[Alaskan Quest 03] - Whispers of Winter (38 page)

“But Adrik told us there had been no word,” Jacob added. “I’m really sorry. We figured you’d at least have that much.”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Leah said. Her gaze had never left Jayce’s face. Helaina could see that the color was finally returning to her cheeks. “We thought you were dead.”

Jayce shook his head. “Guess God had other plans.”

“Yeah,” Jacob said. “A broken arm and concussion.”

“But you’re both alive while everyone else perished,” Leah said, looking finally to her brother. “You would have been dead if you’d made it to the ship on time.”

“The way we figure it,” Jayce said, “is that God must have something else for us to do.”

“Or that we’re too ornery to die right now,” Jacob said, laughing.

Helaina felt a sense of peace settle over the house for the first time in over a month. She could scarcely believe what God had done—despite her anger and questions. Despite her fears and lack of faith.

“Well, you can’t imagine how I felt when these two came walking into the store. I’d gone there to get a few items I thought we needed, and here they come. I just about passed out right there. I think we’ve had enough excitement to last us for a lifetime,” Adrik said.

Leah suddenly moaned and clutched her stomach. “Oh no … the baby.” She gasped for breath. “It’s too early.”

Helaina went immediately to Leah’s side. “Jacob, help her to bed. Jayce, you go sit with her. I’ll see to the children and Adrik can go for the doctor.”

The doctor arrived nearly a half hour later. The pains had subsided for the most part, but Leah was scared. She didn’t want to lose the baby, not when she’d just managed to get Jayce and Jacob back.

“You’ll have to stay in bed until the birth,” the doctor told her in a fatherly manner. “If you don’t, you will most likely lose the child.”

“She’ll stay right here,” Jayce promised. “I’ll see to everything else.”

“I’m glad to hear of your survival. Chances are the shock of this entire matter has just been too much for your wife. She needs to remain calm and rested.”

Leah couldn’t help but laugh as she heard a loud crash and Wills yelling at the top of his lungs for Merry to stop it.

“Calm and rested in a house with twins. That should be easy.”

Chapter Thirty

B
ut I’m tired of sitting in bed all the time,” Leah argued.

“I feel perfectly fine.”

“That’s because you’ve been sitting around in bed all the time. Just like the doctor ordered,” Jayce countered. He gave her a look of utter exasperation.

“Look, I know you’re bored. I’ve tried to get you as many books as possible, and the doctor has even allowed you your sewing. But getting up is just too risky. You would hate yourself if you insisted on it and then lost the baby because of it.”

Leah sobered and fell back against the pillows. “I know.” Her tone held all the dejection she felt.

“It won’t be long now,” Jayce reminded her. “Just a few more weeks. It’s nearly Christmas, and after that the doctor said you should be out of danger. The baby can come anytime after the first of the year.”

He came to sit beside her on the bed. “I know this has been hard on you.”

Leah shook her head. “No harder than thinking you were dead. I have decided that you and ships do not mix. You were the common denominator in every ship problem I can think of with exception to the
Titanic,
and for all I know you may have been on that one as well.”

Jayce laughed heartily. “I assure you I was not on the
Titanic
. But I agree. I think I’m land-bound for a time. I remember when we were stranded in the Arctic, I just kept thinking that if I’d just curbed the wanderlust and remained with you and the twins, I could have avoided that misery all together. Having a family makes you much more cautious.”

“I think about that too. I never used to concern myself with things that others thought dangerous. I accompanied Jacob on the sleds for long trips, never thinking about the risk. Now it’s all I consider.”

Jayce took hold of her hand. “I love you more than life. When I sat on that fishing boat thinking of you suffering— believing me dead—well, it nearly did kill me. I kept wishing some of those old Tlingit legends about ravens or eagles flying down to swoop up folks and carry them away might be true—at least if they could fly me home to you.”

“Jacob said there are people already trying to make plans for air service in Alaska, so maybe next time you can just fly and avoid the water completely.”

“As long as we live in Alaska—especially Ketchikan—we’ll always have to deal with the water,” Jayce reminded her. “But I hope you know that I will be more cautious. For you and Wills and Merry.” He let go of her hand and gently touched her swollen stomach. “And for whoever this little one might be.”

“We haven’t talked much about that,” Leah said, covering his hand with hers. “If it’s a girl, I’d like to name her Karen.”

Jayce nodded, his expression quite serious. “I think that would be fine. What about if it’s a boy?”

“Well, I thought you might like to pick the name. I’m partial to Michael and Paul, but I really don’t mind something else.”

“Like Hezekiah?” Jayce asked with a grin.

“Well, I’d rather not call my child Hezekiah,” she said with a frown. “And I’m not too keen on Ezekiel or Methuselah.”

“Those were my next favorites!” he teased.

“I’ll try to be content no matter what name you give him—if it is a boy.”

“Well, I’m proud to give him the name of Kincaid. He will be mine, just as his older brother and sister are mine.”

Leah felt such a peace in her heart at those words. Jayce seemed always to know how to put her fears to rest. “I love you.”

He leaned over and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. “I love you very much, Mrs. Kincaid.” He got to his feet. “Can I get you anything else before I go rescue Helaina from the twins?”

Leah sighed. “No. I have my Bible and my sewing. I think I’m set.”

After he’d gone, Leah tried to get comfortable. Christmas was just a few days away, and because she could do nothing out of bed, she had sewn presents for everyone. Jayce had helped her tuck most of them away, with exception to his own gift. She’d even managed to work out the pattern for Adrik’s coat, and it was nearly finished. Leah knew the bearskin coat would be a real surprise for Adrik. He had known her original intentions but had also admonished her not to worry about him. He wanted her to rest, and Leah had followed orders.

“But I can’t sleep all the time,” she said aloud, taking up the new trousers she was making for Oliver.

She felt a twinge in her side and thought nothing of it until several minutes later when it came again, only this time it seemed to spread further toward the middle of her abdomen. “It’s the twentieth of December,” she murmured. The doctor had told her it would be best for the baby not to be born until after the first of the year. At least by his and Leah’s calculations.

Leah put the sewing aside and tried to relax. She closed her eyes and pictured herself in Last Chance Creek, sitting atop a small hill along the shore. She tried to imagine the warmth of the sun on her face. She tried to remember the smells and sounds.

The pain came again, however, and forced her to realize the truth. The baby was going to be born soon—maybe even today.

“Jayce?” she called. “Jayce, are you there?” She knew he had plans to retrieve the twins from Helaina. They were spending the afternoon with her and Malcolm in town. Leah also knew, however, that Jayce would not leave her by herself.

“Is anyone out there?”

No one responded. The thought of being alone and in labor filled her with a sense of apprehension. Leah sat up slowly. She drew a deep breath and waited for the contraction that she knew was sure to come. When nothing happened, she gently moved her legs over the side of the bed and got to her feet. Without warning, her water broke. There would be no waiting on the baby now.

“Did you call, Leah?” Oliver stepped in the room, looking rather surprised. “You aren’t supposed to be up.”

“It’s the baby, Oliver.” The pains came again and Leah pressed her hands to her stomach. “Jayce just left to get the twins from Helaina. Can you run after him and stop him?”

“Sure!” He turned and ran from the room, obviously happy to be free of any other obligation that might include delivering Leah’s baby.

She would have laughed out loud at the situation had the circumstances not seemed so grave. “Lord, you have always held this child in your hands. I don’t know why he or she wants to come so soon, but I trust you for the outcome. Please, please, keep my baby safe.”

She went to retrieve a towel to wipe up the floor. There was no sense in remaining bedfast now. To her surprise, Leah was taken back in time to when Ashlie was born in this very house. Leah had been there at Karen’s side along with a midwife from the Tlingit tribe. She had been honored to help in Ashlie’s delivery.

“Oh, Karen. I miss you so much. I wish you could be here now to help me with this baby.” She smiled to herself even as she spoke the words. In so many ways, Karen was with her in the memories and things she had taught Leah.

Pain ripped through Leah’s body. This baby was not going to be slow in being born. Already she could feel the child moving lower.

“Leah!” Jayce called as the front door slammed against the wall.

She maneuvered back to the bed and sat down just as he came into the bedroom. “I’m still here,” she teased.

“Oliver said that the baby was coming. I sent him for the doctor.” He came to her side and saw where the floor was still wet. “Your water broke?”

“Yes. I guess there’s no stopping this Kincaid.” She patted her stomach. “I think she’s coming fast.”

“So you’ve decided it’s a girl, eh?” He helped Leah ease back into the bed. “No doubt you’re right, for all the trouble she’s causing.”

Leah grimaced and gripped Jayce’s arm hard. “If the doctor doesn’t hurry, you’ll be delivering this baby yourself.”

Jayce paled but squared his shoulders. “What do I need to do?”

Leah pointed to the trunk. “There are blankets and diapers, clothes for the baby in there. We’ll need a couple of wash basins, some hot water, and scissors.” She clutched her stomach. “Hurry …” She barely managed the word against the pain.

Just then Christopher came to the doorway of the room. “Where’s Oliver? He was supposed to help me with the wood.”

“I sent him for the doctor,” Jayce said as he worked to pull a stack of things from the trunk. “Leah’s going to have the baby.”

Christopher looked at Leah in awe. “Truly? Right now?”

Leah nodded. She bit her lip to keep from crying out and frightening the boy. She was surprised that he didn’t look in the leastwise uncomfortable with the situation, unlike Oliver, who had clearly been disturbed by the turn of events.

“Do you want to help me?” Jayce asked.

“Sure, Jayce. I’d do anything for Leah and you. What should I do?”

“Get the scissors and bring some hot water.”

The boy ran without another word to do Jayce’s bidding. Leah smiled and took a couple of ragged breaths. “He’ll be able to help you deliver the baby.”

Jayce looked at her as though she’d lost her mind. “He’s just turned twelve.”

Leah nodded. “But he’s got two good hands and doesn’t seem at all bothered by this.” She felt the urge to bear down. “Jayce, I have to push. It won’t be long now.”

“Here, Jayce. I got the water and the scissors. What else do you need?”

Jayce frowned and looked as if he were trying to remember. “Washbasins.”

“And some twine, Christopher,” Leah managed to speak before the need to push once again took her focus.

Jayce came to the bed and adjusted the bedding to better facilitate the birth. Leah gritted her teeth and panted against the pain. “I see the head,” Jayce told her.

Christopher came back with the basins and nearly dropped them at this declaration. “Are we really going to deliver the baby? Right now?”

Jayce pushed up his sleeves and nodded. “Right now. I need you, Christopher. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

The boy nodded. “I can do it, Jayce. You can trust me.”

Leah could no longer focus on the conversation. She knew these were the final moments of her baby’s birth. She bore down on the pain and pushed with all her might, feeling the child slide from her body. She fell back against the pillows and gasped for breath.

“Quickly,” she said, pointing toward the baby Jayce was now turning over. “Tie off the cord in two places and cut in between.”

“Here’s the twine,” Christopher said, handing the ball to Jayce. “And the scissors.” He was very efficient and matter-of-fact.

Jayce went to work doing exactly as Leah had told him.

Once the cord was cut, he looked up and awaited further instruction.

“Clean the face and clear out the mouth. You need to hang her upside down and hit her bottom a couple of times to get her crying.”

“She’s so tiny,” Jayce said, lifting the rather lifeless child. He did as instructed, hesitating only when it came to the spanking of this tiny infant.

“Hurry, Jayce. She’s got to breathe.”