“You abandoned me seven months ago. Why do you care what happens to me now?” Becky wanted to turn her back on her mother, the same way her mother had turned her back on her.
Her mother shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Your father gave me no choice but to abandon you. I begged him to let you stay.”
Becky felt tears spring to her own eyes, and she sniffed, wiping the tears away. “You did?”
“Yes, I did. When your husband came to our house tonight, your father shut the door in his face, but I followed after him. I couldn’t let you try to have that baby on your own. Or worse—with only a man for help!”
Becky giggled at that. “Amos was afraid to help.”
“Is that his name? Is he good to you?”
“He’s so good to me, Mama. He treats me like a princess, and he brings me gifts every day. I think I love him.” No, she was sure she loved him. How could she not love someone as kind and good as Amos was?
“Good! A woman should love her husband.” Her mother offered her arm to help Becky up. “Let’s go to your room, and we’ll see how you’re doing.”
“Have you ever delivered a baby, Mama?” Becky tried to keep the fear from her voice, but she knew she hadn’t. She needed the baby to be all right.
“I have. I’ve delivered several. I was a midwife before I married your father.”
“I didn’t know that!” Becky looked at her mother with new respect.
“Your father expected me to give up everything when I married him, including my former career.”
“Why?” Becky couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t want her mother making what money she could and doing something meaningful. Not that being a mother wasn’t meaningful, but it would have been so much more.
Her mother shook her head. “I never understood. He wanted my entire life to revolve around him and our children.”
“Child.”
“Child. I lost four before you were born. I’m not going to let that happen to you.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Becky rested her head on her mother’s shoulder for a moment as she slowly walked to her bedroom.
“So am I.”
* * *
Amos stayed in the stable talking to his horse until he couldn’t take it another minute. He had to know if his Becky was all right. He opened the door to the house and called out, hoping her mother would come tell him it was all over.
Her mother came, but she was wringing her hands together. “It’s almost time. Becky’s doing fine.”
Amos was worried, but he didn’t know her mother well enough to challenge her. Something was obviously wrong, but he didn’t know what. Instead of arguing, he dropped to his knees, praying for his beautiful Becky and the child she carried.
He didn’t know how long he stayed there on his knees, but once when he looked up, he saw the stranger kneeling beside him, his head bowed as well.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, her mother came out carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket. “It’s a girl.”
He felt his heart catch in his throat as he slowly got to his feet, his legs cramping under him. “Becky?”
“She’s going to be all right. She lost a little more blood than she should have, but I’ll stay and help around the house until she’d ready to be up on her feet again.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brown. I don’t know what else to say.” He stared at the little girl held in her grandmother’s arms. “A girl.”
Mrs. Brown smiled at him. “Yes, a girl. And call me Minerva if you would like.”
“I don’t know anything about girls. She’s healthy?” Amos wanted to hold her so much his arms ached with it, but he was afraid to say something. What if he dropped her?
“The baby is beautiful. Ten fingers and ten toes. Everything is as it should be. Becky’s resting, but she’s awake. Go see her.”
Amos dragged his feet as he walked slowly toward their bedroom. The cradle was at the foot of the bed. “Becky?”
She smiled at him, her face tired but happy. “Did you see her? Isn’t she beautiful?”
He sat down at the very edge of the bed, worried he’d hurt her. “She is beautiful. I can’t believe you gave me a daughter.” The love he felt for that little girl was almost as strong as the love he felt for her mother.
“I’m never going to abandon her.”
“No, I know you won’t. It won’t matter what she does. But if some boy gets her pregnant, I’ll beat him to a bloody pulp.” He saw red just thinking about it.
Becky laughed. “Maybe you should start investigating chastity belts now.”
“Don’t think I won’t!” He smiled down at her, happy she was able to laugh. “Your mother says that you lost too much blood, and she’ll need to stay to help out for a while. Do you want her here? Or should I find someone else?”
“I want my mother. Thank you, though. My father wouldn’t let her support me after he found out I was pregnant. And he didn’t want her to come to me tonight, but she didn’t listen. She came anyway.”
“I’m glad she did. I wouldn’t have known what to do!”
“My mother used to be a midwife, and I didn’t know it until tonight. I think there’s a lot I can learn from my mother. I just need to get to know her.”
Amos stroked her cheek. “Can I get you anything? Are you all right?”
She nodded, her eyes sleepy. “I’m just tired. I think I’m going to sleep now.”
“All right. You sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.” He didn’t plan to leave her at all. He’d watch her sleep if that’s what it took. His beautiful wife was going to be just fine.
He turned as he heard the door open. Her mother carried the baby in. “Do you want to hold her while I fix some breakfast for us?”
He stared at the baby for a moment. “I’m afraid I’ll drop her.”
Mrs. Brown laughed. “I’ll show you just how to hold her.”
A moment later his arms were full of his beautiful little girl, and his heart was full as well. He had no idea a day could begin so perfectly, but his had. He looked toward the window and saw that the snow had stopped. If anything went wrong, he could go for Dr. JT.
Becky opened her eyes for a moment and saw Amos cradling their little girl in his arms. She couldn’t remember what name they’d decided on for her, or even if there had been a girls’ name. Either way, they’d figure it out later when she wasn’t quite so tired.
Amos took the baby to the window and talked to her, his voice low so as not to disturb his wife. “You were born on a night when no one—man or beast—should have been out in the cold of night. But your grandmother came to the rescue, and she helped your mama give birth to you. Your mother sacrificed a lot for you to be here, and I hope you know how very loved you are. By so many people.”
He stared down at the beautiful little face, and he said a prayer of thanksgiving. His wife and daughter were both healthy, and he needed nothing else in the world but for the two of them to be alive and well. He looked over at the stranger who was standing beside him, his stomach falling. “I didn’t do it. She doesn’t love me yet.”
The stranger just stared at him. “Then you failed.”
“Failed at what?”
Just like that the stranger faded from his view, leaving him frustrated with no answers. What had he failed at? Did this mean Becky would never love him? What was he supposed to do now?
He looked down at the baby and decided that no matter what the stranger said, he’d do everything he could to make Becky love him. Whether it was too late or not, she was still the love of his life, and he had to make sure she knew it every day in every way he could show her.
From the kitchen, he heard his mother-in-law calling him, and he gently put the baby in her cradle and walked into the kitchen with a last look at his wife. She was sleeping contentedly.
Taking the two plates he was given, he carried them into her room and woke her. “Your mother says it’s time for you to eat. N
o more sleeping now.”
Becky struggled into an upright position and took one of the plates. “Good thing because I’m starving!”
Chapter Six
When Amos went to work later that day, he took a note for Mrs. Franklin from Becky, letting her know about the baby and that they’d named her Anabelle but would be calling her Belle.
As soon as he’d left, her mother helped her to the water closet. “I’ll take care of the baby. You need to conserve your strength. I’m still a little worried about how much blood you lost.”
Becky nodded. “I’ll be the best patient I can possibly be.”
Her mother sighed. “I raised you. I know how good that is, and your promise just isn’t making me feel a whole lot better about things.”
“I’ll try to be a good example for Belle.”
“I like that name. I could only find diapers for her. Where are her clothes? I couldn’t even find a blanket.”
Becky burst into tears at her mother’s words. “I wanted to sew for her, but I was working all the time, and I didn’t have any extra money at all for fabric. I bought some things last week, but . . . Amos’s mother came to visit, and I had to make curtains and tablecloths. Nothing is ready for her!” Becky carefully sank back to her bed against her pillows, her face in her hands, crying. “I’m already failing at being a mother, and she’s not even a day old!”
“Now, Becky, you know that’s not what I’m saying. I’ll get some sewing done right away. Where’s the fabric you purchased?”
Becky pointed toward her sewing basket, which was in a corner of the room. “I wanted to have everything just perfect, and I didn’t think she’d be here for another three or four weeks.”
“She had other plans. You rest, and I’m going to start sewing. It will be a privilege to sew for my granddaughter.”
Becky wiped away a tear. “I don’t know why everything is hitting me so hard. All I want to do is cry, but I’m so happy she’s here!”
“What you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. I’ve never understood why, but I know that all new moms go through a period of emotional turmoil when they first deliver. Just like most women are very weepy through their pregnancies as well.”
“So I’m normal?” Becky asked, laughing and crying at the same time.
“Perfectly normal.” Her mother sank down into the chair beside the bed and dug through the basket. “I’m going to make her a gown from this!” She held up some fabric.
Becky smiled. “That’s what I got it for. I didn’t think she’d be a girl. I don’t know why, but this whole time, I was sure she’d be a boy.”
“Things rarely turn out the way we expect them to.” Her mother patted her hand before finding a needle and a spool of thread in the basket. “Let’s see how fast I can make her something to wear. Hopefully she’ll be sleeping in it later.”
Becky nodded sleepily, rolling to her side. “Wake me if you need me.”
Several times throughout the day, her mother woke her to have her nurse the baby, but each time she went right back to sleep. The fourth time, she blinked a few times. “What time is it?”
“Almost six.”
“I have to get supper for Amos!” Becky tried to get to her feet, but her mother put a hand on her shoulder.
“Supper is almost ready. You need to stay where you are. You’ll be eating your meals in bed for a few days. We can’t risk the bleeding starting up again. I may have to have Dr. JT come out and check on you.”
Becky shook her head. “I’m fine, Mama. I promise.” She leaned forward trying to see the baby. “How’s Belle? Is she okay?”
“She’s waking up about every three hours to eat, and then she goes back to sleep. Just like she’s supposed to.” Her mother held up the gown she’d been sewing all day. “What do you think?”
Becky nodded. “It’s beautiful. Thank you!”
“It’s the least I could do for my grandbaby.” Her mother folded it and set it on the edge of the bed. “I’m going to go get you some supper. I’ll probably sit out there and eat with Amos.”
“That’s fine. I can handle the baby if she wakes.”
“No, you can’t! I don’t want you lifting that baby at all. You can hold her if someone hands her to you, but you cannot stand up and pick up your baby. You can walk as far as the water closet with assistance.”
“I’m stronger than you think I am.”
“Promise me you’ll wait for me if she wakes up. I don’t care how hard it is to hear her cry. I will come and give her to you.”
“I promise.” Becky leaned back against the pillows, a little frustrated. She wasn’t used to sitting around with nothing to do.
Her mother could see the boredom on her face and handed her the sewing basket. “Have fun.” With those words she was gone, and Becky sat quietly for a moment, digging through the basket.
Becky wasn’t sure how long she could sit quietly without hurting herself. She was used to working at least ten hours every day between the restaurant and the boarding house. It had been easier since she’d married, but that had only been a week, and she’d kept herself very busy by choice, not by necessity.
Her mother was back fifteen minutes later, and she set Becky’s soup on the dresser before plumping her pillows. “I know you, and I know how hard-headed you are. You need to stay still for your daughter because she needs a mother.” Handing Becky her soup, she disappeared from the room.
* * *
Amos had a long day after very little sleep. He sent a telegram to his mother, knowing it would arrive in New York before she did. He brought home a little hat and a pair of booties that Mrs. Franklin had made for the baby.
As soon as he walked inside the kitchen, he spotted her mother in front of the stove. “How are my girls?”
“The baby is doing just fine. Becky is . . . she’s still weak. I’m having a hard time getting her to stay in bed. She wants to get up and help with the baby because she hates being idle. She’s been this way since she was a little girl, but we can’t let her risk herself. The baby needs her.”
“Is it that serious?” he asked, surprised. He knew her mother had been worried before the baby was born, but he was surprised she was still worried now.
“Yes, it’s very serious. She lost a lot more blood than she should have, and she was a little too thin before the baby was born. She didn’t get enough care while she was expecting, and I know you’re thinking that’s my fault, and it probably is. I can’t change what happened months ago. I can only change how she thinks about things now. She needs to do what she’s told. No lifting the baby. She needs to eat in bed. I feel like I’m letting her do too much by feeding herself!”
“Should I get the doctor?”
Mrs. Brown considered the question for a moment. “I’m thinking about it. If she’s not more cooperative, then we’re going to have to get him here. He can explain the very real dangers to her.”
“I’ll go get him now!” Amos grabbed his hat off the hook on the wall and slammed it atop his head. He wasn’t going to sit back and watch the woman he loved die simply because she didn’t know how to sit still.
“Not yet. Let’s give her ’til tomorrow. I think she can get it together. Otherwise, you’ll need to get him.” Mrs. Brown frowned at him. “Besides. You were up all night as well. You’re dead on your feet.”
“You were up most of the night, too.”
“I had a chance to catnap. I slept in the chair beside Becky’s bed and nodded off several times. You haven’t had the chance to do that. And I plan to sleep all night. You’ll be up and down taking the baby to Becky.”
He yawned, putting his hat back on the hook. “Maybe I should hire someone to help us out after all. At least for this week.”
“I’m sure you could. There are plenty of women in town who would like to help make ends meet for their families.”
“We’ll see how tomorrow goes. I’m not planning on working. I only went in today because I knew they were ex
pecting me.”
“With both of us here, I’m sure we can keep her in bed. It depends on how she’s doing whether we’ll need the doctor, though. Right now, I’m very worried about her.” She finished dishing up their meal and set his on the table. “If she’s not better by morning, you can go for the doctor.”
“That sounds fine.” He sat down with her, bowing his head and saying a simple prayer, thanking God for the food and praying for the health of the two girls he loved the most.
“We’ll just have to do what we can to keep Becky entertained. She seems to be nursing all right, and that’s a blessing.”
He wanted to jump up from the table and go see her, but he didn’t want to offend his mother-in-law either. “Why are you helping us so much?” he asked, still not sure why she was there with them.
Mrs. Brown frowned. “I’m helping because I love my daughter. My husband made me cut off ties with her when she told us she was pregnant, but I couldn’t let her try to birth that baby with no help at all. Every woman should have someone with her when she delivers. Especially her first child!”
“I would think any child, but I agree with you. She wanted me to try to help her, but I wouldn’t have known what to do. You at least knew how much bleeding was too much and what to do for the bleeding.”
“I wish there had been no bleeding, or there was a way to stop her from bleeding now.” She shook her head. “Maybe the doctor can put a poultice on her. If I’d been ready, I could have made one. I used to be a midwife.”
“I guess I went to the right place, then, didn’t I?” He was thankful for the stranger who had suggested he go to her.
“You definitely did.” She smiled at him.
“Are there going to be problems with your husband because you did this?” he asked, worried about that for the first time. He still would have done exactly the same thing and gone to her, but he didn’t want her to be in trouble with her husband for helping his wife out.
“I honestly don’t know. Probably. But she’s his daughter as well, and if he has a problem with it, then I’ll go back to being a midwife. It won’t bother me one little bit.”
Bargain For Baby Page 6
