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.Jeannette held Amelia’s hand and coaxed her to cooperate.“It will all be over with soon,” she crooned and looked up at him as if expecting him to confirm her words.Treynor drew Amelia’s skirts up above her waist, completely baring her bottom.The sight, along with a trickle of blood, drew a small gasp from Jeannette.“This is unseemly,” she said, flustered.“I mean.you are a man.What are you doing?” Her eyes darted from him to Amelia and back again.“She—”“She is having a baby and, despite your delicate sensibilities, this is where it comes out.I am afraid I see no midwife, though I would trade my weight in gold for one right now.Unless, of course, you would like to try your hand at birthing.” He backed away, motioning her to replace him between Amelia’s knees, which Amelia had instinctively raised and parted.The spasm wracking Amelia’s belly subsided, leaving the girl gasping for air but able to utter a response of her own.“I’ve ’ad worse than ’im see it all.”She attempted to laugh, but the pain returned, and she had to force the rest through her teeth.“An’ I assure ye, I don’t rightly care at this bloody moment.I’d let ’im cut me ’ead off if I thought it’d heeeeeeelp.”The last word extended into another keening wail, and Jeannette shoved Treynor back in place.“Do whatever you can.Just help her.”Treynor knelt at the ready.He intended for his nonchalance to calm Jeannette, to calm them both, but inside, he felt as nervous as they appeared to be.He had never witnessed a human birth.He could only draw from what he had witnessed on the Abbott farm.Once, he’d assisted a mare in delivering her foal.He hoped it would make him of some use.“Relax, everything will be fine.” He regretted that his words sounded far less convincing than he meant them to be.“What can I do?” Jeannette rolled back her sleeves as far as they would go.Now that propriety ranked somewhere below necessity and practicality, she seemed eager to take any instructions he was willing to give.Treynor admired her courage—and her kindness.Jeannette had endangered herself more than once to help Amelia.“I am not exactly sure,” he admitted.“We will just have to hope it becomes apparent.”No sooner had he said that than Amelia bore down in earnest.A glimpse of what looked like a bald head made his heart thud until he could feel its vibration in his fingertips.He was about to help a new life enter the world.He looked at Jeannette, who was holding Amelia’s hand and whispering encouragement.I would like to see her give birth to my son.The idea came unbidden, out of nowhere, and he squelched it as quickly as it dawned on his consciousness.What foolishness was that?Amelia’s next push produced a fresh gush of water and blood.He could see the baby, but it wasn’t the head, as he had thought.It was a set of pink buttocks.Fear coursed through him.He knew little about birthing babies, but it wasn’t hard to guess that this was unusual—and not in the least desirable.Again, he considered sending Jeannette for the surgeon.It might all be over by the time Sivern arrived, but then it might not.Mother and child could easily lose their lives.His uncertainty drew Jeannette’s attention.She searched his face, then mirrored his worry.“What is it?”Amelia’s eyes flew open.“Is somethin’ wrong?”“No.” Treynor masked his concern with a calm smile.“Nothing.I was just thinking that Jeannette should go for Surgeon Sivern.He can only be a help to us.”“Not ’im!” Amelia tried to sit up, but Jeannette held her down.“That sawbones is not goin’ ter lay a ’and on me or me baby! I’ve seen ’is work before.Ain’t worth nothin’ to the ’ealthy, an’ the sick and dyin’ dread ’im even more.”Treynor knew then that, despite her youth, Amelia was a seasoned stowaway and had witnessed the frigate in action.Surgeon Sivern’s work was notorious and consisted mostly of hacking off the limbs of those who required such treatment due to injuries sustained during battle.The man prided himself on his speed and efficiency, and there were times he received plenty of practice.But, in all probability, he’d never delivered a baby.Would he be able to help? Or was Treynor simply trying to divorce himself from the awesome responsibility before him?“At least he is somewhat educated in these matters,” he argued.Another pain was coming on.He wanted this to be the last one, the one that delivered the baby.Amelia was tiring fast, was probably not strong enough to last much longer—not after living in the inhospitable hold.Amelia bore down again, but weakly.He had to do something
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