It was the middle of March. Nature’s was abloom once more and Audra’s due date was fast approaching. She could hardly move around with her exceedingly abnormal load and she tired easily. The doctor advised her to limit her steps in the last days of her pregnancy to ensure her safety as well as the baby’s. To dispel Heath’s qualms about leaving Audra alone at the house, Victoria offered the couple to stay at the ranch.

One afternoon, Heath headed out to the south pasture with Nick to mend some fences. He wanted to remain near the main house. He left his foreman, Paul Anders, in charge of supervising the work back at his ranch. He was a fine man with great leadership qualities he hired under Nick's recommendation. He ruled with an iron fist in the velvet glove and the work was done on schedule.

Meanwhile back in the house, Audra was growing restless of sitting on the living room sofa, doing some needlework. Holding her belly with one hand, she heaved herself up on the heel of the other and she slouched over to the kitchen with one hand on her tummy and the other on her back.

"Miss Audra, you shouldn't be up, " Silas exclaimed in shock. He took her by the arm and ushered her to a chair. " You had better sit down. "

" Silas I’m tired of sitting down. That's why I came here, " she whined, refusing to sit in the chair Silas had pulled for her.

" Please Miss Audra.

Audra smiled resignedly and sat. She rubbed her aching back with her two hands. "What are you making for dinner? "

" Roast duck. "

" That's my husband’s favorite. "

" I know Miss Audra. I made it especially for Mister Heath. " He started giving the half-baked roast one last basting when he heard Audra gasped in pain. He turned round and his eyes bulged out at the sight of her face all distorted. " Something wrong? " he asked frantically as he crouched beside her, putting his hand on her arm.

She bit her lower lip and clutched her stomach in pain. The contraction had begun. " Silas, " she wailed as she reached for his hand, " get my mother. "

" Right away Miss Audra, " Silas bolted upright and rushed upstairs to knock on Victoria’s bedroom door.

Victoria was taking her afternoon nap. The deafening thumps aroused her. " What is it? " she asked dozily.

" It's Miss Audra. She's having pains. "

Victoria flung the sheets aside and nipped up to her feet. She and Silas whisked down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Audra! "

" I think it's time, Mother, " Audra informed in a nervous giggle while trying to catch her breath.

Victoria fashioned an elated smile and tapped Audra’s hand. She asked Silas to get Ciego to ride out to Heath and Nick, and tell one of the hands to fetch Dr. Merar in town. Silas obeyed and dashed out the door as Victoria assisted her daughter up the stairs to her room.

Ciego outstripped the wind to the south pasture where Heath and Nick were stretching barbed wires from one pole to the next. " Mister Heath! " Ciego shouted as he rode closer.

"What is it, Ciego? " Heath asked with a hint of concern.

" It's your wife. She's having the baby. "

Heath stood transfixed, gaping with his lips apart. Nick gave him a hearty thump on the back. " Well daddy, I think we’d better call it a day and head back to the house, what d’you think? "

Heath whirled past Ciego and jumped onto Charger’s back. He kicked him at a full gallop, whipping through the field before Nick had a chance to mount his horse.

Heath jumped down Charger as he arrived at the house and nearly lost his footing running upstairs to the bedroom. Victoria was sitting on the bed, holding Audra’s hand. The expecting mother was bathed in perspiration but was hanging tough. Victoria vacated her seat for Heath to sit by his wife and gave him her hand.

" Heath! " Audra breathed out, wetting her lips. Another stabbing contraction hit her. She tightened her grip on Heath’s hand as she bent over in pain. Her face disfigured with pain, lips smacked. He put his hand against her back to hold her in a sitting position. When the pain subsided, he fluffed up her pillows and eased her head back on them.

Silas brought a pitcher of cold water. Victoria poured half the content in a basin, dipped a washcloth in it and wrung it dry. She sat on the other side of the bed and dabbed at her daughter’s sweaty brow.

Heath sandwiched his wife’s hand between his and stared amorously at her. She never looked so beautiful, he mused to himself. She was about to give him what he wished most in life, a baby. “Has anyone gone fetch the doctor? "

" Yes. He should be here shortly, " Victoria replied, sponging Audra’s cheeks. "

"Hope he gets here in time. "

" Don't worry, he will. First child usually takes a while to be born. "

" How long?”

" Some women have been known to be in labor more than a day. "

Audra rolled her eyes and shook her head in despair. “I hope I’m not one of them!”

“Don’t’ worry, Audra. Once you hold that tiny newborn in your arms you’ll forget all about the pain,” Victoria said confidently.

“I hope you’re right, Mother, “ she sighed.

“Want some water?”

“Please.”

Victoria poured a glass of water and raised it up to Audra’s lips. Heath assisted his wife by titling her head forward. She took a few sips and nodded that she had plentiful. Heath eased her back onto the pillow and began stroking her flushed cheek. “We’re havin’ a baby, “ he said in a blissful sigh.

She flashed a weak smile with a look of eager expectancy etched on her face. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on her salty lips.

Dr. Merar loomed in the doorway. “Well, I hear we’re having a baby here?” he said emphatically.

“Looks that way,” Audra replied, bubbling over with joy, putting her hand on her belly and squeezing Heath’s hand with the other.

Merar pulled up a chair and slid it at the bottom of the bed. He set his medical bag on the dresser and washed his hands. He walked over to the chair as he dried them on a towel and sat to lift the sheet off Audra’s lower legs. “Okay, let’s see how far long you are. Bent your knees for me, dear.” As Audra bent her legs at the knees, he proceeded to spread them apart slightly to check her cervix. “Only one centimeter.”

“What does that mean?” Heath asked.

“It means we still have a long way to go,” informed Merar, flinging the sheet back on Audra’s legs. He stood from his chair and walked over to the basin of water to rewash his hands.

Audra stretched out her legs and took a cleansing lungful of air. The news of having to wait was annoying for she didn’t know how long she could bear the pain.

“Heath,” Merar beckoned him to step out of the room.

Heath gave a tiny acknowledging nod. He turned to Audra and kissed her hand. “I’ll be right back.”

Heath and Merar exited the room and stood by the door. “Somethin’ wrong, Doctor?” Heath asked with a voice thick with worry.

“No, no…everything’s coming along just fine. Just wanted to warn you that your wife will be in excruciating pain in the next few hours. Are you sure you have the stomach to handle it?”

“Just wanna help.”

“She might use some colorful language that is out of character. I’ve seen many women in labor curse at their husbands. Don’t take it personally.”

“I’ll remember that,” he sighed and cracked a lopsided grin.

“One thing you could do to alleviate her pain is to position her on her side and rub her back. It’s been known to work miracles.”

“I’ll do it.”

Merar tapped Heath on the back. “Be with her,” he said, giving Heath a light shove into the room.

“Where ya’ goin’?” Heath asked, concerned that Merar was heading the opposite way.

“I’m going downstairs to let the others know what is happening.”

Hours later, the pink-fingered light of dawn broke in the horizon, sending its first beams through the bedroom window as Heath attempted to soothe his wife’s agony by rubbing her back. She was lying prostrated on her side, her knees bent up to her stomach that she rubbed in a rapid motion. Her contractions were down to 10 minutes apart and could no longer bear the pain following a fourteen-hour labor.

“I can’t do this,” she whined in a heavy panting, her eyelids dangling.

“Of course ya’ can,” Heath emboldened, kneading his knuckles against her lower back.

“I’m so tired.”

“Just relax.”

“Relax? That’s easy for you to say,” she snapped.

“Uh-oh.” Heath momentarily interrupted his massage as he recalled Dr. Merar’s warning.

“Uh-oh what?” she asked peevishly.

“Nothin’.”

Dr. Merar and Victoria entered the room.

“Doctor, the rubdowns don’t work anymore,” Heath stated with disquiet written on his face.

Merar settled in the chair at the feet of the bed. He asked Audra to roll over onto her back to allow him to check the cervix. She experienced another painful contraction. He face crumpled as she clenched Heath’s hand with a vice-like grip that nearly crushed his fingers.

“Okay I think we’re ready to deliver this baby,” Merar announced, much to everyone’s relief. “All right, daddy..out!” Merar ordered Heath with a wave of the hand.

“I wanna stay with her,” Heath complained.

“Sorry. You’ll only be under foot. No husbands allowed in the room until the baby is born.”

Heath signed in frustration and grudgingly complied with Merar’s request. He brushed back the wettish fringe of hair dangling on Audra’s forehead and gave it a light kiss. As he stood, Audra grasped his hand. “Heath, I’m sorry about things I said. I didn’t mean them, “ she mewled apologetically.

He sat on the bed and rubbed her hand. “I know you didn’t.” He bent forward and tenderly pressed his lips against hers. “I’ll be waitin’ downstairs. When I get back we’ll have a baby,” he whispered softly in her ears, brushing his cheek against hers.

She nodded and smiled gleefully. The doctor went to wash his hands as Heath exited the room. He descended the staircase, glancing back upstairs as he thudded down the last remaining steps. He made his way to the living room where Tom, Jarrod and Nick were anxiously waiting.

“I believe it’s time?” Tom remarked.

“Yeah. They kicked me out of the room,“ Heath said with an edge of annoyance.

“That’s a rule, son. Believe me you don’t want to be upstairs when the…” A shrill cry cut Tom in mid sentence. All heads swiveled towards the foyer.

“I have to go to her,” Heath said in a panic as he crossed to the archway.

Tom grappled his shoulder. “No, son. That’s the worse you can do.”

“But she needs me!” Heath wailed, pleading with Tom to let his arm go.

“No she doesn’t. She only needs the doctor and her mother. Let me get you a drink to calm your nerves.”

“Thanks but it’s too early.”

“When your wife gives birth, it’s never too early to drink.”

“All right,” he heaved out, nervously wringing his moist hands.

“I’ll pour him the drink,“ Nick offered as a reason to occupy his quivering hands. He nearly dropped the half-filled glass when Audra’s scream ripped through the anxiety-charged atmosphere.

Tom smiled at the three men walking the tight rope and by the same occasion he recalled his own experience. “Okay. I think a nice walk in the morning air is in order.”

“I don’t wanna leave Audra,” Heath said.

“You’re not leaving her. We’ll stick close by. Don’t worry, they’ll come and tell us when it’s over,” Tom said as he tapped Heath on the shoulder to reassure him.

Upstairs, Audra’s baby was crowning.

“That’s it, you’re doing fine, girl,” Merar egged on.

Audra plopped back onto her pillows to catch her breath between contractions. Victoria held her hand and wiped the sweat off her daughter’s brow.

Another upsurge of pain washed over her. She hoisted herself up and pushed, groaning and screaming between clenched teeth.

“That’s it!” Merar announced cheerfully as he caught the slimy newborn in his hands and slapped him on the buttocks.

Audra sank her head into her pillows, panting and dripping with sweat, but relieved. She laughed in exhaustion at her baby’s squall.

“It’s a boy,” Merar informed as he cut the umbilical chord. He wiped the baby clean of the excess mucus and handed him over to Victoria who took him to the basin to bathe him.

Audra’s breathing gradually stabilized as she looked at her mother gently dousing the baby’s body with water. His tiny arms were flailing about as he complained about taking his first bath.

“Is he all right, Mother?”

“He’s perfect, Sweetheart. Congratulations.”

Audra laughed nervously, triggering another painful twinge. “Doctor,” she cried out.

Worried, Merar checked the cervix once more and felt another lump. He smiled. “I think we have another one coming.”

“Twins?” Victoria exclaimed as she wrapped Audra’s son in a clean towel.

“Okay Audra, push hard,” Merar urged.

A high-strung Heath was distractedly gnawing at his fingernails. All four men were leaning against the fence, watching the heifers with their young calves. Nick gloated over his recent business transaction with a prominent cattle rancher for the purchase of his Brama-longhorn cross breed for top price. Jarrod also took the opportunity to inform Heath that the sheriff of Mesa had caught the man who had swindled him for the timber and that he’d soon get his money back. Might come in handy for the new baby. Heath endeavored to show his utmost gratitude but a contrived smile was all he could offer under the circumstances.

“Excuse me boys. I think I’ll go check on the progress,” Tom said.

“I’ll go with ya’.”

“No Heath. You stay right where you are, son. I’ll be back and give you a full report.”

“Okay,” Heath signed nervously.

Tom entered the foyer just as Victoria was coming down the stairs. “Where is everyone?” she asked, her eyes darting around before resting on Tom.

“I suggested them to take a walk outside to calm their nerves. The screaming was a bit too much. I admit I was a little worried myself. Is Audra okay?”

“She’s fine,” Victoria informed in elation and grasped Tom’s hands.

“And the baby?”

She grinned. “You mean the babies?”

Tom gaped. “Twins?”

She shook her head. “Triplets.”

“Three? Boys? Girls?”

“A handsome boy and two lovely girls.”

They hugged.

“Wait until you see them, Tom. They are perfect, “ she exulted as they disengaged the embrace. “Tiny blue eyes, small tuft of blond hair. The little boy has a buttoned nose just like his father.”

“Well, let’s go see them!“ he proposed excitedly, wrapping her arms around Victoria’s waist.

“Hah, aren’t you forgetting something important?” she asked in a teasing tone.

Tom snapped his fingers. “Of course! The father. I have to tell the father.”

“That would be nice.”

“ I’ll meet you upstairs,” he said and gave her a kiss on the lips.

The three men faced Tom as he walked back out.

“Well?” Nick asked expectantly.

Tom put his hand on Heath’s shoulder. “Congratulations daddy.”

Heath heaved a long-drawn sigh of relief and with it, the tension lifted off his shoulders. Nick and Jarrod gave him a congratulatory pat on the back.

“A boy? A girl?” Heath asked, euphoria mirroring in his eyes.

“Yes,” Tom answered.

“Well, which is it?”

“A girl, a boy and a girl.”

“You mean?”

“Triplets,” Tom finished with a grin.

“My God Heath, what did you do to our sister?” Nick bellowed.

“Nothing!” Heath defended, his mind whirling by the news.

“I’m just joshing ya’,” Nick reassured with a pat on Heath’s back. “Heath my boy, I’ve got to hand it to you. When you set your mind on doing a job, you don’t do it halfway.”

“Can I see ‘em?” Heath asked, his heart set aflutter with excitement.

“Sure. Let’s all go see them.”

Heath hurried into the house while the three men followed at a less hastened pace with arms entwined around each other’s shoulders.

Heath leapt up the stairs and saw Victoria exit Audra’s room and close the door behind her. She shushed him with a finger to her lips.

“Everythin’ all right?” Heath asked worriedly.

“Audra’s asleep,” she whispered as she reached for his hand. “Follow me.” She ushered Heath into her bedroom where the newborns lay bundled up in a cradle. Heath’s eyes widened in wonderment and his heart performed flipflops at the sight of those tiny bundles of joy. “They’re so tiny,” he remarked a tad concerned.

“That’s normal. They were quite crowded in their mother’s wound.” She beckoned Heath to a wingback chair. “Sit down over there and I’ll bring two over to you.

The fidgety father settled in the rocking chair and tried shifting into a comfortable position before Victoria walked over to place the little girl in the crook of his right arm. She returned to the cradle to pick up the little boy who protested in a shill cry. He reminded her of Nick.

“Which one is the little boy,” Heath asked, confused at their striking resemblance.

“The one who has his daddy’s nose.”

Heath gently cradled his newborns into his arms. His son’s loud complaints soon dwindled into gurgles as he lulled him into a sense of security. Nick and Jarrod hunched down on either side of Heath and admired their niece and nephew, their tiny mouths yawning. Each offered a finger to the babies. The boy gripped Jarrod’s finger while the little girl hooked on Nick’s.

Standing by the cradle, Tom bent over to pick up the second infant girl and held her under his wife’s glowing smile.

“She’s the little girl, right?” Nick asked Heath.

“That’s what your mother told me.”

At that moment, Dr. Merar entered the room.

“How’s Audra?” Victoria asked.

“Exhausted. She’ll sleep for awhile.”

“Thank you Doctor,” Tom said, reaching for the doctor’s hand to give it a hearty shake.

“Your daughter did most of the hard work.”

“Indeed she did. I bet you don’t often get to deliver triplets?”

“I’ve had my share of twins but never triplets. More extraordinary is the fact that they aren’t identical.”

“Once word gets out you’re going to be a local hero, Howard.”

“Hey daddy, can I hold her?” Nick asked Heath. He was itching to hold the cutie pie who had stolen his heart.

“Me too, “ Jarrod echoed Nick’s request.

Heath smiled and gently bent forward to let the proud uncles take their pick of the litter. Heath leaned back against the chair, taking stock of the events of the past twenty-four hours and trying to assimilate it all. He was a father, not only to one but to three beautiful and healthy babies. He was proud as a peacock. He stood and asked Dr. Merar for permission to take a peek at Audra for just a second, promising not to disturb her. He needed to see that she’s was fine. After a slight hesitation the doctor nodded his consent.

Heath nudged the door open and padded his way up to Audra’s bed. He sat in a chair and gazed at his sleeping wife. She looked more peaceful than she did when he last saw her. He marveled at her courage and strength as he recalled sitting helpless, watching her at the throes of agony. This hard labor had worn her to a frazzle. How he wanted to reach out to her, to touch her right now, but was afraid to wake her.

Audra’s eyelids flickered as she slowly opened her leaden eyes. “Hi,” she whispered weakly.

Heath took her hand and leaned closer. “Hi, Sweet Pea. How are ya’ feelin’?”

“Tired,” she breathed out. She wet her lips and blinked heavily. “Are the babies okay?”

“They sure are.”

“I want to see them,” she said as she toiled to keep her drooping eyelids open.

“Ya’ will. But ya’ need to get some rest first. Besides I merely saw them a few minutes myself before your brothers kidnapped them.”

A small giggle squeezed out between her lips as she sketched the image in her mind. “I expect they’ll spoil them.”

“Not as much as I will.” Heath paused. “You’re incredible. Ya’ made a family of five in one day.”

“Not bad for a country girl?”

“What d’ya’ wanna name them?”

“How about the three first names we chose: Leah, Rachel and William.”

“Perfect choice.” He kissed her to sleep. He remained there, gazing at her with her hand sandwiched between his.