Without hesitation, Travis broke into a run, pushing through the deep drifts as fast as his legs could carry him. There was no telling how long this break in the storm would last. He couldn’t afford to slow down, not now. Reaching the cabin, he knocked on the door, his fist pounding with urgency.
“Aunt Polly!” he screamed breathlessly. “Aunt Polly! Hurry!”
The cabin door flew open, and there stood Aunt Polly; her sharp eyes met his, concern etched into her face, glowing in front of the orange light from her lantern. She was in her red cotton nightdress, her long gray hair braided neatly down her back.
“Good heavens, boy. What is the meaning of this? Are you crazy?”
Travis struggled to catch his breath, his chest tightening with each beat of his heart, pounding so fiercely he feared his lungs might give out. “It’s Josie,” he gasped, his voice strained. “She’s in labor, and we don’t have time—or a doctor.”
Aunt Polly’s eyes widened in shock, a quick gasp slipping from her lips. Without a word, she hurried to grab her coat and gloves. She returned bundled and carrying her medicine bag. With no hesitation, Aunt Polly stepped outside into the snow.
“You walked all this way in a blizzard?”
Travis clung tightly to his coat, still catching his breath. “Yes, but it cleared as soon as I got close enough to see your house.”
“You could’ve froze to death, you know? Me as well,” she scolded, her voice sharp with worry. “Couldn’t you have delivered the baby yourself? Goodness gracious, you’ve got four children. You should know how this works by now!”
Travis shook his head, pressing his lips together, trying to think of the right words to say. Truth was, he was frightened—so much that he had to get away and find help. He couldn’t be in that room one more second, watching Josie like that, standing there helpless like he had with Sophie.
“I won’t have her death on my hands. I can’t do that to the children again.”
Aunt Polly rubbed Travis back as they managed through the snow. “Travis, that wasn't your fault. You did what had to be done. Gideon wouldn’t be here if not.”
Travis stayed silent. Poor Josie was suffering in the same bed his wife passed in. If she passed, he didn’t know how much more of this life he could take. He couldn’t let his children down, leaving them without a mother.Lord, help my wife. Give her strength.
When Aunt Polly and Travis came inside, Ivy was seated beside Josie in the bedroom, dabbing her forehead with a cool wet towel from the wash basin.
“Aunt Polly,” Josie whispered feebly, her body trembling. Her eyelids drooped heavily. “You’re here.”
Aunt Polly quickly moved to Josie’s bedside, setting down her medicine bag. Without wasting time, she pressed gently on Josie’s abdomen “Ivy, would you mind boiling some water?”
Ivy nodded and walked away. “Yes, ma’am.”
Travis stepped closer to the bedside but quickly looked away as Aunt Polly lifted Josie’s covers. “How is she?”
“We’ll have a baby tonight. How about that, Josie? Everything looks good.”
After hearing Aunt Polly pulling down the covers, Travis turned his head, seeing Josie’s eyes half open. “Aunt Polly, do you mind leaving Travis and I alone for a minute?”
Aunt Polly nodded, patting Josie’s shoulder. “Call for me if you need anything.”
At last, Travis and Josie were alone. He took her hand in his, feeling the quickening pulse in her wrist. It was the sign of life, a sign he rejoiced to know.
“Travis,” she said weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. “If I . . . if I don’t make it . . . I need you to promise me you’ll take care of the baby—not out of duty but out oflove.”
Josie’s words sent a shiver up Travis’s spine. After everything she hid from him, all the emotional distance he created, she trusted him. However, Travis didn’t want to think about the worst. He couldn’t bear the thought of a world without his Jo. Josie was the missing piece that brought his family together, the heart that filled their home with warmth. She couldn’t go—not now, not ever.
“Don’t talk like that, Jo. Aunt Polly says everything is fine,” he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to her hand as he held it tightly. “Everything will be all right.” He pressed his forehead against hers, brushing the side of her head softly with the back of his hand. “I promise.”
Holding her close melted a part of his heart he hadn’t realized was still frozen. Ironic that he had to venture out into a blizzard to experience this. Despite all the distance, she broke through to him, or maybe, he broke to her.God, if you let my Jo live, I vow to You that I’ll never push her away again.
Tears rolled down Josie’s cheeks as she pushed with every ounce of strength she had left. It had been over an hour, and despite Aunt Polly’s reassurances that everything was progressing normally for a first-time mother, she couldn’t help but worry. Thoughts of her second pregnancy flooded her mind, darkening the moment.
That baby had been too early, and the doctor told her there was little hope for survival. She had tried to be a better wife to Marcus, to obey him and make him proud, but every time she thought she was doing well, his anger would strike her down. There was no escaping his wrath, no sanctuary from the pain he inflicted.
He must have taken pleasure in hurting her, watching her shrink back whenever he raised his hand or raised his voice. Why else would a man want to inflict pain on his wife and unborn child? The memory of that night flooded back—the beating that sent her into pre-labor, leaving her alone in her suffering with nothing to help her pain. Each time she pushed, she felt as if it was a waste of time. She would never hear her baby’s cry. Never look into its eyes. It was the son Marcus had always wanted, but it didn’t matter—it was born lifeless.
“Keep pushing, Josie. The baby’s nearly here.”
