The Hard Land-Part 28
A story of love and survival
Frank plunged the tines of the Jackson fork into the pile of hay and motioned to his son Hank. Hank kicked the mare in the flanks, and she began to move forward. With its load of hay, the fork started to rise, and Frank let the trip rope slip through his gloved hands.
He watched the hay soar through the air as Earl pulled on the guide rope, guiding the fork into just the right place on the growing haystack. At Earl’s signal, gave a tug on the trip rope and the pile of hay fell into place where, with little effort, Earl used his pitchfork to keep the stack level. Frank motioned for Hank to back the mare up and the fork dropped down for another load.
Frank straightened from pushing the fork into the hay when he saw Charlotte running from the house, her dress flapping in the wind. He looked up in the sky to see if the sun was directly overhead signaling lunchtime, but it was barely halfway up the sky. Something was wrong.
“Mama says you need to come to the house right now,” Charlotte gasped, out of breath from running.
Frank jumped from the wagon and sprinted to the house, outpacing Charlotte’s short legs. When Charlotte reached the house, Frank was kneeling beside Anna’s bedside, holding her hand.
He turned to Charlotte, “Get Elizabeth. I’m going for the doctor.”
Frank ran back to the barnyard where Hank sat on the horse.
“Let me have the mare,” Frank said, helping Hank down from the saddle.
Frank climbed into the saddle, not taking the time to adjust the stirrups which were too short for him. As he rode out of the yard, he called to Earl. “Get Matilda Benson.”
Earl jumped from the haystack and saddled his mare. He flung himself into the saddle and headed for the neighboring farm. Without dismounting, Earl unhitched the gate and rode to the Benson’s house.
Matilda opened the door as soon as Earl knocked.
“Anna’s time has come,” Earl said.
Matilda grabbed the black bag she kept by the front door for just such occasions. “Didn’t you bring the buggy?” Matilda asked, looking past Earl at the mare standing in the yard.
“No, I didn’t think about that,” Earl admitted.
“Well, let me take your horse. You can walk back, can’t you?”
“Sure,” Earl said, helping Matilda into the saddle. He handed her the black bag and began the walk back to the farm.
Having been abandoned by the adults, Hank wandered back to the house.
“What’s going on?” he asked Charlotte as he stepped into the house.
“Ma’s having the baby,” Charlotte whispered.
“Where did Pa go?”
“He went for the doctor, and Earl went for Sister Benson.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Hank asked, confused.
“Go watch for Earl and Sister Benson to come. I am going to sit with Ma.”
Hank ran out the front door and perched on the fence post next to the gate. A rider on horseback appeared on the road. It was Earl’s horse, but it was not Earl riding. He’d seen his uncle ride enough to know that it was someone else on the horse. As the rider got closer, Hank recognized Matilda Benson. She had a black bag slung over the saddle horn. He knew Sister Benson was a midwife and delivered babies. He wondered if the baby was in the little black bag.
Hank swung the gate open, and Sister Benson rode through. He ran after her and helped her down from the saddle. She reached up and took her bag from the saddle horn.
She handed the reins to Hank and said, “You better take care of Earl’s horse.” With a quick smile, she climbed the stairs and disappeared into the house.
Matilda found Elizabeth and Charlotte keeping Anna company. “Earl will be along in a few minutes,” Matilda said. “I took his horse, and he’s walking back.”
“He didn’t think to take the wagon?” Elizabeth asked.
“Men are not much help in a situation like this.” Matilda chuckled. “They seem to lose their minds as soon as they hear about a woman giving birth.”
“Frank went to town for the doctor,” Anna said before another contraction swept over her.
“I don’t think the doctor will be here in time,” Matilda said, “but it won’t hurt to have him here to check you and the baby over.”
An hour later, Matilda sent Charlotte to the kitchen to boil water.
“I don’t need the water,” Matilda confided to Elizabeth, “but I don’t think that Charlotte needs to see this part.” She lifted the blankets. “The baby’s almost here. Anna, do you think you can push with the next contraction?”
Anna nodded her head. Less than a minute later a contraction came, and Anna pushed. A scream escaped her lips.
“Good, rest until the next contraction comes,” Matilda said.
Anna laid back, but it was a short rest as another contraction racked her body. She pushed as Matilda directed. Another short rest and another contraction.
“You’re doing great. Bear down this time.” Matilda positioned herself to help the baby enter the world. A small head appeared and then the shoulders. Matilda took the baby into her arms and laid it across Anna’s chest.
Anna wrapped her arms around the baby and held it while Matilda cut the umbilical cord.
“It’s a girl,” Matilda announced, noticing the tears in Anna’s eyes.
“I have the water boiling,” Charlotte said as she returned to the room. Her eyes grew big as she saw the baby lying across her mother’s chest. “Is it a girl?” she asked.
“Yes,” Anna said. “You have a sister.”
Charlotte stepped closer and reached out her hand then drew back.
“It’s okay, but you might want to wait until Matilda gets her cleaned up a little,” Anna said.
The sound of horses reached the house. The front door flew open, and Frank and the doctor hurried into the house. The doctor took one look at Anna and the baby before he turned to Matilda. “Looks like you beat me again.”
“It’s just that I am so much closer than you,” Matilda grinned. “I think this is where you know a lot more than me.” Matilda stepped aside so the doctor could examine the mother and baby.
“How’s everything,” Frank asked when the doctor came out of the bedroom.
“Anna and your daughter are doing fine. I’ll be heading back to town.” The doctor gathered his things and started for the door. “Good day.”
Frank watched the doctor turn his buggy around and pass under the gnarled box elder tree. The doctor had not gone far when he was overtaken by a boy riding hard. Frank recognized the boy and ran to the road to see if he could help.
He arrived just in time to hear the boy say, “Doc, my ma’s in labor and is having a hard time.”
“Who’s your mother?” the doctor asked.
“Maria Hanson, my Pa’s John Hanson.”
“Lead the way.”
He turned to Frank. “Have Matilda come to the Hanson’s as soon as possible.”
“I will,” Frank said. He turned and ran to the house.
He found Matilda finishing cleaning up the baby.
“The doctor needs you at the Hanson’s.”
Matilda’s face grew grim, and she gathered her little black bag. She headed for the door, then turned, and called over her shoulder. “Elizabeth, can you finish cleaning the room? I better get going.” Then she stopped. “I’ll need your horse again, Earl.”
“You better take mine,” Frank said. “She is still saddled and ready to go. Earl already put his in the barn.”
“That will work.” Matilda went to the yard, mounted Frank’s horse, and rode toward the Hanson’s place.
Four hours later, a weary Matilda rode slowly into the Jolley’s yard. She tied the horse to the rail and climbed the stairs to the house. Frank opened the door as soon as she knocked. He could tell by her face things had not gone well at the Hanson’s.
“Do you want to come in?” Frank asked.
“No. I need to get home.”
“I understand. Let me get the wagon, and I’ll take you home. You look very tired.”
“Thank you, Frank. You have no idea how exhausted I am.” Her voice trailed off to a whisper. “It is extremely difficult when a baby is lost.”
“I’m sorry. How is Maria?”
“She’s alive, but not well. The doctor is still with her.”
“Please come in and sit while I get the wagon ready.”
Matilda reluctantly took a seat. She didn’t want to be a burden on this family. After all, it was only a few hours since Anna had given birth.
When Frank left for the barn, Matilda put her head on the table and sobbed. She didn’t hear Charlotte come into the kitchen.
“What’s the matter, Sister Benson? Are you sad?”
“Yes, Charlotte, I am very sad.”
“Why?”
Matilda did not answer. Instead, she asked, “How is your sister doing?”
“She sleeps a lot.”
“That’s good, and how is your mother?
“She’s sleeping too. I was going to fix Pa and Hank some supper. That is why I came into the kitchen. Is Mrs. Hanson’s baby sleeping too?”
“Mrs. Hanson’s baby didn’t live,” Matilda said wiping a tear from her eye.
“Is that why you are sad?”
“Yes, Charlotte, I am always sad when a baby dies.”
Frank opened the back door. “I have the wagon ready, Matilda. I’ll take you home now.”
Matilda followed Frank out the back door, but before she pulled it shut behind her, she turned to Charlotte. “The Hansons will be sad for a few days. Maybe you can cheer up Marla, but I wouldn’t talk about babies for a few weeks.”
“I won’t,” Charlotte said. She had a new baby sister and Marla did not. It was simple even for a ten-year-old to understand.
By the time Frank returned from taking Matilda home, Charlotte had supper on the table and had even gotten Hank to wash up. They ate supper and then Frank carried a plate to Anna. She sat up in the bed and held the baby in her arms.
“Let me take her while you eat something,” Frank said.
“Thank you. How is Maria? Did she have a boy or a girl?” Anna asked.
Frank hesitated before he answered, but he figured there was no use sugarcoating the truth. “The baby didn’t live, and Maria is not doing well. The doctor was still with her when Matilda left.”
“Oh, I am so sorry. Maria is a good woman, and she has those other children to care for. I hope the doctor can help her.” Anna patted the sleeping baby lying next to her.
“Me too. Now you eat.”
Frank picked up the little bundle and snuggled it close, while Anna picked at the food.
She sat the plate on the table that Frank had pulled up to the side of the bed and reached out her arms for the baby. Frank placed the baby back in Anna’s arms and kissed Anna on the forehead. He picked up the plate and carried it back to the kitchen. He sat down at the table and rested his head in his hands, tears coming to his eyes. Despite his joy of having a healthy baby girl, his heart ached for the Hansons.
