When Love's Gone Country

Chapter Three



“Maybe we shouldn’t go on the trip,” Alex said, eyeing Purity with a worried expression.

“Of course we’re going. Everyone’s been looking forward to this for months. I can throw up somewhere fun just as easily as I can here. I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t know.”

Pure sat on her husband’s knee and put her hands around his neck. “I love that you’re concerned about me, really I do, but you’re going to have to get used to the idea that I’m the one who’s pregnant. You’re going to have to trust me that I’m not going to do anything that will hurt me or the baby.”

“I trust you. I’m just—”

“I know. You’re a proud papa and you want the very best for your family. This trip is a good thing. And, just think, while the baby’s brain or toes or whatever is being formed, he or she will be surrounded by all the people we love.”

“We really need to read those books about the baby’s development.”

“We will. We have lots of time.”

“Only eight months.”

“Alex, you’re going to have to learn to relax. You’re driving me crazy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Trust the process. Women have been getting pregnant and having babies forever. It’s going to be okay.”

Alex nodded. “I’ll quit worrying. I promise.”

“I don’t need you to quit worrying. I worry, too. I just need you to be a little more patient and allow me to be sick or have swollen ankles or eat pickles and ice cream without trying to fix everything. This can’t be fixed.”

Alex took a deep breath. “Here I am trying to help you and I’m making things worse.”

“You’re not, sweetie. I love how much you care about me. I’d much rather have someone around who loves me than someone who just leaves me alone to be sick all by myself.”

“I guess.”

“Come on. I’ve got my barf bags and the truck’s all packed. Let’s get on the road.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“All right then, you’re the boss.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Alex smiled, the worry lines on his forehead disappearing with the motion. “I thought you might.”

When they were settled in the truck and Alex double-checked that the trailer brake lights were working properly, he headed for McDonald’s to get Purity a Diet Coke, then they hit the freeway.

After about ten minutes, Alex asked, “Your stomach okay?”

“Fine.”

He nodded, satisfied that she was feeling okay.

Purity held back a smile. If he could carry the baby to term, he’d do it in a heartbeat. She wondered how he’d handle morning sickness, cramps, back aches, hemorrhoids and the myriad of other side effects she’d read about.

“I can’t wait to ride a horse,” Pure said.

“You’re not riding a horse.”

“Why not?”

“What if the horse bucks you off?”

“The horse won’t buck me off. I’ve been riding for years. I know what I’m doing. Besides, I’m only in my first month.”

“Even more reason to be careful.”

“I’m not going to be racing or jumping or anything. Just a gentle walk in an open meadow or something.”

“It’s not a good idea.”

“Alex, you can’t seriously think I’m just going to sit in a chair for eight months? Haven’t you heard about the women who work in rice patties? They squat down, have their babies and keep right on working.”

“I’m not going to discuss this. It’s not safe for you to be riding a horse.”

“Then I guess roping a steer is out of the question, too.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Women don’t have that many restrictions when they’re pregnant. I don’t even have a high-risk pregnancy. Now, if you were talking about Meg, I’d understand.”

“Women should be taken care of during their pregnancy. It’s just not right.”

“It’s actually better for the woman and the baby to do gentle exercise and keep active.”

“I’m not going to discuss this.”

“Maybe you should come to one of my I’m Going to be a Mommy classes. They’re really interesting and have tons of information.”

“I’m not going to be a mommy.”

“Maybe they have an I’m Going to be a Daddy class.”

“I don’t need a class. I need you to keep yourself and our baby safe.”

Purity noticed Alex’s jaw was set in a rigid stance. No use talking to him anymore now. Funny, it was that same jawline that sent shivers of chill bumps down her spine. She loved to lay kisses along it until his body began to relax.

“What?”

“I was just thinking about how sexy you are.”

“You were not. You were thinking of a way to get me to change my mind.”

“No. I was remembering the chill bumps you gave me one of the first times I saw you. It was strange because every part of my body was heating up nicely at your presence, but I still had the shivers.”

“Now you’re just changing the subject.”

“Yes, I am. Ever since I told you I was pregnant, we haven’t been close. Does it worry you? Do you think you’ll harm the baby?”

“Do we really have to talk about this?”

Purity put her arm on Alex’s. “It’s okay. We talk about everything in class, including sex. A lot of guys get really nervous about doing it once they know the woman’s pregnant. It’s totally natural.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. There’s nothing you can do to harm the baby. Well, unless you throw me down a flight of stairs or something.”

“Purity!” Alex’s horrified expression made her regret the words immediately.

“I didn’t mean that you’d ever do that, just that that would be the only way you could actually do any kind of harm. It would have to be deliberate and pretty violent. Our having sex wouldn’t be enough to do any damage.”

“I really need to concentrate on the road.”

A vein in Alex’s forehead was pulsing.

“Sorry. Are you more worried now than you were before?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I really don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Okay. I’m really sorry. I won’t bring it up again for the entire trip.”

“And after that?”

“I’m not making any promises after that.”

Alex sighed. It was going to be a long eight months and he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to handle the stress. If anything happened to Purity or the baby, well, he didn’t know what he’d do. They were everything to him.

Thirty-five minutes later, Purity texted Meg and Courtney that they would be arriving in Alene in about twenty minutes. Meg’s schedule had them meeting for brunch at the Moon Spirit Lodge. It boasted a buffet that folks came from miles around just to eat. Nestled in the woods next to a waterfall, it was the perfect place to begin their ranch adventure.

“You did good, Meg,” Courtney said as they piled out of the van and began stretching their legs.

“Thanks. I have amazing Google-Fu skills.”

“What’s Google-Fu?” Jeremy asked.

“It’s like Kung-Fu, except instead of using your body, you use your fingers and your brain to search the internet.”

“Brad’s pretty good with Diego, does that mean he has Dog-Fu?” Jacob said.

“I guess it does.”

“Better than dog poo,” Jeremy said.

“And now we return you to your regularly scheduled programming,” Courtney said. “Pure and Alex are only about ten minutes away.”

“I’d love to come back here and stay for a weekend,” Meg said to Bobby.

Bobby wrapped his arm around her. “It’s so close and an easy drive, sounds good to me.”

“Oh. My. Gosh!” Jeremy’s mouth dropped half-way to the pavement. “Look at that car!”

“Now, you’re busted,” Meg said.

“You rented that, Dad?” Jacob asked.

“Guilty.”

“Can we sit in it?” Jeremy asked.

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I think we may have just lost our passengers. A convertible tops a dog,” Court said.

“Once the shine wears off, the dog will be the winner. Boys and dogs are a forever combination.”

“I think boys and cars are a forever combination, too.” Courtney glanced at Brad and then jabbed him in the ribs good-naturedly. They’d spent the last three weekends in car lots looking for the perfect truck. Court was convinced there was no such thing. Brad seemed to find something that wasn’t quite right with every pick-up he looked at.

“Boys and their toys,” Meg said. “Do they ever grow up?”

“I hope not,” Bobby said with a grin.