“Jane?” Callie whispered in confusion.
“It’s all right, Callie. I think you must have fainted. Morgan is here, and he’s going to wait in the other room while Doctor Brubaker has a look at you. Is that all right?” she asked gently. “I’ll stay with you.”
“I guess, but I’m sure I’m fine,” Callie protested, trying to sit up. Almost instantly, she groaned and sank back onto the table. “Oh my, I feel a little dizzy.”
“Just lay back, my dear. I need to ask you a few questions. Rest assured we’ll get to the bottom of this,” he promised her confidently.
Morgan beganto pace the small sitting room as soon as Jane closed the door. He could hear muted voices, but not what they were saying. Callie Mae was a strong-minded woman, and just knowing she’d agreed to let Doc check her out was worrisome.
After what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, Doc came out.
“I’ve moved her to a bed for now and given her a headache powder. She should rest for a while before you take her home.”
“Well, what is it? Is she very ill?” Morgan asked anxiously.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Doc suggested. “I could use a smoke and Jane will stay with her.”
Morgan nodded and followed him down the stairs. Once on the boardwalk, Doc passed him a cheroot.
“I think your wife may be expecting a baby,” Doc informed him. “I can’t be sure. She’s only missed one monthly flow, but that’s the way I’m leaning.”
“A baby? Are you sure?”
“Damn Morgan, aren’t you listening? I said I’m not sure yet. You’ll just have to be patient, but seeing how Callie Mae has always been healthy, I wouldn’t be overly concerned either way. We’ll know more in a couple of weeks, in any case.”
“What should I do?” Morgan asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Why what you’ve always done,” Doc replied with a grin. “Love her, take good care of her, and let me know if she develops any other symptoms. Are you ready to be a father?”
“Whether I am or not, I guess I’m going to be,” he soberly replied.
“You don’t sound overjoyed.” Doc looked at him quizzically.
“No, I am. It’s just such a shock. I wanted to finish our house and find a buyer for the saloon before we thought about children.”
“Clearly you did nothing to prevent this,” Doc teased. “What did you think would happen?”
“I don’t know. Things were different in my time. There were options.”
“What are you talking about…your time? Are you sure you’re feeling all right? Perhaps I should examine you.”
The concern was all too evident on Doc’s face and Morgan knew he’d just made a colossal blunder. Quickly, he tried to backtrack.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed by the thought of all the responsibility of raising a child. Forget what I just said. My mind has turned to mush, apparently.”
The other man did not look convinced, but he let it go. Morgan sincerely hoped he would not question him further, but of course, he could not be sure. In any case, he needed to talk to Mead, and right now!
“I better get over to The Duchess and make sure all is well. You’ll send me word when Callie Mae is ready to come home?”
“Of course.”
“Good,” Morgan replied with a nod. “Thanks, Doc.”
“You’re quite welcome and Morgan…”
Morgan pretended he did not hear the last comment. He could feel Doc’s eyes were on him as he hurried to the bank. After a brief conversation with Mead, where Morgan admitted his slip of the tongue, he returned to The Duchess and waited anxiously for word of his wife. Hell, the entire day was turning into a SNAFU.
A baby! Was he ready for a baby? Cara had never wanted children and over the years it had ceased to be a concern. Not that they were together in that way much, but he’d left it to her to take care of it. Thinking about it, he wasn’t sure how she’d done that…specifically. It was enough to know she did.
