Page 87 of Between a Rock and a Hard Cowboy

Home. For the first time, the word felt right. She’d see if the feeling lasted. But as Linc’s big warm hand wrapped around hers, and he leaned in for a kiss, she had a suspicion it just might.

Epilogue

“When is this baby going to get out of me?”

“That’s between you and little baby Herbert,” Eva said to her unhappy friend in the bed.

“The name is not Herbert.” Olivia scowled.

“Hubert?” Eva guessed.

“No.”

“Humphry?”

“Stop.”

“If you’d just tell me the girl and boy names you picked out, I’d stop guessing.”

“No. You have to wait like everyone else.”

“Fine. Little Henrietta will come when she’s good and ready,” Eva said, working her way through the alphabet with her baby name guesses. The letter I was coming up next. She made a mental list of names that began with the letter so she’d be prepared.

Inga, Ignatius…

She was about to unleash those gems when Olivia said, “Ooo.”

“Ooo what?” Eva asked.

“Something feels… different.” As Olivia rubbed her belly, Eva sat up straighter.

Different was not good. Not with Olivia nine months pregnant and looking like she was ready to pop.

“Should we call your doctor? Or go to the hospital?”

“On New Year’s Eve?” Olivia said, as if the suggestion had been crazy. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“It’s a hospital. Not a bank. They don’t close for holidays. And we don’t know it’s nothing.” Eva glanced at the doorway in a panic.

Olivia’s room was usually like Grand Central Station. Packed full of people and animals. Lousy with Wilders and friends. And now when she really needed someone for backup, there was not a soul around.

“Where is everybody?” Eva asked, trying to sound casual as she pulled out her cell and considered who to text. And what to text.

“The guys were picking up the karaoke machine from the Last Call. We’re borrowing it for the night since they’re not using it and none of you can go out to celebrate because of me.”

“Stop. I like staying home on New Year’s Eve anyway. Too many drunks and crazies on the road.” Eva waved away Olivia’s concern and typed in a text to Linc.

Get back here ASAP. Livvie’s belly feels funny. Baby??

Really?! Shit!!! Wyatt’s gonna freak.

Then don’t tell him! And don’t crash on the mountain speeding to get here.

Tourists like you crash on the mountain. Locals like us do not.

Is now really the time for this?

“Who are you texting so furiously?” Olivia asked.

---