“Bloody hell,” she mumbled in frustration.
“What do ye need?”he asked.
“Mint.”
He grimaced doubtfully, but he upended his satchel anyway and began rummaging through the copious contents.
Meanwhile she continued reciting under her breath every prayer she knew, praising God in His mercy, calling on the Lord’s forgiveness, beseeching Him to restore the wee bairn to health, giving Him all glory and praise.
To her amazement, Adam returned with a packet of dried mint.Was there anything he didn’t have in that satchel?
“Can ye heat a wee bit o’ water?”she called over her shoulder to the bairn’s mother.“Not too hot, warm to the touch.”
The woman nodded.
It would take several moments before the water was warm enough to steep the mint and make an infusion to help the bairn breathe.
Adam apparently thought that was too long.Before Eve could protest, he snatched the bairn from her, pinched its nose closed, and blew a light breath into his mouth.
She was mortified and curious all at once.Would that work?
The air trickled out, but the bairn didn’t take another breath in.
Adam repeated the process with the same result.
Five more times he blew into the bairn’s mouth, inflating his wee lungs.But nothing helped.
“The water’s warm,” the mother called out.
Eve took the bairn from Adam and said, “Put the mint in the water, and bring the wet rag.”
She prayed once again.This time with more force.
“Almighty God, ye have the strength and the wisdom to perform miracles.Ye know the answer to all questions.Ye have the power to heal all ills.Prithee do not abandon this child in his innocence, this child who will one day be your faithful servant.Do not torment this devoted family by takin’ away the source o’ their joy and the lamb o’ their comfort.Prithee remove the Devil’s hand from the bairn’s throat, and breathe the Holy Spirit into him, in the name o’ Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.”
Adam brought the small pot of hot water on a thick pad of linen.She flipped the bairn over on his belly along her forearm and draped the wet rag over his head and the steaming pot, trapping the mist beneath for him to breathe.
But she could feel nothing on her forearm.No movement at all.
Tears started in her eyes.And she suddenly realized with horror why it wasn’t working.Why God wouldn’t answer her prayers.
It was too late.She knew that.Yet in desperation, she offered one last silent entreaty.
Merciful Lord, prithee do not suffer this bairn to die for my sake.Forgive me all the sins that I have done, thought, and said.Send me cleanness of heart and purity of soul.Strengthen me with your might, that I may always withstand evil temptations.If ye will in your infinite mercy save this bairn, I vow I will live virtuously and love ye with all my heart, with all my might, and with all my soul, so that I may never offend ye, but ever follow your pleasure in will, word, thought, and deed, through Jesus Christ Thy Son.Amen.
Adam murmured gently, “M’lady, I think he’s gone.”
“Nay.”The word came out on a sob.“Nay, he can’t be.”
But she knew he was right.
And now she realized it was her fault.
She had forsaken her calling.Succumbed to earthly temptations.
And this was her punishment.
Tears rolled down her face, past her trembling chin.
