A New Beginning
"Just because a door appears closed it does not mean that it is locked - nor that it will not open with the right heart, call or touch"
― Rasheed Ogunlaru
Audience alert: breech birth recount, although it's an equine birth!
I am not a veterinarian by any means, but my cousin breeds and races standardbreds. I asked her to describe the typical process a vet will take when a foal presents breech during labour. Of course, prenatal care typically identifies this situation well in advance of active labour and they have a plan in place, so I have taken some creative liberties in how equine care was likely provided in the 1930s Also, I have simplified the birthing process because who really needs all the gory details when you have Georg Von Trapp pressed firmly against your back? (Am I right?)
Georg was always the first person to wake every morning. He could count the number of times on one hand that he had not been the first one up and about the villa while at home in Salzburg. Those few occasions when he was late to rise, or worse...late for breakfast, he had either been sick with something, or was terribly hungover. This morning, however, by the time his eyes opened, and it was almost half-past eight, he could not claim the usual maladies.
He didn't dare think about it too much, but it almost seemed like peaceful sleep had finally returned to him since his argument the other day with the little Fraulein.
"Ahhhh, Fraulein Maria, you are a bewitching little thing, aren't you!" he chuckled to himself.
Fraulein Maria had managed to move mountains the other day, and all at once the shattered pieces of his life started coming back together with the relative ease of a children's puzzle. There were some areas he still needed to work on, but Georg was even surprised at himself at how well he was doing. He was amazed at how readily the children forgave him for the past four years. It was almost as though they had been waiting patiently for him to return, and now that their lives were intertwined once more, it was like no time had been lost at all.
The little Fraulein was truly outdoing herself in one particular area, and that was her effortless control over his brood. He was struck with how well-behaved and quiet his seven children were under her care. She had them wrapped around her finger, and when she sensed Georg needed space because they were a bit too much, she swooped in and made it happen. Indeed, the children had their moments of chaos and revelry, but a stern look from the little Fraulein had them in ship-shape in no time flat. He shook his head in wonder: for four years he had employed military discipline, the only thing he really knew and felt comfortable with. Where did that get him: absolutely nowhere!
She had whipped into their lives like a hurricane, and in short order, the whole villa was eating out of Fraulein Maria's hand. The children adored her, that much was evident; although he had a sense her first night in the villa that this would come to pass. He, too, could admit to himself that he found her very distracting. Not an hour had passed since she blew that damn whistle...
Max was also quite smitten with the little Fraulein, that much was for certain. Georg suspected that his affection had more to do with her musical talents than anything else. Mind you, he had had heard him use the adjectives "fresh and lovely" to describe her in conversations with Elsa.
And then there was Leo, his dependable stable hand. Leo had chatted at length about Fraulein Maria with Georg shortly after his return to Salzburg. Georg didn't like the way Leo's eyes gleamed when he talked about Fraulein Maria, it was almost as though...Georg shook his head in annoyance as he glanced at the time. He really needed to get up and going and stop these stray thoughts. Why should he care what Leo thought of the little Fraulein, anyway?
Nun or not, Georg understood that Fraulein Maria was a wholesome, wonderful human being. She cared for those around her, and it was refreshing. Indeed, she was beautiful, but she was never going to be easy. Georg grimaced at his earlier thoughts of her. In retrospect, she deserved so much more than being pigeon-holed in that way. Perhaps her age and lithe figure had sent him catapulting back into his navy days? There was no denying that she had lit a spark within him that he had not felt for many years, but he began to attribute that to the overall healing process. Imagine: being able to speak of Agathe again without the crushing pain? The love of his children was certainly a balm.
Georg ran both hands through his hair repeatedly and then dragged them along the sides of his face, rubbing them against the stubble on his chin. He stretched like a cat and then sat up on the side of the bed, stuffing his feet into his slippers. Shaking his head, he knew the children would be up and about already for breakfast and would soon be starting their studies for the day. Max and Elsa, on the other hand, would likely still be in bed for at least another hour.
Wandering into his ensuite, Georg looked into the mirror; he really needed a wash and a shave. Yesterday hadn't worked out the way Georg would have liked at all. In retrospect, he was so glad he had decided to visit the children in the school room in the morning. That decision turned out to be the highlight of his day.
He and Elsa had returned to the villa just after 4pm yesterday. Lunch had morphed into afternoon tea, but after only a few hours in town he was itching to get home. Elsa and Martine's conversations seemed never-ending. They dragged half of Vienna's elite through the mud, discussing the latest gossip and providing their thoughts on the latest rumours.
Then, on the way home in the car, he and Elsa had had a bit of a contretemps.
Initially the disagreement started over whether or not he could put the roof down on the car and enjoy the sunshine. Although their formal outings for the day were over, Elsa was still concerned about her hair, not having anything to tie it down with. Soon their disagreement turned to other areas. It seemed she was still trying to process Georg's sudden interest in his children. She had questioned him on their plans for the evening and asked if they could both take dinner alone on the upstairs terrace, or at least allow the children and the governess to eat first and then they could enjoy some time alone. Georg was having none of that and Elsa went on the offensive.
Elsa interrogated him regarding his sudden interest in the children; in the many, many months they had been together, why had he never once had made spending time with the children a priority?
Elsa struggled with the fact that she was unable to budge the man. Stubborn as he was, she had always managed to pull him from his grief and dark moods by getting him active. No amount of persuading, and eventually nagging, would change his mind on the subject of the children being present at the dinner table today, however. If anything, she pushed Georg further back into a shell. It was the first time in almost two years that she had not been successful in turning Georg's mood around.
Being the consummate gentleman, Georg had helped Elsa from the car despite the fact they were clearly angry with each other. Dropping his hand once she had her heels under her on the gravel driveway, Elsa entered the villa and went upstairs in a huff. Georg watched her climb the stairs, his eyes following her as she headed in the direction of her room.
Rather than dwell on their disagreement, Georg went out into the yard to see if the Fraulein and the children had returned home from their hike. Instead, he met Max relaxing on the terrace with a substantial glass of 1935 French Port from the wine cellar, looking far too pleased with himself. Max proceeded to recount the day's activities, starting with the wonderful lunch he had had with the children and Fraulein Maria on the terrace. Max wasted no time in making sure that Georg knew that he missed a great conversation, noting how much he had learned about the little Fraulein in the process.
After only a few short days, Max enjoyed watching the good old Captain twitch at the mere mention of the woman's name, particularly if someone else knew more about her than he did. So much of Georg's conversation about the new governess many days ago while they drove off from the Banhoff now took on new meaning.
Meanwhile, Georg was irritated to learn from Max of all people that Maria and the children were expected back home between half-past four and five o'clock. Why was it that the charming sponge was the first to know everything? Scowling at Max's re-tell of the afternoon, he was particularly envious of the conversation Max had had with Fraulein Maria. He had been kicking himself all day that he had decided not to join her and the children today. She had invaded his thoughts the day she arrived at the villa and had not left him with a moment's peace since. He itched to learn more about her.
Max immediately picked up on Georg's bad mood and inquired as to the cause, knowing quite well that the old Captain was most likely jealous of ol' Maxie! Rather than explain that his mood had anything to do with Fraulein Maria, he and Max had a rather lengthy chat about lunch with Michel and Martine. He recounted several of their conversations over soup and sandwiches and how they both seemed to be changing in their views on the Fuhrer next door.
In addition to all the unsettling developments about Austria, Georg recounted the disagreement he and Elsa had in the car, noting that Elsa didn't seem to approve of most of the changes in his relationship with the children. Furthermore, she didn't understand why Georg had to be so principled on matters related to the future of Austria. Georg lamented that Elsa needed to learn to connect with the children, not argue with him about whether or not they were welcome in their activities. Didn't she know that she would have to share him with his children?
Elsa did not come down for dinner that night; Frau Schmidt relayed a message to Georg saying that the Baroness had come down with a headache. Georg asked his housekeeper to ensure that a bowl of soup and fresh bread were delivered to her room. Shaking his head in annoyance, he assumed this was part of some game she was playing to punish him for their argument earlier.
As he skillfully passed the razor across his face, Georg realized that he hadn't seen Elsa since they came in from the car yesterday afternoon. He didn't feel guilty about it, and yet he felt like he should have been feeling guilty. Now that he wasn't running from his children, maybe he didn't feel the need to pander to her every whim anymore. So much had changed in his world in so little time.
If he was honest to himself, not having any commitments to Elsa last night had been a wonderful happenstance - after dinner he and the children went outside to play in the yard. Georg tried to give the little Fraulein some time to herself, thinking she might wish to work on her dress; however, she decided to stay and continue playing with the younger ones. Everyone was having a great time, and Georg was feeling comfortable joining in their fun, but then Louisa managed to have a run-in with some poison ivy that she found by the boat house. Fraulein Maria swept into the scene and marshalled Louisa into the house to clean up and treat the itchy rash. Georg had finished up the ball games he was playing with the younger children and then shepherded them inside to get ready for bed.
He only saw Maria briefly in the hallway upstairs when he had come to say goodnight to the children. He still needed to talk to Marta about their plans to make up for her missed birthday call last week, but she was out cold from the days' activities. Louisa was doing fine thanks to the little Fraulein who had covered her small rash with calamine lotion and an oatmeal poultice.
Georg's scheduled meeting with the little Fraulein didn't come to pass. Frau Schmidt had come down at the behest of Maria to say that she was helping Louisa who had asked for her help to get comfortable for sleep. Of course, Frauelin Maria had suggested that clearly the Captain would rather rest after roughhousing with the children and would like to spend time with his guests? Georg was always amazed at her courtesy, always putting others before herself. He was appreciative of her kindness, but in his heart, he would have gladly spent an hour with Fraulein Maria than sitting in his study with Max and a bottle of Courvoisier to keep him company.
ooOoo
After getting dressed and ready for the morning, Georg wandered past the children's rooms only to find their doors were open and the occupants long gone. Not that he was expecting them to be there; it was well after nine by this point. The school room – they had to be there. Dodging down a side corridor he made his way towards the school room, but the hallway as he approached was eerily quiet. Georg peeked into the empty room and confirmed his suspicions: the little Fraulein was up to something.
Downstairs, the dining room looked like it had already served breakfast and the former occupants had moved on to other activities. He opened the terrace door and looked around the yard, finding no one. Craning his neck, Georg tried to listen for the voices of the children, but he had no luck tracking them down. Finally giving up on finding the children and their Fraulein, he decided to start the day with some breakfast and a good, strong cup of coffee. Franz promptly served coffee and a steaming plate of Tiroler Gröstl. Poking at his eggs, he wondered if this was Frau Schmidt's doing – preparing something special for Fraulein Maria after all the changes she had wrought in so little time. Prior to her arrival, Frau Schmidt and Josephine stuck to 'traditional' breakfasts like toast or oatmeal, only pulling out the fancy stuff when company came to stay or on weekends.
"Oh, true" he mumbled. "I do have company, don't I?"
Enjoying the solitude, Georg picked up his newspaper and started to read, all the while wondering where everyone had gotten to today. He wavered between being grump at the day's headlines, Elsa's chilliness last night, and not having had a chance to spend much time with the children yesterday. Granted, they had played in the yard after dinner, but he did not really talk to them. He had not talked to them for almost four years: there was a lot of catching up to do. Oh yes, and he still needed to talk to Marta.
Georg was beginning to enjoy the quiet morning at breakfast, but then all at once the silence was broken as he heard the back terrace door fly open and the sound of at least two pairs of footsteps scampering across the hardwood floor. Georg could track their movement up the stairs and towards his bedroom. It was quiet for a moment or two, but soon the offending runners came back down the stairs and flew into the dining room. Georg looked up from his newspaper to see Friedrich and Kurt wide-eyed and breathing heavily. He gave them his best unimpressed face as he tossed his paper on the table, making them quite aware that he was not happy with running in the house.
"Father! Father!" the boys called out in unison.
"Fraulein Maria says you need to call the veterinarian and then you must come to the stables – quickly!" Friedrich hollered.
Kurt, not to be outdone by his older brother, added further details that raised the hairs on the back of Georg's neck.
"Aurelie is foaling and Fräulein Maria says that the colt is breech!" he gasped.
Georg stood up in an instant, practically knocking his chair over in the process. Grabbing the back of the chair to steady it and himself, he took a deep breath.
"Whoa, whoa, boys! Slow down. When did this all start? And how do you know for sure? It's still much too early for Aurelie's baby to be born. Dr. Ledermueller suggested end of next week at the earliest"
Kurt, still wide-eyed and a bit out breath began to explain.
"Well, when no one was at breakfast this morning - well, just us – did you have Tiroler Gröstl, too?" Friedrich gave Kurt a death glare, imploring him to get on with it, poking him in the ribs with his elbow for good measure.
"Father," Friedrich continued, "we ate quickly and then Fraulein Maria said we would go out to see the horses before we started our studies and to see if the farrier was out today. She could not remember if he was coming back today or tomorrow".
Georg smiled inwardly. The little Fraulein indeed was enamored with his horses and knew them well after only being at the villa a little under two weeks. He mentally reminded himself to have a little chat with her and her love of horses. Perhaps she would like to ride properly sometime?
Kurt interrupted, bringing Georg back to the conversation at-hand.
"It doesn't matter about the farrier, Friedrich" Kurt said exasperatedly. "Remember, Fraulein Maria told us to hurry! This is an emergency."
Kurt redirected his attention at his father and explained further.
"Father, when we got to the stables, Fraulein Maria noticed that Aurelie was by paddock fence gate, and she was breathing heavy and sweating a lot. She knew that Aurelie did not look right, so she sent Kurt and I to see if we could find anyone around the stables who could help us while she went to check on her. When we could not find anyone, Fraulein Maria sent us into the house to find you. The last thing I saw before coming in here was Fraulein Maria bringing Aurelie into the stable."
Just to make sure his father knew that most things were under control, Friedrich explained further.
"Oh, and don't worry about the girls, Father. Fraulein Maria has it all under control. She asked Liesl to help us and she is currently keeping them out of trouble".
Georg was most impressed with the tight ship the little Fraulein was running, even during an emergency.
"Leo wasn't in the stables this morning, I presume?" Georg, replied looking quite concerned. Both boys shook their head 'no'.
"But Friedrich," Georg continued. "The foal isn't expected for at least a week. Is Fraulein Maria certain? And how in God's name does she knows the foal is breech? "
Kurt looked up at his father, his eyes wide. Taking a deep breath, he said as emphatically as possible: "Father, Fraulein Maria knows everything!" Friedrich nodded in agreement.
If it weren't a potentially serious situation, Georg would have found himself smiling widely at his boys. It seems like the little Fraulein had bewitched them as well.
Georg knew that a breech foal could be dangerous for the baby and the mare, so he started planning things out in his head. Leo wasn't around and it seemed that the farrier would not be coming until tomorrow. He would try the vet and hopefully his first aid training would help him...maybe? He honestly wasn't sure what to do, and standing here thinking about it all wasn't going to solve anything.
Aurelie was especially close to his heart, and he could not bear the thought of anything happening to her. She was Agathe's mare – whenever they used to go riding together, she was her mount. The two of them, horse and human, were very close – and she had not been bred since before Agathe died. For some reason, still unknown to him, Georg decided to move forward this year when he was offered a stallion from the Riding School as the sire by an old Navy colleague.
"Boys, I will go and call Dr. Ledermueller and see if he is available. He may be out doing rounds, so that might be a dead end. Go and find Frau Schmidt and ask her for some old sheets or towels. Some boiling water, too please. Once I get a hold of the vet, or even if I don't...regardless, tell Fraulein Maria I will be right there."
The boys scampered off across the foyer and towards the kitchen in search of Frau Schmidt. Shortly after, he heard their footsteps as they headed out the terrace door and then they disappeared into the distance. Georg quickly made his way to his study and placed a call to Henrik Ledermueller who had been his vet for some time. The phone rang and rang and finally his wife, Ginny, answered stating that Henrik was out at the tail ends of his rounds. Well, that was her best guess, but she imagined that he would be home soon. She promised to deliver a message to him and send him out to the villa as soon as he returned.
Georg hung up the phone and paused for a moment while he contemplated changing his clothes. He could not possibly be much help to poor Aurelie dressed like this. He ran upstairs, shedding his jacket and shirt and tie as he went. He practically ran into Elsa as she came out of the upper terrace hallway. Elsa grinned in delight as she looked down to see Georg's chest rising and falling from beneath his unbuttoned and untucked white shirt.
"Geeeeyorg, what a pleasant surprise!" Elsa smirked as she came face-to-face with an unbuttoned Georg who was practically undressed from the waist up. She couldn't help but run one of her well-manicured nails from the hollow of his neck down to the top of his navel.
Georg took her hand and immediately stopped its exploration, gently dropping it and brushing it aside.
"Excuse me, Elsa, I have to run to the stables. One of the mares is foaling and the foal is breech".
Georg dodged around Elsa in the hallway, practically jogging the whole way to his room. Elsa watched him disappear behind the door at the end of the hallway, the door flinging shut behind him with a thud.
Elsa stood alone in the hallway trying to make sense of what had just happened? She pressed her pinned curls into her head in confusion. Perhaps her idea to give Georg the cold shoulder had not quite worked out the way she was hoping it would. He had barely acknowledged her presence just now, despite the suggestive way she had studied him, and she had to admit her feelings were a bit hurt. When they practically collided, all she could see were the dark curls that graced his chest as he was breathing. She could see the sheen of perspiration on his skin, and without thinking, her fingers sought out what skin surface she could reach.
Elsa had not seen him quite so undressed for a long while, well, not since that time when they almost…oh she could not bear to think about that day any longer! She was so close, and then something came over him... Since that time, he had always been buttoned up, prim and proper.
Huffing in frustration, she could not believe he had just blown by her like she didn't exist – something about a breech foal? What had happened to this man over the course of two short days? She would need to chat with Max about this when he woke up.
Turning on her heels, she decided to go and have another cigarette on the balcony since she knew there would be no company at the breakfast table; Max's bedroom door was still closed, and he was presumably snoring the morning away.
ooOoo
Meanwhile, back in the stables, Fraulein Maria was working on poor Aurelie. She had delivered a breech foal only once on her own before, although she had been an assistant at another birth where the baby was presenting backwards. Maria said a quick prayer, hoping that today's emergency would yield similar outcomes to her two past deliveries. She was washing her hands in a little basin in the stable when Friedrich and Kurt arrived with some towels and a bucket full of hot water that Frau Schmidt had gathered at the Captain's suggestion.
By this point, Aurelie had given up on standing and had lay down in the hay, completely exhausted. Maria tied her dirndl in a knot between her legs and made herself a pair of makeshift shorts, and then she sat down in the hay next to Aurelie. She asked Kurt to bring some towels over to her, and Friedrich was in charge of trying to comfort and relax the mare.
Putting her weight on her right hip and elbow, she took a deep breath and said another quick Hail Mary. Maria gently reached inside of the mare until she could feel the amniotic sac. Breaking it with her fingernails, she traced the foal's right hip with her hand. Following the hip to the leg, she was able to find the right hind foot. She carefully pulled the foot into the birth canal and then continued on her quest to find the left hind foot. As she focused, her tongue clenched between her front teeth, and she slowly maneuvered the second leg into position.
At that moment, Georg came flying into the stables, his eyes as wide as saucers as he stopped suddenly to survey the situation. The first thing he saw was NOT Aurelie, but the little Fraulein in a prone position on the ground. He was in awe at her athleticism, balancing her weight on her side while she awkwardly tried to assist in the delivery. He followed the long lines of her body, along her side and over her hip, noticing that she had tied her skirts into a knot to create a makeshift pair of shorts. He swallowed hard as he noticed her toned legs, all quite exposed from above the knee until they disappeared into her sturdy black boots.
"Fraulein, are you well?" he said, finally turning his attention towards Aurelie. Once he saw how much the old girl was sweating, there was no mistaking the lines of worry creasing his brow.
Maria nodded, she was concentrating too hard on the task at hand to answer. Sweat was running down her face and over her nose. As Georg approached her, he noticed the perspiration and he crouched down beside her. Stuffing his hands into his pockets to retrieve his handkerchief, he reached out with it to gently wipe her face. Maria smiled her thank yous, getting momentarily caught up in the Captain's crystal blue eyes yet again.
Georg cleared his throat. "Dr. Ledermueller is on his rounds, his wife will send him as soon as he returns home. I hope it's not too late. Here, Fraulein, you move and I will take it from here." Georg exclaimed.
Maria shook her head. "Captain, it will be ok, I don't want to risk hurting Aurelie any more than I have. Don't worry, I have done this before, but I think I will need your help to pull once it's time. Once the foal's body enters the birth canal, it will press on the umbilical cord and its oxygen will be cut off. We will have to work quickly".
Georg nodded. He had assisted in the delivery of many foals, but never once had they been breech. He was impressed with Fraulein Maria's knowledge and calm demeanor. She would have, indeed, made an excellent crew member on one of his ships. He was thankful she was on his crew today.
Maria sat up and shimmied herself onto her knees. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the girls; Liesl had brought them inside after she saw her father running towards the stables. Maria looked deeply into the Captain's eyes, begging him to trust her, and then motioning with her head, she asked the Captain to grab hold of her forearms. Ideally, the Captain would have the strength to do this on his own, but Maria didn't want to risk losing her grip on the foal's back legs and lose valuable time, especially with poor Aurelie labouring so hard.
"Captain, I need you to hang on to my arms. Hold on tight and don't worry about hurting me. Whatever you do, don't let go. Friedrich and Kurt, keep Aurelie calm. When the next contraction happens, Captain, you and I will pull. Kurt, watch her middle for me and then wave your arm gently when you see the contraction starting." Although Maria knew she didn't need Kurt to tell her when to pull, he looked so proud when he was given such an important job to do.
Georg maneuvered himself behind Maria, his chest pressed firmly against her back. He reached around and grabbed her forearms as she had instructed.
Maria found herself completely lost for a moment. The heat of the Captain's back pressed against hers, the way his arms had encircled her...it was sensory overload. She was struck almost immediately by the way he smelled: very fougère as the French would say, woodsy, rich, and slightly sweet. His scent and the heat of his body made her forget for a moment they were assisting in a high stakes delivery. Shaking away her stray thoughts, she tried to focus on the mid-section of the horse waiting for the next contraction.
Georg, meanwhile, was equally distracted. It took all his willpower to not let his own thoughts stray any more than they had. He could still see the little Fraulein's legs in his mind's eye as she lay on the straw when he entered the stables. The smell of Maria's shampoo – lavender with a hint of vanilla – made him dizzy. His face was practically next to hers. Although he was not at all a religious man, Georg whispered a little prayer for strength, and he reached around her and grasped her forearms, gripping tightly. They were soft and strong at the same time. This woman was, indeed, a mass of contradictions.
In order to keep himself from going crazy, he looked into the eyes of Brigitta who was staring wide-eyed and curious on the other side of the stall. Anything to keep him focused on the task and not on the young woman he now essentially held in his arms.
The next contraction came and Kurt, who was watching Aurelie like a hawk, waved his arm gently in the air. Maria turned her head to look at Georg out of the corner of her eye, nodding at him. With that motion, Maria tightened her grip on the foal's hind legs and began to pull. Georg had his arms wrapped around Maria from behind with a firm hold on her forearms just above her wrists. He squeezed the insides of his arms against Maria's torso, and he pulled as well. They both tugged with all their might, and less than a minute later - although it felt like an eternity - a stunning dappled colt arrived in the soft straw. Maria lost her footing as the colt was delivered and she stumbled into Georg who also fell backwards into the straw.
Quickly wriggling from Georg's grasp, Maria immediately slid around to the colt's face, cleaning off his face and clearing his nose, getting him to breathe as soon as possible. Within short order, the new baby was breathing on his own and Georg helped Aurelie to rise to her feet to begin cleaning up her new baby. Maria was so relieved to see that Aurelie still had the strength to do this. Sometimes the mare is exhausted or injured, and so her soul was lifted when she saw the two of them bonding, her nudging and licks so important to stimulate the new baby.
Georg was giving Aurelie a gentle rub down, but his eyes were on the new colt and Fraulein Maria. Well, mostly Maria. Awestruck would be the best way to describe how he was feeling at that moment, his arms still warm from the feeling of having wrapped himself around her. This was truly an amazing woman; he could readily admit that he would most likely have lost this colt and maybe Aurelie, too, had she not been here.
At that moment, Georg, went to open his mouth to express his gratitude to the little Fraulein when Henrik rounded the doorframe. Maria rose to her feet and moved to gather the children to give the men some space, talking softly to them while the vet did his work. She toweled off her arms and washed her hands as best she could while Dr. Ledermueller took charge and did a quick check of the mare and the new arrival, eventually declaring everyone to be in good health.
Maria's eyes moved back and forth between Aurelie, her colt, and the Captain, the gravity of what had just happened beginning to descend on her. She didn't hear the buzzing of the children while they discussed what they had just witnessed, because all at once she realized that the Captain was not wearing his usual Trachten jacket! He was wearing tan riding pants, a pair of Reiter ankle boots, and a button up shirt – the top buttons were undone, and she could see a sprinkling of dark chest hair peeking out. Her knees felt a bit weak when she realized the Captain had wrapped himself around her to help pull out the foal wearing that.
Georg looked up into her eyes at that moment. Blushing all the way to her toes, Maria did her best to pretend she was doting on the children. After a few seconds, she looked up again, only to find him with his eyes still locked on her. She stumbled backwards a bit, and Friedrich grabbed her arm and ushered her towards the tack box so she could sit, assuming she was exhausted from all that had just transpired.
Maria knew better, of course. What she was feeling had nothing to do with the horse and everything to do with the man with the crystal blue eyes who seemed to be looking through her in that moment. Once she was sitting, she sensed his presence again, and looked up to find him hovering over her. He placed his right hand on her left shoulder and crouched down to her eye level and looked at her...really looked at her, his concern evident.
Georg had seen enough men in a state of shock in his years in command of ships and submarines. The little Fraulein certainly looked a bit frazzled, but definitely not pale. Her cheeks were extra rosy in that moment, and she seemed to struggle with making eye contact with him. Once he was sure she was ok, he suggested she and the children step outside for some fresh air, and he went back to converse with Henrik about the next steps.
Once outside, Maria felt somewhat better. The primary cause of her malady, the Captain, was out of sight and the sun was rising higher in the sky. It was a beautiful day, the light dappling as it penetrated the thick canopy of trees alongside the stables. The younger girls began to pick daisies along the split rail fence to make daisy chains, and Friedrich and Kurt stood on the bottom rail, talking about everything they had witnessed. Liesl came alongside her and linked elbows with her.
"Oh my goodness, Fraulein Maria! You were absolutely incredible!" she gushed. "You took control and you didn't look nervous at all. Father was so impressed with your command of the situation, I could tell. He didn't look worried at all. I have seen him push many a weaker man away so he could be sure of the outcome of smaller crises than that!"
"Oh, Liesl, it was really nothing. I have done it once alone before, as I mentioned - as long as you get the colt out quickly, the rest is in God's hands. I am fortunate your father was there to help with pulling."
The thought of the solid heat of the Captain's chest pressed against her back made her dizzy once again. She squinted into the sun as she gulped great breaths of morning air. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leo on the fence line talking to the boys. They were gesturing widely and pointing at her. Leo had a huge smile on his face, and he was nodding in agreement with them.
Leo jogged over towards Maria and Liesl, saying a cheery hello first to Liesl, then his eyes locked with Maria. Maria felt it odd that although she had become fast friends with Leo over the past two weeks, whenever Leo looked at her, she didn't feel anything like she had when the Captain was studying her.
"Oh Fraulein, the boys tell me there was some excitement here! I was down the road helping the men with the hay harvest after chores were done! I can't believe I missed it. Aurelie looked fine at feeding time this morning." he chortled.
"Who knows, Leo!" Maria exclaimed. "The colt was breech; I wonder if things just happen faster when they decide to happen? I have delivered a breech foal once before and witnessed another. All I can say is I am glad I was here to notice and was able to help. Of course, the Captain arrived just in time, and he helped me pull the colt out. Both mom and baby are doing fine!"
Leo smiled and held out his hand for her to shake, congratulating her again on a job well done. But rather than release her hand, he pulled her into a brief hug, and commented on how lucky they all were she was here and knew what she was doing. Although it was a quick embrace, it was just long enough for Georg to witness as he came out of the door of the stables. He squinted at the pair while he tried to figure out what was going on. It looked innocent enough at first glance, but it tweaked something inside of him, could it be...jealousy? Impossible, he snuffed.
"Leo?", Georg called out. "What are you doing there?"
Leo was startled out of his thoughts and released Maria from his embrace, he jogged over to Georg, explaining to him that he had checked on Aurelie at feeding time and then had gone to help with the hay harvest.
Turning to the children, Maria found Liesl still at her side.
"Well, Liesl, I would say we got more education this morning than we had bargained for!" Maria laughed.
Liesl laughed in response, nodding her head.
Feeling like her work in the stables was done for today, she decided to return to her usual duties as a governess.
"Liesl, let's round up the rest of the children and go in for a cold drink before we head to the school room. Perhaps you and Friedrich could take the little ones to see Frau Schmidt to get some refreshments – and to give her an update, of course. I really need to have a quick bath and change my clothes. If you don't mind, of course".
Maria's eyes widened as she looked down at the knot in her dirndl and the soil on her dress. She paused to reach down and untangle the knot, leaving her skirts a wrinkled mess. Liesl again looped her elbow with Maria's and they went to gather up the other children and headed back to the villa.
Meanwhile back outside the stables, Georg was giving Leo a slightly harder time than necessary. He wasn't sure what had come over him when he saw him giving the little Fraulein a hug. He knew they were friendly, but not that friendly. This was the 1930s, after all, and men who were not courting a lady did not just go up and hug them like that.
Leo bounced into the stables to meet the new arrival, meeting Henrik in the doorway. They chatted briefly and then Henrik made his way over towards where Georg was standing.
"Well, Georg, you have certainly been doubly blessed by the Reverend Mother – a governess and a horse maid!" he said with a wink.
Georg could not help but laugh. He certainly appreciated that the little Fraulein's smarts and her ability to act prevented a possible dire outcome.
"Yes," Henrik continued. "I'm impressed with what she did. I've seen many men with weak stomachs when presented with this same situation...not to mention most women would not even think of touching a horse that way, let alone doing it! She worked with such care, too. No need for stitches. The little man is doing well, too. He's up and wobbling around on his new legs! I think everything is going to be fine. What's his name going to be, my friend?"
Georg smiled in return. "Not sure, Henrik, but I will certainly offer Fraulein Maria the chance to select his name given all she has done for us today. Thank you again for coming over so quickly. I appreciate your time – I know you have had a busy morning already!".
The men chatted casually for a few moments before Georg walked Henrik over to his truck. Henrik offered some follow-up instructions for today and the two men shook hands and parted ways.
As Georg watched Henrik's truck rumble up the dusty lane, he was again struck by everything that had just happened. The birth of the new foal had stirred up so many emotions – many of which he could not quite identify. He was certainly in awe of Fraulein Maria's cool, calm demeanor. He already respected her after their battle the other day on the landing. Today, she took charge of the children and the crisis with Aurelie and handled them all as if she had done it a thousand times before. However, there was something else nagging at him. Was it the skin she had shown with great indifference to social protocols? Was it the embrace Leo had given her? Shaking his head, Georg knew he wasn't going to figure it out standing out at the end of the lane. He made his way back into the stables to leave some instructions with Leo before heading back to the villa to change.
oOo
Maria emerged from her little bathroom after having a quick wash and putting a new dress on. The old one just might be a lost cause after the mess of the morning's activities, but she decided to leave it to soak in the bathtub. Hopefully that would do it.
As she walked down the hallway, she noticed it was very quiet. Normally when she left the children in the school room for a while, they would be chatting to themselves, and she would hear them before she saw them. Peeking around the doorframe, she found the room was empty. She was sure she had said to Liesl to meet her up here after the children had had a drink.
Making her way down the stairs, she passed Max in the foyer.
"Ah, Fraulein Maria! I hear you had a most excellent morning?" he laughed while twirling the ends of his moustache.
"Oh, good morning, Herr Detweiller! It was definitely a busy morning, but thankfully it ended well. Did you speak to the Captain about it?" Maria asked.
"No, no, no...not Georg. He is too busy with the children to talk" he replied. "Friedrich and Kurt filled me in on how you took charge like a boss and made things happen!"
Maria stood up straight, not hiding her surprise.
"The household staff is also all a-buzz with Fraulein Maria's special delivery! I think Leo must have been chatting with Frau Schmidt. Anyway, we shall talk later, I have a phone meeting with Herr Reinhardt in 5 minutes, he's away in Budapest this week!" and with that, he toddled off in the direction of the library to make his call.
Maria was still trying to process what Max had said: not so much that the household was buzzing, that part she understood. News travelled faster in the villa than sound waves moved across the Tirolean Plain. It was what Max had said about the Captain being with the children. He had played with them for a while last night after dinner, but what could he be doing now? It was study time, after all, and despite his transformation over the past couple of days, he was still a stickler for education.
Maria finally found the Captain in his study, the children gathered around him. He was reading aloud to them from his well-worn copy of Moby Dick, translated into Austrian German, of course. Gretl was on his lap and the others sat on the floor or on the sofa transfixed. She, too, was in a trance for a moment as she looked upon their faces, all of them concentrating on their father's words. Even the older children were smitten. She was contemplating leaving them together and perhaps going to grab a cup of tea when the Captain lifted his eyes, his lips still reciting the words from memory. He raised his eyebrows at her and tipped his head in the direction of the chair in the corner, imploring her to stay. Maria smiled and quietly slipped into the room, trying to not distract the children.
He read two chapters to them and closed the book, promising to continue the story later. Gretl and Marta were both pleased with all this attention from their father, and not knowing any better, were outwardly disappointed with him stopping. Maria could tell he was getting impatient; she saw how his eyes narrowed – it was like they were testing him a little too early and he wasn't sure how to respond. He was clenching his jaw, Maria noticed that the muscles that lined the side of his face were twitching rapidly. She stood from her place and cleared her throat, quelling the rebellion before it even started. She could not bear to have the Captain lose his temper and the progress he had made so far.
"Children, why don't we give your father a break. I am sure he would like a chance to recover from the morning as well." She nodded in Georg's direction, and he smiled in response. The children began to scramble to their feet, chatting happily amongst themselves.
"Captain, you haven't had a chance to clean up yet". She wished she had not pointed it out to him, because now that was all she could see. His collar was still open at the top, but he had done up several of the buttons that were undone when he entered the stables.
Georg stood up, brushing some imaginary fluff off his pants. Tugging his ear, he replied: "Ah, yes, Fraulein, thank you. I should also check on the Baroness and make sure her morning has been comfortable. I must admit to having brushed her off before making my way to the stables. I might need to offer penance. Do you have any suggestions?" The fiend then had the nerve to wink at her.
Trying to maintain her composure, Maria took a deep breath before speaking. "A few Hail Mary's would normally be my suggestion, but I doubt that will work with the Baroness. Flowers, perhaps?" she finished with a shrug.
She ushered the children out of the study and towards the school room – suggesting an hour or so of work would be a good plan before lunch; then after lunch they could do some activities outside. As she turned to follow them out, Georg called out to her.
"Uh, Fraulein. Thank you again for your calm head and skills this morning. That could have ended very differently had it not been for your know-how and quick thinking. I must admit that I have never had to deal with a breech birth before, so I am glad you were there." he smiled a genuine smile that made his cheeks dimple.
Maria felt her stomach do flips at that moment. She tried to control the blush she felt rising from her chest by deflecting his praise.
"Oh Captain, it was nothing. I was glad to have come across the situation and was able to help."
"The colt, Fraulein, he is beautiful. The mare, Aurelie, that was my wife's horse," he said quietly. "Not only did you save the baby, but you saved her in the process, and for that I am so grateful. I want you to name him – the baby, I mean. If he were a she, I would have already named her "Maria", but since that won't work, will you please do me the honour?" he said with a shrug and a wicked grin that made Maria's stomach flip.
"Well, Captain. What's his lineage? I mean, the sire's name?" Maria enquired.
"He's from the original de la Gueriniere lineage: Amadeus Gueriniere," Georg replied.
Maria contemplated the new colt's lineage and tried to come up with a suitable name. Georg studied her face while she did so, reflecting on everything he had witnessed this morning.
"What do you think of 'Wolfgang'?" she asked. "That goes quite nicely with his ancestry, and once I cleared his throat, he was very vocal...dare I say somewhat musical?" she laughed. "Plus, I do have a personal affinity for Herr Mozart".
Georg smiled again. "Wolfgang, it is Fraulein. Thank you again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I guess I best get to work on my offerings of penance. I trust I will see you all at lunch time."
Maria knew she should turn and walk away, but she just couldn't. The look in his eyes held her in place and he was in no hurry to break eye contact either. She bowed slightly and forced her feet to move.
"Yes, Captain. I do wish you good luck with your penance. If it's any help, I'd suggest Narcissus. There are still some in the shady side garden – quite late for this time of year, so you are lucky...but they do mean "forgiveness'! Forcing herself away, Maria turned on her heels and headed to the school room.
Georg stood transfixed as he watched her leave the study. He could catch a whiff of her shampoo again. Now that he had been so close to her and knew what she smelled like, he knew that his head would be full of that scent all the time now. It was so much more pleasant than the blasts of Je Reviens that Elsa typically bathed herself in.
Shaking himself back to the present, he straightened his collar and cleared his throat.
"Ok, Captain." He said to himself. "First, we bathe and change, then we find the damn daffodils!"
