Page 21 of Seducing the Sheriff
I had to smile as I did a U-turn in the road and headed toward Bobcat Stump. I grumbled a lot about never having time to park my ass, but I liked days like this. We caught a felon, old Buttercup returned home safely after her twerking adventure, and hopefully, there was a new life coming into the world. It was a good day.
I parked on the road so the ambulance could park on the drive and jogged over to the front door. I tried the handle, relieved when the door opened.
I pushed it cautiously open. “Mrs. Torres? It’s Sheriff Lawson.”
“Come in, sheriff. I’m out the back.”
Her voice sounded strained, and I hurried to the back room. My first impression was of a sunny, airy room, painted in lemon, and the second was a young woman on the couch, her arms around her swollen stomach. Glossy black hair covered her face, and I couldn’t see her expression.
“Mrs. Torres?” I joined her at the couch but knelt in front of her, not wanted to jostle her or the baby. “How are you and the baby doing?”
She raised her head, blew strands of hair away from her flushed face, and attempted to smile at me. “Call me Ellie, sheriff. Little Elena is anxious to make an appearance, I don’t think she’s going to wait for her daddy.” She panted her way through the sentence. “I thought I had a bit of bellyache, you know? She’s not due for another two weeks.”
So many women had told me the same thing, only to find themselves in full-blown labor.
I smiled reassuringly at her. “I’m going to wash my hands, then we’ll see about bringing your baby into the world.”
Ellie bit her bottom lip, then said, “Have you done this before?”
“Four times,” I said, making my tone as business-like and cheerful as possible. “Although two of those were twins. Don’t tell anyone,” I added conspiratorially.
“I promise.” And she seemed to relax now she knew I wasn’t a total amateur. As I said, uncertain, yes, for a good reason I didn’t like to remember, but I had done this before.
I washed my hands in the kitchen. It looked as if Ellie had been preparing dinner when she realized she was in labor. Partially chopped peppers lay on a board on the counter. My stomach rumbled at the sight. When was the last time I ate? I couldn’t remember. Oh well, it would counteract all the cakes I’d eaten recently.
A groan from the front room reminded what I was doing here, and I hurried into the back room. Ellie was on the floor now, on her knees, her head resting on her folded arms on the couch.
“I need to push,” she gasped.
“Are you okay with me taking a look at you?” I said, rubbing her lower back soothingly.
But then I heard the thump of boots and the door opening, and someone calling out, “Mrs. Torres. It’s the paramedics.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re in even better hands now, Ellie.”
She moaned in response.
The paramedics appeared at the door. One of them grinned as she saw me.
“You’ve had a busy day, sheriff.”
I gave her a wry smile. “Another day ending in Y. This is Ellie. I’ve only just arrived, but she feels the need to push.”
The paramedic nodded. “Okay, Ellie, I’m Tonia and this is Sandra. Let’s make you comfortable.”
Ellie raised her head, her expression strained. She pressed her lips together against a contraction, then blew out a breath. “Would you stay with me? At least until my husband arrives. I need someone to hold my hand. I’m scared.”
“Of course I will. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I can’t call the baby after you,” she informed me solemnly. “It would upset my abuela.”
“I don’t want to upset your abuela. Don’t worry. Little Elena would sound silly being called Cash. My mom is called Catherine, and she wanted something close to Cathy.”
I wasn’t sure she heard or cared about any of that as her eyes lost focus, and she squeezed my hand with a death grip. I was going to be lucky to have a hand left after this.
Around us, the paramedics left me to focus on Ellie as they got ready to deliver the baby. As I held Ellie’s hand and listen to Tonia’s calm instructions, I prayed that everything would go smoothly for mom and baby.
Thirty minutes later, Tonia gently placed a squalling Elena on Ellie’s stomach. “Wow, this little one has a good set of lungs.”
