A Randall Hero Read online

  “I’ll wait until you feel another one. Then I’ll go up on the road and try to flag someone down.”

  “Okay.”

  “Eat the rest of your crackers. You’ll need them.”

  She ate slowly, trying to make them last.

  John brought out the Gatorade again for them each to have a drink.

  When the next pain came so soon, it surprised them both. John checked his watch again. It wasn’t eight-thirty yet. The pains were coming faster.

  “Don’t go, John. Please.”

  “I have to. We’ve got to get you to a hospital.”

  “But you said we’d be all right.”

  “We will be, if we have to deliver your baby here, but I’d prefer a hospital. Now, be strong. I’m going to cover you back up and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “You aren’t going to leave, are you? I mean, walk somewhere?”

  “No. That would take too long.”

  “Okay.”

  He tucked her in and got out of the truck. After climbing up to the road, he paced back and forth in front of her car, hoping someone would come by.

  He almost gave up and decided to go back down to his truck to see how Lucy was doing, but at the last minute, he heard a vehicle approaching.

  Stepping farther out into the road, he waved his arms as the pickup came into sight.

  “You break down?” the man asked, after lowering his window.

  “Yeah, and I’ve got a woman in labor down there.”

  “All right. I’m going as far as Rawhide. Will that help?”

  “That’s where we need to go. I’ll just go bring her up.”

  “Need some help?”

  “No, I’ve got her.”

  John slid back down to the truck and opened the passenger door. “Lucy, we’ve got a ride.”

  She looked up at him and he saw the pain on her face. “Thank God. This baby wants to be born.”

  Chapter Two

  John scooped Lucy up in his arms, comforter and all.

  “My coat!”

  He grabbed it and laid it across her so she could keep it from falling. “Do you have suitcases?”

  “Yes, in my trunk.”

  “Get out your keys. I’ll stop and put them in his truck before we get in.”

  “Wouldn’t it be better for me to get in and then put the suitcases in? He might drive off with them.”

  “I’d rather he drive off with your suitcases than with you.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  He brought her out of the truck and struggled up to the road. Then he set her down for a minute to deal with her luggage. Next, he scooped Lucy up again and set her on the car seat, pushing her over so he could get in, too.

  Before he shut the door, the driver took off, as if he were trying to leave John behind. Lucy shrieked and John used the door handle to hang on until he could get his footing inside the truck.

  Then he sent the man a sharp look.

  “Figured you was in a hurry, what with the baby comin’ and all.”

  “Yeah.” Under his breath he added, “But not in that big of a hurry.”

  After several minutes of seeing how the man drove, John wasn’t sure he’d improved their status any. The man was driving eighty miles an hour and taking up most of the road.

  John hated to ask the question, but for Lucy’s sake, he needed to. “Do you happen to have a cell phone?”

  “Sure do. Want to borrow it?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be glad to pay you for your minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  John dialed the number for the clinic. “May I speak to Caro, please?”

  “Dr. Randall is in with a patient.”

  “Is Jon?”

  “Yes, he is.”

  “Look, go tell Caro I have a pregnant woman who thinks she’s going into labor and I need to talk to her.”

  He didn’t have to wait long for Caroline to come to the phone. “Who is this?”

  “It’s John. Sorry I forgot to tell the nurse that.”

  “That’s all right. Your message sounded urgent.”

  “Yeah. Lucy’s water broke about six. Her pains have been coming about ten minutes apart and she thinks she’s eight months pregnant.”

  “Where are you?”

  “A kind gentleman is giving us a ride. We should be there in about forty minutes.”

  “Okay, you should arrive before she delivers, but you don’t have much time to spare. With the baby coming early we’ll need to get it oxygen right away.”

  “Yes.”

  “She can hear you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you tell me how you came across this woman?”

  “No.”

  “Is she from around here?”

  “No.”

  “Well, John, you’ve got my curiosity up. We’ll be waiting for both of you, and we’ll have an incubator ready, too.”

  “Thanks, Caro.”

  “No problem. Do you want me to call your parents?”

  “Yeah, just tell them I’m all right. I’ll talk to them later.”

  “All right. I will.”

  When John handed the phone back to the driver, he looked at John. “That’ll be twenty dollars.”

  John didn’t question the amount. He dug in his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. He handed it over without argument.

  “How are you doing?” he asked Lucy.

  “I think my pains are coming faster.”

  “Caro said we should have plenty of time to get you to the clinic. She’ll take care of everything.”

  “Who is she?”

  “She’s my cousin, one of the doctors in town.”

  “Oh, so she knows about having babies.”

  “Yep. She’s had a couple herself.”

  “Who is her husband?”

  “The sheriff.”

  “You know the sheriff?” the old man asked, suddenly interested.

  “Yes.”

  “He’s the one I’m goin’ to see!”

  “That’s good. I’ll show you where his office is.”

  “Okay.”

  Lucy gasped as another pain, more intense this time, seized her.

  “Try to relax, Lucy. I know it’s hard, but we’ll be there soon.” He put his arm around her, still enveloped in the comforter. Her scent wafted to his nose and in his mind he was back in his truck spending the night with Lucy wrapped in his arms.

  “You two live in Rawhide?”

  John squeezed Lucy’s shoulder, forgetting about her pain until she grimaced again. “Yes, we do.”

  “Nice place. I was gonna settle down there, but I didn’t. I heard about the sheriff, though. They say he does right by people.”

  “Yes, he does.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna talk to him.”

  “You got a problem with someone in Rawhide?” John asked.

  “Yeah!”

  “I know a lot of people in Rawhide. Maybe I know who you have a problem with.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “I might.”

  “Nope.”

  John gave up the puzzle of the stranger. He didn’t really care about him as long as he got them to the hospital in time. And they didn’t have much time left. He felt Lucy trying to relax, but the pain came even harder than the last time. He checked his watch surreptitiously, noting the time was nine-twenty-nine. The last pain had been at nine-twenty-one. He didn’t say anything to Lucy. And he certainly didn’t want to urge the old man to drive faster.

  But he hoped they got there soon.

  When they passed the turn to his family ranch, he smiled. At this speed, they were five minutes away.

  “Uh, you’d better slow down inside the city limits. You don’t want to meet the sheriff from the back of a squad car.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “Can’t we just tell him we have an emergency?” Lucy asked.

  “Good thinking, girl,” the d
river said as he accelerated. “That’ll do it!”

  They got pulled over two minutes later, just as they entered the town.

  The deputy pulled behind them and approached the car. “Pardon me, sir, but did you know you were going eighty miles an—”

  “Dave,” John interrupted him, leaning toward the driver’s window, “we’re trying to get to the hospital. She’s in labor.” He nodded toward Lucy.

  The deputy sprang to action. “I’ll lead the way!”

  John laughed under his breath. There was no traffic on Rawhide’s main road, but now the deputy was turning on his siren and motioning for them to follow him. It was a little ridiculous, but John didn’t suggest the driver slow down again.

  He noticed Mike coming out of his office to find out what the siren was for. He’d come to the hospital to talk to his wife.

  The squad car came to a halt beside the clinic and the old man pulled right in behind it.

  “Thank you so much for helping us.” John started easing Lucy out of the truck.

  “You aren’t going to pay for the gas?” the driver asked.

  Lucy stared at the man, but John reached for his billfold again. “I guess that would be twenty dollars again, wouldn’t it?”

  “Well, it might a’ been more, but I’ll let you slide, seein’ as you’re having a little one.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t forget my luggage,” Lucy reminded him.

  Since two nurses were bringing a gurney down the slanted sidewalk and Lucy would be cared for, he reached in for the luggage. Then he followed Lucy and the nurses into the clinic.

  “John?” Lucy called, holding her hand out to him. “Will you—will you mind going in with me? I—I’m scared.”

  “Yeah, I’ll go in with you, Lucy.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  He grinned. “I guess that will be twenty dollars, right?”

  She smiled back. “That man would’ve charged us for breathing if he could figure out how.”

  “Probably. I was just glad I had enough twenties to last us. I think he would’ve thrown us out if I hadn’t.”

  “He kept staring at my stomach, as if I were faking labor to get a ride.”

  “You are having pains, aren’t you?” the nurse asked.

  “Yes. The last one was—What time was it, John?”

  “Nine-twenty-nine.”

  “How far apart are they?” the nurse asked.

  “About—Ohhh…Now!”

  “But it’s only nine-thirty-five!” John said as he looked at his watch. He yelled out, “Caro! She’s down to six minutes apart and coming faster.”

  A tall woman in a white medical coat came out of her office.

  “Hello. I’m Dr. Randall. I haven’t met you, have I?”

  “No. I—I’m Lucy.”

  “Well, welcome to our little hospital. John said you were eight months along?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, my nurses are going to take you in this room, so I can do a quick examination.”

  “John?” Lucy cried urgently.

  “Caro, I think she’ll be more calm if I go with her.”

  “Of course, John. If you stand by her head, you won’t be in the way and you won’t see anything.”

  John did as Caroline suggested. Lucy clutched his hand as if it was a magic charm. He bent and added a kiss to her hand.

  Caroline gave John a sharp look. But he didn’t say anything. Lucy was frightened and he wanted to reassure her as much as he could.

  After a quick examination, Caroline stood up and told the nurse to bring in the sonogram machine. “Lucy, we’re going to look at your baby on our sonogram machine. That means I’ll need to put some jelly on your tummy.”

  “John can stay, can’t he?”

  “Certainly. We always let the father stay if he wants.”

  John didn’t correct her assumption, nor did Lucy say anything.

  Caroline raised her top for the ultrasound and the purple bruises on her stomach were obvious.

  “Lucy, who beat you?” Caroline asked.

  “M-my husband.”

  “John? John did this?”

  Caroline was shocked, and John hurried to reassure her. “No. No, I didn’t do this.”

  “Then who?”

  “My husband,” Lucy said again.

  “Where is he?”

  “Kansas City…I hope.”

  “Was he trying to cause a miscarriage?”

  “I think so.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and John bent down to reassure her.

  “All right, let’s do the sonogram. I have to press down a little, but considering what you’ve withstood, I think you’ll be all right.” Caroline spread the jelly over Lucy’s stomach and then she pressed a roller on her stomach connected to the machine.

  “Now you can see your baby. There’s so much natural insulation I think she’s survived and is doing fine.”

  “It’s a girl?” Lucy asked, holding her breath.

  “Yes. I think you may be a little further along than eight months. I think your baby is going to come about two weeks early. She might even be six pounds.”

  “Is that good?”

  “It means you can take her home after a couple of days.”

  Lucy closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  John knew the problem immediately. He bent down to whisper to her, “Don’t cry, Lucy. You can come home with me. I’ll be holding your hand all the way. Okay? We’ll give your baby a home. It will be all right.”

  John’s words didn’t give her the reassurance she needed. Sobs ripped out of her as she lost control.

  “Lucy, what’s wrong?” Caroline asked.

  She just shook her head. John put his arms around her and brought her face to his chest, turning her toward him. “It’s all right. We’re going to take care of you, both of you.”

  “I can’t s-stay, John. He’ll find me,” she said between sobs.

  “Are you talking about the man who beat you up—your husband?” Caroline asked, her voice turning hard.

  “I need to go away!” Lucy sniffed and then gasped as another pain hit her.

  “Honey, right now you have to have a baby. You can deal with the other things afterward.” John held her close.

  Caroline ordered the nurse to bring Lucy into the delivery room then turned to John.

  “We’re going to change her into a hospital gown. If she doesn’t mind, you can go in.”

  “Maybe I’d better step outside until they get you changed, Lucy, but I won’t go anywhere, I promise.”

  “You’ll come right back?” Lucy asked, her hand still clinging to him.

  “Yes, I promise.”

  “We’ll call you, John,” the nurse told him.

  He moved out into the hall, and Caroline was waiting for him. She didn’t look too pleased. “What is going on here?”

  He lowered his eyes. “I don’t think she wants me to tell you.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to explain to your parents. They think they’re here to see the birth of your child.”

  His head shot up. “Why would they think that?”

  “Because you’ve brought a lady to town who’s pregnant and you’re going into the examination room with her, just like a husband.”

  “No, that’s not it. I can’t—”

  “John, she wants you back in there with her,” the nurse said.

  He turned back to Caro. “Tell them I’ll be out to talk to them later. Okay?”

  “Whatever you say. How’s she doing, Wendy?”

  “The pains are coming faster, Doctor.”

  John interrupted the nurse’s report. “I’m going back in with her, Caro. I’ll stay at her head and just try to keep her calm.”

  “All right, John. I’ll go talk to your parents.”

  “It’s not what they’re thinking. She’s…almost family.”

  “Yeah, right!” Caroline said as she headed out to the waiting area.<
br />
  John wanted to go to his parents, but he’d promised Lucy he’d be there for her. He’d explain to them later. He entered the delivery room to find Lucy still sobbing. Immediately taking her hand, John kissed it and stroked it, then put his arm around her.

  With his deep voice, he talked to Lucy, calming her as he had earlier. “Hey, Lucy, we made it to the hospital. That’s a good thing, don’t you think? Now you can be sure your baby will get good care. That beats a comforter in a pickup truck, doesn’t it?”

  “I’m so glad you’re here, John,” Lucy said, her voice weaker as she tried to bear the pain.

  “I’m glad, too. You’re going to be fine.”

  The nurse entered then. “All right, Lucy, I’m going to give you a shot that should relieve some of the pain. Just hold still.”

  “She’ll be all right?” John asked, looking for reassurance.

  “Yes, she’ll be fine. We just like to make it a little easier.” She gave the injection then she said, “Okay, Lucy, just draw a deep breath. You’ll find it’s more bearable now.”

  John lost track of time as he stood by Lucy, watching her suffer for the sake of her child. He hadn’t had firsthand experience of a child being born and had no idea what a woman went through to give birth. To think that Lucy’s husband had tried to provoke a miscarriage just broke John’s heart.

  When Caro came in, called by the nurse, John knew it was time. He wanted to let Lucy rest, to take a well-deserved break, but he knew she had more work ahead of her.

  Several pushes later Lucy let out a gutteral groan and gave birth to her daughter. When Caro held Lucy’s baby in her arms and they all heard that fierce cry, John could feel tears in his eyes.

  “You did it, Lucy!” he said, bending down to envelop her in a hug. “You did it!”

  Lucy looked relieved. “Can I see her?”

  “Yes, as soon as the nurses clean her up,” Caro replied. “She’s got all her fingers and toes and looks like she’s healthy. After you see her, I’ll do an examination.”

  “Thank you so much, Doctor. I’m so happy.”

  John realized he shared Lucy’s happiness. Because she was Harry’s sister, of course. That was the only reason…wasn’t it?

  When he considered that he had to face his parents, he realized he needed to be able to reveal Lucy’s identity. He knew his mother would take Lucy under her wing like a mother hen, if she knew. And he had to be able to put Lucy there. Once they were alone, he’d talk to her about revealing her identity.