Amandas's Mail Order Cowboy: The Story of A Mail Order Bride and Her Mail Order Husband (Mail Order Brides Book 14) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page B

on the bed with Amanda. She pulled her dress up and bared her belly. “Watch honey.” Her flesh bulged and moved. See? She took the small hand, and placed it in the same area. That’s your little sister or brother. She’s moving around.”
    “How did they get in there?”
    Your papa and I did it.” Amanda said, unable to think of anything else to say.
    “How?”
    “It’s our secret,”
    “How will she get out?”
    “When it’s time, a lady will come help get her out.”
    “Oh,” Abby said.
    After the sixth month, the doctor saw her monthly. At the end of the seventh month, he said, “You should abstain until after the baby comes. Don’t be alarmed, nothing wrong, it's just a precaution.”
    “I recommend Mrs. Calder as a midwife. She has delivered more babies than I have, and does not need my help unless something very unusual happens.”
    “At church that Sunday, Amanda was talking to Jennie Pierce. Do you know Mrs. Calder?” she asked.
    “Get her if you can,” Jennie said. “She delivered Becky. She stayed with us the two weeks before Becky was born and a week afterwards.”
    Amanda told Rance about the conversation, and he made arrangements for Mrs. Calder to move in with them.
    The Friday before her due date, Rance said, “I have to go into Cheyenne. I don’t think you should go. I’d hate to have to deliver Miss no-name myself.”
    “I’d hate for you to have to,” agreed Amanda.
    Three hours later…
    Amanda was sitting in the living room, her eyes closed, and her head pushed against the back of the divan. She heard the carriage come into the yard. “Abby, Papa’s home,” she called out.” Abby ran to the door and waited.
    Rance came in, “Where’s Mama?” he asked. Abby pointed to the living room. Rance picked her up and carried her into the room..
    “Did you have a problem?” Amanda asked.
    “No, the train was late, is all,” he said.
    She turned, her jaw dropped when she saw who was with him. “Mama, Papa. What are… how…, You did this for me.”
    She stood, put her arms around him and hugged him as close as she could with her large tummy. “Isn’t he wonderful?”
    Her mother stood there and looked. “You look wonderful, honey.” Her father made it a group hug.
    “How did you arrange all of this?” she asked.
    “I sent them a letter a couple of months ago, then I got a letter from them sent to Clem and Margaret’s, then I wired the money for the tickets, I’m very pleased with myself for managing to keep it a secret all this time. I didn’t even tell Consuela.”
    “It’s the best present you could have given me." She put her hands on her belly. “Well, maybe the second best.”
    “I’m so glad you and Papa could come,” she said. “It means so much to me, having you here for the baby.”
    “We added on to the house when we found out. We’re going to really need the space now, with you and Mrs. Calder here.
    “Mrs. Calder is the midwife. She’s going to be staying here until the baby comes, starting Monday,” Rance explained.
    “Mama, let me show you our house. I just love it, Amanda said.
    Abby tugged at her grandmother’s dress. “Come see my room.”
    Abby led them down the hall and into her room. The ceiling was painted light blue with puffy white clouds floating around. The walls were papered with a decorative wallpaper. There were prints of animals framed on the walls. “Mama did it,” Abby said.
    “Why it’s beautiful, just like you,” Ellie said.
    “I know,” Abby said.
    “You are a precious little girl,” Ellie said.
    “I’m a big girl. Mama said,” Abby said.
    Two weeks later…
    With Mrs. Calder, Ellie, and Consuela in the room, Laurie Kendall announced her arrival with a loud cry.
    Ellie came out, and told Rance, “You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.”
    He picked his surprised mother-in-law up and swung her around the room. “How’s Amanda?”
    “She’s tired, and sleepy, but she’s fine. Consuela’s cleaning the