Page 112 of Samuel

“Can you turn up the air, Hank?”

“Yeah. It’s as cold as it can be. You let me know if it gets to be too much.”

Evie’s head lifted from his shoulder. “I don’t want anything to happen to Jellybean.”

“Nothing is going to happen to her. She’s safe inside your belly right now. It’s all going to be okay. Isn’t that right, kiddo?” Sam’s hand gently roamed across her bump. Fuck, he wished the baby would kick. His throat was painfully tight, trying to swallow down the panic bubbling up through his tight chest.

“I was so hot, Sam. He tied me and I couldn’t get the rope undone. And I just kept thinking about how hot it was, and how I was going to pass out and not be able to protect her.”

“Shh. You did great, Bluebell. Let’s try and take another drink. The paramedics will get you on an IV and they’ll be able to tell us everything’s okay.”

Before he could lift the bottle to her lips, she jolted. “Oh, God. Sam. Your sister! Is Abby okay?”

He nodded, pressing the bottle to her lips. “She’s fine, I promise. She was a mess about not being able to stop you from beingtaken.”

“It wasn’t her fault!”

“Shh. Try not to get worked up. Let’s just focus on getting you and Jellybean checked out.”

Thirty

Evie stood next to her bed, listening to the sound of water running in the bathroom. Jellybean had gotten the full workup at the hospital, and they were cleared to leave as soon as she finished the IV feeding fluids back into her. She’d suffered from mild dehydration and a touch of heat stress. Sam insisted the entire ride back to the ranch that she go right to bed, but Evie felt dirty. She wouldn’t be able to rest until she took a shower.

The humid heat of the shower now billowed out into the bedroom, calling to her. But all Evie could concentrate on was the pain low in her belly. She hunched over, her hands pressing into the bed and wrapping around the quilt to try to ground herself. She hadn’t realized Sam was back in the room until she felt his hand run along the length of her back.

“I think we need to go back to town.”

“No,” she moaned. “You heard what Dr. Hayes said. I’m probably going to be a little sore and crampy for the next few days. It’s nothing to worry about unless things pick up.”

“I don’t think this is what he was talking about. You’re inpain. I knew we should have stayed at least overnight to make sure everything was okay.”

She didn’t even say a word that time, just shaking her head back and forth. Finally, the squeezing subsided, and she sat down on the edge of the bed, running her hand along her belly.

“Calm down, Cowboy. This baby is just being dramatic. She must have not liked having to let that pretty paramedic check you out before we went to the hospital.”

Sam leaned in and kissed her. Then he dropped to his knees, right between her legs, and kissed her belly.

“Hey kiddo, I’m sorry I made you,” he looked up at Evie, “and your mama worry.”

His gaze dropped back down to her belly. “I promise I’ll do everything in my power not to do it again. But you have to do something for me, okay? I need you to settle down so I can get your mama cleaned up and resting. Be a good girl for your dad, okay?”

Evie sucked in a sharp breath.Your dad.Warm tears pricked at her eyes.

“Did I overstep?” he asked, his blue eyes filled with concern.

“No,” she whispered. “I love hearing you say that.”

“The only thing I want in this world is to have my two girls by my side forever. I love you Evie, and I love Jellybean.”

More tears fell from her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said?—”

“No, god, no, Sam. You’re so perfect. I never thought I’d have this. I never thought Jellybean would have a dad. It was always just going to be the two of us, and I was okay with that. Truly, I was. But you came along and showed me I didn’t always have to be so strong. I love you so much, Sam. My heart hurts right now, but in the best way. Like it can’t believe you’re real, and you are choosing us.”

Sam smiled and kissed her cheek.

“I choose you now.” Another kiss to her collarbone had her gasping as her skin caught fire. He held out his hand, pulling her up from the bed. “I’ll choose you tomorrow.” His fingers danced on her thigh as he captured the hem of her shirt, lifting it over her head. “I’ll choose you always.”

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