Where was she?
He was committed now. There’d be no way back for hours with the way the water level rose behind him. If she wasn’t on this road, he had to accept he’d be isolated for no good reason.
His vehicle was kept well supplied for emergency situations.
But his concern was for Liz. She needed him—he knew it.
The temperature dropped steadily and thunder rumbled, deep and threatening, in the distance. The slick road ahead was littered with leaves and debris picked out by his headlights as he wound steadily onwards.
He rounded a tight corner.
There was her car. Hazard lights flashing, rear wheel in the ditch.
His quick relief was short-lived. No one in the driver’s seat.
Surely, she hadn’t tried to walk for help in her condition. He grabbed the torch and ran across to her vehicle. The beam speared into the dark car.
She was there, kneeling on all fours on the back seat.
Thank God.
His knees were suddenly weak. He yanked open the door, heard her breathing coming in small puffing sounds. She wasn’t aware of him at all.
‘Liz?’ He touched her shoulder.
Her head shot up.
‘Jack? Oh, God. Jack!’ A few ragged sobs escaped before she grabbed control of her breathing again.
She reached out to latch onto his hand. He winced as her fingers gripped the tips of his. Even in the subdued light he could see her delicate knuckles standing out, white and bony.
His heart sank. She was in labour. Thoughts crowded in. How long had she been out here, alone and in pain? Wasn’t it too soon for her to have the baby? What had she said this morning? Three weeks to go? He did a quick calculation. Thirty-seven weeks. Hadn’t Julie said normal delivery could happen any time after that?
But out here, in the middle of nowhere…
He swallowed.
‘How long have you been in labour, darlin’?’ he asked when she sagged back against the seat.
‘I’m not sure. I’ve been feeling rotten all day.’ Tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Backache and nausea. But I thought it was other things. I didn’t realise it was the baby. Oh, God, Jack. I’ve been so stupid.’
‘No, you haven’t, sweetheart.’ He kept his voice level, soothing. The last thing Liz needed was to see the panic surging through him. He slipped into the seat and put his arms around her. All the things he’d learned at the prenatal class about the stages of labour completely eluded him, but maybe Liz could tell him if he asked the questions calmly. ‘How long have you been having the contractions? How close are they?’
‘D-definite contractions for about an hour. But I think I’ve been in labour much longer.’ She sniffed, wiping her cheeks with her hands, before she laid her head on his shoulder. ‘They’re about th-three minutes apart, maybe a bit shorter.’
He kissed her forehead. ‘So what stage is that?’
‘Early labour.’
‘Okay. So the baby’s still a little way off making her grand appearance?’
‘Y-yes, I think so. And my waters haven’t broken.’
‘That’s a good sign, isn’t it?’
‘Mmm-hmm.’
‘I don’t think we’ll try to get up to Aunty Peg’s now.’ He pictured the control-room map in his head. Ernie Thomas’s weekender was going to be their best bet.
‘No. I had to turn back from both gullies. This is the highest point between them so I though it’d be safest here.’
‘Good thinking.’ He was proud of her resourcefulness.
‘Except I skidded and the wheel ended up in the ditch.’ She sounded tired, but then, ‘Oh, my God.’ She pushed away so she could look at him, her eyes fierce with accusation. ‘How did you get here? Jack! You’ve come through Green Gully. You could have been killed.’
‘Hey, I’m too ornery to let a little bit of water defeat me.’ He gave her a quick smile. ‘Come on. Let’s get you over to the four-wheel drive. I know where we can go for shelter.’
He helped her out of the car and then, despite her protest, carried her over to his vehicle. With her settled on the back seat, he grabbed his sleeping bag and shook it out.
‘What do we need from your car?’ He tucked the bag around her. ‘I’ll get your medical bag. Anything else?’
‘Aunty Peg’s present. It’s on the front seat. She’s given us some nappies. We can use them for—for…’ Her voice tailed off, her expression drawn.
‘Sure. They’ll come in handy.’ He cupped her cheek and leaned over to give her a kiss. ‘We can do this, Liz.’
‘Yes.’ The word was little more than a whisper.
‘Just think of the stories you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren.’
She gave him a wan smile. ‘About how their granddaddy galloped through storms and flooded rivers to deliver their mother?’
‘Yeah, those stories.’ He grinned at her. ‘Work on that image. I fancy being the hero of the hour. I’ll be back in a flash.’
He walked across to her car, taking the opportunity to give himself a pep talk. He had to push his own fear back. Providing encouragement and support for the birth were the only things he could do for his wife. He was going to do them bloody well.
Back at his vehicle, he found Liz in the grip of another contraction. He dumped the gift and the box of produce on the front passenger seat and slid into the back beside her to wait out the pain.
When her breathing steadied and she opened her eyes again, he said, ‘We’ll head to Ernie Thomas’s weekender. The turn-off is just around the corner.’
‘Okay.’
Back in the front seat, he lifted the handpiece of the CB and turned to Liz. ‘I’m going to call Danny and let him know what’s happening.’
The unit gave a static crackle.
‘Danny? I’ve found Liz. Over.’
‘Copy that. How is she?’
He reached over and took her hand, giving it a quick squeeze as he held her eyes with his. Projecting all the confidence he could into his voice, he said, ‘Next time you see us, we’ll be parents.’
Just saying the words had a fresh wave of panic crashing over him. He fought the instinct to look away from Liz. Hell, he couldn’t hide from her at this critical point. He had to do better. She had no choice but to have the baby now and his job was to help her. They were in this together.
Danny’s raw oath ripped through the air, summing up Jack’s feelings exactly. Then came a more moderate, ‘Good luck.’
‘Thanks.’ He swallowed. We’ll need it. But he didn’t let the words escape. ‘It’s too risky for us to try to come back into town. Green Gully’s getting pretty deep. Ernie’s shack is close so that’s where we’re headed now. Can you put Tony Costello on standby up at the hospital in case we have any problems? Over.’
‘Will do. I’ll let the McLeods know you’ve found Liz, too. Peg’s been on the phone.’
‘Thanks, Danny.’
‘Sarah sends her love. Me, too. Over and out.’
Jack signed off and hung up the handset. ‘Set, gorgeous?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good girl.’ He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to her chilled fingers. ‘It’s not far.’
A few minutes later he turned into the concealed driveway and wound up a steep drive to brake in front of a ramshackle miner’s hut. A chimney flue poked out of the rusted iron roof, promising the possibility of warmth within.
‘Here we are, sweetheart. Home sweet home for the next few hours. I’ll go and open up.’
‘Won’t it be locked?’
‘Minor obstacle. I know where Ernie keeps a spare key.’
‘Under the mat?’ Liz murmured.
‘How’d you guess?’
She rewarded him with a small chuckle. ‘I know Ernie.’
Jack’s breath steamed in the frosty air as he crossed the short distance to the hut. Dry wood was stacked to the eaves under the verandah, despite his past advice that it was a fire haz
ard. Thank goodness Ernie was a stubborn old beggar who didn’t listen to well-meant advice from his local firebrigade chief.
The air inside was a little musty, but the single room was tidy and a box of kindling stood beside the pot-belly. And he knew the steel cabinet always held a good supply of securely stored tinned food. He lit the gas lamp and trimmed the wick to provide a comfortable light. Then he found a foam mattress rolled up in a sealed box and laid it out on the bed.
Liz had her eyes closed when he went back to the car. ‘Okay, darling, your palace awaits.’
She looped her arm around his neck as he scooped her off the seat, still bundled up warmly in the sleeping bag. She was so small and fragile. How on earth was she going to manage the task before her? He clenched his jaw, hugging her close as he carried her inside to put her on the bed.
Stepping back, he curled his hands into fists in an effort to dissipate his fear. ‘Sweetheart, I’m going to get the fire going.’
‘Okay.’
He could hear her breathing her way through another contraction as he brought in some wood and prepared a bed of kindling in the firebox. Soon the comforting crackle of burning logs filled the cabin.
‘That should do it.’ He dusted off his hands and turned to catch Liz watching him with dark, sombre eyes. He smiled with an assurance he was far from feeling. ‘Okay, what can I get you? A cuppa? Warm compress?’
‘Please. To both. With some sugar if Ernie has it.’
‘Ernie has everything.’ He set a billy full of water on the small portable gas stove. ‘God bless him and his comfortable weekends away from Mrs T. in the bush.’
‘Yes.’ She sounded subdued. ‘Jack, I’ll need a mirror so I can check progress later.’
‘Okay.’ He walked to the door.
‘Wh-where are you going? You’re not going to leave me? Are you?’ The panic-filled words tore his heart.
‘Hey, darlin’, no way.’ He crossed to the bed in two strides and gathered her into his arms. ‘I’m just going to be outside. All you need to do is yell if you need me. I want to get the rest of my kit while it’s not raining and I’ll check Ernie’s bathroom for a mirror. Okay?’
‘O-okay.’ But her arms came around him and she hung on tightly for a long moment. When she pulled back slightly she managed a small smile, her eyes clinging to his through a veil of moisture. ‘I guess there’s no chance now of that epidural I was s-so adamant about n-not having, is there? Or a Caesarean.’
‘Hey. You’re not going to need them. You can do this.’ He brushed her damp hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. ‘We’ve been to all the classes and we know what to do, don’t we? We’re just going to take all the time we need to get this right.’
‘But wh-what if I can’t do it?’
‘You can. You know you can, Liz.’ He swallowed.
Another contraction hit her. She slid to kneel on the floor as the pain demanded her concentration for long seconds. He moved with her, holding her hands. Her fingernails dug sharply into his palms as she puffed. The discomfort gave him a tiny, welcome respite from his own anxiety.
When her breathing eased, she looked at him again, worry etched sharply into her features. ‘What if you’re right? What if the baby’s too big? What if she’s breech? What if she gets stuck? What if—?’
‘Stop it, Liz. She won’t get stuck,’ said Jack decisively, as if willing it could make it so. Seeing her like this, so vulnerable, wrenched at him. She was always so in control, so capable. ‘Remember what you told me. Remember what Julie said? Nature works these things out.’
Her eyes were black holes of fear and he could feel her trembling. He swallowed hard, grabbing for control, desperately searching for something to say that might help her.
‘There’s been no indication there would be a problem on any of your scans, has there?’
He waited until she shook her head. ‘Your body’s ready for this.’
She was relying on him to stay calm, but the truth of the matter was, he was terrified. He couldn’t let it show. The birth was going to happen here and now. The only way he could help was by convincing Liz that they could do it. All of his misgivings about a natural delivery had to be put aside. He had no choice—they had no choice.
‘I shouldn’t have gone out today,’ she moaned, her voice thick with unshed tears. ‘Oh, God, what if I’ve put our daughter at risk by being so bloody-minded?’
‘You haven’t. Liz, you have to let go, let your body do the job. Trust yourself.’
Her eyes closed. Was she shutting him out?
God, if he couldn’t convince her that she could deliver their daughter, he’d have failed her. If she didn’t relax, she was in for an even more difficult time. What if she really couldn’t do this? What if he lost her, lost them both? He couldn’t let that happen. Wouldn’t let that happen. But he’d never felt so powerless in his life.
‘I trust you, darlin’.’ His voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion. ‘You can do this.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
IN THE subdued light of the cabin, moisture glistened along Liz’s eyelashes. A fat tear gathered to roll down her cheek to the edge of her jaw.
If he could have, Jack would willingly have suffered the pain for her. But all he could do was give her support and encouragement. This agony wasn’t his. It wasn’t his body struggling to give birth. He hadn’t fully understood how helpless he would feel.
How much longer could he be strong in the face of her fear? Even knowing how infectious someone else’s terror could be wasn’t helping him quash his own. But if he went under, he’d make her job that much harder.
He mustn’t succumb.
A snippet from the prenatal class came back with sudden clarity. ‘Remember what Julie said about the transition phase? How you’d feel as though everything was too much, too hard?’ He held his breath as he waited for her response. ‘Liz?’
Finally, she nodded.
‘She said it’ll pass. Remember?’ Soon. Let it be soon. He listened to the deep, shuddering breath she took, prayed she would find the serenity to go on.
‘Yes.’ She inhaled again, held the air a moment then exhaled. When she opened her eyes again to look at him she seemed steadier. ‘Yes. You’re right. I remember.’
‘I love you.’
She smiled tremulously. ‘I love you, too.’
‘You’re an amazing and brave and beautiful woman, Mrs Campbell.’ He lifted a hand to cup her cheek, ran his thumb across the soft skin. The changes that were taking place within her body even as he sat here with her had him in awe.
‘Thank you.’ She turned her lips to his palm. ‘I…I don’t know how I’d have coped if you weren’t here.’
‘You would have, sweetheart. But I’m glad I’m here, too.’ He grinned at her. ‘Besides, it’s the least I could do since I’m partly responsible for getting you in this state in the first place.’
She didn’t smile as he’d intended. Instead, her eyes filled and her chin wobbled.
‘Jack, I’m sorry.’ Her breath hitched as she looked down at her hands.
‘Hey, what for?’
‘F-for trapping you with this pregnancy.’
‘Hell, darling, where did that come from? I thought we’d been through this.’ He struggled to change gears to keep up with her.
‘I—I know. I’m just s-so afraid you’re going to end up hating me and our daughter.’
He lifted her chin so she looked at him directly. ‘This is because of your visit with Patrice, isn’t it?’
Her eyes clung to his, her anguish clear. ‘Dad was forced to marry Mum because she got pregnant with me. Th-they made each other so miserable and bitter. I don’t want that for us, for Emma.’
‘I’m not the man your father was and you’re not like your mother. I want you and I want our daughter.’
‘D-do you?’
‘Yes. How could I not, sweetheart? You’re everything I need.’
After a moment, her tired fac
e moved into a tentative smile.
‘We’re not going to make a mess of our marriage the way your parents did.’ He gave her a quick kiss. ‘Got it?’
‘Got it.’
‘Good.’ He grinned. ‘No more of this nonsense. We’ve got important things to do, okay?’
‘O-okay.’
He looked over to where the billy was steaming. ‘How about I make you that warm compress and something to drink?’
With hot and cold water mixed to a reasonable temperature, he wet a towel and wrung it out. Liz was still kneeling beside the bed. He helped her adjust her clothing so he could tuck the warm, damp pad against her lower back.
‘That feels good.’ She sighed as the heat seeped into her tired muscles. ‘Thanks.’
Out of the corner of her eye she watched him walk back to the stove. A moment later he was back, pressing an enamel mug into her hand. He crouched beside her, his hand rubbing large circles across her back.
‘Okay for a few minutes while I go out and get my kit, sweetheart?’
‘Yes. I’m fine now.’ As she spoke, she realised it was true.
Jack had given her that. He’d pulled her back from the edge of the panic that had threatened to tear her apart. He was so strong. His confidence in her warmed her, lifted her spirits. Made her really believe she could get through this with his help.
She watched the door close behind him. What had happened to her? Any medical student worth their salt knew panic and tension made pain worse. And hadn’t she seen it time after time in the emergency department? Yet, in the grip of her own fright, she’d forgotten until Jack had reminded her of Julie’s words. She smiled wryly. The learning curve of pregnancy was far steeper than she’d expected.
Her smile slipped. If Jack hadn’t come to find her she’d have been alone with all her fears.
His love and determination had given her the reassurance she’d needed about their marriage, about their future. They weren’t going to make the same mistakes her parents had—they could choose to be happy.
And he was right about this birth, too—she had to trust her body to do what it needed to. This time she couldn’t use just her medical training, she had to use the unfamiliar tools of intuition and faith.
Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way Page 33
