“Well, Halie. You were right in your diagnosis.” Doctor Connell said with
a smile as Halie came out of the examining room.
“So, I’m really pregnant?” She asked eagerly.
“That you are.” He said. “You are about ten weeks along.”
“Oh, thank you, doc! I can hardly wait to tell Chad!” She exclaimed
hugging the older man.
“Why don’t you save your ‘thank you’ for your husband.” The doctor said
with an embarrassed smile.
With a wave, Halie sailed out of the doctor’s office as though she were
floating on clouds. She started across the main street of Tucson. She
dropped her purse and bent to pick it up. As she straightened, she heard an
all too familiar sound. She turned her head and saw a wildly out of control
wagon heading straight for her, before she could move or think she felt a
strong arm grasp around her waist and swing her up on to the back of a
familiar horse.
“Isn’t this how we first met, my love?”
“Oh, Chad!” Halie whispered leaning back against the warm, strong body of
her husband of four months.
“Halie, you really need to watch out for those runaways. You could have
gotten yourself killed.” Chad reprimanded gently. His arm tightened about
her as he thought of the accident that had just been averted.
“I’m sorry, Chad. I was thinking about something and didn’t pay
attention.” Chad jumped down from his stallion and turned to help his wife
down. He held her close once her feet touched solid ground.
“I love you, Halie. It would kill me if anything happened to you......”
“......And our baby.” She murmured leaning against him.
“Halie? Did you say ‘baby’?” Chad pulled back to look into his wife’s
sweet face.
“Yes, I did.” She answered softly with a gentle smile on her face.
“A baby!! I can’t believe this!” Chad hugged Halie close. He kissed her
full on the mouth not caring if anyone saw. “How could you put yourself and
the baby in danger like that? Halie, you have to be careful!” Chad
reprimanded more sternly than he did before.
“I’m sorry, Chad. I’ll be more careful from now on, I promise.” Halie said
realizing that Chad was extremely serious. She knew she needed to be more
cautious.
“Why don’t you go home and get some rest?”
“No, I want to go shopping. I have to get a bunch of yarn, so that I can
crochet baby blankets and darling little outfits for our baby. Our baby,
Chad!” Halie flung her arms around Chad’s neck in sheer excitement. “I
love you, Chad, so much!!” She whispered in his ear.
“Do you need any money, Halie?” Chad answered reaching into his pocket.
“No, darling, I have enough left over from my allowance for the week.” She
answered with a smile. With a little wave, she turned and walked quickly to
the general store.
At home, Halie unwrapped her parcels of yarn and soft fabrics. She gently
examined the soft yarns that she would fashion into beautiful, warm blankets
and clothes for her baby. She had also bought a bolt of soft cloth that
would be made into diapers. Carefully, she folded the materials and yarns
and put them carefully away. She kept out enough yarn to complete a warm
blanket. The rest of the yarn and fabric was put into the bottom drawer of
her bureau. Before closing the drawer, she burrowed under some winter
clothes and found a small wooden case. She pulled it out and closed the
drawer.
Halie walked back out to the living area and sat down in the rocker that
Chad had made for her. She opened the polished wooden case and looked
inside. Nestled deep in the burgundy velvet was a set of beautifully,
hand-carved, wooden crochet hooks of all different sizes. These were
crochet hooks that Halie’s grandfather had made for her grandmother as a
wedding gift. They had been given to Halie as a wedding gift from her own
father and mother. They knew how much she loved the art of crochet.
Halie picked up a medium-sized hook and began to work the beautiful yarn
with it. She became mesmerized as her fingers flew forming the beginning
rows of a blanket.. As it became darker, Halie lit a lamp. She knew that
Chad would be home in about an hour. She needed to get supper ready for
him. He would be so hungry. Reluctantly, she laid aside the yarn and hook
and got up to fix her man a hot meal.
An hour later, Halie had a delicious beef stew simmering on the stove, hot
biscuits in the oven and coffee set to the back of the stove to keep it
hot. She set the table with a cheery, red-checked cloth and a vase of
wildflowers in the middle. She stepped back and admired it when she was
finished.
At that moment, she heard Chad at the door. She flew across the room and
opened it to let in her tired husband. She reached up and he kissed her
warmly.
“Ummm, that smells good, my darling.” Chad said sniffing in the aromas of
delicious food. "I'm starved."
“It’s ready, my love, whenever you are.” Halie answered with a smile. Chad
went and washed his hands and face. They sat down to eat and enjoy a quiet
evening together.
Once the meal was over, Chad helped Halie with the dishes. It only took a
few minutes to wash and dry them. Halie swept the floor and the chores were
done.
Halie went out on to the porch where Chad was. She sat down on the step
next to Chad and put her hand on his knee. Chad turned with a smile and
settled his arm around her slender shoulders.
“It looks like we’re going to be getting some bad weather.” Chad said
looking up at the sky. “If it does rain or storm, I want you to stay
inside, Halie. All right?”
“Of course.” Halie answered snuggling up next to her handsome husband.
“I almost forgot! Here.” Chad pulled a folded envelope from his pocket.
He handed it to Halie.
Halie looked at the name on the brown envelope and saw that it was from her
father. Quickly, she tore it open and read the contents. When she
finished, her hand with the letter dropped to her lap and her head lowered.
“What is it, Halie?”
Slowly, Halie looked up. Chad saw that she had tears rolling down her
cheeks
“My grandmother died three weeks ago.”
“Oh, honey, I am so sorry. Was she the one who gave you the beautiful
crochet hooks?” At that, Halie looked up.
“I didn’t know you knew anything about crochet?”
“I don’t really. My mother used to crochet and she made the most beautiful
things. There were doilies all over the place. She even made a tablecloth
for our dining room table. It was huge! We had five kids in my family. My
favorite thing was the afghan my mother made for my bed. It was done in all
shades of blue. It was so warm.” Chad was thoughtful in his memories of
home.
“To answer your question, yes, it was my grandmother who gave me those
hooks. Now, they are doubly precious to me. Oh, Chad! I am going to miss
her so much!” Halie turned to Chad and buried her face in his shoulder as
she sobbed. Chad held and comforted her as best as he could. He knew it
was hard to lose a beloved family member.
“Just think, Halie, how happy your grandmother is to know that you are
putting her crochet hooks to good use. She is looking down on you from
heaven and enjoying that you are making such happy things for such a happy
occasion.”
“You are so right, Chad. I’m all right now. I may cry some more, but they
will be happy tears. You are so good to me.” Halie reached up and kissed
her husband passionately. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, my sweet girl. Let’s go in and get to bed. We both have
to get up early.” Chad pulled Halie to her feet and they walked inside.
Chad made sure the house was locked tight and snug while Halie went to their
room and pulled on her nightgown and hung up her clothes. She snuggled down
into her covers and was soon asleep.
Several days later, Chad galloped up to the house and jumped down out of the
saddle. Halie met him at the door with a concerned look on her pretty
face, “Is everything all right, Chad?”
“It couldn’t be better, love.” He exclaimed. He picked her up and swung
her around. “How would you like to go to a dance tomorrow night?”
“A dance? Is there really going to be a dance?” Halie asked excitedly.
“There sure is, my sweet, little wife.”
The next evening, Chad dressed up in his best suit and Halie put on her
prettiest dress. Chad helped her up into the buggy and climbed in himself.
They drove slowly over to the barn that the dance was being held in. As
they drove up, they saw all the lit lanterns and heard the happy voices and
the loud music.
Chad swung Halie down gently and they walked together to the barn. They
greeted everyone they passed and went inside. Chad made Halie sit down and
he went and got her a glass of punch. Halie gazed around at al merriment
that was going on.
“Miss Halie, how are you, dear?” Halie looked up and saw Mrs. Thorne, her
former landlady.
“Mrs. Thorne! How lovely to see you.” Halie exclaimed standing and giving
the older woman a warm hug.
“Your dear sheriff husband told me of the good news.” Mrs. Thorne said with
a little smile. “Just to let you know, dear, I am a midwife and will be
happy to take care of you and the wee one when you are laying-in.”
“That is very sweet of you, Mrs. Thorne” Halie said with a smile.
“Here you go, Halie.” Chad said handing her a glass of punch. “I need to go
speak to someone. I’ll be back in a minute.”
An hour later, Chad finally came back. Halie was a bit irritable. “Chad,
this was to be a night of relaxation, not work.”
“I know, Halie. I’m here now. Do you want to dance, love?” Halie thought
for a long moment, then she smiled.
“I would love to dance.” Chad swept her into his arms and they were soon
enjoying a lovely waltz.
“You are so beautiful, Halie.”
“Thank you, Chad. I love you so much.”
The months sped by. Halie grew bigger and bigger as the child grew within
her belly. It was harder to get up and do things now, but Halie made an
effort. She was eight months pregnant and she didn’t want Chad to think she
couldn’t handle her everyday chores. She spent a lot of time crocheting
lovely, soft things for the baby. The room had been made ready and their
was a handmade cradle at the end of Chad and Halie’s bed.
One afternoon, well into the last weeks of her pregnancy, Halie heard a
commotion at the front of the house. Slowly, she pulled her swollen body
from the rocker and walked to the door. Outside on the porch, Halie saw a
pile of suitcases and bags. She looked up and saw their buggy.
Coming from around the other side of the buggy Halie saw her Mother, her
father and her sister, Heather.
“Mother! Father! Heather!” Halie exclaimed going to the steps and waiting
for her dear family to reach her. “Why are you here?”
“Well, dear daughter, your lovely husband called us and said you needed some
family around to take care of you.” Halie looked over at her husband with a
brilliant smile. She walked over to him and kissed him lovingly.
“I love you, Chad Rogue. You are the dearest man alive.”
“Why doesn’t everyone come into the house and we will sit down and have a
real talk.” Chad picked up that bags sitting on the porch and set them
inside the door.
Halie and her parents and sister had a long, happy talk. Chad sat next to
his wife with his arm around her shoulders. He knew she had missed her
family, especially at this important time in all of their lives.
Several hours after they had gone to bed, Chad woke up. He lay still for a
moment trying to figure out what had a woken him. He suddenly realized that
Halie was very restless in her sleep. He rolled over and put his hand on
her shoulder. Halie jerked awake with a cry of pain.
“What is it, love?” Chad asked softly.
“I-I think it’s time.” Halie gasped. She cried out again when a pain hit
her hard.
“I’m going to get the doc, hon. Lay back and I will send your mother and
sister in.” Chad stated quickly pulling on his clothes and boots. He
hurried out of their room and spoke to Halie's family, then he went outside
to the stable and saddled his horse.
“Halie, dear, how are you doing?” Her mother asked leaning over her and
placing her cool hand on her forehead.
“I’m all right, mother, but it’s time for the baby.” Halie answered between
the pains.
“I know, dear. Everything will be all right. Just think, Halie, in a few
hours you will have a beautiful child to hold in our arms. That baby will
bring you such joy, just as you and Heather brought us great joy.” Halie’s
mother continued to talk to her and calm her until the doctor arrived.
“All right now, Halie. How are you doing?” The doctor said coming in and
taking over with an air of confidence. “Chad, why don’t you, your
father-in-law and your sister-in-law go out to the stable and take care of
the horses? Mrs. Lockerbie? Will you stay here and help me?”
“Of course, doctor.”
Halie did what the doctor told her. She bore the pain well and was soon
holding a darling baby girl in her tired arms. The doctor and her mother
cleaned things up and quietly left the room. Chad came in and sat down on
the bed next to Halie. He leaned over and kissed his wife. He then looked
down at his daughter in awe.
“She’s beautiful, Halie. What are we going to name her?” He asked softly
checking to see that she had the right number of fingers and toes.
“I was thinking of Holly Kathrine. What do you think?” Halie asked her
eyes leaving her baby’s face briefly to glance into her handsome husband’s
face.
“I think it’s beautiful. Can I hold her?”
“Of course, darling.” Almost reluctantly, Halie handed the small baby over
to her husband. Chad cradled the baby carefully.
Several days later, Halie realized that Heather hadn’t held the baby or even
really looked at her yet. She waited until she and Heather were alone and
then went to her.
“Heather, we need to talk. Come into the bedroom so I can feed and change
Katie.”
“I think I’ll wait until you’re done.”
“Heather, what is wrong? Why haven’t you held Katie yet? You can’t even
look at her? Let me help you if I can.” Halie said with concern for her
only sister.
“Oh, Halie! Everything is so messed up!” She cried. “After we got back
home from your wedding, I found out I was pregnant. I told Edward and he
went crazy. He hit me and called me names and said the baby wasn’t his. He
was so angry, he ran outside and was run over by a freight wagon. He never
even saw it coming. As I was running out to him, I slipped on the steps and
fell. I lost the baby and my husband all in one day.” Heather sat crying
quietly as Halie stared on in puzzlement and shock.
“Heather, why didn’t I ever get told about this?” She asked softly placing
a gentle hand on her sister’s slender shoulder.
“I asked Mother and Father not to tell you. I’ve been so envious of you
and Chad. You have the most romantic and perfect marriage. Now, you have a
beautiful baby. I have nothing.” Heather sobbed disconsolately.
“Oh, Heather, you poor dear.” Halie murmured. “You can have all those
things too. Someday, you will find the perfect man just for you. You will
lots and lost of beautiful babies. You must be patient, dear.” Halie
hugged her sister. They sat together for a long time, until Katie started
to cry. Halie got up and brought her over to where Heather was sitting.
“Halie, thank you for talking to me. I have a favor to ask and I hope it’s
not too much to ask of you and Chad.”
“What is it?” Halie asked getting ready to feed the baby.
“Could I stay with you and Chad?”
“For a visit? Of course.......”
“No, Halie, I want to move out here with you. I’ve talked to the school
board and they need a teacher. They have already approved me. I don’t
really want to live alone.”
“There’s only one condition I ask of you, Heather. You need to properly
introduce yourself to your new niece. She wants to get to know her Aunt
Heather.” Halie answered with a smile.
“Oh, thank you, Halie!” Heather exclaimed.
Heather was settled into the baby’s room temporarily. Chad was planning on
adding on another room and it would be a while before it was ready.
The days passed happily for the small family. Heather was thrilled with her
new job and newfound independence. Halie and Chad were thrilled with their
new daughter. All was well in the Rogue household.
