Ole Howard spit at Clifford as he tried to jerk free of his clutches. Then.. there was Katie tugging at Clifford's shirt!
"Katie! Get in the house!" He heard her gasp behind him and thought he heard her footsteps walking away. He was sure she went up the steps to the porch. Then Howard took a swing at him..Clifford ducked to the side. But Howard's punch didn't hit air. It landed on Katie's jaw...hard! She fell to the ground with a thump. Clifford went crazy then. He lifted Howard into the air by his shirt and threw him against the truck. Hearing a crack as Howard hit the truck, the man's eyes rolled upward and his body slid down to the ground. Clifford turned to kneel by Katie and slid his arm beneath her shoulders. She was limp as a rag doll.
"Katie! Speak to me darlin'!" He cried to her with tears streaming down his face. He picked her body up into his arms and walked as fast as he could inside and laid her down on the bed. Oh God! Please no! She wasn't moving and there was blood all around her. He had to get a doctor fast! He went up the road to his neighbor's house and banged on the door.
"Help! Help!" He yelled as he heard steps coming through the house. Dan Herbert rushed to the door and opened it as a scared Clifford shouted at him.
"My wife! She's hurt bad! Please! Get a doctor quick!" He was trembling now. Dan told him to go back home to his wife and he would fetch the doctor right away. As Clifford ran home, Dan told his wife Ina to go down there too. He jumped into his car and headed up the holler to get Doc Atkins.
Please dear God! God in heaven! Let her live! Don't let her die! Oh...! He heard a knock at his door as a lady's voice called out to him.
"Clifford? It's me, Ina Mae!" He told her to come on in, that they were back in the bedroom. Maybe..just maybe she could help?! Oh God! He hoped so!
Ina Mae followed his voice through the big house to the first floor bedroom. She went to Katie's bedside.
"Oh my word!" She gasped quietly as she checked Katie's pulse. "Clifford, go git a wet cool cloth! Quick!" As he stomped out of the room, Ina murmered to Katie. "You better wake up girl. That man of yours is the best yit! And y'all got that baby on the way too." She brushed Katie's hair away from her brow gently as she continued whispering and praying by her side. Another loud knock and shout at the door brought Doc Atkins, rushing to Katie's side. An older man, he was matter of fact and brisk in his manner, but the best known in three counties around. As he checked Katie, he gave orders.
"Let's git her to a hospital right now! There's nothin' I can do at this point! Wrap her in a thick quilt and Ina, grab some towels and some more wet cloths! Let's go! Now!" Clifford moved to the orders in a daze, but hastenly obeyed. The ride over the mountain to Williamson was slow and taking forever! He couldn't hide his emotions as tears streamed down his face while praying for Katie...Holding her in his arms, close to his heart, she was still unconscious. No one spoke as Doc drove with Ina in the front by hm. Wouod we ever get over this mountain?! Never had it seemed so long and far before! Doc glanced at the rearview mirror at Clifford and mentally shook his head. A sad situation..very sad indeed....
Katie never gained consciousness. The baby was saved. Heathy.. a girl..Katie died a short time later. Doc and Ina shed tears as Doc told Clifford the sad news. Her family was there now too.. The Fraziers. No one said a word. as Clifford walked away and headed to the nursery and stared at the baby.
"Daddy?! Daddy! Did you hear me? We're almost to Maggie's house! There's the lower tipple up yonder." She jarred Clifford from his sad memories.
"Daddy?! Why are you walkin' so fast?! I can't walk that fast!" Blinking..he shook his head to clear his thoughts back to the present. Slowing his pace, he wondered again, if he would ever forgive himself for losing Katie. It had been his fault.. all of it..not even that ole souphound Howard, could be blamed for any of it. He regretted that Howard had died too..and then had made a vow to NEVER lose his temper ever again! |
