Page 141 of Samuel

“Okay. My car is blocked in. You want me to go ahead and grab a ranch truck?”

Evie shook her head back and forth.

“Bluebell, don’t be stubborn. We need to get you to the hospital.”

“There’s time,” she groaned. “Help me walk back. Jake, I hate to ask, but can you drive us in?”

“I wasn’t going to let you guys take off without me. Keep making your way over while I grab some supplies out of my car.”

Jake must have seen Evie’s eyes go wide because he quickly added, “Just in case, guys. I have every faith we’ll make it to the hospital.”

“Should I carry you?” Sam asked as soon as Jake turned back for his car.

“No. I need to walk. My back is killing me.”

It took what felt like an eternity to get back across the road, although it was probably only ten minutes. They had to stop twice for Evie to ride out contractions, and Jake had caught up with them sometime during that second stop.

Finally, they made it back to the barn. Evie immediately bent over, panting through another contraction.

“Oh, God. I can’t… breathe…” Her belly was like a vice, squeezing until she felt like she’d split in two.

“Shit. Jake?”

Sam’s hand was rubbing her back, providing a little relief to the pain that felt like it could crush her at any moment.

“Yeah, looks like things are really cooking now. I’m going to tell you guys the options we have. We can get in the truck and start driving towards the hospital?—”

Sam spun around to face Jake. “Why is there another option? That sounds exactly like what we need to be doing!”

“Sam,” she hissed, reaching out for him. “Slow dance. Slow dance, please.”

“Here.” Sam wrapped his arms low on Evie’s back, and she let her body sag into his as she felt the baby drop. Oh shit. She’d felt her daughter move down, the pressure nearly unbearable.

Her hands slipped from around Sam’s neck and she wrapped them around her belly.

“I’m not going to make it anywhere. I c-can feel her. Jake. I can feel her coming.”

“Okay. Well, that was easy. Option two it is. Sam, we need to get Evie into the office. Now.”

Forty

“S-She’s coming.”

Oh, fuck. If Sam felt like he was going to pass out when Evie said her water broke, the feeling was a million times worse after hearing that.

“Here, Sam. Help Evie sit on the floor in front of the couch.”

“Shouldn’t she lay down?”

“No!” Evie yelled. “I want to sit up.”

“Gravity helps. Even if it’s just a little bit. Here, let’s get her settled and then I can get out my supplies.”

With Sam on one arm and Jake on the other, they helped Evie sit. She immediately threw herself onto her hands and knees, moaning as she worked through another contraction.

“You know how to squeeze her hips for counter pressure?” Jake asked, pulling what looked like sterile tools from his bag. Sam’s head spun. God, he needed to get a grip.

“Yeah, we’ve practiced it before.”

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