Page 111 of Samuel

He finally broke through the knot and threw the rope around down into the dirt. His hands slipped up to cup her face.

“That’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” His head nodded frantically. “Tell me you’re okay now. Tell me Jellybean is moving, making you absolutely miserable. Tell me I can haul you into my arms and never let you go.”

“Please.”

Sam pulled the water bottle out of his back pocket and rolled so his ass hit the dirt right next to Evie before he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap. He laid his hand over her belly, waiting for the baby to move.

She buried her face into his shirt and laid still against him. Her ankles were still tied together, but he couldn’t let her go to tend to them.

“We need help over here! Get an ambulance!” Sam yelled to the deputies approaching. “Evie, I need you to try and take a drink of water for me. You feel hot, baby.”

Her face lifted and he worked the cap free from the bottle, bringing it up to her lips where she took greedy gulps. So much could have gone wrong. What if he hadn’t found her in time? What if she’d gone into labor?

Wait. How did he know she wasn’t having contractions? Dehydration could cause them… and she hadn’t answered him about being in pain. Fuck!

He set the bottle on the ground the second she was done and set to work unbuttoning her shirt. He needed to get the layers off of her so she could cool down. Her back was soaked through with sweat, and something about feeling that sent him into a rage.

Sam should have ended Garrett. That bastard almost took away his girls.

He’d almost lost his family.

“Sam.” Evie’s hand landed on his scruffy cheek, soft pressure urging him to look down at her.

“What?” he asked, his lungs working overtime to draw in some air. Christ, the tightness in his chest was getting worse.

“Cowboy, you’re shaking. You need to breathe. You got to us. We’re okay. Now we need you to be, too.”

“I don’t know how…”

“Remember what you told me. Slow your breathingdown.” Evie pulled on the arm tucked around her back and brought his hand up to her chest. He could instantly feel her heart beating under his palm.

“My heart is right there, Sam. Beating only for you and this baby girl. Both your girls are right here. We’re okay. Now you have to make sure you’re okay for us too.”

“Christ,” Hank ran over to Sam. “The ambulance is ten minutes out. Just try to stay calm, Evie. How far are you away from your due date again?”

“Six weeks.” Sam answered before Evie. He shifted his hips so she rolled a little more onto her left side like the pregnancy book he’d read suggested for optimal blood flow to the baby.

“You’re going to need that ambulance more than me if you don’t calm down.” Evie gave him a weak smile, which he knew was meant to release him from his worry, but it didn’t. Nothing would until she was safe in the hospital and her doctor said that she and Jellybean were going to be okay.

“Let’s get you guys loaded up into the truck. We’ll meet the ambulance. It’ll be faster.” Hank reached out to take Evie from Sam. His response was instant. A growl started low in his chest and his hand tightened around her.

“Right.” Hank put his hands back at his waist. “You good to get up or you want me to spot you for a minute?”

“Sam, don’t be silly.”

“He’s right, Evie. You just relax, we’ll figure this out.” Hank nodded, shocking Sam.

“Spot me. But she’s staying in my fucking arms until we know everything is okay or the paramedics tell me I have to let go.”

Evie’s smile pulled wider across her still too-flushed-for-his-liking face.

“Have you felt the baby move?” he whispered as Hank grabbed his elbow and helped him to his feet.

“Not for a while. I think she fell asleep.” She shook herhead and pressed it into his chest. “He covered my head before he brought me here. I didn’t know how to get back. I’m sorry, Sam. I tried to get my legs untied, but couldn't get through the knot. And then it was just so hot that I laid on my side and waited.”

“You did the right thing, Evie. I promise. You did the right thing and I’m so proud of you for keeping yourself safe.”

The walk to Hank’s truck felt like time was standing still. He just wanted someone to tell him everything was going to be okay. Evie grimaced as he set her into the back seat, moving over so that he could fit beside her. Once he was inside, Sam scooped her back up and cradled her on his lap.

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