“I was worried.” Lifting her hands off the steering wheel, she wept, “Tristan is out there in this.”
Jase spun around while rain beat over him. “What? Why? What do you mean?” He glanced around the yard. “What’d he do, take the trailer?”
“The filly got out again.” She hated sounding like a whiny woman. Nora held her breath until the end of a contraction. She gulped, releasing a big gush of air afterward. “Yes, and Roark.” When she breathed hard like this, more wetness trickled between her legs. She held her head with both hands. My God.
“Dammit!” He slapped his hand against his thigh. Jase peeked into the barn before heading back to his truck.
Oh, oh. He couldn’t leave now. No way would he like what was coming next. “Jase?”
“Yeah?” He lowered his hat to shield his eyes from the rain. “Crimminy, what’s the matter?” Fisted hands went to his hips. “Nora, don’t tell me—”
“Yes… I’m sorry.” She wiped tears, but now they ran down her face, mixing with rain.
Jase opened her door. “Come on.” He escorted her to the other side.
“M-my water broke at home.”
“Oh, sonofabitch!” He opened the passenger side door on her truck.
“We have to go back to my house. I need to get things. We need to call your mom. Jase?” Never mind. “Destiny’s with your mom, she’s fine.” She slid in the passenger side. He slammed the door and got in behind the wheel.
“This is bad timing, huh?” He put it in reverse to turn around, racing back to her house. “What do you need? I’ll get it. Dammit, Nora don’t have this baby in the truck. I can’t deliver no baby.”
“I’ll try not to for Pete’s sake!” She opened the door. “Do you think I have time to get to the hospital? I’ve never done this before.”
“You’re damn right we’re getting to the hospital.” He got out and came around to her side to help her into the house. “I’ll call Tristan again. Tell me what you need.”
“In the bedroom. My bag is packed beside the bed.” She started up behind him but had to stop to breathe through a contraction. Jase came down with her bag, pacing while on his phone.
“Nothing yet?”
“Nope.” He grabbed her hand and bag without stopping on the way to the truck. He opened the door for her to get in, then he rushed around to the driver’s side.
She fastened her seatbelt. “What about Tristan? I’m worried.”
“We’ll find him. I’m sure he’s fine, Nora. He knows this terrain better’n any of us. I’ll be out there looking. He might need help with the filly. I can’t believe she got out again. Damn, that stubborn horse.” Jase turned the truck around and headed out. “Mom will wanna be at the hospital.” He knocked the heel of his hand against the steering wheel. “I’ll find Tristan. He needs to be here.”
“It’s not safe out there now. The road into the mountains will be washing out. We need to call somebody for help.” Nora paused to take a breath because any minute she’d be screaming at anyone who’d listen. “I don’t know if it’s too early to get to the hospital. What if they send me home?” Another contraction shut her up. “Oh, jeez, they’re closer.” It’s not too soon.
“You’re going to the hospital. Ah, t-they’ll probably keep ya.” Jase gulped. “If not, one of us will bring you back home.”
She clutched his arm. “Call somebody to help find him!”
His gaze went to her fingers digging into his arm. “Maybe he’s on his way back. Your phone might ring any minute. We don’t know if he needs help. A dead zone. That’s all.” Jase gripped the steering wheel with one hand while his other clenched the shifter. “Just keep breathing through those pains, girl.” He picked up his phone to call Judy, and he put it on speaker. “Nora’s in labor, Mom. I’m taking her to the hospital.” Jase took a big breath before he continued. “Tristan’s out in the mountains somewhere. The filly got out again.”
“What?” Judy’s voice rang out high and shrill. “You boys will be the death of me!” A loud sigh reverberated through the speaker. “Well, I wanna be there with Nora. I’ll have to take Destiny to the hospital with me.”
“No,” Jase said. “You remember meeting Brenna… I’ll get her or Chloe to sit with her.”
“All righty, I’ll wait.”
“Drive safe, Ma, the weather’s getting bad out here.” He hung up and took a quick look at Nora.
She gulped, needing patience now, but she feared it was already too late to call in some. “Call Search and Rescue, Jase!”
“Nora,” he said. “We need to give him time to get back. How far could a damn young horse get?”
“I don’t know.” Nora reflected on their last words. His wink before closing the door. The time after their wedding, how he said he’d always be there for her, even if he wasn’t. Don’t let this be one of those times. Not now. “Please, get some help. Maybe it’s just a feeling I have.” She gripped the seatbelt and glanced at the clock. Four minutes apart now. Pain increased in intensity. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Okay, let’s just get you to the hospital first. You’re in labor, so you won’t feel right.” Jase passed a car on the highway, the rear end of the truck fishtailing when he stomped on the gas. “Man, the wipers can’t go fast enough to keep the window clear. What a downpour.” He picked up his phone again to make a call. After the conversation, he hung up. “It’s okay, Chloe’s going to get Destiny.” He blew out a big breath. “Mom will be to the hospital.”
“I am not going to be happy until someone calls for help.” Nora took hold of his arm again. “Jase, we have to find him.”
He pounded the steering wheel once with his other hand. “No, we, Nora. You aren’t doing anything except checking into that hospital.”
Nora didn’t argue. “I know.” She sat upright, holding her breath.
“Don’t hold your breath, breathe through it. Didn’t you take those classes?”
She hated to be so frustrated but this was out of her control. “Yes, but your brother has to help me. He took them with me for God’s sake. He won’t want to miss this.”
“Hey, maybe he’ll be at the hospital. Where’s your phone?”
She frantically searched through her purse. “I don’t know. Dammit, my phone is missing. What if he calls?”
“Calm yourself down. Crimminy, Nora!” Jase blew out a big breath. “I’m sorry.”
Tears rolled down her face again and she clenched the seatbelt strap to get it off her chest. “We’re almost there, right? This is really beginning to hurt.” She took some big breaths in and out. “I mean, really beginning to hurt.”
“Look, the hospital is right ahead. We made it. You’ll be okay.” Turning into the parking lot, he pulled up to the emergency room door. “Too many damn memories in this place, eh. Good and bad.”
“Promise me you’ll find him.” Deep breath, deep breath. Breathe. “This will have a happy ending, right?” She clenched his shirt sleeve when he attempted to get out. “Jase, promise me.”
“Okay, I promise.” He hurried around to her side. “I’ll get a wheelchair, stay where you are.”
“My doctor isn’t at this hospital.” Nora opened the door and stepped out.
“Girl, don’t you ever listen?”
She wrapped her hands around her belly but stayed right there until Jase returned with the wheelchair. “Come on. I’m sorry, but—”
“I know,” she said, squeezing her eyes closed to get through another pain. “I thought first babies didn’t come very fast. This one is, I’m sure.”
Jase wheeled her up to the desk. “You better get your insurance info out.”
“I will, but you go find my husband.” She pierced him with a tearful stare and lowered her voice. “Please, Jase.”
Jase gave her insurance cards to the lady behind the desk. “Nora, my mom should be here any minute.”
“Find. Tristan.” Her jaw clenched. “He should be here.”
; “Trust me, I know that. I need him here.” He glanced at the lady behind the desk when she asked him more information. “Sir, you’ll have to move your truck. We’ll take care of your wife.”
“No, wait, I’m not her husband. I’m her brother-in-law. Her husband will be along soon. My mom is on her way.”
Judy rushed in the door at that moment. “Oh, dear Lord, I made it in time.” She placed her hand on Nora’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay, honey.”
She grabbed Judy’s hand. “Have you heard from Tristan?”
“No, dear, I’m afraid not.”
A young girl came through the double doors. “We’re taking Mrs. Carlson back now, and someone will let you know when you can come back.”
“Judy, please, someone has to find him.” I’m beginning to sound like a recording.
“Nora, I’m on my way out now,” Jase said. “Hey, good luck.” He turned to Judy. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll find him.”
“Oh, son, be careful out there. It’s getting bad.”
“I will.” He headed toward the door, but Nora glanced over her shoulder. “Jase?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Next time I see you, you’ll be a mama.” He nodded and went out the door.
Chapter 12
Roark didn’t spook easily, but that last bolt of lightning and clap of thunder did him in. His horse had reared up, catching Tristan off guard. He let go of the filly’s rope as soon as his body left the horse, or both horses might’ve been dragged down with him. Hitting the ground at full force against his left elbow, the jolt of pain shot all the way to his shoulder. He rolled down and now rested near the edge. Closing his eyes a moment, he blew out a breath, not sure if he could move. “Son of a…bitch.” This ain’t good.
Tristan lay on his back, holding his hand over his eyes shielding them from the rain. He tried to get his bearings. Figure out exactly where he was. Which trailhead he had last turned off to get to this one. If he remembered right it was the JF Trail.
When he tried to move, he yelled out in pain. “Aacckk!” What the hell? A sharp pain in his shoulder blade shot through his whole back. He bent his knee. It ached, but he didn’t have a problem moving it. Must’ve twisted when I fell. “Dammit.” Tristan shook his head to clear it. Leaning on one elbow, he grimaced and clenched his teeth. He held his left arm tight against his body, so he could sit up.
Rain pelted down on him. The area where he sat, quickly turned to mud around him. “How long before this muddy mess starts to slide?” Surveying the area, he searched for a stump or tree branches to support his body, to lean against since he was so close to the edge. Nothing. Water washed over the side above him like an out of control faucet. He whistled for Roark, hoping he found cover, and had no idea what became of the filly. His phone was in his right pocket. He removed it, knowing damn well he was in a dead zone on the mountain.
Roark stood at the top of the cliff. Yeah, whinny now. “Hell, a lot of good that does me, boy.” The filly came up beside him, closer to the edge than he cared to think about. At least they had stayed together. Both appeared to be okay. “Go back, Roark,” he yelled. “Back.” The horse took a couple steps back, bobbed his head, and so did the filly. “Go on, go!” Roark took off, the filly following shortly after. I hope you two make it. “Sonofabitching rotten situation!” He looked around for his hat, but it was long gone.
He weighed his predicament. “Nope, nothing good about this.” The ranch hands would be looking for him, at least he hoped like hell they would be. How long would they wait? He had to get up that hill. Even if they rode by, they wouldn’t find him down here. Fat chance of them going past this hill. Tracks would be washed away long ago. He had two options. Wait or go. As fast as water gushed over the hill, the mud getting deeper and slicker, waiting wasn’t much of an option. He had to get his arm braced before attempting to rescue himself.
Tristan struggled to stand but kept slipping in the mud. “Crimminy, I’ll send myself over the side if I’m not careful.” He stretched his neck to take a look over the side. “Shit!”
Once on his feet, he removed his belt, using it as a sling, slipping his arm through to keep it bent while against his body at the same time. He surveyed the hill. Rocks, too big to grab a hold of for leverage, wouldn’t work on a good day. A mud track is what faced him on the hill. Rocks could very well wash out with enough force.
If he could get high enough, he’d call Roark back. Maybe, just maybe he’d be lucky enough to grab the reins if they dangled low. In a way, he hoped the reins weren’t dangling for fear of his horse tripping and stumbling—him breaking a leg. So much for that stupid idea.
By now, Nora would be worried, expecting him home hours ago. He had expected to drive the trailer to the first trailhead. Ride Roark along the trail where he saw the filly’s tracks. Grab her and bring her back. Then the storm hit, changing everything in an instant. If his phone worked, he’d call search and rescue. It’d be hard for anyone else to find him. What a damn mess.
He took the first step up, using one arm to pull himself. An aching leg thankfully helped some. Glancing over the edge again, he shook his head. “This won’t be pretty if it goes south.” Lucky to have landed on the first flat, otherwise, he wouldn’t be here figuring this out. The next level was a long way down, causing him to shiver thinking about it.
The filly getting out of the corral just pissed him off. He scanned the area above him, and climbed through shoulder pain to the first rock. Rain eased up a bit. From the first rock, he stretched his six-foot-one inch body, another two inches, touched the next rock, and used his good leg to shove himself up farther.
Sliding his hand over the top of the rock, it was too slippery to grip. When he took another push up, a new pain shot all the way up his hip. Now what the hell is wrong? Higher up, land began to shift and crumble. Tristan glanced upward as the large section of earth above him gave way. Holy fucking crap…
***
Nora had been at the hospital for five hours, pains almost constant, but the baby wouldn’t get into position. Judy mopped sweat from her face with a washcloth. “Thank you, Judy,” she gulped out, preparing for another contraction. She leaned forward, squeezing the side rails on the bed in the process. When it was over she moved back to her side, relaxing until the next one. Tears streamed down her face. Through a clenched jaw, she said, “I need Tristan, Judy.”
Her blood pressure was high. The doctors were concerned about her rising temperature, too. The baby’s heartbeat slowed and instead of going back up after a contraction, dropped dangerously low. After another hard contraction, Nora opened her eyes. Two doctors stood near the bed.
“Can you do something?”
The obstetrician spoke. “If I don’t see an improvement in you, or in the baby in the next five minutes, I’m doing a caesarean delivery. There’s no improvement with you lying on your side. I’d like to avoid a critical situation now. Your blood pressure is going up. Our concern is with the baby’s slow heart rate. Your baby hasn’t moved from the breech position. Nora, we’ve not been able to turn it. This is putting a lot of additional distress on the fetus.”
He came around the bed and checked the fetal monitor readings. “These are concerning, Nora. There is no time to wait. It will be in the best interest of both of you to get you into the operating room now.” He perused his chart. “With the complications you had earlier with your accident, and these readings, I’m planning on that caesarean delivery, so please prepare yourself.”
“Do what is best for my baby.” She clenched her mother-in-law’s hand. “Judy.”
The doctor examined her when she went through another contraction. He nodded to the nurse. “We’ll get you into surgery right now.”
“My husband isn’t here.” Her body was drenched in sweat and she was so drained of energy. Where was he? Why didn’t they find him yet? “Do what you have to do to save our baby.”
The doctor wrote instructions on
the chart while a nurse came in to give her a shot. She didn’t even ask what, and at this point didn’t care. She wanted the pain to stop both physically and mentally. She released Judy’s hand and wiped the tears from her face.
“It’s going to be okay, Nora,” said Judy. The concern on her face said the opposite.
What would she do without Tristan? The love of her life. The man she fell in love with at almost first sight. Tristan, I can’t do this without you. His words, ‘I’ll always be with you, Nora,’ rang through her brain. The vision of his face lingered in her mind. She wept as they took her into the operating room. Everything below her chest was numb. She just wanted to have the baby now. Hold a part of him in her arms.
She had a bad feeling. Once the pain stopped, her mind was free to focus on the reality. Their baby was in distress—being delivered without him. She began to panic. Maybe he never would be. Her body became relaxed and she paid no attention to what they were doing to her. Saving her baby was all she wanted to think about.
Tears squeezed out of her closed eyes until a warm hand took hold of hers. When she opened her eyes, around her doctors prepared to deliver their baby—instruments, sterile sheets, and bright lights. The doctor sitting at her side in full protective gear, holding her hand, glanced at her face. His eyes smiled softly. Her eyes widened. No one else had eyes like that! No one except her husband. Those blue and green eyes stared back at her. “Tristan, oh, thank God.” She squeezed his hand as tightly as she could.
He squeezed back. “Ya know I couldn’t miss this, sweetheart.” He wiped away tears from her cheeks. “Everything’s okay. We’re about to have our baby.”
Nora glimpsed the love in his eyes and hers flooded with tears. “You’re alive,” she said. “Oh, dear God, I love you.” Don’t let me be dreaming.
He nodded, whispering, “I love you too, little mama.” But their gaze was broken and they both looked up at the sound of a baby’s gurgle, then cries filled the room.
Tristan's Destiny, Bonus Book #1.5 Page 16
