Title: The Birthin' Author: Genie ~~Disclaimers: (the usual) any additional characters are my own (such as Amelia Fairlight). The LeSourd family owns Christy. I am in no way seeking profit from this story. It is for entertainment only~~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The Birthin' MAIN CHARACTERS: Dr. Neil MacNeill, the physician of the Cove. Christy Rudd Huddleston MacNeill, his wife and former schoolteacher of the cove. Their child, Amelia Fairlight, is named for Christy's deceased sister and best friend. Part 1 The Great Smokies, I drank in the view of the mountains, as I rocked Amelia. When she finally drifted off to sleep, I placed her into the old MacNeill crib that had been in the family for generations. She was so beautiful just lying there. 'So much of her father is in her,' I thought, as I studied her features. From her curly red hair to her dainty little toes, she was like her Papa. Neil always said she looked like me. I suppose because of her big blue eyes and facial expressions. Amelia Fairlight MacNeill was born on the night of April 1st 1914. Neil was out on a call… *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "It's too early for the baby!" I kept muttering to myself through clenched teeth. I was in our cabin. I was alone. I knew that it was about five weeks to early. The earlier words of my friend Opal came into mind, "That baby's gonna be a'comin' soon, Miz Christy!" Then, I had denied it, but even I had had the strange feeling she was right. But, I had ignored it and had told Neil that I'd be fine when he went out on a call. He went to the O'Teales on an emergency call for Mountie O'Teale, a former student of mine, who was and still remained close to my heart. She was sick and her mother, Swannie, was worried. The pain was now bearable enough for me to climb into our bed downstairs. Thankfully, when we found out that I was pregnant, Neil put our bedroom in the old lab and put his lab upstairs in our old bedroom. I cried out as another contraction left me doubled-over. I tried to think of anything that I could do to get help. That was when it occurred to me. 'Alice is supposed to come over after her calls. She said she would be here by mid afternoon. I can't deliver my own baby! I pondered to myself. I looked past the doorway to the old cherry clock on the mantel. It read eleven o'clock. She won't make it, I thought. So, I did the only thing that I knew to do in such a crisis, I prayed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Giant shadows on the walls moved, danced like monsters ready to spring. With a crash the axe bit deep into the floorboard under the table. I clapped my hands over my mouth to stifle a scream. Then, with shaking hands the woman took a string and tied it around one of her husband's wrists. The sickly smell of ether reached my nose, I bolted through the crowd and out the door... Finally, a voice spoke from the shadows: my friend, Mr. Pentland. "You must be real tired," he said kindly. "Why don't I take you on to the mission? It's not far now--" … Now that we were almost to our destination, I could feel tears of exhaustion just under the surface. Through a haze of fatigue I saw a tall young man with black hair, warm brown eyes, a wide smile, heard a deep voice… I awoke from my half-consciousness to a loud pounding, I quickly glanced over to the clock, and it was two o'clock. My contractions had not gotten much closer since the last time that I looked. Again, there was the pounding. "Oh!" I exclaimed as I realized that the pounding was actually someone knocking on the door. "Miss Alice! HELP ME!" I screamed with all the strength that I could muster. I heard the old cabin door open quickly. "CHRISTY?" she exclaimed as she bolted through the bedroom door. Her eyes were wide with worry once she could tell that I was in labor. "It's too early…It's too early!" "God's timing is perfect Mrs. MacNeill. I will get my bag," she said as she left our room to get her supplies. I anxiously awaited her return. When she came back, she examined me. I was silent during the thorough examination. With the exception of an occasional painful moan. I studied her face to see if it mirrored any emotion or expression. Unfortunately, I had to wait because her face remained blank. After she was done. I asked her, "is everything alright, Miss Alice?" "You certainly our correct about it being too early, Christy. But, the baby should be fine…" "But, won't the she be too small?" "He or she," she emphasized, "will be tiny," she thought for a moment, "he or she " again, she emphasized, "might just need a little bit of extra care for a while." I sighed from relief and exhaustion. Part 2 I had been in labor for a while. I was exhausted. 'How will I be able to get through this,' I thought. It was nearly five-thirty. Alice had a worried expression on her face. I had resisted asking her before, but I couldn't hold it in any longer. "Miss Alice? Is something wrong?" "Why do you ask that, Christy?" "It's just…" "Yes, Christy?" "You look so worried!" "That, Mrs. MacNeill, is because I am worried," she simply replied. This wasn't good enough for me. "But, why…earlier you said nothing was wrong?" She didn't smile or seem too surprised that I had asked the question. This worried me even more, because if nothing were wrong she would have smiled at my eagerness. "I am not sure." she paused. "If only Neil were here…" her voice trailed off. Oh no, I thought, what if something goes wrong and Neil doesn't make it in time? She must have seen my pained expression or she wouldn't have said, "no need to worry, dear. I believe he was going to check on Mountie, wasn't he?" I nodded my head in agreement and responded, "She had a cold earlier. Neil said that Swannie was probably just fretting over noth-" A strong contraction broke me from my response. She murmured soothing words and rubbed my back until it passed. She picked up our conversation, as if it had never been interrupted. "Well, then… hopefully, he shall return soon." Her eyes betrayed her strong voice. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 6 hours later… "How much longer?" I complained in a strained voice. It was clear how much I was enjoying this. Miss Alice smiled. "Hmm. How much longer… I can truthfully say that I don't know, Mrs. MacNeill." I frowned. "It has been way too long," I clenched my teeth. "What can be taking Neil so long?" 'Neil can practically never go out on his normal calls without getting called to another medical emergency,' I thought as I stared off into space, my eyes wide, 'For all I know he could be fifty miles away. And without any clue that his wife is in pre-mature labor!' "Christy?" Miss Alice broke me from my reverie. She studied me. "How is thee feeling, dear?" "Like I'm in labor!" I snapped. I immediately regretted my action. "Oh! I'm sorry, Alice," I apologized, "I didn't mean to snap at you." "That's perfectly understandable, Christy." Her tone told me that she really did understand. "Thank you," I sighed. She said something that I could not quite make out. "What?" I asked. "You should try to rest in between contractions." Again, I sighed. "I'll try." I did as she said. Or at least, I tried. It proved to be a bit too hard. After I had unsuccessfully tried to doze, Miss Alice handed me a glass filled with cloudy water. "Here, take this. It may help with the pain." "It may?" She gave me one of her looks. I rolled my eyes, which wasn't lost on Alice, and drank the bitter, powdery liquid. It made my tongue curl up to the roof of my mouth. I wrinkled my nose, which Miss Alice noticed. "It cannot taste that bad." I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by a strong contraction. "O-owe! It hurts!" 'Doubled-over, once again,' I thought. "It didn't help," I firmly stated. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The rest of my labor was uneventful. Until… Alice walked over to her medical bag and brought out a few instruments that I had no idea were called. "It's time to start pushing, child," she said quietly. "What?" I said a bit groggily. "Can't it wait, Miss Alice?" I said as I shifted from my position in bed and partially sat up. She chuckled and said, "Well, can thee hold it in, dear?" "Of course." I said in a huff. There was a brief silence. During it, I thought and spoke up, "I am eager to see this little one, though." She smiled as she said, "As is Neil, and I, and the school children, and the whole cove for that matter!" We both smiled. She put he guard back up as quickly as she had put it down and became the nurse again. "Are you ready, Christy?" I took a deep breath. "Yes. I suppose I am." She positioned herself at the end of the bed and told me to push… *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "It's a girl!" she exclaimed as she held the baby. My droopy eyelids took in the beautiful sight of my first child. My brief moment of bliss was replaced with worry. She began to clean her up as I asked, "Is she alright, Alice?" She said nothing as she concentrated on my daughter and wrapped her snuggly in a blanket. Then, Alice walked out the bedroom door and straight to the fireplace. "I would let thee see her, but I need to keep her warm." "I understand." I interjected. She quietly answered my question, "She will be fine, I hope." Part 3 That night, Alice stayed up with my daughter. She just sat by the fire whispering and cooing to her. She said that she would be up all night with her and that I had had a long labor and should get some sleep. I hesitated but finally drifted into not-so-peaceful slumber. The next morning I was awakened by some voices in the next room. I was too tired to tell who it was. "Oh, she's beautiful!" he exclaimed. "Isn't she?" "Just like Christy! Oh! How is Christy?" "She is very tired. Sleeping, now." "Which is to be expected, I am sure." "Well, yes." "I wish I could see her. But, it is early and I'm sure she needs her beauty rest. Well I should get going soon. I need to get on to Lufty Branch to preach." David. It was David Grantland, the cove's minister. I didn't really want to see David in my state so I decided not to tell them that I was awake. Besides, I wanted to eavesdrop a little longer. He continued, "Anyway, I just stopped by because, Ida sent me to fetch you. You know how worried she can get." 'He must have just recently arrived,' I thought as I quietly listened to their conversation. Though, I was finding it hard from my exhaustion, I listened in anyhow. I lied back onto my pillow, closed my eyes, and concentrated on their words. "She is a lot like Neil, also, David," she answered his earlier remark about her being like me. "I was referring to her large blue eyes, Alice. But, that little patch of red hair definitely tells you that she's the doctor's kin." Alice agreed with a laugh. A smile crept to my lips. All of their describing of my daughter was making me anxious to see my daughter. "I should get going. Give the MacNeill's my congratulations, will you?" "Of course, David." she said as I heard her open the cabin's front door. "Goodbye, then." He said and was out the door. I soon fell back asleep. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* I awoke again. This time to someone booming, "WHAT?" I did not have any idea what time it was. So, I glanced over at the clock. 'It's already eleven o'clock. I want to see my baby!' I thought I might burst if I didn't get to see my child. My thoughts were torn away from me as I heard some bustling about in the next room. I heard voices again. "Is it Neil?" I wondered aloud. And the next thing I knew Neil was in our bedroom showering me with kisses. "What-Neil-" He just smiled and quickly said, "Thank you for the wonderful gift! Oh! How do you feel? I heard you had a long labor!" He paused for a moment. Then, continued even faster than before, "It's so funny! I just came home and there she was! I had no idea whose child it was, that's when I noticed Alice. She said 'Happy Father's Day, Neil'! I was just about to tell her that it wasn't Father's Day when I realized what she was talking about!" It was all coming together now, "Oh," I responded just as eagerly, "how is she? Is she all right? Alice told me to rest. And I couldn't just get up and see for myself!" "Yes, I examined her just now. It was a brief examination, though. I was eager to see how you were." "Can I see her, Neil? I haven't even held her yet! I wanted to see her earlier but Alice gave me the impression that I couldn't." "Really?" he asked. "Of course you can see her!" "I'll go get her. Be right back," he said as he kissed me once more. When he came back, he held our baby girl. Neil was talking to her, saying things like, "You're a wee one, aren't you?" and "Yes, you are." I smiled. He was a wonderful father already. This was the first time I had really seen her up-close and personal. My eyes were wide and my mouth agape. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever set my eyes on. I held my hands out. He set her in my arms. "O-o…hello…" I was literally speechless. "She-she's so-" I couldn't express my joy, so I began to weep softly. Neil sat down on the edge of the bed and held me. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Later, after we put the baby down to bed, Neil and I were in our living room. He had helped me walk over to the sofa, where we both were now talking. "You know," Neil casually said, "we can't just keep on calling her 'baby girl'. We haven't even picked out any names yet!" I leaned heavily against him and sighed, racking my brain for my favorite names. "Are you alright?" he asked. "You seem very worn out." I turned to look at him, "I was just trying to put some names together." "Hmmm…I've always liked the name Bethany," he suggested. I wrinkled my nose. "What? You don't like it?" "That was my pet dog's name when I was a little girl." He made a surprised face and asked, "What on earth made you want to name your dog Bethany?" "I was very little," I paused trying to think of an excuse, "I think I just liked the name." "Alright, then, any suggestions?" "How about we name her after someone?" "Like who? I like your mother's name." "I do like the name. But, she doesn't look like a Julia." I tried to think of someone that I'd name her after. That's when a name popped into my head, actually, two names. "How about Amelia Fairlight MacNeill!" He considered this, "I love it! After your sister and Fairlight. It sounds good together, too." I smiled; content with the name we had chosen. I looked around the room. It was cleaner than before I had gone into labor. "Did Alice clean up?" He looked around and commented, "I suppose she did." "Speaking of Alice, where is she?" "She left when we put," and he smiled as he said her name, "Amelia to bed." Part 4 "Hellooo," I heard someone calling from the yard. "Teacher an' doc, is you in thar?" Another small voice called-out, "Miz Chwisty, we come to see the new ba-aby!" Though, Amelia was not "new" anymore, at three weeks, some people had not yet seen her. Neil put down his medical journals and his pipe, which had been passed down through generations.. I cast a sidelong glance at the doctor, as he slipped into the bedroom, obviously knowing whom they came to see. Wondering whom it was, I put down the biscuit dough and went to the door, stopping to wipe my flour-covered hands on my apron. I smiled as I beheld Opal McHone, Ruby Mae Beck, who was balancing a wobbling baby on her hip, and a very well Mountie O'Teale was grinning up at me. "Why, hello, Mountie," I greeted as I grabbed her hand and motioned for them to come in. I continued as she smiled shyly, "I haven't seen you in a while, how have you been? I see that you are not sick anymore." Before she could answer, Ruby Mae fired off, "Everybody, else just been so busy with the spring plantin' an' all. That's why nobody been here since the birthin'." I sat down in the wingback chair pulling Mountie into my lap. Opal and Ruby Mae sat on the sofa. Opal spoke up for the first time. "We cain't stay long, just long 'nough to see the babe." "Neil just went-" I stopped short as a grinning Neil stepped out of the room holding a bundled blanket, which contained a baby, somewhere. Mountie wiggled in my lap as her eyes followed Neil. He still did not look up from Amy as he slid onto the rocking chair. Just as his back hit the spindles, Mountie was at his side. "Do you want to hold her, Mountie?" "Kin I, really?" "Sure, you can!" Neil rose as he instructed, "Now, sit here, and hold out your arms like this." He gently placed her into Mountie's waiting arms and added, "make sure that you hold her head up like--," he demonstrated, "that." Amelia squirmed and gurgled as Mountie giggled. She softly sang as she barely rocked her back and forth, "Hush, little baby…" 'The little things in life,' I thought, 'is what makes it worth living.' I proceeded to begin a conversation with the women. "How's tiny Will junoir, here?" I motioned to the baby in her lap. "He's a'teethin', now," she answered, "never before have I saw a baby woller as much as this 'un!" Laughing, I said, "you should hear Amelia in the middle of the night!" Opal McHone spoke up for the first time, thoughtfully she barely breathed, and "That's a mighty purty name, Miz Christy. How'd you come by that…Amelia?" Wincing at the painful memory, I politely answered, "It was my little sister's name. She died when she was very young. I thought it might be a final farewell to Amelia by naming my daughter after her." The reply was a soft "Oh." "What would her full name be, Missus Christy?" "Her full name, Ruby Mae, is Amelia Fairlight MacNeill." Neil answered in his deep baritone voice that matched his looks, tousled red hair--that gave him a sort of boyish quality-- broad shoulders, a barrel chest, and tall frame. "That be a bea-utiful name! Why, I wish I had thought of that!" "Well, Mrs. Beck," I said teasingly, "You do not have a baby girl." "Well, I am havin' one. I went a'visitin' with Granny Barclay the other day an' she said this 'un ," rubbed her stomach for effect, "was gonna' be a girl," she announced proudly. "Ruby Mae Beck! Why didn't you tell me that you were expecting?" I twisted my head in the direction of Neil. He hadn't even told me. He was, after all, the doctor of the cove. He knew these things before anyone else. She grinned and looked around at the unexpected faces. "Weel, Will don't even know yet. I didn't wanna spread it afore I told my own husband." 'Just like Ruby Mae, she has never been able to keep a secret!' "If you still want it kept a secret, we won't tell anyone," I suggested. "Oh, would ya' not tell anyone?" I looked around to the faces of Neil and Opal. "We wouldn't tell, would we?" "I can keep a secret." "I won't tell a blessed soul, Ruby." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Opal did not say much during their visit. She mainly kept her eyes on Mountie and Ameila. I wondered if something was bothering her. In an attempt to find out, or even get little information, I asked, "Opal, how are the boys?" I cleared my throat, trying to get her attention, but she did not even look at me. She quietly stood, and walked to the rocking chair, which seated Mountie and Amy. Amelia reached a tiny hand out. "She reminds me o' my little girl babe," Mrs. McHone sadly said. "Kin I hold 'er, doc?" Her words hit me like a slap in the face. 'NO! Not after what happened with her baby. I can not let her touch my child!' Part 5 All time stood still as I went back into the past when Opal's oldest son, Isaak, ran to the mission, banged on the door and told me to come quickly to the Holcombe cabin. Opal's granny had taught her a false, superstitious condition that the mountain people called liver-growed. It was said that if you touched the baby's heals to its head it would then be cured. This act had broken Opal's baby girl's back, killing her only girl of 3 boys. Opal was so upset she spoke very rarely and even then only to her family. She told Isaak to ask if I could help prepare the baby for burial. Neil didn't hesitate, "Sure you-" I stood up abruptly, and was at their side before he could finish. "Umm… Amelia hasn't been fed in a while-I should feed her or she'll get fussy." Rushing to get the baby, I put my arms in-between Opal and Amelia blocking Opal access to the helpless baby. I picked Amy up, rocked her gently and murmured soothing words as I cantered into our room, closing the door behind me. We sat in the rocking chair by the window; the light pouring from it illuminated Amelia's chubby face. She looked up at me, almost questioningly. I rocked her back and forth, keeping my eyes locked on her. Still a little shaken up, I did not even think about the people outside the closed privacy of my bedroom or what they were thinking themselves. The fear of losing Amelia was still present. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you," I whispered softly, shakily looking her square in the eyes. Minutes must have passed, but I had no track of time. Amelia was sleeping in her crib now. I was still watching over her. "What happened out there, Christy?" Neil's voice was low-so low that it didn't startle me-and his tone gentle. "How long have you been in here?" "Five minutes, maybe. Please, answer my question, darling." "Are they still here?" "No. They left saying that it was about time to go. Not long after you did yourself." "What did you say?" "I apologized for your behavior." "I'm sorry." He moved to the bed and sat down, crossing his right leg over his left, propping his right elbow up and resting his chin on his fist. "What are you sorry about? Why did you act so… odd?" "When Opal asked to see Amelia, all I could think about was what happened with her baby. I didn't trust her. I couldn't. I just could not let her touch my baby… our baby." He stood up and walked in two long strides to me. He looked into the crib gazing at Amelia. "Our baby…" he repeated. He turned to me and took my hands, pulling me to my feet. He held me close, stroking my hair. He murmured in my ear, "That was a couple years ago. I've known her my entire life; I believe that she has learned her lesson, darling." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "Waa!" Amelia apparently had gotten enough sleep. 'Always interrupted when I'm making biscuits!' I put the cutter down and asked, "Doctor, can you get her?" He grunted and muttered as he disappeared into our room. "Why are you calling me 'doctor'?" he muttered as he disappeared into the bedroom. He came out of the room holding her high in the air in front of his face. "Why does momma always make me take care of you, huh? Is it because I'm the doctor? Is it in my job description?" "Of course it is," I answered as I put the biscuits in the oven. "I have a handful of chores to do and all that you do is sit at your desk reading your journals!" He stood there for a moment holding Amelia in mid-air. "Apparently, Mother doesn't know that I made up the bed today!" He was talking to Amy. "Yes, mother does know that Papa made the bed this morning. Mother also re-made the bed after she saw such a mess Papa made!" Neil chose to ignore this and began a new conversation, "Are we ever going to get to eat?" I didn't answer as I poured a glass of milk. He did not really expect any answer. He held Amelia in his left arm, cradling her to his chest. He stretched out in the wing back chair, picked up his medical journals, and appeared to be reading. "Dinner is ready," I later announced. I waited for an answer but none came. "Neil? I said supper is ready!" I quietly walked into the living room. Neil and Amelia were reclining in the wingback chair, both of them asleep. 'Well he wasn't that hungry,' I mused to myself. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* After Neil awoke and ate, he cranked up the victrola asking, "Can I have this dance, ma'am?" He bowed politely as he took my hand in his larger one. I had never seen myself as a very good dancer, but loved to dance. We swept across the floor in a waltz of our own. The door was open, letting the spring air in. We carried our dance out onto the front porch, where the sunset and chirping crickets lay. We reached the stairs on the edge of the porch; I was wondering how to get down the steep steps while still dancing. It did not discourage Neil. He ended (or should I say paused) our dance and swept me into his arms all in one movement. He carried me down the stairs ignoring my protests. Placing me on the packed soil, he picked up our dance as if the stairs had never been an obstacle. We whirled and twirled in the direction of the river shore. It was Ruby Mae's wedding all over again. The look in his eyes, the way he studied me as if he was taking in every detail; inside and out. Our dance eventually came to an end. He took my hand as we strolled to the edge of the bubbly, swirling water. I looked out across the river. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Neil's intent stare. I turned my head, a questionable look on my face. "I love you," he said matter-of-factly. A smile couldn't help but light my face. "And I love you, doctor." He pulled me to him, smiling, and tilted my head toward his. I rose up on my toes and wrapped my arms about his neck, as he kissed me passionately. THE END (I just couldn't resist a little Neil and Christy kiss!)