WOW…I am really on a roll here…another chapter! Something I forgot to mention in the last chapter was that it was indeed influenced by Jenny and Clayton's birthing in One Touch of Nature (which I just recently watched.) Anywho, I hope you like this chapter!
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Michaela had ordered Abigail to stay in bed for three days and to stay at the boardinghouse for a week, worried that traveling could possibly cause her to start bleeding again or possibly further injury. Abigail had laughed and told Michaela she was being a "worry-wart" but Sully was adamant about his wife listening to Michaela's orders. In the end Abigail had done as her friend and husband asked and stayed as long as Michaela thought necessary.
When Michaela finally gave Abigail and Hanna permission to go home she rode out with them and Sully, wanting to be sure that both mother and child were alright and didn't need her help along the way. Once Abigail and Hanna were settled in Michaela had declined a dinner invitation from her friends, wanting to give the family some time to themselves. Before she left Michaela did encourage Abigail to rest still and not to travel between the homestead and the town too much for another week at least.
A couple of days later Michaela saw Sully in town and asked him if Abigail was with him. He told her that Abigail was out at the homestead and, after much argument between himself and his wife, they had come to a compromise and she agreed not to try to travel to town for four days. Michaela asked him to let the new mother know she would like to see both her and Hanna when she did come to town in two more days.
Michaela actually had found herself gaining a few new patients, most of the women or children brought in by their mothers, since she performed the difficult birth; she suspected that Charlotte and Colleen had been spreading the word of her work.
Mrs. Binder brought her daughter, Becky, to see Michaela since the young girl was complaining of frequent headaches.
Hank came in with a gash in his arm that he needed her to stitch up since Jake was drunk, again.
A new mother came in extremely anxious because her three month old baby rarely cried, which Michaela assured her was, for some babies, normal.
But probably the biggest shock came when Maude Bray showed up at Charlotte's kitchen door.
Mrs. Bray glanced over at the Mercantile before looking back at Michaela. "I think I'm needin' your help."
Michaela stepped back letting the older woman in, her expression going to one of shock to worry. "What's wrong?"
Mrs. Bray bit her lip, twisting her handbag a little. "It's my heart. Sometimes it starts poundin' real hard and fast."
"Please sit down." Michaela gestured to one of the chairs around the kitchen table. "How often does it happen?"
"Once every few weeks, but it's becomin' more and more regular."
Michaela nodded. "I will be right back."
The doctor hurried up to her room and got her medical supplies; she then returned to the kitchen. She knelt sat down beside Maude, wishing for an examination table, and began to check her over; asking questions. Finally she replaced the items in her bag and faced the woman. "You have an arrhythmia." Maude frowned. "It's treatable," Michaela quickly added; she reached into her bag and withdrew a small envelope. "This is digitalis; take a pinch every time your heart starts pounding. This is all I have right now, but I will order more. And Mrs. Bray –"
"Call me Maude."
Michaela paused for a moment, a little surprised, but smiled. "Maude, it would be best for you if you didn't work so hard."
Maude gave her a wry smile. "I'll try. What do I owe you?"
The doctor thought for a moment and named a reasonable price, which Maude paid. "I'll let you know when more of the powder comes in. And I would like to check up on you maybe in a month?"
Maude nodded. "I'll be back, as for the medicine, would you like to start an account with the store? Then I can add the money to your account every time."
Michaela raised her eyebrows but smiled again, nodding. "I think that would work out well."
Maude smiled. "Thank you Dr. Mike." She stood. "I'll see you later."
Michaela opened the door for her. "See you. Oh! And Maude…"
The woman turned back.
"Thank you for trusting me."
Maude just smiled. "You're a good doctor, and you did well for my daughter and granddaughter." She turned and headed home.
Michaela watched her go, a grin on her face and warmth settling around her heart.
8
Two days later Michaela was at the livery talking with Robert E; she had come to deliver to him more of the medicine for his arthritis. They were discussing the rumored coming end of the war when Sully and Abigail rode up in their wagon, Hanna in her mother's arms.
"Afternoon Robert E; Dr. Mike," Sully called as he stopped the wagon, hopped down and then helped his wife and child down.
The pair returned the greeting.
Michaela and Robert E went over to them.
"So this is the little bit that got everybody in such an uproar." Robert E grinned down at Hanna in Abigail's arms; he wiped his hands off on a cloth before tickling the infant's cheek with a finger.
Abigail grinned, looking down at the baby as well. "She certainly likes makin' her opinion of things heard." There were chuckles at that.
"Are you ready for your check up?" Michaela reached a finger out, letting one of Hanna's waving hands to capture it.
"In a minute." Abigail glanced over at her husband. "Me an' Sully have somethin' to ask the both of ya."
Robert E and Michaela looked at each other in surprise before turning back to the new parents. "Yes?"
Sully wrapped an arm around his wife. "Well, ya see, me an' Abigail were wonderin' if ya would be Hanna's Godparents."
Robert E and Michaela were both shocked, but very happy; they glanced at each other, sharing a grin; then looked back at their friends.
"I would love nothing more." Michaela's eyes were sparkling as she hugged Abigail.
Robert E knew he hadn't smiled so wide in many years when he shook Sully's hand. "I'd be honored."
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I hope that the chapter was alright! The next two might be slower in coming because I am not so sure what I am going to do with them. I am starting to get an idea, but they are both still very vague. So I hope you can forgive me if it takes me a while to get chapters 9 & 10 up. Believe it or not I already know what I am going to do with chapters 11, 12, 13 and, probably, 14 and quite a few chapters beyond that.O.o Thank youfor all of the reviews and for not giving up on this story!