Their Miracle Baby

Chapter 8

Venetia and Ronnie arrived back in the village a few days later; it had been a successful trip, the baby and mother both healthy. Venetia had learned that even today, childbirth was a dangerous thing here. Either the mother, baby, or both could die if proper care wasn’t given and even sometimes when it was.

One of the reasons they’d stayed so long was that Ronnie had noticed a lower mortality rate when she stayed and cared for the mothers and infants for a few days after birth. Venetia knew that it was because care was taken to avoid infection which was a constant threat in this humid climate.

“What happens if you’re called away to another birth?” Venetia wondered out loud.

“I’ve been training some of the girls to take over for me. The other doctor was helping me, I’ve been wanting to ask you to do the same.”

“Oh, I’d love to. Just tell me what you want me to teach them and I’m on it,” Venetia said, excited by the possibility. This could make a huge difference in the lives of the people. A little brigade of nurses to tend to the sick, it would be wonderful.

They were so deeply in conversation as they walked into the village that she didn’t notice when Ronnie stopped. When she did notice that she’d stopped, she looked back at her, then followed the path of Ronnie’s eyes to where a man was standing in the middle of the village.

He was deep in conversation with one of the men, who had a bow and arrow in his hands. He was obviously showing the man how it worked. Suddenly, it struck her like a bolt of lightning that the man looked a lot like Lewis. With a sinking heart she realized that she wasn’t over him after all, especially if she was imagining that he was here in the Amazon.

But the longer she looked, the more she thought that it was him, and when he looked up as Venetia and Ronnie approached, his blue eyes met hers and she knew that it was him. All the breath left her body as a million question swirled in her head. Her first thought was that someone from home had sent him, but then she remembered that she’d just talked to Bernice and her family the other night. Lewis had have to have been on his way long before that.

She was rooted on the spot, watching as Ronnie went forward to greet him. They talked for a few minutes, then she pulled Lewis away toward the medical hut. Venetia took advantage of the moment and disappeared into their hut, buried her face in her pallet and cried for the first time in nearly a month.

Just when she’d managed to stop missing him, he showed up, destroying all her hard work. The more she thought about it, the more she decided that it just wasn’t fair of him to do this. Anger quickly took the place of hurt, as she thought about how he’d played her, then left her when things had gotten tough.

But her arms still ached to hold him, her heart wanted what they’d had again. She had felt him pulling her to him when their eyes met. Why did she have to feel that pull when she was near him? What was it about him that she couldn’t resist? She still couldn’t answer that question, but she knew that no matter what, she wasn’t going to fall for him again. What they had was over and it would stay that way. She fell asleep thinking about Lewis and all they could have been, the tears leaking out of her eyes as she slept.

When Lewis had seen Venetia across the clearing in the middle of the village, his heart had almost stopped beating. She was laughing and talking with another woman. She looked happy and healthy, better than she’d looked the last time he’d seen her. She’d obviously taken to living in these high mountains, something he was having trouble with.

The woman who was with Venetia had stopped and stared at him as if she knew him, then rushed forward and whisked him away to the hut he’d slept in last night. Now she was busy showing him where everything was and finding him a better pallet to sleep on. It was quite clear to him that she was trying to distract him.

“I’d like to see the other doctor,” he said, pretending he didn’t know Venetia. t

“I’m sure you would, but that will have to wait until she wants to see you,” The woman said. “Until then, you will perform her duties.”

“But, I’ve come a long way,” he said, feeling desperate.

“Well, then it won’t matter if you wait a little longer. I’m Ronnie. If you need anything, tell one of the men and they’ll see to it,” she said, then walked out of the hut.

Ronnie still didn’t know what her role in Lewis and Venetia’s relationship was, but she knew that Venetia needed to get away for a while to sort out her feelings. Lewis would be seeking her out as soon as he could, but Ronnie knew deep inside that the meeting should be postponed.

Gently waking Venetia up, she dried her tears and said, “It’s time we explored the jungle. Pack a bag for overnight, we’re out of here.”

“But…Lewis,” Venetia said, then suddenly realized that Ronnie had known who he was when she’d seen him. “Did you know he was coming?”

“No, but as soon as I saw him, I knew who he was,” Ronnie said, handing Venetia her backpack. “Now let’s go. It’s going to be dark soon and we have a bit of a hike.”

Venetia did as she was asked, then followed Ronnie to the main kitchen where they filled a bag with food. On their way out of the village, Ronnie stopped and retrieved a fishing pole and a bow and arrow. Finally, they began to climb a path behind the village, going higher and higher until Venetia was sure they were at the top.

Sure enough as they topped the last rise, the mountain spread out below them, a sight Venetia would never forget. They paused a moment to enjoy the view, then dropped into a valley and descended to a big clearing in the forest. Here there was a little hut, placed next to a crystal blue lake teaming with fish. Ronnie pushed open the door and dropped her gear inside the door.