Chapter 301 – Carson and Abigail
When Carson came back downstairs about eleven thirty, he looked in on Jack and Elizabeth. Both were still sleeping so he left them be. He talked to Faith for a bit. She let him know that Amber had nursed a bit and she got her to take a little formula from an eyedropper since the nipples were still too big. She also let him know that she had changed Amber and that Abigail had brought fresh hot water bottles about a half hour before. She also let him know that baby number two had at least turned, but not dropped completely and that Elizabeth's cervix had closed again.
"Thank you." Carson said. "Go get some rest. I will send for you if needed. But as long as nothing is happening, I am going to let them sleep. It is the best for all of them."
After Faith went upstairs, Carson checked on Amber and saw that she was sleeping in the crate with the water bottles. Her breathing seemed fine, so he stepped out front.
"You should get some sleep, Frank." Carson said. "Jack and Elizabeth are both resting and I just sent Faith up to get some rest."
"I think I will stay a little longer." Frank said. "I don't mind. I have been reading and praying. I think that I am still needed here. Abigail brought some coffee and there is a pot on over at the jail. Bill said he would leave it on for us for the night."
"I think I will go grab a cup." Carson said. "Want to keep an ear out in case anyone needs anything. I will be right back."
"I will be here." Frank said.
Carson ran next door to the jail and grabbed a cup of coffee. He realized that it was Bill's stronger stuff he had heard about and for that he was grateful. He took a couple of sips and then refilled his cup. As he was leaving the jail, he saw a plate of cookies with a note to enjoy. He grabbed a couple of cookies and headed back to the infirmary. Carson figured if he was going to be a doctor again, he should catch up on his reading. He grabbed one of Faith's medical books and turned up the lantern to read. He knew that a lot of things wouldn't have changed, but there were definitely advances in the last couple of years. Carson also knew that he would have to talk to Abigail and explain things. He was hoping that he would be able to stay in Hope Valley, but he was worried. He liked Hope Valley, but he wasn't sure they would be so accepting of his background and what happened. He was also still worried about his sister-in-law.
After about twenty minutes of reading Carson heard Amber let out a mewling sound. He picked her up and realized that the water bottles had cooled. He opened his shirt and placed Amber against him and wrapped a blanket around them. He then picked up the water bottles and stepped outside.
"Need something?" Frank asked.
"Yeah, actually." Carson said. "These have cooled and we need to keep her warm."
"I will head to the cafe." Frank said. "Abigail said she would keep some hot water on for the bottles. She planned to be up most of the night baking in case she was needed. She said she could sleep tomorrow. She already made arrangements to have help at the cafe and close the mayor's office."
"Thank you." Carson said.
"I will be right back." Frank said. "Do you need anything else?"
"Actually." Carson said. "If it isn't too much trouble, maybe a sandwich. All I have had since three pm is those couple of cookies."
"I am sure that she can find something." Frank said. "Any preference?"
"Nope." Carson said. "Not picky."
Just then Amber let out another mewling sound.
"Someone else sounds hungry." Frank remarked. "I will bring back some formula with everything else. Faith mixed up some earlier and had Abigail put it in the icebox."
"Thank you." Carson said.
"That is what Hope Valley does." Frank said. "We rally around and help each other."
"I am learning that." Carson said. "See you in a bit."
Carson watched Frank head to the cafe and was glad that he was still there willing to wait just in case he was needed. Once Frank had disappeared into the shadows of the night, Carson stepped back into the infirmary. He walked over to look in on Jack and Elizabeth and they were both asleep. He hummed to calm Amber. He knew that she was probably hungry, but Frank was getting her food and food for him as well. It wasn't ten minutes and Frank and Abigail were back.
"I made you a couple of roast beef sandwiches." Abigail said. "Here, I will feed Amber and we can talk for a few minutes."
"I will be outside." Frank said.
"Thank you." Carson said.
Carson handed Amber over to Abigail who wrapped her up with the hot water bottles. Carson buttoned his shirt back up and sat down at the desk with his coffee and sandwiches.
"So." Abigail said. "Faith told me that you are a doctor."
"Yes." Carson said. "I didn't lie to you intentionally. I had actually stopped being a doctor two years ago when I lost my wife. I had no intention of practicing medicine again. Faith called me out and basically forced me to help right now. Without really trying, she can be intimidating."
"I get it." Abigail said. "You know how many people around here understand that kind of grief of losing a spouse? Year and a half ago forty-seven men were killed in an instant in a mining accident. In a matter of minutes there were twenty-two widows, myself included. This past spring there were mudslides at both Silverton and Rock Creek mines, again leaving a number of widows and widowers. There was also flashfloods through both settlements. Silverton fared much better then Rock Creek. Some have stayed, others have left. A few have found love again. Orphans have found new homes."
"I have heard some of the stories." Carson said. "But this is different."
"Tell me." Abigail said. "I won't judge."
"Amber died because of me." Carson said. "I was trying to save her and she died on my operating table."
"Did you do everything that you possibly could to save her?" Abigail asked.
"I don't know." Carson said.
"Tell me what happened." Abigail as she continued to feed Amber with the eyedropper.
"Amber had a brain tumor." Carson said. "She would have died without the surgery and she died anyway."
"Let me ask you this." Abigail said. "Was the surgery risky and did Amber know the risks?"
"Yes." Carson said. "I think only one person has ever survived that particular surgery and they died five days later. Amber knew the risks, she was a nurse. She was the one that wanted me to try, she knew that it was her only hope."
"Then you need to forgive yourself." Abigail said. "The morning of the explosion, I begged Noah not to go to work. Peter had just gotten back the night before and I wanted to go for a horseback ride. Noah said he was the superintendent and he needed to go. Peter was right behind him. I was angry for a long time that I couldn't stop them. I lost my entire family in an instant. Except that I have a new family and none of them are related to me by blood."
"But you didn't cause the explosion." Carson said.
"And you didn't cause Amber's brain tumor." Abigail said.
"Point taken." Carson said.
"You have been given a second chance and that is what Hope Valley is about." Abigail said. "I firmly believe that this little one wouldn't be here if you weren't here. Think about it."
Abigail handed Amber back to Carson.
"I will be up at the cafe, if you need." Abigail said.
"Thank you." Carson said. "If I wanted to stay here, do you think that would be possible?"
"I am more than positive that we can make that happen." Abigail said. "It may take a few days to sort things out, but we can make it happen if that is what you want. Take care of Jack and Elizabeth, they are special to this town. They are special to me."
"I am learning that, also." Carson said. "My first patient after this better be you. I have seen you suffer all summer."
"Carson." Abigail said.
"I mean it." Carson said. "Either you come or I will have Frank and Jack bring you. You aren't doing anyone any favors by hiding whatever is going on. If I can help I want to."
"It is nothing." Abigail said. "I am sure it is just the change."
"Then there is no harm in a physical." Carson said.
"I am not going to win this argument." Abigail said.
"No you won't." Carson said.
"Fine." Abigail said. "Let's focus on Jack and Elizabeth right now."
"Okay." Carson said.
Carson took Amber from Abigail and tucked her into the crook of his arm. She was fed and changed, snuggled all warm with the hot water bottles. Carson went back to reading a medical text that Faith had in the office. He wondered if she was considering going on to medical school herself. Even though they hadn't had much interaction, he felt that she would be a good doctor. He knew that she was an excellent nurse and he figured that she would be a great doctor. Carson also knew that even though a number of medical schools accepted women, it was a hard road for them. Many of their male counterparts didn't want them there and sure as heck didn't want them to do better than they did.
That is how things went for a couple of hours – Carson reading while holding Amber, Abigail checked on them a couple of times with Jack and Elizabeth sleeping. Carson was just beginning to think that maybe the other baby would just wait. He had heard of a couple of cases like that, where the mother went into labor and had one baby and the other didn't come for days or in one case two weeks. He knew that was the case, he would have to have Elizabeth on bed rest and watch her for infection.
It was just after three-thirty in the morning, Carson had just fed and changed Amber again. He was settling in to do some more reading when he heard Jack. He put Amber in the crate and went to see what was going on.
"Jack." Carson said. "Is everything alright?"
"I don't know." Jack said. "Elizabeth has been moaning in pain for awhile, I just thought it was contractions, but I don't know, I can't really get her to come around."
Carson turned up the other lantern and came over to the bed. He grabbed the stethoscope and listened to Elizabeth's heartbeat first and then moved to find the baby's heartbeat. Neither was as strong as he wanted, so he was concerned. He then came up and stood closer to Elizabeth and noticed that her breathing was a little off. He tried to wake her, but she would only moan and her eyes would only flutter.
Finally after several minutes and attempts, Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked around.
"Bella." Jack said. "Please come on, wake up. I can't lose you."
Elizabeth looked back at him through half open eyes.
"I am so tired." Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth." Carson said. "I need to check you. Jack said that you have been having contractions."
Elizabeth only mumbled a response but brought her knees up and let them fall open. Carson moved the blanket and sat on the bed. He checked her.
"Elizabeth." Carson said. "You are fully dilated and the baby is right there, but for right now don't push."
"Jack, didn't you notice that her water broke?" Carson asked.
"No." Jack said. "The towels must have caught it. I am sorry Carson."
"Not your fault." Carson said. "I should have been watching closer. I figured that since she was still mostly asleep that it was okay. I will be right back."
Before Jack could ask what was wrong, because he could see the concern on Carson's face, Carson was gone. Jack heard him put something in metal in a basin and then open the door.
"Frank." Carson said. "I need you to get Faith, she is upstairs, then I want you to get Abigail, tell her I need her help and then please pray as hard as you can."
Before Frank could even respond Carson was back inside. Frank quickly went and did what Carson asked. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he heard the urgency in Carson's voice. It was only a couple minutes and Faith was downstairs and wide awake. She didn't see Carson, but she saw the lantern turned up in the other room, so she headed there. Carson was over Elizabeth listening to the heartbeat. She waited before speaking.
"Carson." Faith said. "What do you need?"
Carson stood up and walked over to her.
"Those instruments in the basin." Carson whispered. "Sterilize them, they are clean. I will also need surgical scissors and a sterilized needle at the ready. Also get the ether ready."
"What is going on?" Faith asked.
"I don't have time to explain." Carson said. "But I will when Abigail gets here. Now Go."
Faith didn't have to be told twice, she went and did what Carson asked. Carson then turned back to Jack and Elizabeth. Jack could see the concern written all over Carson's face.
"Bella." Jack whispered. "I will be right back. I am going to check on Amber."
With that Jack slid out from behind Elizabeth and laid her down.
"Help me elevate her feet." Carson said.
Jack helped Carson and turned to him, but Carson motioned to head to the other room. About that time Abigail came in. She instantly knew something was wrong.
"What is going on?" Abigail asked.
"I will explain in a moment." Carson said. "First, Jack I need to know right now if you can keep it together and help or I will get someone else. I know you have some medical training and I need you, but not if you can't keep it together."
"Just tell me what I need to do." Jack said.
"Okay." Carson said. "Are you comfortable handling ether?"
"I can do it as long as I don't breath it in." Jack said. "Now what is going on?"
Carson didn't have time to ask, but he made a mental note for later.
"We don't have a lot of time." Carson said. "But it is going to take all four of us to save Elizabeth and the baby. Right now the umbilical cord has come through the cervix ahead of the baby. There is a way to fix it, but it can be difficult to watch. It is somewhat of gruesome of a procedure. Not bloody, but still difficult to watch. If you are going to pass out or can't handle it, I need to know."
"I am the widow of a miner." Abigail said. "I have seen my share of gruesome. I am with Jack, just tell us what to do."
"As soon as we are ready." Carson said. "Jack I am going to have you bring Elizabeth in here, it will be easier up on the exam table. I am going to have you give her ether. I want her relaxed, but not totally out of it. Abigail, you are going to help Faith and I."
"I am going back to Elizabeth." Jack said. "Just let me know when you are ready."
"Okay." Carson said. "Abigail let's go wash up and I will explain to you and Faith what we are going to do."