finding a cure. The endless doctors' visits and tests. Watching his son grow weaker and weaker. And then finally having to face Jay's death. Jarrod had known it would happen. He just hadn't been prepared for it when it did. And then for Sarah to move out. She had asked him to come as well, but Jarrod needed to stay at the house. He wanted to be where Jay had been alive. Jarrod also confided in Nick that he loved his wife dearly but was so ashamed of not being there for her and for how he had treated her that he couldn't face her. He wasn't sure how they could recover.

Nick could be a very good listener when he wanted to be. A lot of people thought Nick spoke without thinking and granted he did do that on many occasions. But Nick also loved his big brother and was willing to lend an ear. He put his hand on Jarrod's shoulder, just to let him know he was there for him.

They fell silent again and when Nick looked up, he saw Heath come in. That he was looking for them was clear and Nick stood. Jarrod noticed Heath as well.

"Nick, Emma's in labor. I've already told the doc and he's on his way out. You'd better get home."

Nick wasted no time in getting on his horse and riding out of town, almost at a full gallop. The sun was just sinking below the horizon. The dark-haired cowboy didn't realize his brothers had ridden off with him until they had arrived home. He wasn't surprised though and he threw his reins to Heath as he ran into the house.

Victoria met Nick at the bottom of the stairs, and she noticed a bruise on his face, but didn't think much about it. She then informed him he needed to wait in the living room.

"What!? No, I want to be with Emma!" he said loudly.

Victoria put a restraining hand on Nick and said, "I know you do, but Doc Merar and Sarah are with her and they don't need any more help. They even told me to leave. It won't be long now, Nick. Come in and sit with me."

Nick looked longingly at the stairs. He was tempted just to run up and go in, but he didn't want to cause any distractions. He wanted the doc to concentrate on his wife and child.

Jarrod came in a while later, explaining that Heath had ridden back to stay with Cassie. Victoria saw that Jarrod too had a bruise, this one around his mouth. She looked at both her sons and wondered if they had been defending themselves or fighting with each other. She shrugged, knowing now wasn't the time to ask.

About an hour later, Sarah came down and smiled at Nick.

"You can go on up, Papa."

Nick bolted up the stairs to see his wife. The doctor was packing up his things. He smiled at Nick and quietly left the room. Nick stood still as he saw his wife holding a small bundle in her arms. She was softly cooing to the wailing infant. Nick walked over slowly and sat down on the bed. Emma smiled at him and had unshed tears in her eyes.

"A boy, Nick. It's a boy."

Nick's eyes also filled with tears and he took the small baby into his arms. He wouldn't let himself think about who the baby looked like. He promised himself that it didn't matter, this child was his and Emma's. The baby began to cry again, a loud cry that Nick was sure could be heard all over the Valley. The couple stared in awe of the new little life.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Victoria, Jarrod and Sarah all walked in. Sarah had already held the baby, having cleaned him up while the doc worked on Emma after the birth. She stood back a little, watching as Grandmother and Uncle were introduced.

"Nicholas William, meet your Grandmother and Uncle Jarrod," Nick said, handing the baby over to Victoria. She smiled as she took her newest grandson into her arms. Jarrod stood beside her, tears threatening to spill over. He looked at Nick and smiled, letting his brother know these were tears of happiness. Nick understood and slapped Jarrod on the shoulder.

Sarah came over then and took another peek at her nephew. He was a cutie.

"Isn't he adorable!" Victoria said.

"Yes," Sarah replied. "Even down to the birthmark on his little tush."

Emma and Nick looked to each other and then to Sarah. Jarrod and Victoria were also staring at her.

"What did I say?" she asked.

"He has a birthmark?" Emma asked. Sarah had handed Emma the baby wrapped in a blanket with just a diaper on. She hadn't had a chance to fully examine her son yet.

"Yes, I noticed when I was cleaning him up. It looks like a sideways heart."

Nick whooped loudly and went to hug his wife. Jarrod and Victoria smiled broadly. Sarah just shook her head, knowing she would get an explanation at some point.

Nick and Emma were finally left alone with their son. Jarrod offered to take Sarah home and she accepted. Victoria went up to bed, hoping that things were finally going to start looking up for her family. They had been through so much the past several months. They needed some happiness.

The ride home was made in relative quiet, but Jarrod and Sarah admitted to themselves that the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Both were still much in love with each other, but because of hurt feelings, they needed to proceed cautiously.

Heath and Cassie were delighted about the newest Barkley. Jarrod even commented to Heath that the baby was Nick made over, from the loud crying to the birthmark on his backside. Heath smiled. It seemed that David had not won after all.

Heath and Cassie left with a sleepy Jonathon in tow. Cassie told Sarah that Tori had eaten a hearty dinner and had fallen asleep about an hour before. Jarrod went up to check on his daughter and when he came back down, he found Sarah pouring coffee for them both. He sat down at the table and took the offered cup.

"I'm glad things worked out for Nick and Emma," Sarah said softly. Jarrod didn't comment, though he too was happy. He made the decision to tell Sarah about what had happened earlier with Ann Wilder.

"Sarah, I need to tell you something."

Sarah looked up at her husband. He was looking back at her, his blue eyes begging her to understand what he was going to say.

"Ann Wilder came by my office tonight to pay me a visit. She...well...she kissed me, and Nick walked in on it."

Sarah nodded. "I'm assuming that's why you have a bruise on your face? Because Nick hit you?"

"Yes. I managed to get in a punch myself, but his connected better." Jarrod paused. "I didn't welcome her advances, Sarah. Nick just happened to come in when she threw herself at me. I made it very clear to her that I wasn't interested, and I think she got the message."

Sarah considered her husband's words. She believed him and put her hand on his to let him know she understood. Jarrod took Sarah's hand in his own and held it. They sat this way for several minutes before Jarrod spoke again.

"I'm sorry for all the hurt I've caused you, Sarah. I haven't been there for you the way you needed. I've said some horrible things and treated you unkindly. I was so wrapped up in trying to help Jay, that I forgot about you. I know I don't have the right to ask but…will you forgive me?"

Jarrod choked back tears as he spoke. He knew a simple apology wouldn't erase all he'd done, but he hoped it would be a start.

Sarah wanted more than anything for them to begin anew. This was the first step.

"Of course, Jarrod," she answered, squeezing his hand.

They sat quietly for a few minutes more until Jarrod spoke again.

"I've been thinking. We haven't been up to the lodge since before Tori was born. What if just the three of us went? We could spend time together as a family, working things out."

"I would like that."

Jarrod squeezed his wife's hand. "Can you be ready to go the day after tomorrow? We would probably be gone about a week, maybe longer."

"I'll be ready."

Jarrod stood then and Sarah walked him to the door. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stay, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for that yet. She was sincere when she told Jarrod she forgave him, but she also needed time. He seemed to understand and took her hand again. He kissed it gently and said he would see her the next day. He was going to come by to pick them up so that they could introduce Tori to her new baby cousin.