Free Home Fires by Jana Richards Page A

to be fed and milked.
    Just as they were sitting down to dinner, they heard a banging on the outside door. Ingrid ran through the porch to see who was there. A moment later she returned with Carl Bjornson. He didn’t waste time on preliminaries.
    “Julia’s gone into labor. It’s been ten, maybe twelve hours. There’s no way I can get Doc Brown in this weather.” He looked directly at Anne. “I know you’re a nurse, and a good one. I saw what you did for that boy at your wedding. You have to come with me. Julia needs you.”
    “Carl, I’ve no experience delivering babies. The only time I’ve helped deliver a baby was in my training. And I’ve never done it on my own.”
    “You’re my only hope, my wife’s only hope. She’s been in labor so long. I’m afraid something is wrong.”
    “Sometimes labor is very long with the first child,” Astrid said. “It doesn’t mean anything is wrong.”
    “Maybe, but I can’t take that chance. Anne, please, you’ve got to help me. My horses are waiting outside. There’s not much time.”
    “Of course. Give me a couple of minutes.”
    She turned to look at Erik before heading upstairs with Ingrid to find warmer clothes. He saw apprehension in her eyes, but also determination. She had no idea what she was going to walk into, but she wouldn’t back down without a fight.
    Carl anxiously paced the short distance between the door and the table, the snow on his boots making a wet path. A moment later Anne returned. She’d pulled on an extra pair of pants, as well as an additional sweater. She grabbed her jacket from the hook near the door and slipped it on. Erik did the same.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “I’m coming with you,” he said, his heart in his throat. How could he let her face the blizzard alone?
    “You need to stay here to look after the animals. And if the blizzard stops tomorrow, we’ll need you to go to town and fetch Dr. Brown.” She touched his face with her gloved hand.
    “I’ll take care of her, Erik,” Carl said. “I know the way like the back of my hand. I got here. I can get us back.”
    He’d known Carl since childhood, and he trusted him. But did he trust him with his wife’s life?
    Anne kissed his cheek. “I’ll be fine,” she whispered against his ear. “I’ll see you soon.”
    “I’ll be by tomorrow with Doc Brown.”
    She nodded. A moment later she left with Carl. Erik tried to watch them through the kitchen window, but the heavy snow prevented him from seeing much more than the vague shape of Carl’s sleigh and his team of horses. There was no protection from the elements in the open sleigh. Thank God Carl’s farm was only a half mile away across the field.
    But what if something was seriously wrong with Julia’s baby? How was Anne supposed to cope with that? She had no equipment and no medicine. She’d already admitted she had little experience delivering babies. Would Carl blame her if either the baby or Julia didn’t survive?
    Erik continued to stare out the window long after they left.
    ****
    At first light, he hitched his team of black Percherons to his sleigh in preparation for the trip to Poplar River, the neighboring town where Doc Brown lived. Overnight the storm had blown itself out, but the brilliant sun shining in the morning sky proved deceitful. Though it appeared to be a beautiful day, the temperature had plummeted to frigid depths. Erik donned an extra layer of clothing for the trip.
    Since the roads in the area had been blocked with snow since shortly after Christmas, the only way to get around was by horse and sleigh. Erik pushed his team as hard as he could and made it to Poplar River in a little over an hour. Doc Brown was having his morning coffee when Erik arrived, and, though reluctant to leave the warmth of his house, he dressed quickly and joined him.
    As they approached the Bjornson farm, apprehension settled in Erik’s gut. What would they find when they arrived? Had Carl and Anne