“Yes, I just made the trip to the bathroom. But I didn’t intend to wake you up.”
“I was just napping, waiting for you to wake up. I fed Emma a bottle earlier. She did a good job.”
“I hope I get to feed her the next one. I haven’t done that yet.”
“You will, Lucy. I took her to show to my parents, also. They fell in love with little Emma.”
“That’s very nice of them.”
“Mom has it all arranged. She’s giving you my sister’s old room and there’s a little room next door for Emma.”
“No! No, John, I can’t move in with your family. It would be too dangerous. M-My husband may come after me.”
“I know that, Lucy. My dad and I will protect you, and Mike—the sheriff—came down to the hospital to assure you of his protection, too. You’ll be safe with us.”
“I can’t do that, John. You’ve given me so much support when I needed it, but I can’t continue to rely on you.”
“What do you think you’re going to do? Go back on the road? Your car won’t work without a new radiator, and Emma is too little to be out on the road. You can’t recover that quickly, either.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do, but…I couldn’t live with myself if I brought trouble on your head.”
“You don’t know the trouble you’ll cause if you take Emma away from my mother.” John grinned at her. “She’s been wanting a grandbaby so badly. They thought I’d hidden my girlfriend’s pregnancy until today.”
“Oh, no! John, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble.”
“Lucy,” he said, standing and moving to the bed so he could touch her. “Calm down. Mom and Dad weren’t upset. Well, they might have been upset for keeping such a thing secret, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome my baby or her mother, if that were true.”
“But surely they were disappointed in you.”
“No, they’re not that way. And they’re happy to welcome you and Emma into the family. Like I said, Mom’s rearranging so you’ll be welcome.”
“John, I can’t stay here. I think my husband will come after me. I don’t want you to suffer because you took pity on me.”
“You’re not thinking clearly. You can’t run all your life. That would be terrible for Emma. Stand and fight now, where you’ve got support. It’s the only way.”
“I’m not sure.”
“It’s what Harry would tell you. He’ll be back in six weeks. Don’t run away before he returns, Lucy. Surely you can stay that long.”
The nurse walked in then with two lunch trays and put them on Lucy’s table. “Here’s your tray, too, John.”
“Thanks, Heidi,” John said.
Lucy looked at him after the nurse went back out. “Why do you get a tray? I mean, I think it’s great but I’ve never been in a hospital like this one.”
“Yeah, I told you everyone’s great in Rawhide.” He lifted the cover and took a sniff. “Mmm, we’re eating well today. Fried chicken from the café.”
“You mean a café provides the meals?”
“That’s right. Eat all your food so you can gain some weight. You need to get stronger.”
“I will. It’s so nice to have someone make my meals. If I were home, I wouldn’t get any food unless I prepared it.”
“Don’t worry. Mom will take good care of you.”
“No! I’ll cook and clean for her. If I go there, I can do things to make life easier for her.”
John smiled at Lucy. “Whatever you can get her to let you do is fine, Lucy, but your first job is to take care of Emma. And share her a little with my mom and dad.”
“Of course, if they want to see her,” Lucy said, sounding unsure of that.
John sighed. “Weren’t you listening to me, Lucy? They’re so excited to have a baby in the house. It’s going to be just fine.”
Lucy still worried.
“Eat your dinner before it gets cold,” John said, handing her a chicken leg.
She took his advice, knowing she needed to get her strength back. But, she wondered, when the time came, could she stay and fight?
Chapter Four
“Ready to go home, Lucy?” John asked as he entered her hospital room. He’d left her alone last night while he went back to the house to shower and get a good night’s sleep, but he’d been anxious to be with her again.
“I—I’m ready to leave the hospital, John, but are you sure I should move into your parents’ house? Babies aren’t always quiet.”
John grinned. He could imagine his mother’s reaction if he should ask such a question. “I’m sure, Lucy. Mom would never forgive me if I didn’t bring you there. And don’t worry about Emma’s crying. That’s music to Mom’s ears.”
“But your dad?”
“He’s an even bigger sucker for a baby’s cry. Emma will be truly spoiled.”
Lucy gave him a wistful look. “They sound lovely. I’m not sure that—I mean, I know Emma deserves the best, but—but I might irritate them.” She pleaded with her eyes for him to reassure her.
“No, Lucy, you’re as sweet and gentle as Emma. There won’t be a problem.” John bent to place a kiss on Lucy’s brow. He’d rather kiss her lips, but he was afraid he’d frighten her. She gave him another of those sad smiles that tugged at his heart.
He moved over to Emma’s bassinet. “Are your bags packed, little Emma?” he asked, gently touching the velvety-soft cheeks.
The baby kicked her legs, encased in a knitted one-piece suit.
John chuckled softly. “That’s my girl.”
Lucy remained seated on the edge of her bed. “I could find some place to rent until Harry comes. I really don’t want to impose.”
“I told you it’s no imposition. Now, you grab Emma, I’ll grab your bags and we’ll be on our way.”
“We don’t have a lot of luggage.”
“Not to worry. Mom’s been buying Emma a few things. You’ll need a moving truck the next time you decide to move.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Mom felt you needed more things. Don’t worry about it. She loved doing the shopping.”
“But I don’t think I have enough money right now. I’ll—I’ll pay her back as soon as I get a job, but—”
“Lucy, you’re part of the family. Don’t forget that.”
“That doesn’t mean a lot to me. In our family—”
He stopped her with a finger to her lips, soft and supple beneath his touch. “You’re in a different family now. In the Randall family.”
Before Lucy could reply to that, Caroline stepped into the room. “Are you ready to go, Lucy?”
John noticed her hesitation. She refused to look at him when she said, “I’m not sure I should go with John. His mother has bought a lot of things for Emma. I can’t pay her back.”
“You don’t understand, Lucy,” Caroline said. “Camille doesn’t expect you to pay her back. She just wants to make you as comfortable as she can.”
“But, Dr. Randall, I’m not sure—”
“I’m sure,” John said, no longer willing to listen to her beat herself up over the nonissue. Without awaiting her consent, he gathered up the bags. “I can probably handle Emma, too, if you’d like.”
“No, I’ll carry Emma,” Lucy said, finally standing and moving to her daughter’s bassinet. She lifted Emma out, wrapping her in a blanket. “Do you think she’ll be warm enough, Dr. Randall?”
“I’m sure she will. John will turn on the heater in his truck, too, just to be sure. Right, John?”
“Right, Caro. We’d better go while the truck is still warm, Lucy.” He started out the door.
Lucy stood there, holding her baby, not moving.
Noticing the hesitation, Caroline helped John’s cause. She stepped toward Lucy and put an arm around her shoulders. “Lucy, Camille and John will take good care of the two of you, I promise.”
With her voice shaking, Lucy said, “It’s a little scary thi
nking about leaving here. I’ve been safe and happy here.”
Caroline smiled. “It’s pretty amazing to hear someone want to stay in the hospital. Most of our patients are anxious to leave.”
“I’m just not sure—”
“I am. I know Camille and John very well. Neither one would harm a hair on your head, and certainly not Emma’s.”
John returned to the room. “What’s taking so long? I’ve got the truck warming up and your bags in it. Now I can carry Emma and you can hold on to my arm, Lucy. Come along.” He took Emma from her arms, gently pulling the blanket more closely across the baby, and waiting for Lucy to take his arm.
Caroline smiled at her. “You’re on your way, Lucy. I’ll check on you in a few days.” She walked the couple to the door of the hospital and watched as John put Emma in the rear car seat, then helped Lucy into the truck.
He circled the truck and got behind the wheel.
“Are you sure her car seat is safe?” Lucy asked the moment he sat down.
“We bought the best kind available.” He looked over his shoulder at Emma. “She looks fine.”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Lucy, why are you feeling so unsettled?”
Lucy looked down at her tightly clenched hands. “I—I think it’s because I’m leaving the hospital. I got comfortable there. Now I’m leaving it to go some place I haven’t ever seen. It’s difficult.”
John reached over and put his hand over hers. “It will be all right, Lucy, I promise. If it’s not, if you’re unhappy, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Her eyes grew larger. “Really? You’d do that?”
“I would, as long as you had some place to go. But I think you’ll find Mom a great hostess. She’ll love you and your baby, just like a real grandmother.”
“I don’t understand why. I’m not sure my mother would even acknowledge my baby’s birth if we lived next door. My father has a new family and doesn’t even know I’m having a baby. Why would your mother care?”
“Because you’re lovable, Lucy,” John said slowly. “Your husband may not have noticed, because he was too wrapped up in his own feelings, or your parents, but I see a gentle, kind young woman who is going to make a wonderful mother.”
His compliment elicited a blush that gave a glow to her cheeks. Her eyes looked down to her lap as she said, “Th-thank you, John.”
Before he revealed too much of his sudden feelings for her, he changed approaches. “You know, in reality, you’re going to be doing me and Dad a favor.”
“I am?”
“Yeah, but you’ve got to promise not to tell Mom.”
“Why? What are you talking about, John?”
“Mom had major surgery last year. Dad and I have been wanting her to slow down. We tried to get her to hire a housekeeper, but she refused. But with you there, maybe you can help her with some of her jobs taking care of the house. Not a lot. I know you’ve got Emma, but a little help would be nice. We’d just like to know that Mom is relaxing a little bit. Enjoying life more.”
From the relaxed set of her shoulders John could see Lucy’s tension evaporate. Her eyes nearly sparkled now when she spoke. “Of course! I’ll be glad to help her. I’ve been wondering what I can do to repay her for all her kindness.”
“Just remember, you can’t tell Mom what you’re doing. She’d be furious with us if she knew.”
“Of course not, but I’ll be glad to help out.”
“Thanks, Lucy. That will make a difference in Mom’s life. She can rock Emma some, too. She’s been wanting a baby to cuddle for a long time.”
Lucy turned to look at her sleeping baby. “Emma will be glad to volunteer for some cuddling. I think cuddling is a good thing.”
“I think so, too,” he said with a smile. And he knew just who he’d like to cuddle—the beautiful woman beside him.
After a few minutes John came to a stop outside his parents’ house.
“This is nice, and quite large,” Lucy said as she surveyed the ranch house.
“Yeah. That’s why we think Mom needs some help.” He knew his parents’ house was large. And it was true that his father had tried to hire some help, but his mom had refused.
He came around the truck and opened the door. Then he reached up for Lucy, lifting her up and out of the seat. He held her gently, liking the feel of her in his arms.
“John…You can set me down now.”
He realized then that he still held her. Slowly he set her on her feet, turned away and retrieved Emma. He gave the baby to her mother.
“Are your parents home?”
“Yeah. Mom should come running out at any moment.” Even as he finished speaking, he saw the back door open and his mother emerge.
She ran excitedly to Lucy and hugged her and the baby. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come in and see what I’ve set up for Emma. You may want to change it, but it’ll give her a place to sleep peacefully right now.”
Lucy went with Camille, as if she had a choice, but she seemed happy to go with his mother. John followed along behind, smiling at the picture the three of them made. He wanted to see Lucy when she discovered the room his mother had made up for her. And the small room next door, that had been a catchall for things for years, had been cleaned out and filled with a crib, a little chest and changing table for Emma.
Under his mother’s instructions, he’d helped change the room into a small sanctuary for the baby.
Camille led the way to Lucy’s bedroom, then stepped aside for Lucy to enter first.
“Oh, Mrs. Randall, it’s beautiful. I never dreamed of anything like this.”
“It’s my daughter Melissa’s old room. I’m glad to have it filled again. Now, come with me to Emma’s little room.”
She led Lucy next door to see the nursery.
“Oh, how darling! Emma will love it. And it’s just next to mine so I will hear her easily.”
“That’s what I thought. Though I think I should get up with Emma the first few nights, so you can catch up on your sleep.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I can manage.”
“We’ll see,” Camille said.
“Or I could get up with her,” John offered.
Both women turned to stare at him.
He raised both hands in surrender at their outraged expressions. “Okay, I’ll leave it up to the two of you, unless you get too run-down and I happen to hear Emma.”
His mother voiced her approval and Lucy nodded. John decided it was time to bring in the small amount of luggage Lucy had. “I’ll be right back with your bags,” he said.
When he got outside, he discovered his father walking up from the barn. “Any problems while I was gone?”
“Nope. I just thought I’d check on the mamas you had in the barn. Your mother was driving me crazy.”
“I know. Lucy wasn’t any calmer. As a matter of fact, I decided to tell Lucy we needed some help for Mom. It made her not feel so ungrateful. Gave her a way to pay Mom back. I hope that’s okay.”
“Sure, it’s great, as long as your mother doesn’t find out.” They were almost to the back door when his father asked, “So Lucy is too proud to accept help?”
“No, I don’t think it’s that. She feels she’s not worthy of all our attention. She’s used to being ignored and unappreciated.”
“Oh, yeah, that damn husband of hers. I’d almost forgotten about him.”
“Believe me, Lucy hasn’t.”
“No, I’d guess not.”
“Mike says he’ll come after her.”
“We’ll be ready. I’ll make sure there are some guns at hand, ready to be used.”
“Yeah,” John agreed as his father opened the door for him. He went through to Lucy’s room and dropped off the larger of the two bags. Then he took the smaller one to Emma’s room. The baby was already sleeping in the crib. John had to listen carefully to hear the gentle breathing of the baby. He reached out and patted her back, and she stirred. He continued to p
at until she settled down again.
Then he stepped out of the baby’s room just as Lucy came down the hall.
“Thank you, John, for bringing in our bags.”
“Not a problem. Shouldn’t you be lying down, resting?”
“That’s what your mother said, but I tried to convince her I could do some cleaning. She wouldn’t let me,” Lucy said, frowning. “I’ll try again later. I’ll get her to let me help.”
John smiled. “I’m sure you will, but you’d better take it easy the first few days, until you get your strength back.”
“But I’m causing her more work, not less. If I don’t help out, the strain on her might be too much!”
“She’ll be okay for a few days. You go take a nap. I’ll wake you up for dinner.”
“Okay, but if I wake up earlier, I’ll help prepare dinner. I can cook.”
“I’m sure you can. Emma’s asleep, so go get in bed.”
He stood and watched as Lucy entered the bedroom Camille had made up for her. He wished he could follow her in and hold her in his arms. But he knew he couldn’t, not when she was technically another man’s wife. He waited until she’d gotten in bed to close the door so she wouldn’t be disturbed…and he wouldn’t be tempted.
Then he headed for the kitchen so he could have a talk with his mother.
His mother saw him coming and poured coffee in a mug for him as he joined his father at the breakfast table.
“I sent Lucy to take a nap,” Camille told him.
“I know. Mom, you’re going to need to let Lucy gradually do some work around here. It will make her feel she’s contributing to her upkeep. Otherwise, she’ll feel like she’s a charity case.”
“I know, dear, but not on the first day. She needs to get some rest.”
“Yeah, she’s gone to sleep, like little Emma.”
His father leaned forward. “I was hoping to see the baby. I only saw her the day she was born.”
“You will, Dad,” John said. “She’s already changed. She’s started to look a lot like her mom now that she’s recovered from being born.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to seeing little Emma again.”
“She’s sleeping about three hours between bottles right now. Within the week, I think she’ll last four hours between bottles. That will give Lucy plenty of time to rest.” Camille looked perfectly satisfied with the situation.
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