A Plain and Simple Christmas

by Amy Clipston

  “Annie,” he whispered, pushing sweaty wisps of hair back from her face. “Just hold on to me. You’re going to be just fine. I promise. Do you want me to count like we did in class? One…Two…Three…Four…Five…”

  The pain stopped and she leaned back in the seat.

  Kellan kissed her hands and then grimaced. “This is all my fault. We should’ve stayed at the house and just ignored your father. At least then you would’ve delivered with your mom and Kathryn there to help you.”

  “Can we get back to the house?” she asked. “Maybe we can walk.”

  “No.” He shook his head and glanced out the window. “I’m afraid something will happen if we try to walk there. I know I can lift you, but I’m not certain I can carry you that far.”

  “Then I guess we have to stay here until someone comes by,” she said, her voice ragged with exhaustion from the pain. “Do you have that roadside safety kit? Can you put the flares out by the car? Maybe then someone would spot us and stop.”

  “That’s a great idea. I’ll be right back.” He rushed to the back of the vehicle. The trunk opened with a whoosh, and the vehicle rocked back and forth while he rummaged through it.

  After several minutes, the trunk slammed shut, and Kellan appeared by the door. “I set out the flares. Let’s pray someone comes by and helps us soon.”

  “I’m sure most people are not going to venture out into this blizzard,” she whispered. “But I pray someone comes by soon or this baby will be born here.”

  Kellan’s countenance became pale. His eyes then flashed with an idea. “I saw a barn over there.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the house. “We should move you there.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to go to a barn. I’d rather stay here. The seat is sort of comfortable.”

  “I think we need to move you.” He took her hand. “I’m worried that someone will come along and crash into our car. Let me get the first-aid kit from the trunk and then we’ll move you to the barn.”

  “But the flares,” she said. “Why would you set them up and then leave?”

  “They’ll alert them that we need help,” he said. “Someone will see the abandoned truck and know we need help. I can even leave a note.”

  He pulled a notepad from the glove compartment, and Anna Mae craned her neck to see what he was writing. He scribbled out a fast note, explaining that he had taken his pregnant wife to the barn nearby. He ended the note by asking them to call nine-one-one as soon as possible and get help. Folding the note, he wrote “HELP” across the front and placed it in the driver’s side window.

  He kissed her forehead. “Trust me, Annie. This will work. Don’t move. I’ll go get the first-aid kit and a blanket.”

  He disappeared for a moment and the trunk opened again. It then slammed shut, rocking the truck and causing the pain in her back to ignite. She sucked in a breath and rubbed her abdomen, praying that the discomfort would subside.

  He reappeared with the first-aid kit in his hands and a blanket slung over his shoulder. “Ready?” he asked.

  “I guess so.” She tried to move, but her legs buckled under her. “I need help getting up.”

  “Hold this.” He handed her the first-aid kit. He then reached down and lifted her into his arms, closing the door with his leg. She held onto him while he carried her through the whipping snow and wind. Closing her eyes, she buried her face in his neck. She held her breath and bit down on her lip when the pain swelled again through her back and abdomen.

  After several minutes, they reached the large red barn. Kellan gently placed her on her feet and then yanked the door open, grunting and groaning with the effort. They stepped into the large barn, and Anna Mae breathed in the aroma of wet hay and animals. Stables lined the wall, and a horse whinnied in the distance.

  “I think I know how Mary felt,” she muttered.

  Kellan gave a bark of laughter, his handsome face lighting up. He pulled her into his arms. “You are a trooper, Anna Mae.”

  “Thanks,” she said. She then glanced around the large, open space leading to the stalls. “I guess I should sit here.” She took the blanket from his shoulder and placed it on the floor.

  Slowly, she gingerly sat down, and the hay beneath the blanket gave her little cushion from the cold ground. She looked up at Kellan and opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden, gripping contraction tore through her, leaving her breathless. She rolled onto her side and gasped.

  “Annie!” Kellan dropped to his knees and rubbed her back. “Count with me. One, two, three, four, five—”

  “Oh,” she groaned, tears flowing down her cheeks as she hugged her arms to her chest. “I need my mother. Please, Kellan, go get her for me. I can’t do this alone.” She turned to him and pleaded with him. “Please, Kellan. Go get her before it’s too late. We’re not that far from home. You could be there in less than an hour.”

  Looking confused, he opened his mouth and then closed it again. “But I can’t leave you.” He took her hands in his and his eyes filled with uncertainty. “What if something happens and I’m not here? What if you need me?”

  She squeezed his hands. “If you hurry, I won’t be here alone. Besides, most women are in labor for hours and hours before they deliver, especially when it’s their first baby.” She pointed toward the door. “Go and hurry back.”

  He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. He then stared at her, his eyes full of intensity. “I’ll hurry back as quickly as I can.”

  “Thank you.” She gritted her teeth as another pang hit her and Kellan disappeared out the barn door. Closing her eyes, she prayed that she wouldn’t be forced to deliver her baby alone.

  Kathryn shivered while she ran through the swirling snowflakes to the phone shanty, which was located on the corner between her mother-in-law’s home and the neighboring farm. The shanty, which Mary Rose shared with her neighbor, was a small shed containing a phone, stool, and phonebook. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pulled out the phone number scribbled on the piece of paper. She lifted the receiver and punched in the number.

  Cradling the receiver between her neck and shoulder, she glanced back at David standing in the doorway. He rubbed his gloved hands together and shivered.

  Instead of a ring, a recorded voice sounded through the receiver, saying, “We’re sorry. The wireless customer you are trying to reach is not available.”

  “Oh no,” she groaned. “It sounds like Kellan’s phone isn’t on or it isn’t able to find a signal.”

  “Call the bed and breakfast,” David said. “See if they’ve arrived for their luggage.”

  “Good idea.” Kathryn quickly looked up the number in the phonebook. Sandra Sheppard answered and said no, she hadn’t seen Kellan or Anna Mae since they left.

  With a sigh, Kathryn replaced the receiver and glanced at David. “No sign of them at the bed and breakfast. If they haven’t arrived back there yet, then they’re probably in trouble. It’s been nearly an hour since they left.” She glanced past David toward the falling snow. “Hopefully they’ve stopped nearby.”

  David shook her head. “Katie, the snow is coming down like crazy and the roads are slick. We’re narrisch if we try to venture out too far from the house. We may not be able to get back.”

  “Please.” She tugged at his sleeve. “Let’s just go a few miles up the road toward the bed and breakfast and then we’ll head home. I just have to see if they need help. I can’t stop this feeling I have that we need to search for them.”

  He sighed, glancing toward the direction of the barn. “Let’s go hitch up the horse and buggy.”

  “Danki.” She rushed through the snow, holding onto his arm to avoid slipping on the slick snow on the way to the barn.

  Once the horse was hitched, she climbed in and covered her legs with a quilt.

  David sat beside her and guided the horse down the road. They headed up the long drive and out to the main road, driving in silence for more than twenty minutes
.

  Kathryn closed her eyes and prayed with all her might that God would lead Anna Mae and Kellan to safety.

  “What color is Kellan’s car?” David asked, breaking through her silent prayers.

  “I think it’s burgundy,” Kathryn said. She gasped, cupping her gloved hands to her mouth when her eyes found what had caught David’s attention. Flares lined an abandoned burgundy SUV that was nosed into a snowbank, snow covering the roof end and part of the hood.

  “Oh no,” she said. “Where are they, David? Where are Anna Mae and Kellan?”

  CHAPTER 13

  While trudging through the snow to the street, Kellan silently prayed Anna Mae and the baby would make it through this ordeal safely. He’d never in his wildest thoughts imagined that he would wind up in a blizzard with Anna Mae in labor. He wished he’d listened to his gut and convinced Anna Mae to stay home and not travel this late in her pregnancy.

  When he slipped down a snow-covered hump, he knew he’d hit the pavement. He tented his hand over his eyes in an attempt to shield himself from the raging snow. And then he saw it. A horse and buggy!

  He threw his hands in the air, waving frantically. The buggy pulled up next to him, and the door opened, revealing David. “Kellan!” David yelled.

  “Thank God you’re here!” Kellan climbed up the step.

  David leaned over. “Where’s Annie? Are you all right?”

  “We need your help,” Kellan gasped, trying to catch his breath. “Annie’s in labor.”

  “Oh no!” Kathryn pushed past David, her blue eyes full of worry. “Where is she?”

  Kellan pointed behind him. “I carried her to a barn because I was worried a passing vehicle might crash into us if we stayed in the SUV. I told her she’d be safer in the barn. I didn’t want to leave her there alone, but she begged me to get her mother. Her water broke, and the contractions are getting stronger.”

  Kathryn leaped from the buggy and grabbed Kellan’s arm. “Let’s go quickly. I’ll help her.”

  “Wait a minute.” David jumped from the buggy and clasped his hand around Kathryn’s arm, stopping her mid-gait. “Who’s that?” He nodded toward an oncoming buggy.

  Kathryn pulled from his grip. “You wait and see. I’m worried about Anna Mae.” She turned to Kellan. “Take me to her.”

  “All right.” Kellan extended his arm, and she took it. He then glanced back at David. “We’re going straight toward that red barn, just past that house.”

  David nodded. “I’ll come find you after I see who this is. The buggy looks like someone from our district.”

  Kellan then led Kathryn to the barn, where they found Anna Mae on her side, sobbing.

  “Anna Mae!” Kathryn rushed over to her and dropped to her knees. “How close are the contractions? Do you feel like you need to push?”

  The women continued their conversation in Pennsylvania Dutch, and Kellan turned toward the entrance to the barn. He stepped over to the door and leaned on the doorway. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he held it up, praying he’d find a bar. However, the phone still displayed: “No service.” Closing his eyes, he prayed, begging God to get Anna Mae and the baby through this safely.

  Approaching voices caused him to open his eyes. His mouth gaped when he found David flanked by Henry and Mary Rose.

  When Henry gave Kellan a worried expression, Kellan’s gut swelled with hope. Had Kellan gotten through to him? Had the man finally realized how badly he’d treated his youngest daughter?

  “How is she?” Mary Rose asked, worry glistening in her eyes.

  “I think she’s in labor,” Kellan said. “Kathryn’s with her.”

  Mary Rose ran toward the two women and joined in their conversation, barking orders in Pennsylvania Dutch.

  “Can we move her?” Henry asked.

  Kellan folded his arms across his chest and shivered. “I don’t know. I would like to get her out of this barn, but my fear is that I’ll do something to hurt her and the baby.”

  “I think it would be wise to take her to the house,” Henry said to David.

  David nodded. “At least then it would be warm and sanitary.” He looked at Kellan. “We can take her in the buggy and come back for the car when the snow lets up.”

  “Ya, I agree,” Henry said. “I’ll go see what Mary Rose thinks. We may have to get her out of here fast.” He moved past Kellan and joined the women.

  “How did he know to come here?” Kellan asked David.

  David shook his head with confusion. “I’m not sure. He said my mamm was really worried about Anna Mae and insisted he go look for her.” He grinned. “I don’t know what you said to him at the house, but I get the feeling that you may have gotten his attention.”

  Kellan nodded. “Good. Maybe we’re on the road to an apology.”

  “Don’t get too excited yet. He’s a stubborn old man.”

  “We need to move her now,” Henry called, motioning for them to move over to Anna Mae.

  “I’ll carry her,” Kellan said, rushing over. “I carried her in here.” He turned to Kathryn. “Is she close?”

  “I think so.” She nodded with emphasis. “It may be soon, like within the next hour. We’re only twenty minutes from home. I think we need to try to get her back.”

  “Let’s go now.” Kellan lifted her up. “It’ll be all right, Annie,” he whispered in her ear. “We’re going to take good care of you.”

  She bit down on her lip and nodded, her eyes full of worry and pain.

  Mary Rose looked at David. “Take your buggy and go get Vera, Fannie, and Barbie. Ask them to come to the house to help. I need them to help Kathryn and me.”

  “I will,” David said, nodding.

  “Hurry!” Mary Rose called after him.

  David and Kathryn rushed off to their buggy, and Kellan carried Anna Mae out to Henry’s buggy and placed her in the back seat. He rode with her, holding her hand and talking to her, while Henry steered the buggy back to his house.

  During the ride, the snow continued to blow, pelting the buggy windshield. The roads were slick, and Kellan worried that emergency crews wouldn’t be able to make it out to the house to help Anna Mae.

  When they arrived at Mary Rose’s house, Kellan carried Anna Mae into Mary Rose’s bedroom and placed her on the bed. He kissed her cheek while she clenched her jaw and moaned in pain. He held her hand and brushed her hair back from her face while whispering words of encouragement and love.

  Mary Rose entered the room holding several towels. “Your sisters should be here soon,” she said, placing the towels on a chair near the bed. “It shouldn’t take long to get down the road to their homes. I’m so thankful they live close by.” She stood across from Kellan and gave him a hopeful smile. “She’ll be just fine.”

  He nodded, hoping she was right. He continued to hold Anna Mae’s hand while Mary Rose rubbed Anna Mae’s lower back and muttered words in Pennsylvania Dutch.

  Nearly thirty minutes later, Anna Mae’s three sisters and Kathryn burst into the room. The sisters gathered around Anna Mae and hugged her, speaking words he couldn’t interpret. Speechless, Kellan watched the scene with his eyes wide, wondering what had moved Fannie and Barbie to finally accept Anna Mae. Was it a miracle?

  The women then seemed to call out instructions, because Amanda, her sisters, and cousins rushed through the house, bringing supplies to the bedroom, including pitchers of water, towels, and quilts.

  While the women tended to Anna Mae, Kellan moved to the enclosed porch. Sitting in a chair, he clasped his hands, bowed his head, closed his eyes, sending up a fervent prayer for Anna Mae and their baby, begging God to keep them healthy and safe during the delivery. He then opened his eyes and held up his phone. When two bars appeared, he shouted for joy.

  “Is that phone contraption working?” a voice behind him asked.

  Turning, he found Henry standing in the doorway.

  “Yes, it’s finally picking up a signal,” Kellan said. “I couldn’t ge
t it to work earlier when we were on the road and Annie took a turn for the worse.”

  Henry stepped onto the porch. “David told me that. I have to commend you on how you took care of Anna Mae while you were stuck in the snow. Putting out flares and taking her to the barn was very wise.”

  “Thanks,” Kellan said with surprise. “I never expected a compliment from you. It means a lot.”

  Henry pointed toward the phone. “Are you going to call for help? It sounds like Anna Mae is going to deliver that boppli soon, and we’ll have to get her to a hospital to be sure she and the boppli are okay.”

  “Yes, I’ll call right now.” Kellan dialed nine-one-one and explained to the dispatcher that his wife was in labor and needed help right away. When she asked for an address, Kellan gave Henry a blank expression. “I’m sorry, but I can’t remember the address here.”

  Henry held out his hand. “I’ll take care of it.” Taking the phone, he explained the address and even gave detailed directions. He told the dispatcher that it was a dire emergency and to send help as soon as possible. He snapped the phone shut and handed it to Kellan. “She said it may take awhile due to the storm.”

  Kellan slipped the phone back into his coat pocket. “Yeah, she told me that too.”

  “Don’t worry.” Henry patted his shoulder. “My Mary Rose has delivered many bopplin over the years. My other daughters are experienced as well, and I’m certain they can handle it. Anna Mae is in very good hands and the Lord is good. After all, tomorrow is Christmas Day.”

  Stunned by Henry’s sudden compassion, Kellan nodded.

  “The Lord will take care of Anna Mae and her boppli.” Henry sank into a chair. “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. I’m certain everything will be just fine. Would you like to sit with me while we wait for news of your boppli?”