Struck Hard Trilogy: Book 1

Chapter 10: Deep in Unexpected Waters

"The months seemed to pass by quickly; I was growing out of things fast. My clothes never seemed to fit anymore, and I always seemed to be asleep. Our lives were just about to change. Who knew it would be so soon?" says Grace.

The sun had risen, and, just like every day, some duties had to be done, so Dwayne and Grace hurried outside following breakfast and finished feeding the animals and tending to the farm. However, one thing seemed to change today. Dwayne looked up from the stalls as he was stroking the black mane of his horse and was followed by asking Grace a question. "How would you feel about taking a ride with me to the pasture this morning? It's beautiful outside, and the tasks are done. Why don't we take a break for a bit and enjoy this wonderful weekend?" asked Dwayne as he grabbed the saddle from the tack wall. Looking up from her belly with a smile on her face, Grace knew what was going to happen that day or very soon. Some would call it a mother's instinct.

"Yes, love. Dwayne, I'd love to take a ride out. The world is so pretty today. Let's go," responds Grace, smiling. Dwayne saddles up Onyx and Ishaynishus after placing the saddle blankets on their backs, bits in their teeth, and he proceeds to drag up the saddle stand, or so he called it. Grace had used it over the last couple of months to enhance her beauty. Never failing to open the gate while mounted on his horse, he was a talented cowboy. Using the toe of his boot, Dwayne kicked the latch on the stalls, and then the two horses took off free like a bat out of hell, hoof beats in the wild. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway let go of the worries of the day, and they enjoyed the wide-open spaces; they were just as free as those two angels on four legs; that was just the wild side to them. Dwayne and Grace reached the pasture, and Dwayne noticed something wrong as Ishaynishus began to panic. He stopped Onyx in the need to help Grace off her horse; she couldn't have done it by herself. Too late, she tried and had hit the ground.

“Dammit." Dwayne slings his body sideways off of Onyx and hurries to her side. "Grace, are you okay, baby? You fell pretty hard off your horse; do you feel okay?" Dwayne worries. In a very scared and concerned voice, Grace looked up from the ground where she sat, noticing that her pants were soaking wet. "Dwayne, my water has broken. We still have one more month left until they are supposed to be here." "It's going to be okay, baby Grace, I've got you," Dwayne says as he picks her up, and he cradles her in his arms, leaving the two horses out in the field. He trusted them not to run off; there was a fence around all the pastures and fields. Anyway, where would they go? Dwayne carried Grace to the truck, and then he ran into the house, grabbed his keys, and drove out of the driveway. Dwayne wasn't in the mood to waste any time.

Dwayne had made it to Houston in under thirty minutes flat, and on his way there he had called a dear friend of his, Mr. Miller, his next-door neighbor, to go by the Callaway Ranch and gather the horses from the pasture. Mr. Miller could tell what was on its way. Dwayne hurried into the hospital asking for a nurse; he didn't know how close behind him the babies were. He only knew that Grace screamed in pain the whole way there. Grace looked up from her chest as Dwayne and a nurse in blue opened the car door. Dwayne stood Grace up and sat her in the wheelchair. The contractions were super close together. "I feel the need to bear down," said Grace, notifying the nurse that she needed to move faster. I mean, after all, they had a few floors to bypass. The long stretch to the birthing room felt like an era; finally, Grace was there. The nurse hurried to grab a gown and gloves as other nurses and a Doctor flooded into the room; there was so much commotion. Dwayne helped Grace pull back her legs just in time for sweet little Garrett Gander Callaway to make his debut in the world; it only took one push.

It seemed like forever waiting for little Dixie Mae to arrive, but not far behind her brother, Grace had delivered both twins in under thirty minutes. It should have felt like a record to her. Dwayne had the chance to experience something every father wishes to do: cutting the cords of his children. Holding one and Dwayne holding the other, they both relaxed, taking in the new lives as parents of their two very tiny but healthy babies. Garrett and Dixie came into this very hectic world weighing six pounds and seven ounces, still tiny but healthy. Grace and Dwayne took their babies home just the very next day, and now the many adventures were about to begin, but all on their own, and things were not going to be easy. If you go back two days to the fall, Grace's water wasn't the only thing that went wrong with the babies being early. Grace's hip was strained but not broken. It is a blessing from God because things could've been worse, especially falling from a horse sixteen hands high. She had to learn to walk through the pain, and she had to learn to be a new mother on top of it. How did she know that things were going to be this difficult?

Dwayne and Grace had arrived home, and the twins were carried off to their rooms. They were asleep as soon as the car ride had begun. Dwayne and Grace then sat down in the living room just a few steps up the hall and left their room open so they could be heard. "Hey baby, we did it, Dwayne," says Grace as she lays her head on Dwayne's shoulder.

"Yeah, baby girl, we did it. We have two beautiful children, and you are such an amazing woman. You are strong. I am proud of you, baby," Dwayne responds, gently kissing Grace's forehead as they stared at the blank screen of the TV. It wasn't very long until they had both passed out, but it was nothing to worry about; the baby monitor was on the table in front of them both, and they were both exhausted. Grace had just pushed out two babies, and she was still nursing a sore hip from her horse-riding accident. She sure is lucky to be doing as well as she is. They slept well for almost two hours when the alarms sounded; both babies woke at the same time. Duty had called. Dwayne and Grace both jumped up and realized it was feeding time, so they headed down the hall towards the twins' room. It was time to wake up.

“Can you go grab me my pillow out of the bedroom, please, babe?" questioned Grace while Dwayne headed towards the kitchen to grab Garrett's bottle from the fridge. It was Dixie's turn to be breastfed, and then every once in a while they switched out. They both sat down in the rocking chair gliders as they were called and rocked both little angels back to sleep while they ate. Grace unclasped the front of her nursing bra and assisted Dixie with latching on; she had trouble since the moment she was born. Grace slipped her finger into the corner of Dixie's mouth to feed, and she placed the n****e shield onto her breast and placed the n****e shield on the top of her tongue. Dixie closed her mouth, and for the first time, she had effectively latched properly on the breast. "Dwayne, she has officially latched, and she's eating so well; listen to her," Gracelynne said as she looked up to her left at Garrett, sucking down his bottle. He was always a fast eater, and he never had any problems latching; it was like second nature to him. He knew what he was doing.

After a while, both babies had finished eating, and Dwayne and Grace proceeded to burp and change the twins before laying them down in their swings. Little did they know that Garrett was not going down that easily. He said the day was long, so it was time to play. Dixie had gone right back to sleep; she was just like her momma. When she could sleep, she did just that. Garrett, on the other hand, was a boy; when he was awake, then he was up. "Grace, baby? Why don't you come to help me in the kitchen with dinner, and then, while the kids are in their swings, I will head outside and handle the animals before bed?" Dwayne says to Grace as she makes her way to the fridge to pull out some steaks and frozen veggies. "It's so hard to believe sometimes that we have twins and that they are such good babies. Garrett is a handful because he loves to nurse, and he loves to be awake, while Dixie, on the other hand, loves to sleep, and she uses me as a pacifier.

However, I am just elated to see she is finally getting the hang of nursing," responds Dwayne while she unpacks the meat to put on the stove. Wrapping his arms around Grace's waist from behind her while she stood at the stove, Dwayne kissed the side of her forehead as he moved her hair to the other side of her neck. "Baby, you are so beautiful as a mother. I love this side of you, baby. You steal my breath away, girl," Dwayne says as he slowly leans Grace back against him, but she was mentally nowhere in the mood to be affectionate; she had just given birth to twins, and she would be bleeding for the next few weeks. She was just too tired, and she already knew that Dwayne would respect her energy, body, and her mind. She knew he wasn't the type of man to pressure anyone into doing anything they didn't want to.

“Honey, I don't feel attractive. I'm just way too worn out. I know you are just trying to kiss my head, but I am exhausted. The babies are asleep, and we are cooking honey. Maybe later tonight we can lie down and cuddle," Grace responds, as she returns her focus to the stove before she burns dinner. After dinner, Dwayne and Grace sat down and ate while watching a little bit of Doctor Who before Dwayne headed outside to handle the farm before bed. "My family is in love with this show; it was something big to them for a while, but now we are almost done with this season anyway." Grace mentions to Dwayne as he stands up from the couch so he can put the dishes away, just in time for Dixie to wake up and Garrett to hit the hay.

Once the dishes were put away, Dwayne made his way back to the living room to hand the babies to Grace. She liked tandem feeding, and she wasn't supposed to pick up the twins by herself. "Here, baby, Dixie is already awake. Do you want her on your left or right side?" Dwayne asked as Grace tiredly responded.

"You can lay her down on the right side; Garrett feeds better on the left. They are picky about being on their side." Grace slightly giggles as she adjusts Dixie, lifts her shirt, thankful that Dixie didn't struggle to latch that time.

"Okay, now for little man, but he's starting to fall asleep," Dwayne said as he slipped Garrett under Grace's left arm before cradling his head in her hand. The only bad thing about Garrett falling asleep was that Grace had to struggle to keep him awake, and he sure wasn't going to like it, especially since little humans like to make decisions of their own.

"Garrett, come on, sweet boy. I need you to stay awake, little buddy; it's time to eat," Grace said to Garrett as he struggled to stay awake since all his energy was drained from never sleeping.

As Grace sat on the couch feeding the twins, Dwayne headed out the door to shut the farm down for the night. Once at the horse barn, Dwayne filled the trough and then noticed that one of his mares was standoffish and acting quite strange. "Huh, I will come back and check on her after I finish on the other livestock." Dwayne quietly thought to himself. Dwayne, very skilled on the farm from years of practice growing up, was able to breeze through his duties and never miss a beat. Could you do that? I don't think so, but who knows? He pulls around the tractor, turns off the key once it's parked under the awning, and almost forgets to fill the water troughs as he wraps up. After Dwayne completes his last task, he finally returns to his anomalous mare. "What's going on, girl? What's got you stirred up? You haven't acted like this in a while," Dwayne says to Misty as he gently strokes her mane, trying his damnedest to keep her calm.

Dwayne runs his hands down her mane, then to her neck. He checked her body for cuts, scrapes, or any other injuries. The only thing he noticed was that her stomach was quite extended, and every time he reached to touch her, she would pivot her feet so he couldn't reach her. She didn't like him touching her. Dwayne finally tied her off to the fence in her stall, and he palpated her stomach. At one moment, he paused abruptly. Misty was having contractions. Misty was pregnant, and she wasn't very far from foaling. Dwayne then realized he needed to hurry and get prepared for whatever was coming next, so he untied her from the fence and let her get comfortable while he ran for the tack room. After jumping into gear, Dwayne sped into the house and grabbed his gloves from the nightstand and his flashlight from the top drawer. He had no time to stall himself; he knew he had an important job to do. Grace looks up from breastfeeding Dixie, looking at Dwayne with concern as to why he is rushing around.

“Dwayne, stop. What are you in such a hurry for? Is everything okay? Is one of the animals hurt?" Grace sternly questions Dwayne as he rushes around the house gathering some of his equipment.

“No, babe, Misty is foaling, and I don't know how long she has been in labor. We have been so busy today; I didn't think to check on her this morning when I walked past the trough. It was full. I will be back." Dwayne panics in response to Grace as she readjusts on the couch, her breast still in Dixie's mouth; Garrett had already finished eating and was fast asleep.

Back in the barn, Dwayne kneels at his horse's side. "Come on, momma, you've got this, Misty," Dwayne says as he finally calms Misty down. Misty began to bear down, but she seemed to have a little bit of trouble, so Dwayne did as he knew he should. Dwayne gloved his hands up to his elbows; he'd do it further if he could, and he reached inside until he felt the foal's feet and grabbed both feet the best he could. He couldn't wait to see what that little fellow could be. Dwayne pulled at the same time as Misty had a contraction, and in about five minutes Misty had delivered a black colt with white dapples. He sure was a beauty. Dwayne decided to name his new colt Obsidian. He had a stone-black coat with dusty white spots, like the sheen on an obsidian rock. Dwayne then said that he could not sell his new arrival; Obsidian was going to produce beautiful coats, and for sure they would be very rare.

An hour or so had passed by, and Dwayne was finally content knowing that Misty was calm and Obsidian was doing well. Now finished with an unexpected second delivery in the week and all the work done on the farm, Dwayne headed inside for the night. He had a wife and his two children to love on before bed, but first, he needed a shower. Dwayne, shucking off all his clothes as he entered the door, left his boots on the porch, and his clothes were left in the barn on the shelf. Dwayne removed his work glasses and the keychain from his pocket and put both on the key rack next to the door. Grace then heard the slam of the door, and, startled by the sound, she looked up and stopped Dwayne in his tracks. "What's wrong, baby? Did we lose the foal?" Grace asked, concerned. Dwayne looked at the ground as if he were disappointed, which concerned Grace even more. However, Dwayne had something up his sleeve; he raised his head very quickly with that southern smirk Grace always remembered falling for, and he caught her by surprise.

“No, baby. We have a black dappled colt, and he is more than well. I named him Obsidian, and he is going to steal the hearts of anyone who walks by the Callaway Ranch. He is a beautiful baby, and he is super strong, with the ability to reach higher strength levels. The Lord has blessed us for sure this foaling season, Grace. I mean, Millie still has to deliver her foal in the next couple of weeks, and I feel bad that I had no idea that Misty had bred. Obsidian could have been predicted instead of sprung on us, but, as I said, he is doing phenomenal, and he will be just fine," Dwayne responds to Grace as he sees the fear and stress melt away from her eyes, just as he leans over and kisses her head as he walks off to go shower. It isn't a very pleasant smell to have had your hand up a horse's ass.

“Whaa! Whaa! Whaa!" Garrett cries from down the hall, and, out of her dazed stupor, hearing her son, Grace tiredly jolts from the couch and heads down the hall to the nursery.

“What is the matter, Garrett, sweet boy?” says Grace, comforting her son. Dixie was still passed out in her crib with her pacifier still pressed hard against her tiny and rosy lips. "I sure am blessed to be y'all's momma." Grace thought, watching her daughter sleep. Garrett continued to cry even as Grace tried to soothe him while enjoying the first days of motherhood; she had to figure something out. Grace cradled Garrett in her arms and tried rocking him; it didn't work. "Maybe you need to be changed, little buddy," Grace said, shushing Garrett as he increased his screaming. After realizing the rocking wasn't working, Grace laid him down on the changing table attached to his crib and decided to change him. Garrett was constipated; his tummy was sore. Grace rubbed his tummy, but it still didn't seem to be working, so, as a last resort, she put Garrett in a warm bath in hopes of loosening his tummy muscles. She hated that her baby didn't feel good. Dwayne was still in the shower down the hall at the other end of the house, so she had to do anything she could while Dixie still slept. Grace filled up the baby's bath and laid him in it to soak for a few minutes. Garrett started kicking his feet as he did in the womb. Grace always knew he would turn out to be her water baby. Grace heard the water turn off in her room, and Dwayne stepped out in a towel. "Damn that man. He is so sexy, and he's mine." Grace thought to herself, she could never get over how lucky she was. Dwayne Matthew Callaway was hers and only hers.

“Hey baby girl, is he okay? Also, where is Dixie?" Dwayne asked Grace, wondering about his boy.

“Dixie is in her crib asleep. I'm about to go wake her up, or you can do it, but Garrett is constipated, and I still need to nurse him, but I need him to poop first. I'm going to let him soak for a bit and then massage his tummy. He can't have water or juices yet," Grace responds as she rubs her thumb across the bottom of Garrett's foot.

Dwayne went and picked up Dixie from her crib; he found her wide awake, but quiet. She was staring at the ceiling. "Daddy has you, baby girl; let's meet mommy and brother in the living room. Brother is eating, and you are next," Dwayne said to Dixie as she looked into his eyes and smiled. Dixie felt that her father was her favorite person; she loved everything about him. Her favorite thing to do was sleep on his chest. Dwayne held her close as she nuzzled into his shirt collar as he made his way to the kitchen. It was time for her to be fed. "I'm going to feed Dixie, honey, and I will rock her to sleep tonight," Dwayne said to Grace as she fixed her bra after breastfeeding Garrett.

“Oh my goodness, Dwayne." Grace screams in shock as she holds Garrett away from her body.

Dwayne looks up from his chair while feeding Dixie, and realizes that his wife is now covered in baby poop. "Well, baby, I don't think he is constipated anymore." Dwayne sarcastically says as he can't help but grin and shake his head.

"This is going to be so fun. Dwayne, please get him and undress him. I am going to stick him in the shower with me. It's probably the best thing to do," Grace says in response.

Dwayne puts Dixie down in her swing and covers her with her blanket before he takes Garrett from Grace's hands. Grace got up from the couch, trying not to get baby poop all over the couch, noticing as Dwayne grabbed Garrett that her little boy was smiling. He was quite proud of himself. He felt better than he did a few minutes ago. Grace grabbed a very naked and dirty baby boy from his daddy, and they both went and got into the shower. Dwayne stayed in the living room cuddling with Dixie as he grabbed her from the swing and continued feeding her the bottle. He was completely wrapped around her finger. Dixie opened her eyes wide and looked her daddy straight in the face, which made Dwayne smile. He felt like the world slowed down and stopped when he looked his children in the face. "When I look at my children, the world stops spinning, and my heartbeat stops. It isn't the sun that is keeping the world alive anymore; it's my family. My favorite thing is being a husband and father. Looking into the eyes of my daughter, Dixie, you are my very breath and my oxygen. I remember the moment I first heard your heartbeats; I cried, and my whole life changed. I could never want something so much more in my life than this right now," Dwayne thought to himself while holding Dixie and watching her slowly fall asleep in his hands, also listening for the sound of the shower down the hall.

Grace turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. It took her a little longer than expected because Garrett decided to nurse again in the shower. He was a boob baby for sure. After drying off, Grace unlatched Garrett from her breast, got herself and Garrett dressed, and headed out to the living room. Grace laid Garrett in his swing and turned to find her husband asleep, with Dixie on his chest, both of them lying on the couch. Grace grabbed Dixie from Dwayne's chest and carried her to her crib. Garrett would be in his crib next. It was bedtime for the twins, and it was finally bedtime for the Callaway house. Grace woke up Dwayne and walked with him to their room. She removed his boots and jeans, then his shirt and socks. He didn't budge one bit; he slept the whole time as she undressed him. She could tell he was exhausted. Grace leaned over, kissed Dwayne on his head, and then crawled into bed. "Goodnight, love and goodnight, world," Grace said to herself just as she closed her eyes.