As he sat up, a weight settled over his heart. He stood. “I’ll wait for you at thefrontdoor.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. With his shoulders slumped, he walked out of the room. She followed a minute later. Dark circles hung like half-moons under her eyes. Even her normally pale complexion had taken on an ashy-graytinge.
“Are you okay?” heasked.
“I’m just really, reallytired.”
After grabbing her bags, he opened the door and motioned for her to go first. He closed it behind them and followed her down the steps. As she descended the steps, she wobbled from side to side. Something wasn’tright.
“Madi—”
She plunged off the last step and collapsed into thecompactedsnow.
Chapter10
Madison’s eyes fluttered open.A haze of colors melted together before sharpening to reveal two faces. Mack and a woman she’d never met hovered over her. She tried to lift her head off the pillow but couldn’t. A band of weight encircled her forehead. Pressure pushed against her skull in the space behindhereyes.
“What happened?” sheasked.
Mack said, “You fainted on the front porch. This is Harriet James. She’s a midwife who lives in West Yellowstone. She’s going to determine whether or not we have to take you to the hospital inBozeman.”
Harriet said, “You’ve been unconscious for a while so I’m going to perform some basic tests to make sure you didn’t get aconcussion.Okay?”
She started to nod, but a flash of pain arced down herneck. “Okay.”
As Harriet asked her questions, Mack squeezed her hand. The reassurance that he was there and that she wasn’t alone made the experience lessfrightening.
“How far along are you?” Harrietasked.
“I’m not sure. At least two months. I didn’t know I was pregnant until a fewdaysago.”
“I’m going to press on your belly a bit. Tell me if you feelanypain.”
The midwife poked and prodded. Although nothing hurt, sweat broke out on Madison’s brow. What if something had happened to the baby? Regardless of the cantankerous relationship with Ben, she wanted the baby more than anything in the world. She’d do whatever it took to raise him or her, even if it meant doing italone.
Mack rubbed his thumb across the top of Madison’s hand. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. A knitted brow and firmly pressed lips gave every indication that he was filled with concern. Had he meant what he’d said? Did he really care about her? Maybe she shouldn’t have been so hasty about leaving theranch.
Harriet stood back. “No pain,right?”
“Nothing but the pounding inmyhead.”
“I think you might have a small concussion, but nothing serious enough to require a trip to the hospital. I recommend bed rest for a few days and lots of fluids. You seem a little dehydrated, which isn’t good for either you orthebaby.”
Madison pushed herself up into a sitting position. The room swayed before coalescing into view. “But, I need to travel. I washeadinghome.”
Harriet’s expression changed from gentle to stern. “You can’t travel for at least three days. It wouldn’t be safe. I’m sure Mack will let you stay here a few more days,right?”
“She’s not going anywhere,”Macksaid.
As much as Madison wanted to fight back, she couldn’t. A weary haze settled into her body. The simple act of lifting her head took monumental strength. Whether she liked it or not, she wasstuckhere.
“If anything changes, call me,” Harriet said. “I’ll comerightover.”
“Thank you,”Madisonsaid.
Mack said, “I’ll walkyouout.”
After they left the room, she slid back into the pillows. Sleep tempted her with its gentle hands. She tried to force her eyes to stay open, but they refused to cooperate. Maybe she could just rest them for amoment.
