WATER RIGHTS, CHAPTER 24, WINTER PASSES

 

         When Luke and Stevie were gone, Hannah went to the dining hall and radioed all staff asking them to meet there. Once everyone was assembled, Hannah told them of the plans she and Luke had made. When finished, she asked if anyone had any questions.

Jo was the first to speak up. “So, Luke’s going to be in the house on the same floor as me, Dave and Emily? He’s not going to be in your room?”

“No, this isn’t a trial marriage or relationship. Luke is going to stay there so he can have better access to Stevie, plus be aware of my pregnancy as my body changes. I’m not planning to trap him into marriage so both my children will have a father. If we love each other enough, maybe eventually we’ll become a couple. For now, we’re just coparenting Stevie in the same house.”

“You said something about Luke taking on ranch responsibilities. Are you going to assign those or is he just going to do whatever he wants?” One of the men from the bunkhouse asked.

“I haven’t yet talked to Joe, but Joe is the foreman or supervisor if you will of all the staff that performs ranch work. I’m hoping Joe is willing to have Luke report to him. When Luke was first here years ago, he worked with Gramps, Joe and Dave. He was more in charge then than Joe, but we’ll see how he does when he’s not running the show. That okay with you Joe?”

There were some additional questions about Luke’s responsibilities, whether or not he’d be paid like everyone else, all of which Hannah referred to Joe. Hannah ended the meeting by encouraging anyone who came up with additional questions or concerns to bring them to her or Joe. Everyone went back to work and she returned to the house.

While she waited for Luke and Stevie to return, she took sheets and towels to the empty room that would be Luke’s. She made the bed, put the towels and washcloths on top of the dresser. Luke could put them in the bathroom himself on the empty rack in there. She made a note to tell him he had to do his own laundry, including changing his linens. She figured he’d be smart enough to figure out what he needed to do to join his fellow roommates when he saw the lists posted in both the hall and bathroom.

Hannah was back in the dining hall when they returned. She watched through a window as they hauled the various boxes and bags toward the house. She had to smile at Stevie, doing his best to haul his share. He’d go a few steps and have to set his bag down before taking it up again to proceed. Luke would stop each time to encourage him along.

When they joined Hannah at a table a short time later, Stevie was still excited and pretty much went from table to table to tell his friends that Luke was his daddy and wasn’t that just so cool. Following dinner, Hannah proposed she do some work in her office while Luke got Stevie ready for bed. She’d join them in an hour or so to kiss Stevie good night.

From that night forward, Luke took on his dad responsibilities without whining or complaining. If Hannah indicated she wanted to be the one to take care of whatever Stevie needed, Luke backed off. She didn’t horn in often because she’d already had almost three years with her son and Luke needed his time.

In addition to caring for Stevie, Luke listened to Joe and took on whatever chores he was assigned. He didn’t argue or quibble about what they were or how they might be done better or more quickly. He gave Joe and the rest of the staff the respect they all deserved and did his best to fit in as one of them. And, the staff became very comfortable with Luke as time passed. Hannah was grateful to all of them.

Christmas came and went as did the new year. Even though Luke wanted to provide Stevie with an entire toy shop, he listened to what Hannah had to say and curtailed his spending so the boy wasn’t overwhelmed with too many packages.

Meanwhile, Hannah’s body continued to change and swell some as they baby inside grew. She found Luke looking at her much larger boobs fairly often before his gaze would fall to her belly. She could almost see him thinking he’d dearly love to caress those bigger boobs. For that matter, she’d love to have them caressed. For some reason, just like last time, she was so horny, it was all she could do to ignore her body’s desire for Luke’s, but she persevered and didn’t make or allow any overtures. By January, her tummy had gotten large enough for notice and the potential for movement was getting close. Hannah asked Luke to tell Stevie about his upcoming sibling.

“You don’t have to tell him it’s your baby. All you have to do is tell him there’s a baby boy or girl in my tummy. You can tell him that it will be months yet before it gets here. Then, you answer any questions Stevie may have. I’ll be right there with you to help out if needed.”

Hannah was impressed with the way Luke told Stevie the news and even more impressed with his responses to Stevie’s questions, although he did breeze by how the baby got in mommy’s tummy. When finished, Stevie had to see Hannah’s belly, so they both joined her on the couch. She raised up her sweatshirt and slid her pants beneath the small swell. “There’s really a baby in there?” Stevie asked, poking at her belly button.

“Yep. It’s not very big now, but it will keep growing. Soon, I’ll be able to put your hand on my belly and you can feel the baby move around.”

“Really mom, that’s so cool. Isn’t that really super cool daddy?”

Hannah had to hand it to Luke as he told his son, “Yes, it’s just about the coolest thing since you were in your mom’s belly.”

The days moved on and just before Stevie’s birthday, Hannah felt the first quickening, not enough to share just yet, but it would be soon. At the rate her belly was growing, if the doctor had told her it was twins, she wouldn’t have been surprised. There again, Luke had accompanied Hannah to all her appointments, gone into the exam room and asked pertinent questions. He really was trying.

With Stevie’s birthday Luke’s gift-giving was a bit of a different story. Luke could not be dissuaded from getting his son a brand new and larger pony than he’d had since his first birthday. It was a Shetland and absolutely gorgeous. Luke had talked to Joe, Dave and Dale about the purchase. The men had been supportive and went together to purchase tack that was big enough and as beautiful as it was sturdy. It complimented Stevie’s new animal handsomely.

Stevie was so excited about his new mount he could hardly wait to get in the saddle. He had to wait though because there had been a huge snowfall. He also decided he would name the new pony Goldy because it was such a pretty gold color. Then, when he looked at his old pony, his eyes filled with tears. “Oh, what about Spot? He’s going to be so sad. I love Spot.”

“That’s okay honey,” Hannah knelt so they were face-to-face. “You can still take care of Spot and ride him some, but he is getting older and you are getting bigger. I’m sure Spot and Goldy will become friends when they are out in the pasture together. Look, Spot is already trying to reach his muzzle out to Goldy.”

Sure enough, the two ponies appeared to be bonding and it made Stevie feel much better. As soon as the snow had melted enough, Luke had Stevie out in the parking lot and pasture on Goldy. Some times he would mount a horse himself and walk around with Stevie and other times, he’d just walk beside Stevie as the boy learned to control this larger pony.

At the beginning of March, Hannah asked Luke and Stevie to join her. Again, she pulled up her shirt and lowered her waistband. “Now, you have to be a bit patient, but the Little Mite is being very active just now. Of course, as soon as you expect it, the baby always stops.” She took one each of their hands and placed them on either side of her belly.

“Did you know that when you were in my tummy like this, I called you a Little Mite as well, Stevie.”

“You did? That’s so cool mom. Isn’t that cool dad?” Then, Stevie jumped and pulled his hand back. “It moved. I think that Little Mite kicked me.”

On the other side of her belly, Luke pressed his hand a bit harder against the swell of her tummy. As if the Little Mite didn’t want to play favorites, Luke suddenly felt something, he couldn’t tell if it was a hand or a foot, but it pushed against his hand with surprising strength. He was absolutely amazed. He’d felt horses, cows and dogs when they were pregnant, but it didn’t compare to how he felt, knowing it was a tiny human inside. He so wished he’d been there to feel Stevie kick and stretch and punch, but he pushed that thought away, determined to enjoy this experience as much as possible.

The next few months flew by as the ranch got ready for Memorial Day Weekend. By mid-May, Hannah was even bigger than she’d been with Stevie. When the baby stretched, she felt as though the feet or hands or whatever had gone beneath her lungs and reached the back of her throat. She was uncomfortable, actually miserable and so cranky she didn’t even like herself. Hannah had reached the point where she wanted this over, done, finished. At her doctor’s appointment the following week, she was going to demand he induce her that very afternoon. Enough was enough.

Hannah didn’t make it to the doctor’s appointment. Her water broke while she was standing in front of the stove Sunday morning. Of course, the majority of staff at WFR were away, going to church, having a day off, or just away on their own personal business. Joe, who’d agreed to be her birth coach again was also gone. When the first labor pain grabbed her, she had to lean against the counter and hang on. It seemed to last forever even though she knew it was only about a minute.

When Hannah let go of the counter and turned, Luke was right there. ”What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Hannah sighed. “It’s time I went to the hospital. I need to change my pants and socks first and get my bag.”

“I’ll bring you some pants and get your bag.” Luke responded. “What are we going to do with Stevie?”

“I thought I’d leave him with you.”

“How are you going to get to the hospital? Pretty much everyone is gone. I’ll need to take you. Stevie can come too.” With that Luke ran off down the hall to return with everything Hannah needed. He stood her up, pulled her pants and panties down, sat her down, yanked her socks off, then redressed her beginning with the socks. Hannah was grateful Stevie wasn’t there to see.

Luke was amazed at the size of Hannah’s stomach in relation to her legs. Her belly was huge and distended. He couldn’t believe she was able to move around and take that huge belly with her. And, yes, he’d sort of seen it when he and Stevie were feeling the baby move, but seeing her naked from the waist down really emphasized the size.

“You just sit here. I’m going to get Stevie and then we’re outta here. You okay? God, I hope you’re okay.”

Luke was back in no time and carefully led her down to the truck. While she climbed in, he buckled Stevie into his car seat. “Mom’s having the baby? Are you having my brother or sister now mom?”

Hannah could feel another contraction building. She took hold of the door handle and squeezed as hard as she could until it passed. “I think you’d best get me to the hospital soon Luke. Feels like this one doesn’t want to wait much longer.”

Luke drove carefully, but as quickly as possible down the ranch road and on to the highway, doing his best to answer all of Stevie’s questions while Hannah lay her head back against the headrest and prayed they’d get there in time. She didn’t really want to have this baby in the front seat of the truck.

Entering town, Luke said, “We’ll drop Stevie at Liam’s house….”

“No” Hannah gasped. “No. You have to take me to the hospital now. You can take Stevie after.”

Luke pulled into the ER, got out and ran inside where he yelled for help. Turning back, he found Hannah ready to get out of the truck. She was only waiting because she was telling Stevie to be good, that she loved him and couldn’t wait to show him his new brother or sister after a while.

Placed on a gurney, hospital staff wheeled her away as Luke climbed back in the truck and headed for Liam’s house. There, he asked Celia to take care of Stevie and thanked her profusely since they hadn’t even called first. Back in the truck, he gunned it down the street and hoped like hell he’d get back to the hospital in time. He’d done the childbirth classes with Hannah, but knew she thought Joe would be with her. Well, Joe wasn’t. It was going to be him and even though he could hardly believe it, he was really looking forward to helping her birth this child.