“You’ve only had her for a few hours, right?” Maggie asks Abbie who has drifted by to stand at her side.
“Yes, why?” Fear has her chewing her lip with worry.
Maggie rolls Coralie over to her back and watches to see if she lifts her head or attempts to roll over. Next, she takes Coralie’s hands and lifts her from the bed. A frown mars her forehead when Coralie’s head falls back, and she doesn’t try to lift it.
Gently, she lowers her back to the bed. She presses on her belly, and the baby cries out in pain. Abbie jumps and gasps. “Why are you doing that?”
“It’s alright. I’m just checking her intestines. They are inflamed. What has she been eating?”
“Not enough, judging by her size,” Shep snaps from across the room.
“True, but I could use more accurate information,” Maggie looks to Abbie who shows her the two bottles the orphanage gave her.
“No,” Maggie grumbles. She unscrews the nipple, turning it inside out and a collected gasp has her shaking her head. It is black inside. She smells the milk and hisses in frustration. “Rancid. Throw them out.”
“Rancid?” Abbie is horrified. Tears fill her eyes, and she looks at Tucker, who quickly moves to comfort her.
“Abbie, you couldn’t have known,” he insists.
“I should’ve checked,” she murmurs.
“Nonsense.” Maggie turns to Abbie and grabs her hand, drawing her to the bed. “I can tell you that a large percentage of infants don’t see their first birthday. This little one is strong. She just needs good, quality nourishment and love.” Her eyes flick around the room, and she smiles. “I see no shortage of that here.”
“What else do I need to know?” Abbie asks.
“First, she’s underweight, malnourished and has a bad rash.” Maggie diapers her and accepts a sleeping gown for the baby as she talks. “All of which is correctable. Her heart sounds strong, and her lungs are clear.”
Abbie picks her up when she starts to fuss and lifts her to her shoulder. “Thank you,” she says when Mrs. Combs offers a soft yellow blanket to cover her with.
“The most important thing for you to understand is that the bottles must be kept clean. Don’t let the milk sit in her bottle. Toss it out. There is a new formula made by Milton…”
“I got some!” Mrs. Combs digs through the packages and hurries over with a can of dried milk. “A friend at the store recommended it.”
“Perfect! This is dried milk, with extra protein and vitamins. You add the measured amount to a small amount of cold cow’s milk. It will have her fattened up and stronger in no time.”
Abbie nods listening intently. “What about her strength?”
“Right now, I want you to ease her into her milk. Offer it to her every two to four hours but don’t let her keep it all day. The idea is to get her on a schedule. We want to stretch that time between feedings. Let her sleep and give her time on her tummy. She will start lifting her head on her own.”
“If she rejects the milk?” Shepherd asks.
Maggie glances at the large handsome man and smiles in approval. “Good question.” She begins to load her bag back up. “It’s possible that she will have an upset stomach or worse. You’ll know pretty quickly if she can tolerate it.”
“Will you stay while I feed her and show me how to mix it properly?” Abbie pleads.
“I… I just got off and I should get home.” Maggie glances at the baby now held securely in her new mother’s arms.
“I’ll pay you.” Abbie pleads.
“She’ll stay,” Shep insists, and his glance has her tempted to tell them all where to go, but once glance at Abbie’s worry filled eyes has her caving.
“I’ll stay,” she sighs.
“Thank you!” Abbie presses a kiss to the baby’s head.
Chapter 30
The next few hours pass in a whirl of instructions and Abbie listens intently. After a late dinner of soup and French bread, they go through the baby’s items with Mrs. Combs and wait to see how Coralie digests the formula.
“If she were going to reject it, you’d see it by now, Abbilene,” Maggie says softly.
Coralie is sleeping soundly in Tucker’s arms, and they laugh when he lifts her arm and drops it, and she doesn’t wake.
“I’d say she’s going to be fine. I want you to take her to see your doctor when you get home. Let him verify what I’ve told you,” Maggie explains.
“I will. Thank you, Maggie. I can’t thank you enough.” Abbie takes her to the side and offers to pay her.
“No. Keep your money, Abbilene. I’ve been to way too many funerals. I’d pay you if I could. Take care of her, she’s a gift.” Maggie says.
Abbie hugs her and wipes her tears. “I will. Thank you.”
“Are you ready?” Shep’s deep voice startles her.
“I am.” She smiles and waves at the household and lets Shep guide her from the house to his carriage.
“Where, too, Miss Maggie Rose?” Shep asks once she is settled.
Maggie glances at him and rattles off directions.
“You live at the boarding house?” he asks.
“Yes, it’s close to the hospital.”
“I see,” he gives his driver directions, and climbs inside. His large frame takes up most of the space.
“You should’ve taken the money, Miss Rose.”
“Why? I did my job. Even if your friend did abduct me,” Maggie teases.
Shep’s face darkens and his eyes wander over her figure as if looking for signs of assault.
“Relax, I’m just teasing. If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t have gone with him. I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll have words with Wyatt when I return,” Shep snaps.
“Suit yourself, but I think I scared him.” Maggie
