But this wasnt going to be as easy as a phone call.
Gabe isnt here. He had to go out of town on business. He must have gotten caught in the evac traffic. He was driving back through Dallas to get my mom to come help watch the kids when the baby comes. A shout for Mom! and a stampede of little feet crescendoed in the background. A rustling sound muffled Lilys stern warning.
Aaron! Quit chasing Seth. If you want to run around, go outside.
But its raining.
Its warm enough. Go get wet.
A chorus of woo-hoos and various dibs were punctuated by the slamming of a door. Lilys home echoed with an ominous silence.
Jolene frowned at what that silence meant. Are you there by yourself?
Just me and the boys. Lilys oldest was only going into the third grade. Not much help there. Rocky got out through a downed fence, so I sent Deacon to retrieve him in case the storm blows this way.
The Brownings live-in ranch hand had a hard enough time corraling their stubborn Santa Gertrudis bull when the weather was nice. Rocky had no concept of the phrase, when the cows come home, and seemed to think fences and ropes and rules were for inferior beings like heifers and cowboys. Add rain, mud and a possible hurricane to complicate things, and Rocky would probably keep Deacon away from the house for the rest of the day.
Jolene turned around, trying to get her fathers attention. But he was pointing to a county map on the wall and had his back to her.
How far apart are your contractions? she asked, drumming her fingers against the glass window. Adrenaline poured into her veins, charging her body with a restless energy.
Im not sure. Fifteen minutes, maybe.
Jolene hadnt gotten her fathers attention, but she was suddenly aware of someone elses probing stare focused on her. Her breath caught in her chest as she met Nate Kellisons golden brown gaze. His expression could be curiosity, could be concern. Could be contempt, for all she knew. Whatever it was, he seemed to look straight beyond any physical barriers and read what was in her mind and heart.
Her cheeks and other parts of her anatomy suffused with a heat that wasnt entirely due to self-conscious awareness. Her response was completely unexpected and too damn distracting to deal with at the moment. Needing to concentrate, Jolene quickly turned and showed him her backside.
Do you have a watch, Lily? Jolene fought to stay focused on the call. You need to be sure.
Hell. If she could read a mans moods, maybe shed have found one of her own and fallen in love by now instead of ruling southeast Texas as every mans best buddy or kid sister. Joaquin didnt count. Shed been able to read her husband like a book. Of course, thered never been any real passion between them to muddy up her perception, either.
Not that she was feeling passion toward Nate Kellison. No, sir. That tingling sense of hyper-awareness could be attributed to any number of things.
Like annoyance. Irritation.
Fascination. He was wounded, after all.
Oh, hell.
Fortunately, her personal life wasnt the issue right now. Ignoring the sensation of whiskey-brown eyes searing holes into her back, she went through the mental checklist of questions she should ask in this type of emergency. Did your water break?
No. But after three kids, I know a contraction when I feel one. Lily exhaled a deep, stuttering breath. For the first time, Jolene heard the hint of fear in her friends voice. The babys coming early. And I think shes coming fast.
Jolene checked her watch. Eight-fifteen. The Rock-a-Bye Ranch was a good twenty to thirty minute drive from town. What do you mean by fast? You know that labors tend to be shorter with successive pregnancies.
I guess I mean unexpected. This hit me all of the sudden this morning while I was fixing breakfast. Just before the rain started. With the boys, I had a real urge to cook and clean two or three days before they were born. But not this time. I havent got a single casserole in the freezer, and this place is a mess. Lily tried to sound hopeful, while Jolenes concern mounted. That means shes a girl, right?
Because the nesting instinct hadnt kicked in yet? Um, I cant tell you that, Lily. What about the radio? Can you call Deacon back to the house to drive you in?
That old coot? Deacon keeps the radio turned off because he says it spooks his horse. Unless he calls in again, I wont hear
A low-pitched moan. Another contraction. Jolene checked her watch and her notes and heaved a worried sigh. Ho, boy.
Lilys fifteen minutes plus the five theyd been talking made her contractions just twenty minutes apart.
This just feels different, Jolene. Lily was practicing her Lamaze breathing again. You know how badly Gabe and I want a girl. Wed be happy with another boy, too. I just want him or her to be healthy. But to be honest, Im a little worried. The timing feels off.
Off was not good. Alone at the ranch, twenty minutes from the nearest help, was definitely not good.
Jolene started to pace. Lily, put your boys in the car and come into town. Especially if you think somethings wrong. Weve got staff on hand at the fire station who can monitor the babys progress and help deliver her.
Im not sure thats a good idea. Deacons last transmission was from down by the highway. He said the traffics already lining up into town, that Sheriff Boones out there trying to make sense of things and get the cars moving. What if we get stuck?
Take the backroads, then. You know the way.
I guess I could do that.
Jolenes own stomach constricted in sympathy as Lily caught a sharp breath. Lily?
Dont worry. That wasnt a contraction. A pain that wasnt a contraction was supposed to reassure her? Maybe we could get there before the rains make a mess of those old gravel roads. Lily covered up the phone and hollered, Boys!
A sudden image of Lilys old station wagon, mired axle-deep in the mud, flashed through Jolenes mind. Gabe had no doubt taken their newer, more reliable vehicle to Dallas to pick up Lilys mother. Three boystwo, five and eightbuckled into a rattletrap car, their pregnant mother in labor in the front seat. Rains and wind and flooding on the way, maybe even the hurricane itself.
Not good at all.
Decision made, Jolene stopped in her tracks, her resolve as determined as her posture. On second thought, stay put. Im coming to you.
Was that audible sigh one of relief?
Jolene quickly scratched a note for her father. You sit tight, Lily. Make yourself as comfortable as you can and give the boys something to keep them busy. Ill grab a med kit and head on out to the Rock-A-Bye right now.
Are you sure?
Hey. This is what I do. Were neighbors. Were friends. I know somethin about birthin babies and Im on my way.
Lily laughed at the dubious reference to Gone with the Wind. Okay. Thanks.
Hey, now dont you go chasing any cattle yourself, okay?
Promise. Well sit tight until you get here.
Jolene hung up the phone, tore off the note and hurried out of the office. With her father in the middle of outlining the countys layout and evacuation routes, and everyone listening with dutiful attention, Jolene dashed across the back of the room to the supply shelves.