Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) (27 page)

“What?” Catherine probed.

Rory smiled down at her. “Right now, I want you to focus on your baby. Visualize his head where it is intended to be. Speak to him, Catherine. Let your heart reach out to his.”

“All right, Doctor,” Catherine said, taking a deep breath.

“Sam and I will leave you with your babe. Rest and relax. Try to nap if you can.” Rory nodded his head toward the door, indicating Sam should follow him.

“Call if you need us,” Sam told her.

They returned to the still deserted front room. Everyone realized the danger Catherine was in and the mood in the house was subdued. Earlier, while she was resting in her bedroom, Sam and Rory carefully explained to the entire family, even the children, what they were doing and why. The explanations went well until Polly remembered she still didn’t have an answer to where the baby came from in the first place. With a smile on the faces of all the adults, Jane said she would explain that to both Polly and Martha later.

Thankfully, Little John didn’t ask to be included.

But gratitude filled Sam when Rory made sure Little John understood that as a doctor, he had a ‘lot of tricks up his sleeve’ and that he felt certain his mother would be all right.

Sam prayed Rory was right. God help them all if he wasn’t.

“What’s your next ‘trick’,” he asked. He picked up his unfinished brandy. He would have offered the doctor one, but Rory didn’t drink strong beverages.

“I can try repositioning the babe with my hands.”

“How hard is that?”

“I won’t lie to you. It’s not easy with a babe of your child’s size. Fortunately, Catherine’s hips are not narrow. That increases our chances of success. The babe has likely settled there because it is comforting to be nestled next to her beating heart. We just have to encourage him to move.”

Sam wondered if he was just saying that to give him a small measure of hope. He took it, however, meager it was.

Sam’s head jerked as he heard Catherine loudly cry out his name. He ran to their bedroom and threw the door open. When he entered, a sweet herbal scent hit him like a wall. The pungent fragrance made the room smell both pleasant and unpleasant.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, rushing to her side.

Rory followed on his heels.

“I think the babe is trying to turn,” Catherine said. “It’s quite… uncomfortable.”

At once, Rory knelt beside Catherine’s right side. The physician’s experienced hands roamed over her bare middle. The rest of her body was covered in sheets and blankets.

Sam took a position on her other side and held her hand. Making an effort to control his emotions, he gawked at the sight before him. He could see the babe causing bumps to appear and disappear on Catherine’s
abdomen. The babe appeared to be fighting a battle inside of her.

Perhaps he was. A battle for his life. And his mother’s.

“Catherine, don’t be alarmed,” Rory said calmly. “You’re right. The babe is trying to move, that’s exactly what we want.”

She winced and clenched her jaw at another pain.

Sam squeezed her hand and stroked her hair away from her face. Her distress ripped at his heart. Was she going to be all right? He glanced up at Rory, but the doctor’s face remained inscrutable. His entire life, Sam had prided himself on being able to read people, but this time he was at a loss. “Tell me,” he nearly begged, “what I can do.”

Rory looked at him, his face serious. “We will have to help your babe turn, before he tangles himself around the cord. Can you assist me?”

“Of course, just tell me what to do and when,” Sam said, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible for Catherine’s sake.

“Catherine, listen to me carefully,” Rory said. “There’s not enough room for your babe to turn himself. He’s trying hard—that’s why it hurts. We are going to have to help him.”

“Yes, help him,” she cried, gritting her teeth at another ache.

“Can we give her something to bite down on?” Sam asked.

“No, I need for her to be able to talk to me,” Rory said.

“All will be well Catherine, I
promise
,” Sam said.

Above Catherine’s moans, Sam heard Polly’s small but firm voice say, “He keeps his promises!”

He glanced up. The entire family stood just inside the bedroom door, Polly and Little John in front. They’d probably heard Catherine cry out. From her position, Catherine couldn’t see any of them.

He started to tell them all to leave, but then realized if he did, Little John would likely fret even more. A worried person’s imagination can be worse than first-hand knowledge. Besides, they might be able to help.
“Pray,” he mouthed to them and pointed heavenward.

“Let’s get started,” Rory said. “Catherine, I know it’s difficult, but do your best to relax. Close your eyes and think of someplace you love to go. Someplace you were especially happy. We’ll be doing a deep abdominal massage. It may make take a few minutes or it may happen quickly.”

“Cumberland Falls,” she whispered, “where Sam and I honeymooned.” The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her mouth. “It was stunningly beautiful.”

Sam wasn’t surprised at her choice. The time he spent with his new bride at Cumberland Falls was the best two weeks of his entire life. He recalled the ecstasy of loving each other thoroughly and passionately. He took his wife’s hand. “I love you Catherine. Even more now than I did then. Keep thinking about the Moonbow we saw there and the miracle of our love.”

“I will, and I love you, Sam. Now, help the doctor get this stubborn Wyllie to do…what…he…should,” she managed to say as she grimaced.

“Sam, I’m going to push on her abdomen to lift the baby’s body with my hands. I want you to place one of your big palms on the baby’s head here. Not your fingers, just your palm. We are going to encourage a somersault in this direction,” he said pointing clockwise.

“Ready?” Rory asked looking at them both.

Sam looked up and nodded, then glanced at his family. Stephen, Jane, Artis, Bear, Kelly, and William—
he was home, thank God
—all stood with their heads bowed. The children stared wide-eyed. Mrs. Wrigley and Miss Henk, each holding a toddler, looked on with concern on their faces.

“Let’s save this baby,” Sam said with all the confidence born from the support of family and faith.

Rory placed both of his hands on Catherine’s lower abdomen and started manipulating the babe, gently moving what had to be the babe’s feet and legs upwards, in the direction of Catherine’s right side.

“Slowly and softly begin urging the baby’s head toward you,” Rory
instructed Sam. “When he starts to move toward Catherine’s left side, help him. Coax him downwards using little gentle nudges and rolls.” Rory continued to work as he spoke, his normally mellow voice edged with cool control.

Sam could not believe he held his son’s head, cloaked in his mother’s flesh, beneath his hand. He drew on the deepest part of his soul and reached out to his son, wanting to give him a strong will to live. “Wait till you see your first horse. It will be worth all this,” Sam said, his eyes watering. “And wait till you meet your big brother, Little John. You’re going to love him.”

For a second, Sam eyed Little John, who stood bravely near the door.

Little John stepped forward. “And wait till you meet our mother,” the boy said, walking over to them. “You’ll love her as much as I do.”

His son wanted to help his mother. Perhaps it would make Little John feel better about everything that was happening.

“Keep talking to her and the babe,” Rory urged Little John.

“I think you’re the most beautiful mother in the whole world,” Little John said, kneeling and placing his small hand on her shoulder. “And the kindest too.”

This time Catherine heard, he could see it in her eyes, but she was too uncomfortable to speak.

“You’ll like it here brother. Mrs. Wrigley is a very good cook,” Little John added.

The girls giggled and Bear chuckled a little.

Sam continued to concentrate on his role—perhaps the most important and challenging of his entire life.

“Press downward now!” Rory urged him.

“Turn baby.
Please
turn,” Sam cried, his heart pounding furiously.

And the babe did.

Sam saw it happen right beneath his hands. Right before his eyes. If he
hadn’t seen it, he wouldn’t have believed it possible. His heart flooded with hope, but would all be well? He peered up at the doctor.

Rory was smiling.

Thank God!
Sam pressed a clenched fist to his lips, trying to hold in the overwhelming emotions burgeoning and whirling with him.

“The babe is now where he belongs,” Rory said. “And thank you, Little John, for helping.”

“Thank you,” Sam told Rory, feeling tears of joy and relief slip down his face, despite his efforts to control them.

The three of them gazed down at Catherine who appeared as white as the sheet covering her. She was breathing rapidly, but no longer seemed to be in pain.

“Take deep breaths, Catherine,” Rory said, “you’re going to be fine.”

“My babe?” she asked, her voice full of hope. “Will he be all right?”

Covering Catherine’s middle entirely with the sheet, Rory said. “That went as smoothly as I have ever seen it happen. Your husband was a great help. I believe you and the babe will both be fine. You should deliver a healthy baby soon.”

Sam kissed and hugged Catherine and then sprung up, filled with so much joy he wanted to shout. So he did. “We did it!” he yelled.

The rest of their family cheered too and Sam didn’t even mind when they all invaded the privacy of their bedroom to congratulate them.

Breathless and feeling exuberant, he picked up Little John and twirled him around. “Did you hear that? You should have a baby brother or sister soon.”

“That will be the best Christmas gift for both of us,” Little John said, grinning.

“Yes, the greatest gift ever! Thank you for helping, Little John,” he said.

“She’s my mother,” Little John said. “I didn’t want her to die.”

Sam leaned his forehead into his son’s brow and said, “She will always be your mother.”

He sat the boy down and Little John went back over to Catherine, who was now surrounded by kneeling women and girls. He watched Little John nudge his way in and kiss his mother on the cheek. Sam was sure her cheeks would be wet with tears of happiness.

Sam’s heart raced within his chest, infused with the joy of having witnessed something so inspirational he would remember every second of it for the rest of his life.

He still couldn’t believe they had done it. His prayer had been answered. “Did you see that?” he asked his smiling brothers.

“Aye,” Bear said. “’Twas the most miraculous thing I’ve ever seen.”

Chapter 27

R
ory shooed everyone out of the room, but Sam refused to leave until he gave Catherine one more kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered, kissing her. Her cheeks were still wet with big tears of joy. He wiped them, feeling her love in each drop.

“Thank you,” she told him, “thank you for believing in miracles.”

“I should. You married me didn’t you?”

Catherine smiled warmly and then he helped her to stand. She appeared tired, but her big smile and hair in a tousled disarray made her look wildly happy.

“Miss Henk will help me get tidied up and dressed,” she told him.

“No, you’re getting into bed where you’ll stay until tomorrow morning,” Rory instructed firmly.

She groaned, but nevertheless nodded her assent.

“I’ll bring a tray in with your dinner,” Miss Henk volunteered.

“Go on Sam,” Rory told him. “I just want to feel the babe’s position one more time.”

Reluctantly Sam left and joined the others in the front room. Everyone was talking and laughing, but they all stopped when he entered, turning their heads in his direction.

“Hip hip hooray!” William shouted.

“Hip hip hooray!” everyone repeated.

“Hurrah!” Bear shouted.

“Hurrah!” they all echoed.

“You did it!” Stephen called.

Sam threw up his hands. “Please, wait. I’m as happy as all of you. Nonetheless let’s save the big celebration until after the baby comes. We still have that to go through.” He dreaded it and didn’t want to celebrate too hard until Catherine’s labor was over with and both she and the babe were fine.

“Nonsense,” Jane exclaimed, hands on hips. “What just happened was a miracle and we all know it. Catherine and the babe will be fine. Enjoy this moment. You earned it.”

A big grin spread across his face. He couldn’t help it. Jubilation still filled him too. He struggled to hold his tears of joy in his eyes.

Sam stared down at his right hand, the palm that he used to help his babe find his way. His hand started to shake a little, as he recalled the feel of his son’s head. He lost himself momentarily in his own reveries. At least he thought it was a son. It might be a daughter. Either way, the child would be special. And loved. He already felt a profound and deep bond that nothing could ever destroy.

“Ye look like ye could use a wee droppy,” Bear said.

“Nay, he needs more than a wee one after what he’s just been through,” Artis said.

Bear and Artis pulled pewter cups out of the china cabinet and Mrs. Wrigley, leading Nicole by one hand and Samuel by her other, lured the five children into the kitchen with the promise of hot cocoa. “Captain Wyllie, please tell Dr. McGuffin he’s invited to join us in the kitchen when he’s through,” the cook said as she left. If he wasn’t mistaken, she had tidied herself up a bit since he saw her last.

Sam suddenly realized he had yet to speak to William. “William!” he called, turning toward his brother. “You’re back! I noticed while we were in the bedroom, but I couldn’t say anything to you then.”

William stood next to Kelly, his arm around her waist. “Understandable,” William said, smiling, “considering you were busy performing a rather impressive miracle.”

“It was a miracle, wasn’t it,” he agreed. “But I just did what Rory told me to. He and God deserve the credit.”

“Indeed, a great deal of credit,” William agreed, “but so do you.”