Chapter 6

"GET UP James," Gabby called from the bedroom door. "I've got a lot to do before the ladies get here and I am not stumbling around you all day," she said over her shoulder as she walked downstairs. I sat up, bleary eyed and looked out the window, it was going to another glorious spring day. I grabbed my pocket watch and saw that it was already 7:30. I couldn't believe I had slept so long. "Are you going to eat this morning?" her voice called from downstairs, "If so, hurry up, your eggs are going to get cold." I scrambled from the bed and slipped on my robe, washed my face in the basin and headed downstairs.

"My, my, my, ain't you a man of leisure this morning," Bet said as she poured me a cup of coffee. "Well," I said, winking at her, "I don't have any patients scheduled today, all of my paperwork is caught up so maybe I will just hang around the ladies today and enjoy the party." Gabby whirled around at me, "Oh no you won't, the ladies are coming all the way from town and I plan on a nice long visit to catch up with what's going on. I declare, I don't know what the problem is with men and seeing a pregnant lady out in public." "Don't ya'll know we get tired of sitting around the house all week and then we are only allowed to go to church on Sunday. It's not like we got this way by ourselves. Shoot, if it weren't for women, there wouldn't be any men," she said with a triumphant smile. "Yes, darling," I said, "But if it weren't for men, then there wouldn't be any women." Bet shook her head and said, "That is a round argument that will never have a ending." "What's Thomas up to today?" I asked her. "Well, he's going to take some rockers into town and try to sell them. Says he figures Spring time is here and folks will be wanting to get out on their porches to sit and visit." "Do me a favor," I asked, "Tell him to hold up and I will ride to town with him, sounds like there are going to be too many hens for this rooster today." She smiled and headed for the back door. Gabby said, "Good, if you are going to town I will make you a list of some things we need." I just rolled my eyes and got up from the table. "While I'm upstairs getting dressed, would you please fix me and Thomas some of those biscuits with ham and a dollop of strawberry preserves, I have a feeling we will be gone for quite a while today." She grinned and reached into the pantry for the preserves.

I walked out back to the shed where Thomas was loading rocking chairs. "Here, let me help you load those," I said. "Hope you are in the mood for company, there's not enough cakes and pies in this county to keep me in that house today." Thomas handed me a rocker and just grinned. We loaded 10 rockers on the back of the wagon and climbed aboard. Thomas clicked to the horse and turn her around toward the house, he slowed as we got close to the back stoop. "Here's your ham and biscuits and my list for town. Now make sure you get everything on it, if I didn't need it, I wouldn't have written it down," Gabby said. Thomas and I just nodded our heads as he started the horse out of the yard.

We rode along in silence for awhile just enjoying the weather, finally I asked him what his plans were. "Well, I reckon I will go by Mr. James' hardware store first, he said next time I had a load to bring him some." "Then I need to take a few over to the saloon, seems their last ones got messed up in a ruckus, and the sheriff wants me to bring a couple by the jail for him and the boys to sit in while they are at work. I reckon that will be all." "That's fine with me," I said. "I will just wait until you are finished to get the stuff on this list, make it our last stop in town before we leave. Of course, it will probably be the longest stop, looking at this list."

Back at the house Bet and Addie were looking over the parlor checking details to make sure everything was just right. Gabby had gone upstairs to rest and then dress for the party. "Well," Bet said, "I guess I'll go set up a table under the shed for the carriage drivers, Miz Abigail had me fix some extra sandwiches and drinks for them, seeing as to how they will have to wait awhile before they get back home to eat." "I'll go up and check on Miz Abigail" Addie said "Then I'll be out to help you. Did you see her stop every once in awhile and rub her belly? I believe we will be having us a baby pretty soon. It's about time, course I wish you and Thomas would quit poking fun and get down to business, I sure would like to see some grandchildren before I get too old to enjoy them." Addie turned and started up the stairs, Bet turned quickly hoping Addie didn't see the tears in her eyes.

Bet and Thomas had been married for 4 years now and she still hadn't conceived. Thomas told her not to worry, her time would come. But she was tired of waiting and thought about talking to the Doc about it. When Addie got to the top of the stairs she went to knock and heard a slight groan. She turned the knob and looked in. "You all right, Miz Abigail?" she said and was shocked at what she saw. Gabby was sitting on the side of the bed in her undergarments rubbing her lower back. "Oh Addie, I feel just like somebody is sitting on my lower back I was trying to get dressed and it just came upon me." Addie walked over to the bed and said, "You just lay down on your side and I will rub it for you. You just show me where." Abigail laid back on the pillows and rolled over on her side. "Here," Addie said "Place this pillow between your knees, it might relieve some of the pain. Now, show me where it hurts." Gabby pointed to her lower back right between her hips. "It seems to be on both sides of my back, it feels almost like a cramp." Addie started kneading Gabby's lower back. "That feels great," Abigail said. "I guess all those years of kneading bread dough finally came in handy," Addie said.

Bet called up the stairs, "Ya'll all right up there?" Addie shouted back, "Miz Abigail is having some back pain. Could you heat up some water and bring it up here. I need to dip some towels in it to make some warm compresses." "I already have some heated," Bet said, "Was just getting ready to make sweet tea. I'll be right up."

After about 30 minutes of rubbing and heat Abigail began to feel better. "I guess I had better get dressed, I don't quite see the town ladies being entertained in my bedroom and me in my undergarments. Do you mind staying and helping me get dressed, I just don't feel like even raising my arms."

By the time Abigail had dressed and fixed her hair she could hear the carriages coming down the drive. With the help of Addie she went downstairs to greet everyone. "Now, look here Miz Abigail," Addie said, "You just park yourself in that chair over there and put your feet up on that stool. Me and Bet can greet the ladies and direct them to the parlor, you just rest. If you need anything we will be right by the door listening for you, you just call me, you hear?" "I'm gonna slide this table over her by you and you can set your punch and eats down on it. I will gather the gifts and stack them on the floor by your chair. We don't want to have to deliver no baby with the Doc in town." Abigail smiled, nodded her head. "You're the boss," she said. Addie shook her apron and smoothed the wrinkles from her dress and made it to the front door just as the first guest stepped up on the porch. She opened the door and said, "Afternoon, ladies. Please come in, Miz Abigail is in the parlor."

Thomas pulled up in front of the hardware store. Mr. James came out as he and James were unloading some rockers. "I tell you what Thomas," he said, "You need to set up shop in town. Everybody has been in this week wanting rockers. Why you could retire in a year just making furniture. I will take every rocker you got on that wagon." Thomas smiled up at him and replied "Thank you kindly Mr. James but I can only spare 5 of them today, I got the rest of them promised to some other folks in town. I got more stored up in the shed at the house. Can you wait until next week for some?" "Well," he said, scratching his head, "What if I send my boy Henry out Saturday to pick up 5 more, do you have enough? I can go ahead and pay you for them today?" "That will be just fine, sir. Tell him to pull around back of the main house and he will see me around the shed. I'll help him load 'em up and we'll strap 'em down real tight for the ride back." Mr. James turned to go back in the store saying, "Good, just set my 5 in front of the store and come on in, I got some special orders for you." "Well Thomas," I said, "I might just have to start working for you and give up on the medical field. At least you get cash instead of chickens." "I dunno, Doc," he replied, "I just don't think Sunday afternoons would be the same with fried rockers." We laughed as we unloaded the last rocker and went into the store.

"My goodness, Abigail," said May Stewart, "You look like you are about ready to drop, are you getting enough rest?" That comment started the litany of advice that went on for the next 30 minutes. Finally Addie peeked around the corner of the door and raised her eyebrows, Abigail nodded to her and she and Bet started carrying in trays of finger sandwiches and desserts. The ladies had a choice of 4 types of sandwiches, cucumber, chicken salad, egg salad and sliced ham. To drink there was cold punch, sweet tea, cold mint tea, lemonade and fresh coffee. For dessert they had ladyfingers topped with strawberry preserves and fresh whipped cream, a 3 layer chocolate cake, ginger cookies, sugar cookies and lemon bites. "Can I fix you a plate Miz Abigail?" asked Addie. Abigail replied, "One of the chicken salad sandwiches, some sweet tea and a few lemon bites. You know those are my favorites," she replied. Addie fixed her a plate and carried it back to her with one of the linen napkins. She noticed Abigail had a small frown on her face, "What's wrong?" she whispered and she leaned over to set her plate down on the side table, thinking it was her back again. "I have to go, you know, the chamber pot. I need a diversion." Addie thought about it for a minute them splashed a small bit of tea on Abigail's dress. "Oh my," Addie said "I'm so sorry." Abigail replied, "It's ok, Addie, I was moving over to make room for you to set me my plate down and didn't mean to bump your arm."

"Excuse me ladies, I need to go upstairs and wet this stain before it sets up." Abigail pushed down on the chair arms to lift herself up. "I'll be right back, ya'll go ahead and enjoy your food." Addie waited until the ladies went back to chattering before she slipped upstairs. She tapped on the door to Abigail's dressing room, "You ok in there," she asked. Abigail replied, "Just fine, I swear before this child gets here I will have a permanent circle on my backside." Addie chuckled. "We could always fit you with a diaper, save you some trips," she said. Abigail pushed open the door, "Now, you come up with a sensible idea after 9 months." They laughed as they made their way back down the stairs.

After 2 hours of delivering rocking chairs and 1 hour of filling Gabby's list Thomas and I had started back home. "Let's pull over by that creek up there and have us a bite," Thomas said. And I agreed with him, "fine with me, my stomach thinks my throat's been cut." We stretched out by the small stream and unwrapped the biscuits. Gabby had also placed a few of the ginger cookies and some lemon bites in the bottom of the sack. "Well, what a surprise," I said. "She must like me after all," and handed the sweets to Thomas. Thomas took a few and chewed slowly, run the back of his hand over his mouth and looked around. "Ok, Thomas," I said. "What's on your mind?" Thomas stared off into the distance, started to say something then stopped then started again. "I hate to bother you Doc," he said, "But Bet has been real upset here lately because we don't have any babies yet. It didn't seem to bother her as much as I thought, but since Miz Abigail has been showing, Bet just seems more and more upset. She wants to talk to you about it but she's afraid you might want to do some sort of examination on her and she's a real shy woman. Says she can't have you looking up her dress tail one minute and looking at her in the kitchen the next. Say's it don't seem right."

"Momma said she had trouble when her and daddy first got married, took them a couple of years then I came along. Do you think it could be something wrong with me?" he asked. "Well, Thomas," I said, "If you and Bet want to come into the office tomorrow sometime and answer a few questions, we will see where we can go from there." "That's fine Doc, but we don't expect no special treatment. We can pay you just like everyone else," Thomas said. "Fine with me," I replied. "I been eyeing a small rack hanging on the wall of your shop, I think it will make a fine coat rack in my office, what do you think?" Thomas nodded his head, "Shoot Doc, I was gonna get you a couple of chickens." We laughed, got up, dusted off our pants and climbed back onto the wagon.

Thomas let me out at the back door and headed to the barn to unhitch the horse. I went up the back steps, wiped my feet and stepped into the kitchen. I looked around and found it empty, I heard laughter from the parlor and strolled in to see what the excitement was about. Addie was sitting in a rocking chair folding baby blankets, Bet was on the settee eating a sandwich and Gabby was sitting in her chair with her feet propped up, surrounded by baby gifts. "Hello, dear," Gabby said, "How was your trip to town?" "Well," I said in a very serious voice, "I think I am going to work for Thomas, it seems that the furniture business is very lucrative." Bet laughed and got up saying, "I guess I had better ease out back and see Thomas." Addie stood up and said, "I'll just step out to the kitchen and straighten up a bit." I looked at Gabby, "I didn't mean to interrupt the fun." "Just girl talk," she said. "Look at all the wonderful items we received, why it will take me a week to write thank you notes. Embroidered baby blankets, cloth diapers and pins, gowns with hand sewn lace and look at this little silver rattle. Isn't it all sweet?" "Works for me," I said, "Now I won't have to buy the baby anything." "Excuse me Doc," Thomas said from the doorway, "But me and Bet and Addie have a little something for the baby." He then brought in a handmade wooden cradle. The sides had been hand carved with miniature horses and birds, the cherry finish had been polished to a high sheen. The rockers on the bottom had been curved to fit the bottom perfectly. Addie carried in a small stand. Thomas said, "You can sit it on the floor to rock it or hook the holes in the end on each end of the stand and it will swing from there." Gabby pushed herself up from the chair and walked over to it, there were tears in her eyes. "Oh Thomas," she said, "that is the most beautiful cradle I have ever seen. It will be a family heirloom forever. Thank you." She then went over and hugged his neck, he looked rather embarrassed and his hands just hung by his side. She then embraced Addie and Bet, "However did you keep it a secret? Why didn't you bring it out before now? I know pride is a sin but I would have loved to have shown it to the ladies." Bet just smiled and Addie said, "We wanted to wait until it was closer to time for the baby. Bedsides it was all Thomas' doing, every time you or the doc wandered out to the shop he had to hustle around and cover it up, 'fraid you see it and the surprise would be ruined." Bet handed Gabby a cloth covered gift, "This here's a little something I made for the baby." Gabby went back to her chair to sit and placed the package on her lap and began to untie it. She gasped and held up a beautiful, hand sewn quilt. "I saved scraps from all of your old dresses and frocks you donated to the church charity. If you look there is the yellow Swiss dot, the pink one you wore on your first visit to the farm, and the plain ones are from some of your work aprons. The pattern is just a piece meal thing, nothing fancy. I made it to fit a small bed instead of the cradle so that the baby can use it when it gets bigger." Gabby could do nothing but smile and cry.