"You're doing just fine." Emeline was laughing, despite the cramping. What a picture they must have made! But at least, with the help of the two men, she made it to the house and up the stairs before the next pain hit. "I think I'll stay downstairs, in the parlor, I suppose."
The bedrooms were upstairs, so it would be much easier for whoever was attending her not to have to be running up and down all the time. "If one of you would run upstairs and fetch some blankets and towels from the cupboard, we can make up a bed on the couch."
As they entered the house, mud was trailed in, but there as nothing to be done about that, it would have to wait...there was still plenty more mud to be tramped through the house!
"And Cookie, you really should be back to cooking...the men are still going to need to eat." Of course, that would leave young Danny alone with her, and she didn't want to frighten the poor lad! "Well, once maybe Barnabas gets here."
Without a word, Danny raced up the stairs to get the blankets and rowels Emeline had requested. This was all new to him, but reacting quickly was not. That was something he had learned on the trail with Nate, things sometimes had to be done fast, and he could do that.
I'll get to that soon's your man gets here, an' them youngsters that went for him and the Doctor, well, they'll not spare the horses gettin' it done." Nate said, trying to see to her comfort, even though she would have to be moved again to lay out the towels.
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Pike rode as fast as conditions would allow, and before too long he was at the picket fence surrounding the house. He leaped from the saddle, quickly tied the horse to the fence, then raced to the porch and up to the door, bursting through and startling Nate and Emeline.
"You alright?" He asked as he hurried over and dropped to a knee, grasping her hand.
"You're good men," Emeline murmured, patting Nate's arm as she settled on the couch, leaning back, but not laying down yet, she'd do that once Daniel was back with the blankets. "I'm glad you're here...for the ranch, for Barnabas."
They had been so blessed in the crew that they'd brought on, they were good, hard workers, and they'd help to make this the best ranch in Montana.
The door burst open, and Barnabas rushed in, followed by a cold breeze that was refreshing on Emeline's warm cheeks.
"I'm fine," she insisted, although she felt a slight misting of tears as she hugged her husband. "It just seems that our little one is anxious to meet his papa." Another pain hit, and she rested her forehead against his shoulder. "By dark, we'll be a family," she whispered, feeling immense joy amid the cramping.
The door burst open, and Barnabas rushed in, followed by a cold breeze that was refreshing on Emeline's warm cheeks.
"I'm fine," she insisted, although she felt a slight misting of tears as she hugged her husband. "It just seems that our little one is anxious to meet his papa." Another pain hit, and she rested her forehead against his shoulder. "By dark, we'll be a family," she whispered, feeling immense joy amid the cramping.
He held to her, wet as he was. "Well papa's here, but fine's not exactly how I'd be for describin' you, an' now I got ya all wet!" He suddenly realized pulling away and reaching for one of the towels to wipe her face with. "If that Gibbs boy went for Danforth, then they'll be here before we know it."
He turned to Nate and Danny, "Thank you, boys, appreciate what you done here." Both simply nodded.
"We got us some cookin' ta do afore them boys get back, if'n ya need us, holler, w''ll be in the breezeway 'er the bunk house." Nate told him, and then they turned and headed out.
"I gotta change outta these wet duds, made a mess gettin' in here." Barnabas admitted.
"I'll get it, sir!" Danny called out as he started back. "We made us a mess too." Pike smiled as he got to his feet.
"Be right back." He said and kissed her on the forehead.
With Barnabas here Emeline was feeling much more confident that everything was going to work out, and in no time she'd be holding their new son or daughter in her arms.
"Bring me a dressing gown!" she called to her husband as he headed for the stairs. It would be more comfortable, and, despite the valilant efforts of the cowboys, she was pretty damp herself.
Danny brought her the blankets and towels she'd requested and thanked him...once this was over, she'd do something special for the two men. For now, as the young man started tidying up, she slowly rose and used the blankets to make a bed on the couch, then shuffled to the kitchen to get some tea as she waited for dry clothing.
Mounting the stairs two at a time he hollered back, "Okay Love!" He was in a rush to get out of the wet clothes, especially the boots that 'squished' with every step. His slicker had protected him to some degree, and so had his shotgun chaps, but still, he had gotten soaked, then to all of them had. The rain had been relentless, and the wind had come up, which drove the water sideways at times.
He was as quick as he could be changing, wet leather is never easy to remove. He dressed pulled on his other pair of boots, grabbed her dressing gown, and headed back downstairs, only to find her gone!
"Em!" He called, "Em where are ya?"
"I'm in the kitchen!" Emeline called as she finished pouring a cup of tea for herself. "Would you like some tea?" Not likely, but she did have another pot on. "Or coffee...you must be chilled to the bone."
It was going to be a long day, she knew, and Barnabas would need the reinforcement to keep up, and she would need the tea to help calm and relax her.
She broke into a smile as he entered the kitchen, stepping over to kiss him. "Any time, now. I just need to get into more comfortable clothes, then I'll lay down and behave myself."
Wincing, she gripped his arm tightly, riding out a pain. "I don't suppose you've delivered a baby before, have you?"
"I'm in the kitchen!" Emeline called as she finished pouring a cup of tea for herself. "Would you like some tea?" Not likely, but she did have another pot on. "Or coffee...you must be chilled to the bone."
"And what are you doing up and about, Missus Pike?" He asked stepping into the room. "Coffee'd be real good, we need to get you changed and comfortable till Danforth gets here. Not having you up and around all over the place."
She broke into a smile as he entered the kitchen, stepping over to kiss him. "Any time, now. I just need to get into more comfortable clothes, then I'll lay down and behave myself."
"Then let's get to it woman, I know how to handle a coffee pot! Now, off to change what yer wearin' and get yerself layed down. Guess we'll get this done right here in the front room." He declared, but with a smile.
Wincing, she gripped his arm tightly, riding out a pain. "I don't suppose you've delivered a baby before, have you?"
"Can't say as I have, no." He admitted, not liking the pain she was experiencing. "Guess I'm about to learn though."
"We'll manage." Sighing, Emeline smiled. "Would you mind carrying my tea?" For all that she felt that she'd be waddling slowly these past few weeks, now she could barely move, but that meant things were progressing, and for that she was happy.
"I can't wait to have this belly gone!" she chuckled, "well, and to meet our new child, too!" She took her dressing gown then disappeared into the pantry, coming out a few moments later in the dry, comfortable garment. "All right, then, let's go do this!" With a grin, she shook her head. "If only it was that easy! Come on, we'll sit and I'll tell you what to expect, just in case the doctor doesn't make it here in time."
In her head, she was trying to prioritize what she needed to tell him, but then, they likely still had a few hours.
Barnabas took the cup and set it on the sideboard, "First we get you over to the setee and some comfortable, then I'll come back for the tea." He told her, "One thing at a time. Now when all'a this starts we'll get done what needs doin', an' not to worry, Danforth'll be here before we know it,"
It was a slow process walking her to the setee, he had a firm hold on her as they traversed the room. This was about to be a day that they would always remember, the storm, the escaped horses and their recovery, and the arrival of their first child. Not to diminish the arrival of any of the others that she had promised him. This one would always be the one who made her appearance with thunder lightning and a torrential downpour.
Once she was settled he retrieved her hot tea and brought it to her. "I guess now we just wait and make sure you're comfortable, right?" He had been there and been a part of horses and cows giving birth and helping out when needed, but to his way of thinking, this was going to be a whole lot different!