But I’m afraid.
Fear was the major reason she couldn’t allow herself to love Micah. She was certain of that now but had no idea how to stop being afraid. When she thought of admitting her feelings for him—of letting him love her—she felt almost sick with fear. What if he turned out to be just like Arthur? So many of the things Micah said were the same words Arthur had spoken to her.
“Doctor, come quick! My mama’s havin’ a baby!”
The boy’s frantic declaration brought Kenzie out of her thoughts. Micah squatted down to the young boy’s level. He whispered something to the boy, who nodded enthusiastically. Micah handed him some coins.
“Show us the way.” He gathered his bag and looked at Kenzie. “You’re in for an amazing part of medicine.”
Kenzie couldn’t even imagine. She followed him as he hurried after the boy down rows and rows of tents. All at once, the boy came to an abrupt halt.
“She’s in there.” He pointed.
“All right. Now you go do as I told you and be quick,” Micah instructed.
The boy raced off.
“What did you tell him to do?” Kenzie asked.
Micah smiled over his shoulder. “I told him to gather his friends, go to the man selling shaved ice, and buy them all a treat. That’ll keep him busy and happy.” He didn’t wait for Kenzie’s response, just pushed back the tent flap. “I’m the doctor.”
Inside the tent, a young woman moaned in pain. An older woman sat by her cot, wiping her forehead. “I’m Miss Snyder. This is my niece Mary,” the older woman said. “The baby is coming fast. I don’t know anything about delivering it, so when I heard you were in the camp, I sent the boy to find you. We don’t have any money to pay you.”
Shaking his head, Micah unbuttoned his coat. “I didn’t become a doctor in order to get rich. I’m happy to help you for the mere satisfaction of bringing a new life safely into the world.” He handed Kenzie his coat. She set it aside, awaiting his instructions. He rolled up his sleeves. “Miss Snyder, would you be good enough to get some hot water so that I can wash up?”
The older woman turned to the expectant mother. “Mary, I won’t be far. You just listen to the doctor.”
The girl nodded and tried her best not to cry out.
“We’ll need some towels, as well,” Micah said as Miss Snyder headed out of the tent.
Kenzie felt sorry for the frightened girl and knelt by her cot. “Dr. Fisher is the best doctor around, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Besides,” Micah said, “you’ve done this before.”
“No,” Mary moaned. “This is my first.”
Kenzie was just as confused as Micah. “What about the little boy who came to get us?”
“That’s my husband’s son. He was just a babe when I married his pa.” Mary buried her face in the pillow and cried out.
“Well, there are surprises around every corner,” Micah said, not sounding the least bit concerned.
Miss Snyder returned with a basin of water. “I brought some soap too.”
“Thank you.” Micah took the offered bar of soap and washed his hands thoroughly. He nodded to Kenzie. “You too.”
She got up and did as he said. When that was finished, Miss Snyder gave them a clean towel to dry off on.
Micah quickly got down to business and checked the baby’s progress. He looked up in surprise. “This won’t take long. Come see, Kenzie. The head has crowned.”
Kenzie moved to stand beside him. She looked at the exposed woman, not feeling the slightest bit of embarrassment or shock as she had thought she might.
The woman cried and writhed in pain. “Ohhhhh, please. Please make it stop.”
Micah turned to Miss Snyder. “I’ll need those towels now and some clean water.”
Kenzie watched in awe as the baby came into the world only moments later. Micah’s procedures were unknown to her, but she found it all fascinating as he tied off and cut the cord. The infant gave a weak mewing cry that grew in volume as Micah quickly examined him before wrapping him in a towel.
