“He's trying to help her!” Jessie exclaimed, keeping her voice low so she wouldn't alarm either baby.
Aaron smiled. “Exactly what I was hoping for,” he said. “It's a start, at any rate.”
“What now?” Jessie asked, wondering if Aaron had some kind of plan for all this.
“Well, I'm hoping this little guy can help heal his little sister with his presence, and perhaps even bring her around,” Aaron explained. “While I look at their mom and see what we can do for her.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Jessie said.
“Not at the moment,” he said, nodding at Susannah. “How about if you take my seat and take this little girl while I see what we can do for Willa?”
“Absolutely,” Susannah replied, and they quickly switched places as she delicately cradled the baby girl in her arms. Then Aaron grabbed another chair and turned his attention to Willa.
Her condition wasn't good. Willa was white as a sheet, and when Aaron checked her pulse and heart rate he realized that she was also in dire condition. She must have lost a lot of blood during the delivery, and Aaron knew there wasn't much he could do about that at the moment.
He needed some more water, but then Aaron suddenly realized that both Susannah and Jessie were occupied with their respective babies. Aaron wanted to ask them to leave the room so he could do a more thorough examination of Willa with more privacy, but with Willa's baby in danger he knew that wasn't a good idea.
“Umm, ladies?” he said softly, not wanting to disturb the interaction between the two infants. “I just wanted to let you know that I need to look more closely at Willa. . .normally I'd ask you both to go into the kitchen with the infants, but that really isn't practical at the moment.”
“Oh!” Jessie exclaimed, bringing her hand to her mouth without realizing it. “Well, umm. . .maybe we could just turn away?”
Aaron tilted his head and thought about it. “Sure, that would work,” he said finally. Then he smiled. “Just don't lose track of our two little ones, here, all right?”
Susannah smiled gently at him. “Wouldn't think of it,” she said, turning slightly. “Just do what you need to do to save her.”
With that, Aaron went to work. He hiked up Willa's dress, suddenly not caring about what Jessie and Susannah saw or didn't see. Willa was in a lot of trouble, he knew that, and he needed to find out what was wrong so he could do something about it as quickly as possible.
It didn't take him long to learn the cause of her distress. Aaron's exam revealed a breech birth of some sort, with the arrival of the infant causing some kind of wound in Willa's birth canal that had bled profusely. There was still some light bleeding that Aaron could see, which was a major cause for concern, but the location of the injury made it virtually impossible for him to do anything about it.
All of which meant that Aaron was basically helpless. He could keep Willa comfortable, that much he knew, and Aaron was also confident of his ability to prevent further injury. But if the bleeding didn't stop soon she would be too weak to survive the injuries caused by the breech birth.
In short, there was only one conclusion to be drawn: everything was in the hands of God now.
But Aaron didn't dare tell Jessie or Susannah that. Any panic on the part of the other two women could have a disastrous effect on the babies, especially Willa's newborn. He needed them to stay calm and focused, and Aaron had to remain that way himself so that he could continue to make good decisions.
It was incredibly frustrating, however. As he continued to tend to Willa and monitor her condition, Aaron thought back on his most devastatingly hopeless experiences as a physician. Foremost among them were situations just such as this, where a patient was in distress and there was no medical course of action to be taken.
Then Aaron thought back to the other aspect of his training. More than any other physician, Aaron knew the power of faith and the human mind and spirit, especially in dire conditions where that was the only recourse left.
He'd seen dozens of situations over the years that had seemed hopeless, only to be turned around at the last possible instant via something miraculous that could only be attributed to the power of faith and love.
And at that very moment, the door burst open and Jasper walked in, with Pastor Robertson in tow.
“Is everything OK?” Jasper asked, his voice far too loud. “How is the baby? Is my Willa all right?”
Jessie and Susannah both turned to him at once. “Shhhh!!” they both said, hushing him at the same time.
“The baby is a little better,” Jessie reported. “She's extremely weak, but he does seem to be moving slightly.”
“And Jason's presence does seem to be helping some,” Susannah added, nodding at Aaron. “That was the doctor's idea.”
Jasper's gaze shifted from Jessie to Susannah, then at the two babies. He didn't look very convinced, but their answer and the course of action they'd taken seemed to satisfy him for the moment.
“And what of Willa?” he asked softly, turning his attention to Aaron. “Is she improved at all?''
“Some,” Aaron replied, knowing he was exaggerating her improvement to at least some degree. “She's lost a lot of blood.”
Parson Robertson watched the interaction with interest, the questions and answers filling in some of the information gaps that Jasper had been too upset to address properly.
“So what can I do?” he interjected when the inquiries seemed over for the moment. “How can I help?”
Aaron recognized the parson's voice, and he looked up gratefully. “Parson Robertson,” he said softly. “I'm so glad you're here.”
“How are you, Aaron?” the parson said, noting the rivulets of sweat running down the doctor's face with some concern, and he decided to try some levity to lighten the situation a bit. “You seem to have your hands somewhat full here.”
Aaron shook his head and chuckled slightly, more in relief than anything else. “I'll say, Parson,” he replied. “We could definitely use all the assistance you can provide.”
“Anything I can do,” the parson said, nodding. “Just tell me.”
“I know we've worked together before,” Aaron said, wanting Jessie and Susannah to know what he was up to. “I was thinking this might be a good time for us to join forces again.”
The parson thought back to his history with Aaron. He had refused to participate in Aaron's phony tent meetings, the ones with marks planted in the audience that had gotten him in so much trouble with Rachel. The dishonesty of it offended him severely, and for a while the parson had no contact with Aaron, until finally the doctor repented and saw the error of his ways.
Since then, though, Aaron had been a model of integrity. The doctor had called on him to pray in numerous medical situations, some of which involved ordinary maladies where Aaron believed that prayer would be helpful. Nearly all of these scenarios had taken a turn for the better, and the parson had quickly realized that they made a powerful team.
But there had been other situations where the time for hope had simply passed. Aaron had asked the parson to be present for several scenarios when he knew last rites would be called for, and the parson's presence had provided great comfort to the afflicted, along with the friends and relatives who'd been present.
There had also been one or two miracles. That was the only word Aaron could use for them—situations where things were so dire that only the power of prayer could change the course of events.
Aaron had no idea what the criteria was for calling in the parson. He only knew that it was both wise and prudent to have him present to lead the prayers and provide his counsel and wisdom.
And those were definitely what was needed now.
“So you wish to pray?” the parson finally asked.
“Yes,” Aaron said. “I believe its time for that.”
“I see,” the parson said. “And is everyone present to gather and invoke the name of our Lord?”
Aaron looked at Jessie a
nd Susannah to see if that was the case, and Susannah turned to Jessie.
“Clem and Jake should be here as well,” she said softly. “Do you know if they'll be back soon?”
“They rode into town to get supplies for Christmas, this being Christmas Eve and all,” Jessie said. “They are due back shortly.”
“I see,” the parson said again, turning to Aaron. “Can we afford to wait for them? It would be best to have all present. There is power in numbers, after all, and faith is more powerful when it is multiplied through group prayer.”
“How about if you go check outside?” Aaron suggested. “Perhaps you'll be able to see them. I believe the parson can take care of young Jason for the moment.”
“Of course,” the parson said, taking Jason from Jessie. “I'll do whatever is necessary.”
He took the baby gently, and Jason seemed slightly disturbed to be separated even slightly from his younger sister. “Go, then,” the parson said, and quickly she was off.
Jessie rushed out the door, looking down the trail to see if she could spot Jake and Clem. At first she didn't see anything, but suddenly Susannah spotted their horses at the end of the trail leading up to the house, and she rushed to meet them.
“You must come!” she yelled frantically, and Clem and Jake picked up their pace when they saw her distress. “It's Willa! The baby's been born, and she's in trouble. . .come quickly!”
Clem and Jake couldn't quite hear everything she was yelling, but the urgency of the situation was obvious. They dismounted when they got to Susannah and rushed to the house, desperate to help in any way possible.
“The baby's a little better,” the parson said when they burst into the house, and he nodded somberly to both Clem and Jake.
“But Willa needs our help and the help of the Lord. . .will you join us in prayer?”
“Of course,” Clem said, looking around to see what he could do to help. All three brothers were men of action to a large degree, so it was normal for them to want to do something that would instantly make a difference. “Just tell us what to do.”
The parson looked around, trying to figure out the best way to organize a prayer circle. Aaron needed to be close to Willa and her baby girl, of course, and Jessie and Susannah would also have to hold Jason and his new sister next to one another.
He spoke softly, positioning both the women and the men, making sure the infants stayed settled during the shuffling about. The parson also made sure that Aaron was included in the circle, and the doctor took Willa's hand so that she would be part of the healing as well.
“Let us pray,” he said softly when everyone was arranged properly. They all bowed their heads, waiting for the parson to take the lead, and a sense of calmness settled over everyone, even the infant Jason.
“Dear Lord, bless these people and their families as we approach the celebration of the birth of your son, Jesus Christ,” he began. “Help us remember the power of the sacrifice you made, and allow us to celebrate the power of faith, hope and redemption that comes with this holiday.”
Everyone nodded as he paused in prayer, and for a moment the parson heard one of the women sob in sadness.
“We ask that your will be done,” he said simply, “whatever that may be. And we ask that you help heal this infant and the woman who bore her, just as your son Jesus healed many of the faithful during his time with us here on earth with us.”
His invocation seemed to lift the spirits of everyone, and the parson paused once again to assess the mood of all present. He nodded at Aaron, who smiled slightly in return, and the parson wondered if perhaps Willa's condition wasn't beginning to improve slightly.
“I would like to offer up a series of Christmas prayers for this sacred holiday,” he said simply, deciding that this was the best way to continue. “I would also ask everyone here to focus on the power of healing in the spirit of the holiday, not to produce any desired result, but simply to acknowledge that we wish God's will be done.”
With that, the parson broke off from the circle so he could read from his prayer book, and Clem and Jessie joined hands where he had been so that the circle could remain complete.
For the first hour or so, nothing happened. The condition of Willa and her baby girl didn't seem to improve, but they didn't get worse, either.
Then, finally, things took a turn for the better. Willa began to stir slightly, and the baby girl started to move more frequently, bringing the beginning of true hope to everyone in the circle. They began to pray more fervently, although Aaron had to break the circle briefly to minister to both of his patients.
It was young Jason who signaled the genuine breakthrough that took place shortly thereafter. As his sister began stirring, he opened up and let his feelings be known, making a series of baby noises that sounded suspiciously as if he wished to join in the prayer. They all smiled when they heard him fussing, and Willa and the baby both seemed to improve noticeably after his vocalizations.
They maintained their vigil into the night, until finally Christmas arrived. When it did, it seemed clear that both Willa and her little girl would be all right, although they were weak and exhausted from the ordeal of giving birth.
But there was little doubt that a Christmas miracle had taken place, one that would go down in the annals of Last Chance as one of the most amazing events in Western lore.
The McCourtys were given much to celebrate on the eve of that fateful holiday, and Aaron remained grateful for the rest of his days for the power of faith that had been channeled through him, giving him the ability to help God heal both Willa and her baby.
Book 2 - The Mail Order Bride Marries the Mayor on Christmas Day - Part 1
Part 1
Lucille Chisum
Part 1 - The Mail Order Bride Marries the Mayor on Christmas Day
“I don't understand, Father,” Sally said, squinting at the fine print at the bottom of the bill. “What about the farmers?”
“What about them?” Harlan Galvin asked, frowning as he puffed his chest forward without realizing it, as he inserted his thumbs under the lapels of his suit jacket.
“This bill, the last clause. . .it usurps their land,” his daughter said simply. “And it gives them no recourse. At least none that I can see.”
Harlan shook his head in surprise. He'd inserted hidden clauses in dozens of the bills he'd introduced as a state senator of the great state of Maryland, and for the most part no one had ever noticed.
But his daughter was different. Sally had been working as his political secretary for six months, ever since she'd graduated from finishing school, and this was the fourth time she'd caught something he was hoping to slip through the legislature unnoticed.
“Well,” Harlan said, momentarily caught with his pants down, as it were, “that's just part of the process.”
Sally cocked her head and looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“We intend to introduce a sub-clause to this bill,” he said, making up his answer as he went. “so they can buy their land back.”
“But why should they have to do that?” she asked.
“Because of the process,” Harlan repeated. “That's how it works.”
“I still don't understand,” Sally said, trying to reason it through. “They bought their land fair and square when it was originally settled. Why should they have to buy it back from the mill owners a second time?”
“Because it's necessary!” he said, thinking that if he raised his voice the logic of his position might sound more sensible. “To promote economic growth.”
“For the mill owners,” Sally concluded. She pointed at the rest of the bill, the text above the fine print in the one-page synopsis her father had given her to edit and retype. “At least that's what it says here from what I'm reading.”
Harlan smiled. “Well, there are a lot of different ways to interpret it,” he added. “It is a land deal, after all.”
Sally pursed her lips. “Seems fairly straightforward to me,
” she noted.
“In some ways yes, in other ways no,” her father added, equivocating as if he was about to start a filibuster. “Politics can be quite complicated, my dear.”
Finally, Sally decided to let go of the argument. She knew the futility of debating a point with her father, who could turn every aspect of an argument upside down, inside out, or into something completely different if necessary.
Harlan Galvin had been a barrister before he turned his ambitions to politics, and he quickly discovered he had a talent for it.
The very sorts of equivocations and surreptitious logic that made him seem untrustworthy in a courtroom were ideally suited for the political process, which Harlan quickly discovered depended on identifying key constituent groups and making arrangements that best suited their special interests.
In other words, Sally thought to herself, it was all about playing both ends against the middle. She'd watched her father's success through her childhood with a combination of pride and embarrassment, knowing he had a reputation for having a formidable intellect and a rather weak moral backbone.
And now I am part of that process, she thought to herself with some chagrin.
“Can you just get that typed up for me?” Harlan asked finally when he was sure Sally was ready to give in to his logic.
“Sure,” she replied, giving him a smile that she hoped didn't look as false as it felt.
“You want it in script, or typed?”
“Typed,” Harlan replied. “That seems to be the way of the future with these new bills as they go into proposal.”
Sally smiled at him. “Makes it easier to read the fine print, though,” she added, wondering if that would draw his ire.
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 62