Page 64 of The Wayward Son

“Now you’re making it sound weird.”

“Just go. You didn’t get much sleep last night.”

He nodded. “Good night, Skittles.”

“Good night, Doc Holiday.”

Sawyer was tired, and it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. But when someone shook him and whispered, “Sawyer,” he startled awake. Jake was leaning over him.

“Dad?”

“Sorry to wake you. But I need to take Ember into town. She’s in labor. Or at least we think she’s in labor. I called Dr. Curtis, and he said to bring her in.”

“Shit.” Sawyer sat up. “What do you need me to do?”

“The snow’s about ten inches deep on the driveway. I need you to drive us to the truck with the plow.”

“Sure. I’ll get dressed.”

Jake left and Sawyer quickly got dressed. When he went into the living room. Jake was standing with Ember by the door, and Jade was standing by the couch, fully dressed. She looked at Sawyer.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“You should stay here in the warm house.”

“What if you have to plow them all the way to town?”

He cocked his head. “Do you want to come?”

She nodded and looked at Jake and Ember. “Is it okay?”

Ember nodded. “Yes. Just make up your minds.”

“Sorry. I’m coming.”

Ember rubbed her stomach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“It’s fine. Goodness sakes, you’re having a baby. Snap all you want.”

Jade and Sawyer put on coats and stocking caps. Then he looked at Jake. “I’ll go bring the truck up to the porch.”

“Thanks, son.”

They left the house and trudged through the ten inches of snow. The old truck had a jump seat behind the bench seat, and Jade crawled into it. Sawyer started the truck, then looked back at her.

“Comfy?”

“Just go get poor Ember.”

He drove to the house with the blade down, then stopped as close to the porch as he could. Jake and Ember came out, then Jake picked her up and carried her to the truck. She sat in the seat next to Sawyer, with Jake on the outside.

“Turn that heater on, son.”

Sawyer turned it on and a blast of cold air came out. He turned it down and moved the vents so they wouldn’t blow directly onto Ember until the air warmed up. Then he drove slowly down the drive, clearing the snow as he went. Moving ten inches was a lot easier and quicker than the two feet they’d plowed yesterday, and they got to the road and the parked truck in less than ten minutes.

When they got there, they discovered the road hadn’t been plowed for a while and had a thick layer of snow on it.

Jake looked at Sawyer. “Do you mind driving in front of us and clearing the way? My truck might be fine. But I don’t want to take any chances.”

---