“Gracie just thinks it’s a boy,” Cain said quickly. He stood. “Please tell Annalise I hope she feels better soon. Vito, are you ready, my friend?”
After Cain and her brother left, Destiny followed Grace to visit Annalise. She was, as Gracie had mentioned, very pregnant.
“How far along is she?” Destiny had whispered to Cain’s sister.
“Seven months.”
“Surely she can’t be ready to give birth yet. That’s too early.”
Gracie patted her arm reassuringly. “Amish women are stronger than English.”
Although Destiny didn’t doubt it, she still worried that if the woman gave birth at this point, the baby would face many challenges. Seven months was quite premature. However, Destiny did have to note that by the way Anna carried, she appeared more like a woman two weeks past her due date.
She grew excited for the new mom. Annalise was a lovely woman. She was much more laid-back than the other women she had seen. It was almost as if she had been exposed to the modern world more than the rest of the Amish.
She didn’t have that Pennsylvania Dutch lilt to her voice. Her hair was down and uncovered. She cursed twice while they were visiting, and if Destiny wasn’t mistaken, she had noticed small holes on the lobes of Anna’s ears as if they had been pierced at one time. The most peculiar thing about Amish Anna, however, was when she was pouring their drinks, she had started humming and Destiny could swear it had been an Aerosmith tune she was replicating.
When they had left Gracie walked her to the barn. It was a lot nicer when in her mind. She’d imagined some sweet little image that resembled Charlotte’s Web, with her and Gracie wearing clogs and aprons as if they were marching out on a stage during a Christmas show for the line “eight maids a-milking.” In reality the animals were loud, there were flies regardless of the cold, and everything smelled like shit.
“The first thing we do,” Gracie said after she moved the cow up to a trough filled with hay and feed and sat on a stool, placing a bucket under the cow’s pink udders, “is wash the udders. This is just gentle baby soap.”
Destiny watched as Grace cleaned off the underbelly of the cow. She scrunched her nose and hunched her shoulders. Looking at that part of a cow up close made her nipples hurt.
Once the cow’s udders were all clean, Gracie moved the bucket of soapy water away and replaced it with a clean, empty metal pail. “And then you just pull,” she said as she demonstrated.
A fast whiz of milk came shooting into the pail, echoing inside the metal container. With each tug another stream shot into the bucket and soon it was almost full. The milk was warm and slightly steamed in the cool air of the barn.
“Want to try?”
Destiny hesitated. Cows seemed much larger when one was standing right beside them. “Um…I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
Gracie nodded. When the bucket was full she placed a quart-sized container on the ground and poured some of the thick, creamy milk inside. She screwed on a big red nipple and led Destiny to another small pen. As soon as Destiny spotted the little calf, she smiled and crooned at the sweet baby.
“She’s been milking from the bottle for almost two weeks now, so when she sees it she knows it’s food time. Are you ready? Hold on to the bottle tight.”
Gracie opened the pen and the soft little calf came trotting right over to Destiny. She held the bottle out and it latched on immediately. She wasn’t prepared for how hard the little thing would suck and almost dropped the bottle. The calf tugged for all of three minutes, and then the bottle was empty.
“You’re a little piggy,” she teased as it pulled at the nipple insistently hoping for more.
“They all are at that age,” Gracie laughed as she corralled the cute little brown calf back into the pen. “Come on, let’s fill a basket with eggs and then I’ll show you how to make Shoo Fly Pie.”
Chapter 18
Cain had enjoyed a hard day’s work more than he had in quite some time. Vito had proved to be good company and a hard worker. Cain found it amusing, watching the man try to become acquainted with the primitive ax. He made sure to mention quite a few times how the English had tools and choppers to do such jobs in half the time, but Cain just kept reminding him that some good hard work never hurt anybody.
He was actually grateful he brought Vito along. Halfway through cutting out the stump Cain had started getting odd twinges of aches in his back. He fed that morning when Gracie had chased him out to the barn and must have drunk from an animal that wasn’t quite healthy. Immortals rarely felt ill, but if they fed from an unhealthy source it could really affect them sometimes. He rubbed his back through his discomfort and kept his complaints to himself.
They had finished the job around four o’clock that afternoon. Vito had worked up a good sweat, and Cain had enjoyed the early spring weather. February was finally over, and he would be glad to see this long winter end.
They walked back, and Cain kept a leisurely pace so that Vito could enjoy the sights. Cain’s mind returned to Destiny more than a few times that day. He couldn’t wait to get back to her. It struck him as odd that he was very eager to hear about her day and how hopeful he was that she had enjoyed her first full day on the farm.
Destiny was a modern woman, but there was something about her, something in the way her expression became enchanted when she noticed something new, that told Cain she would be up for playing at Amish life for a day or two.
Cain brushed the back of his wrist over his brow as it beaded with perspiration. “Hot today,” he commented.
Vito shrugged. “It’s a little chilly if you ask me.”
They walked on, and Cain had the sudden urge to stop for a moment. He puffed out his cheeks and let out a gusty breath. Perhaps it was the piece of sausage he had at breakfast. Leave it to Gracie to still be upset with him and try to poison him for the day. He grunted and slightly stumbled.
“Whoa, you okay, man? You want some of this water? Maybe you overdid it.”
Vito held out the canteen, and Cain ignored him. Overdid it. Ha. He had just drank some bad blood or eaten a spoiled piece of meat. His vision blurred, and his heart suddenly started to race regardless of the easy pace they kept.
Cain shook his head and licked his dry lips. When he ran a hand over his head, it was damp with sweat. He would make Gracie pay if she had done this to him.
He stopped for a moment, needing to catch his breath. He spread his knees and lowered his head. Bracing his palms on his bent knees, he focused on the ground as he concentrated on breathing through the pain pressing low into his back.
He blinked as rivulets of salty sweat trickled into his eyes. This was unfershtendich. He had never felt like this before in his life. There was a terrible pressure in his lower back, and his legs were incredibly weak. His arms trembled. He looked up and squinted. They were almost home. Vito looked concerned as if he were contemplating finding help or not.
Cain turned to tell the man he was fine when a sudden shock of pain ran up his spine and took hold of him. He screamed as he had never screamed before. His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees.
“Holy fuck! Are you okay?” Vito said, kneeling down beside him.
Cain’s fingers dug into the dry earth like claws. His fangs punched through his gums as another wave of pain shook him to his core. Vito placed a hand on his back, and Cain turned and growled at him, “Don’t touch me!” The man immediately removed his hand.
Cain’s breath bellowed in and out of his lungs as he panted through his clenched teeth. Was he dying? No ill blood or tainted meat could cause this much pain. He tried to sit up, but only managed to fall to his side on the ground. Sweat had drenched his clothing, and Vito looked like as though he was vicariously feeling Cain’s pain.
The man bounced nervously from one foot to the other, mumbling to himself, asking what he should do. Cain curled into a ball on the ground and gripped his stomach. He tried to crawl and rootsh toward his house, but only made
it about a foot before a pain greater than anything he had felt thus far took hold of him. A blood-curdling scream ripped from his lungs. Surely someone would hear him and come to his aid.
Vito was again on the ground. He tentatively placed a hand on Cain’s tense brow and poured a splash of cool water over his hair. He didn’t want to be touched, yet at the same time the physical comfort felt nice.
“That’s it, man, just breathe through the pain,” the other man said, placing Cain’s head on his thigh and patting him awkwardly.
The pain subsided for a few moments, and Cain opened his eyes. He was suddenly exhausted. There could be no more. Vito looked frantic as he watched the houses in the distance, no doubt hoping someone would come help them.
“Do you think if I carried you back to the house you would be okay?”
There was no way in hell Cain was letting another man carry him because of a stomachache. He shook his head.
“Should I go get help? You don’t look good. Do you have some kind of illness I don’t know about? Has anything like this ever happened before?”
Why was he asking so many questions? He sounded like his sister. His voice grated on him.
“Stop. Talking.” Cain clenched his teeth. He breathed quickly in and out of his nose as the pressure inside of him built once again. “No,” he groaned, turning his face away from the other man.
This time when the pain came it didn’t stop. It built and built, and Cain’s breath labored through him like a hurricane. “Breathe, breathe!” Vito encouraged. “It will all be over soon. Just breathe through it.”
The wind kicked up, and heavy black clouds rolled in, putting an end to the nice day they had been having. Thunder cracked like a whip in the distance as lightning lashed through the sky, mimicking the hurricane assaulting his gut. Cain became the pain, heavy and hot, all consuming.
The heavens opened, and rain poured down. Vito cradled his head in his lap, obviously terrified for whatever fate awaited him. The storm above raged on as the storm churning in his blood swirled angrily. Squalls ripped over the hills from the north, and laundry tore from lines like forgotten scraps of paper tearing through the sky.
“Shit, man, do you guys get tornadoes out this far?”
Cain couldn’t answer. The pressure filling his loins was ungodly. His heels dug into the earth as his hands fisted to his sides. He shouted through his teeth at the pain and screwed his eyes closed tight, knowing they were fully dilated by now.
He was dying. There was no doubt in his mind at this point that no man, immortal or not, could live through this sort of pain. His only regret was that he wanted to kiss Destiny one last time.
Like a hot blade cauterizing a limb, something burned through him with such fierceness, he was certain it was the devil himself. And then, as if a part of him had suddenly been ripped away, all the pain left.
The storm eased, and the downpour turned to only a light drizzle cooling his skin. The fields had become freckled with pools of mud and the black clouds retreated back into the heavens.
Cain breathed. He was alive. The sudden shock of what he had just suffered slammed into him, and for the first time in his adult life, he found himself fighting back tears. What the hell was wrong with him? His body shook, and Vito patted him, offering unconvincing words of admiration and encouragement.
“See, man, whatever it was, it’s over now.” He looked just as terrified as Cain had felt. He kept mumbling, as if the horror of what he had just witnessed made it impossible for him to hold his tongue. “I don’t know what the fuck you just went through, but I never saw anything like that in my life. Dude, you were in some pain. Never heard a man scream like that before. Don’t ever want to hear a man scream like that again. You just rest here as long as you need. Someone will come.” He kept repeating the promise. “Someone will come.”
Chapter 19
The baby squawked out a cry, and shivers of joy ran through Destiny’s body. What a miracle! Never in her life had she seen anything so miraculous.
Anna had done wonderfully. They returned a short while ago to drop off soup, as Adam’s wife hadn’t been feeling well. Just as they were ready to leave, Anna had made a peculiar face, and then there was a trickling sound upon the floor. Gracie had cheered that the baby was coming and led Anna to a bed. She quickly instructed Destiny to go and get Adam.
“I don’t know what Adam looks like,” Destiny said, panicked by all the excitement.
“He looks exactly like Cain, but smarter!” Gracie said quickly. “He will be in the barn. Go and find him.”
Destiny lifted up her skirt and ran to the barn. She skidded to a stop in the wide doorway and a man, looking just like Cain stared at her with confusion.
“Adam?” she panted, and the man nodded. “Anna…the baby…your wife’s having the baby…” He had left the barn so fast she didn’t see him again until she returned to the house.
Destiny was so moved by the way Cain’s twin held his wife and encouraged her through each contraction. No matter how impolitely Annalise spoke to her husband, he never lost his patience.
“Son of a bitch!” the woman cursed as a big contraction took hold of her.
“Language, ainsicht. Our son doesn’t need to enter this world hearing such things.”
“Shut the fuck up, Adam. Until you have a human being coming out of your dick, you will keep your opinions to yourself. If I can’t have an epidural or drugs, then I’m allowed to say whatever the hell I want.”
“I can see his head!” Gracie called from the foot of the bed.
Anna breathed through another contraction. Although she cursed, she had remained pretty calm and breathed through most of the pain with little complaint. She never shouted or even raised her voice through the entire ordeal except for the moments when she chewed her husband a new one.
Destiny admired her strength and thought it was an amazing thing that some considered women the weaker sex, yet they were the ones who created life.
When the baby was finally delivered, mother and father embraced as Gracie cleaned up the small bit of life. He was in fact a boy as they’d all assumed he would be. Destiny observed, immobile and speechless, as Gracie placed the newborn into the mother’s arms.
Anna appeared to be in no pain at all once the baby was delivered. Her color was already returning and, although she trembled slightly, Destiny believed it was more from emotion than pain.
Anna looked down into the face of the swaddled child. Although the baby was premature, he was actually quite large for a newborn. She smiled as the husband and wife pressed their heads together and stared lovingly into the eyes of their new baby boy.
“I will have to tell the bishop a name for the records. Do you have one?” Gracie asked.
Anna’s eyes glistened as her mouth curved. “Cain Paul Hartzler.”
Gracie obviously flinched. “Are you sure? Adam?”
Adam sighed and looked at his wife lovingly. “Are you sure, ainsicht? He will bear that name for a very long time.”
“I’m sure,” Anna said. “Cain has sacrificed a lot for us. He’s a good man.”
Adam nodded and then looked at her apprehensively. “And Paul?”
She smiled as she cooed at her son. “Everyone thinks that John was the cutest Beatle, but really it was Paul. A son as handsome as ours needs a name deserving of such.”
Destiny frowned. How the hell did an Amish chick know who the Beatles were? The two became lost in their own world and Destiny wanted to stay and watch them in their happiness, but Gracie gently took her hand and led them out of the room, allowing the family their privacy.
“I must run to the safe house and inform the bishop that The Order has a new member. Why don’t you head home and I’ll meet you there. Cain and your brother should be back by now.”
Destiny nodded and slowly walked back to the house. She smiled the entire time. She looked around at the wet ground. It must have rained while Anna was in labor. She had been so preoccupied wa
tching the miracle of life take place right before her eyes, she hadn’t even noticed.
She entered the house wearing a grin and feeling as if she had witnessed something beautiful and priceless. Her brother, looking a little ragged from his day working on the farm scowled at her and snapped, “Where the hell have you been?”
Chapter 20
“Why are you shouting? I was over at Annalise and Adam’s. She had the baby, Vito, and I saw the whole thing!”
“Well, that’s just great. Where’s Gracie? Cain’s sick.”
Destiny’s joy slipped away. “What do you mean sick?”
“I mean sick. Really sick. I thought he was having seizure or some kind of heart attack. I never saw a man in so much pain. I don’t know what the fuck these people do for doctors around here, but I’m pretty sure he needs one.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s in his room sleeping—”
Destiny ran to Cain’s room, concern making it difficult to breathe. She took a deep breath and quietly entered the room. The curtains had been drawn, and he lay sleeping on top of the covers. His clothing was damp and musty smelling, and his face was creased with tension.
She quietly stepped over to the bed and sat down gently by his side. She touched his forehead. No fever. “Cain?”
He groaned, but didn’t open his eyes. “Destiny?”
“I’m here. Are you okay?”
He gave a tight nod. “She’s gone.”
“Who?”
“Anna. I can’t feel her anymore.”
Destiny tipped her head in confusion. She brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. “Anna’s fine, Cain. She had the baby. It was a boy, just like Gracie thought. They named him after you.”
Cain smiled, but his eyes remained closed. “He shall be a devil for them then, just as his namesake is. Foolish girl. She should have named him after his father.”
Destiny thought the same thing, but kept her opinion to herself. She didn’t understand the bond between Anna and Cain, only that there was definitely something there and for some reason there was tension as well between the three of them. “Cain?”
Destiny Calls Page 17