Hey y'all! I'm so so sorry that I haven't posted in a long time! I got a little bit of writer's block, but I've overcome it! So now, I'm going to do shoutouts.
Thefarmgirl: Thank you!
Bellythefatcat: Here's more!
Eleanor: Thank you!
Clown Girl: Thank you!
Mandiemysteriesarethebest: Thanks! Here's the update!
MolassesTaffy: Thank you! Here's the next chapter!
Lucy Anna Grace: Thank you!
Horse Dancer: That's cuz I just put one chapter up. Here's the 2nd one though!
Now, I won't delay you anymore, so here you go!
Chapter 2: Approximately Nine Months LaterMandie stirred the food she was making, and rested one hand on her stomach. Her stomach, which now carried a baby; Her and Joe's baby, was now at its full size, like a large balloon. Mandie often found it useful to rest her hands on, and she giggled, thinking of the baby as her hand rest. The baby's name was still undecided, but they had a good idea of what the baby should be named.
Joe insisted that if it was a girl, she would be named after Mandie, but the middle name was undecided. If it was a boy, Mandie insisted that Joseph had to be part of his name.
Dimar and Sallie's baby was a girl named Morning Star, and Robert and Celia's baby was also a girl named Cecelia.
Mandie thought that for a girl, Julia Amanda Woodard would suit, and for a boy, Joseph Ned Woodard would work, and they would just call him Ned.
Mandie then heard a horse and buggy pull into the barnyard, with a familiar,
"Mandie, I'm home!"
Mandie smiled, and in spite of having heard that same phrase for a year and some now, her heart still gave a quick quiver. She patted her belly, and said softly.
"Joe's home."
Mandie took the pan off the flame, and walked outside to meet him.
Joe was at the watering trough with the horse, when he saw her, and he smiled and waved, enjoying the pretty picture his wife made, standing on the porch, her tresses pulled back into a low bun, with an apron over her blue calico, and the large bump, that was their child.
Mandie waved back, and waited.
Colt, the horse, naughty as he was, had the nerve to choose that time to give a shove, with his wet muzzle.
"Woah-oh!" Joe exclaimed, as he tripped into the water trough.
"Joe!" Mandie gasped.
Mandie ran, or more like waddled quickly, towards Joe, and held the reins while Joe sat up and sputtered.
"Joe, are you alright?" Mandie asked, trying to bend and get his arm.
"I'm alright Mandie, don't hurt yourself, now," Joe warned, as Mandie could not bend because of the baby.
Joe got out of the trough, and squeezed the water out of his hat, and looked at Colt with disgust for a moment.
Mandie could not resist a giggle.
Joe shook his head and laughed along with Mandie.
"Aren't you going to give me a kiss?" Joe teased, holding out his arms.
Mandie gave him a peck on the cheek.
"I didn't mean for you to actually do it, now you're all wet," Joe protested.
"Then don't say things you don't mean, and you didn't even wet me, you're just fussing. Oh, Joe, you get inside and change your clothes before your coat is ruined! " Mandie said.
"Yes ma'am, but let me put Colt in the barn first." Joe said, taking the reins from her.
"By the way, Joe, today is Uncle Ned's birthday, do you think we could visit him on saturday?" Mandie asked.
"Mandie, you're due any day now, and you know even if it's close, it's rough. I'd rather wait until you have the baby before we go over there," Joe said gently. He did not like to refuse his wife anything, especially something that they both enjoyed, such as visiting her cherokee kin.
Mandie sighed.
"Alright. I just hope this baby comes soon!" Mandie said, walking back to the house.
Joe chuckled as he walked back to the barn with Colt.
If anything, he knew Mandie was impatient.
Mandie went into the kitchen, and got out two plates, and was about to put food on the first one when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She put down the plate, closed her eyes, and exhaled.
The pain lessened.
Mandie frowned. Could it be? Was the baby coming, like she had said not five minutes ago?
Mandie served the plates, and had just finished setting the table when a wave of pain, this time slightly more severe. Mandie sat in a chair, and breathed heavily, closing her eyes, and breaking into a sweat.
Joe had just come in, when he saw Mandie in her condition.
"Mandie! Are you alright? What do you feel?" Joe asked, kneeling beside the chair and clutching her hand.
Mandie now knew. It was time.
"Joe, go get Dr. Woodard-it's time." She said.
"Let me get you upstairs," Joe said, who's heart now beat quickly.
Joe helped Mandie to stand up, and Mandie leaned heavily on Joe, and went up the stairs.
Mandie sank on the bed, and Joe pulled the sheets onto her.
"Hang on, Mandie!" Joe called back, rushing down the stairs.
Mandie lay on the bed, not moving, waiting for the wave of pain to lessen.
When the pain lessened for a moment, Mandie quickly took off her apron and shoes, not wanting to dirty the bed.
Mandie had never experienced pain like this before. It was so severe, it hurt too much to even cry. As another wave of pain came over her, Mandie moaned and bit her lip.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the buggy rattled into the yard, and Joe burst into the room, followed by Dr. Woodard and Mrs. Woodard.
"Mandie, are you alright?" Joe asked, taking her hand and kneeling beside her, his eyes full of concern.
Mandie nodded, but another wave of pain came, and she gripped Joe's hand so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Joe gulped, and tried not to wince.
Dr. Woodard rummaged in his bag, while quietly listed the things he needed.
"Joe, I saw dinner on the table. Go down and eat, it might take awhile." Mrs. Woodard said, putting a hand on her son's shoulder.
Joe gave Mandie's hand a squeeze, and went downstairs.
~~~2 hours later~~~
Joe paced the parlor nervously. Stories of mothers and children dying in childbirth ran through his head. Joe had barely picked at his plate. 'What if's' spun in his mind.
Dr. Woodard then came down the stairs.
Joe looked up.
"Anything?" Joe asked.
"Well, all I can say is that the baby is taking its time, but I think it's almost time. Don't worry, son, she's strong, and she's doing just fine." Dr. Woodard assured him.
Joe sighed, and nodded.
A muffled yell of pain sounded.
Joe jumped up, worried.
"Don't worry, Joe, it's just a beckoning to the doctor. I see she's muffling herself with a pillow. When your mother was having you, she howled something awful. She muffled herself with a pillow, though, and it helps us fathers not to worry too much." Dr. Woodard said, rushing back up the stairs, and leaving Joe alone.
For a few minutes more muffled yells sounded, wrecking Joe's jumpy nerves, and finally, a last cry, and then the wail of a baby.
Joe jumped up out of his chair, and laughed with relief, his eyes shining.
A couple minutes later, Mrs. Woodard came down.
"Come see your new baby boy, and help name him before Mandie does," Mrs. Woodard said, her eyes bright, and her face a look of pride.
Joe grinned, and rushed upstairs, to find the sweet image of Mandie, her face rid of all pain, tender and loving with motherly pride towards her newborn son, who lay in her arms.
Mandie looked up, her eyes shining with love, and beckoned Joe to come closer.
Joe went and sat on the edge of the bed, putting an arm around Mandie, eager to see his son.
The baby had fuzzy, soft, dark blonde hair that was almost brown. The baby's jaw was just like Joe's, and he had the same determined chin.
"Joe, I think this is exactly how you looked as a baby," Mandie breathed, watching her little son squint and close his eyes.
"Not quite exactly, but pretty close. See, he's got your eyebrows. The same curious look. And his nose is yours too." Joe whispered, gently tracing the baby's brow.
The baby then opened his eyes fully for a few seconds, which revealed brown, intelligent eyes, just like Joe's, before he closed them again. The baby blinked and opened his eyes gradually, although his eyes crossed.
"His eyes! They're just like yours!" Mandie whispered excitedly, cooing over her little son.
"What are we going to name him?" Joe asked, giving the baby his finger, which the baby touched with interest.
"Joseph Ned?" Mandie asked.
"But we'll call him Ned." Joe affirmed.
"Well, my little Neddie wants to see Grandmother and Grandfather, doesn't he? Joe, would you let your parents in? I know they're dying to see him." Mandie said, talking to the baby in a high, sweet voice.
Joe smiled and got up to open the door, and went down to the parlor.
"Ned requests your appearance before he goes to sleep, if you please." Joe said, with a proud smile on his face.
Dr. Woodard and his wife got up, smiling.
"So his name is Ned Woodard?" Mrs. Woodard asked as they went up the stairs.
"Joseph Ned Woodard." Joe replied, still beaming.
"And you'll call him Ned. That is a sweet homage to Uncle Ned. Amanda would want to do something like that." Mrs. Woodard added.
They went inside the room and the proud grandparents held their grandson for a while, until Ned began to cry for his mother.
They went downstairs, leaving Mandie and her mother-in-law alone to feed her baby.
"Well, Son, I have to go back to the house and fetch your mother's things. Ned is a healthy baby, but doctors always want to be sure. Joe, my best advice to you is to enjoy this time, and enjoy your son. He'll grow up fast. Blink, and he'll be a full grown man before you know it." Dr. Woodard said, as he got into the buggy.
Joe nodded.
"I'll run a telegram to Amanda's parents as well, and let them know." said.
"Mandie will appreciate it." Joe replied.
Dr. Woodard drove away, and Joe went inside and relaxed in the parlor.
