Page 129 of Samuel

“Sam! You scared me.” He watched her hand fly over her heart. “Maybe don’t do that again unless you want to help deliver Jellybean here.”

“What do you mean? Are you in pain?” Sam could feel the color draining from his face, but if she was having contractions, he needed to get her into the town, and fast.

“No, no. But that panicked look on your face is a sweet payback for scaring me.”

“Jesus, Evie.”

“My back hurts, that’s all. I promise.”

He nodded, but wasn’t convinced. Walking behind her, he placed his hands beneath her belly and laced his fingers together.

“What are you do—” He lifted the weight of her belly and smiled as she moaned in relief. “Oh. How did you know that would feel so good?”

“I watched a couple of videos about massage during pregnancy the other night after I read to Jellybean. One of them showed a few positions that might help relieve back pain, and this one seemed to be a favorite of all the moms-to-be in the comment section.”

“You… you hate going online.”

“Yeah, but you’re worth it.”

“Please tell me you are going to show me what else you learned tonight?”

Maybe he shouldn’t be going out. Hadn’t he read something about storms bringing on labor? What if he was gone and something happened?

“I have to head out to the south field. There’s a break in the fence and I’m worried some of the cattle could get through if they get spooked by the storm. But I don’t want to leave you if you think you’re going to have more contractions.”

Her hand patted his chest. “I’m fine, Cowboy. I promise. How bad is the storm supposed to be?”

He didn’t miss the way she nibbled her lip.

“Just a thunderstorm, sweetheart. Nothing to worry about.”

“I don’t want you out in it. Will you be back before it starts?”

“I’m going to try like hell to be. I want you to head up to the house, though. No sense in you being stuck in the barn once the rain starts. You can just put your feet up and relax for a bit with Mom.”

“I guess I could take some of these records up to the house to look over. Sebastian and Emma stopped by while you were busy this morning. He’s already gotten a few drilling proposals for us to look over. I know you aren’t sure you want to drill right now, but we can at least look them over. That way?—”

“No. Go up to the house and rest. Dr. Hayes said you have to limit stress. I expect to find you with your feet up eating bonbons when I get back.”

“I don’t like bonbons,” she laughed. “But I wouldn’t say no to your mom’s lemon cake.”

“I’m sure she’d be happy to make it.”

“I don’t want to be a pain. I’ll already be interrupting her day, forcing her to babysit me.”

“Nothing can happen to you or the baby, Bluebell. I won’t be able to focus on work if I’m worrying about you.”

“As long as you get back to us before the storm starts, we’ll be just fine.”

Sam pressed his head to Evie’s. “No working while up at the house. Just spend some time with my mom. Relax. And make sure you eat something.”

“Sure thing, Cowboy. Actually, forget the lemon cake. Do you think Sylvie has celery? I could go for some dipped in chocolate with flaky salt ontop.”

He shook his head as his stomach quivered, watching Evie’s body waddle away from him with a sweet laugh on her lips.

“There’s still the section twenty feet down we need to get sealed up.” Zeke protested as Sam waved him off.

“And that calf needs to go up to the barn so we can make sure they aren’t sick. I rode Jasper out here for a reason. Take the truck back with the calf and call the vet. I’ll finish up here and head back on Jasper when I’m done.”

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