by Emily Woods
This morning over breakfast, he’d seen Thomas finagle a seat right beside her and talked to her about everything and anything. John felt quite sorry for him as he clearly had no idea how to woo a woman. Clearly, he didn't care that Elise was nearly two years his senior, and every so often, he would refer to the fact that he was the eldest in his own family as though that was supposed to make him sound a bit mature for his age.
“So, I write to my ma some, but she pretty much knows that I've got a busy life. I'm working real hard so I can earn enough money to buy some land one day or at least build a house. Then I'll be ready to settle down.” Thomas’s face was earnest and bright.
“Oh, I see,” Elise responded, her voice neutral. “It is sure that when you are ready, God will show you the way.”
John was closest to the two of them, and only he overheard the exchange. Clearly, Elise was not encouraging the young man, but equally clear was that Thomas wasn’t inclined to view it that way.
“I know I'm young, but that doesn't mean I can't know my own mind, does it?”
Now John was wishing he'd chosen another place to sit. Was Thomas about to confess his feelings right here and now?
“Rider's coming,” Marge announced, her voice carrying over all the others. “Must be a telegram.”
The arrival of a telegram was always cause for commotion. It usually signaled something either very good or very bad, such as the birth or death of a family member.
“I'll get it,” Luke volunteered, abandoning his breakfast to meet the rider.
“This rider must have left the town very early to come here now,” Elise observed, sitting up a little in her chair to see. John suspected that she was also grateful for the diversion, although Thomas looked rather put out. “I hope it is not some sad news.”
John figured her family must be on her mind. His own breakfast finished, John went to find out what the matter was. When he stepped outside, Luke was regarding him warily.
“It's for you,” he said, handing him the envelope. “I hope it's nothing bad.”
Fingering the paper, John realized what it must be about. He hadn't expected an answer so soon, but that couldn't be helped now. “Thanks. I'll, uh, go read it now.”
With long strides, he made his way back to the bunkhouse where he could read the telegram in private. As soon as he entered, he closed the door, leaned against it, and tore open the envelope. Inside, his former superior, Ronald Irving, informed him that a package regarding his request was on its way. The message was so cryptic that not even the sharpest person would be able to discern its meaning, but if anyone else had read it, that person would surely have had questions that he was not prepared to answer.
John knew that such a package would take up to a month to arrive unless it was sent by special delivery. As a favor to him, John wouldn't be surprised if Ronald would do such a thing. The man had been very compassionate about his leaving. The cost would be exorbitant, but Ronald wouldn't have batted an eye at such a thing.
“Well,” he mumbled to himself. “For better or worse, I guess I'll know what you're about Elizabetta Romano. And may God grant me wisdom to know what to do with the knowledge.”
Chapter 12
“How are you feeling today?” Elise asked Kate a little later that morning. “You seem to be a little more tired. Did you not sleep very well?”
“I don't know,” Kate answered. “I feel like I didn't sleep all night long. My belly feels so tight. It doesn't hurt exactly, but it's so uncomfortable.”
“Oh, I see.” Elise put her hands across Kate's abdomen. It felt as hard as a rock. Although Kate wasn't carrying around any extra weight that would normally make her feel soft, there was a definite difference between yesterday now. Then, in a moment, the tension subsided and her belly felt as it had yesterday.
“Whew,” Kate said with a breath of relief. “Whatever you did worked. I feel better now.”
Without comment, Elise merely offered her a forced smile. She hadn't done anything. However, Kate didn't know that, so she didn't contradict her. “I am glad then. I will make some more tea for you, yes?”
She hoped to have a few minutes to consult her books as well. The discomfort that Kate was feeling could be the onset of early labor, but it was hard to tell that apart from false labor, something she'd also read about over the past few days.
“Thank you, and please make some for yourself. You look very tired.”
Indeed, she felt very tired. She'd been up half the night reading again. Some days, her body betrayed her and she fell asleep at the desk. It'd happened more than once that she'd awoken in the early hours of the morning with her hand on her arms and the candle burned down to nothing.
“I am fine. I do not have a baby growing inside of me. Do not worry.”
Before Kate could make another compassionate comment, Elise swept out of the room and hastened to the kitchen to put the kettle on.
“You're looking a little peaked,” Marge commented. “After bringing Kate her tea, you go have a lie-down. I think you still haven't gotten use to the time change.”
“It has been almost one month,” Elise replied with a smile. “I do not think I can blame the time difference anymore.”
“Well, whatever it is, I think you should let yourself have a bit of a rest. Maybe you're coming down with something, and that wouldn't be good for Kate or the baby. In fact, why don't you go now? I can take the tea to Kate.”
Marge would not be dissuaded, so Elise found herself back in bed at ten o'clock in the morning, her mind far too busy spinning with worry to rest. Instead, she took up her book and reread everything on false labor and early labor. The books said it was difficult to tell the two apart aside from the regular progression of pain. If it became more intense and the time between lessened, there was a far greater chance that the labor was real. Panic set in as she realized that Kate could be about to give birth a full month early. No one else in the house would know that, only her.
Despite the insistence of both Kate and her aunt, Elise found that she could not rest until she knew for sure what was going on. Flinging open the door, she hurried to Kate's room and began to ply her with questions about the pain. Upon finding out that the pain was becoming a bit more intense each time, she rushed to find someone to go for the doctor.
“John!” she exclaimed when she saw him pass by the house. “Please get the doctor now! Kate is having her baby, but it is much too early. I worry for her.”
He stood there blinking rapidly and appeared not to comprehend her request, so she repeated it with greater intensity.
“Get the doctor now!” she fairly shouted. At that, he jumped a little and ran out the door toward the barn, nearly tripping over his feet in the process.
Marge began flitting around, looking for clean towels, asking a multitude of questions and boiling water. “Don't rightly know why I'm doing this 'cept it seems to be what a body does while waiting for babies,” she muttered.
“No, it is good,” Elise told her, remembering that clean water was necessary to wash both baby and mother after the child was born. “But it is my hope, my prayer, that baby will not come before the doctor.” She prayed there would be time.
Still, the ride back and forth would be almost four hours, and then only if John was able to find the doctor immediately and bring him back directly.
Upon examination, Elise found Kate in more distress. She helped her roll onto her side and rubbed her lower back.
“You are doing very well,” she said with remarkable calmness. “Even though baby is early, you will be fine. John is getting the doctor now.”
“I want Luke!” Kate wailed. “Where is he? Why isn't he here?”
Elise's heart tore in her chest, but she couldn't leave Kate to go look for Luke.
“There, there, love,” Marge murmured, wiping Kate's brow. “He'll be back real soon. Don't you worry. It's near on lunchtime, and that'll bring him in for sure.”
With a quick look at her
watch, Elise saw that it was thirty minutes before twelve, the usual lunch hour. It worried her that the house would soon be overrun by men. In order for Kate not to suffer more than necessary, she would need peace and quiet.
“Could the men have their lunch outside today?” she whispered to Marge. “It will be much better for Kate.” She was terribly glad it was a school day and Maddie was not at home. She would be distressed to see her mother this way.
Marge nodded and left to make the necessary arrangements. Elise helped Kate get in a more comfortable position and held her hand. Although she longed to return to her books and see what else she could do, Kate refused to let go of her.
The struggle continued beyond what Elise thought was reasonable, and she attempted to do an external exam. By feeling her abdomen, she should be able to tell where the baby was, but she didn't quite know what to look for. However, with more prayer and focus, she thought that perhaps the baby was not quite in the right position. Fear threatened to overwhelm her.
“Dear cousin, will you please excuse me one moment? I will return very quickly.”
Fear etched on her face, Kate bravely released her hand and whispered, “Hurry back please.”
She left the room and was on her way to consult her books when John came in again, his breath rapid as though he'd run a long way.
“How can you be back?” she asked in amazement. “I only just sent you out.”
“I...was on...my way, but Luke...” He held up his hand and took a few deep breaths. “I saw Luke and he insisted on going. Says his horse is faster. He sent me back to check on you. Is everything okay? Is Kate going to be okay?”
Somehow his question released all the fear that had been building up inside her and a huge sob broke forth. She ran from his presence to her room, but he followed on her heels.
“What is it?” he demanded. “Tell me!”
He stood over her bed as she sobbed into her hands. “No, I cannot. You will despise me more than you already do.”
“I-I don't despise you!”
She looked up into his face and saw the truth, but knew that he would certainly hate her when he found out the truth. In that moment, she couldn’t hold it back.
“I-I am a liar and now Kate may die...and her baby too!” she wailed, throwing herself on her bed and crying in earnest.
For a moment, John looked on helplessly, but then he knelt by her side. Leaning close, but not touching, he murmured, “Elise, you need to tell me what you're talking about, or I won't be able to help you.”
She stopped crying and peered at him from around the crook of her elbow. “I am not a midwife,” she whispered.
Slowly, he seemed to absorb the news without much surprise. “I see. Then why did you say you were?”
“I did not!” she exclaimed, sitting upright and feeling almost indignant. “You say I am, you and Luke when I first come. I only write that I want to help with baby. In my letter, perhaps I explain wrong, but then, I come, you say so…and I-I not correct you.” Her English skills fell away in her distress, but she could barely talk between her sobs, let alone use proper grammar.
His face an unreadable mask, John merely asked, “Why not? It would have been an easy thing to do.” His voice was calm, but without judgment. It sounded like he was asking about the weather.
Her voice faltered. “Because...then maybe you do not want me to come, and I cannot go home.”
Another scream rent the air and made their conversation pointless. Kate was in pain and most likely terribly afraid.
He shook his head a little. “Elise, you can tell me the whole story later, and I'll do what I can to help you, but for now, you need to help Kate. I saw your books. You've been studying, right? Well then, you know more than anyone else around here. She needs you. You can do this, and God will help you.”
She used her apron to wipe away her tears. “You believe this? Even after I tell you the truth?”
With a firm nod, he extended his hand to her and after a moment's hesitation, she took it.
“God will guide you. You believe that, don't you?” When she nodded, he continued, “So do I. Now, let's go.”
Elise rushed to her books for confirmation of her concern. There were very clear instructions for how to find out if the baby was in the right position and how to turn it. It also stated that it took a lot of determination to flip the baby and could possibly hurt the mother, but not the baby.
“I think I know what it is wrong,” she told him. “Baby should be head down, not up. It is very hard for baby to come out this way.”
“Can you do something about that?” he asked, his brows low as he looked down at the pictures. “Can you turn the baby around?”
“I will try, but I hope so much that I do not make mistake.”
Grabbing the books, John beckoned her to follow. “Come on. You need to try.”
Upon returning, they found Kate writhing in pain. “Why does no one tell you that it hurts this much?” she moaned. “Women should tell their daughters!”
Elise would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so dire. “Then, perhaps, no one will have babies,” she said lightly, trying to bring a smile to Kate's face.
The result was more of a grimace, but Elise didn't give up. “And I have heard that women forget the pain once the baby is born. I can tell you that this is true, although I have no children myself.”
“Really and truly?” Kate asked, her eyes wide with fear and worry. “You promise?”
Even though she only had her own mother's word for it, Elise clung to it. Also, she'd seen her mother change from crying to laughing within a minute of her brother being born. “Yes, dear cousin, I truly promise you.”
When she examined Kate again, she felt quite certain that the baby was upside down, but since she was only thirty-six weeks, she had every reason to believe she could force the baby into the right position.
“I think I will need your help,” she told John, her eyes serious. “I may not be strong enough. You might need to turn the baby.”
Now his eyes went wide with terror. “I can't put my hands on her,” he whispered. “Especially not there! What would Luke say?”
“He would thank you for saving his wife and baby!” Kate shouted at him through gritted teeth. “Just do what she says, John! Please!”
At first, Elise tried her best, but the baby was too stubborn for her, and she quickly grew fatigued. Finally, she ordered John to stand beside the bed, applied more lotion to Kate's belly, and then directed him on what to do.
Kate gripped Elise's hands, her face screwed up in pain, but she never made a sound as John used his large hands to carefully push and twist the baby. “Are you sure I'm doing this right?” he asked, his voice desperate. “It doesn’t feel like it!”
Then, suddenly, without his applying any more pressure, the baby moved on its own accord. The three of them watched in fascination at the huge movement. For a long moment, no one said a word, but then Elise jumped into action.
“Out! Out!” she cried to John, at which he nearly tripped over his feet to do her bidding. Once he was gone, she very carefully, very gingerly, did an internal exam. Kate was stoic throughout, gripping the sides of the mattress. “The baby is head down!” Elise shouted in exultation. “It will be born soon!”
From her studying, Elise knew that the baby was well on its way, and although she was still worried about the early delivery, she praised God that John had been able to flip it.
Less than two hours later, Elise helped deliver Lucas Jonathan into the world. He came out screaming, but pink and healthy, if a bit small. She washed him with the boiled water, which was now just warm, and wrapped him up in a clean towel before placing him in Kate's outstretched arms.
“He's so little,” the new mother exclaimed. “I can't believe how little.”
“Not so little,” Elise assured her. “He is crying so hard. That is a very good sign.”
A few moments, later Elise helped her nurse the new b
aby, something that he took to right away. Then, alongside Marge, she cleaned up both mother and the room, making it presentable for Luke when he finally arrived, huffing and puffing.
“Doctor is delivering another baby...be here soon...as he can!”
“Never mind that,” Marge said with a huge smile. “Come say hello to your son.”
Dazed, Luke stared in disbelief. “He's born? He's here? He's...okay?”
She took him by the arm and led him to where Kate was nursing. “He's here, he's well, and he's hungry!”
Kate laughed a little. “Come here, Papa,” she coaxed. Elise watched as Luke approached with great hesitation.
“I need to go wash,” he said.
“You can look without washing,” Elise teased him, pushing him forward a little.
Wide-eyed with wonder, Luke leaned forward and drank in the sight of his son nestled against Kate.
“He's beautiful,” he whispered. “And he's really okay?”
Kate and Elise both nodded. “Very well,” Elise said. “Because of John.”
Luke turned to look at his friend, who was standing just outside the door. “No,” he said with a shake of his head. “Because of Elise.”
She smiled at him. “Because of God,” she replied with a soft smile. “He was here with us.” A gentle chorus of 'Amen' rounded the room. “Now, everyone out, please. Mother and baby must rest.”
As everyone left, John turned around and caught her eye, giving her a soft look. She wasn't sure how to interpret it, but one thing was for certain: she was relieved to give up the lies and deception. As soon as the time was right, she would tell everyone concerned the truth.
Chapter 13
Everyone celebrated the birth of the baby with joyful hearts. The doctor arrived and declared both mother and baby healthy, praising Elsie for her quick thinking in turning the baby. Maddie was the proudest big sister in the world and rarely left little Lucas’s side. She declared him to be ‘her baby’ and insisted everyone have clean hands before touching him.