“Thomas, come down off there before you break your neck.” Miranda shifted two-year-old Mary Alice from one hip to the other as she reached up for her son.

“He’s fine, Miranda. Boys climb trees.” Preston wrestled with three-year-old Jimmy who was trying like hell to follow his five-year-old brother attempting to break his neck.

“Preston, you’re going to have to take Mary Alice. My back is killing me. I can’t hold her anymore. She’s getting so heavy.”

Preston eyed his very pregnant wife. Lord I know I prayed for a real family, but four kids in six years is a bit much. You can let up now.

“I think we should all go to town and have an ice cream sundae.”

The kids all screamed their answer, even Mary Alice who he wasn’t sure she even knew what that meant. She just followed her brothers. Chances were she would be climbing trees right along with them in another couple years.

“Daddy, can we go to your restaurant?” Thomas hopped on one foot as he took Miranda’s hand.

Preston juggled Jimmy and Mary Alice in his arms as they made their way from the park to the carriage parked on the road.

“I’m afraid my restaurant is too fancy for all of us. The ice cream parlor is a much better place. You can have more fun there.”

His hotel and restaurant had been a success from the first day it opened. Since then he’d built a second hotel near the new train station and the plans for another restaurant were in the works. It had taken him years, but he finally was a respectable business man with a socially active wife and almost four children.

They’d outgrown their small house by the time the second child had arrived. Preston had a much bigger house built with a wrap-around porch, a good-sized yard for the children, and enough bedrooms for them all. His favorite thing of all was the large maple tree he’d had shipped from New York and nurtured with love in the side yard with the swing hanging from it. Something he’d always felt made a house a home.

Life was busy and at times frantic. There were days he and Miranda collapsed into bed and just fell sound asleep with a quick kiss. He had insisted on hiring a woman to live in and help with the children once Miranda had announced this latest pregnancy, which had been quite a help for her.

As the wife of a respectable and well-known business man, Miranda was one of Santa Fe’s social leaders. She belonged to a number of committees that helped the poor and struggling families and was a founding member of the local children’s home.

He loved that his wife was helping the boys and girls who would have a much better childhood than he’d had.

The Stone family was also very active in their church. All in all, Preston was very happy with the life he’d made for himself. But he knew in his heart it was Miranda that had made it all happen for him. Not only because she walked into his office just when he needed a wife, but because of the home she’d built for them while he was busy building his businesses.

They rolled to a stop in front of the ice cream parlor. He climbed out and turned to help Miranda and his eyes grew wide. It was obvious she was in the middle of a contraction. She was panting and sweating, her jaw rigid.

“Uh, oh.”

She closed her eyes and then let out a deep breath. “Yes. I think so.” She wiped the sweat from her upper lip. “It’s early, but I think the next Stone child is about to make an entrance.”

“All right. We’re headed for home.”

“I want ice cream, daddy, you promised.” Thomas huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I know I did buddy, and we will still get ice cream, but first we have to get Mama home.”

“Ice cream,” Jimmy said.

“Yes. Ice cream for everyone. As soon as Mama is settled.” Preston climbed back into the wagon. “I’m going to take a slight detour so we can pass the midwife’s house on the way home.”

Miranda nodded. Then she gripped his hand so hard he thought his fingers would break. “Hurry.”

The sun had set, the children had been all bathed, fed and were sleeping soundly. Preston was wearing a hole in Miranda’s new carpet. He thought after all these kids this one would come fast, but she’d been crying out for hours now.

He stopped when he heard the sound of a baby’s cry. He bounded up the stairs, even though he knew the midwife never wanted him around. He knocked on the door. “Can I come in.”

“Yes.” Miranda’s voice was weak, but he still heard her soft voice.

He entered the room and his eyes went directly to Miranda sitting on the bed, holding a little bundle. Little arms waved as the child wailed. He tip-toed across the room so as not to engage the ire of the midwife and gently sat alongside her on the bed. “Can I peak?”

“Of course.”

He moved the blanket aside and stared at two eyes staring back at him. “Hello there.”

The baby’s face scrunched up and she—or he—started to wail again. Preston looked up at a beaming Miranda as she rocked the baby. “Boy? Girl?”

“You have a new daughter, my love.”

“Ah.” He ran his finger down her soft cheek. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”

“What shall we name her?” Miranda asked.

“I thought we decided on Margaret Mae if it was a girl? I like the idea of having a little Maggie Mae in our family.” Preston continued to be fascinated by her tiny little fingernails.

Miranda leaned back. “I’m so tired.”

“Mr. Stone I must ask you to leave now. I need to clean up your wife and let her get some sleep.” The midwife looked down her nose at him as if he were a recalcitrant schoolboy.

“Yes. Right.” He bent and kissed the baby on her soft head and Miranda on her lips. “I will sleep with the boys tonight so you can get your rest.”

“No. I want you here.” She yawned and patted the side of the bed.

He bowed. “As you wish, darlin’.”

He headed downstairs and finally allowed himself a drink. He hated the idea of drinking away the time Miranda labored to bring their child into the world. Once he had a glass of brandy, he wandered to the window and stared out at the night.

He looked up at the stars and closed his eyes.

Thank you Lord, for Marshal Jones and his plan to send four homeless female prisoners to Santa Fe as mail order brides.

He downed his drink and headed back upstairs. He didn’t care if the midwife didn’t want him there, he wanted—needed—to hold his wife close. And that was precisely what he would do.