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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3206467" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-fourteen, “The Midwife”, Saturday June 10th, 1882, 12:00 P.M. Kate approaches the women and says, "Good afternoon Mrs. Fly. Mrs. Eaton, how do you do?"  Janet says, "Hello Mrs. Kale, I am here for my lesson." Mrs. Eaton says, "This is quite a spacious ranch you have. I am impressed by the large number of animals. Your dwarven ranch hand must be kept rather busy around here."Kate bit her tongue and waited a few moments to speak. "Flint owns the original twenty acres, Sonoma, Nanuet and I bought 200 acres adjoining. We operate together as a partnership, all with equal say. There will be even more animals next year, breeding was very successful.  You're right, he and Sonoma both have their hands full here. They do a tremendous amount of work. I help when I can, but I focus on the horses. Which is, of course, why Mrs. Fly is here today," she finished with a smile.Beth Eaton replies, "Yes, Janet has spoken well of you. She says that you are an excellent instructor and also a good neighbor. I asked to come out here so that we could get to know one another better."  "I've been very lucky in my neighbors," Kate said with a smile for Mrs. Fly. She hesitated unsure how to respond to the idea of getting to know one another. "I... after the lesson we can have tea in my little house. You're welcome to look over the ranch until then, or wait in the house, as you like."Beth Eaton replies, "I'll just stay with the carriage and watch the lesson if that is alright with you."  "Of course. I'll get the horses and we'll get started." When Kate reached the corral where she turned Meribel out she let the smile slip off her face. What is that woman doing here? First her husband, now her? They can't be that worried about the competition for council seats. She collected the horse Mrs. Fly had tried the last time she was out and brought it over, then reviewed what they had gone over the last time. By the end of the lesson Mrs. Fly was sitting fairly comfortably in the saddle and walking the horse on her own with Kate right beside, advising on keeping her seat.  They return the horses to the corral. Janet Fly says, "That was wonderful. I never realized how free riding can make somebody fell! It's almost as though you are flying through the air."   "And that's just the beginning," Kate said with a genuine smile. "Once you have a regular mount and get used to each other it's almost as if you are of one mind. You feel as if you could go to the end of the world together and back. But never forget the horse has a mind of it's own and it can take you with it whether you like the idea or not. You're starting to get a feel for how you have to flex the muscles in your legs and backside. I think next time we'll focus on walking again, and giving the horse cues and commands. Once you're comfortable with that we can start going a little faster. Why don't we retire to the house for tea? It stays quite cool there since Sonoma built it from adobe."   Janet says, "That's a wonderful idea. Let's go collect Beth. Will your friend Sonoma be joining us?""We can ask her, I haven't had enough chances to spend time with her lately. She might be off working somewhere though."  Kate hesitated for a moment. "I hope you won't mind me asking, but do you know why Mrs. Eaton decided to come today? You're always welcome to bring friends, of course," Kate said with a reassuring smile, "but I'd gotten the impression that she very much disliked and disagreed with me, so you can imagine my surprise."Janet replies, "She's had a change of heart. She now believes that she and Jim have both misjudged you. She's very sincere about this Mrs. Kale, this isn't another of Mrs. King's tricks." "I'd rather have a friend, or more likely a friendly acquaintence, than an enemy. I hadn't thought of it having anything to do with Mrs. King, I don't imagine she spends much time worrying about me," Kate chuckled. "I'm sorry to have been suspicious, but when one gets burned one does tend to learn not to stick ones hand in a fire."Janet replies, "I think that Beth has only your best interests at heart." They finish putting the mounts and tack away and head back outside to collect Mrs. Eaton. The three women head over to the house. Beth Eaton says, "From what I saw that was quite a lesson. How long have you been working around horses Mrs. Kale?"She replies, "I've been riding since before I can remember. After we were married Tom began to take me to his livery with him and taught me how to train horses and train people to ride them. I also took care of all the little bumps and bruises that happen in a livery. That would make it about five years or so.  I was taught to ride side-saddle of course, but Tom put a stop to that as soon as we were married. And insisted I stop wearing a dress while riding. He said it didn't matter how proper his wife was if her neck was broken."Beth Eaton replies, "You must miss your husband very much. I am truly sorry for your loss. I hear that he was a very religious man who was devoted to the deities."   "Thank you, I do miss him." Kate stopped for a moment. "I have many wonderful things in my life now, but I always feel his absence.  He was very devout; even when he was ill he would ask for a priest on Sundays since he couldn't go to church. He never stopped trying to get me to come with him, but... well, what has been lost can rarely be recovered when it comes to matters of faith."Beth Eaton reaches into the pocket of her dress and removes a large gold coin that has light glowing from it. Kate sees a depiction of Diana on it. Mrs. Eaton says, "You do not need to go to church every week to have love for the gods. Diana would not have blessed you otherwise."  She stopped to stare at the coin. "You were in the church yesterday... She told me that she'd made arrangements...you know." Kate stepped back without thinking, looking rather like a rabbit cornered by a wolf.Beth Eaton says excitedly, "Yes, it is a wonderful thing! You have been blessed by the Goddess! And she wishes for me to assist you in bringing the child into the world!"  Kate forced herself to stop and take a few deep breaths. Diana had said it would be interesting; which was quite an understatement. "Yes, she said last night that she had asked someone, but she didn't say who. Forgive me, I... I could really use that cup of tea.   You haven't spoken to anyone else about this, have you?" she said, then looked toward Janet Fly. "Do you already know what we're talking about?"Janet Fly says "No, I haven't a clue. It sounds like you two will be working together as midwives. I know that Beth used to do that for a career but I was unaware that you did that too Mrs. Kale."  "I never have," Kate said, starting to regain her sense of equilibrium. "Let's go in the house and talk." Kate walked most of the way with the two ladies and told them to go on inside since the door was unlocked. She ran over to Sonoma's house and invited her to come over, then joined her guests. A small fire was quickly started and the water put on to boil. "This was going to come out sooner or later," she said after she sat down with a glass of water. "At least some of it. I'm expecting a baby, due in December. Diana has asked Mrs. Eaton to help me."Janet Fly looks shocked. Beth Eaton exclaims "It is the child of her late husband. He died but remained here in spirit form. He was released but visited his late wife once more before leaving the World." Beth turns towards Kate and says, "It is a great honor for the Goddess to ask me to help you with this miracle. We are both blessed. Mrs. Kale, James and I owe you such a deep apology, we....we never realized how devoted you were to our Gods and to my patron Goddess. Had we known we could have made these last five months in town much easier for you."Kate says, "I have had many wonderful, loving people around me since I came to Promise City. I have not suffered. The people at the El Parador took me in as family and my friends have taken greater care of me than I could ever deserve.   Please understand, I'm not trying to be difficult or contrary, but I believe we should have honesty between us. I believe in the exsistence of the gods and their power over our lives. As a child I held them in awe and loved them unreservedly. Since then I have spent many years questioning them and myself, and what my proper relationship to them is. I am not a devout woman. I respect the gods as powers in the world but it does not go beyond that. I love and honor Diana for the great gift she's given me, and because in the last few months have seen how she uses her power to do good in this world. I was told the best thanks I could give is to raise my son with the same values I practice, so I can only assume she has approved of the way I've been living my life."Beth Eaton takes in all that Kate has just said. She replies, "Diana has made her choice, she has seen into your heart and has found you worthy, so I will not question that. Mrs. Kale, I am truly honored to have been asked to assist you. For most of my life I have worked as a midwife. I discovered that I had that skill at the age of eight, when my mother went into premature labor while father was away on his fishing boat, and I had to deliver my twin brothers. I prayed to the Goddess then and was rewarded with the knowledge and skills that I needed. All of my life she has guided me and protected me. My first husband worked on my father's fishing vessel and they were lost at sea when our daughter Rebecca was less than a year old, destroyed by a Tsanumi that accompanied an earthquake. Our home in Crescent City, California was mostly destroyed in the event. But the Goddess protected me and Rebecca even then, she brought my James to us. The Navy dispatched had several ships to the California and Oregon border to assist with the disaster. James became the physician in charge on the scene, and as the event caused dozens of women to go into premature labor, needed all the skilled midwives he could find. We became friends, and he later became a comfort when the ruins of my father's boat were found. This is Diana's way, to help bring love and peace to her followers even in the face of tragedy." Kate says, "So you have known the same pain as I. And the heart's struggle when another man touches your life. I did not know you had been married once before. To continue on takes a special kind of strength, especially when you suffer more losses as well. I can't testify to Diana's way, I'm only just learning. But I think she wants us to learn from one another, and perhaps that is her way of bringing peace as well." The teakettle began to whistle and she busied herself with getting it ready and pouring three steaming cups. She gave one to Mrs. Fly and said, "This should steady your mind a bit, I know it's a great deal of hard to believe information all at once. You'll be one of the few have reason to truly believe it."Beth says, "James was summoned to the church as well. The Goddess did not ask anything of him, perhaps just wanting him there to witness what she had to say to me. Mrs. Kale, he was sincere when he spoke to you a few nights ago about this rivalry between the schools. He hasn't been the one behind that, it has been mostly Shackleton's doing, although I suspect that the King family are the true instigators behind that. James is a rather difficult man to get to know. He has a softer side to him, which you saw a glimpse of when he spoke to you privately a few nights back. He'll also relax when with our children, including Becky who while not related by blood is every bit a daughter to him as our two sons are to him. But his public personae is always the stoic and serious person who he learned as decades spent as a Military Officer. But he is a truly devout man and having heard personally from the Goddess will listen to what he has heard."Kate says, "I want no rivalry either; as far as I'm concerned it doesn't exist. I wanted to refuse the baseball game but felt that would do more harm than good. The most important thing is the children have an opportunity to learn. I disagree strongly with Mr. Shackelton's methods, but that's not my choice to make. I have no doubt Doctor Eaton will believe what he heard as act accordingly. After our talk the other night I got the impression that there was more to him than he shows, but I felt after the next days occurances he may have hardened to me again. I saw at the festival that he had great tenderness for children. But what he believes will not change what others believe. I know how I'll be seen. Won't your friends take your change of heart toward me badly? I do not want to be a cause of trouble for you. I'll understand if you prefer to keep our relationship on a midwife/mother basis.""I will do as my Goddess asks regardless of the opinions of mortals. And which friends do you speak of? Among Peg Watkins sewing circle Janet Fly and Clarisse Townsend already speak well of you. As for Mrs. King, I suspect that if her Law and Order Party fails to win this election her ranch will withdraw from their decision to be part of Promise City and will petition to join Tombstone instead, which it is actually closer to.""Can you do that? I was concerned about putting our ranch in town since I am not sure how things will come out for elves and dwarves and I didn't want Sonoma, Flint, and Nanuet put in difficult positions. I wonder if she would then remove herself from her other activities here as well?"  Kate stopped and sipped her tea. "Obviously this is my first child. What do we need to do in the months before December?"Janet Fly excuses herself and heads outside and groom her horse, not comfortable discussing such a delicate subject. Sonoma however is happy to add to the conversation herself, having assisted with dozens of humanoid births herself in addition to hundreds of animals. For the next half-hour Kate receives detailed accounts from both as to what to expect throughout each stage of pregnancy as well as a verbal listing of all of the precautions that she will need to do as the date of birth approaches. Kate senses that while Mrs. Eaton appeared annoyed by Sonoma's contributions to the conversation at the onset that by the time they are finished speaking the human woman appears to have developed some level of respect for the wood elf.Kate listened carefully, adding what Sonoma and Mrs. Eaton said to what Mollie had told her earlier in the week. She smiled at Sonoma as they finished up and gratefully noted that Mrs. Eaton, even if she didn't want to, acknowledged Sonoma's experience and knowledge. "Will I have to be examined from time to time? The ladies in Boston were constantly seeing their doctors. Speaking of... I wonder if your husband might consider helping me expand my medical knowledge? I have no pretentions to learning to be a doctor, but I would like to expand my basic skills."Mrs. Eaton replies, "I will mention it to him Mrs. Kale, although I suspect that he would probably want to wait until after the election before undertaking such a task. Until then any free time that he has will be spent on the campaign for Town Council.""I don't imagine I'll have time in the next few weeks either. It's busy here at the ranch and with school and work at the Lady, and of course always trying to keep up with Ginnie I have about all I can keep up with right now." The three ladies went back outside to see Janet Fly. Kate apologized to her, saying, "I'm sorry to give you a secret to keep, but it won't be long. And I'm sorry to keep you out here so long! I'm sure you're ready to get home."Janet smiles and says, "Oh don't worry about either. Truth be told, my brother-in-law and his wife living under our roof is making things a bit....crowded. I welcome the opportunity for the diversion."   The two women climb up into the carriage and ride off back towards town. A now visible Gonzales comes up to Kate and says, "Those spying lawmen seem to have left. Could I ride back to town with you? I would have to borrow a horse given how I came out here. But since those lawmen may have seen me here before my invisibility spell went up it is best that I return to town by more conventional means."Kate says, "Please do, I could use some familiar company for a while. Mrs. Eaton was obviously trying not to offend me, but she made a couple comments that I had to bite my tongue at. Plus I just miss having time with you. I can update you about what's been going on out in the countryside on the way. I'm afraid there's trouble again."He says, "I was curious about why Mrs. Eaton was here. What sort of trouble? Is that Law and Order Party after you again?"  She says, "No, everything's fine in that regard. The trouble is with vampires, more of those creatures we had to hunt in Thomaswell.   Mrs. Eaton had a religious experience yesterday; Diana made her presence known in the church. She and Doc Eaton were there when Diana asked her to tend to me as midwife. And apparently if Diana approves of me the Eaton's do as well."Gonzales says, "Well, that's a pleasant surprise! The Eatons I mean, not the vampires. More of those awful creatures? Perhaps you should go talk to that High Priest, undead are more the realm of clerics than wizards. I hear that he and his friends plan to stay in town until after tomorrow's worship service so you could ask them to assist.""My understanding is that the High Priest is already aware," Kate said, then went on to describe what she knew to both her teacher and Sonoma. After the explanation she finished, "Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Harker will be back this afternoon, which is why I need to get back. What I'd really like to know is first, how I can help without exposing my talents to those who might not look kindly on them, and second how I can help without putting myself in unacceptable danger."He says, "Katherine, this sounds like something that you can leave to the experienced vampire hunters and high priests. There is no reason for you to be risking your life in this instance."  She sighed. "I know, and in the end I imagine that's what I'll do. But I hate sitting idle when my friends are taking action; it's hard to not be there to take care of them." Kate hugged her teacher tight, then did the same for Sonoma. "Let's get back to town. I can at least offer my thoughts before they go out to save the town again."  The ride back to town is peaceful and refreshing. They reach the town at around 2:00 PM  Kate took the time to bathe and get propertly dressed, before having lunch at the El Parador and returning to the Lucky Lady to wait for Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Harker to arrive back in town.</blockquote>

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