A Noble Groom (Michigan Brides #2)(61)

She didn’t resist his touch. In fact, she leaned in to him, supporting him as much as he was her.

“The others?” she finally asked, her voice quaking.

“Uri is recovering. And your sister is much better too.”

“And Vater?”

“He’s as strong as an ox. The illness didn’t touch him.”

From the droop of his shoulders, Carl could see that being the bearer of bad news was taking its toll on the kind old man.

After the pastor rode away, Carl didn’t relinquish his hold on Annalisa, and she made no move away from him.

“I’m sorry, Annalisa,” he whispered.

She stared at the road, dust swirling in the air.

“I know it’s not easy to lose a mother.” His own mother had died when he was but ten years old.



“I didn’t expect her to go,” Annalisa managed to say. “She was always so healthy.”

Carl tightened his arm around her waist.

“She wasn’t an affectionate woman. And she had a very hard life. But she was a good mutter.”

“I’m sure she was very good. Look how well you turned out.”

Annalisa bit her trembling lip.

He squeezed her and pressed his lips against her head. She leaned into his gentle kiss, which was nothing more than a comforting gesture, he told himself. The rigidness of the first time he’d held her was gone. He liked to think she was more comfortable with him after the past several weeks of talking together and living in such close proximity. But he suspected the shock of the news had weakened her usual reserve.

If only he were stronger. Then he’d really hold her. But his legs wavered with the effort of standing.

Her body turned rigid, and she gave a sudden cry. The agony of it went straight into his heart like the tip of a bayonet.

Another cry slipped from her lips. She wrenched away from him and doubled over.

He didn’t know what to do for her. How could he comfort her? He reached for her, attempting to pull her back into his arms.

But before he could gather her, she collapsed to her knees. She gripped her lower abdomen and struggled to breathe. Her face was contorted with the same pain he’d noticed during those times when she’d had one of her false contractions.

He lowered himself to a knee next to her. Was she sad or was she merely having another contraction. “Annalisa?”

She took a deep, shaky breath. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

She started to nod, but her breath was cut off and she cried out louder. He reached for her hand and clasped it. Her fingers tightened as the contraction wracked her body.

When it passed, her grip loosened, but she was breathing heavily.

A new kind of worry struck him. “Do you think we should get you into the cabin, just in case?”

She shook her head and rubbed her belly as if by doing so she could keep the baby inside. “I can’t have the baby now . . . not without my mutter . . .”

He glanced to the cabin and saw the white scrap of cloth flapping in the breeze. “No. I don’t think you can have the baby quite yet.” Not while the flag was still flying, not when the other women of the community would be afraid to come and help.

“Maybe if I walk around . . .” She gasped and clutched her middle. The fear in her eyes sent a fresh surge of anxiety through him.

She screamed and her fingers bit into his.

“Oh, Lord, help us.” Whether they were ready or not, she was going to have the baby.

“Mutter!” she cried out. “I can’t do this without my mutter!”

He couldn’t just sit there. He had to find some way to ease her pain, to bring her comfort. “Pie? Perhaps a piece of pie might help?” He glanced around. “Or what about a strong cup of coffee? Or milk? That’s it—I’ll go milk the cow.” Although he had no idea how to milk the cow and knew he was babbling.

Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “Won’t you get Mutter for me? Bitte?”

He wiped his thumb across the trail of her tears. “If I could, I would get the whole world for you.”

She gasped for breath through the contraction. When it subsided, he caressed her cheek. “Tell me who to fetch, and I’ll go. Anywhere.”



She rested her hot face against his hand.

He didn’t know how he’d possibly have the strength to even saddle Old Red, but he knew he had to get help for her before it was too late.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered.

He fought against the sudden urge to run away.

“Promise you’ll stay by my side.”

“I promise.” He wiped away another of her tears.

Lord, help him. Help them both . . .





Chapter

13





Annalisa writhed in the bedstead. Sweat drenched her body and plastered her hair to her face in a tangled disarray.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said between gasps. After several hours, she could feel her strength waning.

Carl sat on the edge of the bed. Deep lines creased his forehead. His eyes flashed with fear, which she knew he was trying to hide from her, but she’d seen it nonetheless.

“Please, Annalisa, don’t give up.” He pressed a cup against her mouth and tipped it, forcing more water between her dry lips.