by Ken Busato
Chapter 7
After the meeting, Willie and I walked home with Mr. Docherty and Angus. Willie was excited about the idea of becoming a Selkirk settler, but Mr. Docherty seemed a little uncertain.
“It sounds too good,” Mr. Docherty said. “If half of what Robertson said is true, then you would be downright mad if you did not take advantage of it.”
“It does sound good Robert,” my uncle replied. “Just imagine all of that farmland, with no landlord there to take it away. Free men doing free men’s work! It sounds like a dream.”
“That Isbister though… there’s something about him I don’t trust, the way he started talking about Mackenzie and Selkirk, like they were the best of friends, or perhaps even brothers. Now I don’t know if it’s true or not, but people say if there is one person dead set against settlers, it’s Alexander Mackenzie. From what I have heard, Mackenzie wants to keep the land exactly the way it is. If settlers come, the fur trade will not do well. With farms and fences, animals will have no place to live.”
“So why would that fat little man talk about him so highly?” I asked.
Mr. Docherty started to laugh. “He was fat, wasn’t he Molly? I can’t say I know for certain why he was so keen to talk about him. I guess it’s because he’s a famous Son of Scotland. It makes Selkirk’s plan seem even greater.”
“Well, I don’t care much about things that don’t concern me,” Willie stated. “The way I see it, the only person that matters whether I like this idea or not is me, and of course my family. If this great Mackenzie does not care for Highlanders, he can go rot.”
“Strong words,” replied Mr. Docherty. “It’s more important what we think, because we are the ones who will have to do the work of settling.” He turned to his son. “And what about you Angus, what do you think about starting over again? Are you ready for the adventure?”
“Can I get me some of them nice shoes that man was wearing?”
Everyone laughed. I was not the only one who was interested in the strange way Mr. Robertson was dressed.
The wind started to pick up a little, and with it, my concern for Mama and the little one growing inside. With everything that happened today, I forgot she was due almost any time now. If we were back at our croft, I would have spent the entire day with her waiting for the birth. Now we were living around so many people, and there were more than enough women to help. Mr. Docherty’s wife was probably with Mama the whole day.
Once we got back, Mrs. Docherty was beside Mama’s bed, and she was helping to wipe off the sweat from Mama’s forehead. There were other women present, and when they saw us, we were told to wait outside. Mrs. Docherty came outside and told us how things were.
“Molly, your Mama is almost ready to give birth. You need to go clean yourself up a little, and then come back in to help. At a time like this, a woman needs other women close to her, and there’s no one closer to a mother than her daughter. Willie, why don’t you go with Robert to our room and wait there. That’s where John and Liam are. All men do is get in the way.”
I made my way to the Docherty’s room to clean myself up a little. All I hoped for was a little hot water in a pot by the fire so I could clean my hands and face. When we got there, I saw Papa pacing up and down the floor, clearly worried.
“It’s a very special time, isn’t it John?” boomed Mr. Docherty excitedly.
“Congratulations John,” said Willie. “Just imagine, a third child to call your own. I guess I got to get busy having some of my own.”
“Thanks to you both,” said Papa, but his voice was clearly nervous. “I just can’t stand the waiting. There’s nothing worse than wanting to do something but not being able to do anything.”
“Sort of reminds me when my farm was taken away,” said Mr. Docherty.
“Aye, it does feel the same way. But at least the outcome from this will be grand. A new baby is always such a special thing. I just wish it was all over with though. Poor Fiona has had a tough time carrying.”
We all heard a faint scream off in the distance. Mama was going into labour. “Papa, I have to clean up and help.”
“Yes Molly, your mother wants you by her side. Be a good little girl and get moving as fast as you can.”
I didn’t have to be told twice. Luckily, there was a little hot water left in a pot close to the fire that I used to clean up a little. It only took a minute or two to splash some water on my face and clean my hands, but the smell of the mill was still all over me. As I left, I heard Mr. Docherty and Willie attempt to take Papa’s mind off the birth by talking about the meeting. I don’t think it was working.
As I walked back to our room, I heard a very loud scream. I opened the door and immediately made my way to my mother’s side. Taking her hand in mine, I could feel the strain in her body. Her hand, just like the rest of her, was covered in sweat. “Mama, I’m here,” I said quietly. “It’s going to be alright, just a little more and you’ll be finished.”
“Oh Molly,” Mama whispered, “I knew you would not be long in coming. It hurts…so much, but having you here dulls the pain a little.” Once again, Mama screamed. I had no idea how loud she was until I was right beside her.
“Molly,” said Mrs. Docherty, “keep taking that cloth to remove the sweat from your mother’s forehead. She’s burning up, and we need to keep her feeling as comfortable as possible.”
“Yes Mrs. Docherty,” I dutifully said.
It felt like I was sitting in that little room for hours. I cannot imagine what it must have felt like for my mother. She would appear to relax a little, almost fall asleep even, but then the pain would swell up inside her and come out in a scream that would make anyone run in the other direction. This went on for a long time. I kept holding on to her hand, but sometimes I had to let go because she was squeezing me so hard.
“It’s alright to let go,” Mrs. Docherty said quietly. “I know your work depends so much on your hands. There’s no need to get hurt because your mother is gripping you too hard.”
Finally, Mama appeared to be ready to give birth. Once the baby was in position, she pushed as hard as she could. Before long, Mama fell back on the bed more tired than I had ever seen her. A few seconds later, I heard a small cry.
“Oh, thank God,” said Mrs. Docherty. “It’s a boy, a beautiful baby boy. Oh Molly, you have a little brother. What a wonderful thing!”
I looked into his face, and it reminded me when I was five years old. Liam was born in our small cottage, and with us were the midwife and her young assistant. I was not allowed to stay inside while Mama gave birth. I had to stay with Papa outside until we were given permission to come in. When I saw Liam for the first time, I knew I was going to love him, and also look after him. The same is true for my new baby brother. I felt a little sad for him. He will never know what it was like to live in Argyll, to look out across the land and have it meet a beautiful blue sky. He will never feel the Highland wind on his face, wishing he could fly like the birds. He was born in the city.
“Molly,” said Mrs. Docherty quietly, “Go tell your Papa to come. Have him wait outside the door, and I will bring your little brother out.”
I went back to where the men were. When I opened the door, I found Liam and Angus fast asleep in the corner bed. Papa was stoking the fire by himself, deep within his own thoughts, while Mr. Docherty and Willie looked like they were making plans together for the future. “Come on Papa,” I said. “Come and meet your son.”
With tears in his eyes, Papa took me by the hand and led me back to the room where my brother was. He stood quietly by the door as I walked in. The baby had been wrapped tightly in a clean sheet, and Mama was sleeping quietly. She looked much better. “Papa is outside,” I said quietly. “Can he come in?”
“Everything is fine,” Mrs. Docherty replied. “Your mother is tired, and your new brother is asleep. It has been a hard night for both of them. Tell your father
to come in.”
When Papa came in, he took his son into his arms and looked at him for a long time. He was lost in thought. Maybe he was thinking about a name? Maybe he was thinking about the future, about what it would be like to raise three children in a place like this? Maybe he was just happy to have this child finally in his arms?
“Oh Molly,” Papa started, “Your brother is perfect. Your mother and I have decided on the name Calum. He looks so wonderful, just like you and Liam did when you were both born. Molly, I’m so happy, and yet I feel so sad. No little one should have to be raised in a place like this. A young baby needs open fields and a beautiful sky. Calum, I promise you this will not be your life. Say hello to your little brother Molly.”
Papa handed little Calum over to me. I tried to see if there was a family resemblance, but it was too early to tell such things. I wondered for his future, for the future of the whole Fraser family in New Lanark. Maybe Papa was seriously considering a change? Would we would be on that ship, bound for America and a new life? And what would Mama think? Surely it would be difficult to make the trip with a little baby? And yet, in my heart, Papa was right. This is not the place for us, not the place to have a child grow up. Just then, Calum gave out the tiniest of little yawns. He looked so sweet, and I knew at that moment, I would do anything for my little brother.
After holding on to him for a couple of minutes, Mrs. Docherty asked me to give Calum to mother. Mama took him in her arms, and she gave out a little sigh of contentment as the two of them settled down together to sleep. Everything seemed at peace now, but how long was it going to last?