“It’s too soon,” I said, coming to my feet. “I have to go to her.”
“This is an official investigation,” George sputtered. “Can’t you summon another midwife?”
Matthew shook his head. “Susanna will have no one but Selah.”
“Nonsense!” Edgar said. “The way folks are stirred up, Selah should stay well away from the Appletons’ tonight. Let another woman go instead.”
The sound of soft laughter came from the far end of the room. Glancing over, I saw Nathan’s eyes burning with a manic excitement. In front of the entire town, he had already linked me with killing the Appletons’ baby. It was a daring bet, but from Susanna’s history of stillbirths, he knew the chances were high that this child would also die. Now that the seeds of my guilt were sown it didn’t really matter who attended the birth. If this baby died, I would be tried for murder. If it lived, I would be redeemed.
“Susanna needs me. I’ll not stay here and hide from my obligations.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Edgar persisted. “I won’t allow it.”
Anne placed a hand on Edgar’s shoulder. “Selah’s a grown woman. She can decide for herself.”
I looked pleadingly at George. “Please let me go. I’m the only chance this baby has.”
“Oh, very well,” he said. “This inquiry is closed for lack of material evidence. You are free to go. Ben and William, please escort Selah to the Appletons’. I don’t want any more trouble from the crowd tonight.” He didn’t have to say anything to Henry. He was at my side before I even got to the door.
With three armed escorts, I rushed from the meetinghouse, giving no time for my victory. Soon as we came down the steps, people pushed forward, eager to know my fate. It was full dark by now, and several torches burned throughout the crowd. The faces I could see looked severe, but at least no one called for me to be hanged.
Ben was the first to speak. “The constable has cleared Selah of all charges. Now move aside. We have serious business to attend to.”
The crowd stood its ground, not yet satisfied. “Please, let us pass,” Matthew urged. “Susanna needs a midwife and has asked for Selah.”
“What if she kills the baby?” someone called out beyond the light of the torches.
“Did you not hear Ben?” Matthew asked, his agitation increasing from the delay. “Selah was falsely accused. There is no witch. Now, I’ve told you my wife’s in danger and needs a midwife. If you don’t let us pass, whatever happens will be on your heads.”
This was more responsibility than most people wanted to shoulder. Grudgingly, they began to slowly move away. We stepped into the road, Henry alert at my side with the dagger firmly in his hand.
Matthew had to slow his gait not to lose me in the dark. “I’m sorry about tonight,” he said. “It was disgraceful what Nathan tried to do.”
I sighed in relief. “Thank you, Matthew. I just wish more people thought the same way.”
“Nathan has a talent for riling folks up. Give them the night to calm down and think things over. Come morning, I’m sure you’ll have more supporters.”
His sentiments made me smile. “And by then you’ll be a father. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Susanna couldn’t believe it when I returned from the meeting and told her it was you that Nathan had accused. Seeing how upset she was, I should have just left it at that, but I made the mistake of saying how some people had called for a hanging. She nearly fainted from the shock. Soon as her senses came back, she worked herself into a temper, saying how Nathan was having his revenge for you not marrying him. I’d never seen her so mad before, and tried to get her to calm down. She wouldn’t listen and then the pains started. Once I realized what was happening, I ran back to get you.”
We arrived at the house as Matthew finished his story. He reached for the door handle, but made no movement to open the latch. “I know Susanna and I haven’t had much luck bringing babies into the world, and it doesn’t look good with this one trying to come a month early. For the most part, I’ve accepted the Lord’s will, but please, Selah, I can’t lose Susanna. She’s all I’ve got in this world worth keeping.”
I placed my hand on his arm. “Susanna is going to be just fine,” I reassured him. “And I’ll do everything I can for the baby.”
Matthew gave me a thin smile and opened the door. We didn’t have to go far to find Susanna. She was in the front room, leaning against a table by the window. By the sound of her breathing, labor had undoubtedly started.