Free Jedadiah's Mail Order Bride by Susan Leigh Carlton

opportunity to say goodbye.  Her father sent along his congratulations on the wedding and his hopes of a bright future for her.  Sarah was thankful for the nice letter and a bit ashamed of herself for not trusting her mother more.  Still, she felt she had done the right thing.  She knew she had.  She was going to be a mother!
     
    Their final stop before heading home was at the church.  As expected, they found John and Grace inside cleaning.  Grace was beside herself with joy.  She was delighted at the news.  "I just knew you would make a good match.  You're both loving and caring people.  Your baby will be blessed to have such parents as Jed and you."
     
    John congratulated them and asked they say a prayer for their baby's well being.
     
    They didn't ride home.  They floated on a cloud of happiness.  They talked about preferences.  Jed said, "I'd like to have a son.  He could be partners with me on the ranch.  A boy would be nice.  A girl would be okay too.  Another Sarah Grace around the house would suit me just fine."
     
    "I'd like to have a little girl,” Sarah said.  “I think it would be fun teaching her how to do things, making dresses for her.  Of course, I'd love a boy just as much."
     
    In the end, they decided it didn't matter as long as the baby and the mother were both healthy.

Waiting For The Baby
     
     
     
    “Sarah! What in the world are you doing?” Jed cried out.
     
    “I’m weeding the garden,” she said.
     
    “You shouldn’t be doing that should you? Aren’t you afraid you’ll hurt yourself?”
     
    “Jedadiah, women have been having babies since the Garden Of Eden. I’m as healthy as a horse. I’ll be all right,” she said.
     
    “All the same, it worries me. You’re the only wife I have and this is my only baby. I’m just trying to protect you,” he said.
     
    “I know what you’re trying to do and I love you for it. I can do anything I’ve always done, I just can’t over do things. You notice I don’t do this in the afternoon, only in the morning when it is cool.”
     
    Jed had been working long hours to add another room to the house. This room would be entirely wood. He had it all weathered in, with the assistance of Luke. It was attached in the back and when he cut the doorway, would be accessible from the bedroom. In addition to adding the room, he was tending the livestock and doing most of the gardening. His small herd had increased to over 300 and he would be moving 50 head of cattle in with Luke’s herd after the fall roundup. Next year, he expected the herd to be over 500 if things continued the way they were going.
     
    The garden had done spectacularly well. There was a big demand for his vegetables and the return allowed him to increase his cash reserve. He and Sarah had talked about hiring someone to help. As it was, he felt he was relying too much on Luke’s assistance. A cowboy earned about $25 per month and found. (Room and board.) Jed decided they could afford it and would ask Luke how he should go about hiring someone.
     
    Sarah was in the sixth month of her pregnancy and the doctor had just pronounced her to be in excellent health. She had mailed her family the news that she was expecting. When they checked the post office, Asa Thompson, postmaster and storekeeper had given her letters from each of her sisters and her mother. All were excited at the prospect of another family member. Her mother had spoken of wanting to be there for the birth, but the trip would be very hard for her.
     
    Just the other day, Sarah had said she looked like a cow, big and fat. Jed said, “You’re not fat, you’re the most beautiful woman in all of Wyoming and probably the world.”
     
    “Jedadiah, you’re looking at me through the eyes of love. It affects your vision.”
     
    As usual, they stopped by the church while in town. Grace remarked about how well Sarah was looking. “Being pregnant certainly agrees with you,” she