THE GILTER

CHAPTER NINE

Two months came in a flash, the house became helter shelter as the couples arrived, their bags were taken to their new bedroom, the one they would share as a couple.‘Welcome back!’ Mrs. Rose said warmly at them ’you should rest a bit before coming back down stairs.’‘Thank you!’ Cathie saidThey were about to mount the stairs when Josh and Stella rushed in. ‘They are really back!’ Josh shouted as he rushed forward and hugged his brother, then Cathie. ‘I thought this day would never come, I have never anticipated someone’s return so much in my entire life!’They laughed‘Welcome back.’ Stella said standing beside Josh ‘he did miss you after all.”‘I thought you said never.’ Herrick mocked‘I really didn’t miss you guys.’ Josh sad shrugging his shoulders ‘I am just tired of book keeping!’‘Liar!’ Herrick said‘Whatever.’ He shrugged again‘You should rest.’ Stella said ‘Of course!’ Cathie nodded.

Few hours later, they came back downstairs for dinner.‘I wonder how well you managed the ranch.’ Herrick said looking at JoshJosh sighed ‘It wasn’t easy, got two high school guys to help.’ he said ‘They planned to work through summer, they come and go everyday.’ Herrick nodded‘I posted another ad for more helps,’ josh said again ‘ permanent ones because Cathie is now a minus when it come to herds side, she might even be pregnant for all I knew.’Mrs. Rose taking a noisy sip from her drink offered ‘ It hasn’t been easy for poor Josh this past two months, he had to move to the main house. He said he was afraid of living alone at the staff quarters. Lost some flesh too.’‘I helped too, of course.’ Stella said amid chewingCathie nodded her head ‘ You all did well.’‘Hope to get more helps before summer runs out.’ Herrick said looking at his wife ‘Cathie is really a minus.’They were silent as they continued eating their food, then comprehension dawned‘What?’ Josh asked, eyes wide ‘Is sister in-law pregnant?The couple nodded.‘Wow! That was fast!” Josh said ‘Six weeks gone.’ Cathie offered‘Congratulations.’ Josh said‘Oh sweet Cathie, you must not be stressed.’‘Wow!’ that was all what Stella could mutter.Months flew by, new ranch helps were employed, Josh went back to the staff quarters. Cathie became a full time book keeper as her pregnancy grew, Herrick mad sure she did nothing more than that. At first, she was furious, then frustrated but as her pregnancy grew she was thankful because she couldn’t stand the smell of the barn.As her time drew near, Herrick became anxious and scared, he learned Cathie’s mother died when she gave birth to her, he couldn’t imagine a life without his wife in it. They all prayed silently that Cathie have a save delivery as her time drew really now.When her water finally broke, she was in the sitting room, she stood up and rushed to the kitchen to tell Mrs. Rose to go get the midwife. Stella rushed out to call Herrick. Cathie walked from the sitting room to the kitchen just has the midwife had instructed her to do when her water broke.She didn’t know for how long she had been exercising when she suddenly felt an unimaginable pain shot through her. She screamed.