Roz Denny Fox (26 page)

“Jake, no!” Hayley’s voice caught in a sob as Joe backhanded her hard and sent her flying across the rough ground. She landed against a jagged boulder. Though her face twisted into a mask of pain, she threw a protective arm over her swollen stomach, and the other she flung out to block Jake. “Don’t shoot them, Jake. They aren’t worth spending your life in jail.” Her voice caught in an agony of shuddering breaths.

Jake didn’t agree. However, the truth was, he could never kill anyone. He wasn’t the one on the ranch who dealt with putting down horses who’d broken their legs or cows mired in sandy bogs. He knew that. These sorry excuses for men didn’t.

Pumping shells into the double chambers, he laid a row of shot so close to Ryan’s boots the man danced back and back until he smacked into Shad.

“I’ll have you in jail for attempted assault so fast you won’t know what hit you,” the deputy screamed.

“The authorities will have to find your bodies first,” Jake snarled back. “You’re forgetting this is my territory. And it’s awfully remote. I can dump your remains in Mexico.” He slammed the butt of his rifle into Ryan’s soft gut. “Who’d be the wiser?”

Something like fear entered the men’s eyes. Turning, they ran as fast as they could toward the Jeep. Jake sailed another smattering of lead past their ears. Bounding after them, Charcoal tore at their pant legs, growling ferociously.

From the safety of the Jeep, Ryan and Tilford shouted obscenities at Jake and his dog. They made a series of dire threats that he countered with a single one of his own. “You’re dead if I ever see you near Hayley again.”

Tilford, the driver, laid rubber out of the clearing and left a rooster tail of red dust behind. Not before Joe threatened to sue Jake for attempted murder and Hayley for the mine. One hundred percent of it.

Trusting they’d gone and wouldn’t risk returning without backup, Jake rushed to Hayley’s side and dropped to his knees. His heart slammed erratically.

She was curled into a ball and made terrible sounds. It scared him half to death. Especially as the lower part of her jumper and one of her boots was wet.

“Jacob, my water broke,” she sobbed, tears mixing with the dust on her face. “It’s too early. More’n a month too early. Oh, my baby. I’m going to lose my baby.” Her fingers clawed at Jake’s shirt.

“Hold on, honey. Let me start your truck. Then I’ll come and carry you up the hill. We’ll get you to a hospital.” His hands shook so hard Jake had difficulty grabbing the key off the hook inside her trailer. Charcoal barked sharply and punctuated it with howls, as if to hurry him along.

The ignition clicked once, then twice. Not a shred of a spark reached the engine. Jake tried it six times and almost lost his lunch when each attempt failed. Her battery was dead as a doornail.

Racing back to Hayley, he lifted her gently into his arms and tried to put on a confident face. “Dead battery,” he informed her. “I’m taking you to the trailer.”

“Jake, no! I need a doctor. This baby is coming.”

“Listen, woman,” he growled softly. “I’ve delivered hundreds of cows and a few horses. I even delivered Charcoal. There’s nothing going to happen to you or your baby. Not while I’m around.”

His speech seemed to calm her. It did nothing to settle the tennis tournament going on inside his own stomach. Nor did it help that the inside of the trailer was hot as an oven. And Jake had zero room to manipulate in the cubbyhole she called a bedroom. He ended up placing her in a chair while he dragged her mattress out into the living space, where it was only marginally cooler. It was eighty outside, but it felt like a hundred in the closed-up trailer.

Hayley was too shaky to remove the wet jumper by herself. Jake helped her, then gave her privacy to don a soft cotton nightgown. He really hoped that when she lay down, the contractions would stop.

They didn’t.

He timed them and noted they were ten minutes apart. Then eight. As they continued, it became obvious that he was indeed going to have to deliver the baby. At her request, he placed a makeshift waterproof pad underneath her, then began gathering supplies. A basin for water. A pair of scissors. Towels.

All the while he could only hope he had the skill he’d need.

A
FTER SEEING TO
H
AYLEY’S COMFORT
, Jake took a quick turn around camp. Mostly to satisfy himself that Joe and Shad hadn’t parked somewhere and sneaked back. Jake carefully dusted away any wagon prints leading to Hayley’s mine. Then he collected his rifle and Hayley’s shotgun, stationed Charcoal by the trailer door, and inside the cramped trailer again, he closed and locked the door.

Hayley watched his deliberate actions. “You think they’ll come back?” she asked.

“I never should have left you alone,” he said tightly. “I knew they hadn’t given up. Last I heard, they were hanging around Nogales. Hayley.” Jake slid to his knees and clasped her hands. “What if I’d gone off to mend fence and hadn’t come here?”

“You’re not to blame, Jacob.”

“I sure am.” He stared down at her in anguish, not looking for absolution. “If I’d been more vigilant, you wouldn’t be lying here in early labor.”

Hayley moved restlessly on the mattress. “No, Jake. The day Westin and his friend stopped by, he said if I refused to leave the property, he’d tell Joe where I was.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that? I’d have stayed with you. I wouldn’t have gone off in a huff.”

“If I can’t take care of myself, how can I care for a child?” Even as she finished saying the words, a contraction left her breathless and moaning in pain.

Jake turned her and massaged her lower back until her muscles stopped their siege of spasms.

“Better?” He took note of the time between this spell and the last. He felt self-conscious about asking to check Hayley’s progress, yet the contractions had been six minutes apart for an hour. Jake worried that something might be wrong. If she lost this baby because he was too squeamish to do the job, he’d never forgive himself.

He avoided looking squarely into her pain-clouded eyes as he smoothed back strands of sweaty hair and brought one of her clenched fists to his lips. “I need to check to see how far dilated you are, sweetheart. Can you let me do that?”

“Check? You mean, like a doctor would?”

Jake saw that her cheeks had gone from white to pink to a blaze of red. “I, ah, don’t know any other way to measure your progress,” he stammered.

“Jake, I wasn’t thinking straight when you offered to deliver my baby. I can’t let you…well, I mean, I won’t embarrass you like that. Leave me. Ride to the ranch and get a vehicle to drive me to the hospital. I’m sure I can last that long.”

“Hayley, I love you. What kind of man would I be if I left you to deal with this alone?” Jake collected both her hands, and this time he met her panicked expression with a warm, assured smile.

Another contraction struck. Hayley was swept away by the pain, and as a result was saved from having to respond to Jake’s declaration. One he’d made before, but she’d steadfastly refused to give it credence.

Nor did she really believe him now. Quite frankly, she hurt too much to think about anything beyond the pain. The booklet Dr. Gerrard’s receptionist had given her said that when the time came to deliver, she should pant like a puppy and ride through the wave of contractions. She tried. Amazingly it did help. When the latest paroxysm loosened its grip, Hayley was too tired to argue with Jake. “If you insist on staying,” she muttered weakly, “I won’t argue. I’m scared to death of having my baby early.”

Jake wiped her face with a cool washcloth he’d prepared. “You’re what? Just over four weeks early?”

She nodded, catching his hand and squeezing it in fear.

“Is there any possibility the doctor could’ve been off in figuring the date?”

“I didn’t know I was pregnant. I thought I had the flu. Dr. Gerrard set the date after his exam. I think he’s right. Joe…well, he’d found someone else. The doctor’s prediction works out timing wise.”

Jake brushed her cheek with the back of one hand. “Don’t you act guilty. Joe was the fool.”

Hayley smiled. “You do know how to make a lady feel better. Do whatever needs doing, Jake. I’ll try not to be prudish.”

He checked her as discreetly as possible and saw she probably still had a few hours to go at the present rate. “All systems are go,” he said lightly, pulling her gown down over her knees. “I remember hearing a friend who had a new baby say her doctor sped up the process by having her walk the hospital halls.”

Hayley rolled her head from side to side. She could easily see from one end of the trailer to the other. “I might manage walking in circles.” Pursing her lips, she levered herself up on an elbow.

Jake helped her to her feet and steadied her when she bent double and clutched her abdomen. “Another contraction?” he asked, glancing at his watch.

“No.” She blushed. “Standing feels funny. It’s ridiculous, I know, but I’m sort of afraid the baby will fall out on its head.” Deliberately standing erect, Hayley moved away from Jake’s support. Her grimace confirmed what the effort cost her.

“Birth is an awesome process,” he murmured. “In all honesty, though, I’m glad it’s a woman’s chore. Cross my heart, I won’t make fun of a single thing you say or do. If you want to scream and yell at me, go right ahead.”

“I hope I can be more reserved. Now that I’m up and about, shall we get the cradle ready? If you hand me the mattress and a sheet, I’ll fix it while you tie on the bumper pads. Please? It’ll take my mind off what’s happening.”

Jake jumped at the chance to do something worthwhile to help pass the time. “Pick out what you’d like the baby to wear. I’ll find a place to store the rest of this stuff.”

“Good luck. There’s not an empty drawer in the place. I had to leave everything in the cradle.” She shuffled across the room toward him.

“I’ll put everything back in the sacks, at least.”

“When I first looked at these, they seemed so tiny. If my baby is premature, he or she may swim in these.” She held aloft a nightgown with bears on it and started to cry. She hiccuped, swiping at the tears. “I hate crying and that’s all I’ve done lately. It doesn’t do any good. Why can’t I just accept that I’ve botched my life again?”

“You didn’t botch anything. It’s just the changing hormones.” Jake gave up trying to keep his hands to himself. He slipped his arms around her and swayed to and fro until the rough hitches in her breathing began to subside.

“Oh, Jake,” she said quietly, twisting the wet sections of his shirtfront in her hands. “This is above and beyond the limits of friendship.”

“Yes, it is,” he agreed dryly, taking care to cradle her face against the hollow of his shoulder. “But it’s easily within the bonds of love.” He let the simple statement stand. He was through tiptoeing around her silly objections. If ever he hoped to convince Hayley how much he cared for her, he had a ready-made situation at hand. If he hadn’t gotten through to her by the time the birth was said and done, he probably never would.

Hayley fell silent and hobbled through several more contractions, letting Jake assemble the cradle alone. When her pains became harder and closer together, he helped her lie down. Pulling a harmonica out of his pocket, he began to blow softly.

“I never knew you played harmonica,” she said, pillowing her head in the crook of her arm.

Taking it from his lips, Jake grinned at her. “Some of our hands play guitar when we’re circling a big herd. I couldn’t seem to get my fingers on the right strings. Any idiot can blow a harmonica.”

Smiling, Hayley tugged on the hem of his jeans. “You’re too modest, Jake. Play me a lullaby and calm this baby down.” She rubbed her taut stomach.

He leaned forward on the straight-backed chair. “Calming isn’t the object, Hayley. Now that the little rascal’s started, we want a swift appearance.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not ready.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “I thought I was so smart setting a timetable for everything. I shouldn’t have argued with Joe this afternoon when he demanded I sign over half the mine. In retrospect it would’ve been the smart thing to have done. I honestly never dreamed he’d hit me.”

“He’d better never lay a hand on you again.” Jake scowled fiercely.

“I’m sorry for involving you, Jake. I heard Shad say you’d be sorry for interfering, that the local sheriff would back Joe’s claim.”

“Our local sheriff should have retired years ago. He’s up for reelection next month, but he’s going to lose. It’s the case of another jerk like Tilford throwing his weight around. He can’t hurt you.”

“I wish I was as certain. Whoever thought Joe could forge my name to my grandfather’s papers and get away with it? He did it slick as you please. Oh, oh, oh!” she cried, curling into a tight fetal position.

Jake tossed his harmonica aside and went down on his knees beside Hayley. He gripped her hand tightly as she gasped and panted like a puppy.

“A rough one?” he whispered consolingly, again sponging her feverish cheeks with the cool cloth.

She barely had time to straighten out before the next hard pain hit. By the third one, Hayley ordered Jake to leave. “No, don’t you dare go,” she proclaimed in the next breath, grabbing for his hand.

“Easy, easy, honey.” Jake smoothed the fingers she’d clamped around his wrist. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. Here, hug this pillow. Don’t let go, no matter what. I think Junior is about ready to put in his appearance.”

“Oh, help!” she cried in increasingly jerkier sounds. “Names. I haven’t thought of names. Jake, I need to push. What shall I do?”

Jake had hurriedly washed his hands in the basin and moved to the foot of the mattress to rearrange her nightgown and allow him room to work. He smiled at her. “Our kidlet has crowned, so push away. Whatever you’re having, Hayley, boy or girl, this kid has a mop of black hair.”

The next rolling cramp brought out the full head and shoulders. A heartbeat later, the baby was born.

“We have a girl!” Jake proclaimed excitedly, holding a wizened red-faced infant, who waved skinny arms and wailed feebly. There were tears in Jake’s eyes as he cut the cord, tied it off in an economy of motion. Lifting the baby from Hayley’s stomach, he wrapped her in a thin blanket and placed her in her mom’s shaking arms.

Outside, Charcoal howled a long mournful howl, as if announcing the new arrival to the outside world.

“Uh-oh, is she all right? Jacob, she’s so tiny. And homely.” Hayley burst into tears even as she rained kisses over her baby’s furrowed brow.

Jake, busy with matters that came after the birth, stopped and moved in closer. He cradled mother and child tenderly. “She’s beautiful,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. “When she gets a little food in her tummy, she’ll start to fill out and she’ll be as beautiful as her mother.” Jake touched Hayley’s face reverently.

Through a curtain of tears, she gazed first at Jake, then at her new daughter. “I’ve waited so long,” she sobbed. “I was afraid Joe had hurt her. Oh, she’s gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.” Hayley smoothed fingertips over the red wrinkled cheeks and wiped away the tears that had fallen on a matted shock of dark hair.

Jake curved a palm tenderly around the baby’s perfect skull. “Prettier by far than the calves I’ve delivered. And Charcoal…well, he was runt of the litter. This little miss will clean up just fine. Speaking of which, I’ll do that as soon as I make sure Mom is A-okay. Why don’t you count her fingers and toes?” he suggested, wanting to make Hayley less self-conscious about the final phase of the birthing process.

His method of distraction worked.

“Look how long her fingers are,” Hayley said when Jake came to take the bundle away for a wash in the warm bath he’d prepared. “Maybe she’ll play the piano. I always wanted to learn,” she added softly.

Jake responded to her wistful tone. “Why didn’t you? Don’t they have piano teachers in Tombstone?”

“Yes. But music wasn’t high on Gramps’s list. To him, even radios and TVs were frivolous.”

“Well, then, you and the little miss here will have to take lessons together.” He opened a clean towel and stood where Hayley could watch him dry the baby.

She shifted awkwardly and curled one arm under her head. “You handle her so easily, Jake. Aren’t you afraid of dropping her?”

He grinned. “I’ve had a lot of practice throwing and branding calves.”

“Branding. That’s like naming, in a way.” Hayley yawned and struggled to partially sit. “What do you think of naming her Cameo, after the mine? With a middle name of Joy because…well, having her is a joyous occasion, and I feel so wonderfully, incredibly happy.”

“Listen to your mom,” he said, crooning to the baby as he patted her dry and put a diaper on her before tucking her into a cheery yellow night sack. “Your mother certainly wasn’t saying such nice things half an hour ago, as I recall,” he teased.

Hayley made a face. “So much for not poking fun at me. You promised.”

“That’s right, I did. Okay, no more jokes. As for the name, Cammy’s a lot more appealing than Opal.” He handed Hayley the baby and then arranged several pillows behind her back. Already it seemed the redness was fading from the infant’s tiny cheeks.

Sitting cross-legged beside Hayley, Jake curled the baby’s thick damp hair over his forefinger in one long sausage curl.

Hayley touched it and smiled. “You did that like a pro. Are you sure you don’t have a wife and six kids stashed away at the Triple C?”

Jake gazed at her so seriously Hayley wished she hadn’t given in to the urge to tease him. Especially after he said, “You’ve had plenty of offers to see the ranch and everything there, Hayley. You can take the grand tour anytime.”

To cover her uneasiness at this turn of the conversation, Hayley focused on the baby, who’d begun to root around the front of her nightgown. “Cammy acts hungry. Could she be this soon?”

“It’s hard work being born. Uses up a lot of calories. Give it a try. She’s not likely to get much at first. I boiled water and it’s cooling in a bottle in case she’s too fussy.”

Hayley pulled uncomfortably at her gown. “Obviously I wasn’t thinking about breastfeeding when I bought this.” A hot blush colored her cheeks.

Jake knew she was back to feeling ill at ease around him. Which he thought was silly. What could be more intimate than assisting someone you loved through childbirth? But he didn’t want her to feel awkward. “I have a clean shirt or two out in my saddlebags,” he offered. “I carry them in case I unexpectedly have to spend the night at one of our line shacks. My shirt will hang to your knees, but it buttons down the front.”