CHAPTER 9: CHERISHED

(Five Months have past)

The twins were just over a year old. Will grew larger everyday. He was very curious and could charm any woman he met. He was walking about and trying to talk. He could almost say Momma.

His sister, however, grew slowly and was much more quiet and antisocial. She would only allow certain people to hold her without fussing about it. She did not try to speak or walk. She had been slow to learn to crawl. She could sit up and roll about as well.

Robert split his time between helping at home and doing drills with the calvary unit at Shrewsbury that he was in charge of. He had journeyed once to Horse Guards and received a metal for his bravery in America, but it had been Amanda who charmed the pompous men there. Robert thought it amusing how many men attempted to flirt with her.

Robert watched his children. Will never tried to bully his sister. She shied away. He would find her sitting off to one side of get togethers. He would scoop her up and carry her to sit on his lap where she would nestle down and watch everything with her big beautiful eyes.

It was the middle of March when Amanda awoke to an infant's wail. Robert felt her stir and try to move out from under him since he partly lay on top of her body.

"Easy my dearest." He soothed. "Will is just hungry."

"No. He cries differently." She insisted. She sat up facing him as he lifted himself upwards on his palms. He looked up at her tenderly and sat to the side of her.

Suddenly a knock came at the door. Erin came in. "Sorry missus." She said looking up at Mandy. She lowered her eyes when she saw Mandy's nakedness to her hips and Robert the same. "Its little Abby. She's burnin' up she is."

Robert blinked in shock. Erin fetched Mandy a robe. Robert got one of his own since her back was turned and pulled it about his body. He pulled on his breeches and looked about. Erin lit a candle as Mandy slipped into her robe. Quickly she walked through the common room into the nursery. Robert followed right behind.

Will was whimpering as Fiona held him. Abby was in her cry crying loudly. Tiny tears ran from her eyes. Mandy came and picked her up. Her tiny body was very warm. Mandy tried to calm her as she held her to her.

Robert touched her tiny arm and gasped she was very warm to the touch.

"We must keep her body warm and her head cool." Fiona said.

Robert nodded and wrapped a thick blanket around her. She sobbed and whimpered against her mother. Robert could sense Mandy's feelings. She was very one edge as well. Erin went to fetch a rag and some cool water. Robert wetted the rag and wrung it out. He gave laid it on her tiny brow.

Mandy walked from the room and took her to her bedroom and sat with her on the great bed. Robert joined her. "Let me hold her, Mandy. You must rest and keep your strength."

"What about you?" She asked.

He leaned in and scooped his now whimpering and sniffling baby from her mother's arms. He kissed Mandy softly. "Rest Walela." He said softly. He went to the rocker before the floor to ceiling window. He parted the curtain lightly as he sat so he could look out. He tenderly held his daughter to his broad chest as he heard Mandy relent and crawl into the covers of their bed.

Mandy awoke to Robert softly shaking her shoulder. It was late morning. "Mandy my love. I think she is hungry." He said softly.

Mandy looked up and say Abby sucking on his finger as tiny tears rested in her eyes. Mandy took her as she sat up. She directed her to her milk filled bosom and she took only two swallows before she whimpered and started to cry.

Mandy looked up panicked at Robert. Robert took her and put her lightly over his shoulder.

"Be easy Mandy." He said softly. He looked at Erin. "Fetch Dr. Granger from the town. Take someone with you." He said.

She nodded and left with a swirl of her mantel.

Mandy sat down and had tears in her eyes.

Doctor Granger arrived four hours later with Erin and Annie in toe. He came up and looked over the tiny patient. "She is under developed for her age." He said. "Give her this tonic and pray." He said.

He took Robert by the arm and led him outside. "I am not sure if she will live. She burns too much for a child of her size. Give her the tonic three times a day and try to get her to take the breast. If she does not she will starve before the fever kills her. Keep her head cool and her body warm." He patted Robert's arm sympathetically. "I'm sorry there is nothing else I can do, but bleed her and she is far too tiny for that."

He turned from Robert.

To Robert the man had just given his angel a death sentence and he would not give her up without a fight.

Robert put on a stoic face before he returned to Mandy. He had to be strong for her and hide his pain for her sake.

Robert stayed by his tiny daughter as she whimpered most of the day. He dabbed her tiny forehead and kept her wrapped in blankets. Mandy would come ever hour to try to suckle her. She could only manage a couple of swallows before she would cry.

Robert knew it was taking a toll on his wife so he did much of the care to let her rest. He would have her sit on his lap and hold her while Abby lay quieter as sleep seemed to claim her.

The next morning the fever had not broken and Robert sat tirelessly with his tiny angel in his embrace to add warmth and comfort.

The tonic did not seem to help and they could not get it in her without coating Mandy's dark nipple with it before the tiny mouth sucked.

While Mandy still slept Robert sent Erin to town again to fetch the Abbey herbalist, Brother John.

Erin rode quickly to do as she was bidden.

It was only two hours later when they came back. Erin had been riding in a man's saddle. She let the brother have the rein and she rode behind. Alfrick took the mounts. Erin led the brother in. The stocky yet strong man carried the saddlebags laden with supplies in. He knocked and walked in as Erin opened the door and showed him in.

Robert looked up. "Brother you are our last home. She is growing so week. And my wife is distraught for she will not suckle."

John set his things down and nodded. He walked over to where Robert held the whimpering girl. He touched her brow. She was very hot to the touch.

He went to his bags and lifted out several beakers of solutions and herbs. He looked at Erin. "Mistress can you tell me if there if a bottle about with a nipple and a goat?"

"Yes bottles we have. A goat?"

"Yes we have a goat." Annie said at the door. "She has good milk."

"Good. Could you fetch me some Mistress Bordon?" John asked not looking at her as she prepared some things.

"Yes right away." Annie said

"I will find the bottle." Erin said

Mandy came out of the room flanked by Fiona. "Brother John?!"

"Ahh Mistress Bordon of the older kind. How are you this morning?" John asked pleasantly.

"My daughter is very ill."

"Yes I know. I am here to make her better. I learned some things in my travels." He smiled reassuringly. "Physicians often give up too easily."

Annie went quickly to the barn and nearly ran over Tristan and Matthew. "Hey, hey Miss. What you doing? You in too big of a hurry." Matthew warned.

"I need milk from Tess." Annie said breathy.

"Why?"

"Just do it. My uncle's baby is sick."

Tristan nodded. "Right away."

He found the goat and fed her some oats as he placed a bucket down and began to milk her. When the bucket was half full, Annie kissed his cheek and took it. She ran as fast as she could into the house with it.

Erin had found the bottle with a servant's help.

Brother Johannes was mixing some liquids together and also making a sticky paste in a dish.

The two girl's returned at the same time. "Thank you." He said.

He took the bottle and put in three drops of the liquid. He then dipped it in the bucket and filled it up. He lifted it and cleaned the glass with a cloth. Next he fitted on the nipple.

He turned to Robert who help the baby now. She was whimpering and very warm. "She is not having enough fluid." John explained to all there.

He dipped his finger into the paste he had made and put some on her lips and in her tiny mouth. Abby's eyes opened wide and she cried out. Robert looked at John. It was a cry of pain. What had he done to his baby? "What have you done?" He cried.

John simply put the bottle's nipple to her lips and the girl sucked ravenously from it, barely stopping for breath. John smiled at the protective father. "Hush." He soothed.

Robert watched in amazement as did Amanda. "How did you…?" Robert asked

"A secret I learned from my travels in Egypt." John said. "Arabs are amazing healers." He said as he began to pack his things with a smile.

Robert held the bottle and he noticed her becoming very sleepy.

"She is almost asleep." He said

"Yes. I gave her a touch of opium. It will help her heal and ease the fever pain." John said. "I will return tomorrow."

Robert nodded and smiled as he lifted the bottle from his now drowsy infant. She had drank nearly ¾ of it.

Mandy went to her purse and followed the brother out. She walked with him to the walkway of trees. She took his hand and pushed some coin. "Thank you Brother Johannes." She smiled.

"Mistress Bordon you know I can not take this." He said softly. "I have sworn poverty and obedience to the Benedictine Order."

"I know, but you could use it for the church then or to buy more herbs for you." She looked at him sweetly. "Take it for my sake."

He looked at her and smiled. "Very well. I will give it to the church." He said. "For your sake. For me it is enough to see your sweet smile Mistress." He said.

Impulsively she hugged him. He stiffened, but did not pull away. He smiled as she pulled back.

"Why are you Johannes and not John, though you say everyone calls you that."

"Johannes is John in German Mistress. I am a half blood. My mother is Welsh and my father a retired Hessan mercenary." He said. "I too have known war. You are the first to say my name right. You must know some German."

"A little. I know the Austrian Court." She looked at him sharply. "You were a soldier? I took you for contemplative."

He smiled gently. "When you have been a soldier you have much to contemplate." He looked at her. "Now I serve people. I protect life, I do not take it." He nodded to her. "Good day Mistress Bordon."

"Good day Brother Johannes."

He turned and walked his dark robes swirling about him as he walked.

Robert took his leave of his family for 30 minutes as he walked to the small family chaple near the creek.

As he entered the holy place he bent his knee to the floor and crossed himself and bowed his head.

He lit a small candle and set it in the metal holder beneath the altar. He knelt down on the wooden kneel bench and bowed his head in reverence to the carved wooden statue of Madonna and her Holy son.

He prayed for sometime for his tiny girl to get well.

When he was done he rose and crossed himself. He passed outside and walked back to the home and to where his young wife was waiting and worrying.

The next morning Robert rose early and went to check on his baby girl. Her crib was in Mandy and his room for the night. He lifted her sleeping form in his arms.

He touched her brow and nearly cried out in joy.

He walked to the bed. "Mandy! Mandy! Walela!" He said excitedly

"Hummm. Yes Robert?"

"The fever is broken!" He said.

Mandy put her head to her brow and grinned at Robert. Robert kissed her and they laughed happily.

It was about ten when Brother Johannes came on a donkey to them. Erin showed him up to the chambers where Mandy was nursing Abby. Erin knocked and waited.

"Come in." Robert said as he laid a blanket over her breast and the young one.

The two came in.

"Thank you so much." Mandy said from where she reclined on the bed. John knew what she was doing.

"I take it she is better." Johannes smiled.

"Yes. The fever is broken and we have you to thank." Robert said as Mandy lifted Abby out. He took her and smiled at Johannes. Abby looked at him with her large eyes.

"No you have God to thank." John said softly.

"True we thank his guidance in your healer's work." Robert said bowing his head.

"Amen." John said crossing himself.

He smiled at her. "Well since she is doing better there is work to be done in my workshop. Come and see me when you will. I enjoy company." He said softly

Mandy and Robert nodded. "We will."

Robert followed him to the door. "Thank you again for your time."

"It is times like these that make my healer's work worth the study." John said with a quick smile and he was gone.

Robert returned to his wife. He bent and kissed her.

"I am happy she is well." Mandy said

"As am I." Robert said sitting near her. He looked at his girl. "Such a good girl and fighter."