Andi's Perfect Christmas

 by Johannah G. 

    It's Christmas in May with this new story from our new FF writer. And a new version of birthing Andi's second child. Enjoy! (I'm always excited to read Andi in the "universe" of your choice.)

December 24, 1885, Christmas Eve

 “It’s not fair!” Andrea Carter Prescott pounded the dough hard with each word. “Why can’t Chad run the ranch without Riley? It’s Christmas eve for pities sake.”

     “Mama, when is Daddy going to be home?” Three year old Jared asked, coming up beside her.

     “I don’t know,” she snapped. Andi slammed the dough against the counter again and whirled around with a huff. Suddenly, a ripple of pain rushed over her, she gasped and doubled over. No, not now. Please God not now, not without Riley or Mother here!

     “Mama, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

     “I’m alright, honey. Everything is going to be alright.” But despite her brave words a wave of panic rushed over her. The baby wasn’t due for another week and she and Riley hadn’t made any preparations. Another pain ripped through her stomach, the baby was coming whether she liked it or not.

     With a groan, Andi hurried into the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. The pains continued, coming faster and faster with each passing minute.

     Jared pounded loudly on the door, “Maaammmma!” He wailed.

     “Stay their sweetie, Mama just needs to rest for a little while. Okay?” The pounding ceased and Andi assumed Jared had gone to play somewhere quietly. She gasped as pain rushed over her again.

     Mother had told her that, before the baby came she would most likely have some pains. But they were just supposed to be practice pains, the baby wasn’t supposed to come now. Not without Mother or even Riley there with her.

     “Ohhh,” she groaned. “I can’t do this alone God, please help me.”

     After another hour Andi was completely sure the baby was coming, now. When her water broke she’d come past a point of no return. Right now she didn’t care who came, as long as someone came.

     She hauled herself out of bed and stumbled out onto the porch. “Matt, Carlos, Joey! Is anyone here?” Hearing no answer she stumbled back into the house, and only then did she remember her son. “Jared! Jared where are you?”

     Andi walked trembling to Jared’s bedroom and sighed with relief. Her little boy lay on his bed fast asleep.

     Groaning, she returned to her bedroom and lay back down with a sigh. Suddenly pain ripped through her stomach again, leaving her breathless with its intensity. “Oh God, what am I going to do?”

     Andi clutched her stomach and whimpered, “God help me, please.”

     When the pains began to come faster, Andi knew she was in trouble. Please send someone God. And please send them soon.

****************

 

 

 

     Jed Hatten rode his appaloosa mare Sandy, past the Circle C ranch, emotions rushing over him like a raging storm.

      When he had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior while in jail, he had promised himself to make things right with Miss, Andrea Carter and her family. While passing through Fresno he had heard of Andrea’s recent marriage to a certain Mr. Riley Prescott.

     Now here he was, on his way to a little place called Memory Creek Ranch, seeking out the one person who he knew hated him more than anything else. “God, give me the courage to face her again and to ask for her forgiveness.”

     About twenty minutes later, a small house came into sight. A barn stood nearby with a corral beside it.

     Jed pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted. After tying his horse to the railing he ascended the porch steps. He lifted his hand to knock, but hesitated at the last second. What if she won’t even speak to me? Did I come here for nothing?

     A loud cry from inside set his heart racing. What could be happening in there? After several more seconds another cry could be heard, even louder than the first.

     Jed took a deep breath and pushed the door open. “Hello. Is anyone home?”

     A low moan followed by another cry set Jed’s feet into motion. He followed the sound till he came to a small bedroom. Wide eyed, he peeked inside, and gasped.

 

* * * * * * * * *

    

     Andi lifted her head and looked up when she heard someone gasp, and saw the last person she expected. Jed Hatten stood in her bedroom doorway. Eyes wide and mouth agape.

     “Help me,” was all she could manage as pain swept over her again. “Jed, please.” She whimpered softly and groaned again.

     Jed stepped back shaking his head. “I don’t know how, and even if I did it wouldn’t be proper.”

     Andi’s head collapsed back onto the pillow. Helplessness threatened to completely overwhelm her. “You have to, there’s no one else here. Please.”

     “I..I’ll ride to town for help and get back as soon as I can.” Obviously scared out of his wits, Jed took another step back towards the door.

     “No, it’s too far away, you have to go and get my mother at the Circle C.”

     Panic swept over Jed’s face, “I can’t go to the Circle C. Your brothers would shoot me down if I ever came near the place. They wouldn’t even think twice about it, especially after what I did to you.”

     “It doesn’t matter now. Please go get my mother, please.” Andi’s hands shook as she pleaded with Jed. God please, give Jed the courage to go and get help.

 

* * * * * * * * *

    

     At Andrea’s final plea Jed made up his mind. He would go and get help at the Circle C, no matter if her brothers decided to shoot him or not.

     He nodded, “alright. I’ll go get help.” She sighed and relaxed back against the pillows.

     Jed hurried outside and jumped back onto Sandy. Digging his heels into her side he sent up a fervent prayer to God. Help me God, please. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

     As horse and rider galloped across the spacious range all Jed could think about was Andrea and her family. He had kidnapped her and threatened her brother Justin, the only man in all of the valley who had believed his story. Then when Andrea had tried to get away and go home, he shot her.

     He shuddered at the memory and tried to shake it off, but the harder he tried the more memories flooded into his mind.

     As the Circle C ranch house came into sight doubt began to creep in, stealing any ounce of confidence he had left in himself. I can’t do this God, I just can’t.

     “Hold it right there Jed Hatten.” A sharp voice cut into Jed’s prayer.

     A man rode towards him, gun trained directly at Jed. “What do you think you’re doing here?”

     Jed jerked his mare to a halt and stuck his hands into the air in surrender. “I’m looking for Mr. Riley Prescott. If you can tell me where I can find him I’d be much obliged.”

     The man eyed him, obviously disbelieving his statement. “What makes you think I’ll tell you anything? Why should I even trust you? Especially after what you did to my baby sister.”

     Jed’s heart lurched. “I take it you’re a Carter.”

     “Sure am. My name’s Chad Carter. I recommend you answer my question before I decide you’re not worth it and shoot you dead right here.”

     “I think your question is irrelevant Mr. Carter. I came here to look for Riley Prescott, it’s very important so if you’ll please let me pass.” He gestured down the road behind Chad.

     “Sorry Hatten, but this is my ranch, and you aren’t going any further until you can give me a good reason.” Chad raised the rifle to his shoulder and looked questioningly at Jed.

     Jed took a deep breath and blurted out, “I just saw your sister and she needs help.” Immediately he wished he’d kept silent.

     Chad glared at him and his eyes blazed. “How would you know that?” He took a step forward and yanked Jed down off his horse. “If you’ve laid a finger on my sister you’re going to be very sorry.”

     “Hey, Chad, what’s going on?”

     Chad whirled but kept a tight hold on Jed. “Riley, this is Jed Hatten, he says he needs to talk to you. He’s been out to your ranch.”

     Jed could hear the venom in Chad’s words.

     Riley dismounted and hurried towards the pair, his eyes worried. “You’d better hurry up and talk, Hatten or you’re a dead man.”

     He told them the whole story, starting with how he had come to Christ while in prison a few months back and had come to make things right with Andrea, and ending with the fact that, Andrea had sent him to the Circle C for help because she was having a baby right now.

     “Now!” Riley shouted the words at Jed. “She’s having the baby now and you’re just getting around to telling us?”

     Chad released his hold on Jed and laid a hand on Riley’s shoulder. “I’ll go get Mother, you go and take care of Andi as best as you can till we get there.”

     Riley nodded and Chad took off toward the house. “Come on Hatten,” Riley mounted his horse and pulled it up next to Jed. “You’re coming with me.”

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

     After what seemed like hours the two riders reached the Prescott house. Riley’s feet barely touched the ground as he dismounted and ran up the porch steps and into the house.

     Jed tethered the horses and sat down on the porch steps.

     A minute or two later Riley burst through the front door, his face pale. “She’s having the baby all right. Jed, I need you to give me a hand.”

     Jumping up, he followed Riley into the house. “What do you need me to do?”

     Riley directed him into the kitchen and gestured toward the stove. “Boil some water, we’re going to need to sanitize the tools. I’ve already laid out everything, so once the water starts to boil just throw everything in.”

     With that Riley turned and disappeared around the corner.

     Jed quickly got to work. After the water was boiling he threw in everything that lay on the counter. He shuddered as he threw the scissors in, wondering what on earth Riley was going to do with those.

     Andrea’s cries echoed throughout the house, sending shivers up and down Jed’s spine. What a way to spend Christmas eve.

      After what seemed like forever, Mrs. Carter and Chad arrived. Chad remained in the living room while his mother went in to see Andrea.      

     Jed was aware of Chad watching him, a suspicious look in his blue eyes. He didn’t blame him one bit.

     A few minutes later a little boy, not more than two or three years old wandered into the living room and over to Chad. “Is Mama okay?”

     Chad scooped the boy up into his arms and plopped him on his lap. “Your Mama is going to be just fine Jared. And pretty soon you’ll have a baby brother or sister to play with.” He pulled Jared into a tight hug.

     “Daddy.” Jared jumped off of Chad’s lap and ran into his father’s arms.

     Chad opened his mouth to say something but a high pitched babies wail cut him off. He grinned at his brother in-law.

     “Jared son, stay with your uncle Chad. I have to go check on your mommy.” Riley set Jared down and walked off towards the bedroom.

     Jed watched the all the activity going on around him and felt a pang of loneliness in his heart.

     “It’s a girl! Chad, Jared, its a girl!”

 

* * * * * * * * *

Two days later.

      Andi Prescott looked around at her family, all gathered around the table just like old times. Because of the baby, the Carter family had postponed Christmas dinner for a couple of days.

     Andi’s eyes landed near the end of the table where Jed Hatten sat, looking very uncomfortable. After what had happened two days earlier, the Carter family had only felt it proper to invite Jed to Christmas dinner.

     Just this morning, Jed had made a point of seeking her out alone to ask for forgiveness and to tell her of his newfound faith. It had taken a while, but Andi had finally found the strength to let go and forgive him.

     A soft whimper made Andi look down. She smiled at the little treasure in her arms. Cynthia Marie Prescott snuggled into her mother’s arms and opened her eyes, the same hazel as her father’s.

     Gratefulness swelled in her heart as she watched her precious daughter. Thank you God for your many blessings. Thank you for giving me the strength to forgive Jed. Most of all thank you for sending your son down to earth. And for making this a perfect Christmas. Amen