Page 13 of The Preacher's Bride

Ella nodded and then forced another smile as she grabbed her stomach and bit her lower lip. A moment later, she relaxed.

A crease formed between Mia’s eyes, instinctively knowing that Ella wouldn’t make it to a restaurant. “Let’s go back inside the church and sit down for a moment.”

Ella nodded. The fact that she didn’t argue about it was testimony that it was more serious than Ella was letting on. “It was just a little pain. I’ve been having them every now and then all day. It’s nothing to cause concern.”

Colton pulled the buckboard up and parked it on the side of the street. Then he pulled back on the brake and jumped down. He took one look at Ella and shook his head, letting out a deep breath as he rolled his eyes. Without a word, Colton scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the buckboard as Mia and Caleb followed, carrying the children.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were hurting?” a crease formed between Colton’s eyes.

“I didn’t want you to be concerned.”

Colton slid her gingerly into the back of the buckboard.

Ella gripped Colton’s arm as another pain rushed through her.

Without another word, Mia took charge. “Caleb,” she whispered. “Do you know if there’s a doctor around here?”

“There’s one a few streets from here on the edge of town,” Colton blurted out before Caleb could answer, and then looked up at Mia. “I’m taking her there.”

“Colton, I’m fine!” Ella yelled as another pain gripped her. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—” Her voice cut off as she bent over and gripped her stomach again.

“Ella, I’m worried about you.” Mia took her arm.

“No. Actually, that’s my job,” Colton interjected.

“Oh!” Ella groaned, grabbing her stomach.

Without saying another word, Colton held his wife as she doubled over in pain.

“Caleb.” Mia grabbed his arm, claiming his attention. “I have to go.”

“Go,” he ordered. Then he looked over at Colton. “We’ll follow you!” He hurried with the children to his buckboard.

Colton nodded once as Mia sat behind Ella, letting her lean against her.

Mia looked up at Colton. “I have her! Let’s go! Unless you want to be the one delivering the baby!”

Colton nodded once as he jumped into the front of the buckboard and shook the reins hard. “Yah!” The horses leaped immediately into a full gallop and Caleb followed behind in the buckboard.

Mia rubbed Ella’s arm. “Just breathe, Ella. It’s going to be fine. Just breathe—”

“Don’t worry, honey! We’ll be there in just a minute!” Colton yelled from the front as the buckboard rounded a corner. Mia just hoped that the doctor was in.

“Yah!” Ella groaned as she bent over, holding tightly to her stomach, squeezing Mia’s hand.

“Don’t worry, Ella. We’re almost there,” said Mia as the sound of the wagon and the horses’ hooves pounded hard against the muddy road where the snow had melted off.

Colton looked over his shoulder at Ella, then turned his attention back to the road. People shrieked, jumping out of the way as Colton pulled the team to a stop in front of a small whitehouse on the edge of town. A wooden sign hung above the door that read RUFUS ALLAWAY, M.D. Colton pulled back on the brake, jumped out, and ran up the stairs. He beat on the door so hard that it rattled the frame.

“Confound it!” a voice bellowed from the other side of the door. “I’m coming! Patience is a virtue, you know!” A moment later, the door opened abruptly and a middle aged, slightly overweight and balding man biting down on a cigar stood on the other side. “Well, what do you want?”

Colton looked him over. “Are you the doctor?”

“I am,” the man said around his cigar. “What do you want?”

“My wife’s pregnant and having pains. She’s not due for another month.” Colton pointed toward the buckboard where Ella was doubled over in pain. Mia rubbed her back.

The older man rolled his eyes, perfectly calm. “Calm down. It’s not the first time a baby’s been born on my watch.” He threw his cigar into the snow. “Well, let’s not waste any time. Bring her in.” He was so nonchalant that Mia felt foolish for having gotten so excited. But she was sure that the doctor was used to dealing with the small matter of birthing babies. In a growing town like this, it was probably an everyday occurrence.

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