“Sorry to wake you.”
“It’s all right. Is Rebecca okay?”
“Her pains have begun.”
Pup nodded. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I don’t know,” Travis answered honestly. “Have you ever assisted in a birth before?”
“No.”
“I haven’t either.”
“Do you want me to go get Lavena?”
“She’s already up there.”
Pup now understood and said, “She told you to boil water.”
Travis actually laughed. “No. I’m making coffee. I’m going to need it to get through the rest of this night.”
Pup had to chuckle as well. “What time is it?”
“About 3:30.”
They fell silent, both looking tired. Pup wasn’t sure what to do next: go back to bed or pace downstairs waiting for word from the bedroom.
“I think you can help,” Travis said suddenly.
“Sure, anything.”
“Try to get some more rest. You’re the only one who will have a chance, and whether or not the baby comes before morning, none of the rest of us are going to be up to handling the boys.”
Pup felt her heart lift. It felt good to be needed.
“I’ll plan on that and say goodnight again,” she said softly. “I’ll be praying for all of you, Travis.”
“Thank you, Pup. We can use it. Don’t hesitate to ask God to use this baby to touch Rebecca’s life. I know I will be.”
“I’ll do that, too, Travis.”
With that she turned to the door, slipped inside her room, and climbed back into bed. It hadn’t taken long to see that Travis and Rebecca were not of the same mind. She knew he loved his wife and even felt that they had a good relationship, but clearly Rebecca did not agree with God’s Word or some other aspect of Travis’ faith. Nothing had been said, but Pup thought she knew the signs.
She began to pray. It took some time, but she did fall back to sleep. Pup woke as the sun was coming up. By the time the twins joined her, she was in the kitchen with breakfast ready.
“Good morning,” Pup greeted Garrett and Wyatt as soon as they came through the door.
“Where’s Lavena?”Wyatt asked.
This question stopped Pup because she assumed the boys had spoken to one of the adults before coming downstairs. She knew she had to be honest.
“She’s helping your mother.”
They both froze.
“Did the baby come?” Suddenly Wyatt’s voice was hushed.
“Not yet. Your father was down about an hour ago and told me everything is going well, but it’s going to take some more time.”
“He’s upstairs, too?”
“Yes, he, Lavena, and your mother are working together.”
“Can we see her?” Garrett wanted to know, his eyes looking a bit moist.
“I don’t think just yet, but I’ll tell you what—you eat some of the eggs and ham I fixed, and then we’ll have time to get outside for a walk.”
“We can do that?”
“Sure. You boys are up early, so we won’t have to leave for church for almost two hours.”
“Is Papa taking us to church?”
“No, it’s just the three of us this morning.” They looked a little uncertain, so Pup thought fast. “I’m not sure I want to try and hitch the wagon on my own. I think maybe we should ride.”
“The horses?” they asked at once.
“Sure. I’ll ride Ginny and you boys can share Dixie.”
“To church?” Garrett’s eyes were huge. “We can ride to church?”
“I think so. I’ll check with your father as soon as he comes down. Come and eat now.”
It was just the right medicine. The boys sat at the table and started on their breakfast as if they’d been told the circus was coming to town. It went well for the first few minutes, but then things slowed down. There were no comments, but the meal was not as distracting as she’d hoped. Watching them, Pup didn’t think they were remembering their mother’s plight. She simply had to face facts: There was just no comparing her cooking to Lavena’s.
“I see the head, honey,” Travis coaxed his exhausted wife. “It’s almost over now.”
Rebecca clenched her teeth and strained with all her might, her face flushed like a flame, her hair wet from hours of effort. A huge gasp broke from her when she could push no more; she lay back spent, Travis’ arms supporting her.
“I think one more—” Lavena encouraged, “two at the most.”
Rebecca looked up at Travis, letting her eyes focus on his unshaven chin. When he looked down, she spoke.
“The boys. Did you tell me where they are?”
“Yes. They left with Pup less than ten minutes ago.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“She’s going to take them to church for storytime. If they seem upset or too distracted, she won’t stay for the service. If they do stay for the service, they’ll come back as soon as it’s over.”
“It’s so good to have her here, isn’t it, Travis?” Rebecca whispered thankfully. “The boys like her so much.”
“They rode horses,” he told her, smiling a little. “You should have seen how excited they were.”
And just that fast, the need to push rushed in on her yet again. Travis went to work as well, supporting her back and shoulders and whispering words of encouragement. Lavena was right. It was the second to the last push. The one that followed produced a wiggling, wet, baby girl.
“Do you have children?” Garrett asked.
“No, I don’t.”
“Are you married?”
“No, not married either. How about you boys,” she looked over from Ginny’s back. “Are you boys married?”
This produced the giggles and grins she’d been hoping for, and she smiled in return.
“Tell me about school,” Pup said, still amazed at how easy it was to talk with these six-and-a-half-year-olds.
“We don’t go in the summer.”
“How do you get there?”
“Papa or Lucky.”
“Who is Lucky?”
It was as if she’d released some pent-up steam. Words now tumbled one from the other, and Pup just listened.
“He works for Papa, and we like to play with Sarah, but Mary Ann is kind of little. She can’t go to school. But we have desks—our own desks. We don’t have to share. Sometimes we do if we forget the slate. Mr. Taggart doesn’t get mad. He just gives us more work. Gary had to work one time.”
They took a breath, and Pup tried to put it all together. It didn’t take long before she said, “I met Mr. Taggart last Sunday.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I had lunch at Pastor Henley’s house, and he and his wife and baby were there.”
“Katherine Alexa,”Wyatt supplied. “She has red hair.”
“I noticed that.”
“I wonder if our baby will have red hair.”
Pup looked over at them again, her heart feeling very tender. What an experience it was to have a baby come to your family. She vaguely remembered her brothers’ births. That had been so long ago.
I trust You to guide and protect these little boys, Lord. It’s too late for Govern and maybe too late for Jubal. Touch Garrett and Wyatt in such a way that they will never forget. Be with Rebecca now and that new little one. Keep her safe, Lord, but most of all touch her heart and help her to seek after You. Lavena, too, Lord. Thank You for all the care she gives. She’s so capable, but without You, Lord, it will all be in vain.
“We’re almost there,” Garrett broke into Pup’s prayer. She turned her attention to her two small charges. Their expressions were open and warm, causing her to think that they were quite willing to be there. As they tied their horses at the side of the church building, she prayed that she would be wise and aware of when the boys needed to head home.
“We have to stay for church,” Wyatt told her just 30 minutes later.
“Okay,”
Pup said slowly, seeing the anxiety in his eyes.
“Yes,” Garrett filled in. “We’re doing a song today, one we learned in storytime. It’s for the whole church, and Mrs. Henley really needs our voices; she said so.”
“That’s fine,” she assured them. “I want to stay, but I didn’t want you to worry about your mom.”
“We’re not.” Wyatt’s voice was matter-of-fact. “We prayed for her in storytime. We know the Lord Jesus is watching over her and the baby.”
Pup’s smile was very warm. Oh, to have such faith at their age, Lord. It’s wonderful to see.
“Come on, Miss Jennings,” Wyatt urged. “You’ve got to get close to the front so you won’t miss us. It’s two songs and my favorite—”
She allowed herself to be hauled to a second-row seat, and indeed, the children’s singing, along with the verses they’d learned, was delightful. Both boys beamed at her when they came to sit on either side of her, and Pup felt her throat close. She told herself to keep an eye on them for signs of worry or upset, but her resolve didn’t last very long. Pup was engrossed the moment Pastor Henley asked the congregation to open their Bibles. As it was, the boys were fine, but she never looked down at them until they stood for the closing hymn.
32
The boys’ relaxed attitude after church lasted only to the edge of town. The three of them had not stayed around after the service but had gone right to their horses. Clearly the Buchanan boys were ready to go home and see their mother. Knowing how distracted they were, Pup kept the conversation to a minimum, and she sighed with heartfelt relief when they rode into the yard and found Travis waiting outside the barn.
“Papa!” The boys were out of Dixie’s saddle in a flash.
“Is the baby here? Can we see Mama? Is it a boy or a girl?”
Pup heeled Ginny toward the huge barn, Dixie’s reins in her hand. One of Travis’ ranchhands awaited her and tended to the horses. Throwing Pup a grateful smile, Travis scooped the boys into his arms and moved toward the house. Questions still tumbled from their lips, but Travis only carried them inside. The kitchen was empty, and Travis spoke his first words.
“I want you to wash your hands.”
“Right now?” Garrett looked thoroughly perplexed. “Are we going to eat?”
“No, just wash your hands, and we’ll go upstairs and see your baby sister.”
The import of his words took a moment to sink in, but then they rushed to the washstand. They would have soaked themselves at the basin had Travis not intervened. Without being told, they scrubbed their faces as well and turned to their father, eyes radiant.
“Come on,” he said softly, fighting the fatigue that threatened to overtake him. “Let’s go see her.”
Somehow knowing it would be expected, the boys moved quietly. They nearly tiptoed up the stairs and to the doorway of their parents’ bedroom. Rebecca was in the large bed, her eyes closed. Lying beside her, wrapped in a soft, white blanket, lay the baby. Removing their boots and approaching the bed in unison, the boys climbed carefully onto the mattress. They looked at their sister with awe and then at each other. They smiled in wonder, but anyone looking at them could see that they didn’t know quite what to think of this little miracle.
She had been a lump under their mother’s dress, and now she was on the bed beside her. Their expressions didn’t go quite so far as to ask, Where did she come from? but the question wasn’t far off. While their eyes were on the baby, Rebecca’s opened.
“What do you think?” she asked softly.
“It’s a girl, Mama,” Garrett informed her, his smile huge.
“Yes.” Her weary smile still showed her delight that the boys had gotten the sister they had wanted. “Are you pleased?”
He could only nod his head yes.
“What will we call her?”Wyatt wanted to know.
“We’ve been talking about that,” Travis said, easing his way onto the bed next to his sons. “What do you think we should call her?”
The boys looked at each other again, and both were silent for a moment.
“I like Sarah,”Wyatt admitted.
“Yeah.” Garrett was clearly in agreement.
“We do, too,” his father agreed gently, “but it could get a little confusing with Sarah Harwell right here on the ranch with us.”
“We have two Tommys at school,”Wyatt informed him.
Travis nodded. “So you boys know what I mean about two Sarahs.”
They nodded in agreement, and then all four fell silent. Travis realized that young as they were, picking names was a rather overwhelming idea; at their age they didn’t know many people.
“How about Kaitlin?” Travis suggested, voicing the one name both he and Rebecca liked the most.
The boys looked surprised and then pleased.
“Katie Buchanan,” Rebecca added. “What do you think?”
“I like it,” Garrett spoke up, but Wyatt was still thoughtful.
“What do you think, Wyatt?” his father asked.
He smiled sheepishly. “I forgot that she would be a Buchanan.”
Travis smiled back at him and tenderly stroked his hair. Kaitlin chose that moment to move a little. The boys watched in amazement as she yawned hugely and worked to see, her eyes opening just a crack.
“She’s yawning.” Garrett’s voice was breathless with delight.
Husband and wife exchanged a tender smile, but Travis could see how exhausted Rebecca was. He was well-spent himself. The boys had a few more questions, which Travis tried to field coherently before the boys asked to hold their sister.
Agreeing, Travis sat close to them, and as they nearly tipped her upside down, his hands hovered under the infant at all times. She slept through the whole ordeal. Rebecca, whose lids had been drooping low, was now fully awake and trying to keep the horror from her face as her sons “hugged” their infant sister for the first time. They worked with all their might to be gentle, but it was clearly an awkward task for their small arms. Wyatt, who was second to hold her, lasted an even shorter time than Garrett before asking his father to take her.
“Can she eat lunch with us?” Wyatt asked. He wanted to be near his sister; he just didn’t want to hold her.
“I don’t think she’d be too interested in the stew Lavena made, buddy,” Travis replied kindly.
“Where is Lavena?” Garrett asked, having just missed her nearly constant presence of the last few months.
“She went home to get some rest, but dinner should be ready. Maybe you and Wyatt ought to head down to eat.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll walk you down, but then your mother and I need to sleep. We were up most of the night waiting for the baby to come.”
The boys made no argument to this, and after they’d kissed their mother and Kaitlin, they quietly left the room. Leaving the baby with Rebecca, Travis walked down with them. To his great pleasure, they found Pup in the kitchen putting Sunday dinner on the table.
“We had a baby sister,” Garrett wasted no time in telling her.
Pup smiled at him and then stood aside while the boys went to the table.
“Will you be all right with them for a while?” Travis, coming forward, asked.
“Yes,” she assured him. “Take all afternoon if you have need. I can sleep in the hills tonight if necessary.”
“Why don’t you just plan to stay over—not to be with the kids the whole time, but so you can have a fresh start in the morning?”
This hadn’t occurred to her. “All right,” she said at last.
Travis thanked her and gave each boy a tender kiss, hugging them to his chest. He left them with an admonishment to be “on their best” for Pup. They sat at the table, and both boys returned thanks for the food. However, they had little interest in their plates. As Pup was coming to expect, they began to chatter the moment they had a chance.
“We held her,”Wyatt, who was the first to speak, said, “but I didn’t know how.”<
br />
“Her middle name is Gwen,” Garrett filled in, forgetting that Pup didn’t know the baby’s first name. “It’s for us. Mama thought it up. Gwen is spelled G-E-N.”
“No, Gary, you forgot my letter,” Wyatt corrected him. “It’s G-W-E-N. The G is for Gary, and the W is for me.”
“That’s wonderful.” Pup smiled with delight, knowing she would never have thought of such a thing.
“She’s all pink and soft, and she didn’t stink at all. Sarah said babies do, but ours doesn’t. Sarah had a baby at her house awhile ago. Her name is Mary Ann. She had dark hair. What hair did our baby have, Wyatt?” Garrett suddenly couldn’t remember.
“Dark, too, I think.” Wyatt’s brow furrowed with concentration.
“The baby Jesus had dark hair,” Garrett said proudly. “Papa told us.”
With the mention of Jesus, Pup’s mind wandered. She had never considered what Christ might look like, but being of Jewish descent, dark coloring could only be expected.
“You put your knife in your coffee,” one of the boys matter-of-factly informed her, and Pup gave a little start. It was true. She’d put her knife into her mug to stir the coffee, but she hadn’t even added milk. She now mentally scolded herself. You’re in charge of these boys. You can’t wander away like that.
With that she pulled her mind back to the business at hand, the business of keeping two little boys occupied for the afternoon.
“A baby girl!” Margo Harwell exclaimed. “Did you hear that?” she turned to ask her husband, Lucky, who was Travis’ foreman at the Double Star. “Wait until the girls hear.”
“Come on in,” Lucky was saying to Pup and the boys. As soon as they cleaned the kitchen, the boys had begged Pup to take them to see the Harwell girls, whose small home was right on the ranch next to Lavena’s. Now that she was in their home and had met them, Pup realized she’d seen this couple at church both Sundays.
“I’ll get Sarah and Mary,” Lucky said.
“I told Lucky,” Margo went on when he left, “when we didn’t see Travis at church that I was sure Rebecca was having her baby. I could tell when I talked to her yesterday morning that it would be soon.”