Page 48 of A Bride for Brodie

She sat on the bed.

Brodie helped her lift her legs and get situated, then he covered her with just a sheet.

Agatha bustled in carrying two buckets of water, one of which was steaming and the other was full of cold water. “I’ve got plenty of water here for the doctor to wash and for me to clean the baby.”

Brodie hurried over to her and took the buckets. “You should have had me bring these up.”

She put her hands on her hips. “The day I can’t carry two buckets of water up those stairs is the day you put me out to pasture.”

“Ah, Agatha, you are a treasure.” Brodie kissed her on the forehead. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

The older woman blushed like a school-girl.

As she watched the banter between two people she loved, Lottie smiled.

Agatha went to the bed and sat on the edge. She took Lottie’s hand and rubbed it. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. The pains are coming more often. I’m not sure this babe will wait for the doctor to get here. You might deliver her.” Lottie looked over at Brodie.

He lifted an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

She laughed at his reaction to her saying the baby was a girl. The face was all for show. He wanted whatever the baby was, boy or girl, just as she did. All she wanted was for the baby to be healthy.

Agatha warmed Lottie’s hand between hers. “Your hand is icy. Do you want a blanket until the doctor comes?”

“No, I’m fine, really. I’m more nervous than anything. What if—”

“There are nowhat-ifs. Everything is fine and going as it should. As your pains get closer together, that means the baby is getting ready to be born, and your body is preparing to help her join us out here. There is nothing more natural than a woman having a baby.”

Lottie closed her eyes, grimacing as another pain hit. When it was over she asked Brodie. “How long since the last one?”

“Less than two minutes. If you were a cow, I’d say you’ll have the baby very soon.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. And thankfully, she is not a cow.” Doc Chandler walked into the bedroom. He set his doctor’s bag and a bucket by the door and went over to Lottie.

Agatha stood.

The doctor nodded and took her place on the bed. “I want to wash, and then I’ll look and see where you are in the process.” He looked up at Agatha. “I’ll need you to hold a lamp for me, so I can see.” Then he stood, crossed to the bureau, and washed his hands.

Agatha nodded. “Of course, Doc.” She picked up the lamp from the nightstand and put it over on the bureau with the rest of the items they had gathered.

Lottie had set out washcloths, towels, a soft cotton blanket, diapers, and a little white cotton gown for the baby. It was soft cotton with a drawstring at the bottom to keep the gown down and make changing dirty diapers easier.

“Everything looks good over here,” said Agatha. “Now it’s up to you, dear.”

God, my back hurts. I really just want to stretch it and make it stop hurting.

Suddenly another pain hit, this one worse than the others. “Doc, something’s happening. I can feel her coming out.”

The doctor put down the drying towel. “Okay, let’s see what’s going on. Raise your knees and open them wide.” He pulled the sheet down to the end of the bed and sat on it. “Agatha, I need that lamp.”

Agatha finished lighting the lamp. “Coming, Doc.” She came over and held the lamp up behind Doc so he had light to see.

“This is it, Lottie. Your baby is coming.”

“I kind of figured that from the burning sensation I’m feeling down there.” Sarcasm didn’t become her, but she couldn’t help herself.

“When you feel the next contraction, I want you to bear down as hard as you can. You’ll be giving your body that extra help it needs to birth the baby.”