*Author's Note*
Thank you for all the follows, favs, and reviews.
This is a short chapter, but it's a very important one.
November Births, 1881
November 3rd
Nancy POV:
The pain I'm in's unbearable. Oh my god, I can't believe that women willin'ly do this ov'r an' ov'r 'gain to have many chil'ren. Like hell I'm goin' thru this 'gain. One baby's 'nough for me; it's gonna be 'nough for Abel too. I swear, I'm gonna make that man spill his seed outside me an' I'm gonna ask some whores how they keep from gettin' knocked up all the time. I do not an' I repeat do not ev'r wanna have anymore babies. It's too painful.
Doc was a joke. He wasn't doin' nothin' other then sittin' at the table readin' a book. He was just waitin' for me t'get ready t'push out my goddamned kid. My brother's girl Sarah (the mailman's sister) was sittin' on the edge of my bed. At least she was helpful. She was coolin' off my sweat soaked face wit' a damp cloth. Thank god Jefferson's girl had some brains an' wanted t'help me in my time o'pain.
Talk 'bout my brother, he was outside keepin' my husband company. I imagine that both Jefferson an' Abel were sick wit' worry an' sharin' a whiskey bottle t'ease it. I'm glad Jefferson an' Abel get 'long so well. If only Allie'd see the light an' come t'her brother for help. Still can't believe that fool turned down my offer instead of convincin' her husband (that horrible Cap Hatfield) to go turncoat on his devil of a father. A devil that cut them off might I add. It'd be nice if my sister-in-law was able t'be here helpin' me since she'd done this (givin' birth) two times already.
Sadly, Allie wasn't here an' most likely wouldn't be comin' by t'visit her new niece or nephew anytime soon.
"Oooo! Goddamnit, oooo!" I shouted, clutchin' my belly, as a very sharp pain shot thru me.
Sarah looked at the useless doctor and inquired, "Doc, her pains are gettin' real bad. Doesn't that mean she's ready?"
"Could be, but that's not always the case." Doc said, settin' his book down on the table. Gettin' up, he told me, "Gotta check ya, Nancy. See if you're ready to start pushin'."
"I don't need checked, I'm tired of hurtin' an' I'm pushin' this goddamned baby out whether ya like it or not." I snapped at the useless old doctor.
Doc's brows rose up t'his head an' his looked like he'd just had a bucket of ice-cold water dumped ov'r his head. Noddin', he said, "Reckon if ya think you're ready to push then you can start pushin'.", as he came ov'r to the bottom of the bed. "Sarah, can ya fetch the twine, scissors, blanket, water, an' cloths?"
"Yes, I'll get 'em." Sarah assured Doc 'fore dartin' off to collect the things from the kitchen that was a few feet 'way. The very same kitchen that Doc was just sittin' in.
I didn't wait for Doc to tell me t'push, I just gritted my teeth an' pushed as hard as I could. I ignored everthin', said for the pain I felt, as I pushed an' pushed. Hell, I was ignorin' Doc's commands. Man must think I'm stupid, tellin' me t'push an' t'breath. Hell, I'm the one havin' the baby so I think I'd know when t'push an' rest for a breath.
At least Sarah was helpful. After fetchin' the supplies Doc wanted she planted herself t'my side. She held my hand an' assured me that after a few more big pushes that baby'd be born.
I gritted my teeth an' let out a loud scream as a pain tore right thru me. I could feel my baby pop out, heard it cry too as Doc cut its cord. I was propped up on my elbows, watchin' as Doc an' Sarah cleaned up my baby. After wrappin' it in a blanket, Doc handed me my baby. "Congratulations, Mrs. Freeland, it's a girl."
A girl. I had a daughter. Harmony Martha, named for my parents who're both since dead an' gone. I held her an' looked at her tiny form only t'see that she had a small dark wisp of hair on her head. Her lips were small an' her cheeks were pink. It was still too soon t'say who she'd take after, but I think she's gonna be a mix of both me an' Abel.
"Nancy, ya needa feed her." Sarah told me, gesturin' for me to pull down my shift an' shove my baby on my tit.
Like hell I'm gonna have a baby draggin' on my tits, makin' 'em sag an' drop 'fore I even get old an' grey. Lookin' straight at Doc, I told him, "Leave a nursin' bottle or two on the table."
"But Nanc-" Doc began only for me to cut him off wit', "I ain't tit feedin' this baby. I wanna bottle feed her so leave some damn bottles on the table."
Doc just nodded 'fore doin' as I asked him too. "Come, Miss Sarah, let's tell the men outside 'bout the baby." Doc told the mailman's sister, causin' her to just nod an' follow him outta my house.
Abel POV:
"Sounds like the baby just got born." Jefferson pointed out in a drunken slur as a loud scream mingled with soft cries (baby's cries) echoed from my one-room house as we sat on the porch, drinkin'. Well, he was drinkin' while I was biting my nails in nervous anticipation. Sure, I'd been around for when my nephew was born, but this was different. This was my wife and baby.
"Yea." I nodded, a proud grin spreading over my face. "No matter what it is, we're naming it after your pap. Harmon or Harmony, dependin' on what it is."
"My sister's lucky t'have a husband as good as ya. You honorin' our pap like that, means a lot t'her." Jefferson told me before taking a long drink from his bottle.
"So, how serious are you and Sarah? Think you'll have any kids?"
"We're serious 'nough. Been livin' wit' her an' her family for a while now. Reckon we'll have a baby if the good lord's willing." My brother-in-law answered my question in between sippin' on his whiskey.
Before I could say anything else, the door opened and out walked Doc and Sarah. Sarah smiled at me before going over to Jefferson, no doubt to tell him 'bout my baby. Doc stopped in front of me and announced. "It's a girl. She's small, but healthy."
"Thank you, Doc." I gratefully shook his hand. I knew that labor and childbirth could be deadly in this time, so I was thankful that Doc Rutherford had safely helped my wife deliver our baby.
After breakin' tour handshake, Doc informed me, "Nancy's choosen t'bottle feed the baby. I left a couple nursin' bottles on the table."
"So, I need to invest in a cow now." I stated even tho it came out soundin' more like a question. I didn't mind Nancy bottle feeding Harmony over breast feeding. Her body her choice. Eh, maybe I think like that cause I used to live in a time where formula and bottles were a popular choice for moms. Of course, breast feeding was an option too, but opting for bottle feeding a baby was common in the 21st century. I think that's why I'm not bothered by Nancy's decision.
"Yes, seems so." Doc nodded. "Abel, you're free to go inside; see your wife and baby." He told me before walkin' by me and towards his wagon.
Since I knew how much Jefferson meant to Nancy, I looked over my shoulder and asked, "Wanna go inside and meet your niece?"
Sarah chewed on her lip. "Abel, usually the pap goes in first 'fore other family does."
"Our family's not one for tradition." I shrugged. "Come on, let's go inside and meet Harmony." I told my in-laws before going over to the front door.
"Don't even think 'bout havin' anymore babies. Once goin' thru that pain's 'nough." Nancy spat at me as soon as she saw me walk into our house.
"Okay, then we'll just have one kid." I told her since I was fine with Harmony being an only child. I mean I can pull out if that's what my wife wants. Hell, I was raised in the 21st century where most people had like 3-kids tops. So… "I'll make her a bottle, kay?" told my wife, going over to the table and grabbing a bottle while Jefferson and Sarah walked thru the door.
"Okay." Nancy simply said. "Jefferson, come see your niece. Harmony Martha." Nancy ordered her brother, holding the newborn up slightly in her arms so that her brother could see her.
"Harmony looks like a purty baby, sis." Jefferson smiled a bit drunkenly as he came to a stop at his sister's bedside.
"Course she's purty. Me an' Abel are her parents." Nancy deadpanned while I went over to her with a fresh bottle of milk in my hand. "Give me that. She's hungry." My wife snapped, snatchin' the bottle from my hand and shoving it into our daughter's mouth.
"Uh, ya gotta tilt her head up some more while feeding her." I advised me wife, gesturing for her to support Harmony's head with a slight wave of my hand.
"Don't tell me how t'feed my baby. I'm her mother; I can care for her just fine." Nancy snapped a bit defensively. "Go an' buy her a cow. She needs milk." Pointing to the door, my beautiful wife shouted, "Go on an' get!"
Oh god, seems that she's still stressed and upset from labor. God, I hope she calms down in a few hours. "Okay, I'll go buy a cow." I told my wife before quickly leaving to go to the livery.
Oh hell, I had to go to the livery…At least Todd Eldridge's running it these days, so I don't have to deal with Shaw.
November 7th
Roseanna POV:
Sweat was tricklin' down my face an' neck as I laid in bed, witherin' in pain. Oh god, it hurt so much. Johnse, much to Doc an' Levicy's horror, was by my side. He was holdin' my hand an' soothin' me by wipin' me down wit' a wet wash cloth. Both Levicy an' Doc tried to get him to go on the porch t'sit an' wait, but my husband wouldn't have it. Johnse insisted on bein' right by my side as I brought our child into the world.
Sadly, Jessa wasn't here. She wasn't able to come since she's so far 'long. She's due sometime next month an' is on strict bedrest from Doc since he didn't want this birth t'be hard on her like that last one was. Doc seemed to think that if Jessa had plenty o'bed rest an' reduced her stress then she'd have a better birth with Endor then she did wit' Silas.
"Johnse, this pain's worse than the others." I moaned, as a birthin' pain tore right thru me.
"Y'think it's time for the baby t'come?" Johnse asked Doc while wipin' my brow wit' a cool cloth.
"Maybe. Let me check t'see how far 'long she is." Doc said 'fore standin' up from his spot in a corner chair an' makin' his way ov'r to the foot of the bed.
"If it ain't her time, then it's soon 'proachin'." Levicy said knowin'ly as she tucked some pillows 'hind my back, helpin' me sit up since I was so tired an' feelin' weak from the pain I was in. Pain that was well worth it t'have my baby. Johnse's baby.
"Well, Roseanna, seems you're ready t'start pushin'." Doc told me, causin' me an' Johnse to smile wit' excitement.
Oh, it was time t'birth our sweet lil Sarah Elizabeth. I mustered all of the strength I could an' pushed when Doc told me too. Johnse held my held an' told me, "Push Roseanna. Ya can do it for Sarah Elizabeth."
Levicy rubbed my back while encouragin' me wit' the kind words of, "She's almost here, Roseanna. Just a few more pushes, sweetheart."
I screamed as I made one last push. Once I heard my baby's cries paired wit' Doc's announcement of, "It's a girl.", I fell onto the bed wit' a tired pant.
"Oh, my beautiful sweet darlin', she's perfect. Our daughter's just perfect." Johnse smiled as he watched Doc an' his mama clean up the baby an' wrap her up in a blanket. "Here, let me help ya up so they can put her in your arms for holdin'." Johnse told me as he propped me up into a sittin' position.
I was tired, sore, an' sweaty, but it didn't matter cause I felt so much joy upon seein' my baby an' havin' her placed into my arms. Johnse was right, Sarah Elizabeth was perfect. She had chubby cheeks an' big blue eyes. She had blonde peach fuzz on top o'her head for hair an' she had her daddy's nose. "Sarah Elizabeth, I'm your mama." I softly cooed at my newborn.
"And I'm your daddy." Johnse added in, gently strokin' our daughter's cheek.
"I'll go to the lumberyard; tell your pa that his grandbaby's been born." Doc told us before swiftly gatherin' his bag an' leavin' the room.
"I'll go, let'cha have some time as a family." Levicy told us wit' a warm smile on her face fore followin' Doc outta the room.
Sarah Elizabeth cocked her head up at me and stretched her tiny hand out. I smiled and gave her my finger to hold. She seemed like such a content baby. "I think I'm gonna feed her." I told my husband, earnin' me a silent nod from him.
I untied the top of my shift an' arranged my daughter so I could nurse her. She latched on fairly easy. As she hungrily suckled at me breast, Johnse looked on in awe an' whispered, "She's real hungry. Didn't know a baby could nurse so fast."
"Yea, some babies et more than others. Least that's what my mama said once." I told my husband, a sadness seepin' from my voice as I thought of my mama. Mama'd love lil Sarah Elizabeth, but cause I'm married t'Johnse an' popy threw me out she'll nev'r get to meet her granddaughter. Poppy's god in that house; mama'll nev'r go up 'gainst him.
"Don't be sad, Roseanna." My husband told my, tuckin' a stray piece of hair behind my ear. With a hopeful look, he suggested, "Maybe in time your family'll come 'round cause of the baby. I mean ya can't hate a beautiful, innocent baby."
I hope my family comes 'round. Honestly, if anybody comes 'round I think it'll be Tolbert an' Aunt Betty rather then mama, poppy, an' our other kin folk. At least Sarah Elizabeth had plenty of uncles, aunts, cousins, family friends, an' one set of grandparents to show her plenty of love. And of course, she had us, me an' Johnse, t'love an' protect her.
AN:
So, both Nancy and Roseanna had girls. Obviously, they have two very different takes on motherhood. Traditionally in the 1800s men weren't in the room when women gave birth, but I imagine that Johnse would want to be by Roseanna's side.