A Mother's Secret (32 page)

Joshua walked over to her and touched her arm. “You don’t have to do this.”

“But I want to help.” She looked up at him. “I
want
to.”

“This could go on well into the night. Horses can stop the contractions at any time and then start again.”

“I know. I’ve been through this before. I’ll stay.”

Joshua paused and then nodded. “All right. You can stay, but I will take you home. I don’t want you driving yourself home in the dark.”

“That’s fine.” Carolyn said a silent prayer for Daisy.

Rosemary held the picnic basket on her lap while Benjamin guided the horse down the road. She and Benjamin talked about their day as they made their way toward the dairy farm. When they arrived, she helped Benjamin unhitch and guide the horse into the stall before stowing the buggy.

Rosemary headed out of the barn with her cousin and found her father waiting for her with a frown creasing his face. She prayed that his anger wasn’t directed at her. To try to brighten his mood, she forced a smile as she approached him. “Hi,
Dat
.”

Dat
looked at Benjamin. “You need to go into your
haus
. I want to talk to Rosemary alone.”

“Okay. Bye, Ro.” Benjamin gave Rosemary a sympathetic expression before rushing toward his house.

“What did you want to talk about,
Dat
?” Worry gripped Rosemary as she looked up at her father. She felt like a small child facing a giant as he glared down at her. “I’m on time, right?”

“You’re almost thirty minutes late.” He shook his head. “You were supposed to be home by five.”

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. We were trying to get the garden seeded before the rain came, and we lost track of time.”

“Don’t let it happen again.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

“Where’s Carolyn?”

“She was going to finish planting before the rain comes. She said she’d be home as soon as she was finished.”

Her father nodded. “Go help your
mamm
with supper.”

“
Ya, Dat
.” As Rosemary made her way to the house, she felt a cold drop of rain sprinkle her nose. She hoped her aunt would have a safe trip home despite the storm.

EIGHTEEN

C
arolyn stood beside Joshua as they studied Daisy and rain pounded the stable roof. The horse lay down on her side, rolled over, and then stood up. Joshua explained the horse was trying to make the birth happen. For more than an hour, they stood and watched the horse struggle while the rain beat a steady cadence in the background.

Carolyn glanced toward the barn door and realized it was getting dark. She lit three battery-powered lanterns and hung them on hooks around the stall. Joshua left the stable for a moment and returned with a pile of blankets and a box of surgical gloves. She could tell he was consumed with worry about Daisy.

“Tell me about your childhood on your
dat’s
farm, Josh,” she said in an effort to help him relax. She knew they could be there for hours yet. “My brother did a lot of hunting and fishing with our
dat
and
daadi
. Was it like that for you and Gideon too?”

Josh didn’t take his eyes off Daisy as he answered. “
Ya
, we did a lot of hunting and fishing.”

“And were you any good at it?” she teased. This time he looked at her and grinned.

“Was I good at it? Let me tell you about the time I beat all
the men in my family in a fishing contest.” Her effort to distract him worked. They both shared stories from their childhood, but Carolyn was careful to avoid her teen years. Even if she found the courage to finally tell Josh about Ben, this was not the time or place.

When Daisy began to snort and seemed to be straining, Carolyn was surprised to see on the clock in the stable that two hours had gone by. Her heart thumped in her chest as she watched Joshua approach Daisy.

“It’s okay, girl,” Joshua whispered to the horse. “Everything will be all right. Just relax. It will all be okay. I promise you, girl.” He rubbed her neck as he murmured encouragement to her.

Carolyn was overwhelmed with admiration for Joshua as she watched his gentle hand move over the horse while he mumbled sweet words into her ear. It was clear Daisy trusted him. The scene was so heartwarming that it caused tears to sting Carolyn’s eyes.

As another hour passed, Carolyn crossed her arms around her middle and wondered how she could help. She felt useless, but she knew she had to stay in case Joshua needed her.

While she watched Joshua soothe the horse, Carolyn wondered how her family was at home. She prayed Rosemary was able to make it home before five. Carolyn silently berated herself for not getting Rosemary home sooner. She should’ve watched the clock instead of worrying about planting the garden before the rain came.

Then Carolyn noticed the foal was showing. “Joshua,” she said, pointing. “Look!”

“It’s time,” Joshua said. He stood by Carolyn for a few minutes and then his eyes widened. “Oh no.” He moved toward Daisy. “It’s red bagging.”

“What do you mean?” Carolyn asked as her heart raced with worry. “What’s wrong?”

“The placenta detached.” He looked closer. “And the foal is backward. This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen. This could be bad. Really bad.”

Carolyn motioned toward the door. “What should we do?”

He rolled up his sleeves. “I’m going to have to help her. I have to turn the foal the right way or Daisy could be injured.” He washed his hands and arms at a nearby sink and then pulled on a pair of the surgical gloves. He slathered lubricant from a tube onto the gloves and then rushed back into Daisy’s stall.

Carolyn held her breath as Joshua reached into the mare and turned the foal.

“Get the blanket ready,” Joshua said.

“Okay.” Carolyn stepped closer and held up a blanket. She held her breath again and prayed for the foal and Daisy.

Joshua assisted Daisy with the birth, and when the sack didn’t open on its own, Joshua had to open it. The foal lay motionless.

“Go ahead and cover it,” Joshua said, his eyes fixed on the foal.

As she did, Carolyn wiped away some of the blood. The creature still remained motionless. Her blood ran cold and worry filled her.
No, no. It can’t be!

“Josh?” She looked up into his concerned eyes. “Something isn’t right. Shouldn’t the foal be moving?”

Joshua lifted the foal into his arms. “I’m going to have to do CPR.” He covered the horse’s nose and mouth with his and then blew three times.

Carolyn silently prayed the foal would make it while she held the blanket against its tiny body.
Please, God, breathe life
into this
boppli
. Please, God. Place your healing hand on this poor
little creature.

“Please,” Joshua whispered, his voice shaky and his eyes wide. “Please live.” He tried CPR once more.

Suddenly, the foal jumped up and wobbled.

“Hallelujah!” Carolyn clapped her hands together as Josh hooted, quickly removed the gloves, and wiped his hands on a towel.

Then he pulled Carolyn into his arms. She lost herself in the warmth of his hug. She felt as if she belonged in his strong, muscular arms. His body was warm, and she could feel his heart beating close to hers.

“It’s a miracle,” he whispered into her ear, his voice sending electric pulses through her body. “That’s what we’ll name him!” He looked into her eyes. “Miracle.” His soft voice mixed with his body heat sent electric throbs dancing up her spine.

“That’s a great name.” Her voice was soft and full of her overwhelming emotion.

Joshua suddenly jumped up, and taking her hand into his, he pulled her to her feet.

“Watch.” Joshua rested his hand on her shoulder as Miracle made his way over to Daisy and began to suckle. “Isn’t that a miracle?”

Carolyn nodded. “
Ya
, it is.” Her heart swelled with renewed love and admiration as she watched Joshua study the horses with love in his eyes. She marveled at how caring and gentle he was with his horses. He treated the animals as if they were his own children.

As they silently watched Miracle suckle from Daisy, Carolyn considered the beauty of God’s creation. She was thankful she
could help Joshua and witness the amazing beginning of new life.

“It stopped raining,” Carolyn said as she glanced toward the stable doors. She shivered, and Joshua turned toward her.

“You’re cold.” He picked up a blanket from the pile and hung it over her shoulders like a shawl. He leaned down close to her, and Carolyn held her breath. She braced herself for a kiss, but he quickly stood up straight.

His eyes scanned her, and he grimaced. “You’re a mess. I shouldn’t have hugged you.”

“It’s okay.” She glanced down at her soiled apron. “That’s what an assistant is supposed to do, right? I’m supposed to get dirty.”

He laughed as he examined his stained shirt. “And I’m a mess too.”

“Aren’t we a pair?” Carolyn glanced toward Miracle and Daisy and then noticed the mess on the ground. She motioned toward the hay. “I’ll help you clean this up.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “But after we’re done, I’ll change and then take you home. It’s late, and I can feel the chill in the air getting colder. I don’t want you to wind up sick because of this.”

Carolyn grabbed some rags and they cleaned up together before heading into the house. She washed her hands and wiped off her apron at the kitchen sink while Joshua disappeared toward the back of the house. She scanned the kitchen and then stepped into the doorway separating it from the family room. Her thoughts wandered as she took in the sofa, coffee table, chairs, and grandfather clock. She wondered what it would be like to live there as Joshua’s wife. The idea sent her insides flipping with excitement.

Carolyn thought back to the hug he’d given her in the barn. The feeling of his arms around her had left her breathless. His body was warm and his arms were muscular. His sweet voice in her ear nearly made her dizzy. She was falling deeper and deeper in love with him, and she prayed their friendship would continue to blossom.

Joshua appeared in the doorway. “Are you ready?”

“
Ya
.” She stood up straight and smoothed her hands over her damp apron. “Is it a little cleaner?”

He grinned and shook his head. “Not really. I’m sorry about the mess.”

“It’s okay. That’s what happens when babies are born.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I can say I’ve only witnessed horse births.”

Her cheeks heated, and she turned toward the kitchen. “We’d better go. It’s nearly eleven.”

“Uh-oh.” Joshua headed toward the back door and then held it open for her. “I hope your
dat
isn’t upset with me.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand when I explain what happened.” Carolyn clasped her hands together and hoped she was right that her father and, more importantly, her brother would understand why she’d been out so late.

Joshua quickly hitched the horse to the buggy while Carolyn talked about how beautiful the experience of watching Miracle’s birth had been. He guided the horse down the driveway. As he steered onto the main road he passed another buggy and waved.

While Carolyn talked, he glanced over at her and smiled.
She was even more strikingly beautiful in the low glow of the streetlights. He was captivated not only by her beauty but by her strength and helpfulness when the foal was born. He’d never met a woman who was so comfortable around nature. She didn’t shy away or say the process was revolting. Instead, she stood beside him and helped him when he asked.