In a blink, Reece was out of the truck and at Jess’s door.
‘I’m OK, thanks. Really, you don’t have to lift me down.’
Once again he ignored her. ‘Don’t want you falling. I’ve got you.’ He lifted her easily, and set her down lightly.
‘Who you got there, son?’
‘There’s been an accident,’ Reece told the old man. ‘And this young lady needs to lie down. I’m going to put her in my room.’
‘One of your fancy tarts, is she?’
Reece ignored this. ‘Can you bring us some towels, Dad?’ he asked instead.
With a strong arm around Jess, he steered her up a short flight of steps, and across the wooden veranda boards, not to the main front doorway, but to white-framed French doors. The rain hammered on the tin roof as Reece opened the doors and flicked on a light to reveal a large bed with an old-fashioned, blue chenille spread.
‘Lean against the bedpost if you need to,’ he said. ‘I’ll get rid of this bedspread.’
‘You don’t—’ Jess’s words were cut off as yet another contraction arrived.
Surely they weren’t supposed to be so close together? She had no choice but to hang on to the bedpost and cope as best she could.
By the time the pain had eased, Reece had lit bedside lamps and turned the main light off, as well as pulling back the bedcovers. Now he was at her side, ready to help her out of the coat, just as his father arrived in the doorway, bearing towels.
The old man stared at her belly.
‘This is Jess Cassidy, Dad.’
‘Did you get her into trouble?’
Jess admired Reece’s self-restraint as he simply shook his head and said, ‘I told you. There was an accident out on the main road.’
‘Looks like she’s about to drop.’
‘Yes, Jess is in labour,’ Reece said firmly as he took the towels. ‘It would be helpful if you could fetch the Flying Doctors’ medical chest. It’s at the back of the pantry.’
The old man seemed reluctant to leave, but his son made a shooing gesture and, finally, he hobbled away.
Reece turned to Jess. ‘You need to get out of these wet clothes.’
She was wearing a loose top over maternity trousers and, yes, they were wet, but the rest of her clothes were in a suitcase in the back of the car. ‘I don’t have anything else to change into.’
‘You can wear one of my shirts.’ Already he was opening a wardrobe, slipping a pale blue cotton shirt from a hanger. It looked almost big enough to serve as a nightgown.
His dark eyes were warm as he held it out to her. ‘Can you manage?’
‘Yes, thanks.’ She would have to manage. She certainly didn’t want a handsome stranger helping her to undress, thank you very much. She knew very well that it would be a bachelor’s worst nightmare to help a strange woman in an advanced state of pregnancy out of her clothes.
‘I’ll be fine,’ she said to make sure he understood. But the words were no sooner out than she felt as if the bottom half of her were being wrenched away from her with massive force. She only just had time to grab to the bedpost before her knees gave way.
‘Oh, God!’ Seized by an overwhelming urge to bear down, she slumped against the post and clung for dear life. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she moaned. ‘I think the baby’s coming!’
And then her waters broke.
CHAPTER TWO
THE baby couldn’t be coming already.
Reece stared at Jess in dismay. If she’d looked scared before, she now looked terrified, and he couldn’t blame her. He was terrified too. This was way outside his experience. Weren’t first babies supposed to take hours and hours to arrive?
He’d been confident that his job was to keep Jess comfortable until the Flying Doctor or the ambulance arrived—assuming that at least one of them could make it in this weather.
The poor girl.
Reece remembered her husband slumped over the steering wheel. If ever Jess Cassidy had needed her husband’s support it was now.
‘How can I stop this?’ she moaned.
You can’t, he wanted to tell her, and he wished he weren’t so clueless. He’d only delivered calves—mostly with a rope tied around the calf’s hoof and his boot planted squarely on the mother’s hindquarter to gain leverage. That sure as hell wasn’t going to work here.
‘Maybe, if you lie down there’ll be less pressure,’ he suggested.
‘That makes sense. I’ll try anything.’
In this light, she looked little more than a girl, with her slender, pale limbs and long, dark hair hanging in limp, damp strands. Her thickly lashed eyes were green or grey—he couldn’t be sure of their exact colour—and her nose was fine and slim, in contrast with the pink roundness of her soft mouth. In her wet, bedraggled clothes, she looked frail and helpless.
A wayside waif. In desperate need of his help.
He’d never felt more inadequate.
‘You’ll have to get out of these wet clothes,’ he suggested.
This time Jess seemed ready to submit to his assistance and Reece held his breath as he helped her out of her shirt. It wasn’t the first time he’d undressed a woman, although most of the women in his experience were very adept at slipping out of their gear.
This time was so very different, and he had to perform the delicate task with the dispassionate detachment of a medical practitioner.
Not so easy when Jess’s skin was moon pale and smooth as sifted flour and when her body was lush and ripe with the fullness of her pregnancy. She was lovely. Earthy. Madonna-like. With an unexpected fragile beauty that could catch a man totally unprepared.
He was aware of her distress, however, and he worked quickly as, between them, they eased her maternity slacks down. He rubbed her back and legs dry with a fresh towel while she took care of her front. Then he squeezed moisture from her hair and rubbed at it with the towel.
Her bra was wet too, and he undid it gently, conscious that her full, round breasts might be tender.
When he helped her into his shirt, it came down almost to her knees and he had to roll the sleeves back several times to free her wrists. She kept her eyes downcast, no doubt embarrassed.
‘Let’s get you comfortable,’ he said, helping her onto the bed.
His bed.
According to his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in a decade, he’d been born in this room, although his younger brother, Tony, had been delivered in a hospital in Cairns, many hours’ drive away.
Now, Jess lay on her side, an expression of fixed concentration on her face, her hand gently massaging her tense abdomen.
‘I’m going to ring the Flying Doctor,’ he said.
If they couldn’t land in this rain, they could at least give him medical advice. He’d take all the advice he could get. This was his worst fear—a dependent woman on his isolated property, with no help for miles. His mother had been right. This was no place for women.
‘Can I get you something from the kitchen, Jess? Would you like water?’
She gave a faint nod. ‘Maybe a sip.’
He went quickly to the kitchen where he found his father cursing as he fiddled with the knobs on the radio.
‘Can’t get this damn thing to work.’
Reece sighed. ‘Did you find the medical chest?’
His dad looked churlish. ‘Forgot.’
‘Can you get it now?’ Reece gave another despairing sigh. This was a new problem that had arrived just lately—these signs that his father’s short-term memory was deteriorating, along with his temper. But tonight he didn’t have time to worry about it. ‘I’m going to make some calls.’
His dad’s face broke into a rare grin. ‘At least I remembered to put the kettle on. You’ll need boiling water, won’t you?’
* * *
When Reece came back into the room with a medical chest, extra towels and a glass of water, Jess was fighting another urge to push, blowing frantically as she’d been taught in antenatal classes.
She heard the cli
nk of the glass as Reece set it down on a bedside table.
‘How are you doing?’ he asked as the contraction finally loosened its grip.
‘Awful,’ she grunted. ‘I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never, ever having sex again.’
She saw him swallow a smile and she sent him a hefty scowl. It was all very well for guys. They got it easy—a night of fun and, nine months later, someone else endured giving birth to their child.
Perhaps it was just as well Alan wasn’t here right now. She’d have given him a piece of her mind.
Oh, dear Lord, the poor man. Jess was instantly ashamed. How could she be angry with her husband when he might be seriously hurt, or even—?
No, she wouldn’t allow herself to think the worst, but tears stung her eyes. Tears for Alan. Tears of self-pity.
Hoping Reece hadn’t noticed them, she dashed at her face with the sleeve of the shirt he’d given her.
‘Would you like your drink?’
She shook her head. She was past needing a drink. What she needed now was a miracle. She needed to be magically whisked away from this isolated, outback homestead. She knew Reece was doing his best and she was grateful. Truly. But how could a lonely bachelor cattleman deliver her baby? She wanted to be safely in Cairns with a midwife and a ward full of nurses...doctors on standby...
‘Did you get through to the Flying Doctor?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is he on his way?’
Sympathy shone in Reece’s dark eyes. ‘With all this rain, they can’t risk trying to land on our boggy airstrip.’
A surge of hot panic ripped through her now. ‘What does that mean? I’ll have to wait for an ambulance?’
He dropped his gaze and looked uncomfortable.
‘Tell me there’s an ambulance on its way,’ Jess pleaded.
‘Yes,’ he said at last. ‘A policeman is coming from Gidgee Springs and the ambulance from Dirranbilla.’
She sensed there was more bad news. ‘But...what are you not telling me?’
Reece grimaced. ‘The creeks are coming up fast.’
‘So they might not make it?’
‘It’s...possible...’
This time, when Jess felt her face crumple, she didn’t even try to be brave. What was the point? Everything was stacked against her. First a terrible accident, then her labour starting in the middle of nowhere. And now, no chance of help.
She and her baby were going to die.
All alone out here.
‘Hey, Jess.’
She felt Reece’s hand on her arm.
‘It’s OK,’ he soothed. ‘You’re going to be OK.’
‘I’m not,’ she wailed. ‘I don’t know how to do this and neither do you.’
‘I know how to deliver calves.’ He gave a shrugging smile. ‘And there’s no need to panic. I’ve talked to a telehealth on-call doctor and he’s told me what to do. He’s on standby to talk me through step by step if I need help.’
‘Oh, terrific. So I can have my baby by remote control and a tele—’
Her words were cut off as the urge to push crashed back with a vengeance. She screwed up her face and clenched her teeth to stop herself from screaming. She so-o-o wanted to push, but she couldn’t forget the dire warnings from the antenatal teacher about not pushing too soon. Oh, God, how could she not push?
It was too hard to hold back.
‘Can you see the baby’s head?’ she groaned.
‘Would you like me to check?’
Exhausted already, Jess nodded, all pretence at modesty gone. If Reece could see the head she wouldn’t keep fighting. She’d give in to the urge to push.
She watched his face as he cautiously lifted the shirt, saw his dark eyes widen and his Adam’s apple ripple in his throat.
‘What?’ she demanded. ‘What’s happening down there?’
‘Your baby has dark hair.’
Really?
In spite of everything, Jess felt her mouth tilt in a tremulous smile. The baby was a real little person. It had dark hair. She felt an unexpected spurt of excitement.
She looked at Reece, surprised by the emotion shimmering behind his smile. The poor man hadn’t asked to be thrown into this situation, and he was doing his best. She realised he’d spread a waterproof on the bed and he’d set up a tray with items from the medicine chest. He was a stranger, doing everything he could for her and for her baby.
She felt a rush of gratitude. ‘Thanks for being here, Reece. If the baby’s a boy I’ll name him after you. And I’ll—’
Once again, she was overtaken by an incredible force and every cell in her body urged her to give in to it. She was dimly aware that Reece was spreading more towels on the bed and taking something out of the medical chest. She heard the snap of sterile gloves.
There was nothing she could do but push.
And push.
And pu-u-u-sh.
‘You’re doing brilliantly,’ Reece coaxed. ‘The baby’s shoulders are almost there now. Everything’s happening just the way it’s supposed to. Good girl. You’re fabulous. That’s it. Another push.’
‘I can’t.’
Exhausted, Jess sank back against the pillows. She couldn’t push again. She didn’t have the strength.
‘Honestly, your baby’s almost here,’ Reece said again. ‘Don’t give up now, Jess. I can see its face. It’s a real little cutie.’
‘That’s nice,’ she said wearily.
But next moment, she was gripping her knees and pushing again, assisted, thank heavens, by another contraction.
‘That’s it, Jess. Here it comes. Good girl!’
Face screwed tight with the effort of another huge push, Jess felt the baby slip from her and she heard Reece’s shout of triumph.
She fell back, panting, hardly daring to believe it was over so soon. Two breaths later, she asked, ‘Boy or girl?’
‘Well... I’m not sure about calling her Reece.’
‘A girl?’
He was grinning from ear to ear. ‘A perfectly beautiful baby girl.’
A girl. In the sudden lull, Jess felt exhausted and strangely devoid of emotion. Secretly, she’d hoped for a girl, but she’d been so sure she was having a boy. It took a moment or two to adjust.
She closed her eyes, suddenly weary and drifting towards sleep.
‘Waaaa!’
At that tiny, lusty yell, Jess’s eyes whipped open and her heart gave a leap of joy, her exhaustion vanished in a blink. She struggled to sit. ‘How is she? Is she all right?’
‘She has all her fingers and toes. I’m no doctor, but she looks perfect to me.’
Jess wanted to see her, but before she could dig her elbows into the mattress and hoist herself upright Reece was at her side.
‘Here,’ he said gently.
She felt a warm weight on her chest and looked down. And discovered a miracle. Her baby daughter. Red and perfect, with a scrunched-up face. ‘Hey, little girl.’
Her baby’s skin was still shiny and wet, but she was so cute. She had tiny little fingers and toes with the sweetest little transparent nails. And she had the most exquisite, perfect, tiny ears. And her nose was tiny and perfect too, and so was her mouth. And her eyes. And her hair.
‘Reece, she’s utterly gorgeous.’
Looking up, she saw the silver sheen of tears in his eyes. He gave her an embarrassed, lopsided smile. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Congratulations to you too. You were brilliant.’ Jess felt suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. Everything had happened so quickly and, if it hadn’t been for Reece, her baby might have been born on the edge of a dirt track out in the rain.
Now, this simple room, miles from anywhere, felt like the most wonderfully safe and comforting haven in the world.
‘Thank you,’ she said softly.
Somehow, just saying ‘thank you’ felt totally inadequate, but she was scared that she might start to cry if she tried to express how she really felt.
‘Let’s get this aroun
d her to keep her warm.’ Businesslike again, Reece tucked a mauve crocheted blanket around the baby’s tiny body. ‘Do you want to see if she’s hungry?’
‘I’ll try, I guess.’
‘Do you know what to do?’
‘I think so.’
* * *
With his work finally done, Reece stepped out onto the veranda, and realised he was shaking. He’d never held a baby before, not even when he was a godfather attending his nephew’s fancy christening in a Sydney cathedral. Now, tonight, he’d assisted in a total stranger’s birth. The little creature had slipped from her mother into the world.
Into his hands.
He’d looked down into her little face, all red and wrinkled. He’d watched her open her eyes for the very first time, and he’d seen the tiny quivering tremble of her lip, a heartbeat before she opened her mouth to give her first cry.
And he’d lost his heart.
Completely.
Now, as he stood at the veranda railing, trying to get a grip on his galloping emotions, he told himself to man up. He felt as if his life had changed in some significant way, but the reality was, it hadn’t changed at all.
In an hour or two, the police or the ambulance would probably get through. If not tonight, tomorrow, or the next day... Then, this mother and baby would be gone. Out of his life. He’d be back to living alone with his ageing father as he had for almost thirty years. Back to carrying out his duty on this vast, back-breaking cattle property. Back to worrying about his father’s health. Back to visiting lonely spinsters if he wanted female company.
‘What’s happening in there?’
Reece turned as his father appeared at his elbow and cocked his head to the French doors, now discreetly shut with the curtains drawn.
‘Jess had a baby girl.’ Reece’s voice was choked as he said this.
‘Crikey. She doesn’t muck around, does she? Is she going to stay?’
‘Of course not. She’ll want to get back to the coast as fast as she can.’
‘Yeah. They never want to stay.’ His dad released an unexpectedly heavy sigh. After a bit, he brightened. ‘Can I see her?’
‘She needs a little time alone. She’s feeding the baby. It’s late, Dad. Why don’t you go to bed?’
‘What about the Flying Doc?’
The Cattleman's Special Delivery Page 2
