by Barbara Goss
The following Sunday they saw Deedee and Georgia in church. George Armstrong had employed both of them.
Rose had placed Dotty at the Abilene Hotel as a maid.
Quinn came home from the livery one day and swung Rose around as he kissed her. “I’m so proud of you, Rose. Everyone in town is singing your praises. You’ve created a ministry finding these saloon women jobs in Christian homes.”
“I never planned it; it just happened, Quinn.”
“Well, today the manager of the Abilene Hotel came into the livery, and asked me if my wife had any more women to place. He is hiring in the laundry and housekeeping departments.”
“Really?” Rose couldn’t keep the excitement from her eyes.
“This gave me an idea,” Quinn said. “I’m going to have a small office built onto the side of the livery for you. We can call it 'Rose’s Employment Agency.'”
“Now you’re joking,” she said.
He shook his head. “I’ve already contacted Caleb for the lumber, and the Miller Brothers for the construction. You, my dear, have a gift. You may as well use it.”
“How much should I charge people?”
“The manager offered fifty dollars per new hire you send him. You wouldn’t charge the employee, but the employer.”
Rose smiled. “I could do this!”
“That’s not all. Something else happened as I was leaving today: Mr. Lebold, the president of the bank, needs a cook, and a bank teller. He came to me asking if my wife could provide him with some staff. That's what made me order the lumber.”
“Amazing. Livy, Grace, and a girl name Bonita came in today, asking for jobs.”
“There is a downside,” Quinn said, wearing a serious expression.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“The saloons are angry with you. They are all short-staffed now.”
“They’ll have to deal with it,” Rose said.
“The only other downside is that I hope you will still have some time for your husband in your busy day,” Quinn said.
“I’ll always have time for you,” Rose said. “And all day long, I’ll be right next door to you.”
“We’ll have lunch together,” Quinn said.
Six months later.
Rose Iverson’s new business was booming. People came in off the streets, looking for jobs. She placed men into construction jobs, the lumberyards, and even found a teenager a job as gardener for Mr. Lebold. She continued to place saloon women as well.
Quinn and Rose continued to be happy, but Rose feared her latest news might rock the boat of their marriage. She had put off telling Quinn for fear of his reaction, but now she knew she had no choice. She resolved to tell him that very night.
As they met at their buggy from their respective jobs, Rose cuddled up to Quinn. “Let’s go out for dinner tonight.”
“Where would you like to go? That fancy new place?” Quinn asked.
“No. I think I’d like home cooking today. Pete’s has the best soups.”
“Pete’s it is, then,” Quinn said, kissing her briefly.
Rose smiled. She felt maybe if she told him in a public place, his reaction might be more favorable.
After they were seated and Quinn had put their order in, he took her hand. “I’m surely neglecting you. It’s been ages since I took you out for dinner. My apologies, dear wife.”
“Oh, I enjoy eating at home, too, and I’m sure Heidi will be angry that she's cooked all day and here we are eating out,” Rose said.
“Things are going along so beautifully, Rose. I’m so proud of your business success. Do you enjoy it more than you think you would teaching?”
“Yes! I love it! It’s wonderful to be helping both the employees and the employers. Everyone ends up happy.”
“Except for the saloons,” Quinn added.
“Yes, they aren’t very happy.”
“Quinn, there's something I need to tell you.”
“Go ahead, you have my full attention.” He squeezed her hand.
“I’m with child.”
Quinn simply stared at her.
“I’m serious, Quinn. We're expecting a baby in just six months. I’ve already seen Doc Harris.
“Say something!”
Quinn was speechless. All sorts ran through his mind—Rose dying, first and foremost. Then he remembered what Reverend Martin had told him: if it was her time to die, it could happen at any time, and it didn’t have to be in childbirth. God knows what time we’ll all die, so there's no need to worry over it.
He saw the trepidation on Rose’s face. She was waiting for him to react. His mind was still trying to accept what he’d heard. One thing she didn’t need in her condition was any more worry or anxiety.
He vowed to take the best care of her, and he smiled.
“I’m happy, Rose. I’m so happy that I found myself speechless.”
Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
“What about your business?” he asked.
“I’ll run it until I can’t anymore, and meanwhile I’ll train someone to take it over for a while. If the person I train works out, I may never come back. The business is solid, and it matters little who runs it. I just might want to stay at home and be a full-time mother.”
“Whatever you decide, it’s fine with me.”
“I already have someone in mind to train for the business, but I’d rather not say who for now.”
Their dinners arrived, and Quinn said the before meal prayer. He thanked God for the food, his wife, and their baby.
Before he started to eat, he squeezed Rose’s hand and said, “I thought I couldn’t possibly love you more than I already did—but surprise! I do. You’ve changed my life, and now you’ve made me a father. A father! I love you, Rose Iverson.”
EPILOGUE
Quinn held onto Rose’s hand during her labor. He’d insisted that a doctor attend her instead of a midwife, and Doc Harris had just arrived.
Doc Harris rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and examined Rose. He smiled at Quinn. “Feels like a head, all right.”
“Everything looks good?” Quinn asked nervously.
“Looks perfect and I’m thinking she’ll be like Ivy, and won’t labor long.”
Rose looked over at Quinn. “See, I told you everything would fine.” She gasped as a pain came. “Oh! That was a nasty one.”
“That’s because it won’t be long now, Rose,” Doc Harris said. “Let me know when you get the feeling that you need to bear down.”
Rose nodded.
Doc Harris pulled up a chair, and he tried to talk to Quinn to keep Quinn’s mind off the pain his wife was in.
It wasn’t long before Rose told Doc Harris, “I need to push now,” she said.
Doc stood and examined her again. “Oh, yes!” he exclaimed. “Push, Rose!”
Quinn watched Rose push so hard her face turned red. She'd only pushed a few times before Doc Harris held out a little, pink baby who gasped for air almost immediately after being removed from the womb.
Doc wrapped the crying baby in a blanket and handed it to Quinn. “I need to tend to your wife,” he said.
“Is everything still all right?” he asked.
Yes—perfectly normal delivery,” Doc said.
Rose looked over at Quinn. “Well? Is it a boy or a girl?”
Quinn opened the blanket and smiled. “It’s a boy!” He held the baby up so Rose could see him.
“He’s handsome, just like his father,” Rose said.
Quinn handed the bundle to Rose. The baby had quieted, and was gazing all around, as if stunned by the new world he was in.
“Remember the name we agreed on if the baby turned out to be a boy?” Quinn asked.
Rose nodded. “Hello, Joshua Hiram Armstrong. Welcome to the world.”
THE END
Other books by Barbara Goss:
Forbidden Legacy
Silent Love
Captured Heart
The Final Vow<
br />
Stolen Heritage
The Kissing Bridge
Dangerous Illusions
Drawn from Darkness
The Romantic Ruse
Temptation by Moonlight
The Shadow Series: Shadow of Shame, Shadow of Deceit, and Shadow of Regret.
Soon to be released: Shadow of Hope, book 4 of the Shadow series
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Temptation by Moonlight: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZM5AO0E
Drawn from Darkness: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X32A7GY
Captured Heart: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SQAUU9M
The Romantic Ruse: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0157TE6F8
Silent Love: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U3881BE
Dangerous Illusions: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TMYVA72
Stolen Heritage: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T8QJKUS
The Final Vow: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UXQO3Q8
Forbidden Legacy: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SENBQB2
The Kissing Bridge: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5YACOI
Shadow of Shame: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DR8929G
Coming Soon: Shadow of Deceit and Shadow of Regret
