Hannah Howell (44 page)

Watching her as she slept in his arms, Royal smiled faintly. Like this, she looked so sweet, so vulnerable and in need of protecting, but he knew that, if danger struck right now, she would be as quick and able to face it as he. It was a little hard to accept that he was not really necessary to her safety, but he also found that it could be a comfort. He could not be with her every moment and, while he would still worry about her, he did not have the added burden of knowing that she was helpless. It had taken him a while to get used to her proficiency with a weapon, but he was glad of it now. There was still a lot of danger in Texas.

His hand rested against her stomach and he felt their child move. Here was a danger neither she nor he could avert or beat no matter how good they were with a gun. No matter how hard he tried to stop himself, he envisioned all that could happen to her, every horror story about childbirth crowding into his mind. All he could think of was how small she was and how even a big strong woman like Bella Dickson had been taken down by childbirth.

He should have been more careful. It was something he had always been cautious about in the past. However, when he held her, he lost his reason. What she called “the fire” burned away all rational thought. He vowed that he would change that. If God was good enough to let her come through this unscathed, he would practice caution. Even if she proved strong and healthy enough to survive childbirth without trouble, he would not risk her life by keeping her belly filled with child until her body simply grew too tired. She was young and there was plenty of time for them to build even a sizeable family, yet allow her plenty of time between each baby.

Despite his worries, sleep tugged at him. He rested his cheek against her hair as his eyes slowly closed. For a brief instant his arms tightened around her, and he smiled when she murmured his name in her sleep. He might not be able to clarify what he felt about her, even to himself, but he knew he needed her and intended to hang on tightly for years to come.

Twenty-eight

“Ah,
muchacho,
you are supposed to be going to sleep,” Antonie scolded gently as she picked Camden up. “You are dry and your little belly is full. Now is when you should nap. A little walk, then back to bed and sleep, eh?"

She smiled as she strolled through the house, the infant looking all around as she went. It was good practice, she told herself wryly. Her own baby was due soon. Taking care of Camden had insured that she would not find an infant a strange, perhaps frightening, little creature.

Stepping out onto the veranda, she looked around, then shook her head. She was totally alone. It was a rare occurrence, and she suspected that Royal would be furious when he found out. In the three months since she and Royal had been married, there had always been someone to keep watch. Seeing movement by the stables, she hastily corrected herself. She was not totally alone. Maria's son Sancho, a lively boy of eight, was still around. Even as she reminded herself of his presence, he smiled, waved, and hurried over to her side.

“I think there is a storm coming,
señora,"
he said as he poked at Camden playfully.

Looking up at the sky, Antonie realized how black it was growing.
"Sí,
it does look bad. Well, that will mean that the men will be coming in soon."

"Sí,
if they are not caught by surprise. It happens sometimes. I hope Mama doesn't try to come home in it."

“Ah, no, that would not be good. I will have lunch soon. You can eat with me."

“I would like that,
señora.
It is strange not to have anyone around."

“Very strange,” Antonie agreed.

And very bad planning, she added silently. Every plan had had Royal's approval, but she was certain he had not realized how they were all made for the same day and how it would neatly result in a deserted ranch. He had tried to be subtle about her being closely watched, but she had seen how he had arranged it.

Glancing at the threatening sky again, she half wished she had gone into town with the women to get supplies. At least she would have had adult company when the storm came. But she hadn't wanted to go. Her stomach had not grown too large, but she was uncomfortable, today more so than usual. The thought of the bumpy ride in the wagon was still less attractive than being caught nearly alone in the house during a bad storm.

“You do what's needed outside for a storm, and I will shut up the house,
chico,"
she told Sancho. “Then we eat."

"Sí, señora.
I'll get right to it."

Smiling faintly as she went back into the house, she took Camden back to his bed. The baby whimpered a little but finally went to sleep. Checking to be sure that everything was shut tightly as she went, she headed to the kitchen to get a meal for herself and Sancho. She did not feel hungry, but she felt she ought to at least try to eat something. A number of people had impressed upon her the need of eating well for the baby's sake.

The storm hit just as she and Sancho finished their meal. Antonie stood spellbound by the sudden fury nature had unleashed. She then heard Camden wail, and sighed.

“The thunder woke the baby,
señora."

"Sí.
Probably frightens the poor
muchacho.
You will stay in here, Sancho. In the house."

"Sí, señora.
The men did not come back."

“No.” She sighed and started toward the stairs. “We will have to brave this alone, Sancho.
Por Dios,
I hate storms."

They had been in the parlor for a while when Antonie suddenly tensed. Her continuous discomfort seemed to have gained an alarming regularity to it. Remembering one of the many things Maria had told her, she watched the clock for a while and felt her heart sink. Even in her ignorance, she could no longer ignore the fact that she was in labor.

"Ay de mi,
why now?” she whispered.

"Señora?"
Sancho looked up from where he played on the floor with Camden.

“Do you think the storm eases?"

“Well, the thunder and lightning are moving away, I think."

"Sí.
They are not so loud, not right overhead."

“But it is still raining buckets,
señora.
The wind is still very strong."

She only had to listen for a moment to know that he was right. The wind was driving the rain against the windows with an almost alarming force. It had the strength to go on for hours. Even though the thunder and lightning had lessened, moved a distance away, it was still too bad to expect anyone to show up and lend a hand.

For a moment, she fought a blinding panic. With so many people around all the time, she had never once contemplated the possibility of being alone when her time came. The depth of her ignorance about what was ahead was enough to terrify her. She fought that fear that pushed her toward unthinking panic. Now was a time for clarity of thought and calmness. The fact that her only source of help was a boy of eight made it hard, but she finally managed.

Although she had never seen a human birth, she had seen horses, even cattle, give birth. Juan had once said that the process was much the same for people. The slight lessening of her own ignorance brought her closer to being calm.

“Sancho,” she said quietly, “I know you are a brave boy, but you are going to have to be very brave now."

“Something is wrong,
señora?"

“The baby has decided to come now.” She almost smiled at the way his big dark eyes grew huge and went to her stomach.

“There is no one here. It can't come now."

“The baby doesn't care that we are alone. Ah, how I wish O'Neill had not left after the wedding, but I'm going to have to do this by myself."

“Can you do that?” Sancho asked, his lips trembling.

“If an Indian woman can, I can. I have heard that they go off alone to have babies. I will need you to help a little though."

"Sí, señora.
Do you want me to get someone?"

“I think you would be blown off your horse,
muchacho.
No, stay here. We must heat water, get clean clothes, and a few other things. While I am busy, I will need you to help with Camden and to keep watch and guard. Can you do that?"

"Sí, señora."

“Perhaps we should lock the doors, too."

“What if the others come back?"

“They will let you know it is them, then you can let them in,” Antonie instructed him.

“Ah,
sí."

“Now, let's get some water heated. I will put it in pots you can handle, for there will come a time when I might need some but cannot get it. Not much is needed. It is just for cleaning."

“Is it as messy as when a horse foals?"

“I think it might be. I cannot be sure,
amigo.
This is my first and I have never seen it done."

“Are you afraid,
señora?"

"Sí.
I thought someone would be here. Your mama, I mean, or someone like her."

"Sí.
I think the
patrón
forgot today was the day the women go to get supplies."

She nodded and, after setting water on to heat, went to look for clean linen. A little smile touched her face as she saw how Sancho, holding little Camden, trailed after her. The boy looked very worried, but she knew she could count on him to do whatever she told him to. She just hoped she would not have to ask too much of him.

By the time she had everything readied to her satisfaction, she was having contractions. “All right, Sancho, you can put Camden in his bed there. That's right. Now, go downstairs and keep watch."

“Shouldn't I stay with you,
señora?"

“No,
chico.
I must get into a nightgown and into bed. I will call you if I need you.” She smiled. “Don't worry. If I call, you'll hear me. Now, if someone comes that we do not know and tries to come in, you are to come up here."

"Sí, señora."

The moment he left, she got undressed. She was naked and just sponging off when her water broke. Struggling to clean up and get a nightgown on, she wryly mused that that could probably be considered convenient. She had the sinking feeling that it could well be her only piece of good luck.

Finally crawling into bed, she placed her knife nearby. The pain was growing bad enough that she was a little afraid that she might not be clearheaded when the time came. She fought to endure the pain, yet conserve her strength and keep her mind from becoming too fogged by pain and exhaustion.

"Señora, señora,
we have help now,” Sancho shouted as he raced into the room.

Caught up in a strong contraction, Antonie could only rasp “O'Neill” when the big man appeared in the doorway.

“Where the hell is everybody?” O'Neill demanded, but he did not wait for a reply. “Get some more water, there's a good lad. I have to wash up."

She could only watch in silent wide-eyed amazement as O'Neill stripped down, washed up, and put on clean trousers. He was certainly a lot of man, she thought a little wildly. As another contraction ripped through her, she thanked God for O'Neill, as she was not doing very well at all at staying clearheaded.

“Sure ‘n I'm real surprised that that man of yours would leave you alone,” O'Neill muttered as he checked her progress.

“A mistake,” Antonie gasped. “Do you always run about in bad weather?"

“I told you I'd be back to see the babe. A little rain won't hurt me. Now, you just concentrate on getting this babe out, lass. I'll do the rest."

“That will be nice,” she whispered.

Royal stared out of the grimy window of the line shack they had sought shelter in. Although the thunder and lightning had lessened, the rain still fell hard. He should be glad that he was out of it, but he could not seem to relax. The hands and his brothers were calm, and he almost resented it.

“Pacing the room won't change the weather,” Cole murmured as Royal walked by him again. “Your deal, Denton."

“What's eating at you, Royal?” Denton asked as he shuffled the cards.

“Damned if I know.” He scowled out at the weather again. “I'm uneasy. Something doesn't feel right, but I can't put my finger on it."

“Expectant father,” Denton muttered.

“That's probably it.” Royal shook his head. “Stupid. Maria is there."

“No, she ain't,” Cole murmured, studying his cards.

“What do you mean, no?” Royal demanded.

“Hell, it's the third Monday of the month. Supplies."

“Yeh, that's right,” one of the hands agreed. “My Deidre went, too."

“And my wife,” another said.

“Well, let me think.” Royal ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe I did remember that, and her being without a woman's what bothered me. But who else is at home?"

“Oro, Patricia, Tomás, and Justin are working on Oro's house. This'll have caught them there,” Denton offered.

“Old Pete went to get his teeth done,” Jed said.

“Well, who the hell's at the house?” Royal yelled.

“Now calm down,” Cole soothed as he counted out a card for each hand and member of the household. “Let's do this scientific like.” His lips moving as he murmured each name, he slowly accounted for everyone.

“Who's this? There's only three cards left,” Royal fought against a strong urge to panic.

“Antonie, Sancho, and Camden,” Cole answered reluctantly.

“My wife is alone at the ranch with only an eight-year-old boy and an infant?"

“Now, calm down. I might be wrong. Let me do it again."

“Don't bother. I'm going home."

Denton leapt to his feet to intercept Royal. “Look, you can't go out in this."

“Antonie can take care of herself,” Cole said.

“Against
bandidos,
Indians, or the like, yes. But what the hell is she to do if the baby starts coming?” He curtly nodded when no one had an answer for him. “I'm going back to the house.” Royal grabbed his coat, flung it on, and left.

“Oh, hell,” Cole muttered and stood up to reach for his coat. “No, you fellows stay here,” he said when he saw the hands moving to follow. “Let's keep this idiocy in the family. Besides, even if she is having a baby, a houseful of soaking cowboys ain't going to do her a hell of a lot of good. You coming, Denton?” Cole started out the door.