“Well, that should make things a bit easier,” Ian said with his customary grin. He carefully inspected the wound. The bullet had entered the man’s back and passed through the body, apparently hitting some blood vessels on the way. “We’ve got to get this bleeding stopped.” The Indian just granted in response. Ian whistled, and the gelding came crashing through the brush, leading the other horse along with him. Ian grabbed his extra shirt out of his saddlebags and ripped it apart to bind the man’s wound. He padded it several times in front and back and tied it tightly to put pressure on. When the job was done to his satisfaction he wrapped his blanket around his patient and leaned him against a tree, then went about the job of making a camp. The light was beginning to fade, and he had a feeling the weather was going to turn against him.
“Do you know who shot you?” he asked when he had a fire going and bacon frying in a pan.
“A coward,” the man replied. They were the first words he had said since Ian had bandaged his wound.
“Was he white?”
“He was not of my people, nor of yours.”
“An Indian but a different tribe?” Ian asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you think he’s still around?”
The Indian shrugged his shoulders, the brief conversation having taken most of his strength. The wind began to pick up a bit, and Ian pulled the collar on his coat up. They were in the middle of a dense thicket of trees and brush. Ian hoped it would be enough to shelter them from the next blast of winter that was bearing down on them. He handed the man some bacon and a cup of coffee. He ate quietly, his eyes never leaving Ian. Ian went to check on the horses. They seemed content, each one gathering warmth from the other. “If only people could be as smart as animals are sometimes,” Ian thought to himself and pulled his hat down further on his head. Luckily, he had added an extra blanket to his pack. It was going to be a long, cold night.
He thought about Faith. She was probably tossing about in the bed right now, complaining about being hot but ready to stick her ice-cold feet in the small of his back. He smiled at the thought. With luck, tomorrow, he’d be there with her.
He went back to the fire. The Indian had finished his meal and was sitting with his eyes closed. Ian picked up the tin mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. He leaned back against his saddle and cradled the cup, letting the small heat warm his hands. The sky above the trees was black as pitch. He wasn’t surprised when a few flakes of snow floated down and landed on his coat. He was just glad the heavy brush was keeping out most of the wind.
Ian awoke the next morning wearing a heavy blanket of snow. The fire had managed to make it through the night, the flames melting the flakes before they had a chance to pile up around it. Ian stood and shook the snow off, stamping and flailing his arms to get the circulation going. The Indian looked as still as death. Ian gently prodded the man with the toe of his boot. The black eyes flew open, and then closed again when he saw Ian. Ian crouched down and tentatively checked the bandages. The blood had dried the padding to his side, but it had not bled through. Ian thought it best to leave it alone; trying to pull it off might start the bleeding again.
“I am called Gray Horse.”
Ian couldn’t help smiling. “I’m Ian Duncan.” He extended his hand. “I think fate brought us together.”
“What do you mean, fate?” The man was curious as he took Ian’s hand.
“I have a gray horse.” The Indian looked over to where the horses were standing. “He’s back in St. Jo.”
“I am grateful that your fate has joined our paths. You saved my life.”
“I was glad to do it.”
“Why are you here?” Gray Horse asked, his arm motioning to the general area.
“I’m looking for a place to settle, to build a home. I had just found it when I heard the shot.”
“You have a family?”
“Yes, a wife, and soon a child. How about you?”
“My family was taken last winter by the pox. My wife and my son.”
“I’m sorry; I have a friend who lost her son to the pox.”
They were both quiet for a moment.
“Where is your home?” Ian finally asked.
“North, half a day’s ride.” Gray Horse weakly tried to stand, and Ian helped him to his feet. “I owe you a great debt, Ian Duncan.” His name sounded like music on the Indian’s tongue. “The land you want is south of here, where the stream cuts through the small valley?”
“Yes.”
“It is good land.” He handed Ian the blanket.
“Keep it,” Ian said. Gray Horse went to his horse and swung up, taking a moment to straighten himself, his hand gripping his side over the bandage.
“I will see you again.” He rode off. Ian watched his passage through the maze of shrubs, and then turned to pack up his own belongings. It was a two-day ride home, and Faith would be worried. He’d best get started.
Chapter Eight
Faith was frantic by the time Ian got back. The snow had drifted so deep that he didn’t get home until Friday. He arrived after dark, weak and exhausted but alive. Faith alternated between raging at him because he had worried her so much and smothering him with kisses because he was safe. Elizabeth finally sent her waddling off to the kitchen to fix him a plate, and sent Ian off for a much-needed bath. Faith was much calmer when Ian came to the table, his hair slicked back and his jaw freshly shaved. Her eyes had dark circles under them and seemed huge and colorless in her pale face. Ian laid his hand on her cheek.
“I promise I won’t go off again like that,” he told her tenderly. Faith burst into tears and climbed into his lap, her face buried against his shoulder. He tried to pull her close, but the baby pressed against him. Elizabeth shook her head and left the kitchen, leaving him to reap the rewards of his transgressions. He gave Elizabeth a sheepish grin over Faith’s head as she left.
The next day was better for everyone. Ian shared his story with the group at the breakfast table and talked on and on about the land he had found. Lynora, the schoolmarm, shuddered in apprehension when he told of ridding Gray Horse. Faith and Elizabeth exchanged worried looks behind Ian’s back as he talked of spending the night in the brush with the injured Indian. He couldn’t say enough about the land he wanted, and couldn’t wait to get to the land office on Monday to stake a claim on it. Faith moved slowly around the kitchen as he talked, her hand pressed against the middle of her back to relieve the cramp she had awakened with. Elizabeth watched her painful movements with a look of concern. Ian noticed Elizabeth’s worry and turned to see what the cause was. About that time, Faith doubled over and wrapped her arms around her stomach. Ian flew out of his chair and had his arms around her in an instant.
“What is it?” he asked as he took her weight upon himself.
“I don’t know, it just hurts,” Faith gasped.
“Elizabeth, it’s too soon. What is it?” Ian asked, panic-stricken.
“We’d better send for the doc,” Elizabeth said. Lynora grabbed her coat and was out the door, her eyes wide in her head. “Let’s get her up to your room.”
Faith doubled over in pain again, and Ian scooped her up in his arms and carried her up to their room. He kicked the door open and deposited Faith on the freshly made-up bed. She clutched his arm as the pain rolled over her.
“Ian, it’s not time. It’s too soon,” she cried.
“Hush, darling, it will be all right. We’ve sent for the doctor.” Ian pulled her close and smoothed her hair. Elizabeth came around on the other side of the bed and picked up Faith’s hand.
“Where is the pain, Faith?”
“My back.” Faith motioned around her extended belly. “Here, Oh—” Another wave of pain came over her. Elizabeth looked at Ian over Faith, whose whole body was tensed with pain, and shook her head. The baby was not going to wait another six weeks; it was coming now.
“We need to get her undressed.” Elizabeth jumped into action. Ian started to undo the bac
k of Faith’s dress, which he had just helped her button before breakfast. Elizabeth drew off Faith’s shoes and stockings and stood ready with a nightgown to pull over her head as soon as Ian had removed the dress. Faith bore their attentions bravely, grabbing on to Ian’s arm as each wave of pain came over her. Ian lifted her off the bed, and Elizabeth pulled back the covers and placed an old blanket on top of the sheets. They heard the doctor and Lynora come clattering up the stairs as Ian was putting her down on the bed.
“I hear this baby is in a rush to arrive,” the doctor said as he came into the room. He took Faith’s hand and patted it reassuringly. “How far along are you?”
“Almost eight months,” Faith gasped. “Is it too soon?”
“Hard to say. It looks like he’s pretty well grown already.” The doctor moved his hands over Faith’s abdomen, and then bent to pull up her gown. “We need to have a look-see,” he said to Ian, who nodded, his usually bronzed complexion pale. Faith sucked in her breath as the man poked and prodded. “Yes, ma’am, this baby is coming,” he announced. “And he’s coming now.”
“Lynora, go fix a kettle of water,” Elizabeth commanded. “Then bring up those old towels in the washroom. Ian, you’d best go down and wait.”
“No-o-o-o,” Faith wailed grabbing his arm.
“I’ve birthed many a foal, Elizabeth. I’ll stay for this,” he said calmly.
“Then stay out of the way,” the doctor said.
Ian settled down at the head of the bed and supported Faith against his body. He wrapped his arm around her chest, and she hung on to him, her fingernails digging into his arm each time a pain hit her. He lowered his head over hers and talked gently into her ear. She was now soaked with sweat, and her hair was in wild disarray around her pale face. Elizabeth handed Ian a wet cloth and he wiped her face with it. The pains were coming closer and closer until she could hardly draw a breath before the next one consumed her. Her water broke and came out onto the bed in a rush.
“There’s no going back now,” the doctor exclaimed and bent to examine her again. He pulled her legs up and apart and announced, “I see a head.”
“Faith, you’re going to have to push now,” Elizabeth directed her. Faith nodded, her eyes pale and colorless in her face.
“What do I do?” Ian asked.
“Sit her up.”
Ian moved behind Faith on the bed and propped her up against him. Her gown was pushed up over her waist, and Elizabeth was mopping up the flood on the bed with the old towels.
“When you feel the next pain, push,” the doctor said and moved down to the end of the bed. Faith nodded and grabbed her knees. The pain was already there. She gritted her teeth and pushed, her body arching against Ian.
“Again,” the doctor commanded. She drew in a breath and pushed, her body trembling with the effort.
“Again,” he shouted, his hands moving into place to catch the baby when it came out.
Faith pushed again, screaming with the effort, tears streaming from eyes that were squeezed tightly shut.
“I see it!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“Push again.”
Ian didn’t think she had it in her, but she gathered herself again and pushed, her voice hoarse with another scream.
“It’s a boy,” the doctor said. “Will you look at that!” As he pulled the little body out of Faith, a small arm followed, its hand wrapped around the ankle of the baby boy. Ian leaned forward to see, but Elizabeth blocked his view.
“There are two,” she explained simply.
The doctor disengaged the tiny fist from the baby’s ankle and gently pushed it back into the womb.
“This might hurt,” he said. He placed his hand on Faith’s abdomen and inserted his arm inside her. Faith’s back arched off the bed as he probed. Elizabeth pulled the baby away as he withdrew his arm, along with the afterbirth. Ian looked at the goings-on incredulously. Elizabeth was smiling so he knew the boy was all right. The doctor cut the cord, and Elizabeth bundled die baby in a blanket, his small wails filling the room. She handed him to Lynora, who had watched the entire episode wide-eyed from the door. She didn’t seem to know what to do with him.
“Just hold him,” Elizabeth said as she wiped the baby’s face with a wet cloth.
“Here comes the other one,” the doctor said. “Push!”
Faith gathered herself again and pushed.
“Well, look at that,” Elizabeth said. “I think she was the one that was in a hurry.” The baby had come out in one push, and Faith collapsed back against Ian, her job done.
“Lynora, give that baby to its mother,” Elizabeth commanded as she worked over the little girl, whose wails were joining those of her brother. Lynora deposited the bundle into Faith’s waiting arms. Ian pulled back the blanket to find a shock of copper-colored hair on the babe’s head. His wide grin split his face, and he pulled the blanket down to find ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes, and a huge display of manliness between his two perfect legs.
“No doubt who he belongs to,” he said into Faith’s ear as Elizabeth dropped a bundle into Faith’s other arm.
This one had a swirl of golden curls over a delicate face and was screaming like a banshee. The boy was looking up into the faces of his parents with eyes the color of the deep blue ocean. Elizabeth took him to be cleaned up, and the doctor gave him a quick examination. The proud parents pulled the blanket back from their daughter to find the same perfect limbs that her brother had. Elizabeth had finished with the boy and quickly exchanged him for the girl, who protested loudly at the bath.
“What are you going to call them?” Lynora asked from her post at the door.
Faith looked down into the eyes of her son, eyes exactly like his father’s. “James Ian after Ian’s father.”
“And the girl?” Elizabeth asked as she deposited his daughter into Ian’s surprised grasp.
He looked down at the bundle, which had finally grown quiet. Her eyes were the same as her brother’s, and were looking up at him in what he swore was complete adoration. “Jenny Elizabeth, after Faith’s mother and after her grandmother, if you want the job.”
Elizabeth burst into tears “I can’t help it,” she apologized. “I’m so happy.”
“Are they all right, being born so early?” Faith asked the doctor.
“They seem fine to me. They’re not even that small, really, and the lungs sounded healthy.” He packed his tools into his bag. “I’ll check on all of you again in a week or so. Elizabeth, take care of your family,” he instructed and was off.
Elizabeth shooed Ian off the bed and into the rocking chair, which had been placed in the room that very week. She placed a baby in each arm, and he sat there grinning, looking from one to the other. They both stared up at him in blue-eyed fascination. Elizabeth gave Faith a quick cleaning and brought a fresh gown out of a drawer. Lynora helped her change the linens, and the new mother was soon back in the bed with her hair shining from the brushing Elizabeth had given it.
“Now it’s time for them to eat,” she announced, taking James from Ian. She placed him in Faith’s arm and helped her to guide her breast into his gaping mouth. Ian chuckled at his antics from his place in the chair, his finger grasped in Jenny’s tiny fist.
“What was all the fuss about when James came out?” he asked Elizabeth as she stood beaming down at Faith and the baby.
“Jenny had a hold of his ankle,” she explained. “It was the darnedest thing I ever saw. It was like she was afraid he was going somewhere without her.”
Ian looked down at the wide blue eyes of his daughter. “I have a feeling, my sweet little child, that you are going to be nothing but trouble.” Jenny held tightly to his finger, her eyes gazing up into the face of her father.
When Elizabeth felt that James had had enough she traded him for Jenny, who took the breast with a fierceness that amazed them. “I’m afraid two of them might wear you out,” she said to Faith. “Are there twins in your family anywhere?”
“I never heard of any. Ian?”
“Not that I know of.”
“They usually skip a generation. Were either of your parents twins?” Elizabeth asked.
“I don’t know who my real father was. Maybe he was a twin,” Faith volunteered.
“It would have been nice to know beforehand. We’re going to have to find another bed, and we’ll definitely need more diapers.” Elizabeth began a mental list in her head of all the things they would need with two babies in the household. Ian immediately solved the bed problem by emptying out a dresser drawer, lining it with a few blankets and placing it on top of a small chest. Elizabeth went off to see what other items she could come up with and left the new family to themselves. Jenny had stopped eating, and Ian joined his wife and babies on the bed.
“You’ve managed to double our family in one day,” he said to Faith. She had curled on her side and had pulled Jenny up against her. Ian lay on the other side of James, so the two babes were sheltered between their parents’ bodies.
“I believe you might have had a little to do with it,” she said as she stroked the soft cheek of her daughter.
“I love you, Faith. You were so brave. I don’t think I could have done it.”
“I didn’t have much choice,” Faith laughed. “I love you.” Ian leaned across the babies and kissed his wife. Jenny started to fuss beneath their joined lips.
“We’re going to need a bigger bed,” Ian said when the two parted.
Faith bent down to soothe her daughter, whose wide blue eyes were focused on Ian again. “At least young Jamie here knows what it’s good for,” she said. Jamie was sound asleep against his fussy sister.
A while later Elizabeth returned to find the entire family asleep on the bed. “Best get it now, because you’ll sure miss it later,” she said and shut the door.
Chapter Nine
The family soon settled into a routine. They found that Jenny was the demanding one of the twins. She would be the first to wake up, and Ian would scramble to get her before she set Jamie off. Jamie, on the other hand, was content with everything and seemed happy to do things at his parents’ convenience. Ian and Faith’s life for the moment was a cycle of taking care of babies and trying to catch up on sleep when the babies slept. Ian was also working at the livery, and the hard hours were taking a toll. Ian also was anxious for the weather to break so he could get about the business of claiming his land. Soon February had passed and March was upon them. The snow melted, the days were longer, and the twins were sleeping through the night. He began to gather the things he would need to begin their homestead.
Chase the Wind Page 10
