“The hospital is fine with me. I really hope your mother is there,” she said.
“You couldn’t keep her away with the Cavalry,” Patrick laughed. “Her first grandbaby… She’ll be there.”
Morning sickness came almost daily to Mary Louise for three weeks.
Since she was in school, Emily had not witnessed the sickness until Saturday. Alarmed when she saw her mother retching into the chamber pot, she asked, “Mama, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, honey, I just have an upset stomach. I’ll be okay in a few minutes,” her mother answered.
“Why are you throwing up?”
“A lot of women have this when they’re going to have a baby. I had it with you,” her mother replied.
“You did?”
“I really did. It’s called morning sickness, and it usually happens when I cook or smell food in the morning. It stopped with you after four weeks.”
“Can’t Papa give you some medicine for it?” Emily said, using the name she called Patrick.
“I wish he could, but there’s no medicine for it.” She gargled and rinsed her mouth. “I think it’s gone for now.
Movement…
Mary Louise first felt movement at four months. The movements became visible three weeks later. “Emily, I want to show you something. Get on the bed. She pulled her dress off and lay beside Emily. “Let me have your hand,” she said. “And just relax, let me move your hand.” She moved the hand over her belly. “Did you feel that?”
Emily shook her head, “No.”
“Wait a minute. Let’s try this. Watch real close where I point.” She pointed to a small spot and said “It’s moving. Do you see it?”
Emily nodded her head. “Uh huh, I see it.”
“It’s your little brother’s foot. He’s stretching his legs.”
“I can see it again. I want a little sister. Boys are dumb,” Emily said.
“Jesus decides whether it is a boy or girl, and we love whatever He decides.”
“I hope He decides for a girl.”
“No matter what He decides, you’re going to be a big sister,” her mother said.
Patrick walked into the room. “What are you two doing?”
Tell him what we saw,” Mary Louise said.
“Papa, we saw the baby move his foot. Come see,” Emily said, pointing to her mother’s belly.
He sat on the bed, and was rewarded with movement across her tummy. “I see it,” he said making his voice excited for Emily. “Isn’t that something?”
“Yeah,” Emily said.
“We don’t say yeah, do we?” Mary Louise said.
“Yes,” Emily said.
“She’s getting active isn’t she?” Patrick said.
“See, Mama, Papa wants a little girl,” Emily said, “Huh, Papa?”
“We will be happy whichever it is. We just want it to be healthy,” Patrick said.
Midwives…
“I’m fine with a midwife, but can they work in a hospital?” Mary Louise asked.
“I hadn’t thought about that. I don’t think they can. I think the hospital will only allow an MD to deliver,” he said. “Let’s just plan on the hospital.”
Four months later…
The phone rang. There was an emergency, and Patrick was needed. at the hospital. He dressed hurriedly, kissed her and said, “It’s a gunshot wound. Two cowboys got in a fight at the Last Chance. No telling how long this will take.”
After he left, Mary Louise tossed and turned. She had a nagging back ache. Unable to get comfortable, she stood, and immediately felt the wetness, and turned on the lamp. Her gown was wet. “Uh oh,” she said. She removed the wet night gown and panties and donned dry ones.
She padded down the hall and knocked on the master bedroom door. She heard movement; the door opened. “My water just broke,” she told Elizabeth. “Patrick had an emergency at the hospital.”
“Have you had any pains?” Elizabeth asked.
“Just a low back pain.”
Elizabeth turned, and said, “Carter.” A little louder—“Carter, Mary Louise has started labor.” They went back to the other bedroom.
“The sheet’s wet, Mary Louise said.
“That’s all right, I’ll change it,” Elizabeth said.
The senior Doctor Palmer came in, all business, now his medical bag in one hand. “Was there any blood?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” Mary Louise said.
“Lie down and let me check the heartbeat. He moved the stethoscope over her bulging abdomen. “Heartbeat is strong. Let’s get you across the street.”
“I don’t think I can walk that far,” Mary Louise said.
“She’s about to have a baby and we have humor,” he said. “I’ll get the horse hitched and get going.” With Elizabeth’s help, Mary Louise was in the buggy and the three of them began the short drive to the hospital. She awakened Thelma to take care of Emily.
“Are you all right?” Carter asked Mary Louise.
“Yes, I’m between pains right now,” she said.
At the hospital, he called for help getting her inside. A nurse and an orderly came to help. Once inside, she said, “Would you tell Doctor Palmer I’m here.”
“Doctor Palmer’s right here, dear,” the nurse, also a nun, said.
“No, I mean the other Doctor Palmer. My husband.”
“Oh, young Doctor Palmer. I believe he’s in surgery, but I’ll get word to him. He told us his wife was going to have the baby here. “I’m Sister Wolensky. We’ll take good care of you. You just don’t worry about a thing.”
The nurse helped Mary Louise into a hospital gown. Her pains were coming fifteen minutes apart. Carter monitored the fetal heartbeat.
“Does Patrick know,” Mary Louise asked Carter.
“He knows,” Carter answered. “Do you want the hospital doctor to do this, or do you want me? It can get personal. Back in the seventies, I delivered a few where the mother remained clothed.”
“I feel comfortable with you,” she answered. “This baby is too important to turn it over to a new doctor. How many have you delivered anyway?”
“Hundreds, but I’m getting a little long in the tooth for this,. They have new techniques that the young ones will be more knowledgeable about than I am.”
Patrick rushed into the room. “I’m sorry, honey. I couldn’t get here sooner.” He turned to his father, “How is she, Dad?” Is Thelma with Emily? “We didn’t wake her
When we left Emily was asleep,” Elizabeth said.
“She’s doing well. The baby’s heartbeat is strong, her blood pressure is good. Dilation is seven centimeters. I asked if she wanted the hospital doctor or me, and she said she feels more comfortable with us.”
“Mary Louise, don’t push until I tell you to. You will want to but don’t do it. I’ll tell you when. The contractions won’t last, but they’re going to be intense. You might move around and find a more comfortable position. Whatever else you feel like doing, do it, but don’t push.”
“Okay, Papa,” she panted. “Patrick, hold my hand” A contraction hit, and she squeezed his hand… hard.
After an alternating series of pushes, and panting, Carter said, “I see the head, push hard. Once more. One more time. Harder. That’s it. She’s out. I have your daughter, Mary Louise.”
Mary Louise heard the baby wail, she sighed and smiled. One job was done and another was about to begin.
“Patrick, do you want to tie and cut the cord?”
“I do.”
The nurse cleaned the baby and wrapped her in a blanket, and then laid her on Mary Louise’s chest.
“You did well, honey. I’m proud of you,” Patrick said.
She greeted his compliment, with smile and a grimace.
Chapter Seventeen
You Have a Sister
“Emily, breakfast is ready” Elizabeth called out.
Emily came into the kitchen. “I have a surprise for you.” Elizabeth sai
d.
“What?” the little girl asked.
“You have a baby sister.”
“When did she get borned?” Emily asked.
“Last night. Your mama is in the hospital.”
“When is she coming home?” she asked.
Elizabeth said, “It will probably be four or five days.”
“Can I go to the hospital?”
“They don’t let children in the hospital unless they’re really sick.” Elizabeth said.
“Where’s Papa?”
“He’s at the hospital with your mama?”
“Is he sick?” Emily asked.
“No, he’s not sick. He’s helping take care of your mama.” He’ll come home later.
“You wanted a little sister, didn’t you?”
“Uh huh,”
“Well, now you have one. You’re a big sister, now.
“Eat your breakfast, and I’ll walk you to school,” Elizabeth said.
“Miss Mary Louise had a little girl?” the housekeeper asked.
“Yes, I came home after I was sure they were all right. Patrick called me from the hospital this morning. Both are doing well. Patrick is beside himself.
“I’m excited too. My first grandchild. I’ve waited a long time for this,” Elizabeth said.
At the hospital…
Mary Louise drifted in and out of sleep. When she opened her eyes, Patrick was there. “Did you see our daughter?” she asked.
“I did, and she’s perfect. Beautiful too. I don’t think she’s going to have red hair though.”
“I called home. Emily wasn’t awake, but I told Mom you’re both doing well. Their first grandchild, besides Emily. I called your mother too.
“Also, Dad announced she is the last baby he will ever deliver. He delivered two generations of Palmer’s and he said that’s enough.
“You go back to sleep. Your body has been through quite an ordeal. You need to give it a chance to rebound and sleep is the best way.”
“You’ve been up most of the night. You need to rest too,” she said.
“I want to stay a while. I’ll go home later and take a nap, a bath, and shave. I want to be there when Emily gets home from school.”
Her eyes were closed. She had drifted off again, a smile on her face.
It’s been a good day. A very good day. His eyelids drooped; he put his head on the bed and was soon fast asleep.
Epilogue
Patrick Carter practiced medicine into the early stages of World War 2. He was set to retire when a shortage of doctors caused him to postpone his plans.
Together Mary Louise and Patrick raised a family of four girls. Patrick and Mary Louise named their first born Ruth. Their growing family forced them to build a bigger house.
Emily graduated from Montana State University, where she met the young man who convinced her not all boys were dumb. They married after graduation. She and her husband produced a family of two girls and two boys, doted on and spoiled by their grandparents.
Carter Palmer would remain a frontier doctor for the rest of his life, his beloved wife by his side as a helpmate, lover, and his nurse. He would never be rich in the material sense due to the lack of cash money available to his patients. He was paid in kind much of the time, cattle, eggs, chickens and an occasional pig. He would sell some of them to his friend Silas for resale in the general store.
He was unable to keep his vow that Ruth would be the last baby he delivered.
He died at the age of seventy-six from pneumonia after spending two days in a drafty cabin attending a miner’s wife during a difficult birth. She and her baby survived.
Elizabeth was active in the community and in the church. She and Letty were best friends for the rest of their lives. She survived her husband by five years and was laid to eternal rest by his side, just as in life.
Charlotte and Zebulon Parsons both lived to be seventy-five years of age, with Charlotte surviving Zebulon by two weeks. Their will left the Circle P to Hiram and Mary Louise, jointly. Hiram would manage the ranch until his untimely death, at which point Mary Louise would hire a proctor to manage the operation.
About Susan
Susan lives in a gated community just outside Tomball, a small Texas town, 26 miles northwest of Houston, with her husband; two toy poodles, Bobby and Charlie; and Lissie, the cat.
“The Montana Doctor’s Love” is her latest book to be published by Amazon and is the eighth volume.
Mail Order Bride Series Thumbnails of the covers of her other books are on the pages following this one.
If you enjoyed The Montana Doctor’s Love please share with your friends. Above all, please consider leaving a favorable review on Amazon.
Susan
[email protected]
http://susanleighcarlton.com
Susan’s Other Books
Mama Was A Montana Doctor's Bride
Cheyenne Mail Order Bride
Kyle's Modern Montana Bride
Cody's Montana Sweetheart
Charlotte's Mail Order Husband
The Montana Rancher's Bride
The Montana Doctor's Bride
Texas Oilman's Bride
In Search Of Love
The Widow's Mail Order Husband
Yankee Mail Order Bride
Not Quite A Mail Order Bride
Tainted Mail Order Bride ***Amazon Best Seller Book***
Jedadiah's Mail Order Bride ***Amazon Best Seller Book***
A Reluctant Mail Order Bride
She Found Her Love In Washingron
The Lonely Cowboy
Cake and Pie Recipes From MaMaw's Kitchen
Love On The Brazos
Loving A Firefighter
Loving An Airborne Ranger
Diabetes: You Can Live With It Or Die From It
Bobby and Charlie's Great Adventure
Diabetes: You Can Live With It Or Die From It
Pies From MaMaw's Kitchen
Cakes From MaMaw's Kitchen
Cakes and Pies From MaMaw's Kitchen
Click here to Visit Susan’s Website
The Montana Doctor's Love (New Montana Brides Book 8) Page 7