Nathaniel’s panic became visible.
Ben grabbed his shoulders.
“Listen.”
“Lana has helped births.”
Nathaniel stared.
“Babies?”
“Three.”
“Human?”
Ben blinked.
“Yes, Nathaniel.”
“Human.”
Lana arrived forty minutes later.
Adeline’s labor advanced slowly.
Hours.
Pain.
Sweat.
Fear.
Nathaniel stayed until Lana ordered him outside.
“You’re making her nervous.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You look like you’re attending an execution.”
“I’m concerned.”
“Go chop wood.”
“I have wood.”
“Chop more.”
Nathaniel chopped enough wood to survive three winters.
By evening, Adeline screamed his name.
He dropped the axe and ran.
Lana met him at the door.
“She wants you.”
Nathaniel entered.
Adeline lay exhausted.
Her hair loose.
Face pale.
The bed looked too small.
He took her hand.
She squeezed so hard his fingers went numb.
“Don’t leave.”
“I won’t.”
Hours later, the baby still had not come.
Lana’s face showed concern.
Nathaniel caught it.
“What?”
“Position.”
“What does that mean?”
“Baby may be turned.”
Adeline’s eyes filled with terror.
Nathaniel leaned close.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“We’re here.”
“That is not useful.”
“I know.”
“I have no useful information.”
She almost laughed through pain.
Nathaniel kissed her forehead.
Then another contraction took her.
Near midnight, a rider arrived.
Doctor.
Ben had somehow crossed upstream with another ranch hand and reached town.
The doctor examined Adeline.
His expression concerned Nathaniel.
But he worked calmly.
Hours passed.
Then at two-seventeen in the morning, a cry broke through the house.
Thin.
Angry.
Alive.
Nathaniel stopped breathing.
The doctor lifted a baby girl.
Tiny.
Red-faced.
Furious.
Adeline began sobbing.
Nathaniel did too.
Openly this time.
No dust excuse.
The baby was placed against Adeline.
She stared.
“My God.”
Nathaniel stood beside the bed trembling.
Adeline looked up.
“Come here.”
He approached.
The baby’s hand opened.
Closed around nothing.
Nathaniel touched one finger to her palm.
She gripped it.
His knees nearly failed.
Adeline whispered:
“Meet your daughter.”
Nathaniel looked at her.
Then the baby.
Something inside him surrendered completely.
“What do we call her?”
Adeline looked toward him.
“I thought perhaps Clara.”
Nathaniel smiled.