brides for brothers 15 - a randall hero (3 page)

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.

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.

The nurses brought Lucy’s baby back into the room. Caroline took the baby in her arms and carried her to Lucy. “Here’s your little girl, Lucy.”

Lucy held her baby in her arms, glowing at the tiny creature.

“John, look!”

“She’s a beauty, sweetheart.”

As Lucy began to fade a little from the exhilaration, John reached out and took the baby from her. As he felt the warmth of the baby, the little life, he stared in amazement.

Caroline took the baby from him. “I need to examine her now, John. I think Lucy is going to sleep. A well-deserved rest, I might add.”

He nodded. “I’ll stay with her until she falls sleep.”

“All right, but don’t forget your parents are waiting for an explanation.”

“No, I won’t.”

Once Lucy was back in a room, John waited until the nurse had left before he broached the subject of her identity. “Lucy, I need to explain to my parents about you being Harry’s sister. You understand that, don’t you?”

She nodded, as if resigned. Then reality struck and Lucy’s features crumpled. John knew she’d come face-to-face with the reality of not having a home for her baby.

“Lucy, Mom will take you in, you and the baby. I live with my parents, so I’ll be there, too.”

“I can’t stay there, John. I’m afraid he’ll come find me. He—he’s threatened me before about leaving him. He told me he’d come after me if I left him.”

“Honey, we won’t let him hurt you or the baby. I promise.”

“But I don’t want to bring trouble to either you or Harry. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“We won’t worry about that, Lucy. Your husband is a coward. Only a coward would attack a pregnant woman, any woman, much less his own.”

“I want to file for divorce as soon as I can. But I don’t feel I can bring trouble down on you. Please don’t ask me to—”

“Honey, I’m telling you, you can’t deny your baby a home. That’s what I’m telling you.”

Caroline came into Lucy’s room, a little bundle in her arms. “Lucy, your baby is as healthy as can be. And she weighs six pounds, one ounce. She’ll be able to go home with you.”

John took Lucy’s hand and held it in his own. “Lucy, you need to tell Caro who you are,” he said, hoping to force Lucy to reveal her identity.

“No, John!” Lucy protested.

“You know you need to. I’m going to have to tell my parents, too.”

Ignoring him, Lucy held out her arms for her baby. “Can I hold her?”

Caroline handed the tiny infant to her mother. “I need to know her name, Lucy.”

“Oh, I want to name her after my grandmother. Emma.”

“That’s a lovely name. Now, what’s her last name?”

Keeping her head down, Lucy said, “Horton.”

“All right. Do you have a middle name?”

“I think Lynn. Emma Lynn Horton.”

“That’s lovely.”

John wasn’t satisfied. “Tell her, Lucy!

“No!”

“You must. For Emma’s sake.”

Caroline remained silent, but he could feel her eyes on him.

“You must,” John prompted Lucy again. “Tell her why I said you were family.”

Finally, Lucy raised her head and looked at Caroline. “I’m Harry Gowan’s sister.”

Chapter Three

“You’re Harry’s sister?” Caro seemed pleasantly surprised. “How did you come to know John?”

“I didn’t know him till yesterday. But he’s been so very kind to me. I’ll never be able to thank him adequately.” She looked at John, gratitude in her eyes. “I was alone and scared and he made me feel safe. He even convinced me he could deliver my baby.”

Caroline stared at John. “Oh, really?”

“I was just trying to reassure her. I’m not challenging your skills, Caroline. You know that. But we were both stranded on the road last night, and all we could hope for was a car to stop by so we could get a ride into town.”

“But I don’t understand how you got together. Did you—”

“I’ll tell you later. I think Lucy should get some sleep.”

“All right,” Caroline agreed. She knew Lucy was exhausted. “Let me take the baby. I’ll put her in a bassinet.”

“Thank you,” Lucy said.

As Caro exited with Emma, John told her, “I’ll stay with Lucy until she falls asleep. Then I’ll go talk to my parents.”

“Are you going to leave then, John?” Lucy asked.

He heard the fear in her voice, and he said, “No, I won’t leave you, Lucy. My parents are waiting here. I’ll just visit them for a little bit while you sleep.”

“I know I’m being a baby about you staying. I promise I’ll get stronger, but right now I can’t quite be brave.”

“You don’t have to. I’m here.” He took her hand in his and insisted she go to sleep. After several minutes, he slipped his hand away and waited to see if she would wake up. When she didn’t, he left the room. In the hallway, he found a nurse. “I’m going to the waiting room to talk to my parents. Let me know if she wakes up.”

“Okay. Do you want to take the baby to show them?”

“Can I do that?”

“Caro said you could.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

John figured his parents would like to see the baby. His mother would be excited about the tiny infant, and his father’s protective urge would be aroused.