Mail Order Midwife (Brides of Beckham Book 18)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “You too!”

  “Would you and your family like to come over for supper tonight? It’s the least I can do after you helped my daughter.”

  Patsy looked over at Wesley, who shrugged at her, as if to indicate he didn’t care one way or the other. “You don’t need to do that, but it would be nice to meet other people in town. I feel isolated, being the newcomer.”

  “Dr. Hardy knows the way. And our children could play baseball together.”

  Patsy sighed. Sunday was the only day she forced her daughter to stay dressed nicely all day, but she could make an exception. “I’ll make sure she comes in her play clothes.”

  “That’s probably best. She wouldn’t want to rip her nice dress with the sweet little ruffles.”

  As soon as the words were out of the Mrs. Smith’s mouth, Patsy reached down to put her hand over Emily’s mouth, but she just didn’t make it on time.

  “Frilly dresses are made of fairy puke.”

  Patsy closed her eyes, wishing the earth would open up and swallow her.

  Wesley looked down at his step-daughter. “Watch your language!”

  Emily gave a long-suffering sigh. “I’m supposed to say fairy vomit, although I don’t know why vomit sounds better than puke when they’re the same exact thing.”

  For a moment, Mrs. Smith bit her lip, trying her best not to laugh, but the moment got the better of her, and she laughed so loud others in the church turned to see what was so funny. She looked at Patsy. “This child is an absolute gem. Don’t let her change.”

  Patsy shook her head. “I just wish she’d curb her tongue a little.”

  “You’ll look back on these moments with laughter. Trust me on this. I know they’re hard now, but eventually, you’ll feel like they were as normal as could be.”

  “They are very normal for me. Emily keeps me on my toes.”

  “That’s her job. I’ll go find my seat. We’ll have supper about five-thirty if that’s convenient for you.”

  Patsy nodded. “Very convenient. Thank you so much for the invitation.” She looked at Wesley. “Are you trying to figure out how you can lock Emily and me away until she learns some manners?”

  He slowly shook his head, staring into her eyes. “I’m wondering how I got so lucky.”

  After the service was over, Patsy made an effort to talk to each of her patients to spread the word that she’d be seeing them in the afternoons at the doctor’s office. It would be so much easier for her to get her chores done in the mornings, and have her afternoons free to see whomever needed to be seen.

  As she spoke to one of her patients, she noticed another young woman listening in. “So if I think I’m expecting, it’s best to come to town in the afternoon to see you?”

  Patsy nodded. “Unless you want to see the doctor. Dr. Hardy will still be delivering babies.”

  The other young woman nodded. “I think I’d prefer to see a female.”

  “That’s what I keep hearing,” Patsy said with a smile. “If I worry that anyone is going to have trouble delivering, I’m going to insist they see the doctor. He can treat more difficult cases than I can.”

  Both of the ladies nodded. “But for a normal delivery, we can see you, right?”

  “Absolutely.” Patsy still clung to her daughter’s hand, not wanting her to ruin her one good dress. She needed to find someone to make another one, because she wasn’t going to do it, and the dress was already getting too short.

  As they left the church and walked back toward their home, Patsy looked over at Wesley. “That didn’t go nearly as badly as I worried it would.”

  He looked at her, a confused look on his face. “What were you worried about?”

  “Oh, I was sure Emily would find some way to sneak a small animal into church, let it go and run amok chasing it, and then find a mud puddle when she went outside to let the animal free, and of course that she would announce at the top of her lungs, during the service, that frilly dresses are fairy puke.”

  Emily shook her head at her mother. “I haven’t done that since I was six!”

  Wesley choked back a laugh, understanding better than ever why his wife chose which battles to fight with the girl. Emily was headstrong and liked to do things her own way. He wasn’t so sure it had anything to do with how little time Patsy had spent with her when she was younger, though. He was relatively certain Emily would have been bull-headed regardless.

  When they got home, Emily and Patsy put on aprons and finished making lunch. Emily set the table while Patsy made gravy. When Emily came to call him for the meal she looked like a little lady—a little lady who was downright miserable.

  As they ate, Wesley watched his new daughter, realizing that when she wore her Sunday clothes, she was better-mannered but also despondent. “Why so gloomy, Emily?”

  Emily sighed. “I hate Sundays. I have to look and act like a lady all day.”

  Patsy shook her head at her daughter. “It doesn’t hurt you to behave properly one day out of the week! Besides, you get to change into your play clothes before we go to dinner tonight. Mrs. Smith said you should play baseball with her son.”

  Emily’s face lit up. “Can we leave for supper right after lunch?”

  Wesley choked back a laugh, taking a drink of his milk to cover it.

  “No, we can’t. It’s rude to show up four hours early for a meal. After lunch, we’ll do the dishes together,” Patsy told her.

  “Oh, wonderful. Maybe then we can make stupid flowers out of embroidery thread. There’s nothing I’d like more.” Emily frowned down at her plate.

  “Since you asked so sarcastically, yes, that’s exactly how we’ll spend our afternoon. Maybe I’ll even teach you to make a dress!”

  “I’m sorry I was rude and sarcastic, Mama. Please don’t make me sew! Could we read a book together instead? I’d love to hear you read more of Little Women. I want to be like Jo when I grow up!”

  Patsy sighed. “I know you do, sweetheart. I know.”

  Wesley looked at Patsy. “I’ve not had the pleasure of reading Little Women. I take it Joe is one of the characters. Is he a good man? Plays baseball maybe?”

  “Jo is one of the March sisters, and she is a tomboy in every way. She embarrasses her older sister constantly with her hoydenish ways.” Patsy looked over at Emily and winked. “So of course my daughter wants to be just like her.”

  Wesley grinned. “I think you should read a bit more of Little Women this afternoon. I’d love to hear some of it.”

  Patsy could tell she’d been outvoted. “We’ll read Little Women then. How long will it take us to get to the Smith’s?”

  “About forty-five minutes. They’re a ways out in the country.”

  “So we’ll need to leave around quarter ‘til five. That works.” After she’d finished her meal, Patsy began to clear the table, noticing that Emily was staring at Wesley. “What’s that look about, Emily?”

  “I’m just glad that my new daddy doesn’t mind that I don’t like to embroider.”

  Wesley frowned at her. “I still think you should know how, whether you like it or not. You need to learn to do things that will help you in life, but I think it’s fine if you don’t do those things all the time.”

  “So I can embroider until it’s time to play, and then I can play in the mud?”

  He closed his eyes with a sigh. “Why do you like mud so much?”

  She shrugged. “It’s gooey and fun to squish between my fingers. And grown-ups always get so shocked when I’m covered in it.”

  He choked back a laugh. “Well, I can see where that would be an advantage.”

  Chapter Eight

  Wesley was surprised at how much he enjoyed Patsy’s reading of Little Women. When there was a knock on the door after the first chapter, he was disappointed as he got up to go and see who was there, disturbing his first full day off with his family.

  When he opened the door to one of his male patients, he smiled. “Can I help you, Mr. Abbot?”<
br />
  The man shook his head. “My wife is in labor. She wants your wife.”

  Wesley didn’t let himself feel hurt. It was crazy how many of the women preferred his wife when she’d only delivered one baby since she got to town. “Yes, of course.”

  Patsy had heard the conversation. “Let me just get my bag, and I’ll be with you, Mr. Abbot.” She ran to the bedroom she’d had when she first came to town and grabbed her bag, along with her long apron she wore for deliveries. She hurried back to the parlor, hugging Emily. “You obey your father.”

  Emily nodded. “Yes, Mama. I’ll try.”

  “Don’t try. Do it.” Patsy kissed her forehead and hurried to the back door. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Wesley frowned. “Of course. If you have troubles, send for me.”

  “You know I will.” She looked at Mr. Abbot. “Have I met your wife yet?”

  Mr. Abbot shook his head as he led her to his wagon, giving her a hand up. “No, ma’am. She was planning on talking to you at church this morning, but she woke up feeling poorly, so she sent me on ahead with the children.” He picked up the leads and started driving.

  “How many children do you have?”

  “This will be our fifth,” he said with a grin. “Anna is a real trooper with that many little ones.”

  Patsy smiled at that. “I wish I’d had a chance to meet her before today, but I’ll do my best by her regardless.”

  “We’ve heard a lot about you already, and she’s convinced you’re the only person who can do a good job delivering this baby.”

  “Who delivered your other children?”

  “Dr. Hardy is the only person who’s delivered a child around these parts for the past six years,” he responded. “I don’t know why everyone thinks you should do all the birthing now, but every woman in town has that in her head.” He pulled the wagon into a yard, where she could see several children playing. She was happy to see that the oldest was a girl, who looked to be about ten. Mrs. Abbot would have the help she needed after the baby was born.

  She scrambled down from her side of the wagon, rushing toward the house. She looked at the oldest daughter. “I’m Mrs. Hardy, and I’m here to help your mama. Can you take your brothers and sister away from the house to play?”

  The girl nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I’d be happy to.” She took the hands of the two youngest and led them toward the woods.

  Patsy opened the door and went inside, finding Mrs. Abbot boiling water. “Hello, I’m Patsy Hardy.”

  Anna Abbot turned from the stove. “I’m so glad you’ve come to town, Mrs. Hardy. All of the women are thrilled to have you here.”

  Patsy smiled. “I’m happy to help any woman here as long as her delivery isn’t difficult. If it’s difficult, we’ll call in my husband.”

  “Of course. I’d expect nothing less.” Mrs. Abbot seemed to be around her age, and she had a tireless attitude about her that Patsy loved to see in laboring women. Usually it meant they were going to do everything just right.

  “Do you mind if I check how you’re progressing?”

  “Of course. Let me just move the pot to the middle of the stove.” After she’d done so, she went to her bed, which she’d already prepared for the birth with a thick layer of old newspapers and cotton batting. “I usually go pretty quick once the contractions start.”

  “Women labor faster and faster as they have more babies,” Patsy said with a smile. “The experience is never pleasant, but at least it’s not as bad as it is the first time.” She continued to speak softly to the other woman as she examined her. “Oh, you’re much further along than I would have guessed. We’ll have a baby in no time.”

  “Do you mind if I keep moving? It takes my mind off the pains.”

  “Of course not. Maybe I can help you. Is there anything in particular you’d like to get done before the baby is here?”

  “I’d love to get the laundry done, but there’s no time for that,” Anna replied, patting the side of her belly. “The pains are only a couple of minutes apart.”

  Patsy would have preferred the woman stay in her bed at that point, but she wasn’t going to insist. She believed that laboring women knew what their bodies needed, and she rarely interfered more than absolutely necessary. “No, we probably don’t have time for laundry then.” She glanced over and noticed the sink was full of their lunch dishes. “Would you like me to wash the dishes while we wait?”

  “Would you? I’ll dry them and put them away.”

  “That sounds like a good idea to me.” Patsy had learned long ago not to waste the time she had while women were in labor. If they didn’t need her beside them, so they could hold her hand, then she would do whatever cleaning she could find to do. Why not? It would make the day go by faster for everyone, and the mother would have less to do once the baby arrived.

  She took the hot water and poured it into the sink, immediately pumping more water into the pot and putting it back on the stove to boil again. After adding just a bit of cold water, so she could stand the heat, she began washing the dishes. “Tell me about your children? Your oldest is a girl, right? I had her take the others into the woods to play.”

  “That will make it easier. I always hate when I feel like I have to be quiet through a birth.” Anna gripped the edge of the sink for a moment, before she responded to the question. “My oldest is Samantha. Sam wanted a boy something fierce, and when it was a girl, he named her after himself anyway. Then there’s Andrew, and then Steven, and the baby is Josie.”

  “How about this one? Do you want a boy or a girl?”

  “Oh, since we already have two of each, I really don’t care either way. Another girl would be nice so I could have some help around the house, but Sam could use the boys for help on the farm.”

  That’s when Patsy knew what she could talk to this woman about. “My daughter would be out there on the farm, begging to be allowed to help plow and do all the toughest chores.”

  Anna glanced at her with a smirk. “I heard she hit Joshua Smith in the head with a baseball when he said girls couldn’t play ball.”

  Patsy laughed. “And that’s how I’m introduced to my new home. I’m the mother of the girl who hits the boys in the head with baseballs.”

  Anna laughed softly. “I heard none of the boys can hit her fastball either.” She took a plate from Patsy and dried it, before putting it in the cabinet. “My girls aren’t like that at all. They wouldn’t be caught dead with a baseball.”

  “And my Emily doesn’t think her day is complete unless she’s struck out at least three unsuspecting boys. Back home my nephews would talk other boys into playing, saying that their little seven-year-old girl cousin thought she could pitch, but they all knew she couldn’t. They asked them to go easy on her.”

  Anna smiled. “I bet that was fun when she threw out the first ball.”

  “Oh yes. My sister had to punish them for playing for money, because that was really unfair with as good as Emily is. The preacher even preached a sermon about using your cousins to extort money from strangers.”

  They finished the dishes, and as they did, Patsy noticed that the contractions were getting awfully close together. “I think it’s time for you to lie down.”

  Anna nodded. “Thank you for helping me get the dishes done up. I know Samantha would have done them, but she’s going to be doing enough helping me with her younger siblings for the next few days.”

  Anna stopped on her way to the bed, gripping Patsy’s arm. After a moment, she resumed her slow walk. “I got bigger with this baby, and I know it’s just that I’m older, but my husband is worried about twins.”

  “Are you full term? Or is the baby coming early?” Patsy wanted to kick herself for not listening to the heartbeat right away.

  “I’m full term.”

  “Most twins come early, so I’ll be surprised if it’s twins, but I’ve delivered four sets, so I’m well aware of how to handle it.”

  As soon as the other
woman was lying down, Patsy got her stethoscope out and listened. “Well, lookie there. I think Mr. Abbot might be right. We have two heartbeats.”

  Anna shook her head. “What am I going to do with twins?”

  “I guess we’ll find out in a short while, won’t we?”

  *****

  An hour later, Patsy was on her way back to town. She refused the ride and decided a walk would be nice. Mr. Abbot told her it was only about twenty minutes to town, and she could do that easily.

  She opened the back door and went into the parlor, surprised by what she saw. Emily was sprawled on her stomach on the floor, and Wesley was reading to her from Little Women. “Did you two enjoy your time together?”

  Wesley paused in his reading, smiling at her. “How’s Mrs. Abbot?” He was surprised at how calm he’d felt about letting her go deliver that baby. It had been nice to actually be able to stay home and not run off for the delivery.

  “She’s fine, and so are both of the babies.”

  His eyes grew wide. “Twins?”

  “Yes, she told me her husband had been joking with her it must be twins because of her size, but she told me right before she started pushing.” She shook her head. “I’d probably have sent for you.”

  “Have you delivered twins before?” he asked.

  “This was my fifth set of twins. They were both girls, and they’re beautiful. Mother and babies are fine.”

  He frowned. “I don’t know how much help I’d have been. I’ve never delivered twins.” He was starting to realize that she really was more of an expert on helping a woman give birth than he was. He wasn’t sure he’d say it aloud yet, but it was true. She really did seem to be good at it.

  Patsy smiled. “Well, there were no complications, so it wasn’t a problem.” She glanced at the clock on the mantle. “We need to leave to head to the Smiths in about twenty minutes. Emily, you may go change into a play dress, and I’ll braid your hair.”