Bear Valley Ranch (Sequel to TMOB) ...

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FanfictionbasedonStephanieMeyer’sTwilightSeries
Rated M for Mature.
Bear Valley Ranch
By Lady Gwynedd
Summary:
A continuation of The Mail Order Bride, picking up Edward and Bella's
life in the Colorado frontier as their fortunes, their family and their loves
grew.
Onceyou’vereadandenjoyedthisstory,whynotshowtheauthorsomelove,andreview!
Chapter One: The Baby
She did not know he was watching her as she sat in the grassy field under a beautiful cerulean
Colorado sky. She had Boy, Abraham rather, at her knee reading a picture book with him. She had
developed a soft spot for Abraham, her housekeeper's son. She said she bought the book for their
library but her husband knew she bought it for the little boy. Her soft heart and generous nature
were his joy.
Edward was in the paddock, supposedly working with the filly but after he got the bit on her, he
decided he'd let her get used to it for a while before he'd try the saddle again. He had attempted to
saddle her before much to her displeasure. She was an ornery jade; too smart for her own equine
use. But his horse-work was all a ruse anyway so he could watch the most beautiful woman in the
world without her knowing. He had to make sure she didn't know. She had been teasing him about
his over protectiveness, so now he made sure to be more circumspect and stealthy.
Evidently, they finished the book and Bella got unsteadily to her feet. Edward was pleased to note,
even as young as he was, little Abraham helped her up. She smiled her thanks and the little boy
dashed off; running up the hill to find his Pa, Edward would wager.
She stood there stretching for a moment, hands at the small of her back, eyes shut, face turned to
the warm sun overhead. After a few moments, she put her hands over her ripened belly and he
could hear her giggle from where he was standing. Evidently, their child was doing his usual
acrobatics within. He kept them up at nights sometimes with his twisting and turning. In the privacy
of their bedroom, Edward loved to put his hands on Bella's gravid belly and feel the child,
his
child,
moving within. He knew what the Bible meant when it spoke of joys filling, tamped down, and over
flowing. The whole process of conceiving and begetting was a wondrous thing, Edward was
thinking. To think that out of their love, a small part of her and an even smaller part of him
combined to make another being. It was a miracle when he thought of it. It overwhelmed him.
Bella had done well with her pregnancy, as she had always assured him she would. She did not
suffer much with the morning sickness as long as no one presented her with a cup of coffee. Even
the smell of it would send her dashing for the outhouse. He was all for banning its use on the ranch
during the interim regardless of the dissatisfaction of his employees but Bella talked him out of it.
She always could talk him out of anything. He smiled fondly at the memory.
Bella happened to look in his direction and caught him at his spying. She laughed again and shook
her head as she gathered her blanket and book and then walked over to where he was standing.
"Edward... Love... I am fine. There is no reason for you to stalk me like you would a deer."
Grinning he swung himself over the fence to take the blanket and book from her, "I can't help
myself. You are so
dear
to me." He chuckled at his own joke but then went on, "You look tired, Bella,
perhaps you should lie down?"
"Edward, I've done nothing but rest by your command ever since Mrs. Dowling said the baby could
come any day. I assure you, I feel fine. I want to work. I want to be useful."
"I didn't command that you rest," he said sheepishly.
She placed her hand tenderly on his chest above his heart. How could she help but not to love this
man? "No, Edward, you never command – you just request and then worry yourself into a tizzy if I
don't comply. I do not like seeing you so distressed, Edward. What are you going to do when the
baby actually comes? You know how that can be. You are going to drive yourself crazy with worry
and fear. Indeed, Edward, I may just banish you to the Lazy B until it is all over."
"No! Bella, please, I will try to be easier. Don't send me away from your side. I feel very protective of
you."
"I do know that, Edward, and I love you for it but you are making me fret with your worries."
Edward realized that he truly needed to gather his self-discipline or he would do the opposite of
what he intended. The one thing he did know for sure is that he didn't have the strength to stay
away from her anymore.
"I will do better, Bella."
Smiling, she took his arm and he walked with her up to the cookhouse. He knew better than to
suggest that she rest again knowing that he had lost that particular battle but he would insist that
she sit while she worked in the kitchen.
Juan Carlos grinned as they walked through the door, "Hola, Mamacita! Como esta?"
"Muy bien, Juan Carlos, pero mi esposo es loco."
Juan Carlos burst out laughing, "Si, mi amiga. Es muy loco."
Edward frowned. He knew Latin, Greek, and German but never studied the romance languages. He
felt a little out of place. Evidently, Juan Carlos had been teaching his wife Spanish while she worked
with him in the kitchen. "I know you two are talking about me."
Bella blinked her eyes, "Now Edward, whatever gave you that idea?"
"I think Juan Carlos's guffaws gave it away."
She smiled and not caring that Juan Carlos was watching, reached up on her tip toes and kissed
Edward on his lips, "I love you so much, silly man. Now Edward, you go and work that filly of yours. I
will stay here under Juan Carlos' care and do nothing but sit. I will be fine."
Edward sighed, his worry creases appearing between his eyebrows, "If you need me, Bella, I will be
down at the paddock."
"I will be fine, Edward. Don't worry yourself."
He nodded and reluctantly left the kitchen. As soon as he was gone, Bella turned to Juan Carlos and
said, "Could you please, very discretely, go into the house and tell Mrs. Dowling that I've been
having pains this whole afternoon. I am thinking that the time has come but don't you make a scene
ofitorEdwardwillcomebackandbewell,EdwardAsmuchasIlovehim,itwouldbehardto
focus on the task at hand."
"Si, Senora. I will go quickly."
He left and returned almost immediately with the midwife. Though married to a local rancher, Mrs.
Dowling had delivered most of the offspring in the neighborhood for twenty years. She was warm,
intelligent and caring and made sure to keep up on her vocation by corresponding with other
midwives in the country, sharing ideas and techniques. When a mother was nearing her time, Mrs.
Dowling would move in with her if possible to make sure all was in good stead for the birth. Bella
couldn't be in better hands.
"I had a feeling the time had come, Missy. I could tell by the way you were leaning on your man as
you walked up here. Come with me and we'll get you ready." She competently put her arm around
Bella as she spoke and ushered her out of the door. As she left she called to Juan Carlos, "You, man!
Start boiling water."
"Si, Senora."
As they went into the pass-through that led to the house, Bella asked, "What's the boiling water
for?"
"Nothing. It keeps folk out of my way while I do my work."
Bella chuckled and gasped as another pain hit her.
"See, my girl. It sounds as though you are on your way."
Lauren, who was herself expecting in the late summer, was sewing buttons on a shirt in the main
house. She looked up as they entered, "Is it time?"
"Yes. I think so. Come, give me a hand," Mrs. Dowling ordered.
"But don't tell anyone what is happening yet, Lauren. I don't want Mr. Cullen to know until it's over,"
Bella asked.
Understanding looks passed between the ladies as they shut the door to Edward and Bella's
bedroom and began stripping the bed as well as the mother-to-be. They left Bella with her loose
chemise that she had made for her pregnancy but tore the bed down to the mattress, propped the
head of the bed up, then covered the mattress with a large rubberized pad and an old sheet and a
stack of smaller cloths in the middle of the bed. Bella was directed to lie with her hips centered
upon that.
Mrs. Dowling washed her hands, directed Lauren to do the same and then examined Bella. "Yes, my
dear. You are well on. How long have you felt pain?"
"Since midmorning, I think. I wasn't sure at first."
"Since midmorning? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because the pains were mild and because I knew the first thing you would do is put me to bed and
then it would be long hours before the baby is born. The wait would trouble me."
"And it would kill your husband, I am thinking," Mrs. Dowling smiled. She'd never seen a papa-to-be
so fraught with nerves. He was like a mad, broody hen. "You are wise, Mrs. Cullen."
NoIjustknowmyhusband,GodlovehimooohhhhBellasfacescrunchedasanotherpainhit
A few contractions later and her waters burst. The midwife removed the stack of clothes and
efficiently replaced them with clean ones. "Now the work comes, Mrs. Cullen."
Bella was praying as the pains worsened that she get this over before Edward returned from the
paddock. She wanted to surprise him with his baby before supper. She hoped he would not be too
angry with her for not telling him the baby was coming.
Ohhhhh. Another strong one hit. Bella was surprised at how painful it was.
"That's all to the good, Mrs. Cullen. Your baby is coming right along.
So, the afternoon hours dwindled and Bella's pain increased porportionately. She was struggling to
contain herself.
After several hours, Mrs. Dowling took note of her extremity and said reassuringly, "Everything is
going well, Mrs. Cullen. You are almost ready to push but until that happens try to ride the pains out
without stiffening like a board. Everything is well."
There was a sudden knock on the door. Lauren went to answer it to find Juan Carlos there, "The
water. It has been ready."
Mrs. Dowling went to the door, "That is good, Juan Carlos. Just keep it on the boil. I will call you
when I need it."
"Si, Senora," he said and went back to his kitchen.
Bellalaboredonandon,herpainsbecomingincreasinglyworseMrsDowlingHervoice
cracked at the end, "It hurts so badly."
"I know, Precious, t'will be all over soon. Take my hand on the next one and squeeze." Lauren
quietly went to the other side of the bed, and offered her hand to Bella just as the next pain hit.
"Jesus, Mary, and JOSEPH," Bella swore and tightened the grip on the hands of both her helpers.
As the pain ebbed she immediately apologizedforswearingIdontknowwhatcamethen
another pain hit and she cried out, "Oh, DEAR LORD...EDWARD!"
Bella was shocked that she had called her husband's name when she had devised such a clever
scheme to keep him away from her travails. But she could not help herself.
Oh, but she wanted him now. The Pain had grown until it became an entity in the room with her,
overcoming all her strength little by little and as her strength waned her fear grew. She wasn't sure
she could bear with it any longer. Perhaps tomorrow she could come back and finish it but right
nowShewantedEdwardsarmsandEdwardssweetgazeEdward
As another pain began, she did recognize one other thing that she was sure of at this moment. She
was NEVER going to have intercourse again.
"OH, EDWARD!" She called again as another pain overtook her, not really expecting him to appear
but truly using his name and his image in her mind as a talisman against the agony.
Suddenly they could hear boots thundering up the porch steps and the front door slamming open.
"BELLA?" Edward hollered as he ran for their bedroom door.
Mrs. Dowling flew to meet him, "Now, Edward Cullen, you listen here. All is well. She's just feeling
the pains but soon the baby will come and it will be over. I will not have you upsetting her with any
nonsense."
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