“I will get us out of here once I know you and the baby are safe” he said to her.
“Are you worried about something Charlie? Do you think that we are not safe here?” She startled him. He thought she was sound asleep. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“I don’t know what to think yet. This woman says we are a ways from the nearest town.
The terrain is hard especially at this time of year, and she was correct about the storm. The snow has been coming down hard for the last hour or so. Why do you think that a woman alone would choose to live out here in the wilderness so far from any one? I just feel like there is more to her story than she is telling”
“There is more to our story than we are telling her too Charlie. I think you worry too much. I think Mona is just fine, and she will help us I am sure. If she has secrets than those are hers to keep just as our secrets belong to us. At some point we have to trust someone, and right now we need to trust Mona.”
“I hope you are right. I need you to get lots of rest. I am going to bed down the animals and do some work to earn our keep.”
Mona came to the doorway. “Is everything alright?” she asked.
“Yes, I was just saying good night to my wife, and I will settle myself in the barn. I would like to know what you need me to do for you though in payment for all of your kindness.”
“If you put the animals into the barn, and gather the chicken eggs I think that will be enough for tonight. We will discuss other things tomorrow once everyone is well rested.” She turned and walked out the door.
Charlie followed her outside.
“Thank you again Ms. Montgomery, we appreciate all you are doing for us.”
“Please call me Mona; I don’t like all that formality.”
“Then please call me Charlie.”
“Charlie it is then and what about your wife. Does she have a special name she is called. I can’t believe that she would go by Alexandria all the time. That would be such an effort even though her name is beautiful.”
“She goes by Lizzie, her middle name.”
“Lizzie, that suits her much better I think.” Mona laughed as she slowly walked with Charlie to the barn. “I will show you where everything is out here, and then you can do whatever is needed. I am not a picky woman Charlie. Your help will be greatly appreciated.”
Charlie was still worried. Maybe it was just his imagination that was going wild but, he wasn’t sure that they were safe. Lizzie was always more trusting than he was. He wanted a place of his own. Then and only then would he feel his family was safe.
Chapter 9
After a few days of rest Lizzie felt much better. She helped in the kitchen making a fresh apple pie with Mona. “
“So tell me Lizzie what is your story? I know what Charlie told me about some of it, but I had the feeling he wasn’t telling me the whole story. I want to help you if I can, but it is hard if I only know part of the story.”
Charlie had told her what he had said, and that he hadn’t revealed everything to Mona. He wasn’t sure he could trust her, but Lizzie felt differently about her. She had been nothing but a good person who took in two strangers, and she felt that Mona deserved the truth.
She explained to her that Charlie was just trying to protect them, and that although he did not lie to her about them, he didn’t tell her the whole truth either. As they sat peeling apples for their desert that night Lizzie told Mona the whole story.
“That is quite a story Lizzie, what do you think that you and Charlie are going to do now? You have a baby to think about you know.”
“Oh I know that and this baby is my priority. I must keep this baby from Mary Ravenswood, and she must never know that it belongs to her husband.”
“Charlie is quite the protector I see. How do you feel about him as a father for your baby?”
“Oh I trust Charlie completely; he has protected me and my baby all this time.”
“Sometimes men change once a child is born, I hope for your sake that he remains the kind of man you think he is.”
“My Quentin, well he left after our daughter was born, and he never returned. I have waited here twenty years hoping that he would come back, but he never did.”
“What happened to your daughter?” Lizzie asked.
She left too. I guess I wasn’t a very good mother.”
“I can’t believe that Mona, not at all. You’re daughter does not know what she is missing. The love of a mother must transcend all obstacles. When she becomes a mother herself she will understand.”
“I am not sure I have ever met someone quite as optimistic as you Lizzie Donahue.”
Lizzie smiled; she was glad that she had told the truth, now she didn’t have to worry about any kind of slip of the tongue. Lizzie wrapped herself in a blanket and walked through the snow into the barn. Charlie was feeding the horses at the time. Lizzie confessed to him that she told Mona the truth. She felt that Mona deserved the truth, and she wanted him to know before he headed into the house.
“Why would you do that Lizzie? You are so naive sometimes.
She may start to ask questions in town trying to find out who we really are, and then the Wentworth’s will come after us.”
“I think you are wrong Charlie.”
“Don’t you get it Lizzie; Mary had no right to let us go free. Her father was the one in charge. He may have people out looking for us now. We have to be careful of everything we say and do. He could have bad people looking for us. You have to be more careful.” He said angrily.
Lizzie started shaking; she quickly grabbed her stomach as she doubled over in pain and let out a scream. Water gushed from her onto the ground, and Charlie knew this was it. The baby was coming and this was only the beginning of things to come. He had to hope no one would find them, and now he was now going to have to trust Mona as much as Lizzie did.
“Mona” he yelled from the yard. “Come out here quickly”
“Lizzie,” she cried out. “Oh my, quickly get her into the house Charlie.” She yelled as she ran to help.
“I will carry her in, open the door” he cried as he picked Lizzie up into his arms. She was breathing rapidly, and as limp as a rag doll, when he laid her in the bed.
“What do I do Mona?” he asked feeling totally helpless.
“Go boil us some water, and take those sheets I have folded in the closet and rip a couple of them up into strips.”
Charlie was sure that none of this was really needed, it seemed as though she was just trying to keep him busy. Every scream that he heard from Lizzie made him more and more nervous. What if the baby didn’t make it? What if she didn’t make it? How would he ever face Masterson knowing that her death and the death of his child could be his fault
He should have never taken her on the road it was too much for her, yet she never complained once the whole trip.
Mona had been a godsend in the middle of the wilderness, Lizzie was right he needed to trust her. In fact right now he needed to trust her more than ever. It seemed as if it had been hours since he carried her in the house. Charlie paced back and forth wondering how it could take so long to deliver a baby. It seemed to him as if time had stopped. Mona came out several times rushing about. This time she came out and poured herself a cup of strong coffee that had been setting since the morning. The look on Charlie's face almost made her laugh.
“She is doing just fine, really she is. She is a strong one for being such a little bit. Having a first baby does take time Charlie.”
Mona was what Charlie would call on the chunky side. He had always been told that stout women like Mona, and his own mother were made to have children. Petite woman like Lizzie always had harder times delivering a baby. Lizzie was tiny compare to most women.
Having a child for her might be more dangerous. Right now all he cared about was that Lizzie and the baby would be alright, and he had to trust that Mona knew what she was doing.
“Can I see her, for a minute?” he asked
.
“I am not sure she will want you to see her like this Charlie. Most women want privacy when their time comes. Remember she is enduring great pain right now.
Her contractions are sporadic right now, and you need to be ready for that.”
The thought of her being in pain and not being able to take it away from her made him feel inadequate. He wanted to take all of this away from her.
“I promise Mona it will just be a minute, if she doesn’t want me there I promise I will leave.”
“Go ahead. She has a while to go yet before that baby is ready to present itself into this world.”
He opened the curtain slowly.
“Can I come in?” He asked not really sure if he wanted to go in there, but he had to see with his own eyes that she was still alright.
“I am sorry Lizzie; I never should have taken you from Ravensport.”
“No Charlie, you were right in doing this. We needed to run. I understand.” She squelched her face as another hard contraction shook her body. He grabbed her hand wishing he could take this pain from her. She wanted to scream but she had to be strong. She didn’t want Charlie to be worried. He would do anything to make it stop. She took a deep breath and looked at his sad green eyes.
“Soon Charlie, you will be a father, and I know that you will be a really good father.” She said her breath broken into short gasps as her pain was released for a moment and the contraction subsided.
That was really the first time that she had said that this baby would belong to him. He promised himself that the baby would never regret having him as its father. He would do the very best job he could. He would make sure that the baby would never suspect that he wasn’t its true father. He would love it as if it were his own blood. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand. Then he turned to go out of the room.
“Charlie?”
He turned. “Yes Lizzie?”
“I love you too, really I do.”
Her words made his heart stop beating for a moment. How could she say those words, that she loved him? He knew deep inside that she wanted to be with Masterson. Masterson was the man she really loved. He was just a replacement.
He also knew that Masterson would search for her until his dying day.
There was no way he could hide them forever even if he wanted to. He knew that one day Masterson would show up and take them away and he would be alone.
“Charlie, please come here.”
He walked back to the bed and sat next to her.
“I need you to know that when I married you I made a promise that I intend to keep. I hope you did too.”
He looked at her as she let out another cry of pain. She held his hand and begged him to stay with her. Just then Mona entered.
“A strong woman she is.” Mona whispered and nodded her head as she took another sip of coffee. “She is stronger than most.”
After several more hours of labor Lizzie was exhausted and Charlie was worried. This had gone on far too long he thought. They were going to need a doctor, not a midwife if she didn’t deliver the baby soon.
“Charlie, I need you to help her. It is important because she is so tired.”
“Whatever you say Mona, I am right here.”
“It may sound strange, but I need you to get in the bed behind her. You need to hold her legs back to help her push this baby out. You see this baby is quite large for her size, and I am not sure she is strong enough to do this on her own. She may have a struggle, and I need you to help and encourage her.”
Charlie thought she must be crazy to ask him to do this, but she stated that she birthed many babies before this, and that Lizzie would be just fine. He figured she had to know what was needed, and so he blindly followed her instructions. He felt uncomfortable but he got behind Lizzie. Mona had Lizzie lean back against Charlie’s chest. One leg on each side of her with her body pressed against his chest. In this position he could feel her breathing, and as she tightened up he knew exactly when a contraction was coming. He had his hands on the underside of her thighs.
He felt embarrassed and stimulated at the same time. This was his wife; she had told him that she loved him. He could do this crazy thing that Mona was asking him to do. His hands touched her bare thighs ready to do whatever Mona said.
“With her next pain you must pull her legs back toward you and tell her to push as hard as she can.”
He felt her tighten up as this next pain pushed its way through Lizzie’s body. This pain was so intense that it now had Lizzie screaming. Charlie was shaking but he held her in his arms trying his best to comfort her, whispering in her ear that she could do this, he was right there with her, and soon they would have a child.
“It will all be worth it Lizzie. I am here and I will help you through this.” he whispered into her ear as he felt the next contraction coming. She pushed back against Charlie’s chest until he felt as if he were pushing this baby out of her himself. This was an experience he would never forget.
He grabbed tight to her legs and pulled back whispering into her ear to push as hard and as long as she could. She took strength from his voice and screamed as the next contraction filled her body with pain.
“There we go Lizzie keep pushing, keep pushing” Mona cried out. “Stop and relax now Lizzie” she then prepared for the next contraction. She could see the head of the baby crowning.
“I can’t do this” Lizzie cried. “It hurts too much.”
“The baby is almost here. One more good push that’s all we need. Here we go” she said to Lizzie as the next contraction ravaged her body.
“Push hard Lizzie” she yelled at her.
“Push hard, push, push, push, Charlie cried out as he felt as if he were the one doing all the work.
“Keep pushing Lizzie” he cried as he watched the baby push its way out into Mona’s hands. Mona smiled as she held the crying newborn in her hands.
“You did it Lizzie. We have a baby.” Charlie yelled out excitedly as he took a deep breath. This was a day he would never forget. No matter how old he got. No matter what happens in the future no one would ever be able to erase this moment. He watched this wonderful child enter the world. It was an incredible feeling. He kissed her on the top of her head and his arms surrounded her tightly. The baby seemed tiny as Mona laid their daughter into Lizzie’s hands.
“Put her to your breast Lizzie. Let her latch on. We need her to help you with the afterbirth. Her latching will help you push out the rest. Charlie was shaking almost as much as Lizzie. She pulled the sheet down revealing her naked breast as she placed the baby to her nipple. She latched on almost immediately and Charlie watched as he held both his girls in his arms. This new little life was their new beginning.
“It’s a girl Lizzie, we have a daughter.” Charlie started laughing. “We did it.” He said with tears filling his eyes.
“We certainly did do it Charlie Donahue, and we did it together.” She smiled at him. She felt a tinge of sadness in her joy though. Masti would never see this beautiful daughter that belonged to him. He would never know the joy that she was feeling at this moment as she held their baby to her breast.
Mona cleaned up and then let the three of them have some privacy. Charlie remained in the bed behind Lizzie holding her tightly in his arms as if he let go she would evaporate into thin air.
They just sat there watching their daughter suck from Lizzie’s breast until Mona pushed back the curtain that divided the room from the kitchen.
“I am going to wash the baby up proper and check her out.” Mona said almost prying the baby from Lizzie. “I promise I will bring her right back to you.” While she let the new family bond she had been preparing a basin of warm water.
She sang a little tune while she washed the baby up with the warm water, wrapped her in a swaddling blanket, remembering the first time she held her own sweet baby in her arms.
“She is a precious little one, and she looks to be a healthy baby too.” She sai
d as she walked back toward Charlie and Lizzie.
As indecent as his position felt at the time Charlie hadn’t moved. He just sat with his legs wrapped around Lizzie holding her tight in his arms her back against his chest. He felt her heart racing almost as fast as his. Mona finally handed the baby back to Lizzie. With his arms wrapped tightly around Lizzie he looked over her shoulder at the precious baby she held in her hands.
“Look what we have done Charlie” she said
He put his finger near the baby’s hand and she immediately tried to wrap her little fingers around it.
“Look how tiny she is. What shall we name her?” He whispered in her ear.
“Faith, I think we should name her Faith.”
“I think that Faith is a perfect name for her. She will be the one to show us the way. Every day we will walk by faith knowing that all of this was for a reason.” Charlie said.
“Now you sound just like your mother.” They both laughed and smiled down at little Faith.
“I hope that one day she will get to meet her granddaughter.” He said sadly.
“I am sure she will someday see her Charlie.” Lizzie said hoping that it was true. That one day they might be able to return to Ravenswood Manor. This had been quite a journey so far and they had a long way to go. They both knew that right now it was imperative that they keep Faith hidden and safe from the Wentworth and Ravenswood families.
For now Mona promised to keep them safe until they could figure out where they would head to next.
Chapter 10
Spring had come with its rain and cloudy weather. It had gotten warmer and the flowers were starting to bloom. Lizzie was tired of being stuck in the cabin. She felt it was time that Faith went out on her first outing. She and Charlie had argued about it still being too cold and chilly for the baby to be outside, but Lizzie was tired of being locked up in the cabin all the time. She begged and pleaded with him but he stood firm in his decision. They had to remain hidden to remain safe.
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