Read Mystic Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series Book 6) for Free Online Page B

the baby now. He set aside the basin, planning to later take the placenta and dig a hole for it near where he’d bury Oswald. Hopefully the distance would protect them from any animals who might smell the blood.
    After he used a warm cloth to clean Maggie, Caleb washed his hands and face. His body still felt shaky after the birth experience, but his heart was full. When he returned, the baby was still nursing. He sat down next to them, Indian style, content to watch.
    After a while, Charlotte pulled her head up like she was ready to stop. Then she seemed to change her mind and continued to suckle for a minute. The next time the baby lifted her head, she relaxed her mouth so the nipple slipped gently away. She turned her face and nestled her cheek against her mother’s soft breast.
    “I suppose we should clean her up.”
    “Just a little.” She ran a finger over Charlotte’s head. “This white coating is supposed to be good for her skin.”
    Caleb stood, his legs aching, and shook them out before walking to the fire. Grasping a corner of a washcloth, he dunked it into the pot of water, and then raised it, holding it aloft to cool a bit. The cloth flapped in the wind until he judged the temperature to be the perfect warmth for Charlotte’s delicate skin. He returned to Maggie’s side.
    She held out the baby for him to wash.
    He crouched and dabbed at Charlotte’s cheeks.
    The infant scrunched her face and turned away.
    “Your first bath, my love,” Maggie crooned.
    Feeling like a clumsy oaf, Caleb persisted, moving as gently as he could.
    “She won’t break, or so Mrs. Tisdale assured me. Rub her head clean.”
    Caleb obeyed, slicking the washcloth over Charlotte’s head and causing some of the baby’s downy dark hair to swirl in tufts.
    Maggie guided him in applying a diaper and dressing her in the baby bunting. After being swaddled inside her blanket and full with her mother’s milk, Charlotte fell into her first contented sleep.
    Caleb wondered if the babe had a sufficient wardrobe. He felt an urge to rush to Sweetwater Springs and place an order for baby clothes and such. “I should attend to the cord.” He used his pocketknife to fish the string and butcher knife out of the pot of boiling water and held them aloft to cool.
    “Remember,” she instructed. “Tie off the cord about an inch and again at four inches. Cut between.”
    Caleb knelt by her side and followed her instructions, tying the strings tight. The umbilical cord surprised him with how soft it felt, yet he still had to apply a certain amount of pressure to cut all the way through. He wiped off the blood, and the task was done. “There.”
    “Well done, Dr. Livingston,” Maggie said, her eyes bright with exhilaration.
    For the first time, Caleb became aware of his hunger. He’d been so focused on Maggie and Charlotte, he’d failed to heed the call of his body’s needs. “I’ll fix us something to eat.” He went to wash up again, then moved to the campfire, opening a can of corned beef hash and one of peas. He set them at the edge of the fire to heat for dinner. From a basket he’d taken from the surrey, he brought out the last of the bread and cheese his housekeeper, Mrs. Graves, had sent along with him for the journey.
    One of the horses nickered as he waited. Probably thirsty. He’d water them soon.
    When the food was warm, he dished some up and brought the plate to Maggie, along with another mug of tea. “I’ll hold the baby while you eat.”
    Maggie gave the dozing infant a kiss. “It’s hard to let her go, even to you.”
    Caleb chuckled. “I’ll be right here under your eye the whole time.” He bent to take the baby.
    “Support her head.”
    “I am.” He brought the infant to his chest. Charlotte was so tiny, seemed so fragile, yet he’d already witnessed her strength. This time Caleb was the one who explored the baby, softly touching her button nose and running a finger over the petal-soft curve of her cheeks.