THE YEARS WITH BERNIE

**Halo, Oregon 

Twenty-eight years ago 

After years of miscarriages, Tallie O'Shea was gloriously, heavily pregnant. 

She smiled and grunted as she pushed herself up to lean against the nest of soft pillows on the bed. Even the awkwardness of eight months of pregnancy distending her belly brought joy. 

Tallie closed her eyes for a moment to catch her breath. She placed her hands over her swollen abdomen to revel in the
movement of the child growing within her. 

Odd. 

Pressing gently on first one side and then the other, Tallie sought the reassuring kicks of her child. A slight frown crinkled her brow. The baby's movements had seemed more sluggish the last few days. Not unusual as the birth grew closer, the doctor had assured her. 

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and felt dampness. A fissure of alarm swirled through her. Holding her breath, she pushed back the handmade quilt. 

A pinkish stain on the creamy linen sheets mocked her. 

"Bernie?" 

Almost instantly, her husband emerged from the other room. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" 

He glanced at the spot on the sheets where she stared. 

"It's too early," she whispered. 

"The doctor said your water might leak a little." 

"It shouldn't be pink." Tallie couldn't tear her gaze away from the taunting stain. 

"Let me help you to the bathroom, then we'll call the doctor." 

She leaned into the strength of Bernie's protective arms and took an uneasy step forward. Then another. Wetness gushed down her legs. Her heart thumped as her hand tightened on Bernie's arm. "My water..." 

Bernie swung Tallie up in his arms. "I'll call the hospital then we'll go." 

"The boys?" 

"We'll set the plan in motion." Bernie smiled at her. "Collin's twelve. Been waiting for the task of getting his brothers to the neighbors for months." 

With a slow nod, Tallie leaned her head against Bernie's shoulder. 

Worry and concern pushed into Tallie's mind even as she tried to reassure herself everything would be fine. The baby was just a little early. 

**Excerpt from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.