"Lee's not back yet?" Elizabeth asked, nervously, from the foot of the steps. She realized that Nathan had put water on to boil while she had been with Rosemary.
"No," Nathan replied calmly as a bolt of lighting flashed outside. "Perhaps Carson got called out of town for something."
"But Rosemary needs him. I don't mind being there for moral support but I don't know how to deliver a baby. I was a bit occupied at the other birth I was at," Elizabeth told her husband, wondering how he could be so calm. She was a nervous wreck.
"Relax, Elizabeth. I know what to do," Nathan told her. "I just have a feeling Rosemary isn't going to be very receptive of the help. Is she close."
"I think so," Elizabeth said, as she heard another cry from her friend.
Nathan nodded. Calmly, he moved from the stove and stepped past Elizabeth. Going upstairs, he made his way to Rosemary's room.
"You're not Carson!" Rosemary exclaimed upon seeing Nathan enter the room right before another contraction came upon her.
"He's not here yet," Nathan replied calmly. "It's looks like I may have to deliver this baby."
"No!"
"Right now it's me, Elizabeth, or doing it yourself."
"And I have no idea what I'm doing, Rosemary," Elizabeth said, as she sat down on the bed next to her friend and took her hand. Elizabeth tried not to wince as her friend squeezed her hand as another contraction came over her.
"And he does?" Rosemary asked, breathlessly after it had passed.
"I do," Nathan assured her. "I've delivered two babies before I came here to Hope Valley. I know I'm not your first choice but right now, I'm what you've got."
"No," Rosemary said, before yet another contraction came over her. "Fine, fine, fine," she said, once the contraction had passed.
By the time Lee returned with Carson, a tired looking Rosemary was holding a little boy close to her. Elizabeth sat by her friend, admiring the baby while Nathan stood just inside the door.
"You're a little late, Carson," Nathan told the doctor.
"I can see that," Carson replied, smiling.
"You've got a son, Lee," Nathan said, addressing the surprised father who was slowly making his way toward the bed.
"Are you okay, Rosie? Who delivered him?" Lee asked his wife.
"I'm exhausted but so very happy," Rosemary replied. "Nathan delivered him," she added. She looked up from the baby in her arms to her husband. "I'd like to name our son after the man who brought him into this world. Especially after I may have called him a few names during the whole ordeal."
"That's not necessary," Nathan said.
"Maybe not, but I think it's a wonderful idea," Lee replied. "And we could use your father's name for a middle name," he told his wife.
"Nathan Hale Coulter," Rosemary said. "I like it."
"Me too," Lee said, reaching out for his son.
Cradling the baby in his arms, Lee looked over at Nathan. "Thank-you," he told his friend.
"You're welcome," Nathan replied. He looked to his wife. "Perhaps we should give the new parents some time alone."
Elizabeth nodded. She gave Rosemary a hug. "I'll be over first thing in the morning," she told her friend before getting to her feet and crossing the room to her husband.