Chapter 74
Spring is Sprung
"A baby? Is this for real? I'm going to be a daddy?" The smile on his precious wife's face told him that this was indeed the best Christmas gift ever. He let out a wahoo, grabbed her and started to swing her around. All of a sudden, he stopped and put her down.
"Wait a minute, are you ok? He reached down and placed his hand on her belly. She tenderly put her hand on his now white face.
"I'm more than ok love. Of course, I'm still feeling sick sometimes, but Carson told me that I'm healthy and things are all going the way that they're supposed to be going."
"You already talked to Carson?" She knew that he was disappointed that he wasn't there when she found out that they were going to be parents.
"I actually found out last week. When you and I went to town to talk to Nathan about the cows. I stopped by to see Faith before I shopped at the merchantile. I didn't know how to tell you, I wanted to make it so very special for you." Jack knew how easily she could get upset, so he wanted to reassure her that he wasn't upset with her.
"I would have gone with you to see Carson Elizabeth. Is there a reason that you didn't want me to?" He didn't mean to sound demanding, but he started to see tears form in her eyes.
"Because I didn't want to see the disappointment in your eyes if Carson told us that we weren't going to have a baby. I'm sorry, I should've let you be a part of it." She looked down at her lap and the tears fell off her cheeks ever so slowly. Jack's heart couldn't take it when she cried.
"You have nothing to be sorry for sweetheart." He again put his hand on her belly." As always, you are looking after other people before yourself, but not this time:) You are carrying our baby and it is time to start taking care of yourself." She nodded, he saw that she was starting to relax and think about their future family. "Now, I'm going to get some of that coffee that you made."
Hope Valley was seeing the last few signs of winter. It was almost the end of April and the signs of spring were coming all around them. Elizabeth was almost 7 months along with her pregnancy. Her morning sickness had gone but her cravings seemed to be out of control ha ha. It wasn't for anything weird but she couldn't seem to get enough of the taste of sour things. She craved lemons and limes, even sour candy.
"Good morning Elizabeth, did you sleep well?" He came over to where she was making breakfast, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. " A very good morning to you too little one." He bent down to kiss her expanding tummy.
"I slept pretty well, of course I did after this little person stopped kicking me. She quieted down about 2:30." Elizabeth flipped 5 pancaked on Jack's plate.
"You mean IT quieted down ha ha." He reached for the syrup.
"I did it again didn't I? I keep saying she ha ha. A little girl would be nice but I would love to be able to give you a son."
"Now you listen to me missy. All I need and want is a healthy baby. Although a son would be nice." He winked at Elizabeth.
"Oh you:)" She playfully swatted his arm. She then started to stroke his hair. "I know sweetheart, all I want is for our baby to be healthy too." She took his plate as he finished his breakfast.
"I'm going to go start the morning feedings before I have to go to work." He got up, kissed her and thanked her for feeding him.
"I have to go get ready for school too, I'll see you outside." She cleaned up the kitchen and went to go start a load of laundry. She was upstairs making their bed when she heard Jack go into the barn. She then thought it would be really nice to ride Taffy to school. She hadn't been able to ride much during the winter months. Lookin at the clock on the wall, she got all of her things together and went to the barn. Jack was just finishing up feeding the last of the horses. So she started to saddle up Taffy. When she was given her, Jack showed her how to saddle Taffy the right way. She was just about finished when he saw her and came over.
"Whoa what are you doing?"
"I'm saddling Taffy so we can ride to town. She hasn't been riden in a couple months and it's such a nice day." She started to get up in the saddle, he took her arm in protest.
"Elizabeth, I don't think so."
"Why what's wrong?"
"I just don't think it's a good idea. The road is all bumpy and it's pretty muddy from all the snow thats still melting. Why don't you take the truck to town?"
"Because I want to ride, is that really the reason?" She could see that he was concerned but she didn't know why.
"Not entirely.. I don't think that you should be riding in your condition." Jack's voice was starting to sound aggrevated.
"Jack, I know you are concerned about me and I appreciate it, really I do. Carson and Faith both have said that everything is fine with me and the baby. I'm fine believe me." She didn't know but she was starting to get a little aggreviated.
"That may be but I don't want you riding until I feel it's safe for both you and the baby." She knew that he wasn't intending to raise his voice, but this was the first time that he had talked to her like this. This was taking the vow of obeying your husband a little far, although she would always obey Jack no matter what. She would until they were parted from each other, but this is where she didn't know if he was in the right. She finished getting all the way up on Taffy. "Come on Elizabeth, I'm not joking, you really need to get back down."
"I don't think so Jack, I'm fine... I know you're worried but there's no need. I'm late for school." Saying all that she needed said, she steered Taffy towards town. Hearing her husband's protests, she broke into a she arrived at school, she started to feel guilty about her actions toward Jack. She wanted to hurry home and tell Jack how sorry she was about the everything. The children were starting to arrive so that idea was out.
"Ok boys and girls, let's get started." She tried her best to forget the events of the morning, but the day must go on.. They worked really hard on their math lessons all morning and they were all hungry and ready for lunch when the time rolled around.
"Alright children, let's eat outside because it's so nice today." They all gathered on the stairs and talked about baseball, and ate their lunch.
"Look there is the sheriff and Nathan. They must be doing their rounds. Do you see them ?" Robert was showing more and more interest in becoming a sheriff everyday. Elizabeth looked over and saw Jack looking in the same direction at her. Wishing that he would wave or come over to see her was overwhelming, but both of them disappeared back in the jail.
"Come on children, let's go back inside. We are going to learn about some history this afternoon." They all sat down at their desks and got ready to listen. Columbus and his many voyages were the subject of the afternoon. It went well and the kids responded well. They finished the school day and they all went on their way. Elizabeth was just about to head home, when Nathan knocked on the door.
"Hey there Elizabeth, I wanted to let you know that Jack was called for help with an assignment. I unfortunately can't tell you all the details, but I thought I should let you know.
"He didn't want to come tell me himself?" She asked in a soft voice, and tried not to show any emotion. She wasn't sure why she said that.
"I'm sure that he would have if he had the time. They needed his help right away."
"Thank you for letting me know. Will he be home tonight?" She was hopeful that he would, so that they would have a chance to talk.
"If all goes according to plan, he should be." Nathan smiled. He was a good friend to her and Jack. "Would you let me walk you home, or we can ride, I have Newton outside?"
"Thank you, I would appreciate that."Ever since they had shared the wonderful news of the upcoming news of the upcoming baby, she was never alone. If Jack wasn't there, it would be Lee or Nathan. She never was without help, her loving husband made sure of this. He helped her outside with her books, then up on Taffy. It was a nice day outside so they took their time riding back to the ranch.
"Are you all finished with law stuff for the day ha ha?" Nathan was such a pleasure to talk to. Jack always spoke so highly of him and his work. He was a great addition to Hope Valley and his neice Allie was a good student too. He chuckled and they talked all the way back to the ranch.
"What are your plans this beautiful evening?" As usual, he was being such a good neighbor and wondered if he could help her in any way.
"Well, I want to plant all the seeds that I got from Ned for our garden. Jack plowed a little space for me." Elizabeth was very excited to had a section on their land for her veggies and flowers."Thank you for riding home with me:)
"Of course,it's my pleasure. Is 6 still good for dinner?" He wasn't sure if he should ask or not. He helped her down and she got a horrified look on her face.
"Oh my goodness! Nathan, I'm so sorry, I totally forgot what day it was." Nathan and Allie always came over to their house for dinner on Fridays.
" Hey it's no problem at all, it's totally understandable. Allie is having a sleepover with Emily and Opal so I'll just grab something from Bill at the cafe."
"That's really not necessary. I can fix us something really fast. I'm so sorry, I lost track of today. Have you ever had one of those days that you wish that you could just do over?" She looked sad as she remembered the events of the morning.
"Don't worry about it:) We'll just pick up next week and Allie will be back. I'll put Taffy away in her stall for you, I'll see you and Jack in church Sunday."
"Thanks Nathan." She handed him the reins and headed inside. Deciding to grill some chicken for her dinner, she put the chicken in the marinade that she had made that morning. It didn't need to marinate for long so she fed Scout and RIP and then put it on the grill.
About an hour later, she was wondering why Jack hadn't come home yet. She had eaten her dinner and she was just now finished planting all her flowers. Jack had ordered her some rose bushes and those were doing well too. Just as she was putting her garden tools away in the shed, she noticed Lee coming up their driveway. It was almost 8:00, what would he be wanting at this time? He caught up with her just as she opened the front door.
"Hi there Lee...how's Rosemary? Come on in." She headed for the kitchen.
" She's fine... Elizabeth, I need to talk to you. There has been...
"Would you like some tea?" She interrupted him with a call from the kitchen.
"No thank you. Would you please come back in here?" He was glad to see her coming back in. "Hey this afternoon there was.."
"How is the sawmill doing these days?" Her mind was everywhere but where it should be.
"Elizabeth... it's fine. Would you please listen to me? I really need to talk to you. She turned to give him her full attention. " There has been an accident this afternoon... Jack has been hurt."
