by R. C. Ryan
Her gaze fell on Colin, whose own eyes were moist. They shared a tender look before Anita said to the young couple, “In case you were a little too preoccupied to notice, it’s twelve-oh-five. Your little Jesse is a Christmas baby.”
In an instant, the pain and fear were forgotten as Scott and Carly slipped into the very private world of new parenthood, huddling over this beautiful new creature they’d helped create, crying together, then laughing through their tears as they cooed and cuddled.
Anita went about the work of finalizing the delivery, cleaning up the mother, and disposing of the soiled linens.
With Carly tucked up beneath a warming blanket, Anita reached for baby Jesse. “I’ll weigh him, clean him up, and bring him right back. Promise,” she added when she saw their looks of alarm. “Jesse and I will only be a few minutes.”
Scott clutched Carly’s hand. “You’re shaking. You warm enough?”
“I am now, thanks to this blanket Dr. Cross put over me.” She held out a corner. “Feel it. It’s heated.”
“That’s good.” He brushed tear-damp hair from her eyes. “You were amazing.”
“So were you. I couldn’t have done it without you, Scott.”
The two stared into each other’s eyes.
Carly was the first to look away. “I wish my mom could have been here.”
“Yeah. Mine too.”
Colin stood to one side, feeling like a voyeur. “I’ll leave now. You two deserve some alone time.”
Scott turned. “No. Stay.” He stuck out his hand. “Thanks for being here. I could feel your hand on my shoulder. It felt good. Like my dad’s.”
Colin accepted his handshake. “You two were great.” He paused before asking, “You plan on phoning your folks as soon as we get service?”
Scott shook his head. “There’s no reason to contact them. They’ll never forgive us for this.”
“Never is a pretty strong word.”
The boy took Carly’s hands in his. “Our folks got together and had a family meeting. They agreed that the best thing for everyone was to give up our baby for adoption and finish school. They said if we wanted to get married after we finish college, they would give us their blessing.”
Colin saw the way Carly’s eyes filled with tears. “Did they include you in this family meeting?”
The two nodded.
“Did you tell them what you wanted?”
Scott cleared his throat. “We tried. They weren’t hearing us. They said two kids our age don’t really know what love is and that they were just sparing us a lot of pain and heartache.”
“That’s what good parents try to do, son. They figure they’ve lived long enough to know all the pitfalls, and it’s their job to save their kids from falling into them.”
“Yes, sir.” Scott’s voice lowered with feeling. “But Carly and I know what we’re feeling is real. We’ll do whatever it takes to stay together and keep our baby. You saw him. Jesse is ours. Nobody has the right to take him away from us. As soon as this storm blows over, we’ll be heading out as planned.”
“I guess if you think it’s best for the two of you, you have the right to follow your hearts.”
The two young people looked up at him with surprise. “You agree with us?”
Colin chose his words carefully. “It’s not a matter for me to agree or disagree. I’ve got no stake in this. It’s up to the people involved, and the two of you more than anyone. Some people in this world just seem to know, from a very early age, that they’re right for each other. I don’t believe anybody can tell us what we’re feeling.”
Scott looked at Carly while saying to Colin, “You’re the first adult to say that.”
Colin cleared his throat. “I had an older brother, Patrick. He was my hero. The only thing I ever wanted was to be like him. Patrick married the love of his life, Bernadette, when they were both just seventeen. You two remind me of them.”
Scott looked intrigued. “Did their parents object?”
Colin chuckled. “At first. Like all parents, they didn’t want to see their children hurt. But when my brother let them know that he was going to marry his Bernie with or without their permission, they did what they could to make it work. Pat and Bernie lived with our family on our ranch and had three boys—Matt, Luke, and Reed. Through the years, every time my brother and his wife looked at each other, everyone could see the love in their eyes for each other and for their three sons.”
Carly sounded doubtful. “What about Bernadette’s parents? How did they feel?”
“As you can imagine, they weren’t happy to not only lose their daughter to a brash rancher but to also have her move in with his family. After the birth of their first son, though, her parents fell in love with their first grandson and with their daughter’s husband. They came to love Pat as much as Bernie did.”
Scott exchanged a hopeful smile with Carly. “Are they still happily married?”
Colin had to swallow twice. “They’re…dead.”
At Colin’s words, the two young people fell silent.
It was Scott who finally asked, “How did they…die?”
Colin cleared his throat before he could continue. “They were celebrating their thirteenth anniversary right here in town. In honor of the event, my grandfather had loaned them his fancy Rolls-Royce, a car he’d never allowed anyone to drive. It was a snowy night, much like this one, and on the way home they went off the road and hit a tree. They both died at the scene.”
Carly put a hand to her throat. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, Carly. It was a terrible loss for our family. Their three young sons lost devoted parents. My folks and grandfather lost their firstborn. I lost my hero.” His tone lowered. Softened. “But think about this. Even though they died young, they’d managed to live a rich, full life. A life filled making so many happy memories. All because they bravely followed their hearts. Maybe, if they’d been persuaded not to marry, they wouldn’t have given us those three wonderful sons who’ve helped fill the hole in our hearts when their parents were taken too soon.”
His voice rose with passion. “So I suggest that as soon as there’s phone service after the storm, you two phone your parents. By now they must be worried sick. Tell them where you are and ask them to join you here so that, together, you can all deal with the here and now and whatever is to come.”
He winked at Carly. “I do believe, once they see that beautiful little grandson, their anger and fear may well be forgotten and overcome by a blazing love. You might very well see them have a true change of heart. It happens, you know. Especially when there’s a baby involved. Jessie isn’t just yours now. He belongs to them, too, in a very special way. I’ve watched my parents with their grandsons. They’ve been given a chance to relive those early days of parenthood, as well as the joys of being grandparents. It’s a really special bond. One you shouldn’t deny your own parents.”
The two young people fell silent just as Anita stepped into the room. From the flush on her cheeks and the hitch in her voice, it was obvious that she’d overheard Colin’s impassioned speech.
“Here we are. Just as I promised. Jesse weighed in at six pounds even.” She smiled at Carly. “You may have miscalculated the due date, or he may have decided to come a bit early. Either way, he’s perfectly healthy in every way.”
She set the swaddled baby in a bassinet beside Carly’s bed before indicating a recliner across the room. “Scott, if you’d roll that here beside Carly, I’ll place Jesse’s bassinet between the two of you. I think you should try to catch a little rest. This day has been quite an adventure for you both. A wild ride through a storm. A trip on a toboggan. And now a beautiful new life that’s in your care.”
After setting them up so they were as close as possible, she handed a control to Carly. “If you need anything at all, just press this.”
The two new parents seemed not to hear her as they gratefully snuggled under the warm blankets and turned toward each other, hea
ds bent to the tiny bundle in the clear bassinette.
With a smile, Anita signaled for Colin to follow her from the room.
“I think, after all they’ve been through, they’ll sleep now.”
She paused at a door marked STAFF and opened it to reveal a simple sitting room with several leather chairs and a cot in one corner. There was a sink and several cabinets, as well as a refrigerator and a coffeemaker.
As she started in, Colin placed a hand on her shoulder. “What you did back there…” He shook his head. “It left me speechless. You were amazing. In the midst of all that storm of pain and fear and confusion, you were so calm. So professional.”
She gave him a gentle smile. “That’s what I’m trained to be.”
“Maybe. But I found it incredibly sexy to watch the way you calmly took charge. Each time they started to panic, you knew exactly what to say to bring them back from the edge. Despite all that was happening, you led them forward without a pause.”
She arched a brow. “If you think that was sexy, remind me to invite you to my next surgery.”
He chuckled. “No thanks. I’ll just leave that to my imagination.”
She closed a hand over his. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I overheard what you told those two. I’m so sorry, Colin. I had no idea you lost your brother and his wife.”
“It was a long time ago, but in truth, the loss still haunts our family.”
“I can tell. Sharing it with Scott and Carly was extremely generous of you. Standing there, listening to you, I couldn’t help hearing the emotion in your voice. Seeing a man open his heart to strangers is also”—she sighed—“incredibly sexy.”
He arched a brow, unable to hide his surprise at her admission.
She put a hand on his arm. “I think your honesty may be the one thing that could persuade those two sweet young people to contact their families.”
He absorbed the heat of her touch, enjoying the way it charged through his system. “I hope they do. They’re going to need all the love and support they can get.”
She nodded.
As she started to turn away, he leaned close to whisper, “I think we were speaking of sexy…” He lifted a hand to her hair and gathered her close before glancing at the cot across the room.
Seeing the direction of his gaze, she burst into laughter, even while she shivered at his touch. “Your timing couldn’t be worse. In case you’ve forgotten, you walked miles through a blizzard and I’ve just come through a storm of sorts myself. Why don’t we see if there’s anything to eat in this fridge and treat ourselves to a Christmas meal before we think about”—she shrugged—“anything else.”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you? The only thing I’m hungry for is you.” His smile slowly returned. “I guess I could be persuaded to eat something. Especially since it will fuel us for”—he mimicked her shrug—“anything else.”
Still laughing, she crossed the room and opened the small refrigerator before turning with a teasing look. “I do like the way you think, cowboy. Food first. And then, hopefully, a little time all to ourselves to indulge…other hungers.”
Chapter Seven
There’s a plate of cheese and some tuna salad.” Anita turned from the fridge. “My uncle’s favorite snack. Also a longneck he stashed behind the jar of mayo.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“There’s bread up there.” She pointed to a cupboard. “And plates and mugs up here.”
He reached over her head at the same moment she turned.
Their faces were mere inches apart, and Colin nearly bobbled the plates in his hand. The need to touch his lips to hers had him sweating.
He stepped back and carefully set the dishes on the small table, cursing his bad timing and wishing for a replay of the moment. He’d gladly sacrifice a few plates for a chance to kiss that tempting mouth.
With a wicked smile he muttered, “Can I get a do-over?”
She arched a brow.
“That missed opportunity.” He gathered her close and covered her mouth with his, drawing out the kiss until they were both struggling for breath.
He drew a little away. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Anytime.” She drew in a deep draft of air. “Would you like another?”
Without a word, she lifted her face to his and he kissed her with a thoroughness that left them both trembling.
Anita was the first to step back. With a hand on her heart, she sent him a smoldering look. “If we’re not careful, we could starve to death.”
“It would never happen.” He caught her shoulders, running his hands up and down her arms. At her questioning look, he grinned. “All of a sudden, I believe in the old expression of living on love.”
“I believe in food first.”
“Spoilsport.” He released her.
They worked companionably together, spreading tuna salad on bread, cutting slices of cheese. Minutes later they sat across from each other, enjoying a snack while sharing her uncle’s longneck.
“I’m sorry you have to eat such plain food on Christmas. Uncle Leonard said your family’s meal would be a feast.”
“There’s no doubt of that. With Yancy in the kitchen, it’ll be fancy.” Colin sat back. “What were your holidays like in Boston?”
She smiled. “When my mother was alive, they were really special. She always cooked a turkey and made a special oyster stew for my father.”
“When did she die?”
“Just as I started college.”
“Was she a doctor?”
Anita shook her head. “She was a high school teacher. She always hoped I’d follow in her footsteps, but I’ve been drawn to medicine since I was a girl going with my father to his clinic.”
“You dad’s a doctor?” He paused before asking, “Why aren’t you working with him?”
“I always thought I would. But while I was doing my internship, he met someone and married again. They moved across the country to be closer to her family.”
Colin saw a hint of pain in her eyes. “You didn’t want to join them?”
“I didn’t really know what I wanted. While I was trying to figure out where I fit in, Uncle Leonard called to ask me if I would help him here in Montana, and I honestly felt he’d thrown me a lifeline. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew I had to give it a try.”
“And now that you’re here? Are you glad you came, or is a part of you wishing you’d stayed in the big city?”
Colin didn’t even realize he was holding his breath until she smiled. “I’m so glad I was given this choice. I love it here. I’m never going back.”
She glanced at his unfinished sandwich. “Is it that bad?”
He chuckled. “I guess I just forgot to eat. I’d rather listen to the sound of your voice. In truth, I can’t remember the last time a tuna sandwich tasted like heaven.”
“When did you last eat?”
He thought a minute. “This morning, or rather yesterday morning, up in the hills.”
“Oh, Colin.” Alarmed, she placed a hand over his. “Here you are, after walking miles in a blizzard, your last meal a day ago, and I never thought to offer you anything to eat until now. It’s a wonder you’re still standing.”
He went perfectly still, absorbing the thrill of her touch through his entire system. “I told you I believe in living on love.”
He gave her one of those famous Malloy smiles. “If I’d known you were going to fuss over me like this, I’d have told you sooner.”
“I have juice and cookies I keep in the cupboard for our patients. If you’d like—”
They both looked up at the sound of a buzzer.
Anita was on her feet in an instant. “That’s Carly.”
With a sigh, Colin pushed away from the table to follow her to the birthing room.
Scott and Carly were huddled around the bassinet, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Scott held up his cell phone. “I got service and decided to take your
advice and call my folks. They’re with Carly’s folks, driving together, on the road somewhere trying to find us. They’ve been out all night and were relieved to hear that we were all right.”
“Relieved is probably an understatement.” Anita’s smile was quick. “I’m glad you called them. Did you tell them about Jesse?”
Carly nodded. “Our moms were screaming in the background. Our dads said they’d try to make it to Glacier Ridge if the roads are passable.”
“That’s just grand. Now, how about some food?”
The two shrugged, more concerned with staring at their baby than with thinking about food.
A short time later, Anita and Colin brought in a tray bearing the last of the tuna sandwiches, along with cans of apple juice and several sugar cookies.
While Scott and Carly ate, Colin dug out his cell phone. Finding service, he phoned the ranch to report that he was safely in town at the clinic. He could hear the relief in his mother’s voice when she heard the news.
In a soft voice he added, “I know how you worry about snowy roads, Ma, but without service, there was no way to assure you until now. All’s well here, though. I guess I won’t be seeing you until morning.”
He disconnected and took hold of Anita’s hand, leading her toward the privacy of the staff lounge. Once inside, he drew her close.
“Now that the new parents are content and my family can relax knowing I’m safe, maybe the two of us can have some quiet time and really get acquainted…or something.”
She lifted her face to him with a smile of delight. “Now that sounds heavenly. Especially that ‘or something.’”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Wrapping his arms around her, he ran soft kisses over her upturned face, brushing his lips over the curve of her brow, the corner of her eye, before pausing to tug on her lobe.
She shivered as his mouth continued its exploration. With his tongue, he traced the outline of her lips before dipping lower, to the softness of her throat.
She trembled. “You’re teasing me.”
“I am. Is it working?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing.” With a sigh, she caught his face between her hands and pressed her mouth to his.
