The characters are created by LM Montgomery, and are her property... the original characters & storyline are unique to this story are copyright 2021, by Nell Lime.
Author's Note:
Sorry - posting schedule got delayed this week due to a work deadline.
TLWtlw - Yes, I love that name and one of my favorite books as a child along with LM Montgomery's books was Apple Bough by Noel Streetfield. I agree, I love how naming one's home was common place back then.
Oz Diva - Yes we'll see what happens. And yes I agree likely Mrs. Lynde could spot an engagement ring a mile away. I did some research and from what I found, likely anyone who handled the poop would not be allowed to handle food or water to ensure it doesn't spread. Thanks for your thoughts on Marilla :)
Astrakelly - yes they do. I think writing is seeing how many awkward situations and scrapes you can throw the characters into that you'd never want to go into yourself.
Guest - I avoid anything too graphic when I can help it, and only include it in the story if it's necessary for the plot. If it doesn't move the plot forward, then only what's necessary for the plot is included.
Faith-hope-and-glory - The bite was what had gotten edited out earlier, and I had to add back in. The details that are included and are not are key. Yes I agree it's rather brave and bold of Anne. Yes, can you just imagine for years Gilbert secretly pining for Anne and what his imagination would have taken him to, and with a fever your sense of reality goes through the window.
Kbmjp - That's true she could have assumed it was Roy's, and yes she would have brought any of them home. But as to assuming it was Roy's ring if you go back to Chapter 4… they were doubting that as Anne had taken the Summerside job, but yes hadn't yet told them she'd said no to Roy, but I'm sure they were all secretly hoping she'd marry Gilbert and with the new gossip…
— Davy —
Tuesday, June 22nd, 3:00pm
Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI
You should have heard Marilla and Mrs. Lynde on the way back to Green Gables. I wanted to stay and start right away helping my new brother. Jolly, that was best birthday gift ever from Anne. But Marilla made it clear I was to pack my own bag. So I had to ride back with them making plans on how to help Anne. And of course, any news of a baby and women go mushy. At least, Mrs. Lynde said that's what Mrs. Harmon Andrews implied with her letter, and Marilla just reminded her that until Anne shared their news herself, she quite agreed with Mr. Blythe that we'd best just wait for their news, for doubtless there was little truth to it. I figured long as it was a boy, but from what I'd heard Anne & Gilbert had ordered a girl. How could he betray me such? I'd still be out numbered.
Which made me realize I had to do something that summer about beaus for Marilla and Mrs. Lynde. Really had to because I needed more men about the place. Maybe though I could convince Anne and Gilbert to order a boy instead of a girl. For if it was a boy, well I'd be Uncle Davy, and be like a big brother to him! That would be jolly swell. And I wouldn't have to worry about finding them beaus. That would be hard enough. Long as they didn't order a girl, I'd hold off on finding two old men to court Marilla and Mrs. Lynde.
I'd then remembered that when one's required to order something made, they take a while to be delivered. Course Diana's gotten so fat with her nerves about her new baby she ordered. Hopefully Anne wouldn't be so foolish. I'd seen the way Diana Wright had been eating. And babies were complex little things. Mrs. Lynde and Marilla would skin me alive if they knew I asked a question, especially as they both spent five minutes on the way to Apple Bough lecturing me about no questions, and no match making for Anne, or hinting about the news, we'd let that wait for now. I'd remembered though that time that Mr. Harrison had ordered a new Cigna cabinet for Mrs. Harrison when she came home after the bird died and had to change the order because Mrs. Harrison found out he'd ordered the wrong one. And he'd barely changed the order in time. He'd ordered it of the wrong wood or something. Still it'd taken a month after he'd changed the order to get it made and delivered.
Well, if I was going to convince Anne & Gilbert to change their order, I'd best ask someone. And then I remembered, Fred Wright. I'd find my way over there, maybe deliver some letters from Anne for Diana and ask him. If anyone knew the process of ordering babies he would. Course, I could also ask him about the rabies. I still wasn't convinced. But I thought on it again, maybe it wasn't rabies. But it sure looked like he'd been wrestling with someone or something, with the bite marks and scratches. Maybe Anne had too now that I thought of it. She'd had a bite mark too right behind the ear. I'd seen it when everyone was focusing on her ring.
So I'd rode over again with Marilla, who dropped me off with food for Apple Bough, and promises to return the next day, and a stern lecture to behave myself, and no more questions while we got Gilbert better. I'd then set to work, helping Mr. Blythe in the yard. Chores had been redistributed. The milking was taken over by Mrs. Blythe along with the collection of eggs. Mr. George Fletcher next door would come over daily to help with some of the chores also, and anything that wouldn't cause contamination would be done by myself and Mr. Blythe, when we weren't taking turns at the sick bed. I of course still had my chores at Green Gables, and would be expected over there each morning to complete them. And I wouldn't have any time to play until Gilbert recovered, but then gaining a big brother is worth a month of little fishing or play with the fellas.
Though Mrs. Blythe was allowed to sit with Gilbert, she'd been designated the cook for us all. Course when her only other option was Marilla coming over daily to take over her kitchen and cook, or me. Well, I don't blame her about myself. And I've learned most women are mighty particular about who they let set foot in their kitchen.
Dr. Spenser had set up a schedule for nursing him round the clock, making it very clear that Mr. Blythe & I were to handle the changing as much as possible. I'd been about to carry my carpet bag upstairs when I'd heard him. "John, I know this is delicate, but if Anne gets it, and the rumors are true. I know she doesn't want to make any announcements without him, but if they're true. She'll be an even higher risk then Gilbert. Keep his diaper changing to you and Davy as much as possible. Make sure she scrubs well, and keep her eating well. We'll get them through this."
I was set up in the sewing room. Course I'd prefer Gilbert's room, for the sewing room was set up in all things dainty and blue. Too girly. But I had to take good care of Anne for Gilbert and I didn't dare wish to change rooms. Not with only a lumpy old mattress in the sewing room that normally had piles of fabric and cats on it. I'd better get over quick to Fred Wright to find out how to change Anne & Gilbert's order to a boy I worried.
Anne had been then sitting tending Gilbert, holding his hand as Mrs. Blythe kept them company, with three cats and clearly Mrs. Blythe wasn't happy about something, not that I knew what. Isn't the news that your son eloped, saved you the fuss of a big wedding and even already ordered a grand baby all before coming home good news? Not to mention his academic achievements, and Anne's too! Likely it was just the fear about Gilbert.
I'd then offered Anne to write a letter for Diana updating her on Gilbert's condition and offered to run over that evening after supper. Course, Anne lit up at that, sat within sight of Gilbert and wrote a cheery letter no doubt to Diana Wright, and sent me off gaily with it, soon as I'd eaten with the Blythes while Anne ate quickly and returned to Gilbert.
I'd been given the early morning watch for the night with Gilbert, Mr. Blythe the first watch and Anne the middle one, such that one of us fellas would be there to help with his cleaning when we changed shifts with her. That and she'd insisted on that one. So soon as supper was finished, the elder Blythes went to sit with Gilbert, sent Anne upstairs to bed, and I jogged off to walk the four miles to the Wright homestead promising to be back by dark.
Both Fred & Diana had been sitting on the porch, and I waved to them, and remembered the rules that had been set per my visit, I stayed on the porch steps. "Evening Mr. Wright, Mrs. Wright. Picked up Anne & Gilbert last night at the station. Why Gilbert's mighty sick, Doctor says it's Typhoid. I'm not supposed to talk about their news, though Anne did show off her ring, and the ladies all liked it." I rolled my eyes. "But then I'm worried. Gilbert had scratches, and bite marks, and so did Anne! What if I its Rabies? And I'm worried, I mean about their news..."
They just stared at me. "About what Davy?" Diana asked slowly.
"How'd you order a baby? And can you change the order? I mean I don't want another girl at Green Gables!"
"What are you talking about?" Diana stood up coming closer.
"Your mother said you ordered a baby from her catalogue, and I can't find it. I want to write and ask them to change the order. I mean Gilbert's already named her, Little Diana. I guess it's ok for a girl, but I think theres too many girls about Green Gables."
"Davy Keith, are you telling me the rumors my mother told me from the sewing circle are true?" Diana stepped closer, eyes wide.
I shrugged. "Anne wrote a letter for you, but made it clear she and Gilbert wanted to announce things together. So I don't think she'll say much. Was his news too, and a man should be the one to make those sorts of announcements, well he did, but she wasn't in the room. He rambled on about it for a while when I was tending him. But really, I can't have another girl, and if Gilbert doesn't make it! I'm already having a hard enough time to find beaus for Mrs. Lynde and Marilla! And if Gilbert's got Typhoid on top of getting into a bad fight. Wonder if it was a dog? Maybe it's rabies? Clearly attacked Anne too…"
"Attack Anne too?" Miss Josie Pye said walking up the lane. "What ever are you on about?"
"Anne won't talk about it, but its…"
"Clear," Fred said grabbing me by the mouth covering me so I couldn't say more. "That it's time that Davy and I had a man to man talk, while you visit with Diana. Gilbert and Anne both came home, and Gilbert's got Typhoid, very ill and Davy's just worried Anne will get it too."
"Anne… and Gilbert?"
I managed to get my mouth free. "Yes, but Anne requested no one talk about it until Gilbert recovers, she's so worried. So don't…"
"I won't…"
Fred then dragged me back to the barn sat me down and laughed so long you could have sworn he'd gone mad. "Sorry… Davy, probably best you never mention again about Gilbert & Anne having rabies, or fought a mad dog, because I rather doubt they do. And, guess it's time someone told you about the birds and the bees."
"But they already covered that at school. I know all about them. The teacher covered that for a whole month. Most boring month because I already knew how to propagate the orchard." I rolled my eyes.
He sat down beside me, the two of us on a bench leaning against one of the stalls. "Breeding the animals. Seen that?"
"Sure I have, I've seen the chickens and the cows twice birthing. I know where animal babies come from I have watched the bull in Mr. Bell's back pasture visit Mr Harrison's milking cow, but when I asked Mrs. Berry where human babies came from when we'd been over there, she just pointed to the catalogue. Course knowing Mrs. Berry had a part in your ordering I don't blame your wife for getting fat."
Oh he was roaring now. "Don't tell Diana please… Or Anne… Babies aren't ordered from a catalogue. They grow in their mother's bellies, like the animals. The baby we ordered as you called it, that's not Diana being fat but it's growing inside of her."
My eyes went wide. "How'd it get inside her? Never mind. Marilla said if she caught me asking questions I won't get my birthday party, I've got a list going for Anne and Gilbert, when Gilbert's better. And now just like all the other fella's I'll have the best birthday ever put on by my big brother to plan it… I'll just add it…"
He stopped my hand from pulling out the list and stub from my pocket. "Nah, our secret until he's better. He's my best friend and I'll fill you in on the basics so you're not scaring people with you jumping to conclusions. Then after Gilbert's better, the three of us can go fishing and we'll answer more of your questions then about it. Men to men."
I grinned. "Swell!"
"So…"
"If Anne's expecting that mean she's got a baby in her belly too?"
"Yes. But you never ever ask a woman if she is unless she announces it. You'll never know for certain until the woman feels the baby move. Why I remember with Diana, she didn't feel the baby move for, oh I'd guess four months ago." He scratched his head. "You've seen the animals breeding."
"Yes. As I said, Mr. Harrison took me to take his cow to meet the bull."
"Well…" He bit his lip. "That's how the cow get's pregnant. She's in heat and see's the bull. And well… humans are like that too"
"Oh…" I gulped. "You mean you run up behind a girl and jump on her when she's eating? Isn't that rude? Anne must have fought Gilbert with all them scratches on his behind."
Fred was red. "Well no. It's a little different. They call it love making and it should only be done between a husband and wife! That's the way God intended. Because the outcome are babies. But sometimes a couple might get a little passionate, and you remember Anne and Gilbert in a fight…"
My eyes went wide as saucers. "So it's not rabies?"
"Not rabies."
"And we can't change it? For a boy I mean? Don't you want a boy too?"
He laughed. "No, only God knows what we'll get until the babies born. Diana swears it's a girl, but we'll see then. And Davy, don't ever do it to a girl unless she's your wife."
"It don't involve kissing does it?" I grimaced. "Yuck, don't think I'd want to."
"Yes, kissing the start of it."
My eyes went wide. I'd better make sure Frank Bell married Dora quickly for he'd kissed her! Before he got in his head he was a bull looking to attack a cow, and that a man would do that to one of my women folks! Oh I'd never marry myself now. And that Gilbert had to Anne!
And maybe I shouldn't find a husband for Marilla. She'd not appreciate any man acting like a bull in her kitchen. It must be some disease I thought as I headed home later after leaving the letter with Fred that turned married men into bulls that attacked their wives. That Fred would have done that to Diana Wright? I realized that Anne & Gilbert must have done it in a field like the bull. No wonder Gilbert had scratches. They probably disturbed some bull in the process. Oh I'd never look a married couple in the eye again.
And I was never approving a man for any of my women folk again. Not unless I could confirm they wouldn't be as bad as a bull.
—*—*—*—*—
Author's Note: Did you know back then blue was a girls color - for being soft, and pink a boys color for being strong? It flipped sometime in the 20th century but I forgot when. I remember being first confused by it as a girl reading the little house books.
