Reverend had not even noticed his child. He finally grew quiet as he went to the baby and crouched beside her. Mai Lin let out a dis gusted sound as she rose and went to the awkward father who didn't even know how to pick up his own offspring. She swooped up the baby in the swaddling clothes and placed her in her father's arms.
"A boy?" he asked.
She waved a hand at him, the dried blood on her fingers catching the light. "Be grateful that both your girls are alive."
Mai Lin could see a slight wash of disappointment flit over the Reverend's face before he determined to beam. She stepped away. The silly man had no idea of his good fortune.
At the bedside, she stood opposite Doc Hemingway.
"How did you save her?" he asked Mai Lin.
"The only way."
The Doctor leaned across Grace's sleeping body, waiting for more, but Mai Lin was too tired to talk to ignorant people.
"I will send over my maid to clean this up right away. You have done more than enough for one evening," the doctor said.
With the baby held in his stiff arms, the Reverend stepped forward and asked Hemingway, "Is my wife going to be all right?"
"It appears she hemorrhaged after the birth. Is that right, Mai Lin?"
Mai Lin nodded from her seat nearby and reached into one of her pouches for more betel quid.
"A very dangerous condition," Doc Hemingway explained. "I have lost several patients in this way. You are extremely lucky she had such good care."
The Reverend looked across at Mai Lin, and the man of so many words seemed to have forgotten them all. She held out her arms, and he came forward and gratefully handed her the baby.
"Your wife will be terribly weak," Doc Hemingway said as the Reverend rejoined him at bedside. "She has lost a great deal of blood, and it will take her months to recover. She will require bed rest and good sustenance, which will certainly be a challenge, but I believe Mai Lin will know best how to handle her condition."
The Reverend looked across at the old amah, and from his lips finally came an outpouring of gratitude. Mai Lin didn't care about the words that tumbled from the Reverend. As he continued to thank her, she lifted the baby to her shoulder and patted it in the only proper way.
Nineteen
W e shall move you over this afternoon," Mrs. Watson said. "We insist." Then she turned and strode from the room, her skirts whisking the floor. She did not glance at Mai Lin, who sat in her customary spot on the spindle chair in the corner. Grace's amah rose and went to her mistress and placed a cool cloth upon her forehead.
"I am to live with my good friend Mildred," Grace said in a weak voice.
"Not to worry. It will be all right."
"I'm not worried," Grace said and tried to squeeze Mai Lin's hand, "so long as you're there with me."
"Mistress grows stronger by the day. But you must sleep now."
Soon her mistress returned to dozing, and Mai Lin slipped from the bedroom. Ahcho waited just outside the door, as he had come to do often in the week since the birth.
Mai Lin whispered, "That two-faced witch is stealing my Mistress."
"It is as it must be." He shrugged. "Some things are out of our hands."
She stared at him for a moment and then said, "Nothing is out of our hands. You know that. Mistress would have died had I not been here. She shouldn't be transferred so soon, and certainly not without me. We must do something."
Ahcho looked suddenly quite old as he said, "We have to accept that we can't save everyone. Some things are beyond our control."
Mai Lin put her hands on her hips. "Is something wrong with you today?" she asked. "You don't sound like yourself. Maybe you can't save your charge, but I'm stronger than that."
He shook his head and muttered, "Woman."
"Enough with the sorry face," she replied quickly. "Go now, bring me Doc Hemingway. I must talk with him."
Ahcho's brow formed a question. "And the Reverend, too?"
Mai Lin let out a slight laugh. "Have you no sense at all today?"
"I'll get the doctor. I see that the old lady is emperor of everyone now."
"That's right. And you better do as I say, old man," she said and shooed him off.
Ahcho started down the hall, but then turned back and stepped closer to her again.