Wanted: Family (Silverpines Series Book 20)

by George H. McVey

  She’d just got to her door when Ian came running up the stairs. “Carol, Alexzander Sewell is downstairs, he said you told Betsy and Maude that you’d had some experience helping deliver babies?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I worked with the doctor and nurse in Creede on occasion when one or the other needed an extra set of hands. Why?”

  “Betsy’s gone into labor and all the doctors are out of town. Hattie and Doctor Childs left right after our wedding on a supply run to New Harbor and Doctor Tory was called up to the Wynters’ cabin to help with Widow Wynters.”

  Carol gasped. “I’ll dress and go to her. I guess I’m better than nothing; at least I know what to do.”

  She rushed into the room and quickly dressed in her oldest day dress, then headed downstairs after a quick check on Collin. She saw Marshal Sewell looking very disheveled and anxious. “I’ll be back when I can. Are you going to be able to take care of Collin? Babies take as long as they take, and first babies can take a long time.”

  “We’ll make due and if I need help I’ll just go to the Hendersons. Maude grew up at the orphanage, so she’ll know what to do.”

  Alexzander shook his head. “Maude’s at my house. Better go to Miss Ethel’s or get one of the mothers around here to help you.”

  “Aye, we’ll be fine, Carol, now go mo ghaol, I’ll take care of our son.”

  Carol and Alexzander rushed down the lane back toward the house he and Betsy lived in. “Thank you for agreeing to help out, Mrs. MacGregor. I didn’t know what to do. Everyone I knew who had experience was gone.”

  “I’ll help as I can. When we get there you show me where your wife is and then I need some things. “Clean linens, hot water, a clean bucket or large bowl, a good pair of scissors or a sharp knife, and a bottle of whiskey to clean my hands and the knife or scissors with.”

  Alexzander nodded. “Water’s already on the stove, cook did that the minute she heard Betsy was delivering. I’ll get the rest for you.”

  The went inside and Alexzander directed her up to where Betsy’s and his bedroom was. Not that Carol would have needed the directions, the sound of the poor girl yelling and crying was obvious. She ran up and into the room to see a very pale and frightened Maude trying to help her friend. “Well it seems that I got here in time.”

  With that Carol got to work. When the cook came in carrying a large mixing bowl and a pair of scissor and a full bottle of whiskey, Carol pulled the cork on the bottle and asked the cook to pour some over her hands as she washed in the pungent alcohol. “The doctor in Creede said it helped kill germs.”

  That was all the explanation she gave. “Pour the rest in the bowl and put the scissors in it. Then get me that water and linens. I’ll check on Betsy and tell Maude how she can help.”

  The cook again nodded and hurried to do what she asked. “Maude, you climb up behind Betsy and hold her head. Keep talking to her and make sure she’s breathing deep and as slow as you can get her to. We don’t need her to pass out on us. In between use a wet cloth to wipe her head and face and help her relax as much as possible.”

  After they got everything settled and she showed Betsy how to focus through her labor pains and they settled in to await the birth of her child. “So what are you hoping to have, Betsy?”

  “I want a little boy who will grow up to be like Alexzander, but he keeps telling me he wants a little girl who looks just like me. Honestly I’ll just be happy when whichever it is comes out!”

  Maude laughed. “So will Tonya and I. Alexzander even more so, I bet.” She looked at Carol, “This hasn’t been an easy pregnancy for her. Hattie had her on bed rest for most of it and Betsy isn’t a good patient.”

  Betsy’s eyes widened, and she looked ag Carol. “OH! I think I need to push.”

  Carol quickly checked and saw a shock of hair and the crown of a little head. “Yes Betsy, push with everything in you. I see your baby’s head.”

  Betsy reached down and grabbed her knees and gave a mighty push. There was a scream from her throat as she bore down, and they could hear Alexzander rushing up the stairs. Thankfully, the cook stopped him from entering the room. They could hear him outside demanding she move or he would arrest her. Carol couldn’t help but chuckle as she heard the older woman remind him that she fixed his meals and if he didn’t want everything to taste like sawdust and ashes, he’d stop his foolishness and let the women do their jobs.

  Just then with a slight sound the baby slid out of its mother and gave Carol a shock. Gripping the heel of the infant she held in her hands was a small hand. “Well that’s a surprise!”

  Betsy looked at her ashen faced. “What’s wrong with my baby?”

  Carol smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with your daughter, Betsy. However you aren’t done; it appears you have a second child to bring into this world.”

  Maude and Betsy’s eyes got big. “Twins?” They spoke together.

  “Seems so.”

  The whole time Carol had been working to get the child in her arms to breathe. She swiped the fluid out of the little girls mouth and held her head down. She was just about to smack the little one on her bottom when she coughed and then wailed. “There you are, little one.”

  She quickly cleaned the child and tied off the cord and cut it with the scissors, then laid the infant on her mother’s chest. “You have a fine and strong daughter, Betsy. Have you and Alexzander decided on a name?”

  Betsy looked down at the little girl. “Alexzandria Lynn, that’s her name.”

  Just then another contraction hit and Carol took the child and wrapped her in linen, making sure to swaddle her tight. While Betsy and Maude worked through the contraction Carol looked down at the little one in her arms and took her out the door where Alexzander was sitting in the floor, head in his hands. “Come meet your daughter, Alexzander.”

  He was on his feet in an instant. “A daughter?” He stepped close and looked down at her red face. “She’s perfect. Can I see Betsy?”

  “Not yet, she’s not done yet.”

  He frowned. “What do you mean she isn’t done?”

  Carol laughed. “Congratulations Alexzander, your wife is giving you, not one, but two babies tonight.”

  The tall mountain man and town marshal turned white as a sheet. “T-T-Two babies?”

  “Yes two; maybe more, who knows.”

  “MORE!” It was almost a shriek.

  Carol laughed as she slipped back into the room. Maude had a twinkle in her eye as well. “You told him?”

  Carol placed Alexzandria on her mother’s chest again. “Yes. I thought he was going to swoon there for a minute.”

  Then it became time to push again and Maude slipped out from under Betsy and took Alexzandria in her arms. Betsy and Carol set to work bringing the second Sewell child into the world.

  Ian was at the end of his rope. Collin was fussy and refusing to eat. He knew the lad wasn’t trying to be difficult; the problem was that Ian had no clue how to help him. What did one feed an eight-month-old baby for breakfast, anyway? He had a lot to learn about this being a father thing. He was never more relieved when a knock came at the door. He scooped up the crying child and cringed when the nappy he’d just pinned to the lad’s bottom dropped to the floor. He couldn’t even do that right.

  Not knowing what else to do, he took Collin and went to answer the door. There stood one of his miner’s wives and her children. “Mrs. McDaniel, what are you doing here?”

  The woman took one look at the naked baby in his hands and started laughing. “Saving you from getting rinsed down, apparently. Give me the child, Mister MacGregor, before he pees all over you.”

  He quickly thrust the lad into the woman’s arms. As she stepped inside. “Boys, go sit at the table and behave while I get little Collin here dressed; then I’ll fix breakfast for everyone.”

  A chorus of “Yes Mama’s” came from four little mouths and the lads did as they were told.

  The woman looked at Ian. “Show me where his th
ings are, then you can go wait with the boys. I’ll bring him to you after he’s dress and fix you and him something to fill your bellies.”

  Ian frowned. “How did ye know I needed help this morning?”

  Pamela McDaniel laughed. “You’ve been in Silverpines as long as I have, Mister MacGregor, surely you know that the backyard gossip line here is fast as a jackrabbit.”

  “So I see.”

  “Widow Winslow saw your new wife and Marshal Sewell rushing to his house early this morning on her way to the post office. They were talking about things needed to deliver a baby, so obviously the Widow made sure everyone who she met knew your wife was helping deliver the Marshal’s baby. Either that or she was a criminal and he’d just arrested her.”

  Ian shook his head. “I still don’t understand how you knew I needed help.”

  “John was on his way home from his shift at the mine site and overheard her talking to the gossips. He knew you’d have no clue how to care for the baby yet and told me to come help out.”

  Ian relaxed with that statement. If John McDaniel knew his wife was here, then he had nothing to worry about. “He’s a good man and ye are a good woman; thank ye both.”

  “Don’t you know, Mister MacGregor, that the miners all respect you and Mister Henderson. Even before we came to Silverpines. The wives all do as well. We know if we need anything you’ll find out about it and tell Mister Henderson or Mister Ryder. Now we know you’ll tell Mister Henderson or Mrs. Sewell and then make sure it’s given to us. The local women are also learning it. Don’t be surprised when others show up today offering to help out until your wife gets home.”

  She’d been dressing Collin as she talked and handed the lad to him. “Now you keep him entertained while I fix some corn mush for him and Jonny cakes for you and the boys.”

  Ian took his son and headed for the dining room. He realized that he had a lot to learn about taking care of this little one and he’d have to have Carol show him the basics tonight. He never wanted to not be able to care for the bairn if the need arose again.

  Pamela had just set the Jonny Cakes and honey on the table and taken Collin to feed his corn mush when the sound of the front door opening was heard. Carol walked in and collapsed into the chair besides Ian. Pamela quickly got another plate and sat it before his wife. “I’m Mrs. McDaniel, Mrs. MacGregor; my husband works for yours. We heard you were helping birth the Sewell’s baby and I figured your husband might need some help.”

  “Thank you. We appreciate it.”

  “How’s Betsy?” Ian asked.

  “Tired but she won’t be getting much rest for a while.”

  “Aye, a new bairn would see to that.”

  Carol chuckled. “That’s true but she’ll be in for twice the work. She had twins, a girl and a boy.”

  Mrs. McDaniel smiled. “Twin’s; she is going to certainly need help. I’ll make arrangements with some of the miner’s wives and widows to help out as we can.”

  Ian nodded and looked at Carol who was worn out. “You need to rest, Mo Ghràidh. You look tired.”

  She nodded. “I will as soon as I feed Collin.”

  Mrs. McDaniels gathered up the empty plates from before her sons. “Boys, you all go home. I’ll be right behind you after I clean up here. Let your papa know I’m on my way.”

  “Yes Ma’am” came the answer and the youngsters all quietly got up and filed out of the house.

  “Mrs. MacGregor, if it’s alright with you I’ll send Penelope Cooper over to watch you son for you while Mister MacGregor is at the mine office this morning. Penelope is a young widow who lost her infant from the stress after the disaster took her husband. I think helping you might help her as well.”

  Carol nodded “Thank you, Mrs. McDaniel, that sounds fine.”

  Ian frowned. He didn’t like the idea, but knew he wasn’t able to care for the lad yet but he’d learn and quickly. He helped Carol upstairs where she quickly went into the nursery to allow the lad to nurse. Then once he was fed and burped, she came into their room and fell into the bed.

  He kissed her and covered her, promising to wait until Mrs. Cooper arrived and then slipped out of the room as Carol slipped into an exhausted slumber.

  Chapter Eight

  One week later.

  Christmas had come and gone and with it the weather turned, starting to feel and look more like winter. Snow had fallen on Christmas and the farmers and ranchers were saying that more would fall in the new year. Things had changed for the MacGregors as well, thanks to Penelope Cooper.

  Carol MacGregor looked at the young woman who was playing with Collin. Just as Pamela McDaniel had said, Penelope Cooper was a godsend. That day a week ago she had seemed to come into her own caring for Collin, and Carol had talked to Ian and they’d offered the young woman a job as a mother’s helper to Carol. She moved into the room that had been set aside for Carol and helped with cooking and cleaning as well as caring for Collin. It allowed Carol to get to know the miner’s wives and widows and know that while she was out making sure that Ian’s charges were being taken care of, so was their son.

  Now Carol had a companion she could talk with during the day and Collin had another person that loved him, and on top of it all Carol felt like she was making friends and fitting in to her new home. Thinking about that she realized she needed to write to Celeste and Callum Bing and let them know how it was going. She wanted to thank them for their kindness and sending her here to Ian. She also wanted to write to Fiona Lockwood and let her know that she too had gotten her fresh start, and let her know where she was so they could continue to write to each other. Last she’d heard from the young woman who helped her get to Celeste’s House, she was expecting her and Jake’s first child. That thought gave Carol a private desire that she wouldn’t give voice to yet. She looked at her son who was growing so quickly now. She wanted to have Ian’s child. She smiled just thinking about it and whispered a quiet prayer to God.

  “Penelope, I need to run to the mercantile for a moment. Do you want to come with me?”

  “It’s almost time for Collin to have a nap, Mrs. MacGregor. I’ll stay here with him and start on fixing lunch for you and Mister MacGregor as well.”

  Carol smiled at the younger woman. “How many times have I told you to call me Carol now, Penelope? I want us to be friends. I could use a close friend here in Silverpines.”

  “I’m sorry Mrs. Umm… Carol. It’s hard for me to call a woman who is obviously older than me and a wife anything but Mrs. My mama is a stickler on those points and even if I don’t see her much anymore I can’t seem to get past her teaching.”

  Carol stopped. “You’re originally from Silverpines aren’t you, Penelope? Does your mother still live here?”

  “Yes Ma’am. I was born here and yes, my mama still lives in town.”

  “Then I don’t understand, why don’t you see her much?”

  “She and Papa, they didn’t approve of me marrying my Cliff. They wanted me to marry a wealthy business man. But me and Cliff, we had been in love all our lives. When we eloped, Papa and Mama told me that I’d made my bed and now I’d have to live in it. They wanted nothing more to do with me. After the mine collapsed and both Cliff and Papa were killed, I thought Mama would reach out to me but she didn’t. When I went to her she told me this was what Papa had meant. I’d gotten myself in this situation and now I had to live with my choice.”

  Carol walked over and took the younger woman in her arms. “Well I’m sorry you’ve had to go it alone since the disaster but you’re not alone now, and as long as I live in Silverpines you won’t ever be alone again.”

  The woman smiled at her. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  With that Penelope took Collin up for his nap. Carol made a quick trip to the mercantile where she had a cup of tea with Millie. Once home with her stationary, she sat to write to Celeste and Fiona, letting them know how grateful she is for their support and how blessed she is in her new start.

&n
bsp; Once Collin was awake and Ian had had lunch with them, Carol convinced Penelope to take a walk with her. They’d swing by the post office to drop her letters in the mail.

  They entered the post office and there were several older women from town there. The women, she had learned in the last week, were known as the clothesline gossips. They got their best gossip from Widow Wallace herself, who used her connection as the default postmistress to know everyone’s business. “Well now, it’s about time you finally came around here, isn’t it. I guess you finally decided to leave our humble little town and go back to that place for women like you?”

  Carol looked up into the eyes of the postmistress that seemed to be full of disgust for her. “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?”

  “Yes, I was talking to you. I hope that you’re writing to those people who you lived with before you came here. Hopefully telling them you’re ready to return to that home for soiled doves and fallen women. After all, there was no reason for an upstanding citizen like Mister MacGregor to be writing to a woman like you. Not when he had so many fine upstanding widows he could have chosen from for a wife.”

  Carol was getting upset. Who did this woman think she was? “A woman like me? You mean a widow? Aren’t you a widow, Mrs. Wallace? How are we different, you and me?”

  “How are we different? I’ll tell you how we are different. I was faithful to my husband until the day he died and I’m still faithful. I’ve served this town alongside him while he lived and continue to serve it now after his passing. I’ve never sent for a replacement husband to take over Mister Wallace’s duties. I never ran to a house for fallen and shameful women. That’s how we’re different. Why don’t you get on the next train and go back to that house of ill repute in Creede where you belong? That would give an honest woman like Penelope there, or one of our other miner’s widows a chance to become a wife again.”

  Before she could speak, Penelope stepped up to the counter and slammed her hands down on it, leaning into Mrs. Wallace’s face. “Mama, I told you the last time you tried this stuff. The women who sent for husbands or the men like Mister MacGregor who send for wives now that Silverpines is growing have every right to do so.”