by Jane Jamison
Chey held back a grin. If she were in the woman’s shoes, she’d curse a blue streak, too. “I understand that’s where you wanted to have your baby, but it’s not going to happen.”
Lucille cried out, gripping her huge stomach. “It hurts so much. Something’s wrong, doctor. Something’s wrong with my baby.”
“Lie down on the seat with your head toward Mitch. Go on. Take it easy.” She gave Mitch a pointed look. “Mitch, I want you to hold on to her. Help her lie down and lift her upper torso a little. Be sure to hang on to her. Got it?”
“Got it, doc.” He sounded so calm. Yet when his gaze drifted to the wet floorboard, he jerked it away.
“Keep your eyes on her face, Mitch, and you’ll do all right.”
“I’ll be fine, doc. This can’t be much different than cows or horses giving birth.”
Oh, yeah, it can. Seeing a woman deliver a baby is a lot different than watching an animal do the same thing. The mechanics are similar, but the emotions aren’t.
But there wasn’t any use in telling him. He’d find out soon enough.
“Go on now, Lucille. Lie down. Let Mitch help you.”
Where the hell was Bill? She glanced around then heard a man groaning. He must’ve gone to his butt beside the truck.
Some men can be such pussies.
She helped Lucille lie on her back, making sure to open her legs. Mitch made a strange sound, but as long as he did his part, she didn’t care what noises he made.
She heard the sound of a vehicle roaring up behind them, but ignored it. A quick examination proved that Lucille had been right. The baby was in trouble.
“Holy shit.” Wy came up beside her. When he saw what was happening, he backed up a couple of steps. “Can’t you wait for Doc Varner?”
She gave him a look over her shoulder. “I could, but I don’t think this baby can. Is he on his way?”
“I called him, but he’s knee-deep in a mess over at the Jack Reynolds’s place. One of the hired hands decided to battle it out with a chain saw and came out the loser.”
I’m on my own.
Not that it frightened her, but it didn’t make her happy. She had no problems with her ability to handle the birth, but she’d much rather have had another pair of experienced hands to help out.
Lucille’s wails grew louder. She spread the woman’s legs farther apart. “Lucille, I want you to put your feet right here.” She positioned her left foot onto the dash. “And here.” The right foot went on top of the seat.
“Good. Now listen carefully. Your baby is breech. That means I’m going to have to turn her around.”
“What? No. I don’t know what you mean. Bill? Where are you?”
At last a very pale Bill stood at the driver’s door. “I’m here, sweetie. Right here.”
Unless he passes out.
“Okay, Dad”—she smiled at Bill, trying to reassure him—“stay where you are and hang on.”
“Is she going to be all right, doctor? My wife and my baby?”
“If I have any say in it, they will be. Don’t worry, okay? Just stay ready to meet your child. Wy, did you bring blankets?”
“Yeah.”
“Then get them.”
“Ooooh. Ow. Shit, this hurts!”
“I know. But let’s get your baby out, okay?” She wiped her palms on her shirt and wished she had a way to sterilize her hands.
The hysterical glint in Lucille’s eyes didn’t help matters. “Do you know what you’re having? A girl or a boy?”
“A girl.”
“Aw, that’s great. And what are you going to call her?” If she distracted Lucille even a little, the birth would be much easier.
“Charlotte May.”
“That’s an awesome name.” She gave Lucille a comforting smile. “Okay, Lucille, let’s get your baby girl into this world. Listen to what I tell you and everything will be all right. Now go ahead and push when I say so. But I want you to stop when I tell you to stop, okay? Do you understand?”
When Lucille didn’t answer, she tried again. “Did you hear me, Lucille? Now, push!”
The baby’s bottom presented itself. She concentrated on taking the child by the bony pelvis. Wy let out a soft “oh, shit” then quieted behind her.
“Okay, stop pushing. I’m going to turn her around now.” She wasn’t sure Lucille was listening or could hear her over her own wails. Still, if nothing else, she hoped her calm voice would help soothe her.
Turning the baby gently around, she made sure the baby’s back faced upward. “Good, Lucille. You’re doing great. Now go on. Push again.”
The baby moved, more of its body protruding outward. Placing her fingers under the baby’s legs, she lifted upward, flexing the baby’s knees. “Keep pushing. We’re getting there.”
Mitch had his head down, speaking to Lucille. Bill reached out to take one of Lucille’s hands.
As the baby continued to move, she gently eased first one then the other leg out. “Keep it up, everyone.” Rotating the tiny girl onto her side, she released one arm and prepared to do the other as she again moved the baby into position onto the other side.
“This is fucking amazing.”
Wy was right. No matter how many deliveries she performed, helping a child come into the world was unique and heartwarming every time.
“Almost there. Come on, sweet baby.” She rotated the child again, placing the back toward the sky. Gently, she lifted the torso. The baby slipped out.
Thank you, God.
“Wy. Blanket.” Taking care to support the baby’s head and neck, she laid it on top of the blanket and wrapped it up. “Take her to her dad, but make sure he’s steady enough to hold her.”
“No. I want to see her.”
“In a minute, Lucille. She’s a beautiful little girl and you can hold her soon enough. But first, you still have work to do.”
* * * *
“How’s the new mom doing?” Chey lounged on the sofa. She sat up, eager to hear Wy’s report. He’d gone over to visit Bill and Lucille at her urging. After all, delivering a baby in a pickup didn’t happen every day and she couldn’t help wondering how the new parents and their sweet baby girl were doing.
After taking the baby and her mom to the clinic, she and Mitch had returned to the ranch where they’d enjoyed yet another hot shower together.
Both Wy and Mitch told her how great she’d been and how impressed they were. In fact, they’d said it so often she’d finally had to threaten them with the frying pan to get them to stop.
“Everyone’s fine.” He snagged a bottle of beer from Mitch and settled onto the couch beside her.
“Good. I’m glad.” Now that she was sure the new family was doing well, she could feel better about her plans.
“What’s up, Chey?”
Mitch could read her well. Almost as easily as Wy could.
“I think it’s time.” She’d brought up the subject enough times that they didn’t have to ask what she meant.
“No. Not yet.” Mitch stared into his drink.
“Why not? We’ve checked with the police and Al. Nothing’s come up. George wasn’t here during the rodeo and there hasn’t been a threat. It’s time I get back to my life.”
Wy was as easy to read as she was. “Your life is here now.”
Telling her they wanted her to stay wasn’t the same as a commitment. She’d assumed they’d meant they wanted a life with her forever, but had they ever said it plain out? And she sure as hell didn’t have a ring on her finger.
“I have a job and an apartment back in San Antonio. I need to get back to both.”
Wy tossed one of the magazines lying on the coffee table at Mitch. “See? I told you she was getting restless again.”
“It’s still not safe,” muttered Mitch.
She could butt heads with him, or she could finally get him to listen to reason. “Mitch, I know you’re trying to protect me. And you and Wy have done a great job, but the danger’s past.”
She both loved and hated his stubborn streak. “What do you expect me to do? Hang around until I get a sign? Should I wait until I see a skywriting plane overhead with a banner saying ‘It’s safe for Chey to go home’? If so, I’m going to be waiting a long time.”
“We want you to stay, baby.” Wy turned her to face him. “You know that. We’ve said as much.”
But they’d never said they loved her. They’d never said those exact words. I love you. If they really loved her and they were certain they wanted her to stay, what was so hard about telling her straight out? And without hearing them say it, how could she leave behind everything she’d worked so hard for?
“He’s right.” Mitch set his beer down and edged toward the end of the chair.
The closer he came, the more she could feel the tug on her pussy. “I know, but I’m not a rancher. I’m a doctor. Having me hang out in your home isn’t what I want. My career means a lot to me.”
“Does it mean everything? Does it mean more than to you than we do?”
She took Wy’s hand in hers. “I never said that.” But neither have you.
“You could take Doc Varner’s place.”
Suddenly they’d switched gears and gone back to her career. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s going to retire soon. Which means Garner won’t have a doctor.” Wy acted like she’d jump at the chance. “You told us how you wanted to open your own practice, right? Well, here’s your chance.”
“I was talking about starting my practice in San Antonio. Not here.”
“So it’s the money?”
She shifted toward Mitch. “The money?”
“Sure. A practice in a city is going to be more lucrative than being a small town doctor. Doc Varner’s been paid with chickens and eggs before.”
How could Mitch think she was in it for the money? Anger boiled to the surface. “You know what? You’re full of shit. How can you think I’m so greedy?”
“He didn’t mean it that way, baby.”
“The hell he didn’t.” She stood up and fisted her hands on her hips. “You must not know me as well as I thought you did. And I’m not sure I know you, either.”
“Stop it, you two.” Wy stood next to her, glaring at both of them. “Don’t fuck this up.”
She’d wrestled with her decision to go back to San Antonio, weighing her feelings for them against her need to get back to her work. But now, the decision didn’t seem so difficult. “I’m going home. All I ask is that you give me a ride. Or find me a car to rent. Whatever. But I’m sure as hell not staying here.”
She had to get away before they saw the pain inside her. The thought of leaving them tore at her, searing its way outward until she knew it would show on her face. Flinging off Wy’s arm, she stormed toward the staircase. Her foot was on the first step when she heard Mitch.
“Stop.”
At any other time, she wouldn’t have obeyed him. But there was an added quality to Mitch’s voice that had her turning around to confront him.
She almost fell over.
Both men knelt at her feet, but it was what Mitch held in his hand that had her reeling. “What’s going on?”
“This isn’t how we planned on doing this.” Mitch’s scowl darkened even as he held the box with the sparkling diamond higher.
“We were going to do some big romantic thing. With Amy Arlington’s help. She’s Jarrod’s and Seth’s fiancée. But I guess our plan’s off the rail now.”
She struggled with her breath and gripped the railing. Until she was steady on her feet again, she wasn’t sure she could believe her eyes and ears. “That’s a diamond. A really big diamond.”
“Yeah. Is it big enough?” asked Wy.
“It better be. It cost enough money,” added a still surly Mitch.
“Shut up, cuz. You’re ruining the proposal.”
She couldn’t get her mind to work clearly. “Proposal?”
“Yeah. We’re asking you to marry us.” Wy quickly added, “Legally, only one of us, but we’ll consider you married to the both of us. If you say yes.”
“And you, Mitch?” She searched his face. For a man asking a woman to marry him, he sure didn’t look happy. “Is this what you really want?”
“Of course it is. I want to be the one to slip the ring on your finger.”
“So, baby? How about an answer?” Wy grinned, obviously confident of how she’d respond.
And still they hadn’t said the words she needed to hear. “No. I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you. Either one of you.”
They glanced at each other, confusion on both their faces. “What’d you say?”
“You heard her, Wy. She said no.” Mitch got on his feet. “But I’d damn sure like to know why.”
If you don’t know…
She should tell them. After all, they weren’t mind readers. And yet, asking them to say “I love you” didn’t seem right. Instead, it felt like she’d be begging for their love. She’d have to lie and, hopefully, convince them she was telling the truth.
“Because you’re right. I’m choosing my work over you two.” She chuckled an awful sound, somewhere between a laugh and a snort. “Come on, guys. The idea of me becoming a small town doctor is ridiculous. I want more out of my life than stitching up farmers, then coming home to wipe your babies’ bottoms.”
She’d stunned them into silence, a feat she would’ve thought impossible. But if she didn’t get away from them soon, she’d break down and cry. Holding her head high, she turned and started up the stairs.
“That’s the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard.”
“Damn straight it is, cuz.”
In the next moment, she was swept off her feet.
Chapter Ten
Wy had her in his arms and carried her up the stairs. Even with her added weight, he managed to take the steps two and a time. “Chey, don’t give up your day job.”
She hooked her fingers together around his neck. “What? I don’t understand.”
Mitch eased past them as soon as they made it to the landing. “He means you’re a lousy actress. We’re not buying your act.”
By the time they’d made it into the one bedroom she’d yet to enter, she was almost in tears. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going back to San Antonio and you’re staying here on your ranch. Our lives are worlds apart and that’s how they’re going to stay.”
“Not if we can help it.” Mitch lowered her onto the bed. “What we want is the truth. Do you love us?”
There it was. Flat out and no way to steer around it. Either she tried to lie again or she’d have to tell them. But what did she have to lose? She’d be leaving them soon enough. “Yes. I love you.”
Mitch came to the other side of the bed. “I don’t get it. Usually when a man asks a woman to marry him and she loves him, she says yes. Why’d you say no?”
She felt stupid. Like a high school girl getting caught writing the football quarterback’s name on her notebook. “I didn’t want to say it before you did.”
Wy laughed, surprising her. Was he laughing at her stupidity? “Is that all?” He sat on the bed and cupped her behind the neck. “Listen up, Dr. Kirkland. I love you. Got it? I love you more than anything on this green earth. Is that good enough for you?”
She bit back a smile and slid her gaze to Mitch.
“I love you, too, Chey. I just figured you knew it. Don’t actions speak louder than words?”
“Maybe.” She was suddenly shy. Shy but filled with joy. “But a girl still needs to hear it.”
“We love you.” Mitch unbuttoned the first button on her shirt.
She tingled with excitement and grew even more thrilled when Mitch undid the button on her jeans. Slowly, they kept going, taking their time undressing her. She lay back and let them, enjoying the soft touch of their gentle caresses along with the low murmur of their voices.
“We love you, Chey,” said Mitch
as he pulled off her shoes then added her jeans to the floor beside them.
“We must’ve done a piss-poor job of letting you know. I’m sorry for that.” Wy had the last button undone and spread her shirt wide.
When she’d dressed earlier, she hadn’t added any underwear. It hadn’t been a conscious decision, and yet, now she knew why. She’d needed them, had ached for them to come to her and take her again.
“You’re the woman we’ve waited for. The one we knew would come.” Wy stood and began undoing his shirt buttons.
Exposed except for the shirt still around her shoulders, she took in his hard chest, the muscles that flexed with his every movement. Wy was a wonderful mix of cowboy and lover, a sensitive man who could, at a moment’s notice, use his body as a weapon. He shrugged off his shirt before unhooking his belt buckle and pulling the leather through the loops. Her gaze followed his fingers as they went to the middle and undid the top of his jeans. He ran the zipper low as he made quick work of kicking off his boots. The flaps of his jeans fell open, showing the curly mass of hair, but not dipping low enough to expose the rest of him.
“Do you trust us, doc?”
“Yes.” Whether Mitch called her doc or babe didn’t matter. Both sounded sweet to her ears.
She pulled her attention away from Wy and onto Mitch. He already had his shirt off and was working on shoving his jeans down. His cock stuck out, purple veined and curved just right. The sight of them, the two rock-hard cowboys standing beside her, brought her new sensations she’d never experienced. Even though she’d been with them before, every time seemed different, better than the one before it.
“You’re our woman. You know it. We’ve told you we love you.”
She nodded at Mitch.
“And you know we’re your men.”
She smiled at Wy and gave him a nod, too. “You’re mine.” Her sultry look should’ve said it all, but she asked anyway. “Do you want me to call you sirs?”
“Is that how you want it, baby?” Wy bent low, bringing out handcuffs that were attached to something under the bed.
Together the men brought out four cuffs, two for her wrists and two for her ankles. “Where’d those come from?”
