Elements

The morning began as any other day, breakfast to be made, chores to be done, and livestock to feed. Already, the ranch rattled with life before the sun came up. The smell of rain resonated across the pine trees and into the little meadow where the ranch was nestled. Jacquelyn stirred in bed and opened her eyes. It was still dark out. She slowly crept out of bed and headed toward the kitchen to begin her monotonous routine. Her body was accustomed to the early morning hours so an alarm clock was not needed. As she started the coffee maker and began cooking the bacon she heard the shower turn on in the bedroom. Her husband Gable was also adapted to early rising as he had grown up on a ranch too. Jacquelyn bustled around the kitchen getting toast ready and cracking eggs into a skillet when Gable started down the hall. He could hear her humming a little tune as he came around the corner. A thin smile stretched across his face as Jacquelyn’s profile turned toward him. How she could be so happy and cheerful in her situation was beyond him. Jacquelyn was one week overdue with their first child and her small frame was engulfed with a very large belly. She was a petite woman with a childlike face. Her strawberry blonde hair was thick across the middle of her back. She had high cheek bones that framed fierce blue eyes. Her lips were shaped like a heart and her alabaster skin was flawless. She had lengthy legs for a person of her height with dainty hands and long fingers. From the looks of her, you would never know she was strong as an Ox. Gable grabbed her wrist as she passed by him and they had a short embrace before the coffee maker howled. He gently kissed her forehead and reached across the counter to grab some toast. Gable plucked some bacon on top of the bread and headed toward the door. “Looks like a storm is brewing” she said. “Looks like it” Gable said. He pulled on his jacket and hat. “Don’t forget to check on the dog, he is still favoring his back leg.” He tipped his hat in response and out the door he went. As he walked across the porch Jacquelyn couldn’t help but giggle. She was still madly in love with that man after all these years. Gable Thorn and Jacquelyn Gallagher were childhood sweethearts. They grew up together living right down the road from one another. All her life Jacquelyn knew she had special powers. Since she was a small child her parents kept Jacquelyn’s talents a secret. They didn’t want her on display or scientists to pick her apart in a lab. Truth be told, they were afraid people from the small community would be fearful of the child and shun the entire family. Jacquelyn was able to read people’s thoughts and move objects without touching them. Gable knew of her abilities but often forgot about them because she rarely used her gifts. To him Jacquelyn was special not because of her power but because she was his Jacquelyn and he loved her irrevocably. Dark clouds drifted in over the mountains and a slow rumble began. There was an eerie feeling lying heavy across the sky. Jacquelyn looked at the ominous storm in the distance then returned to her tedious chores. As she turned to wipe down the counter she started to hear whispering in her ears. Strange she thought. Again, there was a whispering, but louder this time as if in the same room. Jacquelyn turned to see if anyone was standing there. She reluctantly smiled and turned again to finish cleaning. “Your pushing me!” a voice said. “Am not!” said another. Jacquelyn quickly turned around and saw no one. I must be over working myself she thought. Maybe I should rest for a minute. Just as the thought crossed her mind a voice said, “Sit down Mommy; you are going to need the rest soon.” Jacquelyn outwardly gasped. “Who is that?” she said. “Your sons” the voices said in unison. “My sons?” she said. “There are two of you?” Small giggles erupted. “Yes, and it is getting much too crowded in here!” said one. A twinge of pain rippled down Jacquelyn’s spine. A flash of lightning and a roar of thunder started to deafen the air. Sheets of rain fell so thick and hard that a mist began to gather on the ground. Jacquelyn doubled over in pain and fell to her knees on the kitchen floor. She tried to call out for Gable but the agony paralyzed her voice. She inched across the aged pine wood surface to reach for the door but again was overtaken with a searing pain. Gable was trying to put the last of the oats into the trough for the horses when a cold breeze crawled up his back. He closed his eyes and took in a breath. He immediately turned to run toward the house, he knew something was wrong with Jacquelyn. As he battled through the rain he leapt onto the porch. Just as he reached for the door he heard a blood curdling scream. As he entered the kitchen he saw Jacquelyn on her hands and knees on the floor. He picked her up and cradled her as if she were a child and rushed her into their bedroom. “The children are coming” she whispered. “Children?” he said. “There are two of them.” She said breathlessly. Gable looked upon his wife’s face that was beaded with sweat. “Tell me what to do” Gable said. “Clean towels, water” she said faintly. “Blankets too.” As Gable turned to retrieve the items, Jacquelyn winced in pain. When he returned, Jacquelyn was bearing down and pushing. He went to her side and grabbed her hand in his and placed his other hand on her back to help bear the burden. She began to push hard now. She felt her flesh begin to rip and immense pain in her lower region. Gable could see a tiny head begin to emerge, then the shoulders, and soon the entire body. He grabbed a warm towel and wrapped the small body in it. Little spots of blood were smeared across the tiny face as he gently wiped the infant’s cheeks. Gable turned to smile at Jacquelyn but the reaction quickly vanished when he saw the anguish on her face. She was still in tremendous agony. Jacquelyn’s body began to quiver as she felt her body shift. She fisted the sheets below her and thrust her body upwards to push again. She bore down hard and clenched her jaw. A small whimper escaped from her lips as she continued to push. She lay back in defeat and tried to gather her breath. Gable wrapped his first born tightly and laid him in the cradle he made. He walked quickly over to Jacquelyn and grabbed a damp cloth to wipe her forehead. Gable stroked her hair gently and moved the strands away from her face. Thunder clapped again, louder than before. The sound was right above the house and rattled the windows. The rain gathered force and began to hit the roof making the room sound like a freight train. Jacquelyn looked over at Gable and nodded as if to say she was ready to try again. He lifted her by the shoulders and held on as she took a deep breath. She inhaled and started to push. Again the throbbing vibrated throughout her body and she bore down with everything she had. Gable looked down as his second son began to emerge into the world. He leaned over his wife and wrapped the baby in a clean blanket. He walked over to the cradle where his first born lay and picked him up as well. Gable carried them both over to their mother and laid them in her arms. She looked down at her sons and kissed them softly atop their heads. Jacquelyn turned toward her husband and weakly smiled at him. Gable bent down and kissed all of them. Jacquelyn peered down at the babies and washed over their faces with her eyes. Her body was no longer running on adrenalin but was slowly succumbing to fatigue. She took her hand and stroked each of their cheeks with the tip of her finger.