Tantalizing Maria

by HELEN HARDT

  “Of course. It’s Angie’s phone.”

  “He’ll call as soon as he can. Now dial 9-1-1 and get that ambulance moving.”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” Jeff had no idea what he was doing. But he had to be strong. His little girl needed him. Her husband wasn’t here. Her doctor wasn’t here. His brother—the only father she’d ever known—wasn’t here. He—Jeff—was all she had.

  He would not fail her.

  Quickly he dialed 9-1-1. “Hello? This is Jeff Bay. My daughter is in labor. Her water has broken and her contractions are two minutes apart.”

  “Oh!” Angie screamed in the background.

  Jeff’s nerves shattered. God, what was he going to do?

  “Sir?” the operator on the line said.

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “Where are you?”

  “The Bay Ranch, Cha Cha, outside Bakersville. I don’t have a car or I’d drive her to Denver. Her doctor’s answering service said to call for an ambulance. Shit! I don’t know what to do.”

  “Is this her first baby, sir?”

  “Yes. I’m scared shitless here.”

  “You’ll probably be fine. First babies usually come slowly.”

  “That’s not what the doc’s office said.”

  “Sir, I’m dispatching the ambulance. Everything will be fine.”

  “Easy for you to say.” He clicked off the phone.

  “Have you called Rafe yet?” Angie screamed from the other room.

  God! What a terrible father he was. He’d left her alone in that guest room, and he hadn’t called the person she wanted most in the world—her husband.

  He stumbled back into the guest room and scanned Angie’s phone for Rafe’s number. “I’m calling him now, sweetheart.”

  No answer. Damn! He had to stop himself from throwing the phone at the wall.

  “I’m sorry, honey, he’s not answering.”

  “He’s”—Angie let out a deep breath—“probably out working on the ranch. Probably can’t hear the phone.”

  “Damn it all to hell.”

  He redialed and left a voice mail. Hopefully he didn’t sound too completely useless. He wanted Rafe to know his wife was in good hands.

  But was she? He didn’t know squat about pregnant women or delivering babies. Working in the infirmary of a prison that housed only males certainly hadn’t prepared him for this. But he had to be there for his daughter.

  “He’ll be on his way as soon as he can,” he soothed his daughter. “I’m sure of it.”

  “Yes, yes,” she panted. “I know he will be. He wouldn’t want to miss”—more pants—“any of this.”

  “Are you okay, honey? Can I get you anything?”

  “How about some drugs? Or just knock me unconscious with a freaking mallet. I don’t righteously care at this point.”

  “God, I’m sorry. Is the pain that bad?”

  “Well, it’s like the world’s worst case of gas pain and menstrual cramps, and then multiply it by a hundred or so.”

  Jeff paced along the floor by the foot of the bed. What to do?

  In a flash, he thought of Maria giving birth to Angie. The pain she must have borne to bring their daughter into the world. He should have been there. Instead, his brother had been. A sense of gratitude overwhelmed him. Maria hadn’t been alone. Wayne had been there for her.

  Thank you. He mouthed the words to his dead brother. Thank you for being there when I couldn’t be.

  And the last tiny shred of resentment toward Wayne melted away.

  * * *

  Thirty-Three Years Earlier

  “I hear you rode off on some delinquent’s bike.”

  Maria looked up from the book she was reading to face Greg Black, his brown eyes angry. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “From everyone. Are you trying to make a fool out of me, Maria?”

  “No, of course not.” She didn’t want to hurt Greg. He wasn’t “the one,” but she still cared about him. But after what she’d shared with Jeff, she had to end things with Greg—something she should have done a while ago.

  “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you’re eighteen now. Your old excuses aren’t holding up anymore. When are we going to go all the way?”

  Never. And Maria was so glad she hadn’t succumbed to Greg before now. She felt bad about breaking up, but her emotion lessened after that comment. Everything was about sex with him. Well, that definitely wasn’t going to happen. They were over. They had been since the moment Jeff Bay met her gaze that first day.

  “Greg, we need to talk.”

  “Putting me off again, are you?” He shook his head.

  “No.” Maria cleared her throat. “I mean yes. I…think it’s time to break up.”

  He shook his head again, his eyes wide. “Are you serious? You put me off for a year, and now you’re ending things? You’re a fucking tease, Maria.”

  “You don’t understand—”

  “You’re damned right I don’t. I gave up a lot of ass, waiting for you. I could have been screwing the whole cheerleading squad!”

  “Well, now you’re free to do so.” Maria stood from the bench outside the school. “Go for it.”

  Greg yanked on her arm. “We’re doing it, you little bitch.”

  Her stomach dropped as icy fear boiled in her. They were right outside the school. Granted, it was after hours and very few people were around. She’d been waiting for Shelley to pick her up after a club meeting. But they were out in the open. Surely he couldn’t think…

  “Let go of me. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I need to break up with you, Greg.”

  His angry gaze met hers. He held on to her arm for a few more seconds and then dropped it. “You’re not worth it.”

  Words she’d heard more than once from various sources—although they were usually hurtful, she was happy to be hearing them now.

  He turned and walked away.

  * * *

  “We’re gonna rob your old man,” Max said, his hazel eyes cold.

  “Say what?” Jeff jerked his neck around so hard it hurt.

  “Did I stutter? We’re gonna rob Grandpa Norman. You always say the old coot hates banks and keeps most of his wealth in a safe in the house.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “And you’re always saying how you got cheated out of your inheritance by your grandpa and your sainted brother. We’re your buddies. We’re gonna help you out. We’re gonna get your share back for you, and then, of course, you’ll split it with us.”

  “No way,” Jeff said. “I’m having no part of that. It’s one thing to hold up a damned liquor store. No fucking way am I going to hold up my own family.”

  “What the hell have they ever done for you?”

  Good point. Those two fuckers would no doubt rather see Jeff dead. Maybe Max was onto something. Of course, Norman was in the hospital. Which actually might make things a little easier. He’d only have to get the combinations—but how?—and then they could get in and out while Wayne was either out of the house or asleep. Asleep might be better. Jeff could slip him a sedative or something. Or get him drunk and wait until he passed out.

  Of course, the golden boy didn’t imbibe much.

  He’d find a way. One way or another, Jeff would get what he was entitled to, and Golden Boy would get what he deserved.

  He cleared his throat. “What’s the plan, then?”

  “We’ll be masked, of course. No sense you getting into trouble if they see it’s you. All we need you to do is get us into the house and get us the combinations to all your grandfather’s safes.”

  “I don’t know. How would I get those combos? They sure as hell wouldn’t give them to me.”

  “Take big brother out for a drink and slip him a little something so he starts talking.”

  “I’m not even sure Wayne knows.” Jeff knew that was a lie as soon as it left his mouth. Of course Wayne knew. Norman trusted him with everything. But drug his brother? Could he do that?
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  Yeah, he could. What the fuck? The stuff was rightfully his anyway. He was sick to death of being cheated. It would stop, as of now.

  Wayne no doubt knew the combinations. Grandpa trusted Pretty Boy with everything. But no way would Wayne divulge that information to the likes of his little brother. Probably the only way to get the combinations was to scare the shit out of Wayne.

  That he could do. All he needed was a little ketamine, which he could get from the local vet. His assistant had been known to take a bribe.

  “I’ll get them tonight.” And then he washed Max and robbing Grandpa from his mind.

  He had an all-day ride with Mia to get to.

  Chapter Nine

  “I want Rafe,” Angie sobbed.

  “I know, honey. He’s coming as fast as he can. You just stay strong now, and I’m going to take good care of you.”

  She winced and leaned forward. “God, it hurts!”

  “I know, darlin’. Just hold on. I’m here and I won’t let anything happen.”

  “This is crazy! I’m no granola girl. I want to be in a hospital with— Oh!” She doubled over, huffing. “Drugs, damn it! I wouldn’t have a root canal without drugs. Why would I try to push a human being out of my body without drugs?”

  What to do? She was three weeks early, and this was her first baby. “There’s all kinds of time, Angie. You don’t need to worry. You’re not going to have this baby for many hours yet. Rafe will get here. The ambulance will get here. You’ll get to the hospital. There’s no need to worry.”

  “I need to push, damn it!”

  “It’s just an urge. It’ll pass.”

  “Pass? Are you freaking serious? What the hell do you know about it? Passed any football-sized kidney stones lately?”

  What could he say to her? His daughter. His little girl. He should know her better, should have been here for her long before now.

  Water under the bridge, Jeff. He couldn’t think about that right now. Right now Angie was in labor, and she needed him to stay calm and help her until Rafe and the ambulance arrived. He had to take care of her. Damn it, he would take care of her. He was her father and he would not let her down. Why hadn’t he paid more attention growing up on the ranch? He’d seen calves being born, foals…

  “Breathe, sweetie. Did you take those birthing classes? Did they teach you to breathe through your contractions or something like that?”

  “Yes, yes, I took those stupid-ass classes. They gave me a biology lesson about stuff I already knew and— Oh, shit!”

  Angie leaned over the side of the bed and heaved.

  “Honey? You okay?”

  She swiped her hand across her mouth. “Do I look okay to you? I just threw up. Or at least I wanted to. Nothing came up.” Her forehead was slick with perspiration, and the dark hairs that had come loose from her ponytails stuck to her face.

  “I’m sure that’s very normal. I’ll get you a basin or something, okay?”

  “No!” she shrieked.

  He turned back, his eyebrows lifted. “Angie?”

  “Don’t leave me, Daddy. Please.”

  Daddy.

  The word melted into his heart like warm honey. He wished he could lie down and let the sweet melody of it spread through him for hours.

  But now was not the time to get caught up in emotion. His little girl needed him.

  “Please, honey, I’m just going to the other room. I want to get you a basin and some water. A cold rag for your head. Okay?”

  She nodded, her lips trembling.

  He gathered every bit of his strength to leave her. He stumbled out of the room and ran to the kitchen, knocking over a standing plant and an empty glass off the sofa table at the head of the stairs. God damn it! Water. Ice. Crushed ice? Was that it? Some episode of a television show he’d seen during rec hour in prison… Was it ER? Ice chips for women in labor. Yeah, that sounded right.

  Plus a basin for her nausea. And a cool rag for her forehead. The poor thing was sweating bullets.

  “Daddy!” she cried.

  Music to his ears. “I’m coming, darlin’.”

  “Daddy, I have to push.”

  “Can’t you hold off? The ambulance is sure to be here, and—”

  “Please,” she said. “I have to push.”

  Damn! What could he do? He could fire up his iPad and search the Internet for emergency births…but he didn’t want to leave her.

  He’d already called 9-1-1 and the doctor. Who else?

  The local doctor, of course. Larson was his name. Would he be on Angie’s phone? Yes! He called the number. Got voice mail—Doc was in Denver at a seminar for two days.

  God damn it! And he called himself a doctor? Who else?

  The vet?

  Heck, yeah. She might have a clue. She delivered calves and foals—how much different could it be? Plus this child was sort of related to her. She was married to Dallas McCray, the brother of Chad McCray, who was Angie’s sister, Catie’s, husband. He grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Annie McCray.

  “Yeah, this is Annie,” she said.

  “Annie, thank God. It’s Jeff Bay over at Cha Cha. Angie’s here and she’s gone into labor. Doc Larson is in Denver for a seminar. I’ve called an ambulance, but God knows when they’ll get out here. Rafe’s on the western slope and is on his way.” Jeff hoped he was, anyway. He would be when he got Jeff’s voicemail. “Can you possibly help?”

  “Calm down. It’s going to be all right. How far apart are her contractions?”

  “Just a few minutes. And she says she wants to push. Her water broke an hour ago.”

  “Okay. I’m on my way. It’ll take me about ten minutes to get up there. In the meantime, get her undressed from the waist down. If she wants to push, she’s going to be having that baby no matter how inconvenient it is for everyone else. That’s Angie’s way, isn’t it?”

  Jeff had to chuckle. He hadn’t known his daughter long, but he knew that about her. When she set her mind to something, she got what she wanted. And right now, she seemed to want to have this baby.

  “She can’t have a baby in her clothes, so get her undressed and lying down on a clean surface.”

  “She’s on my guest bed. I put clean sheets over the covers. What about boiling water?”

  “You watch too much TV. Don’t leave her to go boil water. Get her to lie on her side. That might help the urge to push subside. Help her with her breathing. Tell her to breathe through the urge. Make sure the door’s unlocked so I can get right in. I’m in the car now, on my way. Relax, Grandpa, you’re doing—”

  The line went dead.

  * * *

  Thirty-Three Years Earlier

  Maria’s heartbeat pounded as Jeff lovingly placed the motorcycle helmet on her head. What a beautiful day for a ride. The Colorado sun was shining over the Rockies, and the most handsome man in the universe was taking her for a ride.

  She warmed as she remembered their time together last night. She was sore, but the pain was inconsequential. She’d gladly take him to her bed again tonight and every night to come.

  “There you go, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart. She heated to her toes.

  Jeff replaced his own helmet. “Hop on,” he said.

  She took her seat behind him and grabbed hold of his shirt. His body was hard and warm. She’d never tire of it.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  He twisted his neck and looked into her eyes. “Where aren’t we going?” He smiled and revved the engine.

  Soon they had cruised through town and were out on country roads, free as birds in the sky.

  Chapter Ten

  Shit! Jeff quickly redialed Annie’s number. Nothing. Was the door unlocked? Yes, he was sure it was. He couldn’t leave Angie.

  “Okay, honey,” he said. “I’m going to get you ready. Annie’s coming, and she’ll know what to do. But we’re on our own for the next ten minutes.”

  She gulped and nodded.
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  Jeff followed Annie’s instructions, telling Angie what he was doing as he did it and taking care to cover her with another clean sheet to protect her modesty as he discarded her clothing. When she was lying on her side, he sat by her head, telling her to breathe and relax.

  “You fucking relax,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’re not the one trying to push out a watermelon.”

  Jeff sighed. Why can’t I be more help? Please, Annie, hurry.

  “Daddy, I can’t do this breathing anymore. I have to— I have to—” She rolled over onto her back and pulled her legs forward. “I have to push, damn it!” She let out a blood-curdling scream.

  “Angie, no! Wait…at least wait for Annie.”

  She screamed again, her face grimacing in pain. Jeff ran to the foot of the bed. Tentatively, he grabbed the sheet and prepared to lift it.

  The doorway opened. “I’m here,” Annie called.

  Thank God! He let go of the sheet. “We’re in here. Hurry!”

  Annie rushed into the bedroom. She peeked under the sheet. “Yup. She’s crowning. This baby’s coming, that’s for sure. Hold her hand, Jeff. I just need to wash my hands. I’ll only be a second.”

  Jeff’s heart beat like a stampede racing inside him, but his little girl needed him. He placed one hand on her swollen belly. “I’m here, honey. I’m here.”

  Annie returned, and another scream wrenched from Angie’s throat.

  “More of the baby’s head is coming,” she said. “Jeff, I need some clean towels, please.”

  He tried to let go of Angie’s hand.

  “No, Daddy. Don’t leave me.”

  Her words melted into him. “I’ll be back in a flash. I promise.”

  He grabbed as many towels as he could hold from the linen closet and returned.

  Annie had moved Angie to the end of the bed and was kneeling between her legs. “One more push, Angie, and I think you’ll get the head.”