Newlywed Christmas (Brides of Juniper Junction Book 4) Read online

  Regardless, there was an empty nail and a perfect spot for her wreath and Lizzie was determined to hang it. Just inches too short, no matter how much she strained, she couldn't hook the wreath onto the nail. She even tried tossing it, like a game, but that only resulted in the wreath falling to the floor a couple of times because she didn't manage to catch it.

  In the kitchen there was a stool she'd used to reach the top shelf of the cupboard. However, Matt had caught her trying to use it a few days earlier and she'd had a difficult time maintaining her balance. As a result, she'd been forbidden from using it.

  Forbidden seemed like a strong term. Maybe Matt hadn't meant it quite like that. Maybe it was more of a caution to be careful.

  Before she could change her mind—or Matt could come home—she waddled as fast as she could into the kitchen and managed to get hold of the step stool and carry it into the living room. Mindful of the fire, she carefully stepped up with the wreath in one hand and balancing herself with her other hand on the mantel, with a stretch she managed to hang it just where she'd planned to.

  A tap on the door startled her and she tumbled backward to the floor with a cry of fright.

  Sam came rushing toward her. He must have been looking through the window in the front door when he saw her fall off the stool. He’d tried to catch her, but she was too heavy and the two of them landed on the floor with her on top of him.

  “Sam,” she cried out, “did I hurt you?”

  “No, ma’am,” he said, though his voice was hoarse. She’d probably knocked the wind out of him. Hopefully nothing worse.

  He crawled from under her and knelt next to her. “Ma’am, have you hurt yourself? Do you need help getting up?”

  A shooting pain curled around her middle and she clutched at her stomach. Gasping for air she said, “Sam, I need you to help me to the couch and then you have to run as fast as you can to get Dr. Granger. And ask him to send someone to Windy River for my husband.”

  The boy who had been so childlike seemed to grow into a man, or at least a young man, right before her eyes. “Yes, ma’am. You can count on me.”

  With surprising strength and gentleness, Sam helped her to a reclining position on the sofa. “I’m going to get the doctor now,” he said, patting her hand. “Don’t you worry, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Sam,” she whispered as another painful contraction overtook her. “Please, hurry.”

  When the door closed behind him, Lizzie suddenly felt more alone than she’d ever been in her whole life.

  And more scared than she’d ever thought possible.

  Oh please, she prayed, let the doctor get here soon. And Matt. And please, oh please, don’t let anything happen to my sweet baby.

  Lizzie laid on the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks. The pain of the contractions surprised her with its intensity but the real pain was in her heart. How could she have been so stupid? What kind of mother takes risks like that? And for a Christmas wreath? She didn't deserve to be a mother.

  But, oh, she still desperately wanted to be one.

  Please, please let my baby be healthy. I promise to never do anything foolish ever again.

  She sent up prayer after prayer during the interminable time while she waited for help to arrive. Was there something she ought to be doing? She had no idea. Why didn't she prepare better? Why didn't she know what to do?

  She was going to be the worst mother, ever.

  More tears flowed down her cheeks as she rubbed her tummy and whispered, "I'm so sorry. Mama is so sorry. The doctor will be here soon."

  Another contraction overtook her and she gripped the edge of the sofa and tried to ride the wave of pain as best she could. It hurt so much. How long would this last?

  Where was the doctor? And Matt?

  Oh, what would she say to Matt? She'd been so foolish and irresponsible and now she might have injured their baby. Another wail escaped from her lips and echoed off the pine scented walls.

  The contractions were coming faster and faster, or at least that's how it seemed to her. All sense of decorum left her as she screamed and cried out with each one. She'd been moaning so loudly that when Dr. Granger opened and then closed the door behind him, she didn't even notice him until he stood next to her. Then she screamed from the fright of seeing him suddenly appear at her side.

  "Hush, now, Lizzie," he said, resting his hand on her forehead, "I'm here now. I understand from Sam that you took a bit of a fall."

  "Yes," she wailed. "Is the baby all right?" She tried to quell the panic rising within her, but between her fear and the pain of the contractions, she simply didn't have the emotional strength to pretend otherwise.

  "I'm sure it will all be fine. It looks like this baby will be here soon, though." He gave her a reassuring smile. "If my guess is right, you'll be a mama before midnight."

  "Really?" she gasped. "Are you sure?"

  "Well," he said, "I am a doctor."

  "Matt!" she exclaimed. "Someone needs to get Matt. Did you send someone to get him? Please?"

  “Don't worry, I sent Mr. Blake from the general store out to find him. I expect Mrs. Blake will be here soon to assist. If that's all right with you?"

  "Oh yes. Thank you, Dr. Granger," she managed to say between contractions. She gripped his hand. "I'm so scared," she whispered.

  "That's perfectly normal," the doctor replied. "But I'm going to need this hand to deliver the baby." He chuckled and extricated himself from her grasp. He picked up a throw pillow from a chair and handed it to her. "Try squeezing this when the contractions hit. And do your best to relax and let them happen. I know it's hard and it hurts, but that's what will help the baby."

  "I'll t-try. I wish Matt would get here."

  "Don't worry. I'm sure he's on his way."

  The door opened and Lizzie turned, praying it was Matt. She tried not to look disappointed when Mrs. Blake entered, because she was thankful for the older woman's help.

  Mrs. Blake gave her an encouraging smile as she unwrapped her cloak and scarf and hung them on pegs by the door. "Looks like you're going to have a baby," Mrs. Blake said warmly. "Let me help you get comfortable." She adjusted LIzzie carefully on the couch and propped her up into more of a sitting position. " My husband has gone out to Windy River to get Matt, so don't you worry yourself. He'll be here in two shakes."

  Mrs. Blake put her arm around Lizzie's shoulders and held her while the doctor lifted her skirts and examined her.

  "I don't suppose we'll be able to move her to the bed?" Mrs. Blake said.

  The doctor looked up and shook his head. "No, this baby is determined to get here fast. Having the mother-to-be in a bed is nice, but I've certainly delivered plenty of babies in other locations."

  "Remember the time Mrs. Landon had the twins in one of the tents at the fair?" Mrs. Blake said and the two of them carried on a discussion of the babies they'd delivered together. Lizzie suspected it was all meant to calm her nerves and to a certain extent it did. She had to have faith in Dr. Granger and his abilities. According to the stories they were telling, he'd delivered babies in blizzards and heat waves, thunderstorms and barns and wagons.

  The stories did help, though the contractions were definitely getting stronger and closer together. Almost coming right on top of each other like a constant wave of tightening and releasing but with the tightening lasting longer and longer each time.

  "The pine boughs look nice," Mrs. Blake said, mopping the sweat from Lizzie's forehead with a damp cloth.

  "I can see the baby's head, Lizzie. Lots of curly hair too," the doctor said.

  "Really?" she gasped, her heart swelling with happiness even in the midst of her pain.

  The doctor had spread a sheet over her knees and had himself positioned beneath it. "It's almost time to start pushing the baby out, Lizzie. Are you ready?"

  "Noo! Not without Matt!"

  "I'm sorry, but this baby isn't waiting on anyone or anything. But I'm sure Matt will be here soon." Lizzie
wished she was as confident as the doctor.

  Dr. Granger and Mrs. Blake exchanged a glance and when the doctor gave her a nod, Mrs. Blake got behind Lizzie as best she could on the sofa, held her shoulders and supported her back.

  "I'm going to count to three, Lizzie, and when I say 'three', I want you to push as hard as you can. Bear down and help your baby make its way out. Understand?"

  She swallowed hard and then nodded.

  "One." Mrs. Blake held her hands.

  "Two." The doctor disappeared under the sheet.

  "Three."

  Lizzie pushed as hard as she could, guttural sounds coming from deep inside as she worked to birth her baby. Her sweet baby.

  "Almost there," the doctor said. "Take a moment to catch your breath and we'll do that again. You're doing great."

  The door slammed open and Matt bounded into the room. "Lizzie! Are you all right? Doc, she's going to be fine, isn't she?" He knelt down next to Lizzie and she was starting to feel a bit crowded there on the sofa with Mrs. Blake supporting her from behind and the doctor down near her privates and Matt looming from the side. But all her attention was on Matt as he cupped her face with his hands. "How are you, sweetheart?"

  "I-I'm so sorry, Matt." Tears welled up in her eyes again. "I should have been more careful."

  "No time for chit-chat," Dr. Granger called out. "We're going to push again and this time you're going to push the baby all the way out. Understand?"

  "The baby will be here?" Matt was incredulous.

  "Yes," the doctor said. "What else does this look like to you?"

  Matt just stared and then kissed Lizzie on the forehead and took one of her hands from Mrs. Blake. "Come on, sweetheart. I'll help. We're having a baby!"

  The doctor counted down again and Lizzie pushed with all her might and no doubt Matt did too if the look on his face was any indication.

  "Oh, oh, oh," she cried out in wonder as she felt the baby slip through the birth canal.

  There was some movement beneath the sheet and then a baby cried out.

  Lizzie and Matt looked at each other.

  "Congratulations," Dr. Granger said, holding up the squirmy baby. "It's a boy."

  Matt and Lizzie both had tears running down their faces and Matt kissed her over and over again. "You did it," he said.

  Mrs. Blake helped to wash and diaper the baby and wrapped him in a blanket, before handing him to Lizzie.

  She'd never touched anything so precious.

  TASSIE AND CAL

  The cold winter air stung Tassie's face as she and Cal glided across the snow. She'd been quite surprised when Cal had come home for the noon meal and announced that he was taking her out to chop down a Christmas tree instead of going back to work that afternoon. "Are you sure, Cal?" she'd asked, though she'd secretly been thrilled at the idea.

  "Of course," he'd replied. "Roy can handle things."

  After eating, Cal had helped her bundle up against the cold with a cloak, hat, mittens, scarf and several blankets wrapped around her inside the small carriage. It was quite a difference from their trip to the St. Patrick's Day party months before when the weather had been fine.

  And she'd been able to see her shoes.

  The idea of dancing to the fast-paced Irish music now made her giggle.

  "What's so funny?" Cal said as he took up the reins and slapped them against the horses to get them moving. But not too fast.

  "I was just thinking about when we rode in this carriage to Mr. Conners' St. Patrick's Day party last spring. It seems like a long time ago."

  "Nearly a year."

  "More like nine months," she said, with a knowing smile.

  He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "That was quite a night."

  She giggled. "Yes, it was. And now we're going to have a baby. I still find it hard to believe, even though the evidence of it is right here." She pointed to her tummy.

  "I saw Matt this morning. He's the proudest pa I've ever seen," Cal said.

  "The proudest until our baby comes along, that is," Tassie teased him.

  "You're a sassy one today," Cal said, glancing in her direction. "Have you visited Lizzie and the baby yet?"

  "Yes! I was there this morning. I guess I must have arrived while Matt was out. I had a nice chat with Lizzie and tried to help her with some chores around the house. Between the two of us, we managed to get a couple things done." Lizzie gazed off into the distance, her mittened hand resting on her belly. She turned back to Cal.

  "I got to hold baby Daniel," she said, recalling the wonder of cradling such a tiny person in her arms.

  "Getting some practice in?" Cal asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze. "That'll be you soon. Could be any day now, right?"

  "It sure feels that way," Tassie said, though she really had no idea what it was supposed to feel like, in recent days she'd had a sense that something was different.

  "I'm glad we're going to have this little bit of time together," she said. "Soon we might not be able to get away from the house alone too often."

  "I'm not so sure we ought to have come out today," Cal said, glancing skyward. "I didn't realize the snow was going to pick up so quickly this afternoon."

  Lizzie glanced to the western sky. "Should we turn around?" It seemed like the responsible thing to suggest, but if they didn't get a Christmas tree today, it might not happen at all this year. And they couldn't have Christmas without a tree. Just three days until Christmas. It was now or never.

  Cal pulled the reins and slowed the horses. "I was planning to go a bit further out, but I think we'll be able to find what we want right here." He tied off the reins and hopped down into the drifting snow. "You wait here and I'll be right back with a tree."

  "Fine," she said, "but hurry. And be careful!"

  Tassie looked on worriedly as Cal selected a tree. It was perfect. A young spruce that was not quite as tall as Cal. It would look wonderful in the corner of their front room and she smiled as she watched her husband swing the axe, the powerful muscles of his arms and shoulders evident even through the heavy coat he wore.

  Still, she glanced to the west with concern. The snow clouds were low and ominous. If they were at home, safe and warm, she'd enjoy watching the storm roll in over the horizon. But when she and her beloved Cal, not to mention their soon to be born child, were out in it, she did not find it enjoyable at all.

  A cold wind blew through her and she pulled the blankets tighter, burying her face in the warmth of her scarf. She'd knitted it herself, her first project. Despite the dropped stitches and a few unplanned gaps, it did a good job of keeping out the cold air.

  Too bad she couldn't say the same for the baby booties she'd been trying to knit. She'd actually finished them, but while one looked like the proper size for a baby, the other looked more suitable for a toddler. And the gaps in stitches on the bottom didn't make them seem too effective. Thank goodness Mrs. Campbell's needles had been clacking away ever since she heard the news and the baby had a basket full of sweaters, booties, hats and even an afghan waiting.

  All that was needed was for the precious child to arrive.

  A kick against the left side of her stomach told her she was not the only one eager for her confinement to be over.

  Cal approached, moving quickly through the drifting snow that was already on the ground. He dragged the tree behind him and hefted it into the back of the carriage before he jumped up onto the seat next to her, looking down into her face with concern. "Are you warm enough, darlin'? I shouldn't have brought you out in this weather. Shoulda known better." A look of chagrin crossed his face. "I guess I got a bit over excited about spending an afternoon with my girl and I put her into harm's way."

  She clasped his gloved hand with her mittened one. "Now Cal, don't get upset with yourself. We both know you'd never do anything to endanger me. The storm is coming up faster than we could have expected, though. So, let's get on home."

  "Absolutely." He
picked up the reins and they took off. Usually Tassie enjoyed a fast ride, but today it made her a bit queasy. She kept that to herself, though, knowing that they'd be home soon and that was the most important thing.

  The snow picked up considerably by the time they got home, Cal lifted Tassie from her seat and supported her getting into the house. Then returned for the tree while she stood by the fire and warmed herself.

  As soon as the tree entered the house, the scent of pine filled the air. Ah, now it felt like Christmas.

  "Oh, oh, oh." Tassie gasped and sat up in bed, clutching at her stomach. Immediately, Cal sprung bolt upright as well.

  "What is it, Tassie? Is it time?"

  "I-I'm not sure," she replied honestly. She had no experience with birthing babies, but something was definitely happening. But she also knew that sometimes a woman could be in labor for hours and hours. Another sharp pain rocked through her and she hoped she wasn't one of those unfortunate women.

  Cal studied her closely, taking in the look of pain on her face.

  "I'm going for the doctor," he announced, getting out of bed and grabbing his clothes. "Will you be all right while I'm gone?"

  "I-I think so," she replied, then clutched at the mattress beneath her as another contraction struck. "H-hurry back, though."

  A bit of fear welled in her. Her baby was on its way. And all the stories she'd heard about the pain of contractions were definitely true. She'd sort of hoped that the women sharing their tales with her were exaggerating for effect, but as she moaned and shifted on the bed, she realized they had not. In fact, it seemed they hadn't told her enough.