Early Harvest

By Donna and Abby

When Moses and John Book came down that morning, they found their wives looking pale.  Although both were normally vivacious women, today they seemed downright grim.  "What did the boy do?" asked Moses, wondering if the precocious Billy had had something to do with it.

"Just ate half the cinnamon rolls we had baked for breakfast," Sandi grumbled. She was due any time now, and was feeling big, clumsy and very, very grumpy.

"But that's normal," said Arista.  "We saved the rest for you.  He's out milking the cow," she added, defending the boy.

Book shook his head. "He does eat a lot, but that’s to be expected of a growing boy. Are you two feeling all right? You both look a little under the weather."

"We're about to pop!  Or haven't you noticed?" Sandi griped, but Arista put her hand on her sister's shoulder.

"A lot has happened recently," she said calmly, though there was a tremor in her voice.  "A new threat has arrived, and he particularly wants fae."

"I heard," John said in a low voice. From the set of his jaw, he made it quite clear that he was prepared to defend his wife and her sister to the death if necessary.

"But he would not want a pregnant girl, would he?" asked Moses worriedly.

"No," said Arista thoughtfully.

"But we're not gonna be pregnant much longer, *are* we?" snapped Sandi. Then she put her hand on her belly, wincing as it tightened.

"Sandi," Book growled. "Are you hiding something from me?"

"Like what?" she growled back.

"We've both been having contractions," said Arista.  "It will be soon.  The . . . stress of the situation will bring it on, and yet both of us . . ."

"I never thought I'd say this," said Sandi, "but right now, I'd rather be pregnant!"

Book exchanged looks with Moses. "Do we need to go fetch one of the Docs or a midwife?" he asked.

"You can send the boy," said Arista, "but remember, we're fae, and not like other women."

Billy picked that moment to come back into the house, carrying two full buckets of milk. Moses took them from him and told him to run fetch Daniel and Anna from the farmhouse on the back side of their property and then to run see if the midwife, Katherine Dixon, was available.

The boy, of course, was happy to do it. It meant less work, and more fun!  But Arista was uncharacteristically cross with her husband once Billy ran off.  "Honestly," she said, "you would think this was about having a baby!"

"Well, it is," said Sandi miserably.  "About *not* having one."  She glared at Book.

"What the hell are you talkin' about?" Book growled. "Are you having the baby or not?"

"We are!" they both shouted.  Then Sandi cried, "You want me to have the baby, don't you!" as if she were accusing him of wishing something terrible on her!

"Women!" Book said, rolling his eyes back in sheer aspiration. "Sandi, you've been bitchin' to me ever since you got pregnant that you wished it was over with already! If you’re worried about that jerk stealing women, don't be. I'm not about to let anyone walk away with you!"

"Easy for you to say," Sandi sobbed. 

Arista explained.  "She's been waiting to have the baby so she could go to the beach again.  Had it all worked out how you guys would go up to Newport . . .” Arista’s eyes filled.  "I told her we'd manage and you could have that little trip.  But that's where Sunny. . ."  She shuddered.

"Now I understand," Book sighed. "Look Sandi, we will find a beach somewhere that will be safe. I promise you that."

Moses went to Arista and held her.  "I am sorry about your sister," he said. Just then, Daniel and Anna knocked on the door.

"Sit down and rest, baby," Book said, giving Sandi a quick hug before going to the door. He and his wife tended to be a bit brisk at times, but they really did love each other. He had heard how fae births tended to be *different* and was wondering if his wife would be more comfortable giving birth on the little sandy beach of the pond at the back of their property.

"Is Billy off on his errand?" Arista asked her guests.  Even though she was one of the ones having a baby, she was up and walking around, getting everyone coffee.

"Ja, he is," Anna said as she tried to get Arista to sit down as well. "Let me do this. You do not need to be working so hard right now."

Arista shrugged.  "I am a grain," she said.  "So is the child.  I feel compelled to feed people right now."

Anna nodded in understanding. "Do not do too much though," she said with a worried look on her face.

"I could have this baby right now," Arista said.  "Children come easily to us.  We are actually putting it off."  She looked at Sandi.  "Though you might want to go out back, sister."

Book nodded in agreement. "I can take you to your little sandy spot if you like," he offered. "It's not the cove where our little one got its start, but it’s the best we have around here."

"Yes," said Sandi, "I suppose I have no choice!"  She turned to Arista.  "Will you wait?"

"As long as I can."  She was such a polite girl that she did not want Katherine coming for nothing.

Book helped Sandi to her feet. As a policeman, he had had basic medical training, and had even on one occasion helped a lady stuck in a traffic jam deliver her baby! "Come on, darlin'," he said softly.

She went willingly, the contractions telling her there was no more time to dally, but of course, inside she was still worried about what would happen afterward, and upset over her secret plans being ruined!

Arista didn't have to wait much longer herself. No sooner had John Book lifted his wife into the cart that Daniel and Anna had driven over in, did Katherine arrive. Having fetched the midwife, Billy was rather full of himself, and he hopped out of their cart first, so he could help her down!

"Thank you, Billy," Katherine said with a bright smile that only served to make him feel even better. She then headed into the house to see what was going on.

"Gut," said Moses when she arrived.  "She has been waiting for you.  I do hope you can help her!"

"That's what I do best," she said, moving to Arista's side. The pregnant fae was finally sitting down, breathing deeply as Anna held her hand and encouraged her, speaking more often in Norwegian than in English in her excitement.

Arista was mumbling to herself, her other hand clenched on the tablecloth.  Hearing Katherine, she looked up and said, "Be ready to catch it."  Then she told Moses, "Take Billy out."

"Hey, I'm not no kid y'know!" he objected, but Moses did as his wife asked, and pulled the wriggling teen out of the room to join Daniel out on the porch.  As soon as he was gone, Arista opened her blouse, exposing her breasts.  She had already shed her underwear, but that part was covered by her skirt.

Katherine knelt down in front of her and lifted Arista's skirt just in time to catch a beautiful golden haired baby girl. Arista reached for the child, and immediately put her to her breast to nurse.  "She will be fine now," she said, cuddling her baby to her.

Katherine chuckled. "Wish they could all be this easy! Where is Sandi?"

"Out back," Arista practically sang, looking at her baby.  "In the little pool."

"Figures," Katherine smiled. "Anna will be here to help you if you need anything. I'll go check on Sandi."

Both women nodded.  Anna then made the new mother as comfortable as possible (she refused to leave the kitchen and lie down) and covered her nursing with a towel so Moses, Daniel and Billy could return.

The new father's eyes opened wide and a huge smile crossed his face. "She is beautiful!" he exclaimed. His brother clapped him on the back, an equally proud smile on his face.

“What is her name, Brother?” he asked.

“We decided on calling her Amalia Grianne,” Moses said in a pleased voice. “Our firstborn child.”

Arista just looked serenely happy.  Billy came over to look at the miracle and, for once, was shocked speechless.  When he finally regained the power to speak, he asked, "Can I go out and see the other one?"

Moses chuckled. "I do not think so, Billy. They will bring him back here, I am sure. You should not go there." Even as he spoke, Sandi had reached her little haven of sandy beach on one side of the small pond and had stripped all her clothing off!  She then stepped into the area of the pond where a small stream emptied into it. The water wasn’t that deep, and the footing in that area was still sandy.

Book watched, smiling.  He sure did not mind that she would be getting her figure back, though of course he could understand why she would be safer with a bun in the oven.

He went to her side in the water and knelt down on the sandy area with her, stoking her bare shoulders as she panted for breath during a strong contraction.

The contraction was so long, in fact, that it was the entire labor!  Once she was immersed in the water the baby seemed to know it was time to come, and that contraction brought him into the world!

Book watched in amazement as his newborn son shot out from  between Sandi's legs in the shallow water and onto the beach as John scrambled to catch him. "My little sandy ford," she cooed. "We shall call him Sanford. Sanford Johann Book."

“Good name,” John Book said with a lopsided grin as he handed the baby to Sandi. “Damn good name.”

“Such language, English!” Sandi chuckled, playfully mimicking the tone the Hochleitner brothers used to scold her husband for his verbal lapses.