Page 57 of The Gold Rush Bride

“Don’t worry about it. You won’t remember a thing when he gets here, except what a beautiful baby you’re having. Trust me.”

Sadie huffed out a breath. “I’m trying. I’m truly trying to take this in stride.”

He looked at Barnaby. “I’ve been waiting to meet you. I’m Jason Wilcox. You must be Barnaby Drake.” He extended his hand.

“I am and I’m glad to meet you, too.” He held Sadie’s hand with his left and put the right out to take the doctor’s hand.

The doctor turned to Clara. “We’ll need hot water and towels to clean the baby and Sadie afterward.”

Clara nodded. “I’ll go get the water started. And I’ll bring a bucket of cold so we can make it whatever temperature you need.” She rushed from the room.

“Good. Is there soap over with the pitcher and basin on the bureau?”

“Yes, Doctor, it’s filled with fresh water every day,” said Sadie.

Doctor Wilcox nodded and set his doctor’s bag on the bureau, opened it and took out his instruments. Then he turned back to Sadie. “I have to ask a couple of questions first. Now, Sadie, when did your water break?”

“About thirty minutes ago.”

“And the contractions? How many have you had in that time?”

“I don’t know. It seems constant. Four, maybe five, I guess.”

The doctor smiled. “Well, that’s a bit fast for them, but first babies can come quick. Let’s look, shall we?”

Barnaby stood next to the bed and held Sadie’s hand.

“I need to examine her. You can wait downstairs. Afterward, if she’s not already delivering, you can come back. I feel sure that it will take some time for her to deliver, so you two can visit until then.”

Barnaby shook his head. “I’d rather stay. I know it’s not traditional, but I don’t want to leave her in her hour of need.” He looked down at Sadie. “I already did that once and I never will again.”

She squeezed his hand and smiled.

The doctor raised his brows. “Well, that is most unconventional, but if you stay at her head, it should be fine. Let’s take a look and see where we are.” He turned his attention to Sadie. “Lift your knees and spread them apart, please. You know what to do.”

Sadie did as he asked.

By this time, Clara had returned.

“Clara,” said the doctor. “I need light.”

She grabbed a lamp off the nightstand and held it for the doctor.

“Well, I’ll be.” The doctor’s brows lifted and his eyes widened. “You are delivering right now, Sadie. I need you to bear down as hard as you can. Push. Hard. Harder. Don’t stop until I tell you.”

Sadie snagged Barnaby’s hand and squeezed it as hard as possible. Her belly grew rock hard and she gritted her teeth. “Ahh.” She stopped. “I can’t do it anymore. I need a break.”

“That’s fine,” said Dr. Wilcox. He glanced down. “Break’s over. Bear down. Hard. Come on now, I know you can push harder.”

Sadie didn’t know how long she pushed and stopped, then pushed again. Finally, she felt the baby slide from her body. “Is he here?”

The doctor chuckled. “Yes, yourdaughteris here.”

“A girl.” She turned her face up toward Barnaby. “Did you hear? We have a daughter.” Tears chased one another down her cheeks, and she didn’t care. She had her baby and her husband.

“I see, my love. A daughter.” He caressed Sadie’s face and kissed her forehead.

Clara took the baby to a table across from the foot of the bed. She cleaned her up and then brought the swaddled infant to her mother.