The Little Man of the House

As she approached her bedroom door, the screaming voice became clearer.

"Ethan! Wake up! Please!"

"Dakota? Is that you?" Ethan replied putting his gun on the table. "Amelia? You can come out! It's Dakota!"

Ethan opened the front door, and Dakota and Carry entered.

"Ethan! Sorry for disturbing you at this time! It's Marie, the labor has started! Can I let Carry sleep here?"

"Calm down Dakota!" Amelia said. "Has she lost water?"

"Yes, an hour ago now!"

"Don't worry, we have some time, I'll get dressed!"

"Dakota, you're going to go with Amelia. Go back to Marie. I'm going to let Carry sleep with Claire, she will reassure her." Ethan said taking the little girl in his arms. "Then I'll go get Doctor Read."

"Alright Ethan! Thank you! Be good darling, I love you." Dakota said hugging his daughter before he and Amelia leave.

"Carry honey, are you okay?" Ethan asked hugging her.

"Yes, Uncle Ethan."

"Your Pa is stressed about the baby coming darling. Don't worry, you'll go to sleep with Claire and tomorrow you'll be a big sister!"

Ethan went upstairs, Claire was sleeping soundly. He didn't want her to wake up in the night wondering what was going on, so he decided to wake her up.

"Claire? Wake up my darling." Ethan called softly.

"Pa? What is happening?"

"Marie is going to have her baby. The man explained quietly, "Your Ma and I are going to help, you don't worry about not seeing us. I am putting Carry with you. Will you reassure her for me?"

"Alright Pa, come on Carry." She said pushing herself against the wall to make room for her in the bed.

"Thank you sweetheart! I knew you would react like this. I will also wake up Adam, because you two are the oldest. Good night " Ethan said kissing both girls on the head..

"Adam? Wake up son." Ethan said softly.

"Pa?"

"Marie is going to have her baby. I'm going to go help, with your mom. You and Claire are the only ones in the know, if the little ones are looking for us ..."

"Don't worry Pa, can I sleep in your bed? So if a little one comes to wake you up, I'll be there. I can also be the man of the house, making sure everything is going well! "

"If you want Adam, that's a good idea" Ethan gave his permission. "I woke Claire up too. I put Carry in her bed."

"Don't worry Pa! Claire and I will manage! Even if you haven't come back by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, man of the house!" Ethan said hugging him! "If we are not back tomorrow morning, no one needs to go to school. You all keep Tess here, no one will be punished, that's the easiest way."

"Yes Pa!"

Ethan quickly put the bridle on his horse and rode off bareback, to look for Doctor Read in town.

When Ethan arrived with the doctor, Marie was having a few contractions. Amelia had already prepared everything for the doctor, she had put water on to heat, prepared a lot of clean rags. It had been two hours since Marie had lost water. The night was going to be a long one.

Hours later, sitting at the table in Dakota's small kitchen, Ethan reassures his friend.

"It's going to be okay my friend, don't worry,"

"Yes, I hope so." Dakota couldn't help but be nervous.

"Breathe quickly by blowing through your mouth" Ethan stated.

Dakota did so before bursting into laughter! Ethan was teasing him.

"It's not me who is having a baby!" The man joked in turn.

"Are you certain? One would believe it with how anxious you seem!"

"Yes? We'll talk about that when Amelia gives birth!" Dakota teased in turn.

The two of them laughed; Ethan had been able to help Dakota relax. It had worked.

Just then, little cries were heard, the baby was born.

Amelia came into the room to address the new father.

"You can come in Dakota, Marie is waiting for you." The man jumped up!

"So? What is it?" Ethan asked her.

"Ethan, this will surprise you, but it's a baby!" She teased.

The man burst out laughing.

"I'll let Dakota tell you," she said more seriously.

Dakota walked out holding the baby in his arms.

"Ethan, let me introduce you to my son, 'Davy,' a mixture of Dakota, Marie and Carry," the man informed; "Davy Ethan Dakota".

Ethan had tears in his eyes.

"Did you give him my first name? Thank you! That touches me a lot!" Ethan said, moved.

"Yes, I hope he will be at least half the man you are one day! Do you want to hold him?"

Ethan tenderly took the baby in his arms.

"My! He's so small! Even Tess looks huge to me next to this little one! Hello Davy, I'm your Uncle Ethan, and I'll always be here if you need me." The man said, softly kissing the baby on the head.

The contrast between the strong man and the fragility of the baby made Amelia cry!

"I'm going to take this little man back to his mother," Dakota informed picking up the baby.

"Want to take him a bit Amelia?" He asked, hesitating.

"No, I already held him earlier, take him back to Marie. She must already miss this litle man!"

"Come here!" Ethan said to Amelia hugging her to his chest. "Why the tears?"

"You are so soft, but so strong. I have seen this already with Tess, but here with the baby, the contrast is even greater! I love you so much Ethan!"

"Soon we will have our own, I promise," Ethan said.

"Yes I am looking forward to that time."

"It's normal, this baby has awakened your maternal instinct."

"Yes, you're right, our children are grown up, a baby would be wonderful!"

"I agree" Ethan stated.

Dakota, leaving his room again tells the couple "They are asleep. Doctor Read is willing to stay until I get back. I'll go get Carry."

"Yeah, let's go," Ethan said.

"It's very early. Who is with the kids?"

"Don't worry, I gave instructions to Adam and Claire. They're all staying home with Tess this morning, it was the easiest."

During this time, Adam, Claire and Joseph took charge of the little ones.

"Go get dressed." Said Claire.

"Adam?" Carry asked, "I wanna go home to see my Papa, Momma and the baby, will you take me back?"

"No!" Adam replied a little harshly. "My father said to stay here. Your Papa will come and get you Carry."

Carry began to cry at Adam's tone.

"Don't cry, Carry," Claire reassured, "Adam didn't mean to be so harsh, but he's right, you better wait here for Dakota to come get you, okay?"

"Yes Claire."

"Adam, don't be so hard on her! She was brought here in the middle of the night and she's far from her family. It's not easy for her, she's still small!" Claire growled lightly.

"You're right Claire. Excuse me Carry, I didn't mean to say it like that, come here" Adam said opening his arms.

Carry rushed into his embrace.

A few moments later, in the bedroom, Jessie had another speech.

"You shouldn't listen to my brother, he's not your father! If you want, I'll take you home."

"Really Jessie? Do you know the way?" Carry asks.

"But yes, it's easy, it's straight ahead and to the right."

"What about Adam?"

"We're going to tell him we're going to the barn for my chores, he won't be suspicious for a while!"

"Adam? We are going to go do my chores."

"Okay," he replied.

They took off, Jessie leading the younger girl straight past the barn.