The Montana Doctor's Bride (New Brides of Montana) (9 page)

Two months later…

Carter was sitting at the breakfast table, watching his son toy with his food, most of which would wind up on the floor. The smell of sausage frying on the stove permeated the air.  Elizabeth was stirring scrambled eggs when she put her hand to her mouth and bolted for the back door.  Carter found her leaning over the porch, retching violently.  He tried to comfort her, but she shrugged him off, and continued the retching, even though the heaves were now dry.  She stood there, lest they begin again.

A new smell came through the open door.  Smoke!  The forgotten pans on the stove were smoking, their contents a charred mass.  Elizabeth looked at the mess on the stove.  She began crying and muttering incoherently.  Carter took her in his arms, holding her head against his chest until the sobbing subsided.  “It’s all right, honey.  Don’t worry about it.  You go lie down, and I’ll take care of Carter, and be in there in a minute.”  After he wiped Carter’s face clear of food from his attempts to feed himself, he went into the bedroom.

A still sobbing Elizabeth said, “I’m sorry for ruining your breakfast.  I don’t know what came over me.  I’ve never had that before."

“Honey, is this the first time this has happened?”

She nodded between sobs.

“Are you late?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Is your cycle late?” 

“I don’t know.  A day or two, maybe,” she said.

“Are you sure it’s not more than a day or two?”
“Oh, Carter, I don’t know.  Just leave me alone.” 

“I think you’re going to have a baby.”

“A baby?  That can’t be.  I just had my period.”  She produced a calendar.  “See, I always mark it.”

He said, “That’s last month.  This is July.”

“Mama?” little Carter said, his voice indicating he was on the verge of crying.  She picked him up and clasped him to her chest.

“I’m sorry, baby.  Did I scare you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Mama’s all right.  I’m just tired.  I’ll feel better in a little while.  Now, give me a hug,” she said.

The tiny arms encircled her neck and he said, “Uhhhhh.”

“That was good.  Mama feels all better now.”  Turning to her husband, she said, “I feel like such a dunce.  How could I have messed up the dates like that?  I always mark the start on the calendar.”

“You didn’t start, so there was no reminder and you simply didn’t realize the time had passed.  Does it bother you?  To be with child, I mean?”

“
No, it
doesn’t.  I would love to have another. What about you?”

“I would like to have a daughter.  The thought of
having a small Elizabeth running
around is a happy one.  I think it will be a blessing.”

“If you’re happy, then I’m happy.  Now, let me brush my teeth so you can kiss me.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” he said.

“Ugh… I hate that,” Elizabeth said after her third straight day with morning sickness.

“I wish there was something I could do to help, but I have never heard of anything that works.”

“I didn’t have a hint of it with Carter,” she said. 
 

“Maybe it’s the stress of being around me?  If so, too bad, because I’m not leaving,” he said.

“This too will pass,” she laughed.  “I don’t remember who said it.  I just wish it would hurry.”  One more bout ensued and things were back to normal.

The wife of a doctor has the advantage of readily medical care, and Carter monitored Elizabeth’s condition regularly. 
It can be a disadvantage if her husband is overly zealous in her care.  Carter was over zeakous, even though he detected no abnormalities in her person, or in the baby. 

* * *

Little Carter had safely navigated his way through the terrible twos and enjoyed the free run of the house, with the exception of the patient examining area.  Elizabeth had baby proofed the house in so far as was possible.  He was an inquisitive child and investigated everything. 

Elizabeth first felt the baby move in the middle of her fifth month.  The baby was visible now and one morning, they had brought Carter into their bed.  “Mama is going to have a baby,” she said.

“Why,” he asked.  His father stifled a laugh.

“Well,” she began, “You have been such a good little boy, your papa and I decided we would like to have another.  What do you think about that?’

“Where will we get it?” he asked.

“It’s growing in my tummy, just like you did.”  She rubbed the outline of the baby and said, “It’s in here.”  She took his hand and placed it on her belly as the baby moved.  “Did you feel that?” she asked as the baby moved. 

He nodded.  There was more movement.  “I feeled it again,” he said.  A serious look flashed across his face.  “How will the baby get out?”

“When it grows big enough, Papa will take it out,” she said.

“How?”

“He’s a doctor, and he has a special way to get it out.  Do you remember Travis Jamison?  Papa helped Mrs. Jamison get him out.”

“Oh,” he said.  “Okay.”

Eight months and counting…

“I’m spotting blood,” Elizabeth said one morning.

“
Have you noticed this before?  Is it light or heavy? By heavy, I mean a lot.”

“Yes, it’s the first time I noticed it, and it is light.  What do you think it means?” she asked.

“I don’t know.  I’ll examine you and see if I can find anything.”

After a thorough examination, Carter put his stethoscope down, shook his head and said, “I don’t see or hear anything wrong.  We will keep a close eye on it.  For now, I’m going to say no lifting, that means you shouldn’t pick Carter up.  If it continues, then it will be complete bed rest.  A C-section would be a last resort.  I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The spotting continued.  Complete bed rest was prescribed.  After a week in bed, Elizabeth did not notice additional blood. 

“I’ve been thinking about something and would like your opinion.  You’ve met Maude, the Jamison’s housekeeper.  She’s also a midwife.  What do you think about getting to her stay here just in case I’m out when you start labor, and then for a week or so after that?” he asked.

“Do you think it’s necessary?” she asked.

“It’s not necessary, but it would be nice to have her here, in case you go into labor and I’m away from home.  And she would be a big help afterwards.”

“That is so like you to think of something like that.  Do you want to ask about it or would you like for me to?” he asked.

“We’re having dinner with them this weekend.  Why don’t we do it then?”

The Lazy J Ranch…

“Carrie, I may be having a problem.  Carter and I wonder if it would be possible for us to borrow Maude to stay with us for a while?  Would that be possible, and do you think she would be agreeable?”

“Are you kidding?  She thinks he hung the moon.  I’m sure she would love to.  Let’s ask her.”

The kitchen…

“Maude, Mrs. Palmer asked if it would be possible for you to stay with them until her time comes.  Would you mind?”

“Miz Carrie, I would like to do that.  Miz Palmer, you just tell me when you need me and I’ll be there.  I owe your husband for what he did for Miz Carrie and Travis.  Yes ma’am.”

Maude would stay in Little Carter’s room while she was there.  They were not strangers, having met several times at the Jamison ranch so it was a simple arrangement.

“It’s back and heavier than before,” Elizabeth told Carter.

“Okay, back to bed, if it continues, I
may have to take the baby.  I hope it doesn’t come to that.  It would be a last resort.  All the books tell us not to do surgery on our own family since it could affect our objectivity, but there’s no one else, so it will have to be me,” Carter said.  “At least with Maude here, we have an extra set of hands.  That will help.

“Maude, she’s spotting blood again.  It’s heavier than before.  I’m not sure what it means, but I need to keep a close eye on her.  I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” Maude said.

* * *

Mose Atkins was at the front door.  “Doc, a horse kicked Mr. Tyler and broke his leg.  I was afraid to try to move him.  Can you come?”

“Where is he?” Carson asked. 

“He’s at the livery.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said.  He went to the bedroom where he found Maude.  Little Carter was sitting on the bed with his mother. 

“Honey, a man at the stable was kicked by a horse and they think his leg is broken.  Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.  Go take care of your patient.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”  He grabbed his bag and hurried after Mose.

A quick look at the weird angle of the leg confirmed what Mose had said.  The leg was broken.  The bone had penetrated the skin, so it was going to be a difficult procedure.  Tyler was lying on a pile of hay.  “Move the lantern back, please and no cigarettes.  I’m going to be using ether.”

He dripped some either onto a gauze pad and held it over the man’s nose and mouth.  It took effect quickly, rendering him unconscious.  “Let’s move him to the table there,” he said.  “Be careful, he won’t feel it, but I don’t want the jagged bone to tear any more tissue than it already has.”

Once they had the patient on the table, he cut away the trouser leg and surveyed the damage.  Since it was an open fracture, he had to enlarge the wound to remove fragments and foreign matter.  There was one torn vein, which he cauterized to stop the bleeding.  It was necessary to thoroughly clean dirt and other debris out.  After cleaning, he liberally poured carbolic acid on the wound and reduced the fracture.  He sprinkled sulfur on the wound, stitched it and dressed it.  He used a board as a splint and strapped it down.  “Where does he live?” he asked.

“Back of Bridge Street by the creek,” Mose answered.

“Mose, do you have a place we can put him until he wakes up and I can make sure he’s okay?”

“We can put him in the tack room.  There’s a bed in there.”

“Okay, let’s do that, but be careful with the leg.”  He stood by until they had moved the patient to the bed. 

He looked at his watch and was shocked to find he had been here nearly five hours.  He couldn’t leave until his patient awakened and was checked for hemorrhage.   When he was satisfied the patient was awake, with no sign of bleeding, he hurried home.

When he walked into his living room, he sensed something was wrong.  A muffled cry from the bedroom confirmed his suspicions.  In the bedroom, he found Maude hovering over Elizabeth, both of their faces covered with perspiration.

“Doctor, she’s been in hard labor for over three hours.  I didn’t have no way to send for you.  The baby’s head is just about out, but I’m worried.  I’m worried about the boy too.  He’s scared and upset,” Maude said with a rush.

Carter willed himself to control his emotions.  He had work to do.  “I’m going to wash up.  Then you take care of Carter Patrick and I’ll take over here.”  He hurried to the kitchen and scrubbed his hands, then doused them with alcohol.  Holding them in front of his body to avoid contact with anything he returned to the bedroom.

“I’m here, Elizabeth.”  A calm settled over him.  “I want you to breathe deeply and fast like you’re panting, he said.  When I tell you to push, I want you to push hard.”  She followed his directions.  He repeated it several times.  “Push, Elizabeth, push hard, that’s it.  Now, stop pushing and keep panting.  Now, Push hard, Push, come on, push harder.  Once more, push, one big push. Now! Keep pushing,” She emitted a loud grunt, and the baby was out.  “Good, Elizabeth, I have the head.  I’ve got her.  

“Maude,” he called out, “can you take the baby?  I need to make sure there’s no more bleeding.”

Maude came in and took the baby girl from him.  “Show Elizabeth our daughter.  When you get the baby cleaned up, come back and watch.  I’m going to do what’s called a uterine massage.  It’s supposed to help prevent bleeding and helps the body return to normal.  It might help you some day.”  With Maude watching, he put his hand on Elizabeth's lower abdomen and began massaging and squeezing movements.  He did this every ten minutes for an hour and a half.  The placenta was expelled, and there didn’t seem to be any abnormal bleeding.

He stood, stretched, and then stood by the side of the bed looking down at his wife and tiny daughter.  He listened to her chest, was satisfied, and then listened to the heartbeat of his premature baby girl.  Feeling as if he could fly, he used a towel and wiped his wife’s face.  He kissed her on the cheek.  You were wonderful, honey.  Did you see our girl?  She’s tiny, but she’s beautiful, just like her mama.  I can’t tell you how proud I am of you.  When I had her in my hands, it was a feeling and emotion I’ve never experienced.”

Later…

Elizabeth opened her eyes.  Carter was sitting by the bed with his son on his lap.  “Hi,” she said.

“Hi yourself.  How are you feeling?”  He picked up the baby, and held her where Carter could see her.  “This is your sister, Carter.”  He reached out and touched the little baby’s head.

“What’s her name?” he asked.

Elizabeth looked at her husband and said, “I would like to call her Lucinda, after my best friend.”

Tears welled in his eyes.  “Thank you,” he said.  “I think it’s a lovely name.”