Chapter Twenty-Five
Despite Sophie having been gone a year, the pain worsened during the holiday season.
She had passed three months before the previous Christmas, and that was next to the hardest day for them all.
That morning, the children had gathered around in the living room, wailing, begging for the one gift they wanted—their mother.
The home had been bare of any festive decorations—no ornaments, mistletoe, or holly.
Decorating had always been Sophie’s job.
She’d dry flowers throughout the warmer months, saving them for Christmas.
The least Travis could manage was cutting down a large spruce, but they had no ornaments to hang.
No popcorn to string. No paper snowflakes.
Christmas dinner was nothing more than leftover rabbit stew Aunt Polly had prepared.
Travis had managed to gather a few small gifts, but the children lacked cheerful faces when they unwrapped them.
Gideon was a newborn then, and Travis had gone days without sleeping. Raising a baby alone was hard—Gideon needed the mother’s touch, something he couldn’t give. He kept his distance, only holding him when it was absolutely necessary.
However, this year was different. On Christmas Eve, the home was alive again, filled with the warm scent of freshly baked cookies and the lingering aroma of popcorn, strung just hours ago by the children around the tree.
Holly and mistletoe adorned the table and draped over the mantle above the fireplace, bringing a festive cheer to the room.
The soft glow of candlelight flickered, brightening the once-dim house, making it feel like home again.
The children were fast asleep, nestled together in one bed, just as Travis had tucked them in minutes earlier.
The night was bitterly cold, and all three huddled under thick blankets, with a hot pan warming the foot of their bed.
Outside, the wind howled as the blizzard thickened, its fierce gusts rattling the windows.
A storm or two around Christmas was nothing unusual—snow had already piled calf-deep and more made no difference.
The Rockies were known for harsh winters, and spring felt a long way off.
Travis walked down the hallway, passing the living area, where he spotted Josie crouched at the foot of the tree, arranging the children’s wrapped gifts.
The stockings hung over the fireplace, stuffed to the brim with candy and small handmade goodies Josie had crafted.
Travis paused, watching her work, and couldn’t help but think how much he relied on her.
She had a way of breathing life back into the family, something he hadn’t realized he needed until she arrived.
He often worried he leaned on her too much.
She had only been asked to be a mother, but she went far beyond that—one of the many things he appreciated about her.
Josie glanced over her shoulder. “You’re not supposed to peek at your gifts until tomorrow,” she teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
Travis chuckled, crossing his arms. “I would do no such thing.”
“Are the children in bed?”
“More like all in one bed.”
Josie giggled. “It’s that cold, huh?”
“The one time of the year they get along—when they are too cold and must depend on one another.”
“I remember those days,” Josie said with a sigh. “Being with my family feels like forever ago.”
Travis stepped closer. “And you will have it again. Just wait and see.”
His eyes drifted to Josie’s swollen belly, barely hidden under her flannel nightdress.
Just days ago, Dr. Gordon said the birth would be any day.
The bitterness Travis once felt over Josie’s dishonesty had long faded.
In truth, he was happy for her—happy that she would have a child of her own, even if it wasn’t his.
She deserved the joy, since she had no biological family left.
Josie took a deep breath, bracing herself as she pressed the palm of her hand to the ground, preparing to push herself up.
Seeing her struggle, Travis quickly stepped forward, gently grasping her arm and placing a steady hand on her back to help her rise.
She leaned into his support as he guided her upright with ease.
“Thank you, Travis,” she breathed. Josie placed one hand on her belly and the other on her back, taking slow, deep breaths in and out.
She closed her eyes, wincing as she let out a soft groan.
Travis recognized the familiar grimace—she was in pain.
The way Josie arched her back and winced brought back memories of Sophie’s struggles as she neared delivery.
Travis rubbed Josie’s back. “Are you all right, Jo?”
Josie shook her head, her forehead creasing as her jaw tightened. “I’m sorry, Travis. I haven’t been honest. These contractions have been going on since early this morning.” She met his gaze shyly. “And my water broke an hour ago.”
Travis’s eyes widened, his pulse quickening. “W-Why wouldn’t you say anything?”
She bent over slightly, breathing through clenched teeth.
“I didn’t want to ruin the day for the children,” she managed, her voice strained.
“And I felt fine. It can take hours before a baby is truly ready to be delivered.” Josie sucked in another breath, her face pale—paler than Travis had ever seen it.
She groaned again, her body bending forward even more. “Now, I believe I am nearly ready.”
Without thinking twice, Travis scooped Josie into his arms. “We need to get you to bed,” he said, his voice steady despite the rush of nerves inside him.
Travis swiftly carried Josie down the hallway and pushed open the bedroom door, laying her down gently on the bed.
He pulled the sheets to her chin, making sure she was comfortable.
As he watched her, a memory flashed in his mind—Josie, ill and in pain in the fields.
But tonight, she looked even more fragile.
Brushing a hand through his hair, Travis exhaled, trying to stay calm.
Another birth, in the same room. A blizzard stirring outside. The doctor miles away. Sophie. Travis’s stomach tightened, hard as a rock. He had to do something. Josie couldn’t die on his watch.
“How are you?” Travis asked, his breath nearly gone from his aching chest.
Josie’s brows furrowed as another contraction pierced her, making her moan. “It hurts . . . so much.”
Travis raked a hand through his hair, a pulse blaring in his ears like a bass drum from a war party.
There would be a war today—getting Josie the help she needed, facing the deadly storm outside.
He glanced out the window, watching as the snow flurries whipped through the air so fast he could barely see beyond them.
His heart sank. He couldn’t let Josie give birth alone in the middle of a snowstorm, and he had no idea what to do if he ended up having to help.
The doctor wasn’t an option in weather like this. Travis looked back at Josie, who was clenching in discomfort, her face tense and pale. There was only one choice left—Aunt Polly.
Without wasting a second, he turned toward the door. “I’m getting Aunt Polly,” he said, his voice firm, trying to mask the worry creeping in. “She’ll know how to help.”
Travis stepped out of the room and nearly bumped into Ivy, her eyes wide with concern.
“What’s happening, Pa?”
Pressure hardened in Travis’s chest. The last thing he wanted was for the children to be scared. Seeing their mother struggle during Gideon’s birth had left an emotional scar on them all, and he couldn’t bear to put them through that again.
Travis crouched to Ivy’s level, speaking in a gentle whisper. “Ivy, I need you to go in there and keep an eye on Josie. Do as she says. I’m going to get Aunt Polly.”
Ivy’s eyes widened. “But, Pa, there’s a blizzard. You can’t see.”
Travis looked at the ground. He hadn’t considered how him going out into the storm could affect his children, especially Ivy. He couldn’t let them worry more than they already were.
“That’s why I need you to keep an eye out. Don’t open the door unless you hear me, understand? I can’t have you freezing everyone in this house. Whatever happens, do not go outside.”
Ivy nodded. “Yes, Pa.”
Travis kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “Now, look after Josie.”
Travis chose two coats to bundle with, along with a hat and scarf. He had four children, along with Josie and the baby to think of. Lord, please let this be worth it. He opened the door and quickly pulled it shut behind him.
The wind immediately howled around him, its sharp whistle cutting through the night.
The freeze bit at his skin the moment he stepped out, forcing him to wrap the scarf tighter around his face.
The snow was already to his calves, slowing his steps as he pushed forward.
Aunt Polly’s place was just three hundred yards away, but in this weather, it felt like a world apart.
Each step felt heavier than the last, but Travis knew he couldn’t stop.
He had to get to her—Josie was depending on him.
He could barely see through the swirling snow, but he knew the barn was only a few feet away.
Travis pushed forward, his boots crunching through the thick drifts.
He only had so many minutes until he froze, so he kept his focus on the barn ahead of him.
At last, the flurries parted just enough for him to catch a clear glimpse of the wooden building.
With a rush of relief, he grabbed the barn door and slipped inside, quickly shutting it behind him.
The barn wasn’t exactly warm, but it was a reprieve from the relentless ice and wind.
His gloved hands still felt frozen, but at least the wind wasn’t slashing at his face anymore.