Once inside the cabin, Sarah asked Patience, "Does Rud know?" Patience, with her mind still on her husband's hunting trip, asked, "Know what?" Sarah smiled and asked, "When is your baby due?"

Patience was stunned. She had suspected she might be pregnant but was unsure. She had been sick a few times in the last couple weeks and had told Rud she just had an upset stomach. They would be going to Charlotte's in the morning, and Patience had planned to talk about it with Miss Betty.

Sarah said she had been around enough pregnant women to know "the look" when she saw it, and since she was pregnant too, it was easy for her to spot another pregnant woman. Patience told Sarah she had not been sure herself and had not said anything to Rud. Patience asked if James knew. Sarah said he did, and he was hoping for a son.

As they sat and talked, Patience could not help but smile now sure a child was growing inside her. The two women talked until early in the morning, Patience had lots of questions, and Sarah had many of the answers. They figured that Patience was in her second month while Sarah was in her third.

Patience was very happy. But she was also a little afraid. Being pregnant and having a baby was going to be a whole new experience for her, and it was a little scary. It was times like these when Patience so very much missed being able to talk with her mother.

* * * * *

Patience woke when Alice came into the cabin. Alice expected Patience to have breakfast ready as they had a busy day planned. Sarah, who was sleeping in the bottom bunk, sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Seeing them both still in bed, Alice threw her hands up. Alice added several more pieces of wood to the fireplace to warm the cabin and then went to get the fire in the stove going so she could cook breakfast.

Alice was fussing at the two women for sleeping in late as they had to leave for Charlotte's in a little while. Patience could not keep herself from smiling, which caused Sarah to smile as well. Sarah told Patience that she might as well tell her now as Alice is going to know something is up.

Alice, still annoyed, looked at Patience, and said, "What?" Patience said, "Sarah is pregnant." Alice shrugged her shoulders and said, "So?" Sarah said, "And so is Patience," which caused both women to burst out laughing. Alice stood there, not reacting.

Patience said, "Alice, did you hear what Sarah said. I am pregnant." Alice said, "Yeah, twin boys, I know. What do you want for breakfast?" Patience's mouth dropped open.

* * * * *

Two days later, the hunting had gone better than expected, with both men killing an elk. Rud and James were enjoying the hunt and each other's company. They would have liked to stay out longer, but they needed to process the animals before the meat spoiled.

A day earlier than expected, Patience and Sarah heard two horses and the mule cross the rocky hill and had started down the trail to greet their husbands. Billy headed over to the skinning shed to get a fire going in the fireplace and make sure the skinning blades were sharp.

Rud and James dismounted and walked back to the cabin holding their wives' hands. Sarah and Patience hoped to see something different in their men but didn't, and nervously looked at each other. Rud and James seemed no different than when they had left.

Rud, Billy, and James skinned the Elk and cut the meat while Patience, Alice, and Sarah packaged what James and Sarah would take home, and then preserved what was left.

Patience made sure she left enough of the best cuts out for everyone to have for supper. James did not want the hides, so Rud fleshed and stretched the hides to dry. There was still not much of a market for Elk hides, but Rud could always use them for knife sheaths and other trade goods.

James' share was more than they could eat during the coming winter, so Sarah suggested he take some to his mother. Sarah was more interested in James' response than giving her mother-in-law Elk meat.

Patience, too, looked to see how James responded. Both women were hoping for a clue as to whether their hopes for the hunt had been fulfilled. When James responded with a non-committal "okay," Sarah looked at Patience and rolled her eyes.

While they were hunting, James had told Rud that Sarah was pregnant. During supper, Rud asked, "When is the baby due?" Patience froze, not knowing if Rud was asking her or Sarah. Sarah told Rud she was in her third month now and had six more to go. Rud nodded and went back to eating his steak. Sarah smiled at Patience, having seen the panicked look on her face.

Relieved, Patience took another bite and then noticed her brother was staring at her. Alice whispered in Billy's ear, but Billy's expression did not change. Patience smiled at Billy, then touched her lips with her finger. A smile slowly started to form on Billy's face. Billy and Rud teased each other constantly, and now Billy knew something Rud did not. That was something for Billy to smile about!

* * * * *

James and Sarah had a canvas cover that was attached to their wagon they stayed in when they were on the road. Patience had invited them to stay in the cabin, but Sarah and James decided to stay in their wagon.

While the canvas covered wagon wasn't a cabin, it was comfortable and gave them privacy. As they only used it for sleeping, the small stove in the wagon provided more than enough warmth. After supper, Sarah and James retired to their wagon while Patience and Rud went back to their cabin.

Now they had their husbands alone, and both women were determined to find out if the hunt had been successful in the two men reconnecting. Rud and James had been ordered to bathe in the deep pool before supper as they were very dirty from the hunt and smelled worse. The water was pretty cold, so it had been a quick bath.

Alone in their cabin, Rud was enjoying a second bath before going to bed, this time in the bathtub filled with hot water and Patience lying against his chest. Patience still had not decided how to tell Rud she was pregnant and, at this moment, she was more curious about the hunt.

Patience asked several questions around the subject and could tell Rud, who just wanted to relax, was tiring of her interrogation. She finally said, "What I want to know is if you and James talked about the night your family was killed and did you get past the issues you and James had. Did you even talk about it?" Rud told her they had talked, and they had no issues. Unsatisfied, Patience sat up and told Rud she wanted to know what was said.

Patience told Rud he had come so far, but he was going to be a father and needed to get these issues resolved. She asked Rud if he knew it had cost James his family too. They were not killed, but James held his father responsible for what happened and had moved away from the village as soon as he was old enough. James had little contact with his family since.

Rud indicated he had not known, but he had told James he knew he was not responsible for what occurred and that James needed to let go of his guilt and regret from that night.

Patience asked if Rud would be willing to go visit them in his old village, and all Rud would say is "maybe." Happy at least some progress had been made, Patience laid back against Rud's chest and started kissing him along his jawline.

Rud added he felt like he had his old friend back now, and it would take time for both he and James, but they would get there. Between kisses, Patience said, "I love you." Rud put his arms around her with his right hand falling on her belly, and said, "So I am going to be a father?"

* * * * *

James was asleep the moment his head hit his pillow, aggravating Sarah, who was determined to get answers. She thought to wake him up but decided to let him sleep. The next morning when James woke, Sarah was staring at him with a determined look on her face. He had seen that look many times.

Sarah had intended to grill him mercilessly when he woke, but James was happy with the way the hunt had gone and was ready to tell Sarah all about it. Sarah did not get the results she was hoping for, but was glad James and Rud had at least talked about the night Rud's parents and sister had been killed.

The rest of the visit went very well, and everyone hated seeing James and Sarah leave. Patience and Sarah continued to correspond regularly. Sarah's letters were very positive, and Patience was glad to hear James' sadness seemed to have lessened significantly, and the relationship with his mother had improved.

Sarah had been right. The night Rud's family was killed had been horrible, and had impacted so many people. Patience silently cursed her now-dead uncle for all the pain and sorrow he had caused.

Rud was Rud and kept his feelings mostly to himself, but Patience knew having his friend back meant a great deal to Rud. Billy was and would always be Rud's best friend, but having James' friendship was important too. Time would tell, but Patience was happy Rud was putting more and more of that night behind him.