––––––––
Kit took advantage of Eva giving Lynn a knitting lesson to speak to Meg about the Gallaghers.
"Ah, Miss Meg," she began, "could we go in the back and talk for a minute?"
"Of course," Meg answered. She looked at the girl, and then announced, to the workshop, in general, "I'm not feeling well all of a sudden. So, I'm going to lie down for a few minutes. And, Kit will make me some tea.
"Eva, please take any messages for me, all right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Eva said, looking from Lynn's knitting and over to Meg. Even before Meg and Kit left the workshop, several of the girls looked as if they were about to start chattering, when Eva told them, "No one needs to gossip. Just continue with what you all doing." And the chatter ended immediately.
Meg smiled as she entered the residence behind the workshop. Eva had certainly come a long way in managing the workroom. But then she saw Kit's face, and asked, "What is it?"
"Well, I'd like a chance to speak to Mr. Gus, and Neil, and even the sheriff if you could manage it. And, of course, the real trick will be leaving Lynn alone.
"So, I was hoping I could talk to you, and you could speak to the others."
"All right," Meg said.
"It's about Mrs. Gallagher and her girls. Colleen and I took advantage of Miranda's cold a week or so ago and went to see them."
"Are they well?"
"Yes, I suppose so. You know Gallagher doesn't do anything to provide for them. That's why I asked Mr. Gus to hire Bridget, without speaking to her father. I mean, Mrs. Gallagher told us it was all right."
"What exactly am I supposed to tell the others?"
"Well, we figure it's Gallagher who wants Jacob. So, we asked Mrs. Gallagher if she wanted to adopt him, or even knew about her husband trying to adopt him. And her answer was no.
"The thing is, ever since the baby, Patrick, died he has gotten more and more irritable. She's afraid, Meg. Afraid for both herself and her girls. We need to do something for them."
"Yes, I suppose they do need help. But Kit, what can any of us do? Good man or not, Mr. Gallagher is Mrs. Gallagher's legal husband and the girls' father."
"Well, can't you at least speak to the others about it? Please," Kit said softly.
"Yes, all right," Meg promised. "I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to explain to them."
*****
Victoria and the girls were just leaving the restaurant when Lynn doubled over and groaned. Kit and the doctor hurried her out the door, across the street, and into the surgery.
Kit was already getting Lynn's clothes off, when her water broke. Even though she was told it would happen, a look of horror crossed her face, as she moaned, "Oh, Miss. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be silly," Victoria said, as she moved the girl towards the little room off the surgery where the bed was. "Just let Kit help you undress, while I wash up."
Lynn stood still, looking at the mess she'd already caused. So Kit put an arm around her, and said, "Don't worry about that. It's all right. Once I get you into bed, I'll have that cleaned up in a minute."
Kit soon had her undressed, into one of Meg's hospital nightdresses, and in bed. And, while she left to set things up for the doctor, Victoria was already examining Lynn.
"This is excellent, Lynn," she told the soon-to-be mother. "You're coming along very nicely." Then she eyed the girl and asked, "Have you been having contractions all day?"
"Well," Lynn admitted, "yes. But, at first I wasn't sure that's what they were. I mean, Kathy told me that she'd had pains several times, even weeks before Jacob came."
"Yes, I'd forgotten that. But, really dear, you should have told us at once."
"But this way," Lynn argued, "you two haven't spent the day worrying about me, or fussing over me."
Victoria smiled at her. "Very true. Very true, indeed."
Things progressed throughout the night. At one point, Neil stuck his head in the door and asked if he needed to send for anyone. After he was told no, he announced he'd get a room at the hotel for the rest of the night, made them promise to come for him if they needed him and disappeared.
For being so young, Lynn did very well. She did just as Victoria said to do when she said to do it. And, she was surprisingly quiet, considering, the baby was so large.
"All right, Lynn," the doctor said. "I want you to push with the next contraction. Push just as hard as you can."
"Yes, ma'am. I... I think it's starting," the girl began, and then she let out a yowl.
"It's all right, dear. Make as much noise as you want. You be as loud as you want. Just keep pushing with the contractions."
This continued for hours. Victoria could see that even Kit was wearing down. But she kept quietly encouraging Lynn. "I know, dear. I know. But, don't stop. Just keep imagining holding your baby. All right?"
"Yes, ma'am. But—"
"I know, Lynn."
Kit spoke up, "Remember what the doctor said, just picture yourself holding your baby, Lynn."
"Yes... all right."
"You're doing so well, Lynn. Just keep pushing."
"Yes, ma'am."
The sun was peeping through the windows of the outer room of the surgery, and Victoria was getting worried. As much as she hated risking getting the child addicted to morphine again, she knew Lynn couldn't go through much more.
But she decided to hold off just little longer. She looked the child in the eyes, and said, "One more good push, and the head will be out, Lynn. And, then things should go much faster and easier.
"Keep concentrating," the doctor told her.
She watched Kit grimace, as Lynn crushed her hand, as she bore down again, grinding her teeth from the pain. She let out a blood curdling scream before she sucked in a breath and relaxed a bit. And, then everything came to a grinding halt.
"What's happened?" Lynn asked.
"Well," Kit said, "the baby's head is out, but... but—"
"What Kit is trying to say is that one of the baby's shoulders appear to be stuck," Victoria said, in as relaxed and 'matter of fact' tone she could manage.
" Stuck? Stuck!" Lynn cried out.
"Don't panic, dear. I'm going to have to ease the shoulder out. Then, the baby should just slip right out. And, you'll be holding him in a few minutes."
Kit wrung out a cloth and wiped the young girl's forehead, as she whispered, "Just trust the doctor, Lynn. You know she'd never let anything happen to you or your baby."
"Yes, I suppose so..." Lynn acknowledged then she let out a cry of both surprise and pain, as the doctor eased her hand in, passed the infant's head and into the birth canal, until she could twist the baby's shoulder.
"Ahhh..." Lynn screamed, as she fell back against pillows, exhausted.
"I'm sorry, dear. I know that hurt. But, the good news is, the shoulder is free and the next contraction should have the baby out."
"Are you sure, ma'am? Because, I'm... getting... very tired," she said weakly, then her eyes closed.
Kit shook the hand that still gripped her own and said, "Wake up! Don't give up now. You're nearly there holding that baby."
"But, I'm so tired. Please ma'am, can't I take a little rest."
"No! Don't give up yet! One more push will have the baby out. I promise."
"And, can I go to sleep then?"
"No, sweetheart. Not quite yet," Victoria told her. "But soon."
"It's coming, I think," Lynn cried out.
"Good. Now, when it hits, push as hard as you can."
"Come on, Lynn," Kit added, encouragingly. "You'll be holding your baby in another minute or so."
"All rig—" Lynn began to cry out. But in the end, she let out a shriek, before she collapsed again, sinking into the pillows.
Then, the doctor lifted up a large, squirming infant by its feet until it let out an indignant wail. "It's a girl, Lynn. And, she's perfect. Big, but perfect," she said, as she stepped to the side of the bed, and laid the child across Lynn's belly, before she accepted the scissors and string from Kit.
Meanwhile, Lynn gasped in horror. "You aren't going to use the scissors on her, are you?"
"Yes. Just as soon as I tie off two places on the cord. But, she won't feel it. You won't feel it. I promise."
Lynn went silent, but watched intently, as Victoria cut the baby's umbilical cord, and then handed her to Kit, who quickly cleaned the child and swaddled the infant before handing her to her mother, when the younger girl gave the doctor a meaningful look. And when Victoria asked "What?" she pointed to the baby's collar bone. The doctor felt it gently, as Lynn exclaimed, "What? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing for you to worry about. The baby's collar bone is broken. Probably because she was stuck by that shoulder."
"Broken?" Lynn repeated, looking as if she was about to burst into tears.
"It will be fine, Lynn. It will heal perfectly all by itself. We just need to be extra careful with her when we bathe or dress her.
"Here, why don't you get to know your daughter," Victoria said.
After a moment, Kit massaged Lynn's belly as the doctor told her, "Now, I need you to push with the next contraction. All right?"
"Is there another? I mean, am I having twins?"
"No," Victoria answered, smiling. "You need to expel the afterbirth, but, I promise, it will pass easily. Then, you can let your daughter suckle for a few minutes. And after that you two can both get some much needed rest."
"Well, I'm going to want to change her into a clean nightgown, and remake the bed first," Kit argued, sounding almost wounded.
"Yes," Victoria conceded, smiling as Lynn took her first look at her daughter. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think she's beautiful," Lynn answered, as the child wrapped her hand around one of her mother's fingers.
"Have you thought of a name?" the doctor asked. "I don't remember you talking about names, like Kathy did."
"Oh, yes," Lynn told her. "I decided months ago. If I had a boy, he would have been Andrew Robert. But this," she said, as she held the baby up, "is Margaret Rose."
Victoria looked at the child, no longer a child, but a mother in her own right, and asked, "Are you sure about the name? While I'm very honored, just as I'm sure Meg will be, what about Miranda? She's done so much for you. And, she loves you all very much."
"I know she does. We know that you all love us. You wouldn't have gone through so much if you didn't. Even before you met us, you loved us.
"But, Miranda knows about the name," Lynn continued. "We spoke about it a long time ago."
The doctor took the infant from Lynn's arms, and said, "Well then, it's settled. Welcome to the world, Margaret Rose."
*****
Moira sighed to herself, as she washed the last of the dishes, carried the dishpan out to the back porch and tossed the wash water out. She had to figure out a way to provide more for her children. God knows, Sean wasn't about to.
The girls who worked in town tried not to interact with many people. When they were home, they worked in the garden, helped with the housework, and cared for the younger girls. What kind of life was that for her girls?
They'd all learned at a very early age never to bring attention to themselves or the money they might bring into the house. It wasn't right. But, it was what they had to do to get by.
In fact, it was not unknown for them all to scurry into bed, even if they were still half dressed, when they heard their father come home.
Tonight was no different.
"Hurry up and get into bed, woman," Sean Gallagher snapped at his wife.
"I'll not be getting into bed, at least not with you. I told you I am not getting pregnant again."
"Woman, you'll do as you're told. Do you understand me?"
"Oh, yes. I understand you. But, I am not getting into bed with you."
"It's your duty!"
"Would you like me to point out a few of your duties?" Moira countered. "I could, you know."
"Woman... bed... now!"
"No!"
"Moira, is this the example you want to set for your girls? They need to learn that their husband's word is law."
"Some husbands, perhaps. But not yours. Go find yourself a willing chit and leave me alone."
"Woman! Don't make me tell you again! Bed! Now!"
"If you weren't so drunk, I might be worried. But, as it is, you can barely stand up. So, either crawl into a corner and sleep off the drink, or leave."
"I could divorce you, you know? For refusing me," her husband growled.
"You know, I wish you would. Truly. Go ahead and divorce me. Better yet, why don't you just pack up your things and leave. The girls and I can take care of ourselves. It's not as if we haven't being do it for years."
Gallagher sucked in a breath and for one awful second, Moira was really afraid he would hit her. And, while it wouldn't be the first time, she wasn't feeling strong enough to deal with it right then.
But, as she studied his face, something seemed to change inside of him. A smirk of a smile spread across his face, and he answered, "You know, that's the first good suggestion you've made in our entire marriage. I believe that's exactly what I'll do."
"Your children and I thank you." She shooed him towards the door, as she added, "Good bye." She slammed the door behind him and bolted it.
*****
Sean Gallagher made his way to the barn. Even though Moira's refusal had angered him, he didn't care. She was old and worn out. If it wasn't for him being so manly, he'd never go near her. But, since Harding's house was shut down, Moira was the only game in town. At least, with any regularity.
However, her suggestion about leaving gave him an idea, a brilliant idea. He'd sleep off the whiskey. But in the morning, he'd pack up the wagon with his hunting gear and whatever else he could get a hold of without drawing attention to himself and leave.
He'd leave his smart-mouthed wife and her pack of brats and move on.
But first, he had one little stop to make.