Pearl's Will

by Sophie Dawson

  The kitchen was a flurry of activity when they entered. Luella greeted them with quick kisses on the cheek and orders to help get everything on the table. Pearl was glad to comply since it meant not having to explain their tardiness.

  Matthew stood at the head of the table, the large platters of turkey and ham in front of him. As he gave thanks Will grasped Pearl’s hand under the table, giving it a squeeze. She smiled. Eight months ago, she had been overcome with grief, struggling to survive. Now, she was part of a loving family, waiting for her child to be born in the next month, being loved by a wonderful man, and loving him in return. She had doubted God’s will for her back then. Now, she knew Will had been His will for her. Pearl gave her own thanks as she squeezed his hand in return.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Will.” Pearl poked him in the side. He grunted in his sleep and turned over. “Will.” She poked him again.

  “What?” he mumbled. “It’s still dark. Too early to get up.”

  “It’s the baby. It’s time.”

  “That’s nice. Go back to sleep.” Will pulled the covers up over his shoulder.

  Pearl flipped hers away and got out of bed. A contraction made her stand still for a few moments then she turned on the small lamp on the bedside table. She needed to see the clock so she could time the contractions.

  Will sat up in bed suddenly, eyes wide. “What? The baby? Now?” He jumped out of bed and grabbed his trousers, putting them on over his pajamas. “Should you be out of bed? You need to lie down.” He hurried around the bed and tried to make her get back in.

  “No, Will. I have things to do. Maybe I should have just let you sleep, but I needed to be able to see the clock.” Pearl pulled the blankets down to the end of the bed and got the bundle of towels and sheets to place on it. “This baby is finally going to make its appearance. A New Year’s baby.”

  “I’ll go get the water boiling.” Will rushed out of the room.

  While he was gone Pearl had another contraction. Four minutes apart. She was trying to remain calm. Will was nervous enough. He had been getting more so daily as they waited for the baby to arrive. She thought he might fall in a heap if she revealed how nervous she was.

  Pearl looked out the window and breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn’t any new snow. There’d been a thaw over the last few days and much of it had melted. Will could take the automobile and get Luella.

  “The water is on the stove. What should I do now? Do you need to lie down?” Will ran a hand through his hair making it stand on end.

  “Will you drive over and get your mother, please? I don’t want her to have to walk. I’ll telephone while you head over.”

  “And leave you alone? Are you kidding?” Will paced back and forth in the room.

  “You want me to go with you?”

  He stopped and looked at her in shock. “No, you shouldn’t be out on a night like this.”

  “It actually looks quite nice out. There’s a moon and no wind. I don’t think it is icy. And it’s morning; five-thirty.” Another contraction. Pearl bent over, clutching her belly. When it passed, she looked at Will. “Please, go get your mother. I really need her with me.”

  He’d gone white watching her deal with the labor pain. Without a word, he rushed to put on socks and shoes, ran out, and grabbed his coat off the hook. “You call and we’ll be back as soon as possible.” The door slammed as he ran from the house.

  Now that she was alone, fear nearly paralyzed her. Pearl let out a breath and wiped her hand down her face. She went to the kitchen and turned the crank on the phone. It took two more times of cranking before the operator asked for the number.

  Pearl didn’t think anyone would ever answer. Finally, Matthew answered. “Hello?” The voice was sleep-filled and groggy.

  “Matthew, this is Pearl. Will’s on his way over in the motorcar. The baby is on its way. Would Luella please come over?”

  “Oh, of course. Wonderful.” He sounded wide awake now. “She’s already getting dressed. When the telephone rang, she said it was most likely you. We’ll be there as soon as possible. You relax. Everything will be fine. Luella told me to tell you that. You better do as you’re told, young lady. Relax.”

  Pearl chuckled. “Yes, sir. You tell her I am obeying, at least to the best of my ability. I’ll do better when she’s here.”

  “I’m sure. We’ll be there shortly. Good-bye.”

  Pearl hung up the earphone and went to check the water. She grinned. Will had put the water on the stove but not added any fuel. She stirred up the coals and bent over adding more. As she stood, closing the door, water ran down her legs, pooling on the floor.

  Another contraction kept her standing there, clutching the table with one hand the stove handle with the other. Pearl prayed Will would drive safely but get back with Luella very soon.

  She changed into a clean dry gown and was on her knees mopping up the floor when the kitchen door opened and Will ran in.

  “What are you doing on the floor?”

  “Washing it.”

  “What?” Will fairly shrieked. “Now’s not the time to wash the floor.”

  “It’s all right, Will,” Luella said, coming up behind him. “Did your water break, dear?” She was taking off her coat.

  Pearl allowed Will to help her stand. She was glad for the assistance since she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get up on her own. “Yes.” Another contraction hit taking her breath. They were getting stronger.

  As soon as it eased, Will scooped her up in his arms and strode into the bedroom, placing her gently on the bed. “You stay here. I’ll finish in the kitchen.”

  “That’s a good idea, Will,” Luella said, pushing him gently from the room. “You make coffee and make sure your father has a cup. Maybe make him some toast too. You know how growly he gets if he doesn’t eat soon after he wakes up.” She closed the door, leaving him on the other side.

  Luella turned around and smiled at Pearl. “Hopefully that will keep him occupied until Matthew can calm him down. Otherwise he’ll pester us to no end. Now, you and I are going to have a baby.”

  ~~~~~

  Will stood looking at the closed door to his bedroom. Something told him he wasn’t welcome in there right now. A hand patted his shoulder.

  “Let’s go get that floor cleaned,” his father said. “Then let’s make coffee.”

  “Mother told me I need to feed you too. You get growly if you don’t eat.”

  Matthew laughed. “She’s right, but she says that when she wants the fathers-to-be out of the way. She’s not only helped with our seven, soon to be eight, grandchildren’s births, but many others in the neighborhood. She’s sort of an unofficial midwife for this part of St. Joe.” At Will’s shocked look Matthew continued. “You didn’t know that, did you? Not something she shares with many. Your mother’s a talented, giving woman, but she’s also rather private about her skills.”

  Will filled the coffee percolator basket with grounds and fit it into the pot. “We’ll have coffee soon. Would you like breakfast?”

  “You cooking it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not really sure. Can you cook?” Matthew’s eyes twinkled.

  They chatted while Will fried bacon, then eggs and made toast. When Will put the filled plates on the table and sat down, Matthew said grace.

  “Will,” Matthew said, “I want to tell you, I think you made a good decision.”

  Will looked at his father after taking his first bite.

  “About marrying Pearl. You made a good choice. I said when we talked right after your mother and I returned from Hot Springs that time would tell. Well, what I’ve observed over the past months has shown me you made a good choice.

  “Pearl is a lovely woman inside and out. She handled how your mother treated her with grace, although I think she should have told her to butt out. But then, I’m not the new daughter-in-law trying to find approval.

  “I just want you to know, I’m proud of you. I
love Pearl as if she was my own daughter. This baby will be my, our, grandchild just as the others are. If it’s a boy and he wants the shop, then it should go to him. You were right when you said it was tradition not law.

  “I want to make sure you knew how proud I am of you and how much I love you. You’re a good man, Will Miller.”

  Will had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak. “Thank you, Father. It means a lot to me for you to say that. I had a good example to follow. I just hope I’m half as good a father as mine has been.”

  “I’ve no doubt you’ll be twice as good.”

  ~~~~~

  Will sat down heavily on the settee when a scream came from the bedroom. “Is that supposed to happen?” He turned worried eyes toward his father.

  “Usually does. Luella hasn’t come out asking that we call a doctor, so I’d say things are going well. May not be long now.”

  Another scream came, longer than the first. Will sank back leaning against the back of the settee. He looked at the grandmother clock on the wall as it chimed the hour. After the short tune it bonged ten times. “Does it usually take this long?”

  “This is short compared to some Luella’s attended. But Pearl didn’t let anyone know until she was pretty far along. Some want her there as soon as the pains start. That makes it a long, long wait.”

  No more sound came from the bedroom. “Shouldn’t we hear a cry?” Will was worried.

  His father didn’t say anything which was an answer in itself.

  When the bedroom door opened, both men stood. Luella came out, smiling. “Go meet your daughter, Will. Mama and baby are both doing well.”

  Matthew slapped Will on the back. “Congratulations.”

  Will ran into the bedroom. Pearl was lying against a bunch of pillows, the wrapped bundle in her arms.

  “Isn’t she beautiful, Will?” Pearl beamed.

  The baby’s face was red and seemed squashed. It didn’t matter. She was beautiful. Will leaned down and kissed Pearl. “Yes, she’s beautiful.”

  “She has ten fingers and toes. I counted.”

  “How are you?” Will touched the baby’s cheek. The little mouth opened turning toward the touch.

  “I’m well, tired but well.”

  “So, we have little Patricia Luella here.”

  “Yes. I haven’t told your mother yet.”

  “She’ll be pleased.”

  Pearl yawned. “I’m very tired.”

  “I’ll get the proud grandparents and we can introduce Patty to them. Then we’ll leave you to sleep.”

  Pearl smiled and nodded.

  When Matthew and Luella stood at the end of the bed, Will picked up his daughter. “I’d like you to meet Patricia Luella Miller. She’s named after two people Pearl loves very much.”

  Tears streamed down Luella’s face. “Thank you, Pearl. I don’t deserve the honor.”

  Will saw Pearl smile as her eyes closed. “Let’s go and get acquainted with little Patty and let her mama sleep for a while.”

  “Will,” Pearl called softly.

  He turned back and went to her. “Yes?”

  “Thank you for being my Will. I love you.”

  He kissed her gently. “I love you too, my Pearl.”

  ~o0o0o~

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  Thank you for reading

  Pearl’s Will

  Each book in the

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  series is a Clean, Sweet Western Historical Romance. You may find all the books in this series as they are published by searching for

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