After the supper dishes were done and everyone had gone to their respective rooms that night, Becky and Amos were lying in bed, flat on their backs, trying to ignore how odd it was that they were sharing a bed with no real intimacy between them.

“I don’t want your mother here when the baby is born,” Becky said softly.

“I know you don’t. I don’t know that we have a choice, though.”

“Shouldn’t I be able to choose who is present at the birth of my child? Isn’t this something that should be my choice?”

Amos rolled to his side, facing her, and he put a hand on her arm. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow and ask her to wait to come back until after the baby has been born.”

“That would be nice. I really don’t feel comfortable around her, and I think I should be comfortable with everyone who is present for the birth of my child.” She froze for a moment. “You don’t think she wants to be in the room with me when the baby is born, do you?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t think she’s even been present when my sisters have given birth. You’ll be fine.”

“Good, because that would make me very uncomfortable.”

“I can understand that.” He pulled her close to his side, cradling her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry she was so ugly to you.”

“I think she was even worse to Patricia. Why would she bring someone all the way across the country to marry a man who hadn’t agreed to marry her in the first place?” She closed her eyes, not sure she wanted an answer to her next question. “You didn’t agree to marry her, did you?”

“Of course I didn’t. I’ve only agreed to marry one woman, and she’s lying in bed with me at this very moment.”

“Oh, good. I was worried for a moment there.” Becky relaxed against him, finding being this close to him a great deal more comfortable than she’d expected it to be.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from all the dragons in your life, just like a knight in shining armor. Even if one of those dragons happens to be my mother.”

She giggled. “She does seem to breathe fire.”

He grinned. “Yes, she does. But don’t worry, I have a mighty sword that will slay the evil dragon if she attacks my lady.”

“You certainly are going to win the knightly tournament, milord.”

“Go to sleep, little imp.”

“Can an imp take on a dragon by herself?”

“I wouldn’t try it . . .”

* * *

To Becky, the weekend seemed to drag on forever. Every time she turned around, Patricia was needing something different. Her tea was too cold; her milk was too warm. She needed her toast to be golden brown, not dirt brown.

By Sunday night, Becky was done with the woman. “Can’t we throw her out in the snow?”

“We could if it was snowing. It’s downright balmy outside.”

“Then maybe you could get some ice from the ice house in town, and I could spend an entire day shaving little pieces off the ice for us to throw her in. That would please me.”

He laughed, turning to her in bed. “They’re leaving first thing in the morning. We won’t have time for such an elaborate scheme. Maybe I should just put her over my shoulder and carry her to the creek. It will be ice cold at this time of year.”

“Ooh, that’s not a bad idea at all!” Becky turned toward him, her belly pressing against his side, and put one hand on his chest. “I’m going to miss sleeping with you. It’s been comforting having you here.”

He looked at her, barely able to see her in the darkness. “Would you like me to keep sleeping here with you?”

“I’m sure I crowd you. I don’t want to keep doing that.”

“You don’t crowd me at all. Or if you do, I don’t mind. I would honestly feel better sleeping down here with you. I worry that something will happen to you or the baby during the night, and I’ll be upstairs and not know.”

She sighed. “It would be selfish of me to ask you to sleep here. Enjoy your big bed upstairs.”

He rolled to his side facing her and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her passionately. “I’m sleeping down here from now on, and that’s final.” He loved their time in bed together before they fell asleep. It was always platonic, but they spent time getting to know one another better.

“I’m glad they’re leaving tomorrow morning,” she said softly. “I should be ashamed to say that, but I’m not. I want them gone. Patricia has not been kind, and your mother hasn’t been the sweetest woman in the world either. I can’t believe how unhappy they’ve made me.”

“I’m sorry. Hopefully Mother will get home and realize she doesn’t want to come back. I’m going to talk with her on the way to the train station tomorrow and let her know that we would rather she waited until after the baby is born to visit again.”

“I’d appreciate that. And I hope she listens to you.” She had little faith that Mrs. Bowen would listen to anyone else’s opinion about anything, though.

He pulled her close and held her as they both fell asleep, saying a silent prayer that his mother would listen. His wife shouldn’t have to put up with his mother during the last few weeks of her pregnancy.

* * *

Becky packed lunches for all three of them as they left the following morning. Mrs. Bowen wrinkled her nose. “They have a perfectly good dining car on the train. You don’t need to cook for us.”

“I was trying to be considerate and save you a little money, Mrs. Bowen. Forgive me for offending you.” Becky plucked the lunch bags away from the other two women and gave them to Amos. “Please share these with your men today. Surely at least someone will appreciate a homemade lunch.”

Amos hid a grin as he kissed Becky. “I’ll do just that. See you this evening.”

Becky spent the day washing the sheets the women had used and doing her best to remove any traces of either of them. They had been difficult the entire weekend, and she wanted everything that reminded her of them completely gone.

When Amos returned home, he saw that everything was clean and fresh, and the house had even been aired out.

“I couldn’t handle Patricia’s perfume clinging in the air for another second. Now you can’t even tell they were here.”

Amos laughed, pleased with her for taking matters into her own hands. She was a hard worker, and she asked nothing of others she wasn’t willing to do herself. “Well, I’m glad every memory of them is gone. I was ready for them to leave as well.”

“How did the talk go with your mom? Is she going to wait until after the baby is born to come back?”

“She said she would. I hope she was telling me the truth.”

“Me too. I have no desire to have her back so soon.”

He shrugged. “When she comes back, she’ll probably bring either a maid or a nanny.”

“I want to take care of the baby myself, but I wouldn’t say no to a maid.” Becky grinned at him to let him know she was joking.

It was late that night when she heard the wind start to howl. The baby was kicking more than usual, so she got out of bed to peer out the window. It was snowing, and not just a little. April was a little late in the year for a blizzard, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t happening.

As she stood watching, she felt something liquid on her legs, and she gasped. Her water had broken.

She found a clean nightgown and went to the water closet to change, and then she went back to the bedroom, sitting on the bed beside Amos and touching his arm. “Amos, there’s a storm . . . and the baby’s coming.”

He sat up straight, confused. “Baby? Now?”

“Yes, the baby’s coming, and there’s a blizzard.”

He jumped up and looked out the window, frowning. “I don’t know if I can get Hannah out here. It’s too far.” What was he going to do? There’s no way he could deliver a baby himself, and he knew a woman needed help with these things.

She bit her lip. “Then you’ll have to help me. It can’t be that hard.” Her mind raced, and she tried to stay calm and not panic. Her plan was to have Hannah at her side the entire time.

He shook his head, backing away from her. “I know nothing about giving birth. There’s no way I could do it.” The mere thought frightened him.

She took a deep breath, her hand going to her back as a contraction started. “I’ll do it alone then. Make sure you bring me a knife to cut the cord.” She’d talked to Hannah over and over about the process, and she was pretty sure she could handle it on her own. She was a strong woman, after all.

“You can’t do it alone. I’ll try to get Hannah!” He looked out the window again, frowning. “The storm isn’t quite as bad as I thought.”

“Be careful!” She sat down on the edge of the bed, and carefully started to prepare it for birth. She had a list of things to do from Hannah, and she was more than willing to do them. Keeping busy would be very good for her.

Amos saddled his horse, already in a bit of a panic. How was he going to possibly make it to town in this storm to bring Hannah home with him? And then he spotted the stranger in front of him.

“Go to her mother. She can help.”

“But will she?”

“There’s only one way to know . . . and I suggest you hurry!” The stranger faded from view, and Amos thought for a moment about whether he wanted to waste the time trying to get her mother to help or if he should go for Hannah.

Instead of trying to make it to Creede, he carefully followed the road to the next house . . . her parents’. When he arrived, he wasn’t sure what to expect, but he pounded on the door, hoping against hope they’d hear him over the howling of the wind.

Her father came to the door, and Amos explained. “I’m sorry to bother you in the middle of the night, but your daughter is in labor. She’s my wife, and we live just south of here.” He said a silent prayer that the man would be willing to help in some way—any way!

Her father shut the door in his face, and he took a deep breath, turning away. If they wouldn’t help, he’d have to go into town and find someone who would. He just prayed he could make it through the snow to find Hannah.

Just as he was reaching for his saddle, he heard a yell. “Mister! Please take me to my daughter!”

He turned and looked, and there was her mother, dressed for the cold. He grabbed her waist and lifted her onto his horse. She was just as slender as his wife. “Thank you!” He had a little more hope now that he had someone who could help Becky make it through the birth.

She nodded, pulling her scarf up to cover her face against the storm.

The ten-minute ride took more than half an hour in the snow, and when he got to the house, he said a silent prayer of thanks for the safe travels. He knew there was no way he could have made it without God’s help. He’d almost missed the turn off, but the stranger stood in the road right before his house, pointing the way.

He dismounted, reaching his hands up to lift her mother down. “You go inside. I’ll see to the horse.”

He watched her as she fought to open the door, the wind too strong. He led the horse to the stable and cared for him, praying the whole while that his wife was getting cared for the same way by her mother.

* * *

Becky was in the kitchen boiling water when she heard the door open. She was surprised Amos had been able to get to town so quickly in the storm, but she was very thankful he had. She called out, “Hannah? I’m in the kitchen!”

She sat on the edge of a chair, thankful she no longer had to worry about delivering the baby on her own. The nurse was there, and she would see to the safety of both Becky and her child.

Becky blinked as her mother entered the kitchen instead of Hannah. “What are you doing here?” The last person she wanted to see was her mother.

“I’m here to help you. You can’t have that baby by yourself.” Her mother approached her, looking like she wanted to touch her, but not sure how the gesture would be taken.

“You abandoned me seven months ago. Why do you care what happens to me now?” Becky wanted to turn her back on her mother, the same way her mother had turned her back on her.

Her mother shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Your father gave me no choice but to abandon you. I begged him to let you stay.”

Becky felt tears spring to her own eyes, and she sniffed, wiping the tears away. “You did?”

“Yes, I did. When your husband came to our house tonight, your father shut the door in his face, but I followed after him. I couldn’t let you try to have that baby on your own. Or worse—with only a man for help!”

Becky giggled at that. “Amos was afraid to help.”

“Is that his name? Is he good to you?”

“He’s so good to me, Mama. He treats me like a princess, and he brings me gifts every day. I think I love him.” No, she was sure she loved him. How could she not love someone as kind and good as Amos was?

“Good! A woman should love her husband.” Her mother offered her arm to help Becky up. “Let’s go to your room, and we’ll see how you’re doing.”

“Have you ever delivered a baby, Mama?” Becky tried to keep the fear from her voice, but she knew she hadn’t. She needed the baby to be all right.

“I have. I’ve delivered several. I was a midwife before I married your father.”

“I didn’t know that!” Becky looked at her mother with new respect.

“Your father expected me to give up everything when I married him, including my former career.”

“Why?” Becky couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t want her mother making what money she could and doing something meaningful. Not that being a mother wasn’t meaningful, but it would have been so much more.

Her mother shook her head. “I never understood. He wanted my entire life to revolve around him and our children.”

“Child.”

“Child. I lost four before you were born. I’m not going to let that happen to you.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Becky rested her head on her mother’s shoulder for a moment as she slowly walked to her bedroom.

“So am I.”

* * *

Amos stayed in the stable talking to his horse until he couldn’t take it another minute. He had to know if his Becky was all right. He opened the door to the house and called out, hoping her mother would come tell him it was all over.

Her mother came, but she was wringing her hands together. “It’s almost time. Becky’s doing fine.”

Amos was worried, but he didn’t know her mother well enough to challenge her. Something was obviously wrong, but he didn’t know what. Instead of arguing, he dropped to his knees, praying for his beautiful Becky and the child she carried.

He didn’t know how long he stayed there on his knees, but once when he looked up, he saw the stranger kneeling beside him, his head bowed as well.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, her mother came out carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket. “It’s a girl.”

He felt his heart catch in his throat as he slowly got to his feet, his legs cramping under him. “Becky?”

“She’s going to be all right. She lost a little more blood than she should have, but I’ll stay and help around the house until she’d ready to be up on her feet again.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Brown. I don’t know what else to say.” He stared at the little girl held in her grandmother’s arms. “A girl.”

Mrs. Brown smiled at him. “Yes, a girl. And call me Minerva if you would like.”

“I don’t know anything about girls. She’s healthy?” Amos wanted to hold her so much his arms ached with it, but he was afraid to say something. What if he dropped her?

“The baby is beautiful. Ten fingers and ten toes. Everything is as it should be. Becky’s resting, but she’s awake. Go see her.”

Amos dragged his feet as he walked slowly toward their bedroom. The cradle was at the foot of the bed. “Becky?”

She smiled at him, her face tired but happy. “Did you see her? Isn’t she beautiful?”

He sat down at the very edge of the bed, worried he’d hurt her. “She is beautiful. I can’t believe you gave me a daughter.” The love he felt for that little girl was almost as strong as the love he felt for her mother.

“I’m never going to abandon her.”

“No, I know you won’t. It won’t matter what she does. But if some boy gets her pregnant, I’ll beat him to a bloody pulp.” He saw red just thinking about it.

Becky laughed. “Maybe you should start investigating chastity belts now.”

“Don’t think I won’t!” He smiled down at her, happy she was able to laugh. “Your mother says that you lost too much blood, and she’ll need to stay to help out for a while. Do you want her here? Or should I find someone else?”

“I want my mother. Thank you, though. My father wouldn’t let her support me after he found out I was pregnant. And he didn’t want her to come to me tonight, but she didn’t listen. She came anyway.”

“I’m glad she did. I wouldn’t have known what to do!”

“My mother used to be a midwife, and I didn’t know it until tonight. I think there’s a lot I can learn from my mother. I just need to get to know her.”

Amos stroked her cheek. “Can I get you anything? Are you all right?”

She nodded, her eyes sleepy. “I’m just tired. I think I’m going to sleep now.”

“All right. You sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.” He didn’t plan to leave her at all. He’d watch her sleep if that’s what it took. His beautiful wife was going to be just fine.

He turned as he heard the door open. Her mother carried the baby in. “Do you want to hold her while I fix some breakfast for us?”

He stared at the baby for a moment. “I’m afraid I’ll drop her.”

Mrs. Brown laughed. “I’ll show you just how to hold her.”

A moment later his arms were full of his beautiful little girl, and his heart was full as well. He had no idea a day could begin so perfectly, but his had. He looked toward the window and saw that the snow had stopped. If anything went wrong, he could go for Dr. JT.

Becky opened her eyes for a moment and saw Amos cradling their little girl in his arms. She couldn’t remember what name they’d decided on for her, or even if there had been a girls’ name. Either way, they’d figure it out later when she wasn’t quite so tired.

Amos took the baby to the window and talked to her, his voice low so as not to disturb his wife. “You were born on a night when no one—man or beast—should have been out in the cold of night. But your grandmother came to the rescue, and she helped your mama give birth to you. Your mother sacrificed a lot for you to be here, and I hope you know how very loved you are. By so many people.”

He stared down at the beautiful little face, and he said a prayer of thanksgiving. His wife and daughter were both healthy, and he needed nothing else in the world but for the two of them to be alive and well. He looked over at the stranger who was standing beside him, his stomach falling. “I didn’t do it. She doesn’t love me yet.”

The stranger just stared at him. “Then you failed.”

“Failed at what?”

Just like that the stranger faded from his view, leaving him frustrated with no answers. What had he failed at? Did this mean Becky would never love him? What was he supposed to do now?

He looked down at the baby and decided that no matter what the stranger said, he’d do everything he could to make Becky love him. Whether it was too late or not, she was still the love of his life, and he had to make sure she knew it every day in every way he could show her.

From the kitchen, he heard his mother-in-law calling him, and he gently put the baby in her cradle and walked into the kitchen with a last look at his wife. She was sleeping contentedly.

Taking the two plates he was given, he carried them into her room and woke her. “Your mother says it’s time for you to eat. No more sleeping now.”

Becky struggled into an upright position and took one of the plates. “Good thing because I’m starving!”