To Know Her by Name (38 page)

“I see the head, honey,” Travis coaxed his exhausted wife. “It's almost over now.”

Rebecca clenched her teeth and strained with all her might, her face flushed like a flame, her hair wet from hours of effort. A huge gasp broke from her when she could push no more; she lay back spent, Travis' arms supporting her.

“I think one more—” Lavena encouraged, “two at the most.”

Rebecca looked up at Travis, letting her eyes focus on his unshaven chin. When he looked down, she spoke.

“The boys. Did you tell me where they are?”

“Yes. They left with Pup less than ten minutes ago.”

“Oh, that's right.”

“She's going to take them to church for storytime. If they seem upset or too distracted, she won't stay for the service. If they do stay for the service, they'll come back as soon as it's over.”

“It's so good to have her here, isn't it, Travis?” Rebecca whispered thankfully. “The boys like her so much.”

“They rode horses,” he told her, smiling a little. “You should have seen how excited they were.”

And just that fast, the need to push rushed in on her yet again. Travis went to work as well, supporting her back and shoulders and whispering words of encouragement. Lavena was right. It was the second to the last push. The one that followed produced a wiggling, wet, baby girl.

“Do you have children?” Garrett asked.

“No, I don't.”

“Are you married?”

“No, not married either. How about you boys,” she looked over from Ginny's back. “Are you boys married?”

This produced the giggles and grins she'd been hoping for, and she smiled in return.

“Tell me about school,” Pup said, still amazed at how easy it was to talk with these six-and-a-half-year-olds.

“We don't go in the summer.”

“How do you get there?”

“Papa or Lucky.”

“Who is Lucky?”

It was as if she'd released some pent-up steam. Words now tumbled one from the other, and Pup just listened.

“He works for Papa, and we like to play with Sarah, but Mary Ann is kind of little. She can't go to school. But we have desks—our own desks. We don't have to share. Sometimes we do if we forget the slate. Mr. Taggart doesn't get mad. He just gives us more work. Gary had to work one time.”

They took a breath, and Pup tried to put it all together. It didn't take long before she said, “I met Mr. Taggart last Sunday.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I had lunch at Pastor Henley's house, and he and his wife and baby were there.”

“Katherine Alexa,”Wyatt supplied. “She has red hair.”

“I noticed that.”

“I wonder if our baby will have red hair.”

Pup looked over at them again, her heart feeling very tender. What an experience it was to have a baby come to your family. She vaguely remembered her brothers' births. That had been so long ago.

I trust You to guide and protect these little boys, Lord. It's too late for Govern and maybe too late for Jubal. Touch Garrett and Wyatt in such a way that they will never forget. Be with Rebecca now and that new little one. Keep her safe, Lord, but most of all touch her heart and help her to seek after You. Lavena, too, Lord. Thank You for all the care she gives. She's so capable, but without You, Lord, it will all be in vain.

“We're almost there,” Garrett broke into Pup's prayer. She turned her attention to her two small charges. Their expressions were open and warm, causing her to think that they were quite willing to be there. As they tied their horses at the side of the church building, she prayed that she would be wise and aware of when the boys needed to head home.

“We have to stay for church,” Wyatt told her just 30 minutes later.

“Okay,” Pup said slowly, seeing the anxiety in his eyes.

“Yes,” Garrett filled in. “We're doing a song today, one we learned in storytime. It's for the whole church, and Mrs. Henley really needs our voices; she said so.”

“That's fine,” she assured them. “I want to stay, but I didn't want you to worry about your mom.”

“We're not.” Wyatt's voice was matter-of-fact. “We prayed for her in storytime. We know the Lord Jesus is watching over her and the baby.”

Pup's smile was very warm.
Oh, to have such faith at their age, Lord. It's wonderful to see.

“Come on, Miss Jennings,” Wyatt urged. “You've got to get close to the front so you won't miss us. It's two songs and my favorite—”

She allowed herself to be hauled to a second-row seat, and indeed, the children's singing, along with the verses they'd learned, was delightful. Both boys beamed at her when they came to sit on either side of her, and Pup felt her throat close. She told herself to keep an eye on them for signs of worry or upset, but her resolve didn't last very long. Pup was engrossed the moment Pastor Henley asked the congregation to open their Bibles. As it was, the boys were fine, but she never looked down at them until they stood for the closing hymn.

32

The boys' relaxed attitude after church lasted only to the edge of town. The three of them had not stayed around after the service but had gone right to their horses. Clearly the Buchanan boys were ready to go home and see their mother. Knowing how distracted they were, Pup kept the conversation to a minimum, and she sighed with heartfelt relief when they rode into the yard and found Travis waiting outside the barn.

“Papa!” The boys were out of Dixie's saddle in a flash.

“Is the baby here? Can we see Mama? Is it a boy or a girl?”

Pup heeled Ginny toward the huge barn, Dixie's reins in her hand. One of Travis' ranchhands awaited her and tended to the horses. Throwing Pup a grateful smile, Travis scooped the boys into his arms and moved toward the house. Questions still tumbled from their lips, but Travis only carried them inside. The kitchen was empty, and Travis spoke his first words.

“I want you to wash your hands.”

“Right now?” Garrett looked thoroughly perplexed. “Are we going to eat?”

“No, just wash your hands, and we'll go upstairs and see your baby sister.”

The import of his words took a moment to sink in, but then they rushed to the washstand. They would have soaked themselves at the basin had Travis not intervened. Without being told, they scrubbed their faces as well and turned to their father, eyes radiant.

“Come on,” he said softly, fighting the fatigue that threatened to overtake him. “Let's go see her.”

Somehow knowing it would be expected, the boys moved quietly. They nearly tiptoed up the stairs and to the doorway of their parents' bedroom. Rebecca was in the large bed, her eyes closed. Lying beside her, wrapped in a soft, white blanket, lay the baby. Removing their boots and approaching the bed in unison, the boys climbed carefully onto the mattress. They looked at their sister with awe and then at each other. They smiled in wonder, but anyone looking at them could see that they didn't know quite what to think of this little miracle.

She had been a lump under their mother's dress, and now she was on the bed beside her. Their expressions didn't go quite so far as to ask, Where did she come from? but the question wasn't far off. While their eyes were on the baby, Rebecca's opened.

“What do you think?” she asked softly.

“It's a girl, Mama,” Garrett informed her, his smile huge.

“Yes.” Her weary smile still showed her delight that the boys had gotten the sister they had wanted. “Are you pleased?”

He could only nod his head yes.

“What will we call her?”Wyatt wanted to know.

“We've been talking about that,” Travis said, easing his way onto the bed next to his sons. “What do you think we should call her?”

The boys looked at each other again, and both were silent for a moment.

“I like Sarah,”Wyatt admitted.

“Yeah.” Garrett was clearly in agreement.

“We do, too,” his father agreed gently, “but it could get a little confusing with Sarah Harwell right here on the ranch with us.”

“We have two Tommys at school,”Wyatt informed him.

Travis nodded. “So you boys know what I mean about two Sarahs.”

They nodded in agreement, and then all four fell silent. Travis realized that young as they were, picking names was a rather overwhelming idea; at their age they didn't know many people.

“How about Kaitlin?” Travis suggested, voicing the one name both he and Rebecca liked the most.

The boys looked surprised and then pleased.

“Katie Buchanan,” Rebecca added. “What do you think?”

“I like it,” Garrett spoke up, but Wyatt was still thoughtful.

“What do you think, Wyatt?” his father asked.

He smiled sheepishly. “I forgot that she would be a Buchanan.”

Travis smiled back at him and tenderly stroked his hair. Kaitlin chose that moment to move a little. The boys watched in amazement as she yawned hugely and worked to see, her eyes opening just a crack.

“She's yawning.” Garrett's voice was breathless with delight.

Husband and wife exchanged a tender smile, but Travis could see how exhausted Rebecca was. He was well-spent himself. The boys had a few more questions, which Travis tried to field coherently before the boys asked to hold their sister.

Agreeing, Travis sat close to them, and as they nearly tipped her upside down, his hands hovered under the infant at all times. She slept through the whole ordeal. Rebecca, whose lids had been drooping low, was now fully awake and trying to keep the horror from her face as her sons “hugged” their infant sister for the first time. They worked with all their might to be gentle, but it was clearly an awkward task for their small arms. Wyatt, who was second to hold her, lasted an even shorter time than Garrett before asking his father to take her.

“Can she eat lunch with us?” Wyatt asked. He wanted to be near his sister; he just didn't want to hold her.