Chapter 17
On Thursday morning, Kevin walked back to Reid and Erin and nodded to them through the open window. “Thanks for following me. I know I shouldn’t be so blasé about his safety, but I’m glad I had backup. I don’t think I’ll need you to follow me home.”
“Call us when you’re done here. We’ll still be in town for a few hours, if you don’t get the plates switched call us, otherwise, we’ll see you back home.”
“Okay, I can do that. I’ll call you regardless.”
“Thanks,” Erin said, and they shook hands, and Reid stuck his out to him. They didn’t move until Kevin walked across the parking lot and disappeared into the building. Without starting the truck, Reid look at her and smiled.
“What?”
“Are you going to tell me the real reason we’re in town?
We have enough apples, carrots, and pears in cold storage to last the year.
I also overheard you on the phone last week about cutting down on the carrot order because Lois has planted the carrot lot.
Tell me what’s going on.” He watched as Erin wouldn’t look at him, then she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned on the seat to look at him.
“You have to promise me you won’t be mad.”
“I would never be mad at you, Erin. The only reason I would be mad is if you were seeing someone behind my back, or lying to me.”
“I’m not seeing anyone, and I’m not lying, per se.”
“What the hell does that mean?” he demanded as he turned toward her.
Erin reached out to lay her hand on his arm, and when he didn’t flinch, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m not going to have you promise not to be mad, because I don’t know how I feel, and I sure as hell don’t have a right to tell you how to feel.”
“About?”
“I think I might be pregnant.” She dropped her bombshell and stared at him to gauge his reaction.
When a slow smile broke out across his face, she breathed easier.
“I had Yvonne stop on her way here to pick up a home pregnancy test. I took it the next day, and it came out positive. I know I should have told you sooner, but we’re busy with the spring breeding, and the new batch of clients coming in. ”
“Stop,” Reid said as he laid a finger gently across her lips. “I’m not mad. Are we here in town because we have a doctor’s appointment?”
“Yes.” She breathed easier and grinned when he said ‘we’ several times.
“You’re not mad?”
“No, I’ve always wanted kids, and ever since meeting you, I knew I wanted you to be the mother of my children. My only concern right now is will it be too much for you?”
“In what regards?” She had genuine confusion on her face.
“Everything you’re doing now. Erin’s Way, Riceman Stallions, Broken Wheel, New Double, RRR.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. Nowadays I spend my time in the office doing paperwork for the accountants.
” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Remember when you guys starting coming, and I would delegate tasks to you? Well, you guys are still doing things. Erin’s Way has run the way it has for almost two centuries.
Wendal, Virgil, and Floyd has the running of it down to a science.
They only come to me when a major decision has to be made.
This is neither here nor there, but I don’t think they’re ever going to retire.
You’ve taken over running Riceman Stallions, as well as the breeding of our mares and gathering the sperm for shipment.
You too only come to me when a major decision needs to be made.
Naomi has Broken Wheel under wraps, Cole has control of New Double, and Clark is in charge of the construction of RRR.
Once that is up and running, there will be some changes to be made, but that’s not for a couple of years yet. ”
“What changes?”
“Do you want to know what I’m thinking now, or wait until it gets closer?”
“How about both?”
“Okay, Clark mentioned that he wanted him and Naomi to take over running New Double. So much so, that he wants the two of them to move into Ducky’s house. With Clem out at the rodeos now, and Cole going home to Lois every night, Ducky’s alone, or he’ll stay with Pru and Ryan.”
“Ah, and if Clark and Naomi are permanently on New Double, then they can run her ranch, with Cole still staying in as the role of manager. I agree with that, but who would step into Naomi’s shoes at Broken?”
Erin grinned and tapped her temple lightly. “Still thinking about that. But like Clark said, this won’t be happening until RRR is up and running.”
“So, you’ve got time.”
They both jumped when someone rapped on the side window and they saw Kevin standing there with a set of Colorado plates.
“Are you guys okay?”
“Yeah, we were talking,” Reid said. “Need help putting them on?”
“Naw, I’m fine. I just have to take the Washinton plate in, and then I’m good to go. I’ll text you when I reach home.” He started to turn away, but snapped his fingers. “I have to pick up some groceries on the way home, so it might be a while.”
“We understand,” Erin said, and looked at the clock on the dash.
“We have to get to our appointment.” They headed out of the parking lot, and Erin told Reid where to go to the doctor’s office.
Thirty minutes later, they sat in the waiting room, Erin had filled out the required paperwork, and now they were waiting to be called back.
“Riceman,” a nurse called out, and the couple stood together.
Reid held onto her stump as they walked to her.
“Right this way.” The nurse had her step on the scale, and they went back into the exam room.
“I’ll get your vitals,” she said, and took them, then looked at Erin once she was done with that. “What brings you here today?”
“I believe I’m pregnant. I took a home pregnancy test, and it showed positive. If I am, then I’m roughly ten weeks.”
“Okay, let me get you a cup to gather a urine sample, then I’m sure the doctor will order blood tests.
” She stepped out, then was back in seconds with a clear cup before she directed her to the bathroom with instructions as to where to leave the sample.
Five minutes later, Erin walked back in the room, and sat in one of the chairs beside Reid.
Less than three minutes later, a middle-aged woman came in.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Stone, how are you today?”
“Good.”
“My notes say that you think you’re pregnant?”
“Yes, and this man is Reid Garret, he’s the father.”
“Congratulations, but let’s confirm it first.” She paused at the knock on the door, opened it, and took the paper handed to her.
She read it and looked at them with a grin.
“According to your urine sample, you are pregnant. Let’s get you up on the table and I’ll see if I can’t find the baby.
” She patted the table, and Erin stood, and went to sit on it.
As the doctor helped her lie down, and told her to lift her shirt, and lower her jeans, she got the ultrasound machine ready.
“What’s that sound?” Reid asked as something filled the room.
“The baby’s heartbeat,” Dr. Stone said, and had him come stand behind her. “It’s too early to tell the sex, yet.”
“I don’t want to know.” Both Erin and Reid said at the same time.
“That’s fine. In future appointments, we don’t have to show you.” She took several photos, and then turned off the machine and cleaned the goo off her stomach and had Reid help her up.
“Okay, according to what I just saw, and when your last period was, I would say you are definitely, ten, possibly eleven weeks along. I’m going to prescribe pre-natal vitamins, and you’ll need to take one a day. Has there been any morning sickness yet?”
“Not actual sickness, like I’m not throwing up, but definitely a woozy stomach and some dizziness. It passes within an hour or two if I take it slow.”
“How is your coffee consumption?” She frowned when both Reid and Erin snorted a laugh.
“Doc,” Reid said as he took Erin’s hand in his. “If she could, I swear she’d have me put an IV in her arm to mainstream it.”
“Are you a medical professional?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I had medical duties for my team. I was a SEAL before I retired.”
“Thank you for serving, and though you should cut down on your caffeine consumption, I can’t tell you to stop altogether, or to even switch to decaf.
However, you might want to mix some decaf in with the regular.
It’s still early, but do you plan on breastfeeding?
I’m only asking, because there will be no caffeine when doing that. ”
“Oh, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”
“That’s fine,” Doctor Stone said, and opened a cabinet and pulled out a packet of papers. “This is information you’re going to need during the pregnancy. I’ll see you once a month until you get closer, then it’ll be twice a month, then once a week in your last month.”
“I have a question,” Reid said.
“What’s that?”
“There’s only a clinic here in Fool’s Gold, not an actual hospital. Will Erin need to go to Colorado Springs to deliver?”
“How far do you live from town?”
“We’re an hour out from here, and an hour away from Colorado Springs. Erin’s the owner of Erin’s Way?” At the doctor’s confused look, he sighed. “A horse ranch.”
“Ah, sorry, the only ranch I know about is Broken Wheel, my great-niece goes there for her therapy. It’s helped her tremendously since the car accident. She’s starting to walk now.”
“Thank you,” Erin said. “I own that ranch too.”
“Oh, wow, okay. I hate to ask, but are the rumors I heard true?”
“What rumors?”
“You employ former military people, both male and female?”
Reid grinned and tapped his lower leg. “Yes, I lost my leg due to injuries I received while on a mission. There are several former military working there, especially on Broken, they healed themselves as they healed the horses.”
“Well, thank you for serving our country, and thank you for opening that wonderful ranch to help others. I would love to stay, but are there any more questions?”
“What about the hospital for delivery?” Reid asked.