“It is incredible,” Benjamin agreed. “I’m glad Mrs. Clark sent for one to be here for our Founder’s Day celebration.”
“I’ll bet everyone will get their picture taken. I wouldn’t pass it up.” She looked down at her round belly. “Though it would have been extra special to have this little one here already.”
“No rush,” Benjamin said coming close and placing his hand on his wife’s middle. The baby underneath kicked as if to say hello to his papa. “We’ll just make sure that the next time a photographer comes, we’ll get this little one and any others that come to us as well.”
“Do you think we’ll have a photographer again?” Amelia asked.
“I would imagine it will be rather common to send for one as the town grows and as we celebrate the things happening here in Birch Creek.”
“That makes sense. It would be neat to capture the changes that take place. I’ve only been here a year and already I’ve seen a lot of growth.”
“So don’t you worry about this little one not being in a photograph. He’s here, just not quite visible.” Benjamin kissed Amelia on the back of the neck as she laughed.
“Oh, he’s visible. No one would miss seeing he’s there.” She rubbed her middle and wondered if it would be a week or two until he arrived. Dr. Mills had examined her a few times and assured her the baby was doing just fine. Yet there was always the worry that things might go wrong. For now, she’d enjoy the sensations of a healthy child growing within her and do what she could to keep herself strong and ready for motherhood.
“Are you ready to head to the town square?” Benjamin asked.
“Just about. I needed to grab the bowl with the tomatoes in it. I’m sure little Lucy would be rather put out if I forgot to bring them.”
“I don’t know,” Benjamin said as he moved quickly to get the bowl she mentioned. “I’ve seen her little tomato patch. She’s doing rather well with it after all your guidance last summer.”
Amelia smiled wide. “What a good gardener she turned out to be.”
Benjamin took her by the arm to help her walk since she did feel rather large.
“It’s a good thing our house is so close to the celebration,” Amelia said. “Otherwise, I would have just opted to stay home.”
Benjamin laughed. “I would have put you in the back of a wagon and brought you over anyway.”
“Not sure if you could have lifted me up in there, but I appreciate the thought.” She was happy to move over to the benches from the church that had been brought out and set under the trees for shade.
Most everyone mingled around and food was placed on the tables and wagon beds in preparation for the meal they’d share in a short time. A line about twenty people long already formed along the edge of the gathering and from what Amelia could see from her seat, she was certain it was for the photographer. She wasn’t sure if she could manage to stand that long. Her back was aching already and she’d hardly done a thing all morning besides gather the fresh vegetables.
She pressed against her belly when it tightened as the baby inside stretched, then the tightening lasted a little longer before easing up.
He sure was stretchy today. Amelia looked around and when she saw Mrs. Howard and her daughter-in-law, Annabelle Howard, approaching her she smiled brightly.
“It’s so good to see you,” Annabelle said. “You look wonderful. How are you feeling?”
“Rather round and mostly tired. But I’m doing well, thank you. How is your new little one?”
“She’s just a bundle of joy. She’s with her papa and he’s showing her off to everyone.”
“Isn’t it so sweet when the fathers are all smitten by their little ones,” Mrs. Howard said. “I love to watch them just melt as they hold their children.”
Amelia smiled. She had already seen how sweet and loving Benjamin was toward their unborn child. She could only imagine how much better it would be when he got to hold his newborn.
Mrs. Howard sat down next to Amelia and looked at her then at Annabelle. “You know, I have an idea. And I’m sure you’ll love it. If not, that doesn’t matter, since I’m going to do it anyway. But I want to get all the families that started out the way you girls did. With these fast weddings that were all of a sudden either from an advertisement or out of immediate need. I’ve already seen Levi and Cora. I’m certain Jed and Grace are here since I’ve seen their girls. Susan and Beatrice are here for sure. So don’t you two disappear anywhere. I’m going to gather them all up and we’ll get the photographer to get you all in one big shot.”
Amelia laughed and looked at Annabelle sitting next to her. “There is just no stopping that woman is there?”
“No,” Annabelle said. “There isn’t. Thank goodness she’s always doing good things though. And I think that would be a fun photograph. Besides, she’s thrown together some wedding celebrations for like six of us on short notice. She’ll get them all gathered up and we’ll just go along with it.”
“That’s fine with me,” Amelia said. “I don’t feel like wandering off anywhere.”
“How are you really feeling?” Annabelle asked.
“My back is a little achy and my feet are sore. Having tightness off and on, but I don’t think the baby’s coming today.”
“Probably won’t be long, though,” Annabelle said. “So if you’ll take my advice, try to take things easy for a while. And once the baby is here, you just take your time and love on him or her as long as you want. Mama Howard will make sure you’re taken care of for dinner for a few days.”
“She’s an incredible woman,” Amelia said. “I’m grateful I got to know her.”
“Me too,” Annabelle said.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, then everyone was called together by the mayor and welcomed to the founder’s day celebration.
Soon the food was blessed and everyone started eating and visiting and children running and playing. Before long, Benjamin arrived with Colten Howard, Annabelle’s husband. They each held two plates of food. Amelia leaned her head against Benjamin’s shoulder and watched as Mrs. Howard, now holding Annabelle’s new baby moved all around the crowd and started gathering the different people.
Amelia had met Grace and Jed briefly last fall when they’d come into town for some supplies and spent a day or two visiting and attended church with them. Cora and Levi were new to her. She’d heard about them, and had even bought beef from the butcher who was supplied through Levi’s herd. It would be great to meet them in person.
She didn’t know either of the cattle hands that worked for Levi, or their wives, but Mrs. Howard soon introduced everyone to each other and as soon as they’d all finished eating, she clapped her hands together.
“All right. It’s time to get our photograph taken. Come on.” She motioned for everyone to follow her and they all worked their way to the now empty section where the photographer was set up.
Another tightness gripped her belly and her back ached something fierce as they stood for a few moments, getting everyone in place. Benjamin took her hand and leaned close.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
“Yes, it’s easing up.”
“Do you think the baby is coming?” he asked softly for which she was grateful. She really didn’t want to alarm anyone or distract people from setting up for the photograph. The sooner this was over, the sooner she could sit down.
“Not yet,” she whispered. She managed to stand straighter since the tightness had disappeared but the baby shifted and she shifted as well to help give him room.
“You let me know if I need to tell Dr. Mills.” He glanced to the side and then back to her. “She’s right here if you need her.”
Amelia smiled, loving how careful and concerned he was for her. “I’m fine. There’s time enough to get the photograph taken.”
He kept his arm around her waist and held strong to the side of her. Exactly what she needed at this moment. Long minutes pa
ssed and she had another wave of tightness, this time stronger than before and then another before the photographer agreed that everyone was in place and instructed them all to look at the device in front of him.
This normally would have fascinated Amelia, but right now, all she could think of was how hot and uncomfortable everything was and how long this whole thing was taking.
A flash of light, then billowing smoke from the thing he held in one hand went off and he popped his head out from behind the black cloth.
“I think that did it,” he called. “Anyone else want to have their photograph taken?”
Benjamin turned to look at her. “Should we pose for ours?” he asked.
Amelia looked up into his eyes. “Well, I’m not certain, and I’ll have to check with Dr. Mills for sure, but I’m thinking the baby might actually be coming today.”
“The baby is coming?” Benjamin asked. Everyone turned at the same time to see her and Dr. Mills moved closer.
“I really wanted to get a photograph of us,” Amelia said. The disappointment hurt, but there was nothing she could do about it. “I suppose we’ll just have to make do with this one.”
Dr. Mills did a quick assessment, asking a few questions about her pains and how long they’d been happening, and how often they’d come. The most embarrassing part was when she asked if there was wetness.
Amelia just nodded.
“You’ll be having the baby today or early tomorrow for sure,” Dr. Mills said with a reassuring smile. “But if you feel like you could sit for a photograph, you have time.”
“It is up to you,” Benjamin said. “And just think, when we look back on this and the photograph, we can remember our baby’s arrival and how things were today.”
“I really would like one,” Amelia said.
Everyone moved out of the way and someone brought her over a chair to sit on so she wouldn’t feel as if she had to bend over during the pains that kept coming. With a bustle of activity, she was soon seated, and the photographer had positioned Benjamin to the side. He instructed him to have his hand on her shoulder, and she would put her hands in her lap, but with the baby’s movement, Amelia couldn’t help but put her hand on her belly.
Though they had been instructed to keep a serious expression, Amelia couldn’t help it. She smiled at the joy she felt in her life. As the man put his head behind the device and under the black cloth, preparing his countdown, Amelia glanced up at Benjamin.
“I love you,” she said. “Thank you for everything.”
He smiled down at her, then as the photographer reached one, and the flash went off for the photograph, she was still looking up into Benjamin’s smiling face.
It didn’t matter if they were supposed to have been serious. She would be happy with whatever the photograph looked like. She wanted to remember this moment forever. The love of her husband and the excitement of new adventures as parents was all she needed.
Life couldn’t be any better.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading The Preacher’s Bride. Please consider posting a review or rating on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews help spread the word. It’s the best way to say “thank you” to any author.
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Thanks for reading.
Laura D. Bastian
Other books by Laura D. Bastian
STAND ALONE ROMANCE:
Sink Or Swim
Never Trust the Rain
The way it should be
SEASONS OF LOVE
Echoes of Summer
Winter’s Kiss
Autumn’s Embrace
Promise of Spring
ROYAL ROMANCE
Dancing with the Prince
Forgetting the Prince
Rejecting the Prince
The Reluctant Royal (time Travel)
CRAZY RICH CRUSH SERIES
Crazy Rich Vacation Crush
Crazy Rich Ex High School Crush
FIREFIGHTERS OF EMERALD COVE
Coming soon
THE COTTAGES AT EMERALD LAKE
Coming soon.
Historical Romance
BRIDES OF BIRCH CREEK
The Blacksmith’s Bride
The Clerk’s Bride
The Widower’s Bride
The Cattleman’s Bride
The Sheriff’s Bride
The Preacher’s Bride
TWICKENHAM TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE
Love’s Past
There’s Always Tomorrow
Only A Moment
YOUNG ADULT SPECULATIVE ROMANCE:
Eye On Orion
Beyond Orion
Heart of Orion
FANTASY
Burden of Blood
Guardians of the Gate
NOVELS UNDER L.K BASTIAN
URBAN FANTASY
Claire
Denise
Kegan
Emily
Kat
About Laura D. Bastian
Laura grew up in a small town in central Utah and now lives in another small town in northern Utah. She always loved stargazing and imagining life out-side her own little world. A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, Laura has been using that training as she raises her children and writes make believe worlds. You can usually find her on her laptop either typing away, or on social media interacting with friends when she’s not playing in her garden
Connect with Laura D. Bastian
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The Preacher's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (Brides of Birch Creek Book 6) Page 13