The Montana Doctor's Bride (New Brides of Montana) by Susan Leigh Carlton Read Free Book Online Page B

bad off.  She’s been trying to have a baby all day, and the midwife needs help.  Will you come, Doc?”
     
    “Let me get dressed, Mr. Haskins, and I’ll get hitched up and follow you.  I’ll be ready as fast as I can.”
     
    “Doc, while you get dressed, could I be doing the hitching?  It’ll make things go faster.”
     
    “Good idea, I’ll be out to the barn in less than ten minutes,” Carter said.
     
    “Thank ye, Doc.  Case will appreciate it.  They’re nice people.”
     
    Ten minutes later, they were on the road, heading for the Lazy J Ranch.  When they arrived, Luke Haskins said, “Give me the reins and I’ll take care of the horse.  You go on in and help Miz Jamison.”
     
    “Thank you, Luke,” Carter said.  He went through the front door and was met by a lanky man in his early thirties, his brow furrowed with worry.
     
    “Thank you for coming Doctor.  I’m Case Jamison. We ain’t seen you yet, but I appreciate you coming to help.  Carrie is in bad shape.  Maude says the baby is breech and she can’t turn it.  You gotta save Carrie, Doc.  She’s my whole world.” 
     
    “I’ll do everything I can, Mr. Jamison.  Before I examine her, I’ll need to scrub my hands.  Can you get some hot water for me?”
     
    “Yessir.  I’ll do that.  Carrie’s in yonder.”
     
    There were two women in the room; Mrs. Jamison was lying on her back, covered with a sheet her forehead beaded with sweat.  Her face mirrored the pain she was experiencing.  “I’m Doctor Palmer,” he said.  He addressed the midwife, “What do we have going on?” he asked.
     
    Maude, the midwife said, “The baby is breech, and I can’t turn her.  It’s been like this for hours.”  She turned her head and said in a low voice, “I’m afraid they’re both going to die if we can’t do something soon.”
     
    Jamison brought a pail of steaming water in and poured some of it into the washbasin on a side table.  Carter took a bar of soap from his bag and began scrubbing his hands furiously.  When he was satisfied, he turned back to his patient, and said, “I apologize for the violation of your modesty, Mrs. Jamison, but I fear it is necessary.”
     
    Her voice, barely a whisper, weakened from the hours of labor, said, “Do what you have to, Doctor.  Save my baby.”
     
    Moving his hand under the sheet and tried unsuccessfully to turn the baby.  He turned to the husband and motioned him to an area of the room where they could talk.  “Mr. Jamsion, I agree with Maude, something has to be done.  I cannot turn the baby.  It will have to be taken by Caesarean section, or I fear we will lose them both.”
     
    “What is this Caesarean section, Doctor?  I don’t understand,” he said.
     
    “I would have to anesthetize her, and cut through her belly and get the baby out.  I don’t believe it can be born in the normal way.  If the mother’s uterus ruptures, they’ll both die.”
     
    “Can you do it?  Is it something you’ve done before?”
     
    “I can do it.  Truthfully, I haven’t done it in years, but I was a surgeon during the war, so I know how.  Any time you cut into a body, it is a risk, but I will do everything I can to save them both.  If it comes to one or the other, you will have to make that choice.  I can’t play God.  You have to decide quickly, I fear we haven’t much time.”
     
    “Let me talk to my wife, Doc,” Case asked.
     
    Carter stepped aside and Jamison went to his wife and spoke in a low voice.  He turned back, and said, “Do what you must to save my wife.”
     
    “I have some gauze in my bag, but I will need some clean sheets.  I will go ahead and put her to sleep using ether.  No smoking or fire nearby.  It is highly flammable.”  He put several drops of ether on a pad and placed it over the patient’s nose and mouth.  In less than fifteen minutes, her face was relaxed and she was unconscious.  He turned to Jamison and said, “I