Cheyenne Moon (15 page)

“I think that we should stay here for the night, it would be better to travel at night, but we need to rest before starting the journey to my village in the heart of the Black Hills.” Shadow Spirit stated not wanting Jacob to know that he was only staying the night for his sake.  Shadow Spirit could have traveled for many more days without rest if it meant finding Abby.

“Why would I go to your village? I have a home to go to in the Kentucky hills.”

“It is a trip of many weeks to your home, much farther than it is to mine.  We can be back to my village in a little as a five suns. There is plenty food and warmth there and no one will bother you, you are my friend.”

“I’m obliged Shadow Spirit but I think I will try to go on home I really want to see my Mama.”

“It is your choice, but you are welcome if you want change your mind, we are a peaceful people.”

“I’d be happy to meet your people, but my mama has to be worried to death and I can get home in time to help with the spring planting.”

They bedded down for the night and Jacob was asleep soon after. Shadow Spirit lay awake for sometime hoping that Abby was alright and that she had made it to safety and was no longer at the mercy of Black Heart.

Shadow Spirit woke with a start, the dream had been so vivid, he was holding Abby in his arms, and both were crying. She was heavy with child and more beautiful than ever. Standing to the side watching the tender reunion was a woman. He could not see her face clearly but something was oddly comforting about her presents. 

He turned on his side and drifted into calm, peaceful sleep more sure in his heart that his beloved wife was in a safe place and was being protected.

She struggled to get out of her chair at the breakfast table. She was so heavy with this baby that the mere act of standing took such effort that she had to have help. Polly had been her salvation during the long winter. The last two months had been hard on Abby she had felt like she would explode at any moment. They had to make new clothes for her three times, if the baby didn’t come soon she would out grow the last dress that Polly made for her, and it was the last of the material that they had.

“Polly can you help me again, I am sorry to be such a burden?” 

“Oh my darling you are not a burden, I just wish this baby was here.” Polly helped her out of the chair and noticed that Abby’s fingers were swollen and her face was puffy. She was so afraid that something was wrong. The baby was not due for three more weeks, Abby was having a lot of pain in her back, and the swelling was worse each day. 

“Thank you Polly I bet you wish you had never found me in that hollow tree now.” Abby cried; she seemed to cry everyday now about something or other. 

“Abigail you stop this right now, I love you like a daughter and I would never have known my girl was alive if I hadn’t found you and Joshua. I know you are miserable but it won’t be long now and you can hold your little one in your arms and it will be worth all this.”

“Oh Polly I’m alright and I love you too. I really wish Shadow Spirit could be here when our child is born. Polly?”

“Yes dear,” Polly answered as she rubbed Abby’s hand.

“Do you think I’ll be able to have this baby? I seem to be bigger than anyone that I’ve ever seen pregnant, and he kicks so hard.”

“Why Sweetie that just means he is in a hurry to meet his great grandma. You’ll be fine I’ll take care of you. I’ve seen the birthing process several times and when your time comes I will be right there.” Polly reassured Abby, but she didn’t tell her that the only babies she had ever delivered were goats and other animals. “You go lay down I’ll run out and milk the goat. I’ll make Joshua stay here so if you need me he can come get me.”

“He’s not going to like that, he things you are the greatest grandma ever and he is right.”

Abby slept most of the morning. When she awoke, she could hear Polly and Joshua in the kitchen, they were laughing, and talking as Polly prepared lunch. It must have warmed up a lot today for Abby was sweating. She sat up on the side of the bed and managed to stand up on her own. She made her way to the kitchen in time to see Polly scoop Joshua up and swing him around.

“Polly has it warmed up out? It seemed to be warmer in the bedroom.”

“Yes it has the snow from last night is completely melted and the sun shine is wonderful, you should go out for a few minutes and feel the difference from yesterday.”

Abby walked out in the glorious snow free yard and just stood there feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. Spring was beginning to show itself with the tiny crocus poking their heads through the hard cold ground. March had always been a time Abby loved. By this time in late March, new life seemed to be everywhere. She suddenly felt a tightening in her lower belly almost like a cramp you would have in your leg. It only lasted a little while but it was bad.  She went back inside and decided to not say anything to Polly just yet and see if the pain came back.

“Well didn’t that sunshine look and feel wonderful.” Polly said with her back to Abby. She turned around in time to see Abby bent over clutching her belly. She dropped the bread she was carrying to the table and ran to Abby.

“You are as white a sheet. What is it, is it time?”

“I don’t know I just had a really bad pain, in fact this is the second one. It felt like something was drawing tight around me and my belly seemed to harden.”

“Oh Sweetheart that was a labor pain, come on the bedroom and get into bed this might take a while.” She helped Abby out of her dress and into the bed. “I’m going to fix Joshua a plate and I will be right back.”

“No Polly, you go on and have lunch I feel better now if I need you I’ll call to you.”

“I’ll be back in just a few minutes you just lay still.”

Abby lay there for several minutes and no more pain came. She was about to get up and join Polly and Joshua in the kitchen when it hit her again this time it was almost unbearable. She screamed even though she tried desperately not to. Polly was there in a flash.

“Abby lie back I have to examine you, I need to see if you have begin to stretch so you baby can enter this world.”

“The pain is gone, it was different this time, lower, and it hurt worse. Polly my baby can’t come yet, it’s too early by three weeks. Do you know any way to make it stop?”

Polly finished examining Abby finding that the stretching had not progressed very far, which meant that the poor thing was in for a long and painful time. She remembered when Judith was born it had taken three days of laboring to birth her. First babies were most always slower about wanting to come. Polly looked at Abby and saw the worry and fear for the baby on her face. 

“Darling there is nothing that I know of that can stop a baby from coming when it take a notion to. I bet this is a strong little one. You just think what all you have been put through since he was conceived, you have been pulled, dragged, shoved and you have carried Joshua for miles not to mention how long you have sat a straddle of a horse. So don’t worry about it until I tell you that you’ve got something to worry about. This child comes from strong stock on both sides.”

“I wish with all my heart that Shadow Spirit could be here. He’s not even going to know that his child has been born or if we’re alright, I can’t bear the thought of dying and never seeing him again not even to say goodbye.” Abby wept so hard that the bed shook.

“Abby stop it right now!  You’re only going to make yourself sick and you need all your strength to do the job ahead of you. I mean it you have to stop!”

Abby settled down and her cries diminished to quiet whimpers. The pains were coming at a regular rate now. Polly guessed that they were about six or seven minutes apart. It was now mid afternoon and Abby was making better progress than the last time Polly had looked.

“Polly?”

“Yes dear.” Polly answered as she gently wiped Abby’s forehead with a cool wet cloth, hoping to bring her a measure of comfort.

“Should I start worrying yet, it seems to be taking so long and I’m hurting in my back.” She groaned and clutched Polly’s hand when another pain took over her body and mind.

“Oh honey, we’ve only been at this for a few hours and things are going like they should. It sometimes takes a little longer for first babies, and this is a big baby. Don’t work yourself back up into a tizzy. I’ll do all that I can to help you.”

“I know I just want everything to be alright.” Abby said as another pain beat down on her lower body. “Polly I think I’m bleeding I can feel it!”

Polly rushed to the foot of the bed, and when she pulled back the covers, she smiled. “Abby I see a little bit of blood, but I think that’s normal. Will you be alright alone I have to see if Joshua is awake. He wants to see you, when he heard you scream earlier he said that the bad man was back.”

“Poor little thing he was getting so much better. Are you sure there isn’t too much blood, it feels like a lot?”

“I’m sure.” Polly hoped she was right. There was more blood than she had let on, but as long as it didn’t get worse she supposed Abby was alright.

Polly gave Joshua some cookies she had made yesterday and some fresh milk.

“Is Abby sick, I heard her cry?” he asked.

“Abby will be fine, in a while we’ll have a little baby. Isn’t that going to be fun?

“I can’t wait. Can I take it to see the goats?” Joshua asked with his little face glowing.

“We’ll see, now sit here, and be a really good boy. Abby needs me to help her. Can you be the man of the house for a while?”

“I will. Can you come and get me so I can see the baby?”

“As soon as it gets here I’ll come and get you.” 

When she returned to Abby, she found her on her knees in the middle of the bed. “Polly I think it’s coming soon.”

“Let me check Honey. Here lay down, please.”

The night was long and Abby was not making much headway. She was worn out. She had been in labor since mid-morning yesterday and in a few the sun would rise on a new day.

Polly examined Abby but didn’t see much difference that the last time. She was really beginning to get worried. The baby should have dropped down by now.  “Abby I am going to put my hand inside and see if I can feel the baby’s head, it’ll hurt Honey, but I’ll be as easy as I can.”

Abby tensed as Polly began to check for the baby’s head. She rubbed Abby’s abdomen with her free hand and told her to try to relax. When she was finished and looked down at her Abby knew something was wrong.

“What is it, is the baby breech?”

“I don’t know it isn’t down far enough to tell for sure.”

“Polly tell me…. Oh I think my water just broke!”

Polly moved the quilt back. “Yes it did, now we will get somewhere. It shouldn’t take too much longer. I’m going to go get dry linens and some of the things I have been saving to wrap the baby in.  I’ll be right back.”

Abby sat up on the side of the bed as a powerful pain wracked her body.

“Shadow Spirit, where are you? Our baby is about to be born and I need you to be here with me. I can’t do this without you, please find me, and take me back to our home.” She prayed to the white God and to the Cheyenne God Ma’heo’o that they would all be together soon.

Polly returned in flurry of excitement and stopped cold when she saw Abby standing up by the bed. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I can’t lay there while you change the bed and I feel like it would help to stand for a little bit.”

“Well just until in finished, then it’s back to bed.”

In the hours that followed her water breaking Abby’s pains were steadily getting worse. When she thought that she could not stand it any longer she remembered how Green Eyes said that the Cheyenne women had their babies.

“Polly help me up, I can’t stand this anymore. I think I am going to try the Cheyenne way.”

“Are you able to stand?”

“I am stronger than you think.”

Polly helped her up and watched as she held on to the foot of the bed and lowered herself to a squatting position.  When she was down, she braced her back against the bed and waited for the next pain.

Polly paced back and forth in front of the bed for the next hour only stopping to let Abby hold on to her hands during the pains. She had never seen anything like this but Indian women had been having babies as long as white women, maybe there was something to this, for gravity was a powerful force.  Polly kneeled in front of Abby to see what was going on. What she saw scared the wits out of her. There was blood on the floor and on Abby and she could see that it was time to push. “Abby when the next pain comes you need to push; it’s time to meet your baby.”

“Good I feel like I am being split apart,” she said breathlessly and pushed with all her might.

Polly watched as a thatch black hair appeared, then with two more pushes he was laying in Polly’s arms and she was staring down at the most beautiful thing she had seen since her own children were born. He yelled like a warrior and squirmed like a worm. She cleaned him off and wrapped him in a piece of soft cloth, then laid him on the bed. She looked over at Abby who was slumped in the floor.

“You have a beautiful boy, he’s small but feisty. I thought he was going to be big but he isn’t. Come on honey, you’ve earned a good rest. Let’s get you back in the bed and I’ll clean you up.”

Abby managed to get to bed with Polly’s help. She had just got settled, and was holding the baby when another pain hit her.

“Polly something is wrong, please help me the pains have started up again.” Abby was to the point of screaming again.

Joshua came in the room, saw the blood on the floor, and began to cry. Polly reassured him that Abby was fine, although she didn’t know if she was lying or not. She gently convinced him to wait in the other room with a promise that he could see the baby in just a while.

“Abby, listen to me it’s just the after birth you have to expel it from your body.” Polly positioned herself so she could check Abby and low and behold, there was the head of another baby. “Abby push, there’s another baby!”

“What….are you sure?” 

Abby pushed one more time with all the strength she could summon and Polly held up a tiny baby girl, she was wrinkled much more than her brother and was smaller but not much. She had her face screwed up in a frown that showed all the indignity that she felt having to leave a save warm world.

She set about cleaning Abby and removing the soiled cloths from under her. There seemed to be an awful lot of blood. She padded Abby with the remaining clean rags praying that the bleeding would slow.

“Polly do you think the babies are will be alright?  I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to either of them.”

“I think they are fine. The boy is really good sized for a twin and the little girl has meat on her bones, and I have a feeling she’s going to be a handful, she’s already spunky and loud. They’re both pink and warm. Do you feel up to trying to get them to nurse?”