Page 103 of Cold as Hell

Do I have any choice? My body says no.

Time moves slowly, me locked in this bubble of pain and instinct. Groggily, I look around. There’s a partially buried boulder behind me. I inch backward with the coat until I’m half propped on it. That feels better. Use gravity. It’s the only birth partner I’m getting.

I try to find a position there, secure but half squatting. I brace myself to push—

“Casey!”

It’s Anders.

“Here!” I manage to shout. “Fishing hole!”

Follow the trail of discarded clothing.That’s what I want to say, but it’s far too many words.

“Over here!” Anders shouts.

Is Anders telling me to come to him? Can’t really manage that right now.

I grit my teeth and focus on pushing, which is the only important thing right now. When someone runs around the bend, it’s not Anders. It’s the person he must have been shouting to.

Dalton races over, red-faced and wild-eyed. Then he sees me and stops so short, it’d be comical if I weren’t really focused on giving birth.

“Baby’s coming,” I manage. “Now.”

He just stares, unable even to muster a curse, apparently. Then Anders shoves past him and says, “Holy shit!”

“Having a baby,” I grunt.

“I see that.”

He runs over, and Dalton snaps from his shock and runs toward me.

“Position?” I get out.

“You’re in a good one,” Anders says. “Squatting. Taking advantage of gravity.”

“Meant the baby.”

He gives a short laugh. “Right. Eric? Can you get behind her? Give her something more comfortable to lean against? Give her your hands, too.”

Dalton nods. “To squeeze.”

“Or break,” Anders says as he crouches in front of me. “Depends on how much she blames you for her current predicament. Case? You’re going to need to excuse me sticking my head between your legs.”

“Absolutely my last concern right now.”

Dalton moves me forward gently as he gets in behind me and helps support me by holding my hands. Anders peers up from the ground.

“In position?” I grunt.

“Either the baby is in perfect position or your kid has a very hairy ass.”

I let out a whooping laugh of relief.

“I see a little head,” Anders says. “Covered in black hair. Though it might not feel so little right now.”

“It does not,” I say.

“Remember this is the toughest part, and it’s already well underway. Also, from the looks of that hole in the ice, you just drowned a serial killer while giving birth. This part’s a piece of cake.”

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