“She said she’s had a backache all night. Most likely from hanging curtains yesterday.” Davis blew on the coffee and took a sip of the steaming liquid.
“A backache?” Mae stared intently at him.
“Yes, that’s what she said, why? You look so serious.” A slight twinge of concern raced through him at the older woman’s reaction.
“And she had this backache how long?” she asked again in that serious voice.
“All night. I told her to lie down while I was gone, and not to hang any more curtains.” He put the cup down and watched Mae closely.
“Davis, not to worry you too much, but many times a woman’s labor starts as a backache.” She reached over and patted his hand, concern written on her face.
“But the baby’s not due until next month.” Now he was remembering how tired Emma looked even after a night’s sleep. Did she sleep at all? “What should I do?” He started to get up and reach for his coat and gloves. “Do you think I should get the doctor?”
Mae thought for a minute. “I’ll send Hans to Dr. Quigley’s house and see if he can go out to your place. I think you should go on home and make sure everything is all right with our little missy. Not to worry, Emma’s a young and healthy woman. Besides, it’s probably just a backache like she said.” Then she added, “But hurry, the snow’s getting worse and you need to get home.” She contradicted her earlier words.
Forgetting why he came to begin with, Davis left the store and, untying the horses, jumped onto the wagon seat and headed for home. The snow was now a few inches deep on the road, and he prayed his race home would be for nothing.
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Lying down was probably a good idea. After washing the breakfast dishes, and rubbing her back now and then, Emma plodded to the bedroom and crawled into bed.
She tossed on the mattress, troubled by dreams of when she had the flu on the wagon train. Hot and sweaty, everything hurt. As she came closer to consciousness, she realized the hurt wasn’t actually everywhere, but in her stomach. A strong pain shot from around her back to her front, and moaning, she sat up with a start and grabbed her stomach.
God, no, I’m in labor!
The pains in her back that troubled her all night were now stronger, but they came from around her back to her middle. She felt a strong cramp and watched, fascinated, as her stomach muscles tightened and rippled. She gulped air, attempting to catch her breath. The pain seemed to reach a peak, and then lessen. As the pain subsided, the panic hit. She was in labor, and all alone.
Thoughts raced through her mind. It seemed like hours since Davis had left. She slid from the bed and made her way to the front window. She grabbed the windowsill as another pain hit, and blinked in horror at the ground completely covered in snow. And Davis with the wagon nowhere in sight.
She tried to remember all the things Dr. Quigley had told her, as well as the stories she had heard on the wagon train about childbirth, but fear overtook her and she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do. She brushed away the tears that had fallen, mixed with beads of sweat.
Unsure what to do, she striped her sweat soaked dress and undergarments off, then pulled on a nightgown. Shivering in the cold air, she no sooner edged the garment down than she felt a gush of water from between her legs. Lord, she remembered this one. Now she knew for sure she was in labor.
Slowly she made her way downstairs to the washroom. She clutched the handrail as another pain hit, taking her breath away. Sweat broke out on her whole body, and she sank to her bottom on the stairs. She took a deep breath when the pain passed and continued on down the stairs and retrieved towels from the washroom.
Dragging herself back up the stairs, she was almost to the top when another pain gripped her. By now she was crying and terrified. Ignoring the mess on the floor, and the wet clinging nightgown, Emma crawled up on the bed, rolled over on her side and clutched her stomach as another pain washed over her. “Mama,” she sobbed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Blinding snow swirled around Davis as he tried to keep the horse and wagon on the road. The usual landmarks were no longer visible, and he wasn’t even sure he was going in the right direction. Stinging snow hit him in the face. He pulled his hat down low and the collar up on his coat for added protection.
The horse plodded on, but Davis soon realized the wagon was slowing him down. He pulled up on the reins and climbed off the wagon seat. Unhitching the horse, he led him forward, away from the wagon. Wiping snow from his eyes, he grabbed the mane, and swung his leg over. Squeezing his knees together to get the horse going, they started forward, leaving the wagon behind. Without a saddle, the horse’s slick back was slippery, and he had to fight to stay on.
He was able to go a little faster, but now with the ground covered in snow, he worried the horse might step in a hole and break its leg. Please God, let it just be a backache. It terrified him to think that Emma might be alone and in labor.
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Emma was awakened from a light sleep with a strong pain, causing her stomach to clench. She gritted her teeth and grabbed the sheets underneath her. Another fine sheen of sweat broke out on her body.
Now fully dark, she finally admitted to herself she had to do this alone. Another pain gathered strength, this one stronger than the others.
Well, it’s up to me. This time there’s no one to rescue me. I’m the mama now, and I have to do it.
A wave of strength washed over her, a feeling of purpose and confidence. She began to prepare herself. Biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, she eased the nightgown up over her hips and spread towels under her. Sweating and panting, and wiping away tears, she tied a sheet over the headboard, and pulled on it when the pains came. Then she remembered the women talking about pushing with the pains.
The next time a pain shot through her she screamed a word she didn’t realized she knew, and pushed until she felt as though she would explode. It didn’t make the pain any easier, but concentrating on the pushing kept her from thinking too much about being alone. Exhausted, she fell back on the pillow and wondered again where Davis was. Damn him
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