Chapter 2

Darkness came at the Grove, and everything was peaceful and quiet. Victoria had gone home, but there were guards now. Jarrod still preferred to sleep with Maggie, even though she groaned and moved uncomfortably in her sleep, and woke up more than once. He wanted to be beside her every minute that he could, to comfort her, and to comfort himself.

As he put the light out, she said, "That chicken was so wonderful, I think I'll dream about it."

Jarrod lay down beside her, chuckling. "I told you it was the best."

"Silas is the best," Maggie said. "How can we get him away from your mother?"

"We can't," Jarrod said, "but I do think we ought to consider getting a housekeeper once the baby arrives. You're going to need some help."

"Let's think it over," Maggie said. "Now, are you going to tell me why you're really wearing a handgun around and why we have guards posted outside night and day?"

Caught. Jarrod realized he should have known his story about vague trouble in town wasn't going to convince Maggie. Jarrod said, "I didn't want to worry you, what with the baby just about here and you being so unhappy with being bedridden."

"Well, tell me the truth. We've always told each other the truth. I don't want to have to start doubting you now."

Jarrod smiled in the dark, but it faded. "A man I put in prison ten years ago has been released. He hasn't been spotted in the area. He may never come here. But we're taking precautions, just in case. I don't want us or my mother or my sister being vulnerable this time."

Maggie took his hand. "You aren't just worried about us, are you? You're worried about going off the deep end again if something happens, aren't you?"

Jarrod raised himself up on an elbow and kissed her. "No, I'm not worried about that, really I'm not. I'm worried about keeping you and our baby safe."

Maggie sighed. "I know I never told you this, but you ought to know."

Jarrod felt his neck prickle. "Know what?"

"I can aim and fire a handgun pretty well."

Jarrod chuckled with relief. "Well, I really don't want you delivering our child with a 45 in your hand."

Maggie shrugged. "If need be….."

Now Jarrod laughed and kissed her again. "You are the most incredible woman on earth and I am the luckiest man on earth to have you."

"And you will never try to slip something like this by me again, will you?" Maggie said flatly.

"I never will," Jarrod said.

XXXXX

The sun came up, and still there were no signs of labor pains for Maggie. She was thoroughly disgusted, and really upset that all of the chicken was gone. She could have used some for breakfast. Instead, Jarrod made her some scrambled eggs and toast – not Silas's recipe, since it had too much spice for a pregnant woman. Still, Maggie ate some, though not a lot.

"Jarrod, I think it might be today or tonight," she said. "I just don't seem to have any room for food. Somebody seems to want to push his way out."

"Pain yet?" he asked.

"No, not exactly. The baby just seems to be moving around more."

"Ah, well, I'm glad Mrs. Ailey will be here today. She knows all about these things and she'll know when we need to call in the doctor."

"Could you make me a little tea with milk? It might help settle my stomach."

"Coming up," Jarrod said.

He was scarcely in the kitchen when a knock came at the front door. When he answered, he found Mrs. Ailey. He sighed a big sigh of relief.

"Oh, I'm glad you're here, we're moving into unfamiliar territory," he said, letting her in.

She dropped her bag on the sofa and took her coat off. "Oh, we're getting some new sensations, are we?"

"Jarrod isn't, but I am," Maggie called from the bedroom.

Mrs. Ailey went right in to her. "Tell me about it," she said cheerfully.

"The baby is moving a lot," Maggie said.

"Ah, getting in position to be born," Mrs. Ailey said. "That's good. No need to worry."

"I was going to make Maggie some tea, Mrs. Ailey," Jarrod said. "Would you like some?"

"Yes, Mr. Barkley, thank you," Mrs. Ailey said. Then to Maggie she said, "Now, you just relax. Enjoy your tea when it's ready, and we'll throw this man out and have some girl to girl talk."

Maggie laughed a little. Jarrod suddenly felt like he was just good for housekeeping, so he wandered back to the kitchen.

XXXXX

Nick and Heath came by late in the day, bringing food and more ranch hands to stand guard. Jarrod heard them all approaching and let his brothers in the door.

The bedroom door was closed now, Mrs. Ailey behind it with Maggie.

"Do we have some action in there?" Heath asked.

"I don't think so," Jarrod said. "I think Mrs. Ailey is just giving Maggie some moral support."

Nick handed Jarrod a basket of food. "Brisket," he said, "and some really good vegetables and bread."

"Neither one of us is eating very much today," Jarrod said. "With any luck, though, by tomorrow we'll have a lot less tension and an extra mouth for Maggie to feed."

Nick and Heath both grinned at the prospect of a new niece or nephew.

Jarrod asked, "Did you bring me more guards?"

"Yeah, I've put three out there for the night and sent the day guard home. I'll send three fresh in the morning," Nick said. "And since you and Maggie might not know them all, I've set up a safe word that you can use with them. It's 'Carbuncle.'"

"Carbuncle?" Jarrod said. "Where'd you come up with that?"

"I wanted something somebody wouldn't ordinarily say," Nick said.

"Well, you chose well," Jarrod said.

"Coulda been 'liverwurst,'" Heath said with a shrug.

Jarrod shook his head. "You know, you two ought not be riding out alone either."

"We have each other," Nick said, "and a whole crew full of company once we get home."

"Nevertheless, watch yourselves out there," Jarrod said. "Once it gets dark, Dysart could pop up anywhere."

"We'll be all right," Heath said. "You and Maggie just come up with a baby for us to play with tonight, okay?"

Jarrod smiled. "We're working on it."

Nick and Heath left and went on home. The light was beginning to fade, so Jarrod took a brief walk around the house, checking to see who the guards were and where they were. He knew them all, and they all passed on their wishes for a new baby tonight. He told all of them that he might have to ask one to go for the doctor before the night was out. They all said they'd be ready for whatever came up.

Jarrod went back in the house then and knocked softly on the bedroom door.

"Come in," Maggie's voice said.

Jarrod peeked in around the door. "Is it all right?"

Maggie and Mrs. Ailey were simply talking together. Jarrod noticed that Mrs. Ailey now had a pile of clean sheets and towels stashed on the dresser. "Yes, it's fine," Maggie said. "No labor pains yet."

"Are either of you ladies hungry?" Jarrod asked. "Nick and Heath just brought some brisket and bread."

"Some bread, maybe," Maggie said, "and tea."

"I'll come have some brisket, Mr. Barkley," Mrs. Ailey said and got up. Then to Maggie she said, "We'll leave the door open. If anything starts to happen, you just call me."

Maggie smiled a tired smile, and Mrs. Ailey left the room with Jarrod. They went into the kitchen together and were farther away from the open bedroom door when Jarrod asked, "How is she doing?"

"Oh, she's just fine," Mrs. Ailey said. "How are you doing, Mr. Barkley?"

"Nervous," Jarrod said. "You ought to know, if you don't know already – I'm nursing a heart condition. I just might start having angina pain when Maggie starts having contractions, but whatever happens, Maggie comes first."

Mrs. Ailey nodded. "I understand. You have nitroglycerin pills, I suppose?"

"I do," Jarrod said. "I can look after myself if need be."

"And these men who are guarding the house – are you expecting trouble?"

"No, not really, but there might be an unfriendly man in the area. I just don't want Maggie to have to deal with any insecurity right now."

"A wise precaution. After that episode with Mr. and Mrs. Bowden a few years ago – "

"I remember. That was pretty unfair of us, to burst in on you like that."

"Oh, it wasn't a problem. I'm just sorry that it turned out badly for them – Mr. Bowden being killed." Mrs. Ailey shook her head.

"You certainly had a cool head about the whole thing," Jarrod said.

Mrs. Ailey smiled. "When you're a midwife, the first thing you learn is how to keep a cool head, no matter what."

"Thank you for being here," Jarrod said, very sincerely.

Mrs. Ailey squeezed his hand. "Don't you worry, Mr. Barkley. Everything is going to be just fine."