Into the Wilderness
Page 142

Kitty was wrinkling her nose. Curiosity took one look at her and led her out of sight.
"Kitty Witherspoon," she whispered. "I can surely use your help here. But only if you don't let that woman think she's worse than dirt. You don' like the way she live her life, but she do the best she can. Now, are you here to help, or should I send you back home to your daddy like the child you are?"
At first she thought that she had been too harsh, for the girl went pale and then flushed. But the distance in her eyes went away and she blinked at Curiosity.
"I'll open the windows."
"Good idea," said Curiosity with a smile. "And we'll need water.
But first come say how—do. She won't bite, you know. Not at this stage, at any rate." She paused, and cast a knowing look at Kitty's middle. "Seems to me your turn ain't too far down the line. That true?"
Wordlessly, Kitty nodded, spreading her ring less hands over her waist.
"I thought me so," Curiosity said with a nod. "You'll be glad of women around you when your time come along."
"My husband will attend me." Kitty's voice faltered.
Curiosity said, "Will he now?" And watched the young woman blush.
"He will be my husband."
Will he now? But she could be kind when it was called for, and so she didn't say it. She had watched this girl grow, and it saddened Curiosity to see her juggled from man to man. Always settling for a piece of what she thought she wanted. Julian's child in her, and telling herself that Richard Todd would not know the difference.
"So be it," she said quietly. "But one way or the other, you'll be glad of your own kind."
There was a moan, cut off suddenly.
"Miz Southern. How is that child coming on?" Curiosity moved into the next room with sharp little taps of her shoes.
"Slow," Martha Southern whispered. "Miss Witherspoon, I am surprised to see you here. Thank you kindly for your help."
Kitty cleared her throat and nodded.
"She's a mite scared," Curiosity pointed out. But it's a chore we women have got to share, ain't that so?"
With eyes darting everywhere but Martha's belly, Kitty managed a nod. "I'm not sure how much help I can be."
"Well, settle in," Curiosity said, tying her apron into a tighter wrap around her slender self. "And we'll find out the answer to that question. Now." she said. "This is going to take a good while. Get over there, Kitty, and help me get this woman out of bed. Ain't no way a child'll get down to business while it's got such a easy life. What we got to talk about until the next pains come on?"
Kitty calmed after a while, putting her hands to whatever task Curiosity set her and doing it well. When a pain came down hard on Martha, Kitty would sometimes pause and blanch. But then she would carry on. Silent and watchful and grim, she pressed her lips hard together and worked without complaint.
But Curiosity could not move the girl to a talking frame of mind. It was an unusual experience, for she had always had the knack for getting women to open up, but Kitty was closed to the subject of what had gone on at the Albany courthouse. Martha would have been an easier nut to crack if it hadn't been for Kitty. The minute Curiosity raised the topic, she saw them glance at each other and then away, united in their discomfort as they were in nothing else. As if she had produced a rude noise or a bad smell and they were agreed that it would be rude to draw her attention to it.
The child got down to business just past midnight. Martha asked to be allowed to set, but Curiosity pushed her a little further, encouraging her to walk between them from one end of the small cabin to the other. With increasing regularity and for longer periods, Martha would falter and sag between them. What had been a thoughtful look on her plain round face turned more to pain, and then moved beyond that, too.
"Don' you hold your breath," said Curiosity. "Come on and talk to me, now. Tell me, Kitty. Did I see you come back from Albany with a new bonnet?"
It was straw, she was told. With a velvet ribbon. And then Kitty was silent again.
Martha tensed suddenly and let out a low moan.
"She's gone a gusher," Curiosity said, stepping around the puddle on the floor. "Don't look so took back, Kitty. It's just her waters. The child getting impatient now."
"Waters?" asked Kitty.
"I guess your daddy never told you much, did he? And why should he, probably forgot the little he once knew about a woman's insides."
Martha laughed out loud at that, and even Kitty grinned.
"Glad to see you ain't lost your sense of humor," Curiosity said as they settled Martha into bed. "It will stand you in good stead in the next hour or two."
"Another hour or two." Kitty looked suddenly panicked.
"Took me three to push the last one out," Martha said. "But he was oversized."
"It's one of them mysteries," Curiosity agreed. "Takes no time at all to get one planted and hours of hard work to make the trip in the opposite direction. Kitty, we'll need that basin of warm water now."
While the younger girl was in the next room ladling water at the hearth, Martha gestured Curiosity to bend down to her in the bed.
"Yes child."
"There ain't nothing to tell you about Albany. We never was in the courthouse, never saw the judge or anybody."
"Did you hear Richard Todd talking to your man at all?"