Romance in Big Sky Country

Chapter 20

A couple days later after my argument with Jason Sawyer went out to get a tree. I made an ornament for Sawyer and I for out first Christmas together.

I sighed as I put it back in the box.

When Sawyer arrived with the tree, Jason reluctantly helped him bring the tree inside and put it on the stand the fresh scent of pine filled the living room.

"Do you want to help us decorate it?" Sawyer asked Jason.

"I don't know, Ask Alison." he said angrily.

"Dammit Jason! I'm so over this. Ahhh!" I screamed as I felt a pain in my stomach.

"Jason f*****g help me here!" Sawyer yelled I'm frustration.

Sawyer called the doctor and she's on her way. She said it could be Braxton Hicks contractions, but she wants to be sure.

The doctor came and examined me.

"Alright, I know there has been a lot of stress lately, but I am putting you on strict bedrest." She said to me. "You are not dilated so that's a good sign. It's just your body's way of saying to stop." I nodded, Sawyer and I thanked her for coming out here.

Sawyer made sure I was comfortable in the bed.

"I can't believe I'm stuck in this bed for the next few weeks." I groaned.

"It's just until the Braxton Hicks stop. You have just under 2 months to go yet." Sawyer kissed my forehead.

Then there was a knock at the door.

"Can I come in?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. Just no more arguing." Sawyer said sternly.

"Alison, I'm so sorry. I never wanted this to happen." Jason's voice cracked.

"Come here." I said then held my arms out for him. "I'm sorry too Jason."

That night we played some board games. We played Monopoly for about an hour, Sawyer ended up in Jail several times. We played Life. We even played Card Against Humanity.

It's Christmas Eve and I'm still stuck in bed. Phoenix is getting anxious, she hasn't been able to see me for 2 weeks.

I can't really do anything. I wrapped presents and had Jason put them under the tree.

I can get up to go to the bathroom and shower but Sawyer refuses to leave my side when I am out of bed.

Jason brings me my tea and food when I ask for it. But when I ask to see Phoenix they both tell me no.

I hate bedrest.

Christmas morning had arrived and my Braxton Hicks stopped. Maybe I can get out of bed to go downstairs. Sawyer is up and shuffling around in the bedroom.

"I just have to go out and feed the horses, I'll be back in a little bit, stay in bed." Sawyer said then kissed my forehead.

"Alright." I huffed. "I just hate being in bed."

"I know," Sawyer chuckled.

I watched the camera in Phoenix's stall. She's really nervous every time Sawyer goes in there. I saw him lead her out of the stall. I figured he'd put her outside for a little bit. She's getting big. As I am too.

I may be 30 weeks pregnant, but I feel like a beached whale right now.

"Hey can you come downstairs for a little bit. The doctor said you can start moving around, but you have to stay inside." Jason came in. He helped me down the stairs.

I felt a cool breeze coming in through the back door. Jason gave me a heavy sweater to wear.

I saw Sawyer standing outside with Phoenix with a red bow around her neck.

"Merry Christmas baby." Sawyer smiles happily.

"What is this?" I gasped.

"You already call Phoenix yours, why not make it official?" He smiles and hands me the official paperwork for her. So that if I wanted to place her in an event I could.

"You can't be serious right now?" I said crying. "She's officially mine!?"

"She is, all you have to do is sign." I grabbed the papers from Sawyer's hands and snatched the pen from Jason and I signed.

I hugged Phoenix and she presses her head on my back in a way that she was hugging me back.

"I love you Phoenix." I smiled. "I love you too Sawyer."

"Alright let's get you inside before you get sick." Sawyer smiled leading Phoenix back into the barn.

The wind was howling outside, as we sat in front of the stone fireplace drinking hot chocolate and singing Christmas songs.

Sawyer handed me the first present to open.

It was a neatly wrapped medium sized box. I tore open open the paper and opened the box up. It was a fleece blanket with a picture of Phoenix on it.

"I took the photo one day while she was grazing, and I saw the connection you had with her, and I figured that since she's you're horse now you deserved this." Sawyer smiled and wrapped me up in the blanket.

"I love it, thank you." I smiled and kissed him.

Jason handed me his present for me to open. He handed me a bigger box. Well more like placed in at my feet.

I tore open the red paper, and opened the box to see a beautiful western saddle with a matching briddle.

"When Phoenix is ready to be ridden you can use this on her." Jason said to me, I was crying at this point.

Once I gathered my emotions I handed Sawyer his.

"What is this?" he asked as he opened the envelope.

"Okay so there are 2 documents there, one is Phoenix's blood type that I had the vet take a few weeks ago before I was put on bedrest. It's says she's part Dutch Warmblood and part Thoroughbred. If I really wanted to show her I could do so in cross country events or even show jumping." I smiled. "But that would have to wait until I get better at riding once I know how. Now, the second document is for the twins for you to officially claim them." Sawyer looked at me then back at the paper in front of him.

"Are you serious?!" He gasped, and had tears coming to his eyes.

"Yes, they can be officially yours." I smiled and he took me in his arms and peppered my face with kisses.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." He smiled and look my lips in his.

"Most of the time the father signs the birth certificate at birth of the child, but with James, I know he'll put something, so this is just to prevent anything from happening. All you have to is sign and give it to the county's child services office." I smiled.

He grabbed the pen I used to sign the papers for Phoenix and signed the papers for the twins.

He put his face my my belly.

"Daddy loves you both so much." He said then kissed my belly twice. I wiped a tear from my eyes.

Jason got a photo that had mom, Jason, and I together when Jason and I were kids before she passed away. The photo was of us her last Christmas before her diagnosis. We were sitting in front of the tree smiling at the camera.

"I love it, Alison." He looked at me and smiled. Then the smile fell. "Don't you want the photo?" I shook my head.

"I have a copy, don't worry about it." I smiled and he gave me a big brotherly hug.

"I love you little sis, so much." He cried.

"I love you too, big brother." I cried with him.

This first Christmas in Montana was perfect. I was so happy.