(Chapter Twenty-Seven)

Getting Close

A few months later, Jack was awakened in the middle of the night by Elizabeth moaning in pain.

Jack stirred and shook his wife gently to wake her up.

"Elizabeth," he whispered as she slowly stirred.

"Jack – " she started but could get no more out. She was in too much pain.

"What's wrong?" he asked against her hair.

"I – I think the – the baby's coming," she gasped between breaths.

Jack was astonished. He thought that they had two weeks yet. Apparently not. He was going to be a father! What joy! But now he must help his wife! What could he do for her? He managed to say "I'll be right back," and jumped from the bed.

He ran down the stairs so fast that he fell on the way. He ran out the door and pounded on the door of their neighbour's house.

"Lee – someone's at the door," Rosemary told her half-asleep husband.

They both grabbed a robe from the closet and ran to answer the door. Jack had not stoped pounding.

"Jack – what's wrong?" Lee managed between a yawn.

"Elizabeth – she's in so much pain. She thinks the baby's coming." Jack said between breaths.

"What can we do to help?" Lee asked, concern showing in his eyes. His wife seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"Could you stay with her while I fetch the doctor?" he directed this to Rosemary.

"Of course. I'll be right over," she said cheerfully, yet sleepily.

"Thanks," Jack yelled from half way down the street.

Rosemary stayed with Elizabeth as promised, and Jack went to fetch Carson Shepherd, the town doctor.

He pounded on the infirmary door, but there was no answer. So he ran as fast as he was able in the direction of the doctor's house.

He pounded on the door, and again there was no answer. He pounded even harder. He must reach the doctor for Elizabeth's sake, and quickly.

Jack heard rushed footsteps increasing in sound. It was obvious to tell that someone was coming to the door in a hurry.

Thank God! Jack breathed a silent prayer that they would not be too late.

Carson answered the door and Jack rushed in telling him about their situation.

"Alright Jack. Everthing is going to be okay. You run on ahead and sit with your wife. I'll be there shortly."

Jack nodded and ran to his house.

Carson grabbed his doctor bag and left. He ran in the opposite direction, knocked on a door and out popped Faith.

"Carson," she said sleepily "What are you doing here?"

"Elizabeth Thornton may be in need of our assistance," he said calmly. Faith had no idea what Carson meant, but as she came out of her sleepy state, she remembered.

"The baby!"

Carson seemed to agree that they should hurry.

"Give me one minute."

She arrived to the door precidely 48 seconds later.

Carson held his arm out to her and she clung to it as they walked so fast, one could almost consider it a run.

They arrived to the Thornton's house and Rosemary answered the door.

"Thank goodness you're here!" she said as she looked at them closely. She was shocked to see Faith's arm tucked into Carson's.

Faith reluctantly pulled away from Carson when she saw Rosemary watching them closely. Too closely she thought. She looked over at Carson as they enetered the house and climbed the stairs to where Elizabeth was lying.

Carson did a quick examination and announced that it could be anytime, but it might be a few more days yet. No one could know forsure.

"I'll stay for a while just to see if she gets worse. I'll be waiting outside if you need me," the doctor said quietly.

"Oh, Carson, you don't have to do that," Jack tried to tell the man to go home to get some rest. But Carson would take none of it.

"I'm not tired anyways. When I get tired, I'll go home, okay?" he tried to assure Jack.

"Alright. But I'll hold you to that," Jack replied.

Carson turned to Rosemary. "And you need to go home and get some rest. You'll need it." When Rosemary started to protest, he turned to her husband. "Lee, make sure she takes it easy the next few days. Thank you."

Carson stepped outside after Mr. and Mrs. Coulter had left. Faith was close behind him. He smiled at her. His deep, dahing smile made her blush, and she smiled shyly.

He found a porch chair and offered it to Faith. She sat down and Carson grabbed one for himself. As he sat down, he spoke softly "You know, you don't have to stay, Faith."

"I know," she said softly, looking into his deep blue eyes. "I – I want to," she said as she bit her lip to keep from weeping.

He beemed at her again and she relayed a smile of her own.

"Thank you, Faith."

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he stood to his feet and held his hand out to her.

"Take a walk?"

She took his offered hand almost before he had finished speaking.

He understood her answer to be a yes. He helped her out of the chair and pulled her to her feet.

Faith felt the strength in his arms as he held her tight. Then he offered her his arm, and she took it as she smiled up at him.

As they walked, they talked quietly.

Faith was looking into Carson's eyes, not paying attention to where they were going and suddenly she tripped over a rock. Carson's reflexes were faster than her own, and before she knew what was happening, he swept her into his arms. The swift motion took her breath away.

Oh! her heart leaped with the thrill of it all.

"It's alright," he whispered against her hair.

"I know," she whispered back. Her voice tickled his ears.

He carried her back to the Thornton's house and placed her carefully on a porch chair.

"Are you alright?" he asked after silence the entire walk back.

"I'm fine, Carson. Really. I just twisted my ankle on a rock. I'll be fine," she tried to assure him.

"Are you sure?"

She didn't know if it was the doctor inside speaking or Carson Shepherd, her friend, her "more than a friend".

She nodded to assure him that she was fine.

"Good," he said, reaching for her to pull her closer to him. "I love you, Faith. I – " he was interrupted by a soft kiss. "I don't know what I would ever do if you were seriously injured. Carson swept her away with a kiss. They looked to the heavens and saw the sun starting to make its appearance.

"You should go home. Get some rest before – " Carson started but was interrupted by Faith.

"No – I want to be with you."

He kissed her again.

Rosemary walked up the steps to wish everyone a goodmorning and to check on her friend.

"Goodmor – " her voice trailed off when she saw the two embracing, sharing a kiss. Carson and Faith withdrew when they heard Rosemary's voice.

"Oh – hello Rosemary," Carson said as he backed away from Faith. Faith looked up at him, the early morning sun shining on his back, outlining him.

Rosemary pretended she had not seen them kiss. She did not want to embarrass the two lovebirds. Love was such a wonderful feeling.

A cry from upstairs had them on the run. They found Elizabeth rolling in pain on the bed. Jack was leaning over her, kissing the top of her head.

"Honey, wake up. The doctor's here. Please sweatheart," Jack urged his wife. Maybe coaxing wasn't quite enough.

Rosemary hoped that she would not be in such pain when her time came.

Carson walked over to where Elizabeth was lying.

"Mrs. Thornton. Please, can you hear me? Elizabeth?"

She slowly awoke and looked up at Carson. She then turned her eyes to her husband.

Carson asked her a few questions, gave her some medicine, and walked Faith home.

"I will see you in a little while," Carson teased Jack. "Call for me if she gets worse. And give her one teaspoon every two hours or so. If she's not in pain, she won't need any."

"Yes doctor. Thank you."

Carson nodded and took Faith's arm in his own.

They walked along in silence. Suddenly Carson stopped walking and turned to Faith. He drew her close and kissed her deeply. Faith smiled shyly. She hoped that one day, they would get married and have children of their own. She prayed that God would give Elizabeth the strength she needed for this baby. She cherished her moment in prayer, then resumed walking with her "love", as she now called him in her imagination.