Read Online This Savage Heart by Patricia Hagan - Free Book Online Page A

looked at Teresa, who was shaking her head. “I’ve never delivered a baby. I’ve never even seen one born.”
    “I’m sorry,” Julie said. “I haven’t, either. But maybe it isn’t the baby. Maybe it’s something else.”
    Myles went to find Esther Webber, and the two women continued on to Elisa’s wagon, shivering against the cold. Micah was standing outside, shoulders hunched, eyes filled with fright. “I couldn’t find no doctor, so I come back here. Is she gonna be all right, Miz Marshall? If it’s the baby, will it be all right?”
    “Micah, I certainly hope the answer is yes to both your questions.” Julie patted his bony shoulder. “Pray for her. We’ll do what we can.”
    She started by him, but he cried out, “If ever’thing ain’t all right, will you see to it Captain Thatcher knows it won’t my fault? His daddy told me to see to it Miz Thatcher got out to Arizona okay.”
    “No one is going to blame you for anything, Micah,” Julie told him. “Now go somewhere and pray.”
    Before they could call out, Derek pushed aside the canvas at the rear of the wagon, a grim look on his face. “I hope the doctor’s on the way. The baby’s coming. I don’t think it will be much longer. I wanted to move her to town, to a room somewhere, but hell, I don’t think there’s time. Did you find a doctor?”
    “Dear God,” Teresa gasped.
    “The doctor’s out of town,” Julie said, “and no one knows when he will be back. Myles has gone to get Esther Webber.”
    A shrill scream from inside the wagon caused everyone to stiffen. Julie gave herself a shake and murmured, “We have to do what we can.”
    Swiftly, Derek lifted her and then Teresa up into the wagon. “I’ll be outside if you need me,” he offered, knowing, as they did, there was nothing he could do.
    Elisa was lying on her mattress, her face drawn and pale, slick with sweat. Another pain slashed through her body, and she screamed, writhing and twisting, her nails clawing at the mattress. “I can’t stand it. Get it out of me, please. Get it out!”
    Julie knelt beside her. “Esther Webber is coming, Elisa,” she told her. “She’ll help. Please now, try to relax and stop fighting the pain. You might hurt the baby, and you’re making it harder on yourself.”
    Elisa’s lips curled back in a snarl. “You!” she hissed, drawing away, arching her back. “Get away! I don’t want you near me.” Julie moved back, stunned by Elisa’s violent reaction.
    Teresa knelt down, reaching to give Julie a reassuring pat. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, Julie. She’s in so much pain, and she’s frightened.”
    “I do know what I’m saying,” Elisa panted, her swollen stomach heaving as she waited fearfully for a new contraction. “I don’t want…that bitch near me. Get…her away.” Her shoulders rose from the mattress as she was caught in a fresh agony.
    “Maybe I should wait outside,” Julie whispered.
    “No, you stay right here,” Teresa told her firmly.
    Elisa’s body slumped. “Both of you can get out,” she cried. “Where’s Derek? I want Derek.”
    Teresa raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a baby wanting to be born, and that’s a woman’s job, not a man’s.”
    “Yes,” Elisa cried. “The baby is going to be born, and then it’s going to die. That’s the way it should be, because I never wanted it.”
    “You don’t know what you’re saying,” Teresa cried, wiping Elisa’s brow with the hem of her skirt. “We’ll do everything we can for the baby, and it’s going to be just fine.”
    “I don’t want you simpering over me, you fool!” Elisa lashed out at her, flinging her arm to knock Teresa away. “Leave me alone! I want this baby to hurry and be born and die so I can get my beauty back and find a man who truly loves me.”
    Fearful, Teresa moved back to kneel beside Julie. They watched as Elisa began to writhe and twist again. Her voice was strong as she cried out, “Never would have