Riverbreeze: Part 3 (7 page)

She listened very closely, her body tense. And then she heard talking and she knew. Evelyn. The woman screaming had been in Evelyn’s dream and Evelyn was telling Jamie about it.

She relaxed and let out a sigh. At least the woman hadn’t been herself.

Chapter Thirty Seven: Ensuring the next generation

The woman screamed. She was in excruciating pain. She writhed on the bed, soaked in sweat and clawing the sheets. She prayed fervently to God for mercy. She already knew her baby was dead. Now she was waiting for her own death to come.

She was so tired. She was losing blood and losing strength. Her husband clutched her hand, crying and praying along with her. There was nothing he could do.

The room was so dark. She couldn’t see her husband any more. She cried out and then quieted when she felt his comforting hand.

She was floating. The pain was a distant thing now. She took one more breath and then she was gone.

Evelyn snapped awake, gasping for breath. This was her second predictive dream since her marriage, and a month since that first dream. That didn’t mean anything, the time span; there was no schedule to her dreams, so it was always a shock when it happened.

This dream terrified her, but not because she was seeing her own death. She was terrified because she recognized the woman in her dream. Hetta Turner, the poor woman who had already lost two children. Some instinct told her that she must save this woman and her son. She knew she must do this. The message had been sent to her in this dream.

Sometimes her dreams came days in advance of the event; sometimes they would come to her the night before and she would have to act very quickly if she wanted to prevent the accident or tragic event from happening. Sometimes there wasn’t enough time to do anything or to get a message to that person and she would have to release her frustration and guilt to God. As with this dream, she had to rely on her instinct to determine whether this event would happen in several days or if it was happening right now. Her instinct told her that there was still time, but Hetta was in labor at present and would die within hours if something was not done to help her safely deliver her baby.

She could not do this alone. She would need the help of two people: her husband to bring her to the Turner’s farm, and Abigail, a woman who she believed knew a thing or two about childbirth.

She listened to her sleeping husband breathe for a moment. She knew without a doubt that he wouldn’t like being woken up. Even though she couldn’t see him in the enclosed space of their bedstead, she knew he was burrowed under the bedclothes like a child, probably with only the top of his head showing. He had had an exhausting day yesterday at the muster and for three days prior to that he, Robert, the servants and the Bolton brothers had built an addition to the stable and Jamie had spent nearly twelve hours a day hammering nails. He hadn’t complained about the exhausting work, but he was glad to have it done.

Listening to the howling wind outside, Evelyn thought that it was fortunate they had finished the day before. It sounded like they were in for a major storm today and the horses would appreciate the shelter, she knew.

Now Evelyn hated to disturb Jamie, but she had to if she were to save Hetta Turner. She carefully pulled the covers down and shook his shoulder tentatively at first. “Wake up, Jamie.” She said softly into his ear, not wanting to startle him too much, but he stirred only slightly. She had no choice; she shook him harder this time, hard enough to shake the entire bed. “Wake up, Jamie! Wake up!”

“What? Why?” He grumbled, opening one sleepy eye. The other one was pressed against his pillow. “Is it morning yet?” He asked, working his hand out from under the covers to part the bed hangings so he could see out into the room. “’Tisn’t even light yet!” He complained, and immediately drew in his hand and pulled the bedclothes up around his chin.

Realizing she had been too timid with him, she put more substance into her voice. “Please listen to me. I had a dream about Hetta Turner!” She cried, shaking his shoulder again. “She dies in the dream, but she shouldn’t die and her baby shouldn’t either. I have to save her!”

“What!” He was fully awake now. He flipped over and stared at her, trying to see her face in the dark. “You dreamt that Hetta died? And her baby?”

“Yes!” She realized her face was wet with tears and she wiped them away. This was no time for tears. “But she shouldn’t die. I just know it. ‘Tis very important that she and her baby live.”

“How do you know that? Maybe ‘tis God’s will that she die.”

“No! Why would God send me this dream? No!” She repeated. “I can’t explain it, but I must save her. We must save her.”

“How? I know nothing of childbirth. I’ve seen horses and cows and goats and other animals give birth, but not human babies. Do you know what to do?”

She wasn’t insulted by his question. It was a practical question. Did she know how to deliver a baby? “No,” She answered truthfully, “I’ve only been to one birth while my governess attended the lady, but I’m sure Abigail knows what to do. And she knows about herbs and such.” Suddenly, she tugged the curtain aside and scrambled out of bed. Dropping to her knees, she groped around for the chamber pot. “I’ll wake her after I dress.” She squatted over the pot, annoyed to be wasting time doing this necessary thing. She continued talking to Jamie. “I’ll tell her to gather whatever she needs to help with a difficult birth. Please get up. You’ll have to take us to the Turner’s place.”

“And we must go right now, I presume.” Jamie complained, sitting up and rubbing his face. He pulled his curtain all the way back. “By Jesus, ‘tis cold this morning!” He shivered as a gust of wind whistled down the chimney, sending sparks and ash into the room.

“Yes, we must go right now! Haven’t you heard what I’ve just said?” She practically yelled at him as she shoved the covered pot back under the bed and went to the fireplace where she spent a few seconds sweeping the ashes back into the hearth with a little broom kept for that purpose. Then she pulled a single straw from the broom, lit it from the glowing coals and lit several candles, two on the mantle and one on the bedside table. Then she grabbed her drawers from her trunk. She hastily pulled them on under her chemise, then her bronze woolen skirt and buttercup yellow bodice. Her fingers flew over the buttons, faster than she had ever dressed before. After putting on her stockings and shoes, she straightened her mobcap, deciding to leave it on. She didn’t have time to mess with her hair and Hetta certainly wouldn’t care what she looked like.

“Yes, I heard you, loud and clear!” He snapped back.

Uh oh, I mustn’t push him too far
.

But then he calmed down, saying. “All right. While you talk to Abigail, I’ll dress and get the boat ready.”

“Thank you. Thank you. I love you.” She said, running around his side of the bed to give him a quick kiss.

Elizabeth appeared in their doorway then—Evelyn was wondering if she would show up—with the dogs at her heels. They ran past her to greet Evelyn. “Are you going?” Elizabeth asked. She was still in her nightgown and mobcap and had thrown a shawl around her shoulders.

Evelyn stopped for only a few seconds to give the dogs a pat on their heads. “Yes, we’re leaving as soon as Jamie dresses and readies the boat. I’m going to wake Abigail. I hope she understands.”

“She will. I’ll walk down with you.” Elizabeth said, turning to leave when she suddenly remembered Jamie. “Morning, Jamie.” She called into the room.

“Morning.” He responded amiably enough, climbing out of bed.

Out in the hall where Elizabeth had already lit candles in the wall sconces, she said to her twin. “He doesn’t sound too upset.”

“He believes me.” Evelyn said happily, hugging Elizabeth.

“’Tis a wonderful feeling to be taken seriously, isn’t it? I’m so glad we’re able to use our gift.” Elizabeth smiled gently at her sister.

“I am too, but…” Evelyn grabbed Elizabeth’s hands. “Oh Bess, I feel all mixed up. I feel nervous that I might fail; I feel excited that I might succeed. I want to succeed. I have such a strong feeling that this baby will mean something to me in future.”

Elizabeth held on to Evelyn’s hands and looked warmly into her eyes. “I know you’ll succeed. I feel it in my bones.”

“You must come with me!” Evelyn, all of a sudden said, her eyes wide.

Elizabeth’s face saddened with regret. “I cannot. I’m sorry, but with Abigail and Jamie gone, I must stay to tend to Robert and Robin. I would love to go with you, but I cannot.”

Evelyn nodded. “I understand.” She hugged her sister again.

“Come on, we’re wasting time.” Elizabeth said gently.

“Oh, you’re right!” She said, and holding hands, they practically flew down the stairs, the dogs racing ahead of them.

* * *

In the meantime, Jamie dragged himself out of bed, still bone tired. As he dressed, he felt a twinge in his right shoulder from yesterday’s activities and from hammering nails for three days straight before that. He stood for a minute rubbing his shoulder and grumbling to himself about the interruption to his sleep. He still didn’t know why Evelyn was the one who had to save Hetta Turner. Wasn’t there someone else, someone who lived closer to them? It seemed logical to him that George should get help from a neighbor.

But then he remembered Robert and Kathleen. Robert hadn’t gotten help. He hadn’t been able to leave her, and possibly that was their situation also. He shouldn’t constantly question Evelyn, and he had made an effort to be understanding. He did believe her wholeheartedly. He had seen with his own eyes how Elizabeth’s warning had saved Robin’s life. And while he wouldn’t wish death on anyone, he still couldn’t understand why God had chosen Evelyn and Elizabeth to be His messengers.

Out in the hall, he met up with his brother. Robert was dressed in the same clothes he had worn yesterday, and they were visibly soiled. (That fall had been rough yesterday.) But his hair was tied neatly back in a tail and the rest of him was clean. And he looked smug, the little turd! He was actually smirking at Jamie. “Your turn.” He said.

“Actually, this is my
second
turn.” Jamie countered crossly. “You didn’t go with us when the girls and I looked for that Billings boy.”

Rob shrugged his shoulders. “Lucky, I guess.”

Jamie mumbled something unkind under his breath.
Lucky, indeed
! “Listen.” He said, as they made their way to the top of the stairs. “Will you take care of the horses today?”

“Sure.” Robert agreed readily.

Jamie started down the stairs, Rob right behind him. “You know, muck out the barn, pick out their feet, then groom each one of them. And check Penny’s right fetlock. You remember she has a small cut there.”

Robert patted Jamie’s shoulder from behind. “You needn’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. ‘Twill take me most of the day, but…” He pretended to complain.

Jamie ignored him. He quickly said, “On second thought, get Dolnick to muck out the barn while you groom the horses. You shouldn’t be doing the dirty work when we have servants to do it. Just make sure he does a good job of it.”

Robert chuckled. “I honestly do not mind doing it myself, Jamie. Although there are other chores I need to do so perhaps I will get Dolnick to help. And Nathan.”

“Good. And speaking of Nathan, who knew that he had such a talent for splitting cedar shingles?”

“I surely didn’t.” Rob said just as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Well, am I ever glad that he does.” Jamie said, moving towards the pegs at the front door where his hat and coat were hanging. “And I’m glad that we got the addition finished when we did. It sounds like we’re in for a big storm today.”

“Actually, if it does rain I won’t be able to do my chores so I’ll make sure to tend to the horses personally. I know how particular you are about that.” Robert said with an affectionate grin.

Jamie couldn’t help but smile in return. He had gotten used to his brother’s teasing long ago. Some days it really got on his nerves, but not this morning. “Thanks,” was all he said.