Chapter 2

Michaela and Cloud Dancing arrived at the little cottage and heard the cries of Eloisa. Mr. Garica came running out, "Dr. Mike, Dr. Mike, baby, please help! Help!" His broken English and Spanish accent were full of panic. Michaela could hardly understand him. She entered the house to find Mrs. Garica on the bed, red in the face, crying and screaming in pain. Rushing to her side Michaela quickly accessed her condition. She was running a fever and her pulse was rapid. "Hang on Eloisa. I'm going to help you. Don't push. Don't push! It's going to be alright." Micheala turned to the men and began giving orders. "I need a basin of water, some towels and a wet cloth."

Mr. Garica stood in shock and fear. Cloud Dancing hastily went about the small house getting what Dr. Mike had asked for. Micheala went to Mr. Garcia and placed a wet cloth in his hands. "I need you to dab her with this cloth." She showed him what to do and he immediately went to his wife and began to brush her forehead with the damp cloth, whispering to his wife in spanish.

"What can I do Dr. Mike?" Cloud Dancing offered.

"Nothing right now. I need to check the baby." Michaela checked Eloisa and found that the baby wasn't turned right, and was being chocked by the umbilical chord. A scream issued from Eloisa.

"It's ok. I need to turn the baby. Your going to be alright. Don't push! DON'T Push!" Michaela tried to turn the baby and remove the chord from it's neck. She hoped that Eloisa had understood her. If she pushed the baby would become impossible to turn. Michaela worked hurriedly. With an effort she finally sighed and said to Cloud Dancing, "I've got the baby turned, it should come more easily now. Will you bring me those towels?" Cloud Dancing placed a towel in Dr. Mike's hands. She removed the blood from her hands. Eloisa had sweat pouring from her and she screamed as another contraction hit her.

"Come on Eloisa. I know your tired. You can do this. It's time to Push. PUSH!" Michaela said. Eloisa seemed to understand and with in a few moments the baby was born. Michaela quickly made sure the baby was alright. It gave a curdling cry. Michaela wrapped it in a towel and handed the bundle to a stunned Mr. Garcia. "You have a little girl."

"Girl." Mr. Garica said.

"Dr. Mike!" Cloud Dancing's voice alerted Michaela. "She is very warm."

Micheala felt Eloisa's forehead. She was burning up. She was still bleeding. Micheala worked fast. The birth had cause some tearing and Micheala tried to see how bad it was. To her relief she was able to stop the bleeding. It didn't appear too serious. The fever worried her the most. She turned to Mr. Garcia, "How long has your wife been sick?"

Mr. Garcia looked concerned but confused. She asked again and received a disjointed reply. "Sick. Trac Day. Trac Day."

"Three days ago?" Micheala said almost to her self. "It could be why she went into early labor." Micheala took the baby from Mr. Garcia to do a full examination. She felt the baby and was relieved that it didn't have a fever. The baby was small but healthy. Seeing the look of concern on Mr. Garcia's face Micheala tried to reassure him. "It's alright. The baby is healthy," she said with a smile and placed the baby back in the arms of it's father. Mr. Garcia went to his wife's bed and sat in the small chair next to it. He reached for Eloisa's hand and looked up at Dr. Mike.

"I think she's going to be fine. I stopped the bleeding, she'll be soar for a few days and should stay in bed. We need to bring her fever down."

"I will go look for herbs to make tea for her fever." Cloud Dancing offered. "I will not be long."

"Thank you Cloud Dancing."

Cloud Dancing turned to leave the cabin and then turned back and said, "Don't leave until I get back."

Michaela nodded, smiled and saw Cloud Dancing leave. She turned back to Eloisa and began getting her cleaned up. She opened her medical bag and took out some quinine and began mixing it in a cup of water. Eloisa took the water and fell into an easy sleep. Micheala watched as Mr. Garica rocked his new daughter with a look of sheer joy and astonishment. A smile touched Michaela's lips as she remembered holding her own daughter. Katie's birth had definitely not been the way she had thought it would have been. But what she remembered most was holding her for the first time. Micheala started cleaning the little cottage as she waited for Cloud Dancing. It was taking longer then she had expected for him to return. A light sound made her turn and she saw that Eloisa was awake. Michaela watched as Mr. Garica lovingly stroked his wife's cheek and spoke to her in quiet spanish. After a moment Micheala approached and smiled at Eloisa. "You did a very good job." Eloisa had eyes only for the baby in her husbands arms and smiled gently. Dr. Mike checked her patients temperature and was pleased that it had gone down some and that Eloisa's pulse was strong. "You need to rest and stay in bed as much as possible for a few days." She instructed. Eloisa knew more English then her husband. She had lived in the states longer. Her husband hadn't been able to join her until a few months ago. Eloisa said in a quiet, tired voice, "Ci. I am tired." Micheala smiled and nodded, "Yes, rest, Sleep and get well. You are going to be fine. Your fever seems to be going down already."

"Ci. It's girl?"

"Yes. " Micheala said.

"Gracias." tears filled Eloisa's eyes.

Michaela smiled and asked, "Do you have a name for her?"

"Yariela," was the whispered reply.

"It's beautiful." Dr. Mike said. Mr. Garica place the baby in his wife's arms. Micheala silently left the small bedroom and walked to the window of the small outer room. Her thoughts were filled with her own family. She longed to hold Sully again and was excited to see Colleen. It was getting late and Michaela wondered where Cloud Dancing was. She decided to wait a little longer before heading for home.

Micheala walked into the small bedroom and found Mr. Garcia rocking Yariela. Eloisa was asleep. As Dr. Mike approached the bed Eloisa stirred and opened her eyes. "Eloisa, I must be going. You just stay in bed and get some sleep. Your husband seems to have things in hand." Eloisa looked at her husband and daughter and smiled. Mr. Garcia said something in spanish to his wife that caused her to blush. "What did he say?"

"He says she has my beautiful eyes."

Micheala gave a chuckle, "I believe she does! I will come back and check on you in a few days. Your fever is going down and Cloud Dancing will be coming back soon with some leaves that you can use to make tea. I want you to use them and drink some tea at least 3 times a day until your fever it completely gone, alright?"

Eloisa smiled, nodded her head and said, "Ci. I will do that. But you must wait for Cloud Dancing before you go. He said to wait."

Micheala sighed, "I know, but I promised my son I would be home before dark. Sully is coming home tonight. He probably already is home actually, and I need to be there."

Eloisa smiled with understanding, "Yes, it will be good for you to see him again."

Micheala began gathering her instruments and medical bag. She put on her coat and took Eloisa by the hand, "I will see you in a few days."

Eloisa had tears in her eyes as she said, "Gracias, gracias Dr. Quinn, muchos gracias! We must pay you somehow."

Michaela squeezed her hand gently, "Perhaps I could come sometime and have dinner. I have heard you are an excellent cook, and I would love to try some spanish food."

"Ci, we will do that." Micheala turned to leave. Just as she reached the door she was stopped by what sounded like urgent spanish. Turning Michaela saw Mr. Garica heading toward her. He was speaking very fast. Michaela turned to Eloisa for help in understanding.

"He says you should not go. He says it is not safe."

"Why?"

"He says there is a storm and it is going to rain soon."

Micheala looked out the small glass portal. It was almost dark and the wind was beginning to blow. "It doesn't look too bad. Just a little windy. I am sure I will make it home before it rains. I promised my son. He will worry if I don't get home."

Eloisa translated this into spanish and told her husband. Mr. Garcia still had a furrowed brow. He finally spoke.

"He says, he understands but you need to be careful."

"I will." Micheala shook Mr. Garcia's hand warmly and left the house.