Frontier Wife by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781601547781
Amazon: 1601547781
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2009-01-01T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Tommy and Jamie rode over to see Mary. Touser followed along with them. As they drew near to the Cavendish homestead, she saw smoke drifting from the chimney, otherwise no sign of life.

They dismounted, tethering their horses in the shade of a tree. Jamie darted off to play on a swing someone had erected in the back yard.

“Anyone home?” she called out before entering the homestead. In the kitchen everything looked clean and tidy.

“Tommy, Tommy,” Mary's frantic voice came from the bedroom.

Dashing into the room, Tommy gasped. Mary lay awkwardly on the bed, her face twisted in pain. “Thank goodness you’re here. I think the baby's coming.”

“I'll make us some tea, just lie still, everything will be fine.” Could that thin reedy voice be hers?

Out in the kitchen she threw a log on the fire and set the kettle on to boil. On hearing a frightened scream she dashed back into the bedroom. Panic surged through her, but she crushed it with ruthless determination.

“Help me.” Mary gasped, her face twisting with pain as another contraction tore through her.

Fighting back her own fear, Tommy picked up the other girl's hand. “You'll be all right,” she soothed, “I'll send Jamie home for David. He can get the doctor or midwife for you.”

“Yes, hurry. Please. I wish Jim hadn’t gone on that second cattle drive.”

Tommy rushed outside calling Jamie's name as she went. He came running up with Touser bounding at his side. “Listen carefully, darling. You must ride home for David. Tell him Mary has started to have her baby, and we need help.”

She hated having to send a five-year-old on such a long ride alone. “Hurry, you understand?”

“Mary's having her baby,” he recited as she lifted him up into the saddle. Once he rode off, she dashed back inside.

Mary started calling out, panic-stricken now. “Help me. Oh, God, help me.” She clung to Tommy's hand as another spasm of pain caused her to scream. When it passed she slumped exhausted against the pillows.

Tommy poured some water on a cloth and sponged her friend's face, trying to soothe her with words of comfort.

“My mother will be here tomorrow, but I think she’ll be too late,” she said hoarsely.

“I’m sure your mother will arrive in time.” Tommy forced a reassuring smile. “Let me help you into a nightgown.”

After she sponged Mary down and helped her into a fresh nightgown, Tommy went to the kitchen. She filled up every saucepan in the house and set them on the stove to boil.

“Old linen, yes they would need some.” Muttering to herself she dashed back into the bedroom. “I'll just get everything laid out ready for when your mother arrives tomorrow.” First babies always took their time about arriving; they had plenty of time. Why panic?

Mary told her where to find everything. She laid the baby's clothes out, only to give herself something to do. She ripped up an old sheet, trying to think of anything else that needed to be done.

“It's all right.” She

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