Covenant by Jim Miesner

Author:Jim Miesner [Miesner, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Off!” a woman’s voice screamed.

The engine of the buggy in the valley died a moment later. They could hear the woman's groans now, and her short quick breaths. Sam and Jenny raced back down the hill, leaving their buggy behind them.

“Push,” yelled Marlena.

“You can do this,” said a man’s voice.

“Shut up,” groaned the woman.

When they reached them, they found Marlena crouched over the woman lying in her bed of wool. The woman’s legs were spread apart, her face grimaced as she held the man’s hand and he dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth. Jenny and Sam stood there like they had just approached an accident scene. Wanting to help, but not sure of what to do without getting in the way.

“You’re almost there,” said Marlena. “Just give me one last push.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. One, two, three, push.”

The woman bared down and gritted her teeth. “Argghhhhhh. I can’t!”

“Yes, you can. One, two, three, push.”

The woman screamed out so loudly Sam had to look away. She was thinking of excuses to leave when she heard the high-pitched wail. When she turned back Marlena held the screaming baby in her arms. It was covered in blood with soot on its forehead. The high-pitched wail turned into a soft little cry as Marlena handed it to the mother. Tears filled her eyes. The father reached out and rubbed his hand back over the child’s forehead wiping away the soot.

“It’s a boy,” said Marlena.

“He’s so beautiful,” said the woman. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe he’s so beautiful.”

“He’s amazing,” said the father. “You did it.”

She rubbed his shoulder and Marlena stepped back as the new parents stared at their son together. Her arms, hands, chest and one cheek were stained with blood as she looked at the family with a huge smile.

Before long they heard other engines getting closer. At first, Sam thought it was John and Emmanuel, but it wasn’t them. Two older buggies pulled up with wagons half the size of Emmanuel’s. One held a small pile of corn, some ears charred, others stained by sooty hand prints. The other cart held old cracked and peeling leather suitcases. A man and women stepped down from them, probably in their fifties.

“It looks like it’s all clear out there,” the man said.

The woman rushed over to the new family with her arms open. Her wrinkled, soot covered face beamed with a smile as the mother handed her the new baby.

“It’s a boy,” said the father.

“My sweet grandson.” She turned to the older man. "We're grandparents."

"We are," he said and tickled the baby’s chin as it cried again.

In the distance, Sam heard the sounds of more engines returning.

“What’s the name?” asked the grandfather.

“Samuel,” said the father.

Jenny dug her elbow into Sam’s side.

“That’s a good name,” said the grandmother as she bobbed the baby up and down in her arms.

"It means, heard by God," said the mother.

"I hope so," said the grandfather. "I hope he's listening." He tickled his chin again and the boy squirmed.

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