Time went by and Winter turned to spring, and spring turned into summer. Life in Hope Valley stayed pretty much constant and happy now that Jack was there to stay. Elizabeth was 7 months along in her pregnancy now, and beautiful as ever.
At least Jack thought so. She wouldn't quit teaching and insisted on being with the children of Hope Valley clear up until she had the baby. Suddenly one of the students came running up to him "Mountie Jack! You need to come QUICK! It's Mrs Thornton". Jack sprinted across town and around the pond worried about his wife. He walked into the school to see Elizabeth unconsious with blood around her. "Cody!" Jack shouted "Go get Lee, I need help carrying her to the doctor."
"Opal, go get Abigail HURRY!". The kids scattered to do what they were told, some of the older girls providing him blankets and washcloths. Jack saw Elizabeth's pulse was faint and was worried about her. "What in tarnation could have caused this?!" he said. "We don't know Mountie Jack! The kids said, she was in the middle of a lesson and then just dropped. Robert ran for you right away, we allowed him to go as he IS the fastest runner of us all". "Jack" Lee and Bill said bursting through the door. They saw the situation and the panic on Jack's face, both walked up and picked Elizabeth up gently and carried her to Doctor Shephard's Office.
Jack was on their heels as they walked in the door. Doctor Shephard took one look at Elizabeth and turned to Jack. Not wasting any time he said "Jack, Elizabeth is in extreme danger. She went into premature labor with the child.
Her water has broken. The baby is breech and stuck in the birth canal. If I don't do surgery right now, we will lose her." He looked to Jack for permission. Jack was terrified but Abigail walked in and shooed Jack out "Help her" he said weakly as she rushed him out of the room. "Abigail, don't let my Elizabeth die". "Jack, pray" Abigail said, before shutting the door to the hospital. Nurse Faith was away in Union City on hospital business so Dr. Shephard asked Abigail if she would be his nurse. "Absolutely, just do what you have to to save her" Abigail said without hesitation "tell me what you need". Dr Shepard and Abigail worked quickly to save Elizabeth and the child. He made a precision cut into her abdomen down to where the baby was stuck. He freed up the child, a boy. "Abigail get the baby cleaned up". Suddenly he said "Well that's a surprise" and pulled out another infant that was squalling at the top of it's lungs.
Abigail came over and plucked that baby, a girl from his arms. "Abigail, we aren't done yet!" he said And he pulled out another little girl, handing her to Abigail. He cleaned up and sewed Elizabeth up. Once the children were safe,
Dr. Shepard woke Elizabeth up, "You gave us quite a scare Mrs. Thornton, how do you feel" he said. "I feel better now, just tired" Elizabeth yawned sleepily then "I went into labor in the middle of class. I felt a gush and then I just dropped. Is the baby ok?" "Your 'BABIES' are fine" Dr. Carson assured her. Jack walked into the room at that moment, and breathed a sigh of relief seeing his wife awake. "And what about my child doctor" Jack asked, though he was partly afraid of what the doctor would tell him, that his "child" wasn't his. "Abigail, how about you tell her" the doctor said excusing himself to go get cleaned up. "Elizabeth, Jack," Abigail began, handing them their eldest "May I present your son "Patrick Leland Thornton" Elizabeth said. She and Jack looked at their son and a wave of relief washed over her, he looked JUST like his father. "Jack! God answered my prayer. The baby is ours and not his" Elizabeth shuddered as she said the last word. "I'm not done yet Elizabeth" Abigail said turning around again, two babies in her arms "May I also present your DAUGHTERS" And handed a baby each to Jack and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was momentarily speechless.
"Grace Rosie, and Charlotte Ann" Elizabeth said. "Jack I want to name one after my mom, and one after yours." "I like the names ELizabeth!" Jack said estatic that his daughters looked just like their mother. But they had his eye shape and the shape of his forehead.
Jack said a prayer thanking God for his wonderful daughters and his son. He was over the moon that he had an heir to the Thornton name, as well as two beautiful daughters. "Beautiful just like their mother, my bride Father" he prayed. "I thank you for them, and I thank you for restoring Elizabeth to me, I was so scared I would lose her through all of this" He glanced over and noticed Elizabeth was having issues again before screaming "DR SHEPARD" "ABIGAIL"!
They both rushed in and saw Elizabeth not breathing. There was a huge pool of blood around her when Dr Carson pulled back the sheet. "She's lost too much blood, I feared this would happen. Abigail, we need him out of here. I have to try to save her." Jack and the children were ushered out. The children were screaming, so Julie and Rosie were asked to feed them until their mother could. "We would be happy to help" they said. Rosie took the boy while Julie took both girls. Jack paced back and forth in the saloon waiting to hear if she was ok. After what felt like an eternity, but was about 4 hours, Abigail came up to him and said "She's resting Jack. We did everything we could, it's in God's hands now". Jack ran back to the infirmary and saw his wife laying there. He grabbed her hand and began praying fervently that God would spare her. They had gone through so much in the first 7 months of their marriage. "God, please" he begged "I need Elizabeth with me, she is my life. She is EVERYTHING to me. The babies need her too Heavenly Father, PLEASE spare her. Bring my wife, my beautiful Elizabeth back to me".
To be continued...