Forever by Your Side

by Tracie Peterson

  “I know he does. I’ve tried to repair the relationship as well.” Clint shook his head. “The Indians act like spoiled children.”

  “Not all act that way,” Faith countered. “No more than white people do. I’d say this is more of a personal feud.”

  “Nevertheless, there is a growing hatred among the Indians, and I fear it’s going to explode and destroy everyone and everything. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do. A lot of work.”

  “We have our duties as well.” Connie headed for the front door. “Enjoy your cake, and don’t forget to bring back Mama’s dish.”

  “I won’t.”

  Clint looked at the cake and then at the work he had to manage. Supplies needed to be ordered.

  He dipped his little finger in the compote and then licked it off. Supplies could wait. He picked up the plate and headed to the kitchen to find a fork.

  “The baby isn’t moving much,” Ann told Faith. Ruth gave a weak nod.

  Connie took Ruth’s hand. Ruth tried to squeeze Connie’s fingers, but it was a poor attempt. Whatever had been wrong was still hanging on, and she wasn’t very strong.

  Faith felt Ruth’s abdomen. She pressed the baby first one way and then another. She frowned. “When did you last feel him move?”

  Ruth shook her head. “I’m not sure. I’ve mostly been sleeping.”

  “Which is good for you both.” Faith straightened. “You rest. I’m going to speak with your stepmother.” She motioned to Connie and Ann. Once in the main living area, Faith wasted no time. “Do you know when the baby was last moving?”

  “Just before she got sick. I think that was Friday. I remember her laughing about how he was sure to break her ribs with his kicking.” Ann grabbed Faith’s arm. “Please. What is wrong with her?”

  “I’m not sure. It could be one of a number of maladies. What concerns me is that I couldn’t get any reaction out of the baby. I’m going to go back and examine her further, but I’m worried.”

  Ann looked at Connie with tears in her eyes. “My poor girl. She’s talked of nothing but this baby for months. Why would God take him from her now? Have we angered God?”

  Connie put her arm around Ann and led her to the table. Together they sat. Connie finally worked up the nerve to speak. “Bad things sometimes happen, Ann, but this isn’t about God being angry. I’m certain of that. I’m sure Mama could explain it better than I can. She lost a couple of babies and nearly died when I was born.”

  Ann shook her head. “Sam is looking forward to being a father. He’s already so angry, and I fear he won’t be able to bear this. I just don’t know what to do.”

  “We can pray about it,” Connie said. “We can pray right now.” She took Ann’s hand. “Oh, Father, you know how hard this is. We want so much for Ruth and the baby to be all right. Please touch them both and give Faith wisdom as to what she can do to help. Father, this is such a difficult time for Ann. Give her strength and understanding to help Sam through this as well. We don’t always know why these things happen, Lord, but we know that you have promised to be with us always.”

  Faith came out of the bedroom. “I can’t tell if the baby is still alive. I must get him delivered. I’m going back to the house to have Aunt Mercy mix us up a special tea that will bring on Ruth’s labor.”

  Without warning, the front door burst open, and a very angry Sam came into the house. “Where is Ruth?”

  “She’s ill, as I told you,” Ann said, getting to her feet. “She’s just in there.” She pointed to the bedroom. “She would be pleased to see you.”

  Sam looked at Connie and Faith. “Why are you here?”

  “We’re friends with Ann and your wife,” Faith replied. “Ann and I were very close when I lived among the Rogue River Tututni. Are you Ruth’s husband, Sam?” She smiled. “I’ve heard so many good things about you.”

  He glared. “Get out of here. You have no right to be here.”

  “They are my friends, Sam,” Ann protested. “They’re good people. They helped us make baby clothes.”

  “We don’t need help from white women. There are plenty of good sewers among our people.”

  “Of course there are,” Ann countered. “But my friends wanted to do this out of love.”

  “The white man knows nothing of love except for himself.” He pointed to the door. “Get out of here and don’t come back.”

  “Sam—”

  “If they don’t go, I’ll take Ruth somewhere else to deliver our child. You may be her mother, but I will not honor that if you allow these two to remain.”

  “There’s no need to fight.” Connie took Faith’s arm and prayed Sam wouldn’t notice her medical bag. “We’re going. But, Sam, there’s something I want you to know. I care for your wife and Ann. I want to do good things for them and help them in any way I can. You too. I’d like for us to be friends. I remember when our fathers were best friends. Like brothers. I’d like to see that happen again. I want our families to be one.”

  “No. That will never happen. Your father betrayed my father, and because of that, my mother died. We will never be one. Now, go!”

  The rage in his expression was evident, and for the first time Connie feared he might kill them. “Good night, Ann.” She kissed the older woman’s cheek and whispered, “We’ll find a way to come back.”

  Faith hugged Ann and appeared to say something as well.

  Connie moved to the door. “We’ll be praying for all of you.”

  They had barely stepped out of the house when they heard Sam yell at Ann.

  “This won’t bode well for Ruth,” Faith said. “She’s not doing well. I think there’s something wrong with the baby or else there’s something wrong with Ruth that’s causing problems for the baby. I fear that if she doesn’t have the baby soon, they might both die.”

  “Is she strong enough to deliver?” Connie feared she already knew the answer.

  “I can’t be sure. She might require surgery.”

  Connie shook her head. “Sam would never allow that.”

  Faith shrugged. “He doesn’t have to know. Maybe Clint or your father could keep him occupied elsewhere.”

  “Maybe, but he hates them as much as anyone. I would almost be afraid to ask them to do that. Sam might well kill us all.”

  “But if we don’t risk it, Ruth will die and the baby with her.” Faith paused. “There’s something else. Ruth said more about the house with rifles. She said it’s just north of where the big bend in the river starts. It’s hidden in the woods, and they always have guards.”

  Chapter 18

  In the middle of the night, the entire Browning household was awakened by pounding on the back door.

  Connie came out of her room in her nightgown, her hair hanging to her waist. This kind of thing had happened often when she was younger. Someone would come to them in the middle of the night for any number of reasons.

  She threw her mother and father a look of questioning as they joined her in the hallway. They were soon followed by her aunt and uncle and Faith. Then a shirtless Tom came from his room near the stairs, and Connie’s eyes widened. She met his gaze in the dim light of her mother’s lamp. There was a look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite understand.

  “Here, you might need this,” Faith said, handing Connie her robe.

  Connie had forgotten all about her modesty. “Thank you.” She quickly donned the robe and tied the belt. Maybe that was why Tom had such an odd look in his eyes. She felt her face grow hot. She dared to look at him, but he was busy wrestling on his shirt.

  There were voices coming from downstairs. Apparently Isaac had beaten them all to the door. Her father went down the steps first, with Uncle Lance and Tom following close behind. Connie saw that Papa and Uncle Lance both had revolvers. It was only then that she grew afraid. Had the time for the uprising come?

  Isaac met them all at the bottom of the steps. “Ann is here. Something is wrong with Ruth. I sent her back home and told her I’
d bring Faith right over.”

  “I’m going too,” Connie declared. “She might need me.”

  “We could come as well,” her mother offered.

  “No, it’s probably best only Faith and Connie go. They’re younger and can run faster if the need arises,” Papa said. “With Sam making his anger clear, I don’t wish to let any of you go, but I know we must help.”

  “I’ll get dressed,” Faith said and started for the stairs.

  Connie followed her into the room they shared. “Do you think you’ll have to operate?”

  “It’s hard to tell at this point. If the baby is already on its way, we may only have to help with the delivery. Have you ever done anything like that?”

  Connie shook her head. “I went with Mama a couple of times when she helped local women, but only to watch.”

  “Just follow my instructions, and we’ll be fine.”

  Connie kept thinking about Faith’s comment an hour later. It was already light, and she had no idea if Sam would stop by to see his wife. It worried her to think he might come and catch them there.

  Ruth was doing her best to give birth to her child, but it was rough going. At one point the poor girl fainted, scaring Connie half to death. Faith handled the situation without batting an eye. She was so capable and qualified. She seemed at ease and without worry as she talked to Ruth after she regained consciousness.

  “Just try to rest between the waves of pain,” Faith told her.

  Connie looked at Ann. “Sam won’t stop by now that it’s morning, will he?”

  Ann shook her head. “He’s helping his father and brothers round up horses. He told me yesterday that he’d be gone for a couple of days.”

  “Good. That’s very good.” Connie looked at Faith. “We should be all right.”

  Faith motioned for Ann and Connie to follow her out of the room. “If she doesn’t make progress soon, I may have to operate. She’s much too weak, and I’m afraid this could kill her—not to mention the baby. Her sickness has already made her fragile. I don’t think she can take much more.”

  Ann nodded. “You do whatever you have to, Faith. Try your best to save them both.”

  Faith did what she could, but the progress remained slow. Ruth struggled to push, but there was no fight left in her, and Faith decided to give her a tea that would help expel the baby.

  “I need you to go to your mother and ask for more of the tea we used to quicken Ruth’s labor.”

  Connie nodded. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

  She made her way via the shortcut, worrying about what would happen if Ruth died. Sam was already so angry. He would probably start a war all on his own if he lost his wife and child.

  Her mother was in the garden when Connie reached their house. She was cutting stalks of rhubarb and humming to herself. Aunt Hope was at the other end of the garden, picking herbs. She glanced up and saw Connie approaching.

  “Mercy, Connie’s back.”

  Connie hurried to her mother’s side. “Faith asked me to get more of the tea that quickens labor. Ruth isn’t doing well, and she’s making such little progress that Faith is worried.”

  Her mother nodded. “Follow me.”

  They went into the house and to the small room where Connie’s mother cured herbs and created her healing concoctions. She reached up and took down a jar of crushed leaves. Then she selected a bottle of liquid.

  “This is a strong tincture of the same herbs that are in the tea. I’ve had great success with it, getting labor to progress. Tell Faith this might be easier to use than the tea. Especially if Ruth is very weak. She might not be up to drinking much. A few drops of this will do the trick.”

  Connie nodded. “I think Faith is pretty worried. You might pray.”

  “We’ve been doing that since you left. Has Sam tried to stop by?”

  “No, he’s off gathering horses. He won’t be back until late tomorrow.”

  Mama looked relieved. “I’m glad. That alone is answered prayer.”

  “I’d better get back.” Connie kissed her mother’s cheek, then made a mad dash for the back door.

  By the time she reached Ann’s house, Connie realized she’d seen nothing of Tom or the other men in her family. She wondered what they were up to. Hopefully they were figuring out where the weapons were hidden. If they could only find the house with the cache of guns, then the Indians wouldn’t have the weapons needed to start a war.

  “I’m back,” Connie said, hurrying into the house.

  Faith came out of the bedroom. She looked quite worried, and Connie couldn’t help fearing the worst. “Is she . . . dead?”

  “No. But I fear she will be if that baby doesn’t come soon.”

  Connie held up the bottle and jar. “Mama said this tincture would work faster and be stronger than the tea.”

  Faith took the bottle. “Good. We’ll give it a try.”

  Around three o’clock that afternoon, the baby was delivered. A stillborn son. Faith wrapped him carefully in a blanket provided by Ann. “I’m so sorry,” she said as she placed the baby beside Ruth.

  “My baby. My baby,” Ruth murmured and wept.

  He was perfectly formed and looked like he was sleeping. Was Faith certain he was dead?

  “We wanted to call him Joseph—after Sam’s father and my mother’s son who died. Now he walks with them.” Ruth pulled the baby close and washed his face with her tears.

  “I’m so sorry, Ruth. I know you’re devastated,” Faith told her. “But you are very weak. We need you to fight to live.”

  Ann took a seat on the bed beside her stepdaughter. She used a damp washcloth to wipe Ruth’s forehead. “Don’t leave me, daughter. Do not go after your son. Stay with us.”

  “A baby needs his mother.” Ruth’s words were barely audible.

  Connie could barely stand it. The grief of Ann and Ruth was so painful to bear, and yet Faith managed it stoically. Perhaps that was what made her a good doctor.

  After about thirty minutes, Ann got up and took the baby. “I’ll wash him.” She and Ruth had said very little, but words seemed unimportant. The love between them was their strength and consolation.

  By suppertime, Faith told Connie they’d done all they could and should probably slip away—hopefully unnoticed. They made their way home, keeping to the forested path rather than the main roads.

  Connie wanted to talk about what she’d experienced but didn’t know what to say. How could a person speak of such a sad thing and make any sense of it? But still she wanted very much to understand.

  “Why did the baby die?”

  Faith turned to her. “I don’t know. It happens sometimes, and we don’t always understand why. Ruth was sick—some sort of ague. Apparently, it made the baby sick as well. Or perhaps the baby was sick and made Ruth ill. I just don’t know. It’s one of the most frustrating things about being a doctor. We do what we can to understand, but it isn’t always possible to have answers. Sometimes babies just die, and sometimes both mother and child die. It’s still possible Ruth may pass away, especially if she’s lost the will to live.”

  They walked in silence the rest of the way home. Faith immediately went inside while Connie lingered outside. She heard Faith explaining what had happened, and tears came to her eyes. She could never be as strong as Faith. She could never be as strong as Mama or Aunt Hope. She sat down by the back steps and buried her face in her hands.

  “Are you all right?” Tom asked, his voice gentle and soothing.

  Connie looked up and shook her head. Tom sat beside her and put his arm around her. Connie slumped against him, grateful for his support.

  “Ruth’s baby died. Faith couldn’t save him. Ruth may die too.”

  “I’m so sorry. That must have been hard for everyone.”

  She nodded. “I so admire Faith. She was so strong and brave. I could never have that kind of strength.”

  “You’re strong in other ways. Everyone has their strengths.”


  “I just don’t understand why the baby had to die.” She sniffed back tears. “Faith didn’t either. She said sometimes there just isn’t an answer. But that’s not good enough for me. There’s always an answer. We just don’t know what it is. But we should.”

  “Maybe so, but knowing won’t change things.”

  She loved the sound of his voice. She pressed her ear against his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. That soldier could have killed him, and the thought of this made Connie cry all the more. Tom didn’t seem to mind. He held her tight and never tried to hurry her grieving.

  What a great friend Tom was to her. No one cared about her like he did. No one . . . loved her as he did. She thought about his supposed feelings for her. Was he truly in love with her? Could she love him in return? She already did love him, in a way. He was her dear friend and always managed to see her through bad times. There was no one in the world whose company she would rather have.

  She eased away from his hold. “I’m sorry for being so weepy. I’ve never had to deal with something like this.” She studied his face for a moment, then gave him a hint of a smile. “Thank you. I should go and make sure Faith is all right. I’m sure she is, but I should check.”

  “Of course,” he said in a hushed voice.

  Connie hurried inside and found her mother and Aunt Hope cleaning up after dinner.

  “Are you all right?” Mama asked.

  “I think so. I don’t know how Faith does it. She’s so strong, and no matter how bad things got, she managed without fear. I wish I could be more like her.” Connie moved toward the stairs. “I’m going to go lie down. I’m just so tired.”

  “You have a nice long rest. We’ll bring you up something to eat,” her mother said. “Don’t worry about anything.”

  Connie nodded. She heard her uncle and father in the living room. It sounded like they were playing chess, so she didn’t bother to greet them and instead made her way upstairs. Each step seemed to take more effort than the one before. She went to the bedroom she was sharing with Faith and quietly pushed the door open. Faith was curled up on her bed, her face buried in her pillow, weeping softly.