Chapter 14

Christy writhed on the bed, pressing her hands against the spindles in the headboard, fighting against the pain. It had been hours since her water had broken and it seemed that no progress was being made, except that Christy grew more and more exhausted with each passing moment.

"Miss Christy, ya gotta relax." Fairlight spoke gently to her as she continued to rub the cooling cloth across her face.

"I didn't think it would hurt this much." Christy whimpered into her shoulder as she won the bout with this most recent contraction. "How have you done this over and over again?" She was not expecting an answer.

Alice ran her hand across Christy's exposed abdomen, feeling the baby's position and how far she had progressed over the past day. She had arrived with Fairlight only an hour after Ruby Mae's frantic calling that not only alerted Alice, but managed to wake the entire mission. Now the shadows had chased away the sunshine and Neil had begun to light the lamps as evening rapidly approached.

Neil stared forlornly up the stairs as he continued to light the lamps. Now, more than ever he resented the mountain custom that nearly forbid the presence of a man in the labor room.

"No sense in hangin' about the stairs." Jeb laid his hand on his friends shoulder, guiding him out the door.

"I'm her husband, Jeb, seems to me I should be allowed in the room."

"Ya know that birthin' is best left up to the womenfolk."

Neil pulled his hand through his tousled curls, his fingers catching in the knots his own frustration had worked into his scalp. "What if..."

"Now don't be thinkin' the worst." Jeb once again attempted to tug Neil away from the foot of the stairs. "We're goin' no farther than to sit a spell on the stoop."

Neil allowed himself to be led away. Jeb was right; he was more of a husband than a doctor at this moment. He could only pray that his wife would only need a husband. In these mountains, calling for a doctor in something as simple as childbirth usually meant trouble. Another cry of anguish rent the air in the cabin and Neil felt his endurance being worn to nothingness.

"Oh, please God." Neil fell loudly to his knees with a thud. Jeb joined him there, both men lifting up their silent prayers to the only One with the power to help the young wife.

The first rays of sunlight broke through the haze of worry in the cabin. The night had taken its toll on everyone, and despite Christy's best efforts, the baby wouldn't come. Alice had taken to administering chloroform, as well as prayer, to relieve some of the unrelenting pain.

"Christy, it's time." Alice motioned to Fairlight to take Christy's other exposed leg, pushing her back into the birthing position.

"I can't do this! Please, don't make me do this!" Christy once again fought against the tearing pain that seemed to center in her very being.

"Miz Christy, it's up to ya to bring this babe into the world."

"She's right. You have to push. Everyone is waiting patiently to see thy child." Alice bent over and placed a gentle kiss on the weary girl's forehead. "Thy husband longs to see his child, and I long to hold my grandchild. Thee shall run and not be weary. Thee has run this course, it's time to finish this. It's time to behold the face of thy child.

"Miss Alice, please, call Neil. Please, I want my husband."

Alice released the leg she was holding. It wasn't proper, a husband in the room while his wife gave birth. Of course, very few things in these rugged mountains were considered proper by modern standards. How could she possibly refuse the two people she held most dear in the world? The memories of Margaret's birth, the fear of being alone, having no one that was truly special to share the birth of her child with.

"Neil." Alice called out to him from the head of the stairs.

Neil cleared the steps two at a time, fearing that his wife was in need of a doctor now, fearing the sudden silence from the head of the stairs.

"She wants thee." Alice swung the door wide and allowed him to step through. "She's ready to push."

"Christy." Neil reached for her hand.

"Please don't leave." His wife held tight to his hand as another wave of pain filled with an intense desire to push. It was a new sensation and somehow a wonderful sensation.

Neil positioned himself behind his wife, lifting her up gently to rest her back along his side. "Push, love. Push with the contractions."

Alice and Fairlight pulled her legs back close to her chest. "Push, Christy." Alice cheered, watching in new fascination as a downy head began to make an appearance with each push.

"That's right, Christy. Keep it up. Don't stop now. Keep pushing." Alice once again wiped at Christy's forehead with a damp cloth. She couldn't help but notice that the frightened little girl was becoming a woman, as though the very process of birth would give not only a child to the world, but a mother, as well. Realizing that the time was near, Alice positioned herself to receive the child.

"This is it, darling. One more push, one more good push." Neil stroked his wife's back as she struggled with life, the life that they had created. "I love you, Christy."

Her eyes met his and a renewed strength coursed through her, the hours of misery seemed long past as she pulled herself forward to give one final push.

Christy fell back against Neil as she felt the baby fall from her body and into the light. Quickly Alice cut the cord and began to rub the baby with a towel, her efforts rewarded with a loud and lusty cry as air filled the baby's lungs.

Alice smiled at the small naked bundle, perfectly formed, perfectly healthy and perfectly beautiful; a fresh start at life and another perfect reminder that where there is love, there is hope.

The End