Swan's Way

by Weyrich, Becky Lee

  “Hurry, Mother!” Virginia urged. “She’s in terrible pain.”

  Melora held a small glass to Agnes’s lips. The girl coughed and sputtered when the first drops hit her throat.

  “A little more,” Melora urged. “I know it tastes nasty, but it will ease your pain, dear.”

  Grimacing, Agnes managed to swallow a bit more of the fiery liquid. The patient grew less agitated, but she was still experiencing regular contractions.

  Just then, they heard Maum Sugar yell at the slave children loitering around the back door, “Get on outta here now! This ain’t no barbecue, it’s a birthin’.”

  Moments later, old Sugar bustled into the library. “Well now, what have we here?” she said, with a jovial laugh. “A mite early, ain’t we?”

  “Not too early, I pray,” Melora whispered to the midwife.

  “Mister Rodney coming home most likely hurried things along.”

  Both Virginia and her mother blushed, taking the old slave’s meaning.

  “But she’ll be all right, won’t she?” Melora asked. “And the baby, too?”

  Sugar stood back and stroked some wiry hairs that grew out of a mole on her chin. “She be a good eight months gone. The baby girl be big enough, I vow.”

  “Girl?” yelled Agnes. “It better not be! This is Rodney’s son!”

  Sugar chuckled. “Not if I know the birthin’ business. How come you rich folks aways wanting sons, anyways? A sweet, little ole girl-child is a heap nicer than some ole nasty boy. You get a son, you got to always worry about him be messing around down in the quarters, where he don’t belong.”

  The comment was made very pointedly, and Sugar looked straight at Melora when she said it. So that settled that! Xena’s son was definitely fathered by Jedediah Swan, Jr.

  Alas, Melora thought, it happens in the best of families.

  Sugar hunkered down at the foot of the couch and began talking soothingly, as she examined Agnes. “You gone be jest fine, ma’am now don’t you worry none. Old Maum Sugar see to that! You do like I say, and this little girl youngun’ pop right out as easy as that litter outten their mama cat this morning, about sunup.”

  “Kittens?” Agnes’s voice was weak, but she was clearly interested, and distracted by the topic.

  “That’s right! Four of ’em. One black-and-white, one tiger, one yellow torn—I know ’cause yellow kittens is always toms—and the prettiest little long-furred calico you ever did see. She purely looks like a rainbow, dressed in all them bright colors. She gone be a fine mouser, that one.”

  “Where are they? Can I see them?” For the moment, Agnes forgot she was in labor.

  “They be down to my cabin. Their ma be that trampy tiger, name of Jezabel. She plain don’t care—lift her tail for any old torn that come sniffin’ ’round, she will. But I reckon, with cats it don’t matter. It’s just when it comes to folks that it makes any difference.”

  Virginia wondered if Maum Sugar was talking about Jed and Xena or her and Channing. She dared not ask. It was clear from the look of anguish on Melora Swan’s face that she realized Sugar knew that Jed had fathered Xena’s son.

  Just then, the tale of the cats was forgotten, as Agnes let out another blood-curdling scream. On and on through, the day her contractions continued. Everyone in the house was on edge by evening, but still Agnes labored.

  “Go on to the kitchen and get something to eat,” Melora told Virginia, sometime after sunset. “Get some fresh air, too. You’re looking almost as pale as Agnes, dear.”

  Virginia gratefully accepted her mother’s offer. She didn’t feel hungry in the least, but she desperately wanted to check on Channing.

  “I won’t be long,” she promised.

  “Take your time, Virginia. I’ll be here with Agnes, until it’s over.” Turning to Sugar, she asked, “It won’t take much longer, will it?”

  The old midwife shook her head and rolled her eyes. “They comes when they comes, Miz Melora.”

  “Run along, dear,” Melora urged Virginia.

  Agnes’s screams were weak with exhaustion now, but they still followed Virginia down the hallway, out of the house, and all the way to the slave quarters.

  When she reached Brother Zebulon’s cabin, she was almost afraid to go in. What if Channing was worse? What if he still didn’t know her? How could she bear that?

  Polly poked her head out of the door, her dark face a mask of concern. “Thank the Lord you here, Miss Virginia. You better come quick!”

  Virginia’s heart sank, and her feet felt frozen to the spot.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After only a moment’s hesitation, Virginia hurried inside. Channing must have taken a turn for the worse, for Polly to look so distressed. Well, if that was the case, her mother and Maum Sugar would just have to deal with Agnes and the baby. Virginia herself didn’t mean to leave Channing’s side until he was over this crisis and back on his feet. She absolutely refused to let him die!

  “You gots to do something with this man!” Polly exclaimed, the minute Virginia came in. “He got the brains of a billy goat, if you ask me.”

  “Channing!” Virginia’s cry was half-delight, half-fear. “What are you doing up and dressed?”

  “Tha’s ’xactly what I say!” hurrumphed Polly, but no one paid any attention.

  “I’ve got to get back, darlin’. My unit is waiting just the other side of Winchester. They’ll think I’ve deserted. I had a pass for a few hours to ride out to see you, but that’s long since expired.”

  Virginia hurried over to him and pressed her palm to his forehead. “Why, you still have a fever! You can’t go anywhere in your condition.”

  He smiled. The warm look of love in his eyes touched her heart. “I don’t want to go, Virginia. You know I’d rather be here with you than anywhere else on earth. But you needn’t worry about me. I really am feeling much better now. I’ll take things easy in camp for a few days, once I get back.” He reached for her hand and kissed her fingers, his eyes never leaving hers. “I must go, darlin’. You understand that, don’t you?”

  Channing drew her closer, wanting to hold her, to savor their last few minutes together.

  Neither Channing nor Virginia noticed when Polly and old Zebulon slipped out of the cabin to give them some privacy. Virginia sank down to the bed, beside her lover.

  “Channing,” she whispered, “I don’t think I can bear to say goodbye again so soon.”

  “How’s Agnes?” he asked, trying to change the subject and stay the tears he saw glittering in Virginia’s eyes.

  “She’s suffering terribly. But Maum Sugar says she’ll be fine. Both Mother and Sugar say that labor is always bad the first time. I’m afraid Agnes isn’t reassured by that. Poor girl, she’s been struggling for hours now. Surely, though, the baby will come soon.”

  Virginia noticed a change in Channing’s features. He looked pained and uncomfortable. At first, she thought he felt a twinge from his wound. She remembered, though, that the men of her family often wore that same expression whenever they happened to overhear talk of “woman-things,” as her father called it.

  Virginia forced a bright smile and even managed a little laugh. “Sugar swears it’s going to be a girl. Agnes is fit to be tied because, as Rodney told everyone, he had his heart set on a son.”

  Looking far less distressed, Channing chuckled. “Yes, I can just imagine that he would.”

  “Would you want a son, Channing?”

  “Someday.” He brushed Virginia’s cheek with his lips. “I think a daughter would please me more, though. A pretty little girl who looked just like her mother.”

  “Channing?” Virginia paused and looked away. “Do you think it could happen?”

  “What, darlin’? That you could give me a daughter and then a son? Of course it can. And it will!”

  She shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. Do you think that I might be … now? After last night?”
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br />   Channing hugged her close and kissed her lips tenderly. “One can only hope, darlin’,” he whispered.

  When Virginia uttered a half-supressed sob, Channing asked, “You aren’t afraid, are you? I mean, because of what Agnes is going through.”

  Virginia clung to him fiercely. “No. Not in the least I would gladly go through her pain ten times over to have your child to hold and cherish. Think of it Channing! A part of you, a part of me, a little miracle created from our love.”

  He smiled, then kissed her again, deeply, lingering over her lips for a long time.

  When they parted at last he said, “It won’t be much longer until we can be together. I promise you that Virginia. Every last man who was so eager to get into this glorious war has discovered already that there’s little glory involved. I truly believe that the powers that be will find a way to put an end to hostilities at their first opportunity. There is nothing to be gained by all the bloodshed and devastation.”

  “Oh, Channing!” She hugged him, being careful not to press his injured arm. “I love you so! I wish I could believe you. But men are so stubborn. I’ve seen it when Father bargains over a horse he wants or a new piece of land he’d like to add to Swan’s Quarter. And this isn’t a stallion or a few acres being fought over. There’s a whole country at stake—a whole way of life.”

  He had hoped Virginia would take his words at face value. He should have known better. She was too smart for that. Besides, she knew him too well. He didn’t believe the war would come to a quick conclusion any more than she did. For the South, winning meant preserving the institution of slavery and retaining their land against “invaders.” For the North, victory meant saving the nation and now, after all the battles that had been fought, paying the South back for their rebellious actions—actions which were taking such a tremendous toll in human lives.

  As grim as he felt, Channing tried to make light of the moment. “If you love me so much, I assume you’d rather not see me hang for desertion, my darling. So I think I’d better get going, if the coast is clear.”

  She nodded, trying desperately to be brave. “Father and the boys left some time ago.”

  “Then I’d better take my leave while I have the chance, before more unannounced visitors arrive.” Still holding her, unwilling to let the moment end, Channing said, “By the way, I ran into a chap from Tennessee a few weeks ago, who was at the Academy with me, an upper classman. He’s now in the Confederate army. Captain Jacob Royal. I told him all about you and Swan’s Quarter. He promised if he was ever in this area, he would stop by to pay his respects.”

  “You were actually consorting with the enemy?”

  Channing laughed. “He’s no enemy of mine. Actually, he did me several good turns at the Point. And we have a lot in common. You see, he left his sweetheart back home too. Her name’s Amanda Kelly. Like us, they grew up together. Jake said he would never even consider marrying any other woman.” He paused long enough for another brief kiss and then a smile. “The same as me. You were always the one, Virginia, the only one. And you always will be.”

  “Massa Channing, you best git, now,” Polly called from just outside the door. “They’s a scoutin’ party of Rebs coming up the lane.”

  Virginia and Channing’s leisurely farewell took a more frantic turn.

  “I’ll write to you, darlin’,” Channing promised.

  “And I to you, my love.”

  “And I’ll be back at my first opportunity.” To Polly he said, “You and Brother Zebulon have that broomstick ready.”

  Polly chuckled and nodded. “Yessir, Massa Channing.”

  A final kiss from his love, then Channing strode hurriedly out of the cabin and disappeared into the deep woods.

  Virginia fell back on the sagging bed and let her tears erupt. She lay there for a long time, waiting for her anguish to subside. Once she had cried herself out, she too left the cabin. She must think now of Agnes and the baby. Thinking of Channing was much too painful.

  Virginia heard the squall of the newborn the minute she entered the house. She hurried to the library to see for herself. Sure enough, she had a niece—all tiny and wrinkled and red. But already, the mother and grandmother were exclaiming over what a beauty she would be. How they could tell was beyond Virginia’s comprehension.

  Still, when Agnes said, “Isn’t she beautiful, sister?” Virginia smiled and nodded, then reached down to stroke the infant’s beet-red cheek.

  “Rodney will adore her, Agnes.”

  “As will her grandfather and all her uncles,” Melora added. “You’ve done well, my dear. I told you your struggle would be rewarded.”

  “That one, she probably gonna be a writer, being borned in the library like she was.” Maum Sugar nodded sagely, as she gathered up her things. “She be bright as a button, you mark my words, Miss Agnes.”

  “Thank you, Sugar,” the new mother said, beaming at the old woman. “For everything.”

  “Ppshaw! Ain’t nothing, Miss Agnes. I brung so many youn-guns into this world, I could do it blindfolded, with one hand tied behind me. You take good care of her, now. And iffen you needs a wet nurse, Xena’s got more than enough milk for two.”

  “No!” Melora said, before Agnes could answer. Somehow the idea of Rodney’s child suckling at the dark breast of his own nephew’s mother seemed almost incestuous to her.

  Virginia noticed the pained expression that crossed Agnes’s face at the thought of having to handle all the nursing duties herself, but it would have been unseemly for her to argue with her mother-in-law under her own roof.

  Just then, they heard the sound of horses on the drive. Agnes sat up and broke into a huge grin. “It’s Rodney! He’s come back!”

  “No,” Virginia said. “I don’t think so. I forgot to mention that Polly spotted some soldiers riding up toward the house.”

  “Blue or gray?” Melora asked, sharply.

  “Polly said ‘Rebs.’”

  Melora let out a sigh of relief. “Well, thank the Lord. I don’t think I’m up to entertaining the enemy at the moment. I suppose we’ll have to feed them. It’s a good thing your father brought fresh supplies. Go out and greet them, Virginia, while I finish tidying up here. Tell them they’re welcome to stay the night in the barn, but that we have a new mother and her baby in the house, so I can’t offer them beds inside.”

  Virginia nodded and turned to go. She knew that Agnes’s new baby had little or nothing to do with her mother’s desire to keep the soldiers out of the house. They had learned from past experience that even the officers were infested with “gray-backs,” as the men called the filthy lice.

  When Virginia walked out onto the veranda, she counted two officers and about a dozen men.

  “Good day, gentlemen,” she called.

  One of the officers, a tall, dark-haired captain with a boy’s sweet face, dismounted and swept off his hat in a gentlemanly salute.

  “And to you, ma’am,” he replied. “Captain Jacob Royal at your service.”

  Virginia’s heart gave a flutter. This was the very man Channing had spoken of only a short while ago—his friend from West Point.

  “We met Colonel Swan and his sons down the road. He told us there had been some trouble here last night with a Yankee spy. I promised to stop by and make sure that everything was in order hereabouts.”

  “We’re all fine, Captain Royal. In fact, better than fine. My sister-in-law just gave birth to my brother’s firstborn. Should you happen to see my father and brothers again, please inform Rodney that he has a beautiful little girl, and that mother and daughter are both doing well.”

  Royal beamed at her, and all the men waved their hats in a salute and gave a quiet Rebel yell, so as not to disturb mother and child.

  “Our congratulations to all the family, Miss Swan.”

  “Miss Virginia Swan.” She wondered if Channing had told Captain Royal her name. She found out immediately.

  �
��Oh, so you are Miss Virginia!” His smile warmed all the more. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you.”

  “And I you, sir. Perhaps after all this unpleasantness is behind us, after you and Miss Amanda are married, and my fiancé and I, as well, we can all get together somewhere for a celebration.”

  “A fine idea, Miss Virginia. Might I offer my mountain house in Tennessee as the site for our reunion? Amanda would like that.”

  Virginia glanced over her shoulder and saw Melora peering out of the library window. She remembered her mission at that moment “My mother said to tell you you’re welcome to stay the night if the barn will suit. There’s supper that we can share with you, as well.”

  “Thank you kindly, Miss Virginia, and please thank your mother for us, but we must be on our way immediately. You’ve seen no sign of this Yankee spy?”

  Virginia shook her head, not willing to put her lie into words. “It’s quite peaceful here, for the time being.”

  “Well, we’ll be off then. But might we take advantage of your hospitality at some later date, if we happen to ride this way again?”

  “Most certainly, Captain Royal. We will look forward to your return.”

  “Our best to the new mother.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  He mounted his horse. Then they turned and rode away. Virginia stood on the veranda, watching them. She thought about Amanda Kelly and how much she would have loved to see her sweetheart, even for these few brief moments. She decided to give Jacob Royal a gift for Amanda, if he ever returned to Swan’s Quarter.

  For now, it was time she got back to the routine of her everyday life—a wartime life that held few joys and many fears. But there were bright spots to dwell on today—Agnes’s baby and Channing’s love. Both, Virginia knew, would grow and flourish with time.