Storm Shelter

Chapter 5- Have a Little Faith

Breech.

Anna went still as a stone. That didn't sound good.

She had heard the term before of course. On TV and medical dramas. Something about the baby being in the wrong position.

"You can fix that right? I mean, what would you do for a cow?" Anna snorted at her own joke.

Matt didn't see the humor in the situation.

"I know I'm not a cow, but I'm trying to stay positive. It's obvious you work with animals, because your bedside manner with pregnant women really sucks." She started to breath faster and heavier as another contraction came on.

Matt placed his hands on her protruding abdomen and began to feel around.

"Whoa buddy, buy me a few drinks first!" There was her inappropriate humor flaring up again. Anna gave Matt a pleading look when he stilled his large warm hands. He finally cracked a little bit of a smile.

"Sorry, I just want to see how bad a shape we are really in." He reached out and grabbed one of her flailing hands and gripped it tightly. Then he pulled on her hand and urged her to her feet.

"I don't want to get up again!" Anna protested. He is crazy, I can barely stand!

"I want you to walk around a bit, and we'll see if we can't get this little fella to turn on his own." He didn't sound hopefull, but he didn't seem unhopeful either. He was a very hard man to read.

"She's a girl. At the last appointment I had I found out." My one and only appointment actually. But she didn't admit that out loud as he put a hand on the small of her back and held her left hand with his other.

"Well, this little darlin' is gonna be just fine. we are just gonna stay calm and when Julia gets here we'll see what she thinks is best." Again, he was staying very calm, but his eyes looked tight with concern.

Just then a loud crash came from the hallway off the kitchen and a young teenager boy came stumbling into the den.

Anna didn't know why she found him so fascinating, maybe because he was a distraction from her current situation. He had shaggy brown hair and sleepy brown eyes. He was wearing red plaid pajama pants and a soft grey sweatshirt.

He stopped dead in his tracks as he took in the situation of the room. This must be John.

"I didn't know we had company. Who are you?" He stayed real still, like a jack rabbit in the headlights, but he was up on his toes like he wanted to run forward and explore.

Anna smiled weakly and said for the second time that night.

"Hello John, my name is Anna, your brother Mark has been calling me Annie and I think I like that. I am about to have a baby in your living room. Nice to meet you." This time Anna was sure Matt cracked a grin, but he hid it with a cough.

If possible John's eyes got even wider.

"John, don't just stand there being rude. Go boil some water, get fresh towels and blankets and then bring a chair in here for Anna to hold onto." Matt said all this while slowly walking her back and forth around the living room. When John still didn't move, Matt just cleared his throat.

"Yes, sir!" John quipped as he did a 180 and ran to the kitchen. There was more crashing and the sound of pots clanging as the boy got to work.

Matt shook his head and returned his attention to Anna. "Do you feel any pulling or shifting in your lower abdomen?"

Anna shook her head. "But it's hard to tell, all I feel are the contractions."

"Okay, we will try this a little longer, but If Julia doesn't show up soon, I'm going to have to try to navigate a Breech turn anyway."

"That sounds terrifying and painful." Anna bit her lip and stopped walking to lean over as the next contraction hit.

"I won't lie to you, it will not be pleasant, but your contractions are too close together and you can't start to push until we get that little one turned. Or you both are at much more risk." 

Matt rubbed her back as she moaned.

"Have you ever turned a Breech baby before?" Anna held her breath waiting for an answer, afraid of what it might be.

"I watched my mother do it three times, and I have done it with some animals myself." She was glad he went the honesty route.

"Was your mother successful?"

"Yes. With two I watched eveything turned out well."

"And the third?" She thought she might bite a whole in her lip soon.

"The mother and baby were rushed to the hospital, but it didn't end well for the baby." Matt let out a sigh as he urged her to keep walking.

John came rushing back into the room, holding a big wooden chair.

"Here you go, Annie." John smiled a crooked half grin and set the chair in front of her.

She moved to sit down.

"No." Matt said sternly, "I need you to stand behind it and use it to bear down."

Anna looked confused but moved behind the chair and gripped its back.

"When the next contraction is coming we will try to shift the baby. We can't wait anymore."

Anna went paler than she had been so far. "Are you sure you can do this? I'm trusting you, you stranger-whose-barn-I-stumbled-into. Can you save my baby?"

Matt squared his shoulders. "The Lord willing."

Anna smiled at him.

Then the light flickered out.

 A/N: Jared Gilmore is my inspiration for Little John. Lol, I realize I just called him Little John. Don't judge me, its late.