As the months passed, Patience took good care of herself and ate the best she could. When doing her chores became impossible, Patience still did her best to get up and get some exercise, if it was just walking down to the half-log bench to sit with Rud and look at the stars.

When she was nine months pregnant, Patience did what she could, mostly she just tried to sit comfortably. At first, Patience had loved being pregnant, but this late in her pregnancy, there was not much to love about it. Rud kept telling her all the effort would be worth it the first time she held her baby, but Patience was not often in the mood to hear it.

Alice was staying at her and Billy's cabin full time now to help Patience. Alice did most of the cooking and pretty much all of Patience's chores. Rud was very attentive to his wife and was very excited about being a daddy. When they were in bed, and the babies were kicking, Patience enjoyed pressing her belly against Rud's back so he too could feel his babies move.

Rud would turn over and put both of his hands on her belly, amazed at the life he and Patience had created. Miss Betty would be the midwife for Patience, and had told her several months ago she was sure there were two babies. Patience thought she could feel them move separately at times now.

Of course, Alice had already said it would be twin boys and who was Patience to argue with Alice. As far as Patience knew, Rud did not know it was probably twins. She had not kept it from him per se, he didn't ask, and she never brought it up. Rud was going to be in for a big surprise.

* * * * *

Billy rode up to Charlotte's house, yelling for Miss Betty to come quick. Patience had started having contractions not long after she had gotten out of bed that morning. Miss Betty, Charlotte, and several more ladies jumped in a buggy, and off they went. Ollie took another wagon and stopped by to pick up Bessie and Martha.

Patience was in bed with Rud holding her hand while Alice did her best to comfort her with tea and pillows. The buggy pulled up with the wagon right behind it. The ladies all went in the cabin, one of the women shooed Rud, Billy, and Ollie out. The three men went down to the lake and sat on the half log bench to wait.

Patience cried out several times as things progressed, but the men were too far away to hear most of it. Rud kept a close watch on the door, waiting for news. It took about two hours, and the door finally opened. Several tubs of water were carried out and spread on the ground away from the cabin.

Bessie came out and yelled, "Rud, they are both healthy." Rud said, "What did she say?" Ollie said, "I heard 'both.'" Then Bessie yelled, "Rud, come and say hello to your two fine boys."

All three men were sprinting towards the cabin now. Billy, laughing, said, "Alice was right, twin boys." Rud yelled back, "And you didn't tell me?" Billy laughed at having kept the secret from Rud.

Rud asked how Patience was, and Bessie said, "Ask her yourself." The ladies had finished washing the newborns and had laid them on Patience's chest. Rud asked Patience how she was doing but did not need a response.

Patience was taking turns kissing her babies on their heads as their little arms fought against the swaddling. Rud leaned in and kissed Patience as she pulled him close. All Rud could say was, "Look at what you've done." Rud bent down and kissed his new sons.

Rud, Billy, and Ollie were shooed out again while the ladies finished cleaning up Patience, the bed, and the cabin, and did whatever needed doing after a baby was born. The men stood just outside the cabin door, letting this all sink in.

Hectic did not describe the next few hours as the ladies cared for the babies and Patience. Rud was able to spend some time sitting next to Patience while she napped.

Miss Betty told Rud it had not been a difficult delivery, but that did not mean it was easy. Patience had done very well but needed to get some rest. The twins would not let her rest long, though, as soon they were hungry. Miss Betty worked with Patience on getting the boys to nurse.

By the end of the day, Patience felt like getting up, and the ladies helped her to the outhouse and back several times. Miss Betty said getting up and walking was the best thing for Patience.

Alice and Martha paid close attention to the lessons from Miss Betty on how to hold the babies, how to put on the diapers, and how to wrap them in the small blankets, so they stayed warm and comfortable. Miss Betty made sure Rud learned the lessons as well.

Rud did not think the babies were ever laid down that first day. Bessie and Charlotte would sit holding them whenever no one else was. Rud told them he was glad that Patience had two babies. Otherwise, their great grandmothers, as Rud called Bessie and Charlotte, might have had to fight each other for custody.

Charlotte especially liked being their adopted great grandmother, and Rud saw her smiling as she talked to the baby she was holding.

Patience already had names picked out when Bessie asked what she and Charlotte needed to write in their family bibles. Charlotte quickly added, "We already decided we are claiming them as part of our families whether you like it or not." Rud said they were honored. Charlotte asked, "So, what are you going to call these future trouble makers?"

Patience looked at Rud and said she was thinking of Logan and Henry. Henry was Rud's father's name, and Logan was her father's middle name. Patience added her father's first name was William, but she thought Billy might want to call his son William. Rud nodded his approval.

Charlotte said this one looks like a Henry. Bessie whispered to the baby she was holding, "Hello Logan, I am very pleased to meet you." Miss Betty had tied a piece of yarn around the ankle of the first baby born, so Henry had the distinction of being the oldest.

Late in the day, Ollie took Charlotte, Martha, and most of the women back home. Miss Betty and Bessie would stay a couple of days, then Martha would come back to help out as needed. Alice was there, of course, and was busy cooking for everyone.

"Uncle Billy," as Rud started calling him, took care of things around the homesteads, including bringing in more wood for the stove and filling the water buckets from the spring box behind the cabin. Rud had made a crib to put the baby in but now would need to make another.

Logan was in the crib, and Henry ended up sleeping in an empty dresser drawer on the tattered old rug – Patience liked that Rud's firstborn slept his first night on the tattered old rug.

By the end of the day, Alice was exhausted. She leaned against Billy, her arms around him too tired to move. Billy carried Alice back to their cabin, took off her shoes, and put her in bed still fully clothed. Between the excitement and all the cooking and cleaning, Alice was worn out and slept like a stone.

As the twins woke and needed attention through the night, Rud and Miss Betty helped take care of their needs. The next morning, Bessie and Billy were there to help. Patience was a real trooper and was ready whenever the twins needed their mother.

* * * * *

Alice was not up yet, so Rud made breakfast for everyone then went outside to find a grassy spot for a nap. Rud woke an hour or so later, hearing one of his sons, either hungry or uncomfortable crying for attention. He was a father now, and even though Patience was the one who had done all the hard work, Rud was proud of himself.

After the first week, they were settling into a routine, and Patience was still getting plenty of help. Rud had started doing his work again and would help out during the night. Martha was staying at the cabin, and Alice was there when needed. Mrs. Miller and several other women Patience had met during the barn-raising stopped by regularly bringing food and items the babies might need.

Patience had recovered, but there was still a lot of soreness. She made a point of getting up and walking around as much as she could, which seemed to help. Her breasts were taking a beating from the constant need to feed two babies, but that seemed to be getting better as well.

Fortunately, the twins were good sleepers and would only wake up when they were hungry or needed to be changed. Sometimes Patience thought the sleepless nights and breastfeeding would never end, but when those two baby boys looked at her, she could not believe something this wonderful could be hers.

Miss Betty had told them to keep the twins inside for a couple of weeks, and when they were three weeks old, Rud and Patience each carried one of their sons down to the lake and sat on the half log bench.

Billy had declared this day an easy day. Rud guessed Billy was feeling a little cocky since he was doing most of the work around the homestead, and that was okay with Rud. Ollie was missing Martha and Charlotte had given him the day off to visit. Since Charlotte and Bessie came by every other day to visit their adopted great-grandchildren, Ollie thought it was fair he would get a day to visit Martha.

Billy and Alice took a much-needed break, had gone fishing that morning, and were gone until early afternoon. Alice came back with not quite dry hair, so Rud suspected they did some swimming too.

Billy and Ollie started a fire and cooked the fish by the lake just as Patience liked them. Ollie and Martha looked very much in love as they sat on their blanket and leaned against each other.

Even Rud could see Martha had found her happiness. Rud thought about talking to Ollie about marriage but figured Charlotte would have that covered. When the chill and dampness of an early spring evening could be felt, it was time to get the babies back inside.

Rud told the others the old married couple needed to go home and admonished the youngsters to not get into too much trouble.