Chapter 13
As the weather grew warmer Beth started spending more time at the ranch. It was a busy time with spring foals and cattle herds being driven north, and many cattlemen needing to replenish their stock of horses. Adam was often out making calls to the surrounding farms so he would take Beth with him as far as the ranch and collect her on his return.
Charlie was often too busy with the horses to keep her company – even her newfound womanhood did not prevent her from being involved with the foaling. But Melanie was a frequent visitor to the ranch, as always, and she and Lou spent many pleasant hours talking while Beth sewed baby clothes and knitted blankets. No one was more excited than the mother-to-be at the prospect of the baby, but she had five more months to wait.
Adam arrived just in time for lunch one day, and joined the family as they sat around discussing the latest goings on in town.
"Did you talk to the Marshal, Pa?" asked Jamie between mouthfuls.
"What about?"
"Have you see Skydancer's colt, Beth?" Charlie said at the other end of the table. "You have to come down and see him, he's perfect."
"Some gang's been causin' trouble out near Caxton. They held up the bank and robbed the mail coach on their way outta town. Marshal wants us to be prepared in case they come this way."
"Tucker Boyd's gang, isn't it? I saw him putting up the posters this morning," Adam joined in.
"Yup, reward's already 100."
"There are other colts but none as good as this one," continued Charlie. "Now I just have to think of a name for him."
"Well, let's just wait and see if we're needed," Kid mused. "Hopefully they won't pass through this way."
"What do you think, Beth?" Charlie asked persistently, but it was obvious she was not listening.
Lou was talking with Melanie and absorbed in her own conversation but Charlie's sharp voice soon interrupted her.
"Beth, are you feeling all right?"
Lou looked up to see a very pale Beth suddenly get to her feet, somewhat shakily.
"Would you all excuse me for a moment?" she murmured, then quickly left the room.
All conversation had stopped and Adam hastily followed her out.
"Is she all right?" asked Jamie, his fork paused halfway between his plate and his mouth.
"She's fine, you all go on eatin'," Lou ordered, mostly for the benefit of Ethan and Jake who didn't understand what was going on.
She went out to find Beth and Adam on the front porch, the former having regained a little color and Adam holding her hand helplessly. He looked up in appreciation when his mother emerged and handed Beth over to her.
"I'll just get her some water," he said before slipping back inside the house.
Beth looked at Lou with a wan smile. "I thought I was over it. But the last few days…"
Lou squeezed her arm reassuringly. "It'll pass. The first one's always the worst. Jamie was for me. Although… I was sick to my stomach with all the boys. Charlie was the only one I didn't get morning sickness with."
Beth laughed noiselessly, as if this was supposed to make her feel better.
"Well, maybe that solves one mystery at least – whether it will be a boy or a girl."
"No, you never can tell," Lou replied, staring out over the yard. She listened as Beth took a few deep breaths. "Better?"
She nodded and placed her hand over Lou's in thanks. She had not been having an easy time of it and she was glad that she had Lou to comfort her. Having a doctor for a husband was one thing, but most of the time she just felt better having someone else close by who had had children. Beth knew very little of what to expect and she found herself growing more dependent on Lou's calm confidence that everything would be fine.
Adam returned with a glass of water which she drank gratefully. When she turned to go back inside Beth found Kid, Melanie, Jamie, Charlie, Ethan and Jake all crowded around the doorway expectantly, wanting to make sure she was feeling better. Lou shooed them away before she grew too self-conscious then grinned at Beth as she ushered her inside. Beth didn't mind – it was the price she paid for having a large family who cared about her, and she wouldn't have changed it for the world.
A few days later Beth emerged from the bedroom in her small house and gingerly sat down opposite Adam at the breakfast table. He eyed her carefully and was about to offer to make her some eggs, but one look at the remnants on his plate made her blanch further, so he decided against it. He swallowed the last of his coffee and got up to pour her a glass of milk instead.
"What are you planning to do today?" he asked gently as he handed her the glass. He tried to mask the sympathy in his voice lest he be reminded again that it was his fault she had morning sickness.
"I'm supposed to be visiting the school this morning for a literature class," Beth replied dully, her head resting in her hand. She still felt unwell and seemed to be getting worse rather than better. Adam assured her it would pass, as did Lou, but she was beginning to doubt them.
"Maybe you should stay here and rest instead," Adam suggested, pulling on his black vest and buttoning it over his crisp white shirt.
"I don't want to let the children down."
Adam crouched down beside her chair. "I'm sure they won't mind. You look terrible."
"Thank you very much!"
"I don't mean it like that," he said quickly after a small sigh. "You shouldn't push yourself."
"I hardly think reading to a group of school children is pushing myself," she countered testily, but then her voice softened. "Stop worrying about me, I'll be fine."
Adam planted a kiss on her temple, then got up to clear the table.
"I've got a couple of calls to make in town this morning, then I'm due at the McClusky farm after lunch. I'll come back to check on you before I go, all right?"
"You don't have to."
"But I want to." He threw her a loving smile. "As if I could stay away."
"I thought I looked terrible," she reminded him through half-closed eyes.
"Terribly beautiful," he corrected before kissing her again. "And tonight, I'll be all yours. I'll cook dinner and you won't have to lift a finger."
Beth smiled enticingly at the proposal and pulled him closer for what he thought was a kiss, before she whispered, "We're having dinner with the family tonight."
Adam groaned. "I forgot. Maybe we should beg off."
"We can't, Dan Lawson is coming for supper," Beth said in an ominous tone. "I promised Charlie we'd go for moral support."
"Why do I want to lend Dan moral support?"
"Not him, silly, for Charlie. You know what your father and brother are like. And that poor boy is nervous enough as it is."
Adam collected his jacket from the back of his chair. "He should be nervous. Charlie can be quite… formidable."
"So can your family," Beth replied drolly. She had plenty of experience when it came to feeling like the outsider of the Morgan family. "You have to at least give him half a chance."
Adam was about to argue the contrary when there came a timid but persistent knocking at their back door. Thinking it must be family, as no one else ever used that door, Adam crossed the small kitchen to open it.
The man standing on the back landing was not long out of his teens, his face drawn and worried. "Is there a doc here?"
"I'm Dr. Morgan."
"My brother… his leg's busted," he stated in an agitated voice.
"Where is he?"
The man noticed Beth sitting at the table, but looked away as quickly as he'd glanced at her. "Back at the farm. Got no wagon or I'da brung him to town. You gotta come with me."
"Of course, let me get my bag. How far away is your farm?"
"Hour, maybe more." He thought for a moment, then brightened as he remembered. "The Michaels place."
"I'll take the wagon in case I need to bring him back here," Adam said as he drew the man back outside. "What's your name?"
"J-John."
"John, if you wait for me at the front of the clinic I'll be down in a moment. Then we'll go help your brother."
John hesitated, unsure of the delay this course of action might cause. Adam smiled reassuringly and led him onto the back landing. Once he was on his way, Adam retrieved his medical bag from Beth who had it waiting for him.
"I guess my calls in town will have to wait."
"I'll let Dr. Browne know."
"I'll still try and get back for the McClusky's this afternoon but if I'm not he'll have to go instead."
"I'll tell him." She kissed him swiftly.
"I mean it, take it easy today," he repeated with concern.
Beth smiled indulgently. "Would you stop worrying? I'm fine."
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
She nodded, but a wave of nausea passed through her which made any further conversation difficult. Adam's response was a supportive grimace.
"How did Louise get through this with four boys?" Beth said to herself once he was gone. After a deep breath of fresh morning air she closed the door.
