Beneath the Heavens

by Barlow, Lindsey;

  “I can’t do this no more,” Melissa wailed as she dropped her weight into Esther’s arms.

  “You are doing so well Melissa. Let’s count through this contraction, alright?” Esther encouraged, ignoring the stiffness in her neck. The labor had been going on for ten hours. Melissa’s first three children had been delivered after long labors as well, but with them, the contractions had been low in front, normal. The back labor was taking a powerful toll on Melissa.

  “I am going to die Esther…the baby is going to die,” she cried as the contraction finished.

  “The baby is going to come out healthy and fine.” Esther stroked Melissa’s damp hair away from her face. Melissa tried to sit down, but Esther stopped her. “We need to keep you on your feet Melissa, to speed up the labor.”

  Melissa nodded and bravely held onto Esther’s forearms as she walked slowly around the room. A small knock on the door followed by a little blond curly head peeking through the door, made Melissa hiccup a small cry.

  “You need to leave,” she told her eldest daughter.

  “We’re hungry Momma, and Daddy isn’t cooking anything,” she whimpered.

  “Luv you need to—” Melissa groaned and the door shut as her daughter scampered away.

  “Alright Melissa,” Esther braced her. “They’re very close now, just a minute apart. The baby is almost here.

  “My back!” Melissa cried.

  Esther grabbed the ice and placed it on Melissa’s lower back. She needed to relieve the pressure, for with every contraction, Melissa tensed, slowing the process of labor.

  “Melissa,” she said soothingly, as the contraction eased. I need you to get on your hands and knees.”

  “What?” Melissa asked with a choke. “But my other ones I was just walking or lying down.”

  “Melissa, we need to relieve the pressure on your back. Trust me, alright?” Esther said as she led her to the bed. Taking most of Melissa’s weight she positioned the frail momma on her hands and knees.

  “That’s… that’s better,” Melissa grimaced. “Oh lordy, Esther, another one is coming… oh it hurts.”

  Esther grabbed the ice and pressed on Melissa’s lower back, pressing harder to move the baby away from the spine. “One, two, three, breathe Melissa, try not to tense.” Esther began to massage Melissa’s back, but before her hands could even move, another contraction started.

  “Oh, I know I really am going to die, Esther.”

  Esther smiled. A baby was coming.

  /

  “I don’t understand why we are stopping?” Abby said as Will tied off the horses next to the Pinto.

  Will jerked his head towards the porch. A tall man paced back and forth and two children were crying. “It looks like they could use some help,” he said.

  Abby sighed. She was nervous, meeting her first people from Tall Pine. How should a teacher act? What should she say?

  A boy suddenly came out of nowhere, running towards them. Abby noticed locks of golden brown hair in wild curls.

  “Pastor Will!” he shouted, waving his hand.

  “Michael.” Will raised his hand in greeting and trotted forward meeting the boy several yards in front of the house. Abby was surprised either of them could run on the muddy ground still showing puddles from the earlier rain. She walked slowly, afraid to fall.

  “Your momma here?” Will asked.

  Michael nodded. “We’ve been here for a long, long time,” Michael sighed, slumping his shoulders. “James and Lucy are crying because they’re hungry. Mr. Todd gave us some jerky, but Pastor, that’s not enough,” Michael said matter-of-factly. His light blue eyes fell on Abby. She smiled and gave a little wave with her fingers.

  “Alright, Michael,” Will patted the boy’s shoulders. “We’ve come to help out.” He looked back at Abby. “You may need to fix the kids some supper.”

  “Who’s that?” Michael pointed at Abby with a big smile. Two dimples denting deep in his cheeks made Abby fall for him instantly.

  “That’s the new teacher Michael,” Will explained, hurrying forward.

  Abby continued to walk slowly behind. Make supper? She didn’t know the first thing about cooking. Her mother had always cooked, and then later on she had hired a cook. The only thing Abby knew how to do was boil water, if even that.

  Michael skipped up to her. “Hi, Teacher,” he greeted brightly. “Why are you walking so slowly?” he asked.

  Abby gave a small laugh. “I’m afraid of falling; these shoes are not meant for rain or mud.”

  Michael blinked. “You talk different. Where are you from?”

  “Texas.”

  Did she sound funny?

  Michael’s eyes widened. “Texas? My dad is gonna be from Texas!” he exclaimed. Somehow this must have bonded him to Abby because he took her hand, making her feel more confident to walk faster.

  “He’s going to be from Texas? Is your momma engaged?”

  Michael shook his head with a disappointed frown. “No, she hasn’t met him yet.”

  Abby opened her mouth to inquire more, but she was interrupted by Will shouting for her.

  “Miss Silver, we need you to hurry.”

  /

  “The crying is getting worse.” Mark Todd rubbed his hands across his tired face. “And I can’t go in cause I am sore afraid of seeing her die,” he shuddered.

  Will nodded. “The teacher will go in and check on things, alright Mark?” he assured him.

  Abby’s eyes widened as she stepped onto the porch. “Wait, what?”

  Will looked at her sternly, like a commanding father. “Miss Silver, you need to go check on Melissa Todd and make sure everything is alright.” He was trying to tell her something with a commanding look, but Abby, once again, stared dumbly.

  “But I… I’ve never been, or seen a labor, and I don’t know—”

  “Mr. Todd has been anxious all day, Miss Silver. He needs to know his wife is alright.”

  Abby’s eyes went from the tired Mark Todd to the tear-stained faces of two blonde children then to Will’s communicative look and Michael’s bright smile. “I suppose I could peek my head in,” she said weakly.

  “I’ll show you the way.” Michael tugged on her arm and took her inside. Will followed closely and gently brought her to a halt when the front door closed behind them.

  “I am awfully sorry Miss Silver,” he said, his voice softening. “I don’t act my best when nervous, but this family needs to know what is going on with their mother.” A small smile flickered across his mouth. “And everyone knows not to interrupt Esther’s midwifery. She’s the best there ever was.”

  Abby nodded and gave a small shrug. “It will be a new experience,” she said and then jumped as another wail shook the house.

  Michael smiled. He must be used to this. “Come on, Teacher.”

  /

  Esther leaned under the wailing Melissa to check the baby’s progress. She could feel the head, and yes, see it, but Melissa still felt no need to push. Thankfully the baby had moved off the back and was in perfect position.

  The door suddenly opened and a pretty young woman with large gray eyes stared timidly through. “Uh, hello. I am the new teacher, Abigail Silver. Mr. Todd wants to know how everything is… if it is alright.”

  Melissa cried out. “Oh I can’t take it, Esther. Why ain’t I feeling the need to push?”

  “It will be soon, Melissa. Everything is just opening up,” she explained. Sometimes midwives forced patients to push before they were ready. The result was lots of tearing and lots of bleeding. Esther had her fair share of hard births, but one thing she had learned was that the baby and the body knew what to do. It was just helping the mother through it.

  “Tell Mark that everything is going as it should,” she smiled with a twinkle in her eyes.

  Abby stared at the beautiful elegant woman. This was Esther? No wonder Will was so impressed. What man would not be interested in this gracious woman? Her hair was coming undone, and he
r cheeks were flushed with sweat beading on her forehead; dark circles under her eyes showed her fatigue. She was gorgeous. Abby had never thought a woman could look so beautiful, especially in the severely awkward position she was in. Abby liked her instantly.

  “Oh, Esther, it’s coming! I need to push.”

  Esther looked up at Abby. “Shut the door Miss Silver, and please come in. I could use your help.”

  To her own surprise, Abby hurried over. She would like to impress this Esther, and the woman seemed so capable, so calm and happy in the situation that it automatically relaxed Abby.

  “Alright, Melissa, we are going to turn you on your side.” Esther began to shift the woman, showing experienced strength in her skilled movements.

  “My side?” Melissa groaned.

  “Your back will be all bruised and we can’t have you lying on it.” Esther smiled and hiked up Melissa’s gown above her waist. Abby wondered if she should look away. She’d never seen a woman, or anyone, naked or so exposed. Esther did not seem to mind.

  “Miss Silver, take hold of her arms so she can brace herself against you during the pushes. She is weak and will need the support.” Esther took one of Melissa’s legs and placed it on her shoulder and then placed her elbow on the outside of the other leg so she could see the baby. “Melissa, on the next contraction push… that’s a girl, good, good.”

  Esther waited for the baby’s head to peak out. Melissa’s small narrow hips made it hard for the babies to get through; they tended to suck themselves back in over and over. She hoped after all the standing and long labor, this one would come quickly.

  “Alright Melissa, pant, and wait… wait.” Esther rubbed oil along the opening. The baby would have blond curls like its siblings. “Alright, small push. Good girl, now a big push… good, good, keep pushing. The head is almost out. Keep pushing.”

  Melissa cried out in agony and clutched Abby’s arms as she pushed. Abby gulped not knowing whether to be afraid of the pain Melissa was exhibiting or to be excited with the sheer joy that Esther had on her face as the head came out.

  “We have the head, Melissa!” Esther exclaimed. “Wonderful, now don’t push,” she said, her smile turning to concentration.

  “But I got to!” Melissa cried.

  One more second and Esther nodded. “Alright, pretty girl, push slowly,” she instructed. Melissa began a low groan. Abby looked over to see Esther twisting the baby’s shoulders as it slid out. “Slow, slow…good, keep going and—”

  A wet, pink baby followed by a bluish chord slid out of Melissa and into Esther’s arms.

  “It’s a boy, Melissa! A beautiful, healthy boy!” She smiled as she quickly cut the cord and then stood up to wrap the baby in a blue blanket, flannel on one side, and calico on the other.

  Melissa’s strained face relaxed into teary eyes and a trembling smile. “A boy?” she choked with a laugh. “A boy!” She held out her arms and Esther gently placed the small crying bundle into them.

  Abby watched as the mother’s world closed in, consisting only of herself and her new baby. It was as if all the pain she had just experienced had never happened when only a moment ago, she had been crying out in suffering. Now, she lay peacefully with the most exquisite thing Abby had ever seen, a wrinkly pink baby that was nuzzling into his mother’s breast. Abby glanced at Esther who was now between Melissa’s legs again. Abby tilted her head curiously; she was surprised that the whole thing had not nauseated her. Usually the sight of blood or any kind of gore sent her into a dizzy spell, and yet she had just participated in birth. The mere thought of delivering a baby had always frightened Abby. The pain, the risk of death, so many horror stories had been told to her. Yet, this experience had seemed exhilarating… joyous. Perhaps it was the calm way that the midwife had handled it.

  Abby studied Esther’s face, composed, serene, with a perpetual soft smile on her lips. “What are you doing?” Abby whispered, not wanting to break Melissa’s bubble of contentment.

  Esther looked up. “There’s one more step,” she answered as she pressed softly on the mother’s stomach.

  Esther smiled and pulled out some supplies from a large basket.

  “I’m gonna clean you up Melissa, alright?” she said gently before making eye contact with Abby. “Would you be so kind as to inform the father that he has a healthy baby boy?”

  Abby nodded, aware that she was being politely dismissed so Esther could clean up Melissa privately. She scurried out and into the kitchen where three children sat pale faced and anxious. The husband, Mark, paced back and forth while Will seemed to be lighting the stove to warm up the place. All faces turned to her as she walked in. The mixture of fear and excitement was tangible.

  “It’s a boy!” A small giggle escaped her lips. “And the midwife said everything is fine.”

  Mark sat down in relief, his eyes misting up as he placed his head in his hands.

  “Thank the Lord,” he wept amidst the cheering children.

  Will had stood up from lighting the stove. He patted Mark’s shoulders. “See? I told you it would be fine. Miss Esther always knows what to do.”

  Again Abby noticed the softening in Will’s eyes and face. After seeing Esther, she understood why. How could any man not be entranced by the woman? Heavens, she herself was entranced.

  “Is it alright for me to go in?” Mark asked. Abby shrugged, but Mark paid her no mind. He was out of the room before she had time to take another breath. Will stopped the children who wanted to scurry in to see their new brother.

  “Hold on, all of you; let your father and mother have some time.” He glanced up at Abby. “I told Mark that I would see to his evening work, feeding the animals and such. Perhaps you could make these younglings some dinner?”

  It was an order and not a request. Abby’s eyes widened as Will left the house, shutting the door firmly behind him. She breathed out a weak laugh as she looked at the children. Mathematics, science, philosophy, history, Abby knew every educational subject there was. She loved learning, loved knowledge, but cooking…why had she never bothered to learn that? Abby tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Are you the new teacher?” the eldest girl asked.

  Abby nodded. Perhaps if she kept them talking and asking questions they would forget that they were hungry. She did not want Will knowing she could not cook. Not that she cared for his opinion, or needed it, but Abby did have her pride.

  “I am the new teacher,” Abby said with a little more gusto. “What are your names?”

  The eldest pointed at herself. “I’m Beth.” She nodded towards her brother and little sister. “That’s my brother James and my sister Lucy.” Beth studied Abby with a scrutiny much too astute for a little girl. “You’re smaller than the last teacher,” she noted.

  Abby tried to smile. She’d never been an overly curvy thing, nor very tall. This tended to make her look young, which she was, but when trying to be an independent schoolteacher one would hope to appear older.

  “What are you going to cook for us?” James asked with an exhausted sigh. “I’m starving.”

  So much for keeping them distracted.

  “Well, let me look at what you have,” Abby replied, faking confidence. She began busying herself by opening all the cupboards, investigating the contents. There were cans and jars, fresh bread, vegetables and some ham, eggs, and milk. Plenty of food, but Abby had no idea what to do.

  Dear Lord, please help me, she silently prayed. Abby pulled out what looked like tea. She could make tea.

  “I don’t like that,” Beth announced, grimacing at the tea.

  Abby put it back. What in heaven’s name was she going to do?

  “Beth, James, Lucy,” a rich voice spoke softly.

  Abby looked up to see Esther walking in. “Your mother says that you can come see your new baby brother.” The three children bounded off, pushing each other to get to the room first.

  Esther lifted her eyebrows in an amused expression. “Nothi
ng is as exciting as a new baby.”

  Abby nodded with a thin smile. “Will suggested I make dinner and I—” am a qualified teacher with an impressive secondary education. Yet, I have no knowledge on how to cook or do anything useful it seems. “I don’t know what the children like,” she gulped.

  Esther nodded and crossed over to her. “You look tired; go ahead and sit down while I make you some tea, and I will do dinner,” Esther smiled encouragingly. Abby could have kissed her. She was tired, but she could tell from the dark eye circles that Esther was also tired, possibly more than Abby, and yet her back was straight and her movements steady. Fatigue must be a habitual companion for her.

  “Where are you from?” Esther asked, while pumping water into a pan.

  “Texas,” Abby answered quickly. “This is the first time that I have ventured away from home. It is an adventure that I’m sure has been overdue.”

  Esther looked up, catching the slight quake in the young teacher’s voice. “And what brought you to Colorado?”

  “Well, it was my parents’ choice. They thought it would be beneficial for me to be more… independent.”

  Esther nodded. “Independence is a valuable thing for a woman.”

  “Do you think so?” Abby asked, placing her chin on her hand. She wanted to be more independent, but had never put much thought into it.

  “Don’t you think it is?” Esther asked, heating up some oil and then tossing in sliced onions. The crackle of raw vegetables in hot oil made Abby relax. Kitchens were always comforting.

  “I believe so. Truth is, I never thought much about it.”

  Esther glanced over at her. Abby waited for the look. It was the look that said, What a pretty little thing, so silly, so innocent. Abby hated that look. Usually the lips would press together in an amused smug smile, the head would tilt and the eyes scrunch up in pretend compassion. Everyone gave her that look, even Will.

  Not that I care what he thinks.

  Esther’s face looked interested, but not amused. Curious, but sincere. “Well I am glad you’ve come to Colorado,” she said with a firm nod. “You did fantastic in the labor, behaving gently. No doubt you will handle teaching beautifully,” Esther said with confidence.