My Heart Will Find Yours (17 page)

“I’m gonna set a fast pace. Can you keep up?”

“That depends on Josie. If I lag behind, don’t worry about me. I know the way.”

She grabbed his boot before he could kick Samson into a gallop. “Royce, I have to tell you something I learned before I came back. Molly’s having twins. One of them will die.”

Chapter Twelve

Royce looked at her in disbelief and horror, and then kicked Samson into a full gallop. She didn’t blame him for not trusting her words. He’d had a lot of shocks the last few days.

Texanna finished saddling Josie and mounted up. She took off after Royce, but he was just a speck on the road. When she reached the farmhouse, a man stepped off the porch to take her horse.

Matthew was a wild man, pacing back and forth in front of the stairs. He raked his hands through his long hair. The rawhide he’d used to tie it back was gone.

“I shouldn’t have married her. Dammit, I knew this was going to happen. She’s going to die, and it’s my fault.”

A scream drifted down the stairs and ended with a moan. Matthew’s body froze and his face furrowed with agony. “Oh God. I can’t stand to think of the pain she’s suffering.” Royce stood at Matthew’s elbow, his arm across his brother’s shoulder, his face a mask of worry. “If she survives, I’ll never touch her again.”

Yeah, that’s what they all say.
Texanna walked over to Matthew and slipped her arms around the big man’s waist. He crushed her in a tight squeeze. “Women suffer during childbirth, but after Molly sees your baby, the pain will be forgotten. She wouldn’t want you to think that way.” At least that’s what Texanna had been told by Pearl and her friends who had children.

With her arm around Matthew’s waist, she led him to the sofa. He sat down and dropped his head in his hands. Her eyes met Royce’s. “Where do you keep your whiskey?”

Royce made a fast escape and returned with a bottle and two glasses. He poured two fingers of whiskey in each glass and handed one to Matthew. The second he started to raise, but Texanna took it before it reached his mouth. He looked at her in question. If she were going upstairs, she’d need all the fortification she could get. She tossed it down, gasped and coughed as the searing heat flowed to her stomach.

Texanna handed the glass to Royce and wheezed. “Don’t get drunk. She may need you two before long.”

Matthew’s eyes lit with fire. “Those damn women up there won’t let me in, even when she’s crying out for me.”

Texanna had read stories of men being barred from the room during a birth. In her opinion, it was stupid. Husbands should share in the pain and joy associated with birthing, as they did when creating a child.

“Give me a few minutes upstairs, and then I’ll call you.”

She pulled Royce aside. “Where’s Garrett?”

“One of the hands took him over to Aggie’s.” He tilted her face and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. He’s fine.” He dropped his forehead to hers and whispered, “Please tell me what you told me earlier was a lie, a mistake.”

Texanna shook her head sadly, turned, and started up the stairs. She felt like she was going to the gas chamber. Molly’s scream had been terrifying, and Texanna would love to hide. For some odd reason she needed to be there for Molly. Why, she didn’t know.

When she opened the door, both women by the bed turned. Neither looked happy at her appearance. Molly saw her and stretched out her hand.

“Please, Texanna. Stay with me.”

Texanna took Molly’s hand. The woman’s gown was drenched with sweat, her damp hair plastered to her head. “I’ll be with you, and Matthew will be up in a minute.”

The oldest of the ladies opened her mouth. “Men aren’t needed in...”

Texanna held up her hand. “If Molly wants Matthew here with her, she’s going to have him. I want some cool water and a fresh gown.” The younger woman, the one that had kept her mouth shut, ran to do her bidding.

Molly lay on a pad made of several folded sheets, with an oilcloth underneath to protect the mattress. Texanna sat beside her on the bed and stroked her hair. “We’re going to clean you up and make you more comfortable before Matthew comes up.”

Molly’s lips trembled and produced a hesitant smile. “Thank you.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than her face twisted in pain. “Ohoo...it hurts so...bad.”

Texanna knew zilch about childbirth. Well, she’d taken child development class in high school and watched a birth on television. But that was the limit of her education.

Molly arched off the bed and screamed in pain.

The desperate cry raced up Texanna’s spine and across her shoulders. She shivered.
Oh, God, please help us here.
The contraction ended, and Molly relaxed. “Molly, I read somewhere if you focus your mind and eyes on an object, it’s easier to control the pain.”

Molly looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.

The woman pushed through the door with a pan of water and a washcloth. Together they worked the damp gown up and off her body and covered her with a sheet. Texanna dampened the cloth and cooled off Molly’s face and arms and body. Texanna helped her sit up so they could slip the clean gown over her head. She brushed Molly’s long, dark hair and plaited it so the braids hung down on each side of her face.

Texanna turned to the ladies and thanked them. “I’m sorry; I don’t remember your names. I’m Texanna.”

“Lands, child, we know who you are. I’m Betty and this be Liz.” The older woman nodded toward her younger helpmate.

Texanna took Betty’s arm. “Come outside a minute.” She turned to Liz. “Please call if you need us. We’ll be back shortly.”

In the hall, Texanna bent her head to Betty’s. “Is something wrong in there?”

“Peers the little ‘un is turned wrong.”

“What’ll we do?”

“When Doc gets here, he’ll try to turn the baby. We might help by massaging her stomach.”

Sounded like a good job for Matthew. He could touch Molly and help at the same time. When Texanna called for Matthew, he ran up the stairs taking them two at a time. He rushed to the door. Texanna caught his arm before he could enter. His eyes flashed with anger, and for just a second Texanna felt fear.

“Matthew, try to calm her. As you talk, gently massage her abdomen. Tell her how much you love her.” He nodded, leaned down, and kissed Texanna’s cheek.

He knelt beside the bed and caressed Molly’s large belly as he kissed her. Then he laid his head on her breasts. She stroked his hair. His voice was thick with emotion. “Molly, Molly, my love. I’m so sorry, baby.”

Liz came out and closed the door to give the couple a few minutes of privacy. But the door had no more than closed when the sounds of Molly’s whimpers reached them.

“I’ll go in,” said Texanna. “You two need a break. Relax a while and I’ll trade out with you in a few minutes.”

Texanna went to the opposite side of the bed. “Try to focus on something, Molly, and breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth.” Now where had that come from? Something else she’d heard or read.

Matthew’s eyes were glued to Molly’s. Ah, thought Texanna, she’s decided to focus on his eyes.

“Matthew, don’t forget to massage her abdomen.” Texanna pulled Molly’s gown up to expose her bulging belly. Matthew’s big hands moved with care over the mound housing their child. When she relaxed, he leaned over and kissed the exposed flesh then returned his gaze to Molly.

It was another hour before Doc arrived. He examined Molly then drew Matthew and the women aside. “The baby’s trying to enter the world foot first. I’ll have to either free the other leg or turn him before she can deliver. It’s gonna hurt some, Matthew. If she starts thrashing, hold her still.”

Matthew looked physically ill, but Doc gripped his arm. “You’ve got to be strong. The nitrous oxide will help tremendously, but she may still have some pain.” Matthew nodded.

Doc turned to her. “You Texanna?” She nodded. “Go get Royce. We’ll need him on the other side.”

Doc removed a canister from his bag and attached a mask to it. “Molly, this gas will ease your pain but you’ll be awake enough to push.” He patted her hand. “Try to relax. Your baby will be fine.” He put the mask in Molly’s hand. “Hold this over your nose and mouth.”

Doc washed and disinfected his hands and arms, and then went to work. Matthew watched with concern. Royce’s lips were pinched as he helped Matthew hold Molly’s upper body still. Texanna held one bent knee while Liz held the other.

With his hand in the birth canal, Doc’s brow furrowed with concentration. Molly whimpered and cried out as Doc worked to turn the baby. When another contraction tightened Molly’s belly, Doc stilled and waited for it to pass.

After what seemed an hour, Doc removed his arm and smiled. “We’ve got the little bugger in better position. Labor will move along faster now.”

Doc walked to the washstand and cleaned his hands.

Molly was completely relaxed and had dropped the mask.

Doc pulled a chair close to the bed and motioned for Matthew to get in it. The big man slumped into the chair, leaned forward, and propped his elbows on the bed, his eyes on his wife. He took Molly’s hand and kissed the palm, then dropped his head to the bed.

Doc cleared his throat. “Let’s give them some time alone.”

Texanna headed downstairs with the doc and Royce, while Betty and Liz waited outside the door.

Jim, the man who’d ridden into town to find Doc came out of the kitchen. “Come on in to the table folks, I’ve got fresh coffee made and some sandwiches.”

Texanna hadn’t realized she was hungry until she smelled the coffee. But it was six o’clock, and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Royce held her chair and sat beside her. His arm circled her shoulders as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. The expression on his face squeezed her heart, causing her throat to tighten. He was such a good man, a man who loved deeply. Seeing Molly and his brother in pain and being unable to help was wearing on him. The lines across his forehead and around his mouth had deepened. His beautiful blue eyes were dull. She wanted to see the sparkle return.

Texanna cupped his cheek and lightly kissed his lips. “She’s going to be all right—Molly and the baby. We need to have faith.”

They’d just finished eating when Liz called from the landing upstairs.

Doc examined Molly, and with a smile, pronounced her ready to push. Matthew and Royce took their positions at her shoulders and Texanna and Liz at her knees. They moved her down in the bed so she could use the foot rail to push.

On television, the births didn’t take near this long or look as hard. Molly drew strength from Matthew, and when the pain got bad, she’d breathe more of the gas. An hour of pushing went by before Doc announced.

“Okay, Molly. I’ve got his head and shoulders. One more push and you’ll be a mother.”

Molly clenched her teeth, drew in a deep breath, and pushed. Doc caught the baby’s head and butt easing it from her body. The infant immediately announced displeasure at being forced from his mother’s warm body. The wail bounced off the walls and mixed with laughs of relief and joy.

“Congratulations, folks. You’ve got a beautiful baby girl. A little on the small side, but I think she’ll be fine.” Doc held her up for inspection. He cut and tied the cord, then handed her to Betty to clean. In five minutes the baby was in Molly’s arms.

Matthew laughed and sniffed to cover his tears as he cradled his wife and child. Texanna tried hard to keep hers at bay, but when she noticed Royce watched her with longing, her chin quivered and tears clouded her vision.

Molly gasped and clutched her abdomen. “Ohooo, Doc... something’s wrong. The pain is...” She cried out.

Doc bent over the bed to examine her. “Molly, it appears your second child is about to push its way into the world.”

Matthew looked like he’d been pole axed. Molly’s face was radiant with joy. Texanna caught Royce’s expression of pain and moved to his side. Ten minutes later a baby boy entered the world. The room resounded with laughter then grew silent.

The baby wasn’t crying. Doc suctioned the infant’s throat and nostrils. When that didn’t work, he held the baby by its heels and slapped his little buttocks. The room was quiet as death. Doc continued to work with the baby by blowing air into his lungs.

His face was grave and he shook his head. “I’m sorry folks, he’s dead.”

Molly’s screams of, “No! No! Nooo,” would haunt Texanna forever. As would Matthew’s grief stricken face, as he gathered his wife and daughter to his heart. Royce’s jaw clenched, his eyes lined with pain as he turned toward her.

Shaking, crying, Texanna’s sobs turned to a scream of rage. She shouted, “Give me that baby. He’s not dead. I can save him.” She tried to take the baby from Doc. Royce pulled her away and wrapped her in his arms.

“He’s gone, sweetheart. Let it go.”

Texanna shoved him away. “No he’s not. Give me that baby. Right now, dammit!” Stunned, Doc handed the baby over.

Royce watched in bewildered silence as Texanna laid the infant on the bed and knelt. She tilted the little head back, covered his mouth and nose with her lips, and blew a puff of air into his lungs, making his chest rise. Then she put two fingers on his breastbone and pushed five times in rapid succession. Again and again she repeated the cycle until Royce thought she’d drop from sheer exhaustion. Tears rolled down her face, and he stepped forward to lift her away from the infant.

Royce squeezed her shoulders in compassion, “Come on, Texanna. He’s gone,” but she shrugged him away. When he gripped her firmly and lifted her away, she screamed in rage and pain. She tried to struggle but lacked the energy. Her shrieks turned to sobs.

Royce turned her in his arms and held her close. “You did all you could. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

A thin wail broke through Texanna’s muffled sobs. Royce froze and looked at the bed, as did everyone in the room but Texanna. The cry increased in volume. Doc was the first to react and hurried to pick up the mewling infant. His cries became stronger. Betty handed Doc a blanket, and he wrapped it around the child and put him in Matthew’s arms.

Grin stretching his face, he kissed the infant and placed him in Molly’s arms. “I can’t believe it. Twins.” He wrapped his arms around his family and held them. Molly dropped her head to Matthew’s and cried in relief and gratitude.