The Falcon in the Barn (Book 4 Forest at the Edge series) (96 page)

“
But it’s completely safe!
It’s been in use for almost a year.”

Mahrree covered her mouth to keep herself
from exclaiming, In use for
almost
a year? Ha!

Jaytsy’s eyes flared in fury. “I will NOT be
sedated! I don’t want to sleep away the first moment of my child’s
life.”

“
But it can be
frightening,” Miss Giding leaned on her bed in earnestness. “Why
would you want to experience fear? And it is a bit dull, frankly,
because it can take hours, or even days. You don’t have to subject
yourself to fear and boredom.”

“
Fear and boredom?” Mahrree
asked. “There’s an unusual combination I think I’d like to see . .
. But,
dear representative
of the
Administrators—”

The unfortunate girl failed to notice
Mahrree’s scorn.

“—
fear comes only when you
don’t have faith in the outcome. And boredom comes when you believe
there’s nothing new worth learning. I simply can’t understand how
any of that will occur today.”

Jaytsy sat up, kneeled, then fell forward
onto her hands in a dog-like position that alarmed the
representative.

“
Should you be doing that?”
she asked.

“
Absolutely!” said Jaytsy,
“Because it relieves the pressure on my back.” She began crooning
like a tone-deaf cow trying to sing.

Miss Giding stared at her. “Why is she making
that noise?”

Mahrree raised her eyebrows. “Just how many
birthings have you witnessed?”

The girl pursed her lips. “You mean, without
the sedation?”

Mahrree nodded.

Giding just gulped.

Jaytsy stopped the moo-ing as the pain
subsided. “An old midwife told me how to work through the pains.
There’s a variety of sounds, breathings, positions,
movements—different techniques for different women. We’re not
identical you know. Oh wait—maybe, you don’t. Since this is an
old
way of doing things, at least from
one
year ago,
I’m sure you have no idea what I am doing. But we do.”

Of all the traits to develop, sarcasm seemed
to be the newest one to reveal itself in Jaytsy. When Mahrree was a
young teacher she thought sarcasm was the sign of true wit. But as
she aged she realized that sarcasm was just lazy, and more damaging
than enlightening.

Then again, there were occasions like this
when sarcasm kept someone from exhibiting true violence. Mahrree
tried not to smile.

“
I thank you for coming,”
Jaytsy said with finality, “and I send you on your way. You don’t
need to make any more ‘routine’ checks on me.” She cringed in
discomfort and began to sway her hips, like a dog trying to
dance.

Miss Giding’s lips peeled back in dismay.
“You just don’t have to do this! What good can come from
suffering?”

Jaytsy continued her swaying. “Who said I was
suffering? I intend for this to be the most
enlightening
day
of my life. Good day.”

Mahrree beamed at her daughter.

The representative looked at them both,
baffled. “Send for me if you change your mind. I’ll be expecting
you,” and she left.

As they heard her go down the stairs, Mahrree
released a big breath. “How’d she know to come?”

Jaytsy shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I
have my suspicions. I’ve been feeling pains for a while.” She
crawled out of bed and stood nearly erect. “That’s better! I was in
the curing sheds early this morning pointing out to the fort’s cook
where the ripened cheese was when a pain hit me. I’m guessing he
went back and reported it to Thorne.” She cringed, either from
saying the name or a twinge or both. “The captain probably sent the
representative. I can’t really imagine why, though.”

Mahrree moaned quietly. “Maybe Thorne sent
someone because he’s such a fan of sedation. Still,” she said,
“it’s a little troubling. It seems rather compassionate of him
toward you. Jaytsy, since you’ve been married has he ever . . .”
Mahrree didn’t know how to put her concern into words.

Jaytsy looked down at her hands. “He still
rides by, slowly. I catch him looking at the house sometimes. But
he’s never done anything outright. Deck keeps the old pitchfork by
the back door, just in case,” she smiled. “Mother, maybe word about
me will get back to Shem, and he can—”

Mahrree shook her head. “We don’t know what
Shem can do right now. We best not even try to hope. I know. I miss
him too. But let’s get you moving, see if this is the real thing or
not!” she said brightly. “Peto did this to me quite a bit for many
weeks before he was actually ready to come.”

“
Oh,” Jaytsy moaned,
“please don’t tell me I’m about to give birth to another Peto! And
if this baby doesn’t come today, then I’ll know he’ll be as
annoying as his uncle.”

Mahrree and Jaytsy walked around the farm
that morning, pausing every ten minutes for Jaytsy to breathe
through another pain. Perrin and Peto stopped with their digging a
new canal, winced with worry at their direction, then quickly turn
back to digging hoping not to see something they shouldn’t. They
also visited Deck in the barn while he was in the middle of helping
a cow birth a calf.

As soon as Mahrree realized what was
happening she tried to steer Jaytsy out of view, but she insisted
on staying. “I want to see him do it, Mother, so I know he can help
me.”

Mahrree shook her head and shielded her eyes.
The graphic nature of nature wasn’t something she naturally dealt
with.

Deck heard his wife and called over his
shoulder, his arm up in something Mahrree didn’t want to
understand. “Jayts, what are you talking about?”

“
You taking care of me
after that cow.”

If he could have spun around he would have.
“What?! Jayts, don’t even . . . whoa, easy, easy . . . Look,
Jaytsy, I’m a little busy . . . we’ll discuss this later . . .”

Mahrree waited outside, practicing her own
deep breathing, until her daughter came out a few minutes
later.

“
Well, that wasn’t
so
bad,” Jaytsy said, holding her belly protectively. “No,
not so bad. As long as Deck doesn’t drop the baby on the
straw.”

By late morning, as Mahrree and Jaytsy walked
the perimeter of the farm again, Mahrree began to suspect this day
would not be ‘lightening’ her daughter at all; the pains didn’t
come any closer, much to Mahrree’s secret relief. The afternoon was
even longer, the pains still ten minutes apart, and the time
passing unbearably slowly for Jaytsy.

By evening the pains had subsided completely.
It was a good thing Perrin and Peto had already left for home to
make dinner, because Jaytsy was disappointed.

Intensely, violently, furiously
disappointed.

“
What a useless day!” she
bellowed as she sat at the kitchen table and pounded her fist on
it.

Mahrree was making dinner, because she didn’t
think her daughter should be allowed anywhere near sharp knives
tonight.

Deck, himself exhausted from three calvings,
trudged up to the back door. When he heard his wife yelling he
paused with his hand on the doorknob.

“
Wasted! This whole day!
This child will never come out! I’m stuck with this belly until the
Last Day!”

Deck glanced at the window and noticed
Mahrree watching him. He sighed and walked in the door.

“
You!
” Jaytsy cried
when she saw him. “This is all your doing!”

Deck turned to his mother-in-law, pleading
for assistance. Mahrree shrugged apologetically.

He crouched in front of Jaytsy. “I’m sorry
this has been such a bad day for you,” he said sweetly as he took
her hands. “But Jayts, all things happen for a purpose.”

His wife rolled her eyes at him.

“
What do you think?” he
cautiously asked Mahrree.

“
I’m sorry, Jaytsy, but
Deckett—it’s not happening today. And maybe Mrs. Braxhicks was
right. She thought the baby still has about four more
weeks—”

“
No!” Jaytsy
wailed.

“—
So no, Deck, we don’t
need you to reach in and pull it out by the legs
tonight.”

Deck flushed red, but Jaytsy sat up. “You
could, Deck! You could do it! Just wash off your hands and—”

“
Jaytsy!” Deck cried.
“Mahrree, is she serious?”

“
It’s just that extra
mooing, Deck. Don’t your cows do that? Complain a bit
more?”

Jaytsy glared at her mother.

“
Just a few more weeks, you
two. I promise. I’ve been there, and it will end.”

---

Perrin walked in the back door with a tired
Peto.

“
All I want is a piece of
pie and bed, Father,” he said as he took the entire pie from the
counter, remembering a fork at the last moment, and headed out to
the eating room. “Why people want to be farmers is beyond my
comprehension. It never ends. Good night,” he called before
shutting his bedroom door.

Perrin laughed softly. “Good night, son,” he
said, although he was sure Peto was too far away already to hear
him. Soon Peto’s farming days would be over, and his exploring days
would begin. Perrin didn’t know how much longer he could keep it
from his son, but he enjoyed imagining the look of shock on his
face when he’d finally hear about his new future.

Perrin lit a candle and headed down to the
cellar in search of something for dinner. He’d seen the look in
Mahrree’s eyes—the baby wasn’t coming tonight—and she’d be home
soon, spent and with frayed nerves from having to deal with their
very disappointed daughter. The least he could do was bake a few
potatoes, which he dug out of the cellar. Reluctantly he also
pulled out a crock of cheese; Peto’s first attempt at making it.
Well, someone had to be the first to try it.

After he put the potatoes in the oven and
stoked its fire, he walked the crock of cheese, held out safely at
arm’s distance, and a candle to the eating table.

The crinkling of the hairs on his neck that
told him something in the shadows by the fireplace wasn’t quite
right. And he was a man who knew all about the shadows of a dark
room.

“
Reveal yourself!” he
commanded.

“
Perrin Shin,” a soft,
gentle voice said, “I’m here because a friend has sent
me.”

A woman’s voice.

That unnerved him even more. He slammed down
the crock on the table. “Show yourself!” he commanded again,
holding the candle far in front of him to light whatever was
lurking there.

The shadow moved from the fireplace and
slowly walked to the opposite side of the table. It was definitely
a woman, and she was holding up her hands. “Perrin Shin, I am
unarmed. You may check me if you need to. I wish only to speak with
you.”

Perrin held up the candle to better see her
face and sidled to the end of the table and the drawer that was
hidden there.

He’d never seen the woman before. She was as
slight in build as Mahrree, with black curly hair and dark
earth-brown skin. As she smiled, her eyes were gentle. Deceivingly
so. But it was her clothing that most alarmed Perrin—it was dyed in
a mottled black and brown, and loose all around her. Convenient for
hiding blades.

Having reached the secret drawer, Perrin set
down the candle. With his free hand he subtly felt for the drawer
and noiselessly slid it open.

“
Who are you?” he
demanded.

“
A friend,” she said,
gingerly approaching the opposite side of the table. “I can’t tell
you my name right now, but I will later.”

Perrin felt in the drawer. “How did you get
into my house?”

His heart sank when he realized the drawer
was empty.

The woman smiled sweetly. “Our mutual friend
helped me in. And Perrin Shin, your knife is not there.”

That’s when Perrin noticed the second shadow
by the front door, and it moved. The dim candle light glinted off
the long knife that normally sat in the table’s drawer, clenched in
the folded arms of a truly massive man.

Perrin sized him up. Not only was he taller,
he was younger and more muscular. Not good. He was as dark as the
woman but his eyes weren’t nearly as gentle as he walked slowly,
forebodingly, to the table.

The small woman continued to smile as if he
were nothing more threatening than a puppy. “This is my escort, my
guard, and my husband. I’m sure you understand how protective he
is. He’ll care for your knife until we’re finished talking.”

Perrin’s chest heaved in frustration.
“There’s only one man outside of my family who knows about the
location of that knife. Where’s Shem Zenos?”

She shook her head. “There’s no Shem Zenos
with us.”

Perrin was losing patience. “Who are you and
what do you want?!” he bellowed, hoping that perhaps he’d arouse
his son and maybe he’d be wise enough to slip out his window and
get some help. But all he heard was snoring from Peto’s
bedroom.

“
We want to help you and
your family,” the woman leaned across the table. “Please, sit down,
former Colonel Shin. I am, what you might consider, a Guarder. And
we come with a proposition. Please, let’s talk.”

---

M
ahrree left after
tidying up the house, leaving Jaytsy sitting grumpily at the table.
She dutifully ate the dinner her mother prepared, while Deck sat
down next to her and rubbed her back.

“
I’m so sorry about today.
The Creator does things with a purpose, and at the right time. The
33
^rd
Day of Planting Season just wasn’t the right
time.”

Jaytsy didn’t respond but dug into the beans
and potatoes with more effort than was necessary.