There was another young couple in the valley whom the Barkleys had come to know and had become friends with. They were Wally and Jenny Miles. The Miles lived on a large ranch nearby. Tom and Wally both had business dealings in Stockton, California.

Tom and Victoria were expecting their first child in 1844. They were both very excited about the baby. Tom was looking forward to having a son to help him run the ranch. Victoria wanted a daughter.

Wally and Jenny Miles didn’t have any children. They were hoping to have a child to help Wally with the day to day operations of his ranch. They were still working hard on their ranch and didn’t have time for a child now.

Victoria had become a good friend with Jenny Miles since Margaret had died. Tom and Wally had also become good friends.

On a cold day in December, Victoria woke up early feeling the baby kicking inside her. She hadn’t been able to rest much because this baby was so active. She got up out of bed, careful not to wake Tom, and went to the kitchen to fix some coffee. Tom would be getting up soon and heading for Stockton. She grunted as she prepared the coffee. That baby was really kicking. She thought about the baby coming any time now and she smiled to herself.

Tom woke up a few minutes later when he realized that Victoria wasn’t in the bed beside of him. He walked into the small kitchen.

"Victoria," Tom asked, "is everything all right?"

He poured himself a cup of the hot coffee and sat down at the table.

"Yes," she answered. "Our baby is ready to come into the world at any time. It has been kicking for the last several days."

She sat down at the table with Tom.

"Well now," Tom said. "That boy is ready to meet his new father."

Tom smiled.

"It way very well be a boy the way it is kicking," Victoria told him and smiled herself.

"Victoria," Tom said, "I have to go into Stockton and meet some potential investors. I don’t want to have to worry about you. I’m going to take you over to Wally and Jenny Miles."

Victoria looked up at Tom.

"You don’t have to do that," she told him. "I’ll be fine right here at home. The baby is not due for several more weeks."

"I don’t want you to be alone," Tom replied.

"Tom," Victoria said, "I will be fine, I promise. You go ahead into to town. I will rest on the couch until you return."

"All right," Tom agreed. "But if you need me, send one of the hands into town."

"I will," she said. "I don’t see any problems arising at this moment."

Tom kissed Victoria and left the ranch. Victoria sat down on the couch with a good book. Not too long after Tom had left, Victoria felt the first pangs of labor. She tried to get up but had to lie down on the floor. She tried to reach the door but the pains were too bad for her to move.

Tom had seen Wally on the way into Stockton. Wally decided to pay a visit on Victoria. Wally knocked on the door. There was no answer. Slowly, Wally opened the door and stuck his head inside. He didn’t see anyone. He called out Victoria’s name.

"Victoria!" Wally called. "Where are you?"

Victoria heard Wally’s voice.

"Wally!" she called back. "I’m in the parlor. I’ve gone into labor. The baby is coming."

Wally came into the parlor and found Victoria on the floor. He made her as comfortable as possible. Wally went outside and asked one of the hands to ride over to his ranch and bring Jenny here. He asked another one of the hands to ride into Stockton and bring the doctor and Tom back here. Then he went back inside to be with Victoria.

"Wally," Victoria said, "what are you doing here?"

"Babies don’t wait Victoria," Wally told her. "I thought I would check on you."

"I’m glad you did," she replied.

Jenny Miles arrived a short time later. The cowhand told Wally that he hadn’t found Tom or the doctor. Wally told him to go back to town and wait. Hopefully, they would arrive soon.

"Wally," Victoria told him, "this baby is coming now."

"I know Victoria," Wally replied.

Victoria’s water had broken. It wouldn’t be long now. Jenny boiled some water, got some blankets and they made Victoria as comfortable as possible on the floor in the parlor. Wally knew that the doctor would never arrive in time so he told himself that he and Jenny would have to deliver this child.

"All right Victoria," Wally said. "When I say push, you push."

Wally positioned himself ready to catch the baby as it emerged.

"Push!" he told Victoria.

Victoria pushed with all her might. It hurt like crazy but Wally and Jenny being there meant a lot to her.

"Push again!" Wally said.

Victoria pushed again.

"One more big push now Victoria!" Wally said. "Push!"

Victoria pushed as hard as she could. She felt the baby slide out and she relaxed. Wally put one of the blankets around the little baby it started to cry. He looked over at Victoria.

"It’s a boy!" Wally told her. "Victoria you have a son."

Victoria smiled as Wally handed her the baby boy. She held him, looking at his little tuft of brown hair and his big blue eyes. At that moment, both the doctor and Tom burst through the door. Wally met them.

"You’re a little late Doc," Wally told him. "Tom you have a son."

The doctor went to check on mother and son. When he was finished with his examination, he walked back over to Wally and Tom.

"Nice job Wally," the doctor said. "I couldn’t have done a better job myself. They are both fine Tom. Go on over and see your new son."

Tom walked over to where Victoria laid holding their new son. She looked up at him as he knelt down beside of her.

"It’s a boy Tom!" Victoria exclaimed. "You have a son."

She handed Tom his new son. Tom held him with delight showing on his face. Wally walked over to join them after the doctor left.

"Tom, Victoria," he said, "what are you going to name him?"

Tom looked over at Wally.

"First," Tom said, "I want to thank you and Jenny for being here for Victoria and the new baby."

"Yes," Victoria agreed, "I want to thank you both too. As for a name, Tom and I had one picked out if we had a boy. You tell them Tom."

"Jarrod Thomas Barkley," Tom said. "We will call him Jarrod."

Wally smiled.

"Fine name for a fine boy," Wally said.

On December 17, 1844, Jarrod Thomas Barkley came into the world. That little boy would grow up to be a fine lawyer and a wonderful man.

The End