Dearly Beloved
Chapter 19
That summer was the hottest that any of the senior citizens of Sweetwater could remember. The sun burned mercilessly in the sky during the day and in the afternoon huge clouds would roll in and storms lashed the plains. One such humid, uncomfortable afternoon there was a sudden rush activity at the ranch. Kid and Jamie were trying to shore up the roof above the barn loft when an excited Charlie came running in breathlessly.
"Beth's havin' the baby!"
Jamie looked in wide-eyed surprise at his father and dropped the hammer he was holding in order to scramble down the ladder. Kid grinned to himself and took his time. Having waited through the delivery of five children he knew all too well that there was no need to hurry.
Lou was returning to the kitchen when Jamie and Charlie rushed into the house, trying to outrun each other and making a racket in doing so.
"Where do you two think you're goin'?" she asked sharply, as Jamie was already clambering up the stairs.
"Is she…?" he panted. "The baby?"
Lou smothered a smile at his concern and naïveté. "Not for a while yet."
"Has someone gone for Doc Browne?"
"Not yet."
"Why not?" Jamie said with exasperation. He moved quickly towards the front door. "I'll go."
"Jamie, stop. We can't send for the doctor now, he'll just be waitin' around." Lou patiently walked her son back into the room. "I'll tell you when it's time to go get him."
"But what if he's not in town? He could be God knows where."
"Everythin' will be fine. I do have some experience with this, you know," she said indulgently. "More than you, at least."
Jamie colored slightly. It was true, he had little idea what would be happening to Beth. When his siblings had been born he had always hid out in the barn until it was all over. It was strange to think of Beth in that situation now – she who was so different from his strong, capable mother. Beth had struggled through her pregnancy and he knew she was scared about giving birth. Jamie had been on edge for weeks as the inevitable day approached.
"Why don't you go wash up, both of you," she added, glancing at Charlie who was just as anxious.
Her daughter nodded, but Jamie took some extra convincing.
"Go, she'll be fine." Lou gave his chest a playful push. She smiled as she watched them slump away, drained of excitement.
Lou hoped her words would ring true. She was secretly worried about Beth herself, as her daughter-in-law was small and already in considerable pain, and obviously frightened about the coming ordeal. Her lack of confidence was quite prominent, despite Lou's reassurances. Lou knew that she was missing Adam, and wanted him to be there for the birth of their child. The family was a poor substitute, despite their best intentions, but Lou was determined to support her the best they could.
They waited for what seemed like an interminable time. Lamps burned in the house through the night as Jamie sat on the bunkhouse porch, keeping a lonely vigil. Jake and Ethan were thrilled to be bunking in with the ranch hands, while Charlie preferred to put together a makeshift bed in the barn near her beloved horse. Jamie couldn't sleep. He stared up at the dark, cloudy sky, waiting for flashes of lightning that were growing more frequent. There was no rain, however, which left the air feeling heavy.
The doctor had been there for a couple of hours already, but there was no baby yet. Occasionally he heard Beth's cries from the house, but they were so faint he started to wonder if he was imagining them. He felt helpless. Some part of him wished he could do something for Adam, anything that would ensure his child was brought safely into the world. But all Jamie could do was wait.
After the sun rose the next morning, heralding another hot day, a baby girl arrived. It had been a long and difficult labor, during which Lou feared they might lose them both, but Beth managed to smile weakly when she heard the first cries of her daughter. She was small but perfect, and so much like Adam that Lou felt her heart might burst with happiness.
She was named Hannah for Beth's mother and Louise for Adam's. The new grandmother introduced her to her aunt and uncles and one very proud grandpa, who were assembled in the parlor in anticipation. They all marveled at how tiny she was, and argued quietly over who got to hold her first. But they would all have their turn, as Hannah Louise Morgan was welcomed into the family.
