Shehopedso? He had to get her to Settler’s Fort. "What can I do to help? I’ll make a bed in the back of the wagon. You’ll be more comfortable there."
Her smile held relief. "Thank you."
He moved back to the pot and kettle. "I'll scarf down some food, then go hitch the team. We can head out as soon as you're ready."
* * *
She couldn't go on much longer.
Katie gripped the crate handle she’d been clutching all day, curling into herself as the burning pain wrapped around her belly. She would have to ask Mr. Long to stop.
The pains were taking her breath and all her concentration to endure, and each bump and jolt of the wagon felt like a red hot knife searing her flesh.
She had no notion of where they were, only that four days had passed since she left the homestead and they’d been climbing upward ever since they stopped to let the horses rest at noon.
As that pain ebbed, she uncurled herself and lifted her head to call up to the bench. "Mr. Long?" Her voice came out weak and shaky.
"Yes, ma'am?" He twisted to look at her. "What's wrong?"
She hated to show her weakness, but she had to. "Do you plan to make camp soon?" He must think her a weakling, getting to lie here all day and still asking to stop early. These pains were real, though. Her time had come. She would have to tell him that at some point, but that could wait a little longer.
"I see an overhang up ahead, and I think that's a water flow near it. About five more minutes all right?"
Her body sagged with relief. "That's good."
As he called encouragement to the mules, another pain gripped her middle, enfolding her with the burning pressure that made it hard to breathe. She struggled to take in slow, steady breaths as the housewifery book had said. As soon as they made camp, she would pull it out, though she'd memorized the entire section about what to expect during childbirth. Could she manage everything alone?
The fear she'd been forcing aside all day pressed in. How could she possibly give birth to a babe without help? She would have to ask Aaron for things she couldn't do herself. Would he be squeamish? Maybe he'd refuse altogether.
God, if You've ever cared about me, please, help me now.
That pain released, and thankfully, another one hadn't yet begun by the time Mr. Long reined in the mules. She had to get out of the wagon before another round came on. If it caught her in the middle of climbing out, things would be so much worse.
With one hand under her belly for support, she pushed herself upright, then reached for the side to climb over.
"I'll come back and help you." Mr. Long's voice nudged into her awareness, but she didn't let it slow her.
She had to get out of this wagon, and she couldn’t wait on him.
He reached her as she lifted her second leg over the side, and his grip on her arm did help steady her.
"Easy now." The gentle murmur of his voice settled her insides even more. Did he suspect she'd reached her time?
Another pain wrapped around her, wiping away that thought and all others. She gripped the wagon and focused on pulling in a deep breath, then blowing it out in a slow stream. Another breath in, then out.
Mr. Long's grip left her arm, and his voice murmured in the background, but nothing penetrated her focus on breathing. She wanted to claw away from this pain, but she couldn't draw enough air to do anything but tremble.
At last, the agony subsided. She kept gripping the wagon, gathering strength to stand upright. Her thighs still shook, barely able to hold her even with help.
Again, the soothing timbre of Mr. Long's voice sounded at her side. "I laid out your blankets if you think you can move to them."
The thought of a soft place to collapse infused a bit of strength, especially a bed that didn't bounce and jolt with every breath. She eased upright and removed one hand from the wagon to make sure her legs could support her.
She didn't wilt, so she turned toward the blankets he'd laid out. She didn't have the courage to meet his gaze, but he took her arm. The extra balance helped. His other hand rested on her back.
The touch felt a little like the offering of support. Maybe he would be willing to help when she needed him in the coming ordeal. Or maybe he would prove squeamish.
Either way, they would find out soon.
