Author's Note: Trigger Warning - there is a bit of a graphic description of a delivery. I tried to tone it down, but it was what it was.
Chapter 357 – Tricky Delivery
"Esther." Carson said. "You are going to feel lots of pressure and pulling, but just listen to what we ask you to do."
"Okay." Esther said between pants.
"Okay." Carson said, softly most to himself. "Stabilize the uterus. And apply traction to the foot."
Carson stood up to stabilize the uterus and Robin did it.
"Good." Carson said. "Two fingers under the femur, flex the hip and knee to release the leg. Now repeat on the other side."
Carson was talking himself through what he needed to do.
"Okay when we tell you." Carson said. "We need you to push. I have the baby's legs delivered and have him wrapped in a towel, but we need to get him out."
Esther nodded.
"Push." Robin said as she watched Carson.
Faith counted for Esther to help her focus on pushing.
"Deliver the body until I see the scapulas." Carson repeated to himself.
Carson was able to get most of the baby out and wrapped in another towel.
"Stop pushing." Carson said. "I need to deliver the arms."
"Just keep panting." Robin said. "You are doing so well."
"Okay." Carson said. "Rotate the body to make one shoulder anterior, and deliver the arm by sweeping it across the chest. … Got it. Now the other side."
Carson successfully delivered the arms and tucked them in the towel.
"Esther, you are doing great." Carson said. "But here comes the hard part. I am not going to lie, this is going to hurt and there is no way around it. We need to get the head out, but we also need to be very careful. Robin is going to push on your stomach and you will feel my fingers inside of you. Just keep breathing and let us do the work."
"Okay." Esther panted.
"Robin." Carson said. "With one hand, I need you to bring Esther's leg back toward her chest as far as you can. With your other, I need you to put it right above her pelvic bone and push down and toward me. Faith, can you bring her other leg back and help Robin apply pressure as needed."
"Got it." Faith said.
"Alright." Carson said. "Here we go. Left hand going in, index and middle fingers on the jaw bone, moderate flexion of the neck. Palm flat on baby's chest. Other hand on the shoulder to apply traction toward the hips."
Carson was talking himself through what he was doing as he got his hand in position. Esther cried out in pain as Carson inserted his hands.
"Sorry." Carson said. "We are almost done. Keep panting. We are almost there."
"You are doing great." Faith said.
"Lots of pressure now." Carson said.
Carson gently pulled on the baby as Robin and Faith applied pressure from on top. Esther cried out in pain as Carson successfully delivered the baby boy.
"He is out." Carson said.
"Eight thirty seven." Faith said.
"Let me tie off the cord." Carson said.
Carson got the cord clamped and cut. He immediately took the baby over to the scales and other table. He used the aspirator to suction the baby's nose and mouth. He finally got a good cry from the little boy. Once Carson got a weight, he wrapped him in the warm blanket that was waiting by the stove. Carson brought the baby over to Esther.
"Here is your son." Carson said. "Seven pounds ten ounces. Breathing and looking good. He might be a bit bruised tomorrow, but that will fade."
Carson laid the baby on Esther's chest. She wrapped an arm around the baby and laid back crying.
… … … …
Jack stopped for a moment to give Frank the items from Abigail. Jack motioned toward the infirmary and Frank just shook his head. Jack nodded and went to the jail. He had heard the yelling from outside, so when he stepped in he let out the loudest, sharpest whistle that he could. Everyone stopped and looked at Jack.
"The next person who speaks out of turn is not going to like the consequences." Jack said in his most authoritative Mountie voice.
He glared at several boys with an icy glare. Joe and Dee happen to catch and both of them flinched. One boy stood in the middle of the jailhouse.
"Sit!" Jack commanded.
The boy stood there defiantly with his arms crossed.
Jack walked up to the boy and stood toe to toe.
"My father says I don't have to listen to you." The boy said.
Jack didn't say another word, but made a slight head movement to Joe. Before the boy knew what happened, his arms were pinned behind him and he was handcuffed.
"Name." Jack said, in his commanding Mountie voice.
The boy just spit in his face.
"Fine." Jack said. "Have it your way. You can sit in a cell until your parents come to find you. But you won't be getting out with just a five dollar fine. You are now under arrest for assault on an officer and a judge is going to determine your future."
"You can't do that." The boy yelled.
"Shut up Patrick before you get us all in trouble." Another boy yelled.
Jack walked over to the boy.
"Name, age and parents." Jack said.
"Peter Travers. Fifteen. LeRoy and Virginia."
"Do you realize how much trouble you are in?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Sir." Peter said. "And not just with you. My Pa is going to kick my ass all the way back to Saskatoon for this."
"So have you learned a lesson?" Jack asked.
"Yes, Sir." Peter said.
"Then I suggest that you sit down and wait for your parents to come." Jack said.
"Yes, Sir." Peter said.
Peter took a seat on the floor in the cell he was in.
"Anyone else have anything to say or can we get on with the paperwork needed to process all of you?" Jack asked.
Jack looked at the boys in the cells.
"Mountie Jack." Robert said, softly.
"Robert." Jack said.
"I wasn't smoking." Robert said. "I was just hanging with Sam, Peter Phillips and Adrian Karlsen."
"Are those other boys here?" Jack asked.
"Sam Green is in the next cell." Robert said. "Peter and Adrian ran. Adrian's older brother Leif is in that cell of the boy you were just talking to. He gave cigarettes to both Peter and Adrian. He offered me one, but I didn't take it."
"Leif Karlsen." Jack said.
"Yes, Sir." Leif said, stepping forward.
"Is he telling the truth?" Jack asked. "Lying now is only going to get you in more trouble, so might as well tell the truth."
"Yes, Sir." Leif said. "He didn't take the cigarette."
"And your brother?" Jack asked.
"He was there." Leif said. "The other boy as well. There was a third boy that ran away, but I am not sure of his name."
"Thank you for being honest." Jack said. "Have a seat and we will talk when your parents get here."
"Yes, Sir." Leif said.
Jack went back to the cell that Robert was in.
"Everyone against the back wall." Jack said. "Robert, you can stay here."
The boys moved against the back wall. Jack opened the cell enough for Robert to slip out before he relocked.
"This doesn't mean you are not in trouble." Jack said. "It just means like Gabe, I am going to turn you over to your parents to deal with."
Robert groaned.
"Let's go." Jack said.
Jack took Robert's arm and led him toward the door.
"I will be back." Jack said.
The other men nodded and continued with paperwork. Jack took Robert back to the saloon to hand over to his parents.
… … … …
"Carson." Robin said.
Carson heard the tone in her voice and immediately went to the end of the table.
"Complete placenta." Robin said. "But she tore."
"I can handle it." Carson said.
Carson went back up so he could look Esther in the eyes.
"Esther." Carson said. "Please look at me."
Esther looked at Carson.
"You tore some during the delivery." Carson said. "It is not a big deal. It happens. I can stitch you up, but it is going to hurt and you will be sore for a while. I will numb you as much as I can, but even that is going to hurt. Do you understand?"
Esther nodded.
"Drawing up the Novocain now." Faith said. "Needle and thread ready."
Carson sat back down after changing his gloves. He injected the Novocain which brought hisses and yelps of pain from Esther.
"Sorry." Carson said. "But that is the worst of it. Focus on that little boy and not what is going on here."
Carson was able to stitch her up with three stitches. He then had Faith and Robin clean her up and get her settled on the bed. Carson removed his gown and washed his hands again. He took a moment to take a deep breath.
Once Carson had gathered himself, he stepped outside. Frank and Issac were immediately on their feet.
"Your wife and son are doing well." Carson said.
Issac slumped to the bench and dropped his head to his hands. Carson knelt down and got the man's attention.
"It was a rough delivery and your wife is going to take time to heal." Carson said. "But she will be fine. Your son was seven pounds ten ounces. He is going to look a little bruised, especially his face, but that will fade."
"He is really alright?" Issac asked.
"Yes." Carson said. "You can come see for yourself. I will want to keep them here tonight, but I see no reason they can't go home tomorrow. She is going to need a few weeks to recover, but she should be able to go back to work then if she feels up to it."
"Thank you." Issac said. "Thank you."
"You are welcome." Carson said.
"I will find a way to pay." Issac said.
"We will deal with that later." Carson said. "Come see your wife and son."
Issac headed inside. Frank stopped Carson.
"Good job." Frank said.
"Your prayers helped." Carson said. "Now go home. We all have an important ceremony tomorrow."
"Get some sleep." Frank said. "Here is some coffee from Abigail."
"Thank you." Carson said, taking the thermos.
Carson went back into the infirmary and Frank headed to the cafe. As Frank walked back to the cafe, he was glad that it was a happy ending. He knew that it could have been bad. He was also glad that he had the conversation with Issac about their differences.
… … … …
Jack got to the saloon and the dance was still going in full swing. The children and most of the parents with young children were gone. Jack spotted Norman and Mary and marched Robert over to them.
"Where have you been?" Norman asked.
"Go on." Jack said. "Tell your parents where you have been."
Robert stood there just looking at the floor. Norman looked at Jack.
"He was caught up with the boys who were arrested for smoking." Jack said. "I have since learned he wasn't smoking, at least this time. But he was there and that is bad enough."
"Let's go young man." Norman said, taking Robert's arm. "We are going to have a long discussion."
"Sorry about the trouble." Mary said.
"It is okay." Jack said. "But he is out of chances. He needs to make better choices."
"He is grounded until further notice." Norman said. "So he should stay out of trouble. School, church and chores are the only thing he is going to be doing until Christmas so that should help keep him out of trouble for a while."
"There are still widows that could use more wood." Jack said. "So if you need more chores let me know."
"Get me a list." Norman said. "Robert here can chop and deliver a load to each of the mine widows."
"I will have that for you tomorrow." Jack said.
"Thank you and sorry about the trouble." Norman said.
"Just be glad he is not in more trouble." Jack said. "He gets caught again and it is going to be at least a five dollar fine."
"Understood." Norman said.
Jack stood there as the Wolf family walked away. After the Wolfs had walked away, Jack got Cat's attention and she stopped the music. Jack stood up on the second step leading upstairs.
"Can I have your attention?" Jack called.
It took a moment, but soon everyone quieted down and was looking at him.
"If you are missing your teenage sons." Jack said. "Fourteen of them were arrested for smoking and are being held at the jail. You will need to go collect them. They are being fined and both of you and the child will need to sign papers acknowledging that fine. It was a mix of school age boys and some just beyond. There were also at least three boys who got away. We know their names and we will deal with them later. Sorry about the interruption. The boys should be ready to collect in about an hour or so."
Having said what he needed, Jack nodded to Cat and walked out of the saloon without speaking to another person, though several tried to stop him. Jack went to the jailhouse and went in the back door. He needed a moment.