Chapter Eighteen
FAITH
The Rough & Ready Hotshots have been gone for nearly three weeks with little reprieve. Birdie turns off the television when I walk into the room, but she can’t hide the serious look on her face. I started experiencing contractions around six this morning, but I’ve tried to stay busy, not thinking about them too much.
“Any good news about the fire?” I ask hopefully.
Her face tells me all I need to know. She stands up, crossing the room to wrap an arm around me and rest her hand on my ridiculously large belly.
“Still having contractions?”
“They come and go,” I reply, my face tensing as a more insistent one grips the front of my belly.
“Have you timed them lately?”
I shake my head. I’m doing everything I can to not have this baby before Travis gets home. I know how disappointed he’ll be. Besides, my due date isn’t for another two weeks. If anything, I was praying the baby would be overdue, which could give us another month. By then, Travis would certainly be near the endof fire season.
“Sis, there’s only so much contraction ignoring and leg crossing you can do before you need to go to the hospital. And even though I’m a nurse, I didn’t do a lot of baby delivering during my time as a Navy corpsman.”
“Yeah, I know. But Travis is going to be so disappointed.”
“Babies get born all the time without daddies around in the military. It’s not ideal, but you’ll both forget all about it the first time you place Ryder in his arms. Besides, we’ve got at least a thirty-minute drive to get to Ophir City Hospital. I don’t want you having the baby in the car.”
I nod, grabbing my stomach as the largest contraction I’ve felt all day rips across my lower stomach. “You may have a point. I think it’s time to go.”
Birdie leads me to her silver SUV, helping me into the backseat as another yank of pain grabs hold of me. We talked to Trav first thing this morning when the contractions started, and I’ve texted him throughout the day to let him know what’s going on. So has Birdie. The driver side door opens, and Zane peers in with an anxious smile.
“How are you, lil’ sis?”
I let out a sharp exhale as another contraction stabs me. “Okay,” I lie. The look of fear and concern in his eyes doesn’t surprise me. But I’m happy he’s here.
Right after Travis and I made things official, Zane and Birdie got back together. Thankfully, he finally asked her about the necklace, just like I suggested, and as Birdie put it “sparks flew.” Sparks have been flying hot and heavy ever since, and I’ve never seen the two of them so happy. Even more shocking, Zane used money from his PBR winnings to pay off our family ranch and feed store debts.
Travis and I have spent the past few months moving much of our business online and ramping up our delivery services, which has finally put the store back in the black and then some.No tab from the House of the Seven Prophets needed.
I know having Birdie stay with me at the family home has been tough on Zane. Travis and I were both shocked he agreed to it because the former bull rider is loath to ever let my sister out of his sight. But once Birdie makes up her mind, there’s no changing it. Not unlike me, as Trav points out.
Zane looks up to see Birdie headed our way with my overnight bag, and he rushes around to take it from her, wrapping his arms around her and planting a big kiss on her lips. The gesture warms my heart but also makes me long for Travis.
I miss him so much, and it’s even harder knowing what he’s going through on the frontlines of that wildfire. He’s doing everything he possibly can to make it to the hospital. But the fire isn’t cooperating. Neither are the contractions. They’re starting to come faster now, and this one takes my breath away.
Birdie gets in the backseat with me, and Zane drives. She rubs my shoulders and speaks soothingly to me on the drive, and Zane asks in strained tones every now and again how things are going. I squeeze Birdie’s hand through each contraction, and she helps me with my breathing and trying to stay calm.
When we reach the hospital, Zane pulls up to the Emergency Room entrance, and Birdie helps me outside. He calls, “I’ll park the car and be in with her overnight bag in a few.”
Birdie nods. “Thank you, babe. It’s probably time to start calling the family to let everyone know. I’d wager we’re going to meet this new little one before the night’s over.”
A nurse waits with a wheelchair for me because Birdie called ahead to the hospital. I sit down, taking in the varied scenes of the hospital as we rush down the hallway, and I realize this is really happening. I’m really having this baby.
“Are you okay?” Birdie asks staring down at me, her face flooded with compassion.
“I’m excited,” I reply through another tough contraction.
Chapter Nineteen
TRAVIS
“Cartwright, time to move.” I glance at my supervisor Kurt. Covered head to toe in charcoal-hued soot, he resembles a coal miner. The whites of his eyes and the enamel of his teeth gleam in stark contrast.
