Page 17 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

Chapter Five

Colt carefully laida bead of caulk along the back edge of the old bathtub as Shannon watched closely from a couple of feet away. It had taken him the better part of an hour to get the old, cracked caulk removed and the edge prepared before he could even begin to repair it.

Shannon’s phone rang, and she answered. “Taylor? Everything okay?”

Taylor had gone into town about an hour ago to run a couple of errands and to get some groceries. She was so close to delivery that Colt thought she should have stayed home and relaxed, but since the baby was due tomorrow, she’d figured this was her last chance to get anything done for a while. Colt wondered why she was calling now instead of just coming on home.

Shannon covered the microphone and looked at him. “Her water broke at the grocery store, and she’s having hard contractions.”

Colt’s heart started to pound. “Tell her we’ll be right there and to wait in the car.” He put the tip on the caulk and looked at Shannon. “She has a bag packed, right?”

“Yes, she sure does.”

“While you get that, I’ll go start the truck.”

Moments later, they were headed toward the farm-to-market road into town. He said, “I’ll take Taylor on into Abilene if you want to drive her car back to the ranch and get yourself ready. Then we’ll meet up again at the hospital. Does that sound like a plan?”

She nodded. “I brought clean clothes for Taylor to change into before you head out.”

“Good thinking.” His mind sped ahead, hoping that Taylor wasn’t in too much pain but fearing she was. He wasn’t afraid to break the speed limit getting to the hospital. The last thing he wanted to do was deliver a baby on the side of the highway.

When he arrived at the store, he instantly recognized Taylor’s car parked up front. He pulled in and parked several spaces down. They got out and strode toward her car, where she sat leaning against the seat back with her eyes closed.

Shannon knocked on her window, and Taylor jumped. Her aunt said, “I’m sorry I startled you, honey, but I’ve brought you clean clothes.”

Taylor opened the door. “Thank God. I’m sopping wet.” She looked up at Colt. “Thanks for coming.” Her eyes were more eloquent than her words, looking desperate and a little bit afraid.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Let me help you inside.” Shannon held Taylor’s elbow while he walked closely behind, shielding her soiled clothing from the eyes of the other shoppers as they entered the store. He waited, arms folded across his chest, while the two women were in the restroom.

He checked his watch as the minutes rolled by. What was taking them so long? And how close were her contractions? Damn, he should have asked.

The door opened, and Taylor gave him a tired smile. “I’m ready.”

He tucked her hand under his elbow. “Let’s get this show on the road, ladies.”

Shannon gave Taylor a kiss as they got to Colt’s truck. “I’ll be right behind you, sweetie, don’t you worry.”

Taylor groaned as another contraction started, and he half lifted her into the truck. “I’ll get your seat belt. You just sit quiet,” he said gently.

She squeezed her eyes tight and bit her lip. But no sound escaped her as both hands slid to her belly.

He climbed into the truck and the engine roared to life. “Hang on, I’ll get you there as fast as I can.” Less than fifteen minutes later, he was on Highway 83 headed toward Abilene.

Her contractions were a little over four minutes apart. He wasn’t an expert, but he thought that was a little close together, since her labor had just begun. Didn’t first babies take longer to deliver?

He increased his speed, inching the speedometer past eighty. Unless something untoward happened with her labor, that was about as fast as he wanted to go. Getting there safely was more important than getting there fast.

“Ugh,” Taylor moaned softly.

Her face was lined with pain. He reached for her hand and held it tight. She squeezed hard on his fingers, and he could see her gritting her teeth. Poor thing. He couldn’t imagine what she was feeling right now. “It’s okay to make noise, you know.” He jiggled her hand. “Even heifers bawl when they’re in labor.”

She squinted one eye at him as the pain continued. “I amnota cow.”

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