The Storm by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781788636360
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2019-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

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The next day, because Isa was alone and everyone was afraid of what she might do without supervision, Effie organized two men to carry Rosabelle and her baby back to her own home in an improvised litter. A bed was made up in the kitchen where the girl could lie and watch her mother, while Isa was told that it was her task to look after her daughter and the new baby.

She seemed very happy to do that and busied herself at the hearth stirring an enormous pot of soup. She still insisted on cooking enough to feed a hungry husband.

When Rosabelle was comfortably tucked up in the warm box bed, Effie patted her arm comfortingly and said, ‘Don’t worry about anything and don’t get up. Euphen and I will keep coming in to see that you and Isa are all right. If you don’t want soup, we’ll bring you something else to eat. All you have to do is feed and cuddle your wee boy.’

The girl looked hollow-eyed and wan, but the child lay peacefully in the crook of her arm, his eyes closed, long dark eyelashes lying on his plump cheeks. He was a beautiful baby, with Dan’s closely curled black hair and firm chin.

When she looked down at this stranger, the likeness to his father angered Rosabelle in a strange way. But he s my baby and I must love him, she thought guiltily; so she bent her head and kissed him. Effie saw this and the worries that had been plaguing her about Rosabelle’s state of mind grew less.

‘What are you going to call him?’ she asked softly before she left.

‘I don’t know yet,’ said Rosabelle.

‘Daniel maybe?’

The girl visibly flinched. ‘No, not Dan. I couldn’t call him Dan. There’ll only ever be one Dan for me.’

Abashed, Effie stepped back from the bed. The new mother and baby were soon sleeping and before she left she tried to impress on Isa that Rosabelle needed rest and quiet.

‘She had a very long labour. It wasn’t easy for her,’ she said.

‘Oh poor lass. I had a bad time with her too, but it was easier with Clara. I’m glad you were able to help her, Effie, and I’ll take good care of her now. Won’t her father be pleased to have a wee grandson? He’s aye wanted a boy and we only had the two girls. His boat’ll be in soon and then he’ll see the baby.’

Effie sighed and patted the other woman’s shoulder. There wasn’t any point reminding her again that her husband was dead.

For the next twelve hours Effie was rushed off her feet, dashing between her house and Rosabelle’s. On her fourth visit, when darkness had fallen, she found Isa wringing her hands. Grabbing Effie’s arm as she came into the kitchen, she cried out, ‘The bairn never stops greetin’. I think something’s wrong with it.’

The child was squawling the heart-piercing cry of the new born. Effie ran across to the bed and, in the light of the lamp, she saw Rosabelle staring up at her with a terrified expression on her face.

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