by Lynn Landes
“Again! I’m right here!” Jack grumbles, but he is smiling as he walks away.
They are laughing at Jacks groans of disgust. The sound of a wagon approaching has them glancing outside. It’s a Sunday evening, they aren’t expecting company.
“Maggie!” a hysterical voice screams.
“George!” Conner jerks and runs to the front door just as it rips open.
“I need Maggie! It’s the baby, please!”
Maggie hears the screaming and runs inside dusting the dirt from her hands. “What’s wrong?”
George stumbles forward and grabs her by her arm. “The baby is coming! Dr. Hall is too far away! You have to help us!” he drags her towards the door and stops when he realizes that she is laughing.
“George, let me get my bag,” Jack comes running with her bag and everyone is smiling at George.
“It’s not funny! The midwife said the baby is stuck! Mag’s I can’t lose them!” George says desperately.
Maggie stops smiling and nods, “You won’t. Let’s go. Dad you drive.”
“I’m coming too,” Donna snaps.
They climb into the wagon and she turns to George. “Tell me everything.”
Maggie enters the room and stares at her childhood friend, struggling, sobbing and the midwife pacing. The room is dark and smells of sweat and Maggie glances at the older woman.
“Tell me what’s going on?”
“I can feel the baby’s bottom. I’ve tried to turn it, but it doesn’t look good,” she says loud enough to Mary to hear. “I’ve done all I can.” Maggie frowns at her as Mary starts sobbing.
“I understand. You may leave.” The woman leaves and Maggie nods in relief. “Donna, I will need fresh boiled water.” Maggie sits beside Mary and grips her hand while Donna starts gathering pots.
“Mary, I’m here to help.” Mary doesn’t look at her, desperation is glistening in her eyes. “George!” she cries for her husband. George sits on the other side of her and grips her hand in his.
“Dr. Hall is on the way, I’m here to help,” Maggie says softly.
A pain strikes and Mary groans, while Maggie starts to count. She quickly goes to the wash bin and washes her hand, with soap, all the way to her elbows.
“Do something!” George hisses.
“George, I need clean sheets and towels, and I want you to start filling the tub with hot water. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” he nods frantically and runs to do as asked. Maggie lights a few candles and turns on the electric lights. “We don’t need to sit in the dark.”
Mary watches, “Am I going to die?”
“No. I’ve delivered or assisted with over three hundred births in San Francisco,” Maggie turns just as Donna enters the room. “This baby just wanted some attention,” she sits beside Mary and accepts a fresh cloth and wipes her brow. “Today you are welcoming your child into the world. We are a team from this moment on.” Tears of relief flood Mary’s eyes.
“Okay.”
“Now I’m going to ask you to get up and we are going to clean you up, put fresh sheets on the bed.”
“What’s the tub for?” Donna asks.
“We’re going to try to turn the baby,” they help Mary stand and she groans in pain but is able to do it.
George and Conner fill the tub with very warm water and Maggie, checks the temperature. “Is that safe?” George asks.
“Yes, in fact, it helps them turn,” Maggie insists.
Donna and Mary wash thoroughly with soap while George helps his wife into the tub. “I’ll call you if I need you George, go wait with Dad.” Maggie insists.
“Oh, this feels so good,” Mary says sinking into the water.
“Good, relaxation is important. Mary, I want you to roll over on your knees, but don’t let your belly touch the bottom. Just relax, and let the water carry the weight, okay?”
Mary nods and does as asked. “Donna, can you get on the end and support her. Let her put her forehead on your shoulder.”
Once they are in place Maggie reaches around and feels her abdomen. “Have your waters broke?”
“No,” she groans as a pain hits.
“Don’t tense up, let the pain come, just relax,” Maggie rubs her back until the pain subsides. “We have time. I’m going to push gently on the outside of your belly, nothing hard, just a suggestion for the baby to move on his own.”
Maggie applies pressure and is happy to feel the baby move a little.
“Oh,” Mary groans. “I felt it move!”
“Good, just relax and I’ll keep the pressure, suggesting that the baby go the direction that I want.” Maggie pushes and Donna talks softly to her.
“It’s going to be okay. You’re going to love this baby so much,” she murmurs.
“I already do,” Mary sobs. Maggie applies more pressure, sweating a bit and Mary groans as a pain hits. Maggie doesn’t let up, she’s afraid the baby will drop back again, “Come on,” she urges. “Come play with your Auntie Mag’s,” Maggie whispers and Mary laughs.
“I like the sound of that,” she groans as the baby flips again.
“Yes!” Maggie shouts. Mary jumps when her water breaks, and Maggie laughs.
“Perfect!”
An intense contraction strikes and Mary screams. Instant pressure and Maggie tells her to stay on her knees. “It’s okay,”
“I can’t deliver in the water!” Mary shouts, “Uggh, I need… to… push!”
“Don’t push yet, breathe,” Maggie checks and finds the baby’s head crowning. She feels around the neck and is relieved to not feel a cord.
“Now, push now, gently, Mary, like you’re having a bowel movement,” Maggie says intently.
Mary bares down and within three pushes, delivers a baby into Maggie’s hands.” Mary sobs as Donna helps her to roll over in the tub.
“Hello little one,” Maggie grabs a towel and rubs the baby, massaging until the first scream.
Mary reaches for the baby and Maggie places her on her breast, “It’s a girl,” she says happily.
Donna cries with them and they begin the necessary clean up. “Thank you!”
“My pleasure,” Maggie says. “Donna can hold her so we can get you cleaned up and into bed.”
George paces and Conner watches. Memories strike hard of the day his daughter was born. “It’s going to be fine,” he reassures him as they hear Maggie scream out.
Soon the baby cries and George drops to the porch with a prayer.
An hour later, Maggie scrubs her hands again and dries them before rolling down her sleeves. The tub is drained, and everything cleaned up. Mary is holding her daughter and George is staring at them with such love that Maggie can only thank the Lord that she had the skills to help.
“Maggie, how will we ever thank you,” George says.
“We will name her…” Mary starts to say but Maggie stops her.
“Don’t you dare, she deserves her own name, but I would love to be her Godmother,” she gently cups the baby’s head. “Look at that dark hair!”
“We’d be honored,” George says and claps his hands. “Let me hold her, you should rest.”
They laugh when Mary frowns at him. “I’m not tired,” she stifles a yawn. He presses a kiss to her forehead.
“Her name is Gloria Rose,” Mary says surprising them all.
Donna smiles, “That’s beautiful.”
George walks over and offers her to Maggie. She takes her with tears in her eyes, “Happy Birthday, little Glory,” she sniffs, and George hugs her. Mary wipes her tears away and whispers, “The Lord is good.”
Maggie rocks the baby and murmurs to her, “I’m going to tell you all of their secrets.”
They laugh and the Doctor arrives along with both sets of grandparents. George walks her outside and stops on the porch while her father brings the wagon.
“Mag’s as your friend, I’m going to offer you some advice. Wanted or not,” he nudges her with his shoulder. “Don’t let
him go without a fight. If he felt like I did tonight, I can understand why…”
“Why he left me too,” she snaps and tosses her bag in the wagon.
“It wasn’t you, Magdalaine,” George insists. “If you care for him, tell him. Drop your pride and remind him what an incredible woman you are. Fight for him the way you fought my daughter.” He tilts her chin up to look at her. “He was terrified, Maggie. You tend to be impulsive sometimes. Go after him.”
“I don’t know, George,” she sniffs feeling emotional. “I wanted him to fight for me.”
“He’s been fighting for you for months and we’re all human Maggie. Give him a break and if he doesn’t want you then it’s his loss.” George says.
“Exactly,” Conner says.
Maggie climbs up beside Donna and leans on her. “It was a good day wasn’t it?”
“It was. A few weeks ago you faced death and today you helped a new life begin. You lead an interesting life.” Maggie laughs softly as they ride away.
Chapter 33
“It’s hard to believe that little Glory is a week old,” Conner says over coffee.
“I know. Time moves fast.” Donna smiles.
Maggie frowns, but continues working on the dishes. Her mind is on other things. “Did you load the trunk?” Donna asks Ian.
“Yep, and the travel bag.”
“Do you have the tickets?” Donna asks.
“I do,” Ian slaps them on the table and stares at Maggie when she turns to look at them.
“What are the three of you up to?”
“Magdalaine, you should change into your new travel dress. You can’t travel to Arizona wearing a grass stained dress,” Donna teases.
“I don’t understand,” Maggie dries her hands on a towel and walks over to the table. Slowly she picks up the tickets and reads, “Phoenix, Arizona? Why are you going to Arizona?” she asks Ian.
“I’m not,” Ian starts to laugh.
“We are going to Arizona, Magdalaine,” her father announces.
“What?” She gasps.
“It’s time for you to make a decision, Magdalaine. You sent Shepherd away. You refused to speak to him after the attack and he respected your wishes. Now it’s time for you to clean up this mess.” Her father stares at her and she looks down at the tickets.
“What if he doesn’t want me, Dad?” she sniffs back tears.
“Then we will come home,” he reaches for her hand, “but this time you aren’t going to be alone.” Tears shimmer in his eyes and her own flow down her cheeks.
“Oh, Dad,” she leans forward and hugs him tightly. Donna cries and Ian nods firmly. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, but I want to be with you. Ian’s going to take care of things here. Now, go get changed. Our train leaves in two hours.”
“Two hours! I can’t possibly be ready so soon. Donna!” she jumps up and runs from the room.
“I’m coming,” they run from the room and Conner smiles at his son.
“Are you sure about this Dad? What if he doesn’t…”
“It will be fine,” Conner says with a smile. “I’ve seen the look of love in his eyes. A man just doesn’t leave everything and fight for a woman the way he has and give up so easily.”
“I hope your right.”
“Donna, what am I doing?” Maggie stares at herself in the mirror as she braids her hair into an updo.
“Do you love him?” Donna asks softly.
“It’s too soon to say isn’t it?” light blue eyes meet brown ones and Donna laughs softly.
“I only knew your Dad three weeks. Sometimes it only takes a moment. Do you miss him?”
“Yes,” she sniffs, “I miss the way his eyes light up when he looks at me. I miss the sound of his deep voice even when he’s exasperated,” she laughs a weepy laugh and draws a shaky breath. “I miss his touch, his smell, everything about him.” She whirls around and stares at Donna. “I’m such a fool,” she drops her face into her hands.
“Stop that. The woman who’s lived through all the life experiences that you’ve had, can do this. Shepherd Millard won’t stand a chance. A week from now you’ll have your answer and either way life will begin. Now stand up and go!”
Maggie looks at her and hugs her tight. “I love you, Donna,” she whispers.
“I love you too, honey.” They cry together and walk downstairs.
Chapter 34
Shep’s pushes back his black cowboy hat and his eyes trail over the creek as it flows through high desert grasslands. It was a good day riding and driving in the cattle. They’ve spent two days out working the cattle. Tomorrow morning they are heading home and he’s looking forward to sleeping in a bed again.
“Come eat city boy, you’re looking a bit frail,” his cousin Chandler teases. They are only a few years apart in age, and he loves to rib him.
“Let me guess, trout, again…” he grins and accepts the plate of beans, fire cooked fish and hard tack biscuits.
“It’ll put a pep in your step,” his grandfather teases. Shep smiles at him as he eats hungrily. Working the trail after so many years out of the saddle feels good, sore but good.
“How do you still do this, Gramps,” Shep uses the affectionate term that always makes him smile.
“He only does it on special occasions, like having you come home,” his father, Boone Millard explains.
“Well, thank you for coming out with me,” Shep holds his plate out asking for more and they laugh. “Any more attacks lately,” Shep asks and they fall quiet.
“A few months back they took twelve horses, while we slept. Truthfully, we were lucky that’s all that happened. They came in the middle of the night and we never heard them,” Graham, his uncle says.
“They don’t like being forced onto the reservations. The Army is after the bands that are raiding but they know the land,” his grandfather says with a glint of respect.
Chandler leans forward and refills his own plate, “They are targeting the horses, specifically. The isolation of our ranch makes it a prime target, but our boys know to ride out well-armed and never alone.”
“That’s good, you can stand to lose horses, but a life, that’s something different,” Shep mutters and her face flashes through his mind and he frowns.
“You going to tell us what drove you home?” his father asks jarring him from his memory.
Shep glances around the fire at the men who helped build him into the man he’s become, and pride fills his heart. He stares up at the stars wondering what they will think of the journey he’s been on.
I’ve missed you, missed this,” he looks back at them, “I didn’t know how much I needed it until now,” he sips his coffee.
“What’s her name?” Graham asks and they all laugh.
“Magdalaine Rose,” Shep says when the noise dies down.
“What happened?” Boone asks his son. Shep starts at the beginning and they let him talk. When he falls quiet his Gramps is the first to speak.
“Let me see if I understand,” he lights his pipe and draws on it before speaking again. “You and your friends kidnapped a nurse, used her as bait and then you dragged her across multiple states and you’re surprised she ran?”
“There’s more,” Shep says and tells the second half of finding her and taking her home.
“You’re lucky her family didn’t shoot you on sight,” his father snaps. “I’ve raised you better than that, Son.”
“We don’t always think clearly when a beautiful woman is involved,” Chandler laughs thinking about his new bride, Anna.
Shep jumps to his feet angrily. “She threw herself in harm’s way. She’s impulsive and brave. Smarter than any woman I’ve met and,” he sits down on a log and glares into the fire, “and you’ve never seen hands like hers,” he murmurs and looks down at his own.
“Hands?” his father chuckles. “You’ve got it bad for her.”
“You have no idea,” he whispers, then tells them of the
surgery on the millworker.
“Why are you here instead of with her?” Chandler asks.
“It’s not that simple, Chandler,” he grumbles.
“The threat has been eliminated,” his Father says, “so why did you leave her?”
“She told me to go,” he replies.
“I don’t blame her,” Gramps quips.
“I’m an idiot,” Shep grumbles and runs a hand over his fully bearded face.
“So what are you going to do about it,” his Dad asks with a laugh.
“I’m working on it,” Shep snaps, “now can we change the subject?”
“Absolutely, we have news on the mine,” Boone says and glances at Graham.
“The Empty Hill Silver Mine?” Three years ago they partnered together with Shep and bought a mountain that boasted a silver mine and dubbed it the Empty Hill Silver Mine. It was mined out and they thought the land would be great to add to their property.
“Yes, turns out it wasn’t so empty,” Boone says with a smile.
Chandler leans forward and says, “Not empty at all, they were just going at it the wrong direction.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we are making a good profit and here is your first cut,” Boone hands his son a check and he stares at the numbers on it and his mouth drops open.
“Are you serious?” he gapes at the number. “Eighteen thousand dollars!”
“There’ll be more before we mine it out completely,” Graham says.
“This is incredible,” Shep smiles at them and thinks of all he can do with the money.
“Tonight we celebrate,” Gramps demands, and they laugh.
“Shep, have you seen the house yet?” Chandler asks.
“No, did my design work out the way you envisioned?” he asks.
“Anna is beside herself. In fact, we are having a party to celebrate on Friday. You should come stay with us and judge for yourself.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’d love to see it to completion,” Shep says.
“Don’t know what’s wrong with the old house,” Gramps says with frown. “It looks more like an estate in Europe than a ranch house.”
