They had moved into the old cabin that had been Linsey and Luc’s first home. The tiny two-room structure with its polished plank floors and glasspaned windows quickly became home for Molly. Furniture and other household necessities had been scrounged from the attics of the larger house and carted the short distance to the cabin.
In the last couple of weeks, as if sensing that Molly’s time was drawing near, Linsey had been a constant visitor. The two women had become more than friends as they openly shared their past with each other.
Molly had been surprised to discover that Luc had delivered all of Linsey’s children. The first two births had taken place before a midwife was in the region but Linsey had insisted on his help with the others.
Her voice had softened with sorrow when she spoke of the stillbirth of John. Her pain had been increased by the agony she had witnessed on her husband’s face when he held the small lifeless body in his large hands. She smiled as she told of Dara’s birth and the fact that Luc had expected yet another son and so he hadn’t checked on the baby’s sex. She chuckled when she described the way he rushed to confirm it for himself when she had brought it to his attention.
Molly stood at the door and watched as Linsey headed home on the well-traveled trail between the cabin and the house. The path was used frequently during the day, since the brothers were not at all bashful about stopping in to visit Hawk or to check on her when they knew he’d be gone.
They made no pretense that their visits were anything other than what they were. They would question her about the state of her health, carry in armloads of wood or buckets of snow to be melted for water. When they were satisfied, they left, but Molly was never alone for long. Soon another brother, or Kaleb or even Luc would stop in for a visit.
She enjoyed the visits, getting better acquainted with each man, but her days were lonely when H awk wasn’t around. He had spent several days hunting with Daniel before restlessness forced Daniel to leave. If he had told Hawk of his latest vision, Hawk had not shared it with Molly. She shivered at the horror of knowing something tragic was about to happen and being unable to prevent it. Her heart went out to the gentle man who kept his grief buried deep inside his massive body.
Molly rubbed her aching back as a twinge of pain traced from the middle of her back to her stomach. The light twinges, more of a nuisance than real pain, had started earlier in the day:
She had been plagued with similar aches and pains for several weeks, but rather than abating, these grew stronger in intensity as the day progressed. She knew that within a day or two, before daylight tomorrow if she were lucky, she would hold her child in her arms.
And, as the Bear had delivered his sons, so would Hawk deliver this child.
Molly grew restless and grabbed the broom to sweep the already spotless floor. That chore was finished all too quickly and she looked for something else to do. She wiped off shelves, rearranged clothing and food supplies, remade the bed and looked through Hawk’s clothing to see if any of it needed repairs. Finally, when everything had been straightened, cleaned, swept or polished, Molly picked up the dress she had begun sewing.
With Linsey’s help, Molly’s wardrobe had grown to several dresses, skirts and blouses and underthings, most of which wouldn’t fit until after the birth.
Plying the needle in and out of the fabric, Molly bit back a moan as a strong pain gripped her middle. When it released her from its clutches, she carefully folded the dress and climbed from her chair. With hands that shook from both excitement and fear of the unknown, she removed her shirt and skirt and slid into a warm, flannel nightgown. Another pain worked its way through her body, forcing her to grab for the support of the bedpost.
Between pains, Molly readied the necessary items for the birth. She had questioned Linsey repeatedly on the procedure and had gotten Linsey’s promise that she wouldn’t interfere unless there was an unexpected problem.
Molly was sitting at the table, a warm shawl around her shoulders and a soothing cup of tea in her hands when Hawk returned.
“The sawmill will be in production by spring,” he said as he closed the door and placed his long rifle beside it. “I’m starved, what’s for dinner?”
“Humm … “ Molly bit her lip as she waited for the pain to subside. “Nothing … I guess I forgot.”
“Molly?” Hawk stopped in the process of removing his coat and looked at his wife. “Are you all right.”
“I’m fine, I just got busy and forgot to cook anything for your dinner.”
“Busy with what?” he asked suspiciously, carelessly dropping his coat onto a chair.
“Things …” She wasn’t as successful at hiding the new pain, her moan alerting Hawk to her condition.
“Is it the babe?” He knelt beside her, taking her cold hand in his.
Molly nodded, unable to speak. Hawk remained beside her until he felt her relax then he gathered her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
“When did this start?” he asked, when he saw that the bedding had been folded back and a heavy padding of fabric was waiting to receive her. He placed her on the bed and noticed the other things she had placed within convenient reach.
“A few hours ago,” she muttered, unbuttoning the top of her gown.
“How many hours ago?” Hawk demanded, his arms folded across his chest as he stared down at her.
“Don’t you think it’s getting hot in here?”
“Don’t try to change the subject. How long ago did your pains start?”
Molly successfully changed the subject as another contraction laced knife-sharp through her body. Sweat beaded her forehead as she fought back against a moan.
“I’m getting Maman.” Hawk ran from the room and grabbed his coat.
“No, Hawk!” she called. “She won’t come.”
“Won’t come?” Hawk stood at the doorway, frantically pulling his coat on. “Woman, what do you mean she won’t come? She’s my mother and you’re my wife, of course she’ll come.”
“No, she won’t!” The last word was nearly screamed as the peak of the contraction stabbed through her.
Hawk turned and ran from the cabin. The house was a pleasant ten-minute walk from the cabin, he ran the distance in less than three minutes. Linsey was in the kitchen preparing the evening meal when he burst into the room.
“Maman, you must come, Molly is having the baby.” He grabbed her cloak from a hook by the door.
“I thought she was having some discomfort when I was there this afternoon. When did her pains start?” Linsey asked as she dried her hands on her apron.
“You left her when she was in pain?” he asked in astonishment. “I don’t know when they started but there’s no time to ask questions now. Come!” He threw the cloak around her shoulders and tried to usher her out the door.
“No, Hawk.” Linsey pulled herself free from his grasp and removed her cloak.
“No? No?” he asked in confusion.
Linsey stood firmly, “Molly wants you to deliver the baby. I’ll only come if you need me.”
“I need you! I can’t help her.”
“Yes, you can, son,” a deep voice said quietly from the doorway. Luc walked over to his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Go home to your wife, by now she is probably frantic with both pain and worry. Well send someone over periodically to check on her progress, but she needs you.”
“I’ve never asked anything from you before. You would deny me this one request?” Hawk asked with disbelief.
“It’s her decision, Hawk.” Linsey explained gently.
A frantic, terrifying emotion ran rampant through Hawk. He looked at the two people who had never betrayed him before and he suddenly knew how thin the line was between love and hate. He squared his shoulders and raised his head proudly, generations of Shawnee warriors were reflected in his face.
“From this day forward I will never again ask for anything from you. I will take Molly and the baby from the cabin as soon as the
y are able to travel.”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at them and his voice was harsh when he spoke. “I am no longer your son.”
Turning away, he didn’t hear Linsey’s gasp of anguish or see the fire of retribution that burned in Luc’s eyes. His thoughts were centered on the woman who waited for him, though his heart nearly broke at the betrayal of the two people he had always loved beyond all else.
“He didn’t mean it,” Luc said soothingly as he gathered Linsey into his arms.
“I know,” she mumbled, her face buried in his chest. “But it hurts so much to deny him something he so desperately needs.”
“Do you regret having me deliver our children?” he asked softly.
“No. I wouldn’t have changed that for anything in the world.”
“Then don’t deny him this chance. Molly is wise enough to know if she needs help. She’ll ask for you.”
“It’s going to be a long night!” Linsey sighed.
“It always is when you’re waiting for a new life to begin.”
Hawk raced back to the cabin and found Molly standing beside the bed, trying to remove her damp gown.
“What are you doing now?” He rushed over to her but wasn’t sure what to do once he got there.
“This gown is wet and hot and I want to get it off.” She turned to him, a pleading look on her face. “Will you help?”
Shaking his head with exasperation, Hawk grabbed the gown and jerked it over her head. She grabbed for the support of his arm when another contraction began.
Wanting to put her on the bed and afraid to move her, Hawk held her and watched with amazement as her stomach hardened to granite with the pain. When it eased he nearly threw her on the bed, pulling a blanket over her naked body as he went in search for something cooler for her to wear.
“Linsey won’t come,” he stated bluntly, digging haphazardly through Molly’s things.
“I know.” She grabbed for his hand and held it tightly. “Hawk, I asked her not to come. Please understand that she isn’t refusing you she’s simply following my request. I don’t need anyone but you.”
“Ah, nee wah!” He sat on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know how to bring your child safely into the world.”
“It’s my understanding that there’s really little for us to do. He’ll come when he’s ready but I want your hands there to hold him.”
He held his hand out to her. “Look at me, my hands shake like those of an old man. I’ll drop him on his head and you’ll never forgive me.”
Molly smiled as she reached for him. “No you won’t, wai see yah, your grasp will be steady and firm.”
“If I admit that I am afraid, will that change your mind?”
“That’ll just make two of us,” she gasped as another contraction began to build. “I was hoping for more from a warrior.”
“This was never mentioned in the many lessons from either of my fathers!”
He was amazed at her strength as she clutched his hand, her fingers biting into his palm. The nightgown was forgotten as he began the soothing chant, his volume building as the pain crested.
Throughout the long night, the touch of his hand and the wordless chant soothed her through the agony. He wiped the sweat from her brow, marveling when she smiled reassuringly at him. He couldn’t begin to conceive of the torture she was enduring but his respect for her became boundless as he watched her suffer in silence.
He stayed at her side, leaving her only when one of his brothers came to the door to inquire about her progress. His greetings to them were harsh and they quickly went on their way to report that Molly was doing fine but that Hawk was about to buckle under the stress.
Just as dawn was breaking, the final stage of labor was reached. Hawk was too busy tending to his wife to notice when Luc appeared in the doorway. He stood quietly, observing the closeness between the two involved in the birth, then slipped silently out of the cabin. He sat on the top step of the porch, knowing the birth was imminent, and he relived the thrill and terror he’d felt each time Linsey gave birth to one of his children.
“Is everything all right?” Linsey asked softly as she sat down beside him.
“I thought I told you to stay home?” Luc wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly against him.
“And miss all the excitement?” She chuckled as she snuggled up to him.
“Can it really be that long ago when we watched Hawk’s birth or when I caught Daniel in my hands?” he asked quietly. “They are men now — fine men — but mon ange I miss those little boys.”
“You’ll soon have another little boy to tag along behind you, Grandpa,” Linsey teased. “And you’ll come in complaining that you can’t get anything done because he’s always in the way — just as you did about Hawk and Daniel and each of the others in turn.”
“Have I told you yet that I love you, woman?” he asked, pulling her onto his lap.
“There’s no better time than the present,” she replied, her lips ready for the kiss she saw in his eyes.
“Oh, Hawk, this hurts!” Molly muttered between clenched teeth.
“I know, ain jele’e, just a little longer.” He tried to encourage her. “It can’t be much longer now!”
Molly panted and gulped shallow breaths of air, her body a whirlpool of pain. Wave upon wave, the contractions built without break, until she began to wonder if pain would be her lasting impression of the birth of her child.
The blanket had long ago been discarded and her distorted body lay bare in the warm room. Sweat beaded Hawk’s face, running into his eyes until he found the familiar red band and tied it around his head. He’d removed his shirt and his copper skin gleamed in the early morning light.
He knelt on the-bed between her spread thighs, his eyes widening in wonder.
“I see his head, Molly!” he exclaimed in amazement. “Daniel is wrong, his hair is as black as mine.”
Molly bit back the scream that tried to force its way through her clenched teeth. She grabbed the back of her thighs just beneath her knees to give him better access to the birth area. She was unaware of her fingers digging into her own skin.
The scream she’d tired so hard to suppress was torn free as the pain crescendoed and she expelled the tiny body into Hawk’s waiting hands.
His hands were firm and sure as he laid the child on Molly’s stomach. He followed the instructions she had given him during the long night of labor — and he cleared the mucus from the tiny throat and nose.
Holding the child close to his own body, the cord of life still connected to Molly, Hawk blew gently in the tiny nose. The baby gasped, arched his back and bellowed to the world that he had arrived. His first breath of life came from the man he would know as his father.
“Nee wah, our son.”
Hawk held the baby up for Molly’s inspection. A more careful inspection would be done at leisure later, for now, Hawk returned the infant to her belly and carefully tied and cut the cord.
As Hawk ministered to her, Molly stroked her angry son’s tiny head. She smiled at his furious cry, pleased that he was breathing so well. Using a warm, wet towel, Hawk cleaned his new son and wrapped him in a small blanket. He placed the baby in Molly’s arms and watched as she encouraged him to suckle at her swollen breast.
The cabin was filled with new silence as the baby closed his lips around her tender nipple.
“Thank you,” Molly said softly to Hawk, her eyes filled with love for her new son and for the man who had safely delivered him into the world.
Hawk knelt beside the bed and stroked the soft cheek of his son. He made no effort to hide the tears that spilled down his cheeks.
“It is I who owe you thanks, Molly. I would have run from this and missed the beginning of his life. You gave me no choice but to stay and I will forever be grateful for your wisdom.”
She smiled gently and his head lowerd to hers. The kiss they shared was filled with the emotion of life, a promise of tomorrow and a
ll the days of their lives yet to come.
Hawk could have knelt by the bed all morning and watched the baby nurse, but there were things to be done. He listened as Molly spoke softly to the baby as he tenderly washed the traces of birth from her body.
The room grew cool and he pulled the blanket up to her breasts before adding more wood to the fire.
“Daniel was right, you know,” Molly stated as she watched Hawk pull on a shirt. “His hair is red.” Hawk turned and stared at the tiny head resting against her breast. The soft, fluffy hair had dried and now it showed definite traces of red. Hawk grinned and gathered up the soiled linen.
“Ill dispose of this and go to the house.” He stopped, emotion playing across his face. “I owe Maman and Bear an apology. When she wouldn’t come with me I’m afraid I said some things that they didn’t deserve.”
“They’ll understand,” Molly said quietly. “You were scared and worried about me.”
“I hope you’re right, Molly. I can’t think of what my life will be like if you’re wrong.”
Hawk walked through the cabin, grabbing his coat as he passed the chair. He opened the door to find Linsey and Luc sitting comfortably on the top step. They smiled at his look of amazement.
“We were always here in case you needed us,” Linsey said softly, standing and opening her arms to the man who had always been her oldest son.
“I’m sorry,” he started, only to be interrupted. “Then come, be the second person to kiss the new grandma,” Linsey invited. “I’ve waited about as long as I intend to wait to see my new grandson.” Hawk hugged Linsey, his gaze turning to Luc who stood with his arms folded across his chest. He released her and watched as she hurried into the cabin, closing the door behind her.
“Every man should experience the birth of his child,” Luc said quietly. “It makes him remember the pain a mother feels all of her life when her children disappoint her.”
“I disappointed Maman, for that I will never forgive myself,” Hawk replied.
LeClerc 03 - Wild Savage Heart Page 26