Summary: This story is a sequel to \u201cFrom This Day Forward\u201d and \u201cBlessed Are the Children\u201d. It\u2019s January 1881 and Adam and Bronwen are awaiting the birth of their fourth child.<\/p>\n
Rating: K+ \u00a0WC \u00a011,400<\/p>\n
Bronwen in Nevada Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n From This Day Forward<\/a> Finally, I wish to acknowledge that Ben, Adam, Hoss, Joe, Hop Sing, Dr. Paul Martin and Josh are not my creations and I intend no copyright infringement by using them in this story.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n there are no words to express.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Angelic Affection<\/strong><\/p>\n A sudden movement in the dark jerked Adam awake. He could see nothing in the inky blackness that surrounded him but he felt the movement again and heard the sound of someone gasping in pain. He turned toward the sound and asked urgently, \u201cIs it time to get Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m not in labor,\u201d Bronwen replied quietly. \u201cI\u2019ve got cramps in my legs and the baby is restless. Sorry I woke you up.\u201d<\/p>\n He felt his tense muscles relax and said dryly, \u201cIt\u2019s all right. I got you in this condition so why should I sleep if you can\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n Even though she couldn\u2019t see in the dark room, she could imagine him winking. \u201cI\u2019ll certainly be happy when Adam Jr. decides to make his appearance,\u201d she said decisively. She gave a little gasp as the baby began kicking her energetically.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean Benjamin Llywelyn,\u201d he said firmly, adding, \u201calthough it\u2019s more likely Penelope Jane.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSurely after three daughters the odds favor a son this time,\u201d she replied, and he heard the hint of frustration in her tone.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t actually calculated the odds,\u201d he replied, \u201cI\u2019m just going by personal observation.\u201d He decided it would be best to change the subject so he said, \u201cI wish this baby wasn\u2019t due in the middle of winter. When Gwyneth was born, I didn\u2019t have to worry about a blizzard preventing Paul from being here for her birth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did just fine when Miranda was born,\u201d she said soothingly because she knew how anxious he was about her upcoming childbirth.<\/p>\n \u201cDelivering my own child is not an experience that I want to repeat,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m thankful there were no complications.\u201d He reached for her hand and when he found it, he enfolded it in his own. \u201cEven if I hope I won\u2019t need to deliver this baby, I\u2019m glad Joe offered to stay with us until the baby arrives and to go for Paul so I can stay here with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Bronwen smiled and said, \u201cBetsy and Miranda are delighted to have him here. He\u2019s always ready to play jackstraws or Old Bachelor<\/em> with them. They\u2019ve even talked him into playing jacks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think they\u2019re good for Joe,\u201d Adam commented thoughtfully. \u201cI\u2019ve noticed that when he\u2019s playing with them, his grief doesn\u2019t seem as overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d she agreed. The she yawned. \u201cThe cramps are gone and the baby is quiet so let\u2019s see if we can get back to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n They had almost drifted off when they heard a quavering little voice calling, \u201cMama! Daddy! Gwyth scared.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed. Two months earlier they had moved Gwyneth from the nursery to her own room. If the new baby turned out to be Penelope Jane, then she and Gwyneth would share the room just as Betsy and Miranda shared one. However, Gwyneth was having difficulty adjusting to her new room and her \u2018big girl\u2019s bed\u2019. She frequently had nightmares, spending the remainder of the night sleeping between her parents.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy\u2019ll be there in just a minute, Punkin,\u201d Adam called as he pushed back the bed curtain on his side of the bed. He found his flint and steel on his bedside table and quickly lit the candle he kept there. Sticking his feet in his slippers and picking up the candlestick, he hurried to open the bedroom door. Even in the candle\u2019s dim illumination he could see the tearstains on his littlest girl\u2019s cheeks and the tears pooling in the large hazel eyes she\u2019d inherited from him. He leaned over and scooped her up in his free arm and she trustingly rested her curly head on his broad shoulder as he carried her to the bed. He set her down carefully and she hurriedly crawled to her mama\u2019s outstretched arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThere, there, Gwyneth fach<\/em>,\u201d Bronwen said soothingly as she gently rubbed her baby\u2019s back. \u201cDid you have a bad dream?\u201d The not-quite-three-year-old nodded her head, and put her thumb in her mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be safe here with Mama and me,\u201d Adam said, ruffling the thick black curls that were exactly like his own, and then blowing out the candle and getting back into bed.<\/p>\n When Adam woke at dawn as usual, he noted Bronwen and Gwyneth were sleeping soundly so he got up and dressed as quietly as he could and silently closed the bedroom door behind him. Betsy and Miranda were just coming out of their room, dressed in the knickerbockers and shirts they wore for their barn chores, and before they could tell him good morning he put his finger to his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cMama is still sleeping and we don\u2019t want to wake her up,\u201d he said softly. The girls nodded their understanding and the three of them walked silently down the circular staircase. As they reached the bottom, Joe emerged from the drawing room, carrying sheets, blankets and a pillow. (Since there were no unoccupied bedrooms, he was sleeping on the Chesterfield sofa in the drawing room.)<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Uncle Joe,\u201d the girls chorused.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, ladies,\u201d Joe replied with a warm smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you slept well,\u201d Adam said as the girls hurried down the hall to the mudroom where their coats were kept. \u201cI still feel guilty that I can\u2019t offer you a bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Older Brother. The Chesterfield is a lot more comfortable than sleeping in a bedroll on the hard ground,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI do wonder what you\u2019re gonna do if this new baby is Adam, Jr.,\u201d he added with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cBenjamin Llywelyn,\u201d Adam corrected automatically. \u201cWe\u2019ll turn the attic into his bedroom. It\u2019ll be a place where he can escape from his sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea since you\u2019ll be the only males in a sea of femininity,\u201d Joe said a laugh and Adam smiled. He hadn\u2019t heard Joe laugh much in the two years since his bride\u2019s tragic death. Slowly he was learning to live with his grief and Adam admired him for that. If he ever lost Bronwen . . . He wouldn\u2019t let himself finish the thought.<\/p>\n When the brothers reached the mudroom after storing Joe\u2019s bedding in the linen closet, they found Betsy and Miranda ready to head to the barn and care for their ponies. Each girl had received a Welsh Mountain Pony that summer. Adam had purchased them from a man in Illinois who had recently imported several ponies. Adam had chosen the breed because they were under 12 hands and known for being good natured. Beth\u2019s pony, Daisy, was a mahogany bay and Miranda\u2019s Honey was a golden bay. Adam had also purchased a stallion and some additional mares because he planned on breeding them and selling the ponies to other families in the area with young children. Hoss had already requested one for his twenty-two month old son, Josh, when he was old enough for a pony and Todd McKaren had also expressed interest.<\/p>\n \u201cIt snowed last night, Daddy,\u201d Betsy said excitedly. \u201cWill you and Uncle Joe help us make a snowman?\u201d<\/p>\n Normally their daddy was at the lumber camp during the day and was only available to play with them in the evening. Uncle Joe they saw on Sundays. It was only because their mama was going to have a baby brother or baby sister that Daddy and Uncle Joe were available to play with them all day so they were going to take full advantage of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease,\u201d Miranda begged.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter your lessons, then Uncle Joe and I would be happy to help you build a snowman. Won\u2019t we, Uncle Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. I like making snowmen,\u201d Joe said, smiling at his nieces. They were such pretty little girls with their dark hair and large hazel eyes, and each was as cute as a button dressed in little boys\u2019 knickerbockers. If Alice had lived, we would have had pretty daughters<\/em>, he thought sadly. Maybe with Alice\u2019s big brown eyes.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Adam saw Joe\u2019s happy expression fade and said in an exaggeratedly cheerful tone, \u201cWe\u2019d better hurry and feed our hungry animals.\u201d<\/p>\n The sisters hurried outside into the bitter cold. Adam and Joe hastily put on their coats and hats before following the girls out the door.<\/p>\n When the four Cartwrights returned to the house, they found Kerra Chynoweth, who had worked for Adam and Bronwen since a few months before six-year-old Betsy\u2019s birth, putting a batch of biscuits in the oven. Bronwen, who was dressed a grey serge wrapper that barely fit around her very pregnant belly, was frying sausage on one of the front two burners of the kitchen range while a pan of oatmeal simmered on one of the back burners. Joe had to smile at the sight of his sister-in-law, who was barely five feet in her stocking feet and normally weighed about one hundred pounds, but who now looked as though she\u2019d swallowed a watermelon whole.<\/p>\n After exchanging good mornings, Adam asked where Gwyneth was.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s in the dining room watching Miss Brooks set the table,\u201d Bronwen replied, then added, \u201cHurry and change your clothes, girls,\u201d and they scampered off.<\/p>\n Hope Brooks was the newest addition to the Cartwright household. Since the distance from their home near Crystal Bay was too great for the girls to attend school in Carson City, Virginia City, Genoa or Reno, Adam and Bronwen decided to hire a tutor. They chose Miss Brooks, a graduate of Elmira College with ten years experience teaching at Linden Hall, the oldest girls\u2019 boarding school in the United States.<\/p>\n Miss Brooks was a plain woman in her mid thirties. She\u2019d enjoyed teaching at Linden Hall but she found her life there was too pedestrian. She wanted to see more of the world than New York and Pennsylvania so when she came across the Cartwrights\u2019 advertisement, she applied for the position. She felt an immediate rapport with the Cartwright family and was enraptured with the beautiful setting of their home. She\u2019d only been with them two months and was still adjusting to her new position. Living in a private home was very different from the years she\u2019d lived at Linden Hall.<\/p>\n She got along very well with her two pupils. The younger, five-year-old Miranda, was a very bright child and eager to learn. Six-year-old Betsy required more motivation, but once motivated, she did well enough. Miss Brooks also spent time getting to know Gwyneth, who would be her pupil in a couple of years. While the two older girls were outgoing, Gwyneth was shy and Miss Brooks had to put more effort into winning her trust, but now she accepted her sisters\u2019 tutor as part of her family.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long before the entire household assembled in the dining room for breakfast. Betsy and Miranda were now wearing long-sleeved flannel dresses and calico aprons with sleeves and Joe could only smile at their transformation.<\/p>\n After Adam blessed the food, he asked Bronwen what her plans were that morning.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst I\u2019m going to catch up on my mending and then Gwyneth and I will go for a little walk,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cold,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI\u2019d skip the walk if I were you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a short walk. Gwyneth and I need a little exercise and fresh air,\u201d Bronwen said with a smile.<\/p>\n Seeing his brother start to respond, Adam said with a chuckle, \u201cYou may as well give up trying to change her mind, buddy. I did years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Bronwen grinned and then asked, \u201cHow are you gentlemen going to occupy yourselves this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you\u2019re busy with your mending, I thought I\u2019d spend some time with Gwyneth. Would you like to read Mother Goose, Punkin?\u201d Adam asked and Gwyneth dimpled as she said enthusiastically, \u201cMuver Goose!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve finished the accounts for the sawmill and the lumber camp so while you\u2019re going for a walk, I\u2019ll work on the accounts for the ranch,\u201d Adam continued. \u201cWhat about you, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to shovel a better path to the barn and outhouse and clean off the steps to the front porch and shovel a path from there to the yard. After that, I think I\u2019ll look for some work I can do inside,\u201d he said with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t forget you said you\u2019d help us build a snowman,\u201d Betsy interjected.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter your lessons,\u201d Adam reminded her firmly.<\/p>\n \u201cDumb old lessons,\u201d Betsy pouted.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019d better change your attitude, young lady, or you\u2019ll be spending the afternoon in your room while Uncle Joe and I help Miranda build a snowman,\u201d Adam said sternly.<\/p>\n Betsy knew her daddy meant what he said so she pouted and then concentrated on eating her oatmeal. Miranda spoke up then.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Brooks is teaching us how to add, Uncle Joe. One plus one is two. Two plus one is three.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s very good,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know what three plus two is?\u201d Adam asked her.<\/p>\n She wrinkled her nose as she concentrated and then she replied with a dimpled grin, \u201cFive!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery good, Angel,\u201d Adam said, smiling at her while Betsy\u2019s eyes began to fill with tears. Miranda always did better than she did on their lessons and Daddy was always proud of her.<\/p>\n Miss Brooks was sitting across from Betsy, saw her sad expression, and spoke up. \u201cMr. Cartwright, I must show you the drawing Betsy made of her family. She\u2019s quite the little artist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to see it,\u201d Adam said and then smiled at his first-born and saw her face light up.<\/p>\n As soon as they finished breakfast, Betsy, Miranda and Miss Brooks headed to the library that served as their classroom. Adam and Gwyneth went with them so they could get the illustrated Mother Goose Tales<\/strong> that Bronwen\u2019s parents had sent Betsy for her third birthday, and so Adam could see Betsy\u2019s picture. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s my picture, Daddy,\u201d Betsy said proudly as she handed it to him, and he took it with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, this is a beautiful picture, Princess,\u201d he said and she glowed with pleasure at her daddy\u2019s praise. Gwyneth tugged at his hand, saying, \u201cMuver Goose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, Punkin,\u201d he said then, handing Betsy the picture and ruffling Gwyneth\u2019s curls.<\/p>\n Once they had the book, Adam lifted Gwyneth to his shoulders and carried her piggyback to the drawing room, giggling all the way. When Bronwen arrived, bringing her sewing basket and a couple of Adam\u2019s shirts missing buttons plus socks and stockings that needed darning, she smiled at the two of them sitting together, remembering Pa saying that Gwyneth looked so much like her daddy at that age.<\/p>\n When Gwyneth tired of Mother Goose, Adam got down on all fours and pretended to be a wolf and chased a squealing, giggling Gwyneth around the room. When the wolf tired, he asked Gwyneth if she\u2019d like to hear a story and she asked for Little Red Riding Hood. She climbed back up in her daddy\u2019s lap to hear the story.<\/p>\n \u201c. . . and Little Red Riding Hood thought to herself, “I\u2019ll never disobey Mother again and leave the path and go into the forest,” Adam finished.<\/p>\n \u201cThree Little Pigs, Daddy,\u201d Gwyneth commanded, but Bronwen said, \u201cNot now. Daddy has some work to do but you and I are going for a walk in the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSnow!\u201d Gwyneth said and dimpled. She and Bronwen left and Adam took the account books to the dining room to work on that table since Miss Brooks and the girls were using his desk. A few minutes later, Gwyneth ran into the dining room, dressed in her coat, scarf, mittens and an extra pair of stockings. Adam had to smile because in her extra layers of clothing, she looked almost as round as her mama.<\/p>\n \u201cBye-bye, Daddy,\u201d Gwyneth said and he replied, \u201cBye-bye, Punkin,\u201d as Bronwen appeared in the doorway, wearing her sealskin cape and the matching sealskin toque and muff.<\/p>\n It was a short walk, but even so, Bronwen\u2019s and Gwyneth\u2019s cheeks and noses were red from the cold when they came inside, and Gwyneth\u2019s nose was badly in need of a handkerchief.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, Gwyneth,\u201d Bronwen scolded as they walked into the foyer. \u201cYou mustn\u2019t wipe your nose on your sleeve.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam heard them come in and hurried into the foyer. He pulled out his handkerchief and held it to Gwyneth\u2019s little nose. \u201cBlow,\u201d he commanded and when she finished, he cleaned her face.<\/p>\n \u201cCold, Daddy,\u201d Gwyneth said and he gently pinched her red cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cYou feel half frozen, Punkin. Let\u2019s take your coat, scarf and mittens to the mudroom and then you can come sit with Daddy and warm up.\u201d He smiled at Bronwen and gave her a quick kiss. \u201cI think Mama is half frozen, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll warm up in the kitchen,\u201d she said with a grin. \u201cI need to help Kerra with dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe walked up the hallway from the mudroom just in time to hear Bronwen. \u201cWhat\u2019s for dinner?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cCottage pie, Teisen Nionod<\/em>, and Pwdin Efa<\/em>,\u201d <\/em>Bronwen replied.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood. I like your cottage pie. Now, that tie-sen nod\u2014is that the potatoes and onion cake?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cI hope so cuz I sure like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remembered that you did,\u201d she replied with a smile, \u201cso that\u2019s why we\u2019re having it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd poodin . . . ?\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t wrap his tongue around the Welsh word.<\/p>\n \u201cI know this one,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt\u2019s Eve\u2019s Pudding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI remember now,\u201d Joe said, smiling down at Gwyneth, who grinned up at him. \u201cIt\u2019s the apple pudding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDinner should be ready in about an hour and a half,\u201d Bronwen said as she hurried to the mudroom.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take your things to the mudroom, Punkin, while you and Uncle Joe warm up in the drawing room,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cTell Gwyth Three Pigs?\u201d Gwyneth asked Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, why don\u2019t we wait and let your daddy tell both of us the story,\u201d Joe suggested quickly.<\/p>\n Adam grinned crookedly at his brother\u2019s alarm at the idea of telling Gwyneth a story. As he removed Gwyneth\u2019s thick scarf, he said, \u201cYou know, when your Uncle Joe was about the same age as you, he liked me to tell him stories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did?\u201d Joe had only a few fuzzy memories of his older brother before he\u2019d left for Harvard.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Adam replied, managing to wait while Gwyneth slowly unbuttoned her coat. \u201cYour favorite was Puss in Boots<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGwyth want Three Pigs,\u201d she insisted and the brothers smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThen The Three Little Pigs<\/em> it will be,\u201d Adam said, gently tweaking her nose before he carried her things to the mudroom.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go warm up,\u201d Joe said to Gwyneth, and taking her hand, he led her into the drawing room.<\/p>\n In a few minutes, Adam joined them on the Chesterfield that faced the Franklin stove. Gwyneth immediately climbed up on her daddy\u2019s lap and he began the story. When each little pig answered, \u201cNot by the hair of my chinny chin chin,\u201d Adam moved his voice into the falsetto range. For the wolf\u2019s lines, especially \u201cLet me in, Let me in, little pig or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!\u201d he deepened his voice. Joe could see why Gwyneth enjoyed the story so much and could easily believe he had enjoyed Adam\u2019s storytelling when he been that age.<\/p>\n Once the story was over, Gwyneth looked at her daddy hopefully with her big hazel eyes and asked, \u201cPlay wolf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Punkin, but this ol\u2019 wolf is worn out.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing his niece\u2019s lower lip come out in a pout, Joe said quickly, \u201cMaybe I could be the wolf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll make an excellent wolf,\u201d Adam said with a big dimpled grin. \u201cAll you have to do is get down on all fours just like a wolf and chase this little piggy,\u201d and he tickled Gwyneth, causing her to shriek with laughter. He paused in the doorway connecting the drawing and dining rooms and smiled at the sight of his brother on all fours and growling as he chased the giggling Gwyneth.<\/p>\n Time truly does heal all wounds<\/em><\/em>, he thought as he watched. Still I pray that I never have to suffer the loss of my Bronwen as Joe has had to suffer the loss of his Alice. How Pa endured the loss first of my mother, then Mama and finally Belle-m\u00e8re is beyond my comprehension.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n As they were all together eating dinner, Miss Brooks said, \u201cBetsy and Miranda worked so hard this morning that I think they deserve a reward, so I thought we\u2019d cancel this afternoon\u2019s lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh thank you, Miss Brooks!\u201d Betsy exclaimed joyfully and Miranda added her thanks, although with less enthusiasm because she enjoyed her lessons. However, she was as eager her older sister to build a snowman. \u201cDaddy,\u201d Betsy asked then, \u201cmay we build the snowman after dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see why not,\u201d Adam replied with a wink.<\/p>\n Miss Brooks then asked, \u201cMay I help build the snowman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n Joe was clearly taken aback by her request, but added with a friendly grin, \u201cThe more the merrier.\u201d<\/p>\n She saw his surprise and said with a little smile, \u201cI loved to make snowmen when I was a little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo did I,\u201d Kerra said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have snow very often in the village in Cornwall where I grew up and that made it special on the rare occasions when it did snow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you like making snowmen when you was a little girl, Mama?\u201d Betsy asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure I would have, but I\u2019d never seen snow until I married Daddy and moved here,\u201d Bronwen replied.<\/p>\n \u201cNever seen snow!\u201d Miranda said and she and Betsy looked at each other in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cIt never got cold enough for snow in New South Wales,\u201d Bronwen explained. \u201cI think there is snow high up in the mountains, but that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n The girls were obviously struggling with concept of a place where it never snowed so Adam said, \u201cI think in a couple of years when the new baby is old enough, we need to pay another visit to your tad-cu<\/em> and mam-gu<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s grandfather and grandmother in Welsh,\u201d Bronwen quietly explained to Miss Brooks, who was seated by her.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve never seen Gwyneth and you two weren\u2019t much more than babies the last time we visited,\u201d Adam continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see Tad-cu<\/em> and Mam-gu<\/em>,\u201d Betsy said excitedly and Miranda echoed, \u201cMe, too!\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhoa, girls,\u201d Adam said firmly. \u201cWe won\u2019t be going for at least two years.\u201d He said to Miss Brooks, \u201cI hope you meant it when you said you wanted to see more of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed I did, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d she said with a smile. \u201cVisiting New South Wales should be a fascinating experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was uncomfortable with the idea of Adam\u2019s family being absent for months even though he knew it was right that Dr. and Mrs. Davies have the opportunity to spend time with their daughter and granddaughters, so he said, \u201cI\u2019m really eager to make a snowman. Maybe even two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHurrah!\u201d Betsy and Miranda shouted, earning a reproof from their mama.<\/p>\n As they were eating their apple pudding, Bronwen noticed Miranda had her elbows on the table and said firmly, \u201cMiranda, it\u2019s not polite to put your elbows on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy does,\u201d Miranda retorted stubbornly, and Bronwen couldn\u2019t stop her grin when she saw her husband\u2019s cheeks turn red as he hastily removed his elbows from the table. Kerra and Miss Brooks, who were sitting across from each other, exchanged quick smiles. Joe realized his elbows were on the table as well and jerked them down.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy shouldn\u2019t do it either,\u201d Adam said. He added sternly, \u201cand you are not to contradict your mama, young lady. Take your elbows off the table and apologize to your mama, or we\u2019ll have a necessary talk. \u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, Miranda\u2019s expression was sulky, but she saw her daddy\u2019s frown and hurriedly removed her elbows and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cApology accepted,\u201d Bronwen replied, smiling warmly at her second born. Then she added, \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse us, Gwyneth and I are going upstairs and take a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n As they left the dining room, Betsy and Miranda began to wolf down their pudding. They finished at the same time and Betsy begged, \u201cMay we be excused?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you both finished your milk?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI have,\u201d Betsy answered.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as Miranda finishes hers, you may both be excused,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Betsy squirmed with impatience as Miranda gulped down the rest of her glass of milk. They both jumped down from their chairs and ran from the room, slowing only when they heard their daddy call, \u201cNo running in the house, girls!\u201d When they reached their bedroom, they took off their boots and put on an extra pair of woolen stockings to help keep their feet warm, and then, with some difficulty, got their boots back on and buttoned up. That accomplished, they ran down the stairs and headed for the mudroom. There they wrapped their scarves around their necks before putting on their long heavy coats and wool tam-o\u2019-shanters. They were buttoning up their coats when the adults arrived and waited impatiently for them to put on their coats and hats.<\/p>\n Once they were outside, they divided into two teams: Betsy teamed up with Joe and Miss Brooks while Miranda and Adam worked together. Five and six year olds don\u2019t have very long attention spans so when the snowmen were about half finished, the girls decided to make snow angels instead. The three adults finished the snowmen and sent the girls inside to get carrots for the snowmen\u2019s noses, the old pipe their grandpa had given them for snowmen, their daddy\u2019s old muffler, and buttons for eyes.<\/p>\n Kerra had everything ready so the girls were back after only a few minutes. Adam and Joe lifted them up so they could put on the faces and give one snowman the pipe and the other the muffler.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are handsome snowmen,\u201d Joe said, smiling at his nieces, \u201cbut I\u2019m frozen now and I want to go inside and warm up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI second that idea,\u201d Miss Brooks said, rubbing her gloved hands together.<\/p>\n \u201cKerra is making us hot cocoa,\u201d Miranda said happily.<\/p>\n \u201cHot cocoa sounds wonderful!\u201d Adam exclaimed.<\/p>\n They all hurried inside, stamped the snow from their boots, and quickly hung up their coats, scarves and hats so they could gather in the big warm kitchen for their hot cocoa.<\/p>\n As they gathered around the kitchen table, drinking their cocoa, Kerra took a pan from the oven.<\/p>\n \u201cCornish pasties!\u201d Joe exclaimed in delight as he recognized what was on the pan.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re for supper. There are fresh scones in the pantry as well,\u201d Kerra said. \u201cI didn\u2019t want Bronwen to have to worry about fixing supper.\u201d She removed her apron, saying, \u201cLoveday and Frank will be here soon so I must get ready.\u201d She started to leave and stopped abruptly. \u201cNo. I can\u2019t leave Bronwen here to cook breakfast and dinner for all of you tomorrow. I\u2019ll tell Loveday I can\u2019t come this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, Kerra,\u201d Joe said. \u201cI have a surprise. I was going to share it at supper but I guess I\u2019d better do it now.\u201d They all looked at him expectantly and he continued. \u201cPa said he\u2019s coming to take the girls to church tomorrow, and Claire wants to visit Bronwen. Last Sunday Pa invited Dr. Martin to dinner so Hop Sing is coming to cook for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Kerra smiled. \u201cIf Hop Sing is going to be here, then you\u2019ll be in good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n As she was leaving, Bronwen and Gwyneth appeared in the doorway. \u201cSo here you all are,\u201d Bronwen said with a smile and Gwyneth dimpled.<\/p>\n \u201cKerra made us cocoa,\u201d Miranda announced and Kerra said, \u201cYours and Gwyneth\u2019s is in the pan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess what, Mama. Grandpa is coming to take me and Miranda to church,\u201d Betsy said before her sister could blurt out the news.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyth go church wiv Ganpa,\u201d Gwyneth said, surprising her parents since she tended to cling to Bronwen.<\/p>\n \u201cToo right you may go,\u201d Bronwen said, smiling down at her baby. \u201cNow, let\u2019s get our cocoa.\u201d<\/p>\n When they finished their cocoa, Betsy asked Adam and Joe to play a game with them, but before either man could open his mouth, Bronwen reminded the girls that they hadn\u2019t practiced on the piano yet. (The year before Adam had given Bronwen a Steinway upright piano for her birthday and she was giving the girls lessons.) The girls were normally diligent about practicing but in the excitement of having their daddy and uncle home to play with, they\u2019d forgotten.<\/p>\n Seeing their rebellious looks, Adam said quickly, \u201cUncle Joe and I will be happy to play a game with you after you practice. Won\u2019t we, Uncle Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Joe replied, smiling at the girls. When they left to practice, he said, \u201cAdam and I will wash the dishes. Then maybe we could play a game of checkers while the girls practice. I miss playin\u2019 checkers with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI miss our checker games, too,\u201d Adam said with a little grin.<\/p>\n That evening after supper, everyone gathered in the drawing room to sing. Adam accompanied some songs on his guitar while Bronwen accompanied others on the piano. Gwyneth fell asleep first so Adam carried her upstairs and Bronwen and the other girls came up the stairs behind him.<\/p>\n He and Bronwen got Gwyneth out of her clothes and into her nightgown and then tucked her into bed. Bronwen went back downstairs while Adam went to perform his nightly ritual of reading to Betsy and Miranda<\/p>\n He smiled as walked into Betsy and Miranda\u2019s room. He could recall vividly how much fun he and Bronwen had had decorating the room. They\u2019d chosen wallpaper with a white background and a repeated pattern of country scenes of children playing in pink. \u201cIt\u2019s called toile,\u201d Bronwen had informed him. She had bought pink dimity, and together she and Kerra had made curtains, bedspreads and the canopies for the beds. He had made the wardrobe, chest of drawers and toy chest and painted them white. Before assembling the beds, he\u2019d painted them white as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the room little girls dream of,\u201d Bronwen had told him with shining eyes. Betsy\u2019s and Miranda\u2019s reactions when they saw their room for the first time bore out her words. Betsy clapped her hands and exclaimed, \u201cPitty!\u201d; Miranda\u2019s eyes grew big and round and her mouth formed an \u2018O\u2019.<\/p>\n When it was time to decorate Gwyneth\u2019s room, they\u2019d decided they wanted to use a different color scheme. They were having trouble deciding until Bronwen found a wallpaper pattern she fell in love with. It had a pale green background with a design of seashells. When she showed it to Adam, he approved. Bronwen and Kerra made the curtains, bedspread and canopy from green dimity a shade darker than the wallpaper. Instead of painting Gwyneth\u2019s furniture, Adam stained it. It wasn\u2019t as feminine a room as her sisters\u2019, but it was lovely and Gwyneth was pleased with it. (She just didn\u2019t like sleeping in the canopy bed by herself in the dark room.)<\/p>\n He sat in the rocking chair between the two beds with their ruffled pink canopies and smiled at his little girls. Their dark hair was neatly braided and each had her linen nightcap tied under her chin in a bow. He opened the book and read:<\/p>\n Little Pilgrim at Aunt Lou\u2019s<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/p>\n It was a long time after Christmas, and the snow and ice had all melted, and the trees were green again, and the flowers and birds had all come back.<\/p>\n Summer was just beginning again; and on the very day that she was five years old the little pilgrim started on a long journey with papa and mamma and Aunt Lillie.<\/p>\n They were going into the country to Aunt Lou’s, to stay for a great many weeks\u2014mamma and Aunt Lillie and Bessie; and papa was going to take them there and stay one night, and then go home again, because he had to attend to his business.<\/p>\n He stopped and saw with a smile that both little girls were sound asleep. Using a bookmark to mark his place, he stood up and then carefully tucked the blankets around each girl and dropped a kiss on her rosy cheek. Then he put the book on top of the chest of drawers, picked up the lamp and quietly exited the room.<\/p>\n He found Bronwen and Joe in the library playing checkers, or draughts as Bronwen called the game. Miss Brooks had apparently retired to her room.<\/p>\n \u201cGirls all tucked in?\u201d Joe asked. Adam nodded and then Joe asked if he\u2019d like to play the winner.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019ll just read the latest Harper\u2019s<\/em>,\u201d Adam replied.<\/em><\/p>\n Joe and Bronwen played one more game and then Joe declared he was going to turn in.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got the latest issue of Beadle’s Dime Library<\/em> and I know Adam doesn\u2019t want me polluting his library with it so I\u2019ll just read a bit in the drawing room.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBeadle’s Dime Library<\/em>?\u201d Bronwen asked, arching her eyebrows, after Joe left.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s full of sensationalism and poor writing, and he knows I despise it,\u201d Adam replied. Abruptly his mood changed and he asked with a smile, \u201cWould you like to hear a chapter of The Duke\u2019s Children<\/strong> or go to bed?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n She returned his smile and replied, \u201cIf you wouldn\u2019t mind bringing me the footstool so I could put my feet up, I\u2019d like to hear a chapter. Once the baby is here, we won\u2019t have the time or energy to read in the evenings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo doubt about that,\u201d Adam said with one of his crooked grins as he got the footstool and gently set her swollen feet on it.<\/p>\n As they walked upstairs after finishing their chapter, she said, \u201cIt\u2019s so good of Hop Sing to come and prepare dinner for everyone. I think Kerra was feeling guilty leaving me on my own, but I don\u2019t want her to miss one of her Sundays with Loveday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the girls are excited to be going to church with their grandpa and uncles,\u201d Adam said. \u201cOr at least Betsy and Miranda are. If Gwyneth changes her mind and starts to fuss, I think we should just let her stay home,\u201d he added and Bronwen nodded. \u201cI am very glad Paul is coming to dinner. It would be wonderful if the baby decided to be born while he\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomehow I doubt we\u2019ll be so lucky,\u201d she said with a little grin.<\/p>\n Before they retired, he massaged her back, which left her feeling very relaxed, and she fell asleep almost immediately. An hour before dawn, she was awakened by a contraction. She said nothing to Adam and fell back to sleep before the next one woke her. Since they were so far apart and relatively mild, she knew the birth wasn\u2019t imminent and decided to say nothing yet.<\/p>\n All during breakfast she continued having mild contractions and said nothing about it.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and I will do the dishes,\u201d Joe said when they\u2019d all finished eating.<\/p>\n Bronwen smiled her thanks and said to Gwyneth, \u201cMama will help you get ready for church. Betsy and Miranda, you need to get ready now.\u201d<\/p>\n They all headed upstairs while Adam and Joe began to gather up the dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can\u2019t be too much longer before the baby\u2019s born,\u201d Joe commented as he watched Bronwen waddle after her girls.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so. In fact, I hope the baby decides to be born this afternoon while Paul is here,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure everything will be just fine,\u201d Joe said reassuringly. \u201cBronwen has already been through it three times and didn\u2019t have any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI keep telling myself that,\u201d Adam said, but Joe heard the worry in his voice and saw it in his eyes. He put a hand on his brother\u2019s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze.<\/p>\n Meanwhile upstairs, Bronwen was letting Gwyneth dress herself as much as she could. She had recently graduated from diapers to knickers and could pull them up. She could also pull up her petticoat on her own. She needed help pulling her camisole and dress over her head and getting her arms in the sleeves. Gwyneth had inherited the pretty red velvet dress with its elaborate smocking and the ruffled white linen pinafore from Miranda, who had inherited them from Betsy. Gwyneth was taller than both older sisters so at almost three, she was wearing dresses they had worn at almost four. The little buttons were in the back so Bronwen took care of them. Next came the part of dressing that mother and daughter dreaded: getting a comb through Gwyneth\u2019s thick mop of curls. Bronwen\u2019s nerves were frayed and Gwyneth was in tears by the time a satisfactory result was achieved.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t cry, Gwyneth fach<\/em>. Mama didn\u2019t mean to hurt you,\u201d Bronwen said softly, kissing her littlest girl\u2019s cheek. \u201cYou look very pretty and we\u2019ll put your bonnet on and you\u2019ll be all ready for church.\u201d She put the red velvet bonnet with its white silk lining on Gwyneth and tied a pretty bow under her dimpled chin. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see if your sisters are ready yet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Betsy was buttoning Miranda\u2019s dress when Bronwen and Gwyneth entered their room. Betsy\u2019s dress was dark blue velvet and Miranda\u2019s was dark green. Betsy was wearing her ruffled pinafore, but the strings were tied in a lopsided bow.<\/p>\n \u201cPut your pinafore on, Miranda,\u201d Bronwen instructed, \u201cand I\u2019ll fix Betsy\u2019s bow.\u201d<\/p>\n Once she\u2019d tied both girls\u2019 bows, she arranged Miranda\u2019s curly dark hair into ringlets while Betsy, who had inherited her mama\u2019s fine straight dark hair, brushed hers. When Bronwen finished with Miranda\u2019s hair, she pulled Betsy\u2019s front hair up to her crown and secured it with a ribbon. Meanwhile Gwyneth sat in one of her sisters\u2019 little rocking chairs and watched.<\/p>\n \u201cPut your bonnets on, girls,\u201d Bronwen said, and stopped as she felt a contraction. They were still mild and far apart so she was sure she wouldn\u2019t go into labor until Dr. Martin arrived for dinner. She didn\u2019t intend to say anything about the contractions before then.<\/p>\n Betsy and Miranda each had a bonnet that matched her dress. Betsy could tie her own bow but Miranda still needed help. When they exited the girls\u2019 room, Miss Brooks was leaving hers. She was wearing a skirt and jacket of bottle green delaine and a simple white blouse.<\/p>\n \u201cI see we\u2019re all ready for church,\u201d she commented with a smile and they walked down the circular staircase together. Joe was waiting for them in the foyer along with Adam. They\u2019d brought everyone\u2019s coats and scarves from the mudroom and placed them on the Chesterfield so they could put them on quickly.<\/p>\n It was only a minute or two after they were downstairs that they heard the sound of approaching sleigh bells and hurried to put on their coats so the horses wouldn\u2019t have to stand in the cold. Joe was ready first and went outside to help his sister-in-law, Claire, down from the sleigh. Hop Sing got out after her and they walked quickly up the path Joe had shoveled through the snow to the house. Then Joe helped Miss Brooks and his older nieces into the sleigh.<\/p>\n \u201cCome sit with me and Uncle Hoss and Josh,\u201d Ben said coaxingly to Gwyneth, who had come out holding onto Adam\u2019s hand and now looked as though she was going to change her mind about being separated from her parents.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, Sweetpea,\u201d Hoss said with a big grin. \u201cMe \u2018n\u2019 Josh would really enjoy havin\u2019 you ride with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have fun, Punkin,\u201d Adam said as he lifted her up, set her on Ben\u2019s lap and tucked the buffalo robe around them. Hoss slid over by them with Josh on his lap so Joe could drive the sleigh and he started the team before Gwyneth could change her mind.<\/p>\n Adam waved goodbye to his family and then turned to go back inside. He grinned just a little as he saw Maegan, Bronwen\u2019s black and orange tortoiseshell cat, sitting in the drawing room\u2019s front window, watching him. Like her mistress, Maegan was in the family way but her kittens weren\u2019t due for a few weeks. As he headed down the hallway to hang up his coat in the mudroom, he paused as he heard Claire say, \u201cYou must do more than just walk to get your figure back. It\u2019s helped but I\u2019m still fatter than I was before I had Josh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI also reach down and touch my toes thirty times every day,\u201d he heard Bronwen reply, and grinned crookedly. His wife and Hoss\u2019s were opposites in many ways. Bronwen was short and slender while Claire was tall and had a much shapelier figure. Bronwen and Claire both had brown hair but Bronwen\u2019s was dark and straight and Claire\u2019s was a lighter shade and curly. Claire had a pair of sparkling brown eyes; Bronwen\u2019s eyes were larger and the color of violets but their beauty was partially obscured by the gold-rimmed spectacles she wore to correct her nearsightedness.<\/p>\n Not wanting to eavesdrop on any additional female confidences, Adam continued down the hallway.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I must thank you for your teething tea recipe,\u201d Claire said then. \u201cPoor Josh is having a terrible time and it\u2019s been a godsend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad it helped,\u201d Bronwen said. \u201cGwyneth\u2019s last molars came in about three months ago, and I think they must have been the most painful. She didn\u2019t sleep well and neither did we.\u201d Just then she experienced a contraction\u2014the most severe so far\u2014and she grimaced slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cBaby kicking?\u201d Claire asked and continued without waiting for a response. \u201cI expect the nursery is all ready. I remember how I fussed about getting everything just so a few days before Josh was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, the cradle has clean sheets and the lamb\u2019s wool blankets my oldest brother and his wife sent us before Betsy was born, so it\u2019s ready,\u201d Bronwen said. \u201cAll the gowns and bonnets and diapers are in the nursery\u2019s chest of drawers. I\u2019m thankful we got Gwyneth out of diapers before this baby is born. I remember what it was like with Betsy and Miranda both being in diapers at the same time. It seemed as though all Kerra and I did all day was wash diapers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can imagine!\u201d Claire exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that they\u2019re older I\u2019m glad they\u2019re so close in age since they have no one but each other to play with.\u201d Her expression grew wistful as she added, \u201cI love our house, but sometimes I do wish we lived in a town where the girls could go to school and have friends to play with. I could visit friends or invite them to tea more often than I can now since we live so far apart.\u201d She added hurriedly, \u201cDon\u2019t misunderstand. I\u2019m very happy here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know exactly what you mean,\u201d Claire reassured her, adding, \u201cI feel the same. At least you have Kerra. Sometimes I really miss having another woman to talk with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have me, even if we can\u2019t visit as often as we\u2019d like,\u201d Bronwen said with a smile.<\/p>\n After dropping Miss Brooks off at St. Paul\u2019s, Joe drove to the Methodist church. The other members of the congregation grinned when Ben arrived with his two younger sons and all his grandchildren. Josh toddled along at his daddy\u2019s side, his little hand enveloped in Hoss\u2019s large one. Joe followed, holding hands with Betsy and Miranda, while Ben and Gwyneth brought up the rear. The men helped the children take off their coats and then piled everyone\u2019s at the end of the pew. The children behaved reasonably well. Adam had given all three girls some money to put in the collection basket, which they enjoyed because it made them feel grown up. Ben had brought pencils and paper in one of his frock coat\u2019s pockets and gave them to the older girls when they grew restless. Gwyneth was always fascinated by his pocket watch and Hoss would gently jiggle Josh on his knee, shushing him if he began to giggle. Before the service was over, the two youngest Cartwrights had fallen asleep. They woke up startled when the congregation began to sing the closing hymn.<\/p>\n Before the service had begun, Reverend Jordan had welcomed a new family that had moved to the area from Sedalia, Missouri. Ben wanted to introduce himself and his family to the Pedersons and help them feel at home in their new surroundings. When the service was over, he hustled everyone over to where the Pedersons were, but several other families had the same idea so they had to wait and the children were starting to get restless. Finally it was their turn.<\/p>\n Ben introduced his family and Mr. Pederson introduced his wife and four children. The two oldest were several years older than Betsy and Miranda but one of the boys was only seven and the youngest was three. The seven-year-old couldn\u2019t take his eyes off Betsy. The adults all noticed it and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mustn\u2019t mind Johnny staring at you, Miss Betsy,\u201d Mrs. Pederson said. \u201cHe knows it\u2019s rude but you\u2019re the prettiest girl he\u2019s ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou certainly are!\u201d Mr. Pederson agreed emphatically.<\/p>\n Betsy felt her grandpa\u2019s nudge and, dropping a curtsey, said, \u201cThank you, Mr. and Mrs. Pederson.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re very welcome,\u201d Mr. Pederson said. \u201cYour mama and daddy are sure lucky to have such pretty daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n There were others waiting to meet the Pedersons so the Cartwrights headed for their sleigh then.<\/p>\n When Adam heard the sound of approaching sleigh bells, he grabbed his coat and hat from the mudroom and then hurried out the backdoor. He helped Miss Brooks down first and then she took Gwyneth from Ben so Adam could give him a steadying hand. Hoss handed Josh to Ben while Dr. Martin got out and Adam helped Betsy and Miranda down. The three brothers went to take care of the team and everyone else rushed inside out of the cold, except for Miranda, Gwyneth and Miss Brooks who needed to visit the outhouse first.<\/p>\n Hearing sounds coming from down the hall, Bronwen and Claire hurried from the drawing room to greet the family. Actually, Claire hurried; Bronwen moved with the distinctive gait peculiar to women in the last months of pregnancy. Her contractions were growing more severe so she wanted to speak with Dr. Martin.<\/p>\n As soon as Josh saw Claire, he shouted \u201cMama!\u201d and ran to her as fast as his short legs would go. She picked him up and kissed his cheek. \u201cMama missed you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Mama miss me?\u201d Hoss asked with a grin as he joined them.<\/p>\n \u201cShe certainly did,\u201d Claire replied and they kissed.<\/p>\n Ben and Paul went into the drawing room and Hoss and his family followed. Betsy came running up the hall behind them. \u201cMama! Mama!\u201d she shouted excitedly. \u201cA man and a lady at church said I was the prettiest little girl they\u2019d ever seen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and your sisters are all very pretty,\u201d Bronwen said firmly.<\/p>\n \u201cMiranda may be the smartest, but I\u2019m the prettiest,\u201d Betsy said, smiling smugly.<\/p>\n \u201cYour daddy and I don\u2019t think there is one prettiest or one smartest. You are all three pretty and smart, and we love you all just the same. Do you understand, Betsy fach<\/em>?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI still think I\u2019m prettiest,\u201d Betsy said stubbornly.<\/p>\n All their friends knew she and Adam didn\u2019t want Betsy spoiled by praise of her beauty so this man and woman must be newcomers. She knew they meant well but they obviously didn\u2019t realize the damage their flattery could do.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re starting to sound like the wicked queen in Snow White. Is that what you want?\u201d Bronwen asked her first-born.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Betsy said slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cThen don\u2019t be worrying who\u2019s the fairest of them all.\u201d Bronwen smiled to soften her rebuke and said, \u201cDinner is almost ready, so go wash your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as Betsy started down the hall to the washhouse, Bronwen joined Ben and Paul in the drawing room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re looking well, my dear,\u201d Ben said. \u201cIt can\u2019t be too much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly hope not. I\u2019m tired of looking like a beached whale.\u201d Both men smiled and she said, \u201cCould I speak with you for minute, Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d he replied and they excused themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very glad to see you, Paul,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cbecause I\u2019m sure I\u2019m in labor. I\u2019ve been having contractions since a little before dawn.\u201d She felt a contraction then but she was able to talk through it, saying, \u201cThey were mild at first but they\u2019re becoming more severe and more frequent.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul asked, \u201cHas your water broken?\u201d and she shook her head. \u201cIt may be a while yet.\u201d He smiled, adding, \u201cAdam is certainly calmer than I\u2019ve ever seen him during one of your childbirths.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it might be some time yet, so I haven\u2019t told him that I\u2019m in labor,\u201d she said, smiling faintly. \u201cI\u2019ll tell him after my water breaks.\u201d Paul nodded to show he understood.<\/p>\n Hop Sing had fixed two chicken potpies plus pickled beets, mashed turnips and plenty of sourdough bread. Everyone was enjoying the meal but while they were eating Hop Sing\u2019s dried apple pie, Bronwen felt a sudden gush of wetness and knew her water had broken.<\/p>\n Miss Brooks had been talking with Bronwen and seeing her expression asked, \u201cAre you all right, Mrs. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Bronwen replied, smiling warmly at Adam, sitting at the other end of the table. \u201cIt seems the baby has decided to be born today.\u201d Adam jumped to his feet at those words. \u201cExcuse me,\u201d she said as Adam pulled back her chair and helped her to stand.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul,\u201d he said anxiously over his shoulder but Bronwen called back, \u201cThere\u2019s no need to hurry. Please finish your dessert.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre Mama and Daddy going to get the new baby?\u201d Miranda asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Sugar,\u201d Ben replied, \u201cand Dr. Martin is going to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Betsy turned to Joe, who was sitting on her left, and asked, \u201cWill you play jackstraws with us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, sure,\u201d he replied, a bit nonplused by her lack of interest in the baby. \u201cMaybe your grandpa or Uncle Hoss would like to play too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCount me in,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cJosh always takes a nap after dinner so I need someone else to play with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe and Gwyneth can take a nap together on the Chesterfield,\u201d Claire said.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyth take nap in Gwyth\u2019s room,\u201d Gwyneth announced.<\/p>\n \u201cNot today, Sweetie,\u201d Claire said gently. \u201cYour mama and daddy won\u2019t want you to go upstairs until the baby is here. I\u2019ll go up and get your pillow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJosh can use mine,\u201d Joe said, \u201cand they can use my blanket.<\/p>\n They both left and Paul went upstairs after Claire. Miss Brooks said to Betsy and Miranda, \u201cI\u2019d like to play jackstraws if I may.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d they responded.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go to the library and get the game,\u201d she suggested and they left.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time for your nap, Buckaroo,\u201d Hoss said as he lifted Josh out of Gwyneth\u2019s old highchair. \u201cAnd you, too, Sweet Pea,\u201d he added, holding out his free hand to Gwyneth.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Want Mama,\u201d Gwyneth said, her lower lip sticking out while her chin quivered and her eyes began to fill with tears.<\/p>\n Ben gestured for Hoss to take Josh to the drawing room and he picked Gwyneth up, holding her comfortingly as she continued to cry for her mama. She began crying so hard that she had to gasp for breath so he began to pace the dining room, patting her back gently to calm her.<\/p>\n Upstairs Bronwen had changed out of her soaking wet knickers and petticoat and damp wrapper into an old flannel nightgown while Adam looked on anxiously. Paul knocked on the door just as she was buttoning the nightgown, and Adam opened it.<\/p>\n \u201cYour water broke?\u201d Paul asked as he walked into the room, and she nodded. \u201cAnd your contractions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFairly mild and not too frequent yet,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n Paul nodded and said, \u201cI\u2019d like to examine you.\u201d Moving aside the bed curtain, she lay down at the foot of the large bed while he washed his hands at the wash basin. When he completed the examination (with Adam hovering at his side), he announced, \u201cThe baby won\u2019t be here until around suppertime from the looks of it. I suggest you try and rest now.\u201d He smiled and added, \u201cI\u2019ll check back in about an hour,\u201d before leaving Adam and Bronwen alone.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you read to me?\u201d she asked. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll sleep and I don\u2019t want to just lie here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d he said, leaning down and kissing her. \u201cI\u2019ll go down to the library and get the book.\u201d<\/p>\n When he reached the foyer, Ben was quietly closing the door to the drawing room and he put his finger to his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyneth cried herself to sleep so we don\u2019t want to wake her,\u201d he told Adam, speaking softly. Then he asked, \u201cHow\u2019s Bronwen?<\/p>\n \u201cPaul said the baby probably won\u2019t be here until suppertime so Bronwen\u2019s asked me to read to her,\u201d Adam answered quietly. \u201cI just have to get the book we\u2019re reading from the library.\u201d<\/p>\n In the library, they found the others all playing jackstraws with Betsy and Miranda.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy! Grandpa! Come play with us,\u201d Betsy begged.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t play right now, Princess. Mama\u2019s asked me to read to her,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cI\u2019ll play a game later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to join the game,\u201d Ben said, smiling broadly at his granddaughters, and sitting down by Paul.<\/p>\n When Paul came upstairs about an hour later, he found Bronwen walking around the room. \u201cThe contractions are getting worse, and they\u2019re lasting longer,\u201d she said as she continued to walk. Suddenly she stopped and leaned against the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me take another look,\u201d Paul said when he could see the contraction had ended. When he was finished, he smiled warmly and said, \u201cEverything is progressing nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam helped Bronwen to stand up and then she said, \u201cCariad<\/em>, you know I love you, but I\u2019d rather have Claire with me now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Adam was torn. Part of him wanted to be there with her but an equally strong part couldn\u2019t bear to see her in pain, knowing he was responsible. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cI\u2019ll ask Claire to come up and I\u2019ll stay with the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay until Claire gets here,\u201d Paul said and Adam left.<\/p>\n When he reached the library, he found everyone playing Old Bachelor<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBronwen would like you to stay with her,\u201d he said to Claire and she jumped up and hurried toward the door. She stopped in the doorway and asked Adam to check on Gwyneth and Josh, so he followed her.<\/p>\n Someone had drawn the brown velvet drapes, darkening the room, so he opened them a little and sat down in one of the leather tub chairs. He gazed at his sleeping daughter and nephew, thinking how they reminded him of pictures he\u2019d seen of cherubs. Their plump cheeks were rosy and their features soft and round. They both had curly hair but Gwyneth\u2019s was darker and thicker. He could see she did resemble him but secretly he wished it was Bronwen she took after. Miranda resembled his mother, Elizabeth, while Betsy had inherited the best of his features and Bronwen\u2019s. He loved each daughter and wouldn\u2019t want to change them, but he couldn\u2019t help wishing one of them looked like Bronwen. He particularly regretted that none of them had inherited her beautiful violet eyes.<\/p>\n As he was lost in thought, he heard the children begin to stir. Josh opened his eyes first and smiled at his uncle as he pushed back the blanket. That slight movement woke Gwyneth, who immediately said, \u201cDaddy!\u201d and jumped off the Chesterfield. She ran toward Adam saying, \u201cGwyth want Mama!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Punkin, but you\u2019ll have to wait until the new baby gets here to see Mama,\u201d he said, scooping her up in one arm. He walked quickly to the Chesterfield and said, \u201cUncle Adam will help you down, Josh.\u201d With his free arm, he set Josh on his feet, saying, \u201cLet\u2019s go see your daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n As Josh trotted beside his uncle, Gwyneth repeated tearfully, \u201cGwyth want Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam kissed her cheek and trying to get her mind off Bronwen asked, \u201cWould you like to play with your blocks?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBoks!\u201d Josh exclaimed excitedly and Adam smiled down at him as he opened the library door. As soon as Josh saw Hoss, he squealed, \u201cDaddy!\u201d and ran to Hoss, who picked him up and tossed him overhead.<\/p>\n Adam asked Gwyneth again if she\u2019d like to play with her blocks and she nodded so he set her down and headed for her room. As he went past the door to the master bedroom, he hesitated but forced himself to keep going.<\/p>\n It was about two hours later when they heard Claire call, \u201cPaul, we need you now.\u201d Adam found himself on his feet, but then he felt Hoss\u2019s arm drape around his shoulders comfortingly.<\/p>\n \u201cClaire\u2019ll come git ya when the baby\u2019s here,\u201d he said gently to Adam, and reluctantly Adam rejoined the Old Bachelor<\/em> game.<\/em><\/p>\n Paul found Bronwen sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking and shivering as she experienced the strong contractions.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to push,\u201d she got out between contractions and he asked her to lie back so he could examine her.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d he said after examining her, \u201cif you want to push, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n About twenty minutes after Paul left, Claire stood in library\u2019s doorway, smiling broadly. \u201cYou can go up now, Adam.\u201d She moved into the room as he hurried past her and took the stairs two at a time. Gwyneth, who\u2019d been playing with her blocks, started to run after him but Hoss caught her up and swung her over his head, which made her giggle.<\/p>\n \u201cSo is it a boy or a girl?\u201d Joe asked eagerly.<\/p>\n \u201cA little girl,\u201d Claire replied.<\/p>\n Joe grinned at Hoss and said, \u201cI told you it\u2019d be another girl. You owe me a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben, who\u2019d been playing This Little Piggy<\/em> with Josh, frowned at his sons and then smiled at his granddaughters. \u201cYou have a baby sister.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Betsy nodded and Miranda said, \u201cI wanna play more Old Bachelor<\/em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Claire had moved over to Hoss and the giggling Gwyneth and said quietly, \u201cI suppose getting a baby sister is nothing new to Betsy and Miranda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope, it sure ain\u2019t,\u201d Hoss agreed with a big grin.<\/p>\n Adam entered their bedroom and saw Paul handing Bronwen, who was propped up against their pillows, a little blanket wrapped bundle. As he sat down on the bed by Bronwen, she said quietly, \u201cIt\u2019s Penelope Jane.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled at her before he leaned over, careful not to disturb the bundle, and kissed her. Then he pushed back the lamb\u2019s wool blanket so he could have his first look at his newest daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cShe looks like you, Sweetheart!\u201d he exclaimed, smiling in delight. \u201cI always wished one of our daughters looked like you.\u201d He smiled at the baby and gently stroked her dark hair. \u201cYou\u2019re Daddy\u2019s wish come true, Penelope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s such a long name for such a tiny girl,\u201d Bronwen said with a grin. \u201cI think Penny suits her better.\u201d<\/p>\n He chuckled softly. \u201cYes, Penny definitely suits her better.\u201d He held out his arms, saying, \u201cMay I hold her?\u201d She carefully placed the infant in his arms and he walked over to the bay window, talking softly to his little girl. Bronwen and Paul exchanged smiles at the sight.<\/p>\n \u201cHer eyes are so enormous, like a kitten\u2019s,\u201d Adam commented as he walked back to the bed. He smiled down at Penny, saying, \u201cYou\u2019re Daddy\u2019s little Kitten, that\u2019s what you are.\u201d<\/p>\n As he gave Penny back to Bronwen, he turned to Paul and said, \u201cThe rest of the family is eager to meet Penny.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see if she\u2019ll nurse, and then you can bring the others up,\u201d Paul advised.<\/p>\n Bronwen got the baby in position and offered a breast. After a minute or two she said worriedly, \u201cShe\u2019s not sucking, just licking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s really not unusual the first time,\u201d Paul said calmly.<\/p>\n \u201cHer sisters all began to suck right away,\u201d Bronwen insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cBut not all babies do,\u201d Paul said. \u201cYou can try again in a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll bring up the girls first,\u201d Adam said and headed to the library. Paul followed, giving the family privacy. Adam returned a few minutes later with Betsy, Miranda and Gwyneth.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to see your baby sister?\u201d Bronwen asked, holding Penny so her sisters could get a good look at her. They ran over to the bed and gazed at the baby. \u201cThis is Penny,\u201d Bronwen said, smiling at her girls.<\/p>\n \u201cSusannah is prettier,\u201d Betsy announced, referring to her wax baby doll. \u201cAnd so is Amy.\u201d Amy was her wax child doll that had dark hair just like hers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is she so red?\u201d Miranda asked.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she was just born a few minutes ago,\u201d Adam explained, deciding to ignore Betsy\u2019s comments. He was holding Gwyneth, who began to wriggle.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyth want see baby,\u201d Gwyneth said, continuing to wriggle.<\/p>\n \u201cYour sister\u2019s name is Penny. Can you say Penny?\u201d Adam asked the squirming Gwyneth.<\/p>\n \u201cPen-ny. See Pen-ny,\u201d Gwyneth commanded so Adam put her on the bed and she crawled over to her mama and baby sister.<\/p>\n Adam said to the older girls, \u201cI\u2019d like you to play quietly in your room until it\u2019s time for supper. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d they chorused and left. He then said to Gwyneth, \u201cLet\u2019s go get your grandpa, uncles and aunt.\u201d<\/p>\n Gwyneth shook her head and said, \u201cNo. Stay wiv Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine,\u201d Bronwen said to Adam as she put her free arm around Gwyneth and hugged her.<\/p>\n He smiled at them and went to get the rest of the family. As the others entered the room, he leaned against the doorjamb with his arms crossed and watched with a big dimpled grin.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this is my newest granddaughter,\u201d Ben said with a smile. \u201cMay I hold her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo right!\u201d Bronwen answered, carefully placing the baby in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look as much like your mama as Gwyneth looks like your daddy, Penelope,\u201d he commented.<\/p>\n \u201cPen-ny,\u201d Gwyneth corrected and her grandpa smiled at her.<\/p>\n \u201cPenny,\u201d he repeated with another smile for Gwyneth.<\/p>\n \u201cShe sure is a tiny thing,\u201d Hoss said, peering over Ben\u2019s shoulder as he held Josh so he could see his little cousin. \u201cYou was never that tiny,\u201d he said to his little boy. Josh pointed to Penny and said excitedly, \u201cBaby!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, Buckaroo. Your cousin Penny is a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe really does look like you,\u201d Joe said to Bronwen. He blinked back the tears that burned his eyes as he pictured Alice holding a daughter who took after her. He forced himself to smile as he turned toward Adam in the doorway. \u201cYou\u2019ve got yourself a regular harem, older brother. Should be real interesting when the boys come courting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t happen for years,\u201d Adam said firmly.<\/p>\n Ben had gently stroked the soft skin on Penny\u2019s cheek and she turned toward his finger and began to suck on it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis little girl is hungry,\u201d he announced as he gave Penny back to Bronwen. \u201cAnd we should be heading home. There\u2019s a full moon so we shouldn\u2019t have any problems. Congratulations to you both on another beautiful little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss, Joe and Claire offered their congratulations as they exited the bedroom. Adam picked up a protesting Gwyneth and followed them.<\/p>\n \u201cMama!\u201d Gwyneth screamed, kicking her daddy.<\/p>\n \u201cMama and Penny need some time alone,\u201d Adam said firmly as he tightened his hold on Gwyneth\u2019s legs. \u201cNow be a good girl and say goodbye to everyone.\u201d But she kept sobbing for her mama. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll say goodbye for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n As they reached the foot of the stairs, Hop Sing came out of the kitchen, followed by Kerra, who\u2019d just returned from visiting her daughter and son-in-law.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing said you have another little girl,\u201d Kerra said with a big smile. \u201cCongratulations!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, congratulations, Mistah Adam,\u201d Hop Sing said and Adam thanked them. Hop Sing continued. \u201cI make soup for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ll make sandwiches to go with it,\u201d Kerra added.<\/p>\n Hop Sing, Claire, Josh and Dr. Martin waited in the foyer while Ben, Hoss and Joe hitched the team to the sleigh. Kerra went back into the kitchen to make sandwiches and Adam took Gwyneth upstairs to get her big sisters.<\/p>\n Betsy and Miranda and their dolls were having a tea party, using the little table and chairs their daddy and uncles had made for them and the china tea set Bronwen\u2019s parents had sent Betsy for her sixth birthday a couple of weeks earlier. Adam smiled as he watched Betsy mimic her mama when she had friends for tea.<\/p>\n \u201cOne lump or two, Amy?\u201d she asked her doll, and then took imaginary sugar from the sugar bowl and put it in one of teacups. \u201cAnd would you like a scone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I have to break up your tea party, ladies,\u201d he said with a little grin. \u201cIt\u2019s time for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n Supper was later than usual so Gwyneth fell asleep before she finished eating. As he took her up to her room, he told Betsy and Miranda to get ready for bed as soon as they finished eating. It wasn\u2019t that long before all three girls were asleep. After making sure all the doors were locked and banking the fires, he was finally able to join Bronwen.<\/p>\n She was nursing Penny so he sat on the small settee and watched. The sight of Bronwen nursing one of their children always moved him. He thought there could be no more beautiful sight.<\/p>\n When Penny finished nursing and Bronwen burped her, he asked, \u201cMay I hold her?\u201d Smiling she placed Penny in his arms.<\/p>\n Watching him smile sweetly at Penny, she asked softly, \u201cYou really don\u2019t mind that we have another daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you that I always wanted a little girl who looked like you.\u201d He smiled tenderly and she asked what he was thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cI was remembering something I read once about how the only pure or angelic affection a man feels is for his daughters.\u201d He put the sleeping Penny in her cradle and then on sat on the bed beside Bronwen and held her close as he said softly, \u201cI\u2019m blessed to be able to experience that angelic affection with four precious daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n She felt her eyes fill with tears as she heard the sincerity in his voice and knew he wasn\u2019t disappointed to be the father of daughters. \u201cAnd our girls are blessed to have you for a father,\u201d she said quietly, and they kissed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next Story in the Bronwen in Nevada Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Over the Hill and Through the Woods<\/a> <\/p>\n Reference:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n I found The Little Pilgrim at Aunt Lou\u2019s<\/strong>at the following website:<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/readseries.com\/auth-bc\/litpilgrim.htm<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n
\nBlessed are the Children<\/a>
\nAngelic Affection<\/a>
\nOver the Hill and Through the Woods<\/a>
\nPrecious Ties<\/a><\/p>\n
\nI want to thank my friend Lis for once again letting me make use of her editing skills. I also want to thank welch, who provided the inspiration for this story set in the Bronwen in Nevada universe.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n
\nJoseph Addison<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n
\nPrecious Ties<\/a><\/p>\n