Bear Valley Ranch By Lady Gwynedd(sequel to The Mail Order Bride).pdf

Bear Valley Ranch By Lady Gwynedd

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6104633/1/

Chapter One: The Baby

She did not know he was watching her as she sat in the grassy field under a

beautiful cerulean Colorado sky. She had Boy, Abraham rather, at her knee

reading a picture book with him. She had developed a soft spot for Abraham, her

housekeeper's son. She said she bought the book for their library but her

husband knew she bought it for the little boy. Her soft heart and generous nature

were his joy.

Edward was in the paddock, supposedly working with the filly but after he got the

bit on her, he decided he'd let her get used to it for a while before he'd try the

saddle again. He had attempted to saddle her before much to her displeasure.

She was an ornery jade; too smart for her own equine use. But his horse-work

was all a ruse anyway so he could watch the most beautiful woman in the world

without her knowing. He had to make sure she didn't know. She had been teasing

him about his over protectiveness, so now he made sure to be more circumspect

and stealthy.

Evidently, they finished the book and Bella got unsteadily to her feet. Edward was

pleased to note, even as young as he was, little Abraham helped her up. She

smiled her thanks and the little boy dashed off; running up the hill to find his Pa,

Edward would wager.

She stood there stretching for a moment, hands at the small of her back, eyes

shut, face turned to the warm sun overhead. After a few moments, she put her

hands over her ripened belly and he could hear her giggle from where he was

standing. Evidently, their child was doing his usual acrobatics within. He kept

them up at nights sometimes with his twisting and turning. In the privacy of their

bedroom, Edward loved to put his hands on Bella's gravid belly and feel the child,

his child, moving within. He knew what the Bible meant when it spoke of joys

filling, tamped down, and over flowing. The whole process of conceiving and

begetting was a wondrous thing, Edward was thinking. To think that out of their

love, a small part of her and an even smaller part of him combined to make

another being. It was a miracle when he thought of it. It overwhelmed him.

Bella had done well with her pregnancy, as she had always assured him she

would. She did not suffer much with the morning sickness as long as no one

presented her with a cup of coffee. Even the smell of it would send her dashing

for the outhouse. He was all for banning its use on the ranch during the interim

regardless of the dissatisfaction of his employees but Bella talked him out of it.

She always could talk him out of anything. He smiled fondly at the memory.

Bella happened to look in his direction and caught him at his spying. She laughed

again and shook her head as she gathered her blanket and book and then walked

over to where he was standing.

"Edward... Love... I am fine. There is no reason for you to stalk me like you

would a deer."

Grinning he swung himself over the fence to take the blanket and book from her,

"I can't help myself. You are so dear to me." He chuckled at his own joke but

then went on, "You look tired, Bella, perhaps you should lie down?"

"Edward, I've done nothing but rest by your command ever since Mrs. Dowling

said the baby could come any day. I assure you, I feel fine. I want to work. I

want to be useful."

"I didn't command that you rest," he said sheepishly.

She placed her hand tenderly on his chest above his heart. How could she help

but not to love this man? "No, Edward, you never command – you just request

and then worry yourself into a tizzy if I don't comply. I do not like seeing you so

distressed, Edward. What are you going to do when the baby actually comes? You

know how that can be. You are going to drive yourself crazy with worry and fear.

Indeed, Edward, I may just banish you to the Lazy B until it is all over."

"No! Bella, please, I will try to be easier. Don't send me away from your side. I

feel very protective of you."

"I do know that, Edward, and I love you for it but you are making me fret with

your worries."

Edward realized that he truly needed to gather his self-discipline or he would do

the opposite of what he intended. The one thing he did know for sure is that he

didn't have the strength to stay away from her anymore.

"I will do better, Bella."

Smiling, she took his arm and he walked with her up to the cookhouse. He knew

better than to suggest that she rest again knowing that he had lost that particular

battle but he would insist that she sit while she worked in the kitchen.

Juan Carlos grinned as they walked through the door, "Hola, Mamacita! Como

esta?"

"Muy bien, Juan Carlos, pero mi esposo es loco."

Juan Carlos burst out laughing, "Si, mi amiga. Es muy loco."

Edward frowned. He knew Latin, Greek, and German but never studied the

romance languages. He felt a little out of place. Evidently, Juan Carlos had been

teaching his wife Spanish while she worked with him in the kitchen. "I know you

two are talking about me."

Bella blinked her eyes, "Now Edward, whatever gave you that idea?"

"I think Juan Carlos's guffaws gave it away."

She smiled and not caring that Juan Carlos was watching, reached up on her tip

toes and kissed Edward on his lips, "I love you so much, silly man. Now Edward,

you go and work that filly of yours. I will stay here under Juan Carlos' care and

do nothing but sit. I will be fine."

Edward sighed, his worry creases appearing between his eyebrows, "If you need

me, Bella, I will be down at the paddock."

"I will be fine, Edward. Don't worry yourself."

He nodded and reluctantly left the kitchen. As soon as he was gone, Bella turned

to Juan Carlos and said, "Could you please, very discretely, go into the house and

tell Mrs. Dowling that I've been having pains this whole afternoon. I am thinking

that the time has come but don't you make a scene of it or Edward will come

back and be…well, Edward. As much as I love him, it would be hard to focus on

the task at hand."

"Si, Senora. I will go quickly."

He left and returned almost immediately with the midwife. Though married to a

local rancher, Mrs. Dowling had delivered most of the offspring in the

neighborhood for twenty years. She was warm, intelligent and caring and made

sure to keep up on her vocation by corresponding with other midwives in the

country, sharing ideas and techniques. When a mother was nearing her time,

Mrs. Dowling would move in with her if possible to make sure all was in good

stead for the birth. Bella couldn't be in better hands.

"I had a feeling the time had come, Missy. I could tell by the way you were

leaning on your man as you walked up here. Come with me and we'll get you

ready." She competently put her arm around Bella as she spoke and ushered her

out of the door. As she left she called to Juan Carlos, "You, man! Start boiling

water."

"Si, Senora."

As they went into the pass-through that led to the house, Bella asked, "What's

the boiling water for?"

"Nothing. It keeps folk out of my way while I do my work."

Bella chuckled and gasped as another pain hit her.

"See, my girl. It sounds as though you are on your way."

Lauren, who was herself expecting in the late summer, was sewing buttons on a

shirt in the main house. She looked up as they entered, "Is it time?"

"Yes. I think so. Come, give me a hand," Mrs. Dowling ordered.

"But don't tell anyone what is happening yet, Lauren. I don't want Mr. Cullen to

know until it's over," Bella asked.

Understanding looks passed between the ladies as they shut the door to Edward

and Bella's bedroom and began stripping the bed as well as the mother-to-be.

They left Bella with her loose chemise that she had made for her pregnancy but

tore the bed down to the mattress, propped the head of the bed up, then covered

the mattress with a large rubberized pad and an old sheet and a stack of smaller

cloths in the middle of the bed. Bella was directed to lie with her hips centered

upon that.

Mrs. Dowling washed her hands, directed Lauren to do the same and then

examined Bella. "Yes, my dear. You are well on. How long have you felt pain?"

"Since midmorning, I think. I wasn't sure at first."

"Since midmorning? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because the pains were mild and because I knew the first thing you would do is

put me to bed and then it would be long hours before the baby is born. The wait

would trouble me."

"And it would kill your husband, I am thinking," Mrs. Dowling smiled. She'd never

seen a papa-to-be so fraught with nerves. He was like a mad, broody hen. "You

are wise, Mrs. Cullen."

"No. I just know my husband, God love him… ooohhhh." Bella's face scrunched as

another pain hit.

A few contractions later and her waters burst. The midwife removed the stack of

clothes and efficiently replaced them with clean ones. "Now the work comes, Mrs.

Cullen."

Bella was praying as the pains worsened that she get this over before Edward

returned from the paddock. She wanted to surprise him with his baby before

supper. She hoped he would not be too angry with her for not telling him the

baby was coming.

Ohhhhh. Another strong one hit. Bella was surprised at how painful it was.

"That's all to the good, Mrs. Cullen. Your baby is coming right along.

So, the afternoon hours dwindled and Bella's pain increased porportionately. She

was struggling to contain herself.

After several hours, Mrs. Dowling took note of her extremity and said

reassuringly, "Everything is going well, Mrs. Cullen. You are almost ready to push

but until that happens try to ride the pains out without stiffening like a board.

Everything is well."

There was a sudden knock on the door. Lauren went to answer it to find Juan

Carlos there, "The water. It has been ready."

Mrs. Dowling went to the door, "That is good, Juan Carlos. Just keep it on the

boil. I will call you when I need it."

"Si, Senora," he said and went back to his kitchen.

Bella labored on and on, her pains becoming increasingly worse. "Mrs. Dowling…"

Her voice cracked at the end, "It hurts so badly."

"I know, Precious, t'will be all over soon. Take my hand on the next one and

squeeze." Lauren quietly went to the other side of the bed, and offered her hand

to Bella just as the next pain hit.

"Jesus, Mary, and JOSEPH," Bella swore and tightened the grip on the hands of

both her helpers.

As the pain ebbed she immediately apologized for swearing. "I don't know what

came …" then another pain hit and she cried out, "Oh, DEAR LORD...EDWARD!"

Bella was shocked that she had called her husband's name when she had devised

such a clever scheme to keep him away from her travails. But she could not help

herself.

Oh, but she wanted him now. The Pain had grown until it became an entity in the

room with her, overcoming all her strength little by little and as her strength

waned her fear grew. She wasn't sure she could bear with it any longer. Perhaps

tomorrow she could come back and finish it but right now… She wanted Edward's

arms and Edward's sweet gaze. Edward...

As another pain began, she did recognize one other thing that she was sure of at

this moment. She was NEVER going to have intercourse again.

"OH, EDWARD!" She called again as another pain overtook her, not really

expecting him to appear but truly using his name and his image in her mind as a

talisman against the agony.

Suddenly they could hear boots thundering up the porch steps and the front door

slamming open. "BELLA?" Edward hollered as he ran for their bedroom door.

Mrs. Dowling flew to meet him, "Now, Edward Cullen, you listen here. All is well.

She's just feeling the pains but soon the baby will come and it will be over. I will

not have you upsetting her with any nonsense."

Edward looked desperately into the lined face of the old lady, "What can I do?"

Mrs. Dowling was about to tell him to go away when Bella's voice rose,

"EDWARD, PLEASE!"

Edward pleaded with Mrs. Dowling using only his eyes. He needed to be with

Bella. He knew she needed him as well. Surely Mrs. Dowling could see that.

Slowly, the old woman's heart melted.

"Men don't come into the birthing room."

"Mrs. Dowling, remember that our good Lord himself was delivered by a man; his

earthly father, Joseph. I am sure Joseph was a comfort to Mary as she labored."

"Well, can you behave like Joseph if I let you in?"

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