Page 26 of Lake's Legacy

“Okay, be right back.” Toff takes off while I wheel a stool near the end of the exam table. I can see her dilated cervix and know she’s close.

“How far apart are the contractions?” I ask.

“How the fuck should I know?” Celeste growls at me.

I chuckle. “Are they right on top of each other, or is there some time between them?”

“Fast, they’re coming fast,” she pants.

“Joseph, time the contractions. Help her breathe through them. I take it you attended the birthing classes and know what to do?”

Joseph nods.

“We don’t have time to set up the monitors, so we’re winging it. But you’re young and healthy. Do you know if the babyturned?” I ask, remembering that this was something that had Dr. Sinclair concerned.

“Olivia said it turned. She saw the baby’s foot high up on my stomach. My water broke before they did the sonogram.” She screams through another contraction while Joseph lets her squeeze the hell out of his hand.

“Two minutes,” Joseph says. I nod because I’d also been counting. This baby is about to make its appearance.

I’m about to yell for Toff when he comes rushing in with the requested supplies. He places them on the table and rolls them over to me. “What else do you need?”

“Fill that tub with warm water, then find me a baby blanket and several washcloths. When you’ve done that, call Crow and get everyone out there looking for those assholes and the women. Then call Hex. Tell him what happened. What about the ambulance?”

“They’re forty-five minutes out, but they’re on their way. They have a doctor you can call if you need her to walk you through the birth or have complications.”

“I’ve done this before, in worse circumstances, but that’s good. Now, little mama, let’s bring your baby into the world. Shall we?”

Several minutes later, I’m holding a screaming baby in my hands.

“Congratulations, you have a son.”

Joseph clasps Celeste’s hand as he stares in awe at the bundle in my hands.

“He’s so small,” Joseph whispers as if raising his voice would make the infant disappear.

“I’m going to clean him off, and then I need you to cut the umbilical cord.”

“What?” Joseph stammers, clutching Celeste’s hands so tight she squeaks. “Sorry, baby.”

“Come over here and pick up the scissors. Let me clamp the cord first.” I attach one clamp about three inches from the baby’s stomach and place the second clamp nearer to Celeste.

“Just cut there, on this side of the clamp,” I instruct Joseph. With shaking hands, he completes the task. I dry the stump before instructing Joseph on how to diaper his son while leaving the stump of the cord exposed. He leaves to follow my instructions while I focus on helping Celeste through the afterbirth.

Joseph returns to place the baby against Celeste’s chest. Mother and son are both exhausted. Joseph is right there with them.

I step out of the room to find Toff. He’s pacing the waiting room with the phone to his ear. He has a map of the community laid out in front of him. I step over to find he’d drawn grids across the map. He’d scribbled a name into each grid box. Two of the grids contain large Xs. He marks another grid with an X as I watch. “Keep me posted.” Ending the call, he looks at me. “I’ve mobilized the tribe. They’re searching for the girls. We can stay here and monitor the progress or head out and join the search.”

“Leave me your phone, and I’ll stay here and monitor,” Joseph offers. “Celeste is resting with the baby. She wants me to help you find Annette and Olivia.”

“Thanks, man,” I tell him, clasping him on the shoulder. As I turn away, I remember what Celeste said.

I rush into the exam room. Celeste, who is breastfeeding her son, looks up. “Did you find them?”

“No, we’re still looking. Thank you for letting Joseph help us. I have a question for you. You said they were the same men who attacked Joseph. How do you know? Did you see their faces?”

“No, I saw what they were wearing. They had on denim vests with a bald eagle on the back. I think they’re part of a motorcycle gang. The bald eagle was clutching two flags in its talons. Onewas the Confederate Flag, and the other was a Swastika. At the top was the word ‘Third,’ but that’s all I could see.”

“Thank you, that helps. You rest and take care of your son.”

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