by Caryl McAdoo
“Thanks, we’ll be at the boarding house.”
“I’ve got Charley. Don’t worry about him.”
The boy’s eyes sparkled. “Unless you know of a better place. Do you?”
“No, ma’am. None I know of, but I’ll ask Otis.”
“We’ll see if we can fetch a doc after we turn this guy in. We’ll be there directly, one way or the other.”
Levi watched the ladies hurry out with Wallace hot on their heels. Should have known he would have stayed with Laura. This was not a good turn.
He didn’t see how the girl could travel with a half-baked newborn. But would his partner be willing to leave her behind? He glanced down then sat the boy on the bar.
Charley looked at the man. “Can me shoot him?”
“No, we’ll turn him over to the city marshal.”
“But rangers can shoot a bad man.”
Levi saw the boy’s logic, but he had enough dead men walking the shadows of his dreams. “What if he’s not guilty?”
Charley pointed. “Him wake up. Give me the Baby.” The guy stirred some and turned his head over. “Him’s on ranger papers; dead or alive. Me likes dead. Him’s bad.”
“Yes, there is a flyer on him alright. And it’s been out for a while now.” The guy groaned then rubbed his head.
“Can me shoot him’s leg then?”
Levi laughed. “No, we’re not plugging him anywhere.”
Looking quite disgusted, he crossed his little arms over his chest, glaring. The four-year-old had his mother’s temper. Coming up with the Indians hadn’t helped either.
Charley looked past him toward the door. “Who that?”
Levi turned. Two men hurried in. One had long hair and a beard and appeared to have been sleeping in his clothes at least a month. The other one, clean shaved, sported spit-shined boots and a pressed shirt so white it had to be brand new. Each wore a tin star on their vest.
“Looks like help.”
“Hey, Marshal. Us rangers got a bad one here.”
Once the deputies had the man to his feet, the dandy looked at Levi. “You the ranger?
Charley jumped to his feet on the bar. “Yes, sir! Him Captain Bay-lor!”
“Really?” The man looked from the boy to him. “You’re the Levi Baylor?”
“In the flesh.”
The deputy spit toward the hombre. “What’s his story?”
“Flyer says he’s wanted for murder.”
The guy shook his head. “I ain’t kilt nobody.”
Charley put up his fist toward the man’s face and glared. “Yes, you bad.”
Levi smiled and bit his tongue to keep from laughing. “Lock him up. Wallace or I will come by in the morning to sign the paperwork.”
The deputies dragged the man out. Levi hefted the boy onto his shoulder. “You ready, partner?”
The bedroom’s door swung open. An older man carrying a black bag hurried in, set the satchel on the floor, and motioned Rose away. “Excuse me, ma’am.”
She retreated to the other side of the bed. The doctor took Laura’s wrist by two fingers just above her palm then pulled out his pocket watch and moved his lips as though counting.
“Not bad.” He looked at Rose. “How far apart are the pains?”
“I don’t know exactly, but closer and closer. Maybe every four or five minutes.”
Laura looked up. “Thanks for getting here, Doc. They’s powerful strong, I swears it.” Tears streaked her cheeks. “Don’t rightly know iffin I can stand ‘em much longer.”
He patted her hand. “Let me have a look.” He raised the sheet, examined her, then finished by putting his ear to her belly.
“Is my babe ‘bout here?”
He covered her again with the sheet. “Heartbeat is strong, but we’ve got a ways to go yet.” He faced Rose. “How long since her water broke?”
“It was right after supper, in the middle of the rangers’ dust up.”
He picked up his bag then stood. “I’ll be back. She’s still several hours away. Maybe even into the day tomorrow.”
Laura grabbed his arm. “Cain’t you just yank the little booger on out? Pap would tie a piece of leather and pull ‘em stuck calves on out plenty of times.” She turned to face Rose. “I cain’t do this hours and hours more, swear it. I’m tired as a picker at the end of a quarter mile row.”
The doctor pried her hand off and smiled. “It may come to that, but not yet.” He backed away, glanced around, then looked to Rose. “Gather some clean towels or sheets and a big bucket of water.” He headed toward the door. “The ranger knows where to find me when things start progressing.”
Footfalls coming down the stairs opened Levi’s eyes and brought Wallace to his feet. “She have it?”
The doctor stepped off the last step. “Not yet. It’s going to be a while.”
“So this is the time, though? The baby really is coming?”
“Absolutely.”
Wallace stepped in front of the door. “Where are you going then?”
“I have other patients.”
Levi jumped up and grabbed his friend’s arm pulling him back gently. “Where you going to be, Doc, when we need you?”
“Home.” He looked at Wallace’s hand. “Same place you found me before, getting some rest. She’s liable to have a long night; might even be into the morning.”
Wallace stepped away. Once the door closed, he faced Levi. “I might have to kill that man if things don’t turn our way.”
“He didn’t get her pregnant, and we already took care of the one who did.”
“Right.” Wallace walked to the settee, eased down, then jumped right back up. “Haygood said there was a midwife, didn’t he? Let’s go get her.” He hurried to the door then looked back. “You coming?”
“Go on ahead. I’ve got Charley. Besides, I might be needed here.”
Levi flopped back in the settee and closed his eyes. Before he even got to the point of thinking about a quick nap, soft footfalls pattered toward him. Rose hurried down the stairs pressing one hand against her belly and sliding the other down the banister.
She stopped at the last landing and smiled. “Can you fetch me a bucket of water?”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“Coffee would be nice, if there is any. Looks like we’ve got a long night ahead.”
“I’ll see to it. Need the water first?”
“Please.” She stared at him for a moment then hurried back up.
He carried the full bucket, but at the top of the stairs, a groaning holler stopped him in his tracks. The painful sound finally stopped, and easing to the door, he rapped lightly with one knuckle. Shortly, Rose stuck her head out and took the water.
“She hurting bad?”
“Yes, bless her heart.”
He backed away. “I’ll have you a cup of coffee in a bit. Need two? One for Laura?”
“No, she should only have water.” Looking back into the room, she turned and gave him what might be her encouraging smile, but he wouldn’t swear to it. “I better get back to her.”
The bit became twice as long as he figured. He hated that Laura was having such a hard time, but hated how his friend had gone and got himself all twisted and turned around about the girl and her half-breed baby even more. With arbuckle in hand, he climbed the stairs. At the door, he listened.
An expected painful, groaning wail built then drifted back into silence. He softly tapped on the door. Rose opened it and this time slipped out into the hall and took the cup.
“Sorry it took so long. Any change?”
She wagged her head. “That’s alright, I thank you.” Then she took a sip. “Poor dear girl.”
“Me come in, Mama. See the baby.” He stood beside Levi.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Charley. Miss Laura hasn’t had him yet. You stay with Captain Baylor and be a good boy for Mama.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He hung his head.
She blew out a long breath onto her coffee. “
It doesn’t look good,” she half-whispered, half-mouthed. The look in her eyes held concern.
If he could only give her hope, help some way.... “What say we go saw some logs, Little Partner? I think I can fill a wagonload. How about you?”
The boy crossed his arms over his chest and looked up. “Me not sleepy.”
She laughed a wry little chuckle. “That’s my boy.” She looked around. “Where’s Wallace? He didn’t go to bed, did he?”
“Heavens, no. He’s acting like a crazy man, wanted to kill the doc for leaving her. Haygood had told him about a midwife out south of town when he gave him the doctor’s name. Wallace took out to fetch her as soon as I persuaded him not to shoot the medicine man.”
“Oh, dear.” She took another sip, then a groan sounded. “Better get back.” She turned and hurried inside.
Rose looked pretty worn-out herself. He just hated that there wasn’t a thing he could do, but at the same time, powerful pleased he didn’t have any part to play.
Remembering her firstborn’s birth made Rose feel even sorrier for the girl because of knowing how much worse it would get before the baby came. Perspiration wet the poor little thing’s face; she totally understood her being so tired. Laura had been working hard and if it went on all through the night….
Before long, the roosters started crowing the sun from its rest. The pains kept on coming, one after another until they seemed to run together. She sat in a chair next to the bed and dozed as best she could.
A soft rapping on the door startled her awake, and she jumped up. It opened before she got to it, and a negro woman walked in. She smiled.
Wallace’s head came barely around the door, obviously trying to see something without really looking. “Sassy, this here’s Evie, the midwife. I brought her to help.” Worry etched his brow, and he looked at a loss for words. “Tell Laura I’m out here, waiting.” He disappeared and closed the door gently behind him.
The dark-skinned woman, her white teeth flashing even in the room’s dim light, nodded toward the bed. “Pleased, Miss Sassy. How’s the little mama doing?”
“Not so well, I’m afraid. She thought she wasn’t due until late next month.”
“I sees.” She lifted the sheet and pushed around on the girl’s abdomen with her eyes closed. “Baby still pretty high.” She stood and scurried around the room getting things ready.
“So, any idea of when yet? The doctor said it might be on into the day.”
The midwife grinned. “What do a man suppose he knows ‘bout the woman’s ways? I wants to go through a pain with her, then I have a better idee.”
“Ain’t gotta wait long. ’Nother’uns building. Here it comes. Oh, help me, God. Help me.”
“He is here right with you, sweet child, and He sure is gonna help you. Yes, ma’am. He will.” Evie continued her examination through the pain, rubbing all over Laura’s stomach and lifting the sheet seeing what she could see. “That’s good, you is doing fine.”
“Owwww! That booger were the worst ‘un yet.”
“Miss Sassy, would you ask Mis’ess Millard for as many towels she can lets go of?”
“The doctor already told me to get some, sheets, too. But I can see if she can spare more.” She wiped Laura’s forehead with a wet cloth. “I won’t be long.”
In the hall, sitting on the floor against the wall, Wallace napped, but her closing the door woke him. “How’s she doing?”
“Not much change, but I think the midwife is going to be a big help. I’ll be right back. We might need more towels.”
Downstairs, she ran into Levi. “Good morning, only I don’t know how good it is.”
“You get any sleep at all?”
She shook her head. “Where’s Charley?”
“Still sawing logs.” Levi smiled. “I didn’t tell you he wanted to shoot the bad man.”
“He didn’t.”
“Oh, yeah. Then when I said no, he tried to get me to let him shoot the guy in the leg.”
“Was that his nightmare man?”
“No. The guy’s Lester something or other. I can’t remember, but he’s wanted for murder in Waco.” He sipped his brew. “I’m sorry, here, I just got this. It’s a fresh cup, you take it.”
“Bless you.” She sipped the hot coffee. “Can you please see if Mis’ess Millard has any more towels she can spare?”
“Be glad to. I’ll bring them up.”
“Bless you again.”
Rose ran back upstairs and into the room. She wished she could do something, anything, to help the mama-to-be. “How’s she doing, Evie?”
The midwife barely moved her head indicating not good. She stared at Rose a minute then faced the tormented fifteen-year-old. “Miss Laura, them contractions don’t be doing you no good ‘cause you is fighting ag’in’ ‘em. They tryin’ta help yo’ wee babe to come on and be born, but you won’ let ‘em. That’s why they ain’t doin’ you no good.”
Her eyes filled with terror. “Oh, God! No, Sassy! I’m swearing the truth. Iffin this pain ain’t doin’ no good, I’m gonna give up and die.”
Rose sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “No, now don’t you be talking that way. Sometimes birth can be such hard work.”
The girl shook her head. “Tell Wallace I’s powerful sorry I wudn’t no stronger. Just cain’t do it no more.”
“It’s terrible you’re having such a difficult time, but you can’t give up. I won’t let you. I’ve been praying for you.”
She smiled sweetly. “I thank you. It’ll be alright. I’ll have my Little Wallace with me in Heaven.”
Rose turned away. A tear escaped her eye. She didn’t want the girl to see she’d lost any hope, though if she had to admit.... “Can I get you a drink?”
“That’d be fine, a little sip of cool water.”
She went to the pitcher and poured an inch or so into a glass.
Evie patted Laura’s thigh. “Mama, let go this muscle right here, you gots it all tensed up hard. Concentrate on it now. Right here, and let it go loose as you can.”
“I cain’t –”
“Now you jes look right here into my eyes, sees there that everything goin’ta be jes fine. I knows it be hard, but me and Miss Sassy? We’s goin’ta help you relax. That way, you body can do its job.”
She rocked against the pillows rubbing her extended abdomen. “Yes, yes, help me, please.” Desperation filled her eyes pushing out more tears. “Cain’t rightly stand it.” She moaned then gasped. “Blasted pains. Ain’t doing no good.”
Rose held the glass to the girl’s lips tilting it for her to sip then turned to Evie. “What can I do?”
“Rub her easy all over, like this, and wherever you feels them muscles hard and tight, then you pats it and tell her to lets it loose. Shoulders, arms, legs, ‘n feets, too. She jes only needs to relax ‘n quit fightin’ so hard.” She patted Laura’s lower left calf. “Right here ‘tis. Let it loose for Evie. Come on now.” She patted it harder. “I’s talking right here. That’s it, yes, ma’am, sweet girl. You doin’ good now, feel it getting’ loose?”
For the first time since her water broke, Laura smiled. “I do. I feel it relax.”
Doing as the midwife showed her, Rose found one tight muscle after another. When she’d tell Laura, she’d stay there until she could feel the girl letting loose of the tension.
As she’d gently rub, she prayed God would help her and the baby make it through. The morning dawned overcast, and the labor pains came closer and lasted longer, but the baby still didn’t come.
By the time the morning sun sent its rays into the room, though Rose tried to keep her faith strong, she didn’t know if Laura was going to make it, much less the baby.
Her own back hurt powerful from bending over ministering to her friend, but she’d never admit it, not when Laura was going through so much.
A soft knock sounded. She rose from the chair she’d finally sat down in to rest a bit then cracked the door open.
; Wallace offered a half smile. “How are things?”
She shook her head. “Not good, if you’re a praying man, you best get to it.”
Chapter
Twenty-One
The door closed. Wallace leaned back against the wall. A muffled groaning scream echoed from the room then died in a whimper. He slumped to the floor and buried his head in his hands.
“Oh, God, why are you doing this to me, and to her?” For a minute, he listened, but no answer came. “All them men I killed, they needed killing, Lord. I know it was wrong, but it was war. Don’t that count for something?”
Again, he listened, and again got no answer. “That gal and her little baby shouldn’t die for something I did. Help them, Lord. Save ‘em.”
Like they were waiting at hell’s gate for this very moment in time, all the dead Mexican soldiers joined with the slain Comanche, Comancheros, and all the other criminals rode through his heart screaming.
Murderer! While his dead accused him, hope welled from the depths of his soul. “Jesus, save me. My sins are more than I can bear.”
Mercifully, Laura’s pain lessened, and she drifted off for a minute of rest, whispering, “Thank You, Lord. Thank you.”
Miss Sassy took her hand, lifted and rested it on her own shoulder then started massaging right up next to Laura’s neck working down to her shoulder all the way to her finger tips. “Relax.” She said all drawn out slow like. “Think about holding little Wallace.”
Her soft, slow voice did help put Laura at ease. “I surely will.”
She tried to smile, but even that took more energy than she could muster. “Past them pearly gates, I’ll hold my lil’ ‘un tight. I be telling him all about you, Captain Baylor, and the good man he’s named for.”
“Oh, now, don’t talk like that.” Miss Sassy closed her eyes. “Just relax.”
Right before the best friend Laura ever had closed her eyes, she saw it. That look. Sassy knew it, too. Her and her little baby were goners.
The next pain started, but she didn’t have any strength left. Didn’t much matter anyway now that she and her little one was dying. Her pap already counted her amongst the dead, and well, Wallace could go ahead and love his Rebecca like it were meant to be.
