Debra walked downstairs in the morning. She went into the kitchen and put some bread in the toaster. She poured herself a cup of coffee. Mrs. Gardner came into the kitchen. Debra turned towards her. "Good morning, Mrs. Gardner."
"Good morning, Debra. How are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks for asking."
"Do you need anything else from the store other than the list Edward gave me last night?"
"No, I don't think so. I have all my stuff from the hotel."
"All right. I am off to church and then shopping. Edward said he would be back for dinner. I will be home around four and will make dinner, so you don't have to worry about that."
"All right. I'll be fine here. I know how to use the phone if I need anyone."
"Good. All the numbers are posted on the refrigerator."
"Thank you." Debra said. Mrs. Gardner walked out of the kitchen. Debra's toast popped up and she took them and her coffee out to the front porch. She sat down and ate her breakfast.
Doc checked Debra's vital signs and wrote them down. "You are looking a lot better since I was here last. I know mentally, it might take a little while. You have been through such an ordeal. I got your blood tests back and they explain some of your symptoms." Doc said then pulled a piece of paper out of his bag. He handed it to Debra.
Debra unfolded the paper and looked at it. "I might be good with numbers, but what does this mean?"
"It means that you are pregnant."
"What? Are you certain?"
"Yes, the blood tests don’t lie. I also double checked it on the blood I took from you that first time. I didn't do a pregnancy test that time." Doc said. "I take it that you didn't know."
"I was late, but I just got fired and decided to move. I just thought it was stress."
"Since your ordeal, I want to get an ultrasound done to make sure the baby is fine." He said. "You will need to come to my office for that."
"I am not ready for that."
"I'm sure everything is all right since you haven't miscarried, so, it can wait for a while." He pulled a couple books and a bottle out of his bag. "Here's some books and some vitamins to take."
"You aren't going to tell Edward, are you? I know you two are close."
"I do favors for Edward like coming out here all the time, but we aren't really close. If you don't want me to tell him, I won't, but you won't be able to hide it for too long."
"I realize that, but I want to be the one to tell him."
"Ok." Doc said. He got up from the bed. "Get plenty of rest, eat healthy and take it easy. When you are ready for that ultrasound, let me know."
"I will." Debra said. Doc walked out the door.
Debra sat on the bed and rubbed her stomach. He flipped through the books then threw them across the room. She threw the vitamins across the room also. She got up and walked out of the room, downstairs and out the door. She walked slowly out to the corral and watched Misty for a few minutes before she came over to her. She sniffed Debra then allowed her to pet her. Debra talked to her for a few minutes then walked off.
Edward closed the gate to a corral as the rain pelted his raincoat. His radio called out to him. He pulled it off his belt. "What is it, Josh?"
"Misty broke loose when I was trying to get her inside and ran off. Scout ran after her, but I don't know where they went."
"Ok. Round up the men and saddle the horses. I'll be back as soon as I can." Edward said on the radio. He put it back on his belt. "Misty ran away." he told Mitch.
"I'll help. It’s going to be hard tracking her in the rain."
"I know. Scout ran after her so I hope he will help." Edward said as he mounted Majesty. He rode off towards the house.
Edward dismounted after he rode into the barn. "This storm isn't letting up. Teams of two, check your quadrants and check in every fifteen minutes unless you spot her." He said to the awaiting men. He walked over to the phone and dialed the house. "Mrs. Gardner, can you tell Debra that I will be late for dinner. Misty ran off." He waited as he listened. "No, she's not out here or with me. Let me know if she gets back." He said then hung up. "Has anyone saw Debra today?"
"She came out shortly after Doc left and visited with Misty. Then she walked off. I thought she went back to the house." Josh said.
"Mrs. Gardner said she isn't there." Edward said. "I hope she found shelter. What was she wearing?"
"I think it was a yellow t shirt." Josh said.
"Ok, now we are looking for two. Let's go." Edward said then they mounted and rode out of the barn.
After an hour after they left, and the check ins were complete, Edward stopped under a tree. "I don't know where they could be." He said to Josh. "Especially Debra. She can't stay out in this weather."
"If it was just Misty, I would call it quits, but we have to find Debra." Josh said. "I guess we should follow the ridge."
"Ok." Edward said then continued to ride up the ridge. After a few minutes, they heard barking. Edward stopped and listened. "That's Scout." He whistled, but the barking continued. "It's coming from down below."
"We have to go around. It's too dangerous to go down here. The rain is already washing it away."
Edward and Josh turned around and rode back down the hill and around the other side. They rode for a while before they saw Misty. Edward slowed down. He stopped behind her a way. He dismounted Majesty and walked slowly up behind Misty. He noticed her lead was being held. "Debra?" He said as he went over to her. Debra was holding Misty's lead rope. Scout was standing there next to her barking. "Josh, they are all here." He yelled He squatted down in the mud. "Debra, are you all right?"
"Yeah, but I'm stuck in the mud." Debra said. "I think my foot is caught on something."
Josh came over and took Misty's lead. Joe and Mitch rode up. Edward started to dig with his hands. Joe and Mitch helped and finally dug out Debra's legs and untangled her foot from a tree root. Edward pulled her free and took off his raincoat. He put it around her and picked her up. "Take Misty back to the barn and check her out. I'll take Debra to the house." Edward said as he helped Debra onto Majesty. He mounted behind her. He started to ride back to the house.
Edward rode carefully back to the house holding onto Debra so she wouldn't fall off because she was drifting in and out of sleep. They got back to the house and Edward got off Majesty. He helped Debra down and cradled her in his arms. He started to carry her up the steps. "Can you take care of my horse, Josh?"
"Yes, Boss. Take care of her."
"I will." Edward said as he carried her up the steps and into the house. He walked up the steps and right into his room. He carried her into his bathroom and sat her onto the toilet. He started the shower and made sure the water was warm enough. "We have to get you out of these muddy clothes." He said as he started pulling off her shoes. Debra tried to help but her hands were too cold to do any good. "I'll do it for you." Edward said then started to pull her clothes off. He stripped her down to her underwear then stripped himself down to his underwear. He picked her up and carried her into the shower. He stood her up and held her as the warm water washed the mud from her and himself. When all the mud was off them both, he turned off the water and grabbed a towel from off the shelf. He wrapped it around Debra and carried her into the bedroom. He pushed back the blankets and laid her on the bed. He covered her up then went back into the bathroom. He dried himself off and got dry underwear out of his drawer. He put them on quickly then got under the covers with Debra. He pulled her close. "This is the best way I know to get warm."
Debra moved closer and shivered. "I'm so cold."
"You'll get warm soon." Edward said as he held her.
There was a knock at the door a short while later. "Edward, I brought some hot soup and some hot tea." Mrs. Gardner said from the doorway.
Edward looked over. "Come in, Mrs. Gardner. Just put it on the nightstand." He said.
Mrs. Gardner placed the tray on the nightstand. "Should I call Doc?"
"No. The roads are going to be bad. She just needs to get warm."
"Well, that is the best way right there. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I thought she might have been with you."
"It's all right, Mrs. Gardner. Don't blame yourself. Thanks for the soup. You should get home before it gets too bad."
"I can stay if you need me too."
"I can handle it from here."
"Ok. Call me if you need me. There is more soup downstairs." Mrs. Gardner said then walked out of the room.
"Edward?"
Edward hushed her. "Don't talk. Save your strength." He said as he rubbed her back. He laid there for a while with her in his arms. He sat up a little and reached over and picked up the hot tea. He sipped it. "Try drinking some of this. It will warm up your insides." He said. He helped her hold her head up and let her sip the tea. She laid back against him. "Good. Do you think you can eat some soup?" He asked. Debra shook her head and moved as close as she could to him. Edward put the tea down and picked up a bowl. He sipped the hot soup. He finished the bowl and put it back. "You should try to get something hot in you." He said. Debra looked up at him then sat up a little. Edward helped her sip the broth from the soup. She finished about half of it them laid back down snuggling under the covers and next to Edward. Edward laid down, wrapped his arms around Debra and they dozed off to sleep.
Debra woke up a while after it got dark out. She laid on the bed and listened to the rain hit the window. She moved her arm across Edward's chest. She slowly moved it down to his stomach. Edward stilled her hand through the blankets. Debra looked up at him as she rolled on top of him. She moved her mouth to his and kissed him. She moved against him as she pulled back slightly. She looked at him and smiled. Edward smiled then pulled her head down to his and engulfed her mouth with his.
"I guess you're feeling better now?" Edward asked a while later.
"My heart is racing still, but I am a lot warmer."
"Well, that's good." Edward said as he held her close to him. "Why were you out in the storm? Were you trying to run away from me?"
"I wasn't running away. I went for a walk and lost track of time. The storm caught me by surprise and as I was running back here, I slipped, and the ground let go from underneath me. I fell down the embankment and got tangled up in the tree."
"So, you weren't trying to get away from me?"
"No. I was actually wanting to see you, but I didn't want to stop you from your work." Debra said. "After the doctor left, I went to see Misty and then took a walk to clear my head."
"If Misty wouldn't have broken free, I don't know how long you would have been out there. Maybe she knew you were in trouble."
"She came up to me and I grabbed her and tried to pull myself out. Scout came and kept barking."
"I heard him when I was up on the ridge, but we had to ride all the way around because it was too dangerous to go down the side in the storm."
"All I wanted was to see you again. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you letting me stay here."
"I want you to stay here with me. I care about you." Edward said. "I will do anything I can to make you feel welcome here." He said then slowly got out of bed. He put on his underwear. "You think about that and I am going down to get some more soup." He quickly picked up the tray and went out the door.
Debra waited a minute then got up. She wrapped the towel around her and hurried over to the other room. She quickly put on some pajamas and went into the bathroom.
Edward walked upstairs and heard water running from the bathroom. He took the tray to his room, put it on the nightstand, then went back to the other room. "Debra, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I have more soup if you want some." He said then walked back to his room.
Debra walked down to Edward's room. She slowly walked in. She went over and sat at the foot of Edward's bed. "Edward, I need to tell you something."
"You don't have to say anything, Debra. Just because of what just happened, you don't need to feel obligated." Edward started saying.
"Edward, I'm pregnant." Debra interrupted his by saying quickly. "Doc told me yesterday."
"What?" Edward asked surprised. He stared at Debra. "You're pregnant?"
"Yes. This isn't how I expected to tell you. I planned this huge speech, but I didn't want you to think I was holding it back from you."
"That's wonderful." Edward said as he moved down on the bed closer to her.
Debra stood up. "I am carrying another man's baby, Edward. And you are fine with that?"
Edward sat back. "Why wouldn't I be fine with that?" He asked. "Do you think my feeling would change because you told me that?" He got off the bed and walked around to stand in front of her. "I love you, Debra." He reached out and took her hands. "I have since I first met you. Nothing you say will change that, but I don't want you to feel like you need to feel the same way."
Debra's eyes filled with tears. "But I do feel the same way, Edward. I love you. I knew that yesterday." She said. "I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same way since I am pregnant."
Edward pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you, Debra. You are being pregnant isn't going to change that. It might just make me love you even more." He said then kissed her deeply and thoroughly. After a few moments, he pulled back. "Let's have some more soup. You need to keep up your strength." He sat down on the bed with her, then handed her a bowl of soup. They started eating. "So, what else did Doc tell you that he didn't tell me?"
"Don't be mad at him. I asked him not to tell you." Debra said. "He wants me to come to his office and have an ultrasound. He wants to make sure everything is fine because of the dehydration. I'm sure the mud didn't help anything either." Debra said. "I don't know if I am ready to go into town and around too many people yet."
"Then he can do it here."
"He said that since I haven't miscarried yet, it can wait."
"No, it can't. I will call him first thing and have him arrange it." Edward said. "I don't want to take any chances." He said. They finished their soup and got back under the covers. Edward pulled her close and turned off the light. "So, do you know how far along you are?"
"I figure maybe six or seven weeks." Debra said “Edward, I want you to think about this. I know you say you love me, but I am carrying another man's baby and I don't want you to feel like you need to take care of me."
"Debra, as soon as I knew you weren't in the house safe, I started to go crazy. You can ask the men how to upset I was. Each time someone checked in and nobody saw you, I went even more crazy. I was so worried about you that I risked my life and my men's life to look for you. I would still be out there if we hadn't found you." Edward said. "I can't imagine my life without you. You carrying a baby just makes me love you even more." He said. "So, there is nothing for me to think about. Just let me hold you and try to get some sleep."
"Ok. I love you." Debra said as she snuggled close to him.
"I love you. Good night, darling."