Page 14 of The Preacher's Bride

Colton ran back to the buckboard and Mia helped Ella slide to the end. Colton scooped her into his arms and carried her with ease up the stairs.

“Bring her in here.” Doc Allaway started barking orders as they followed him into a room with a hospital bed, covered in white sheets. He rolled up his sleeves. “How close are the contractions?”

“Pretty close,” Ella answered.

The doctor looked over at Mia. “Miss, go get some sheets from that cabinet.” He motioned with his head toward a thin wooden cabinet on the wall.

Mia nodded and then hurried to do as he instructed.

“Get her a cool rag, too,” Colton yelled to Mia when she came back with the sheets. “She’s burning up! I don’t know why I didn’t notice it before.”

“I’ll be right there,” Mia yelled as she grabbed a washcloth from the same cabinet. A porcelain pitcher and basin sat nearby, so Mia used it to soak down the washcloth, wrung it out, and rushed back over.

Ella fisted Colton’s shirt. “Don’t worry….” Another pain must have grabbed her, for she bit her lower lip, obviously trying to stifle a scream.

Doc Allaway took a stethoscope from a nearby drawer and wrapped it around his neck. He placed the earpieces over his ears and the bell over her stomach. A crease formed between his eyes as he listened.

“There, there,” Mia cooed, dabbing Ella’s forehead with the washrag. “It’ll be okay.”

Without warning, Ella screamed, doubling over in pain. “Something’s wrong!”

“Leave us.” Doc Allaway looked down at Ella but was talking to everyone else in the room.

“No, I’m not going anywhere.” Colton took his wife’s hand, seeing only her.

The doctor was suddenly kind as he placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sir, I have to check my patient.”

Mia waited for Colton at the door, who was obviously torn between leaving his wife in the hands of a doctor he didn’t know and doing as the doctor asked.

“Mister,” the doctor pointed out, peering at him over his spectacles. “I need to check your wife… now.”

Colton nodded, and Mia led him out. In the waiting room, Caleb rose to his feet and the children looked up from where they were playing quietly on the floor.

Colton wrung his hands as he paced the floor.

Caleb placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Colton. She’s going to be fine.”

“We shouldn’t have made the trip today,” Colton babbled as he paced. “She hasn’t been doing well. I should have—”

“Hey, hey….” Caleb stood in front of him to get his attention, interrupting his pacing. “You need to put her in God’s hands. Have faith. She’s going to be okay.”

Colton looked as if he was going to say something more, but just nodded instead.

The doctor came out a moment later and closed the door behind him.

Colton hurried across the room and stood before him. “How is she?”

The doctor sighed. “The baby’s breach and needs to be turned.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Mia asked.

“Pray.” The doctor walked back in, and Mia and Colton followed, going to either side of the bed. “Ella,” Doc Allaway began in a calm, soothing voice. “The baby’s breech and needs to be turned.”

Quicker than Mia would have thought possible, Ella grabbed his arm and squeezed, her eyes open wide. “Doc,” she panted as sweat beaded on her forehead, drenching the tendrils around her face. “If it comes down to saving me or the baby, I want you to save the baby.”

“No!” Colton yelled, his eyes wide.

Ella ignored him, her eyes searching the doctor’s. “Promise me!”

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