Free Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) by Ginny Dye

heart tightened in agony.  “What’s wrong with my baby?”
                  “I don’t know that there be anything wrong with your baby,” Diedre protested.  “But it ain’t good for a woman to let herself get in such a state as this.  When was the last time you felt your little one kick?”
                  “This morning,” Rose replied.  Her voice tightened.  “And then maybe once - right before I fell.”  
                  Diedre peered at her sharply.  “What do you mean, maybe?”
                  “There was a sharp pain right before I fell.  I don’t remember anything but that.”
                  Diedre’s lips tightened.  “You ain’t takin’ another step, Rose.  Not until this baby be born.”
                  “I can’t just lie here,” Rose protested.
                  “That’s exactly what you gonna do!”  Diedre snapped, her kind eyes filled with anxiety.  “I ain’t gonna let nothin’ happen to you, or to that fine baby you be carryin’.  You done pushed yourself way past what you can do.  I got half a mind to put you on a boat to Philadelphia.”  She snorted.  “I would if I thought you’d have any chance of makin’ it.  You don’t,” she stated firmly, “so that means I got to take care of you myself.”  She stood and put her hands on her hips.  “For once you’re gonna listen to what people tell you.  I don’t care if you be some fancy teacher.  I be the one that’s been a midwife longer than you done been alive.  I ain’t gonna have you arguing with me.  You got that?” she finished threateningly.
                  Rose opened her mouth to argue, then closed it, and nodded meekly.   “I have to admit, it sounds pretty nice, Diedre.  I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
                  Diedre stared at her for a minute; then obviously satisfied Rose would follow orders for once, she turned to where June sat watching from a corner chair.  “I told you I could do it,” she grinned.
                  June laughed, shifting Simon in her arms.  “I haven’t never seen anyone handle Rose like that.  I’m impressed.  She won’t listen to a word I say.”
                  Diedre just snorted.  “Even a hard-headed young thing like her knows when someone is talking sense.  Especially someone as old as me.”
                  Rose watched the exchange with tenderness filling her heart for these two women who loved her.  “Simon?” she asked weakly.  “How is he?”
                  June smiled.  “I reckon he knew there could be only one sick person in this house at a time.  His fever done broke a couple hours ago.  Now I’m just trying to satisfy his appetite.”  She shifted her weight and glanced down at him lovingly.  “My boy done drifted off to sleep.”
                  Diedre swung back to the bed.  “When was the last time you ate somethin’, missy?”
                  Rose shrugged and then admitted.  “Early this morning.  There just wasn’t time before I went to school.”
                  Diedre shook her head knowingly, proceeded toward the door, and stuck her head out.  “Carla.  Get yourself in here.”  Seconds later with anxiety etched on her face, Carla appeared in the doorway.  “Go get your teacher some food.  I done baked up some sweet potatoes this morning, and there be a passel of cornbread on the table.  Bring a pitcher of water, too.  Both her and that baby need somethin’ in them.”
     

     
    It was night when Rose woke again.  She glanced around the darkened room, lit only with a candle, and saw Diedre rocking contentedly.  For a moment she reveled in the luxury of being cared for.   It was almost like seeing her mama rocking in the chair though Diedre’s ample bulk bore no resemblance to her