"I know, love." He said wishing there was something that he could do to ease her pain. "Maybe Danforth is on his way, you just hold on an-"
Then something shifted and she cried out, squeezing Barnabas' hand even tighter. "I think you're going to have to do this," she gasped, not hearing the knock on the front door...
"Easy baby, easy try, try an' just relax." He stammered, "Just tell me what to do we'll get through this."
The knock came louder.
"It's open!" He shouted, not looking away from his wife. Al;l of this was new to him, but comforting someone in pain was not. That he knew how to do, except this was his wife about to give birth!
After Justus had opened the door for her, Bonnie stepped inside and immediately made her way over to the bed to assess the situation. Realising that Mrs. Pike was about to give birth, she turned to Justus, "We need some blankets, towels and a bowl of warm water."
Turning to Emeline, she smiled, "My name is Bonnie Campbell and what I need you to do is take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale it through your mouth. Then take a moment before you do it again...it will help with the pain."
@ [Bongo] @ [Flip
Pike looked up as they entered and the woman introduced herself. He knew who she was, having seen her in town often.
"Welcome, waters on the stove already. I've brought down every spare blanket and all of the towels we have over there. Barnabas pointed to where he had stacked them. "Thank you for coming."
He turned then to the young rider. "Justice, thanks for the ride for help, guess Doc Danforth was not around, that's okay. You g'wan and get yerself dried off and changed, then take 'er easy I'll handle this business, but yer welcome ta come back if ya like."
"Justice, thanks for the ride for help, guess Doc Danforth was not around, that's okay. You g'wan and get yerself dried off and changed, then take 'er easy I'll handle this business, but yer welcome ta come back if ya like."
"Yes, sir. I looked all over, but then had ta do somethin'...was takin' too long." Justus nodded, fidgeting with the brim of his hat. "Keep us knowin' what's goin' on," he added, grinning. "We got some bets goin' on if it's a boy or girl." He didn't think the Pikes would mind. "I bet on a gal!" Another quick nod and he headed out the door...
+++++++++++++++
"Thank you for coming." Forcing a smile through the pain, Emeline held her hand to Bonnie. "This is my second, so I know some of what to expect." She wasn't sure that a miscarriage counted, so she didn't mention it.
"Barnabas, could you grab Miss Campbell a dry skirt and blouse from my wardrobe?" It might be a while, but at some point, Bonnie needed dry, clean clothing!
Shifting uncomfortably on the couch, she continued, "The pains are getting harder, just a few minutes apart..." She winced as another contraction overtook her. "If you need Barnabas to help, I don't mind." He might! But it wasn't traditional for the men to be present for birthing, but circumstances were unusual.
Relieved that he'd gotten help here in time for the Pike's baby, Justus slogged to the barn, leading Mule, who was about to get an extra ration of oats for his day's efforts.
As he entered, there were still a few of the men there, tending to the Morgans and riding stock. "Been a long day," he declared, nodding to Cade. "Seems like we'll know pretty soon who won that bet on th' baby!" Even though Mrs. Pike was the lady of the ranch, or maybe because, all the men had a stake in the upcoming arrival.
Grabbing one of the canvas buckets, he filled it with oats then tied it onto Mule's halter so the horse could chow down while he was being rubbed down. "Be glad to get done here and go inside an' put on some dry clothes...an' grub, too." They'd all earned a good meal!
"Barnabas, could you grab Miss Campbell a dry skirt and blouse from my wardrobe?" It might be a while, but at some point, Bonnie needed dry, clean clothing!
"Right away, Love." He said and turned to head upstairs as he heard,
"The pains are getting harder, just a few minutes apart..." She winced as another contraction overtook her. "If you need Barnabas to help, I don't mind."
"Heard that. You need me, I'm here an' I ain't goin' nowhere!" He called back as he moved up, taking two steps at a time. Whatever was needed of him, he would gladly do it, the family was what was important, and the first child was just about to arrive. As for the men and the recovered horses, Frank Teal could handle all of that while he tended to family matters.
A child, one he and Em had made. It was exhilarating!
Bonnie smiled as she saw Barnbas rush back to be with his wife. Having someone there that she knew would help.
Since the contractions were now only a few minutes apart, it was time to get Emeline ready for birth. "What we need to is make sure that you are in a comfortable position that will make it easier for the child and for yourself. While you're doing that I will go to the kitchen and get that water."
Looking at Barnabas, she went on, "If you would be so kind to point me in the direction of the kitchen."
@ [Bongo]
@ [Flip
'Comfortable' was relative at this point, but Emeline understood what Bonnie meant. In some respects, this would have been easier in one of the bedrooms, in a proper bed, but that hadn't practically been an option when she'd settled on the couch in the parlor. For now, she shifted a little, scooting toward one side so that there was ample room 'down there' when the time came.
Another pain gripped her, longer, more harder, spreading across her abdomen, into her back, then engulfing her whole body.
"Best hurry!" she called to both Bonnie and Barnabas. Time was running out...thank goodness!
"Alright, alright, I'm here," Pike said nervously. He had seen gunshot, knife, and arrow wounds, but this was entirely different. Why? Because Pronto Pike had no idea what to do with a pregnant wife, as much as he wanted to. "The kitchen just down the hall there, can't hardly miss it!"He directed.
He knelt next to his wife and took her hand. "Easy now, just try an' relax." There was a damp rag in a pan of cool water, he took it out, squeezed the water out of it, and mopped her brow, hoping that might help. This was nerve-wracking! Especially for a man who had seen, as well as caused death on far too many occasions. This was the woman he loved, and there was simply nothing that he could do to help or ease the pain.
When Bonnie returned with the bowl of warm water, she could see that Emeline was about as comfortable as she was going to get on the couch. She placed the bowl near the one that contained the cold water and said, "The warm water will help her to relax a bit more than the cold will."
Since there was not time for a warm bath to help relax the muscles and ease the pain, placing a towel with warm water would have to do. It was important that the muscles that Emeline need to give birth were relaxed as much as they could so that it would be easier and less troublesome. There had been a few births that Bonnie had attended where tight muscles in the pelvic area had made things difficult. Bonnie didn't want this to happen to Emeline and her unborn child.
However, right now she needed to see how much longer there was to go, "Mrs. Pike I'm going need to check how things are going?"
@ [Bongo