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Authors: Nonnie Frasier
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there now, but how? Running wouldn’t be fast enough. I raced out of the front door, grabbing the shotgun as I bounded down the porch steps. Wait, I suddenly realized that Patrick and Frank had taken Champ. Sheba was in the corral, but we didn’t have a saddle. Hell, I didn’t have time to saddle her even if we did.
Not knowing what I would do when I reached the corral, I came up with a plan on the run. “Sheba, old girl,” I called to the startled horse. “I sure hope you are up for an adventure!” I grabbed her halter. Throwing a lead rope over her neck, I swung up on her back with a practiced leap.
Picking up the shotgun from the open gatepost, I squeezed my legs against Sheba’s sides, hoping she would understand my body language. Being conditioned to pulling a wagon, Sheba hesitated for an instant, but quickly realizing a heavy load no longer restrained her, she was into a full gallop in seconds.
As I directed the mare over the hill, she saw the Tellers’ ranch and instinctively knew where we were headed. Her big hooves rapidly hammered across the prairie grass.
“Tillie, Ricky, Grace!” I yelled, as I tied Sheba to the fence. I rushed through the open front door of the Tellers’ cabin. Tillie was huddled on the floor, by the stove, holding a wide-eyed Ricky in her small arms. Doubled over beside the table, Grace was panting and trying to control her breathing.
“Grace. Your labor has started, hasn’t it?” She couldn’t speak, but nodded in agreement. The baby was coming, but it wasn’t in the proper position for a safe birth. Grace’s contraction eased as she looked at me with grateful eyes. She gathered her strength and quietly but firmly directed the kids.
“Tillie, Aunt Ada is here now so will you please take Ricky into the parlor and look at the new picture book Daddy bought for your birthday?” The little girl stood with wide eyes and did exactly as her mother asked, taking the frightened boy out of the room.
I stepped beside Grace and led her into the bedroom. “Grace, I’ve done this many times. We’ll get through it safely. You and the baby will be fine,” I reassured her.
Her ragged breathing caught in her throat. “How do you know?” Another excruciating contraction caused her to double over in pain at my feet.
Suddenly, I heard the unexpected sound of her laughter. She clutched my leg as her unlikely laughter grew louder. Was she going crazy? Was she really laughing, or did her crying just sound like laughter?
As I looked into her eyes I saw tears, and they were definitely tears of laughter as she pointed to my legs. “What is that you have on your legs?” she coughed, as another powerful contraction made her lean against the table for support.
Promptly, I understood the cause of her amusement. She had never seen my dungarees. “Haven’t you ever seen a woman in dungarees? It is the newest fashion,” I teased her lightly. “There will be time for a fashion show later, right now you get into that bed!” I commanded. “Believe me, this isn’t the last surprise you will get from me today.”
“Tillie, I need your help. It is time for your mother to have the new baby, and we know the doctor won’t make it here in time,” I called.
I knew Tillie had inherited her mother’s graceful strength. As she bravely stepped forward, she said, “OK, Aunt Ada, what can I do?”
“Get me more sheets and towels, and bring them to your ma’s room, please. After that it will be very important that you keep your eyes on Ricky.”
Tillie settled Ricky in the parlor with the picture book before she gathered all the supplies. I boiled water and tore clean rags into umbilical ties as Grace watched through fear filled eyes. “I’ll explain everything soon. Right now you need to know that I’ve done this many times before. You and the baby will be fine.”
Grace quietly lifted her work-dress and relaxed. My practiced hands felt the baby’s little body stubbornly resist my
Not knowing what I would do when I reached the corral, I came up with a plan on the run. “Sheba, old girl,” I called to the startled horse. “I sure hope you are up for an adventure!” I grabbed her halter. Throwing a lead rope over her neck, I swung up on her back with a practiced leap.
Picking up the shotgun from the open gatepost, I squeezed my legs against Sheba’s sides, hoping she would understand my body language. Being conditioned to pulling a wagon, Sheba hesitated for an instant, but quickly realizing a heavy load no longer restrained her, she was into a full gallop in seconds.
As I directed the mare over the hill, she saw the Tellers’ ranch and instinctively knew where we were headed. Her big hooves rapidly hammered across the prairie grass.
“Tillie, Ricky, Grace!” I yelled, as I tied Sheba to the fence. I rushed through the open front door of the Tellers’ cabin. Tillie was huddled on the floor, by the stove, holding a wide-eyed Ricky in her small arms. Doubled over beside the table, Grace was panting and trying to control her breathing.
“Grace. Your labor has started, hasn’t it?” She couldn’t speak, but nodded in agreement. The baby was coming, but it wasn’t in the proper position for a safe birth. Grace’s contraction eased as she looked at me with grateful eyes. She gathered her strength and quietly but firmly directed the kids.
“Tillie, Aunt Ada is here now so will you please take Ricky into the parlor and look at the new picture book Daddy bought for your birthday?” The little girl stood with wide eyes and did exactly as her mother asked, taking the frightened boy out of the room.
I stepped beside Grace and led her into the bedroom. “Grace, I’ve done this many times. We’ll get through it safely. You and the baby will be fine,” I reassured her.
Her ragged breathing caught in her throat. “How do you know?” Another excruciating contraction caused her to double over in pain at my feet.
Suddenly, I heard the unexpected sound of her laughter. She clutched my leg as her unlikely laughter grew louder. Was she going crazy? Was she really laughing, or did her crying just sound like laughter?
As I looked into her eyes I saw tears, and they were definitely tears of laughter as she pointed to my legs. “What is that you have on your legs?” she coughed, as another powerful contraction made her lean against the table for support.
Promptly, I understood the cause of her amusement. She had never seen my dungarees. “Haven’t you ever seen a woman in dungarees? It is the newest fashion,” I teased her lightly. “There will be time for a fashion show later, right now you get into that bed!” I commanded. “Believe me, this isn’t the last surprise you will get from me today.”
“Tillie, I need your help. It is time for your mother to have the new baby, and we know the doctor won’t make it here in time,” I called.
I knew Tillie had inherited her mother’s graceful strength. As she bravely stepped forward, she said, “OK, Aunt Ada, what can I do?”
“Get me more sheets and towels, and bring them to your ma’s room, please. After that it will be very important that you keep your eyes on Ricky.”
Tillie settled Ricky in the parlor with the picture book before she gathered all the supplies. I boiled water and tore clean rags into umbilical ties as Grace watched through fear filled eyes. “I’ll explain everything soon. Right now you need to know that I’ve done this many times before. You and the baby will be fine.”
Grace quietly lifted her work-dress and relaxed. My practiced hands felt the baby’s little body stubbornly resist my
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