Dawn's Prelude (22 page)

He brought a cup of coffee to his desk and checked the time. He had come home to tend his ledgers and get caught up on book-work while Lydia took a much-needed nap. The growing burden of the child kept her from sleeping well at night.

Kjell was glad that Liddie was content to remain home instead of going into town, as Marston Gray was still present. He had hoped the man would have left by now, and his presence worried Kjell. What was the man waiting for? The only obvious answer seemed to be the baby’s birth.

Would Gray truly try to take the child, as he had threatened? Kjell had talked to one of the town’s two lawyers, who assured him Gray could do very little. At least not legally. This caused Kjell even more anxiety. He knew from Lydia’s stories and Marston’s own actions that operating within the confines of legality didn’t seem to be of a concern to the man.

A knock on the door sent Kjell to answer it before Lydia woke up. He found Joshua on the other side of the door, looking worried.

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I’d better come share something I heard.”

“Come on in but keep quiet,” Kjell told Joshua. “Lydia’s sleeping.”

Joshua nodded and removed his cap. “I was cutting ice today, and a couple of the fellows there were from the Double-Decker.”

Kjell went to the stove and held up the pot. “Coffee?”

Joshua nodded. Kjell poured him a cup and handed it over. “Go on.”

“Well, it seems they knew about the Sidorovs and the problems they’d had with you. One of them was commenting on how if he’d been hired to burn us out, there wouldn’t be a stick of wood left standing.”

Kjell’s eyes narrowed. “If he’d been hired . . . Is he implying the Sidorovs were hired to do the job? That they didn’t just do it from their own desire for vengeance?”

“That’s the way he talked, Kjell. I don’t know who might have paid them to do something like that, but I figured you ought to know that you have an enemy out there somewhere. If it happened once, it could happen again.”

“And what of the boys?”

“He didn’t say anything about them, but it all fits together. If the Sidorovs were hired to burn us out and the boys were there, they would have had reason to kill them. They were the only ones who could have identified them.”

Kjell clenched his jaw and fought to contain the anger welling within him. He felt confident that Gray had been the one to hire the Sidorovs, but how could he ever prove it?

“I’d best go,” Joshua said, putting down the cup. “I’m sorry to bring this kind of news.”

Kjell nodded. “You were right to come.”

Upstairs, the bedroom door opened, and Kjell could hear Lydia making her way downstairs. “Not a word of this to her,” he told Joshua.

The young man nodded and headed for the door. Lydia was halfway down when he turned back to Kjell. “I’ll see you at the mill on Monday.”

“I’ll be there,” Kjell replied.

“Afternoon to you, Mrs. Lindquist.”

“Afternoon, Joshua.” She looked at her husband as the door closed. “What brought him all the way out here in the cold?”

“Nothing all that important,” Kjell muttered and turned away.

He didn’t want Lydia to sense his concern.

“You’re upset,” she said, coming to touch his shoulder. “Is it bad news?”

“No!” he snapped. He pulled away and went to pour himself a cup of coffee. “Just forget about it.”

It wasn’t until he’d taken a long drink that he turned. He saw the fear in Lydia’s eyes and immediately regretted his actions. He put the cup down and crossed the room to where she stood. To his surprise, she turned away as if to shelter herself and the baby from his blows.

“Liddie, I’m sorry.”

Tears came to his eyes as she continued to hunch into the corner. Did she honestly think he would hurt her? He fought against touching her, fearing that she would fight him.

“Liddie, you don’t need to be afraid of me. I’m sorry I sounded so angry. Joshua did give me some news I didn’t expect, but it shouldn’t cause you alarm. Please forgive me.”

Lydia turned and Kjell’s heart nearly broke at the sight of her tears. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” She broke into sobs, and Kjell risked the situation to take her in his arms. She didn’t push him away or fight. “I’m sorry, Lydia. I’m so very sorry.”

She cried softly as he held her. Kjell felt like six kinds of fool.

Trust did not come easily for this woman, and here he’d already caused damage.

After several minutes, he gently lifted her face to his. “Lydia, you never have to be afraid of me. I might not always keep my temper, but I will never hurt you or strike you. You have to believe me. I’m not Floyd. I’m not like him.”

She nodded. “I know. It just scared me.”

“And knowing that breaks my heart.” He smoothed back her hair and gently kissed her forehead. “I am devoted to loving you and protecting you. You have my pledge and word. I will never lay a hand to you. Please believe me.”

She met his eyes and gave a little nod. “I believe you.”

Chapter 17

L
ydia awoke on December twelfth to a great deal of pain and an unfamiliar wetness making her cold. She sat up carefully, and as her head cleared of sleep, it came to her that the baby was on its way.

Kjell had already gone to work, but Zerelda would be nearby— probably downstairs working. Lydia stood as soon as the pain passed and made her way slowly to the door.

“Zerelda?”

“I’m down here, making a cake. Kjell said it had been ages since he’d had a spice cake. I don’t know if you remember or not, but your grandmother prided herself on her spice cake recipe.”

“Zerelda, I think the baby is coming.”

There was dead silence for a moment, followed by the sound of rushing feet. Zerelda was up the stairs just as another pain hit Lydia. She took hold of her niece and steadied her while the contraction ripped through Lydia’s midsection.

“How quickly are the pains coming?” Zerelda asked.

“I don’t know.” She panted and doubled over. Why did this have to hurt so much? She gasped for air. “I woke up . . . hurting . . .and the bed . . . was wet.”

“Your water has broken. How long ago was the last pain?”

Lydia said nothing until the contraction finally started to ease.

She straightened. “Just before I came out here to call for you.”

Zerelda frowned. “They’re coming awfully close together. Could be you’ve been in labor most of the night and just didn’t know it. Come on, let’s get you out of this wet nightgown and then I’ll change the bed.”

After Zerelda had seen to Lydia’s comfort, she got her seated on a chair before quickly pulling the sheets from the bed and checking the down-filled mattress. “The fluid is clear—that’s good. I’m glad I put the towels under the sheets,” she told Lydia. “The mattress is barely damp. I’ll just flip it over.”

Again pain gripped her, and Lydia couldn’t reply. The pressure she felt was enough to make her cry out, and in doing so she immediately had Zerelda’s attention.

“There’s no time. Maybe you should come to my bed.” Zerelda tried to help Lydia to her feet, but the pain was too much.

Lydia moaned and doubled over. “I can’t walk. I can’t move.

It hurts too much.”

“Stay here,” Zerelda instructed.

In record time she had turned the mattress and thrown down a clean sheet. Next she took up several towels and placed these atop the sheet. Then without warning, she all but carried Lydia to the bed and helped her to lie down.

“Let’s see what kind of progress you’ve made.” She quickly went to check on the baby’s position. “Goodness and mercy,”

Zerelda declared. “The baby’s head has crowned. You’re just about to deliver.”

Unable to keep from crying out, Lydia gripped a handful of the towels and felt the urge to push. “Can’t . . . can’t you . . . pull him out?”

Zerelda laughed. “So it’s a boy, is it?” She shook her head. “He has to come naturally—it’s best for both of you. Look, I need to get my birthing bag. It’s in my room. You’ll be alone for only a minute. If you have to push, go right ahead, but don’t get up.”

Lydia wanted to laugh. Get up? She could hardly manage to breathe against the pain, much less move. True to her word, Zerelda was back just as the next contraction hit. Lydia screamed as the pain escalated.

“Here he comes,” Zerelda said, taking up her position.

The urge to push hard hit Lydia, and she found herself bearing down with a strength she hadn’t known possible. She felt the baby slip from her body and marveled at the way the pain ended. Closing her eyes, Lydia felt a rush of blackness engulf her.

There was a gentle tapping on her face and the sound of something else as Lydia came to. She looked up to find Zerelda looking down at her, beaming from ear to ear.

“Can’t you hear your son crying? He doesn’t like it that his mama chooses his birthday to try and sleep.”

“A son?” Lydia smiled wearily. “I knew it was a boy.”

“What are you going to call him?”

“Dalton. It’s a name Kjell and I both like.”

Zerelda placed the tiny baby in Lydia’s arms. “It sounds strong. Here you go, Dalton. Meet your mama.”

Lydia looked into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. The dark-haired infant gazed up at her with his tearful expression and began to cry anew. Instinct took over, and Lydia bounced him gently in her arms.

She thought of the other children she’d lost and of Floyd.

This child had been conceived in violence, without any love whatsoever. His father had been a cruel and vicious man, but Kjell—his papa—would love him completely. Of this Lydia was sure.

“There, there, little one. Everything will be all right.”

The baby calmed at her voice and turned his face to her breast.

Zerelda laughed. “He’s looking for a meal, Liddie. You’d best help him out.”

Lydia remembered what Zerelda had told her of breastfeeding.

She carefully eased the nightgown out of the way and directed Dalton’s rooting. When he latched on, Lydia jumped in surprise.

She looked up at Zerelda and found her aunt watching in amazement and awe.

“What a strange sensation,” she said, shaking her head.

Zerelda smiled and leaned down to kiss Lydia on the forehead.

“What a gift you’ve created. You did a good thing here, Liddie. You could have chosen to hate the child because of his father, but you didn’t. I’m proud of you for that.”

“He can’t be faulted for Floyd’s actions,” Lydia said, still fascinated by this new life. “I was just thinking of all the other babies I lost. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have them all here now.” She gently ran her fingers along the baby’s head. “He’s just so precious.”

Kjell made his way home at ten-thirty, nervous that something was amiss. All morning, he’d been unable to keep his thoughts from Lydia and home. To ease his mind and get any work done, he would have to see for himself that all was well. Lydia would think him silly, but he’d just tell her he’d come home for lunch.

Never mind that the morning was only half over.

He brought the wagon to a stop just outside the main house.

With the brake set, he bounded out off the seat and hurried up the porch steps. The house was strangely quiet. There was no sign of Zee. He went into the kitchen and noted that nothing was cooking. A mixing bowl and a variety of ingredients sat on the counter. It was as if something had happened to take Zee away from her work rather abruptly.

A strange sensation came over him. What if Gray had shown up? What if something had happened?

“Zee? Liddie?” he called out. He made his way to the large living room but found it empty.

“Zee! Lydia!” The urgency to see them heightened. Returning to the front door, he noted that their coats and boots were there waiting. They hadn’t gone out, or if they had, they hadn’t worn these things.

He raced up the stairs just as Zee appeared at the top. “Where’s Liddie? Is she okay? Why didn’t you answer me when I hollered?”

Zee grinned. “Calm down. Liddie’s in bed and doing quite well. I believe she’d like to see you.”

“I’ve been half sick with worry. All morning I had a feeling something wasn’t right, and when I got home and found the place seemingly deserted . . . well . . . I guess . . .” He let the words go unsaid and drew a deep breath. “But she’s all right.”

“Why don’t you go see for yourself? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

He looked at her a moment and saw the twinkle in her eyes. “The baby?”

Zerelda laughed. “Go on.”

When Zee opened the door and pushed him through, he found himself staring openmouthed at the sight of Lydia nursing an infant.

“It’s a boy, Kjell,” Lydia said with a weary smile. “Oh, I’m glad you came. I prayed for you to come.”

He sat down beside her on the bed and shook his head in wonder. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every time I tried to focus on my tasks at hand, my mind kept going back to you. I thought maybe something was wrong. I feared that . . . Well, never mind what I feared. Oh, Liddie,” he sighed and leaned down to kiss her lips.

There was such joy in her expression as he pulled away, Kjell thought his heart might well burst from the happiness he felt.