Page 19 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

“That’s Dr. Mansfield, right? I haven’t seen her.”

Taylor bit her lip, and Colt said, “Well, does someone need to call her?”

Melinda chuckled. “Now, dad, she’s been notified that Taylor’s here. It won’t be long before she arrives.”

Colt’s brows went up, and he glanced at Taylor. She frowned and shook her head.Okay, so I’m “dad” for the day. I can live with that.

Another contraction hit Taylor, and she pressed her head into the pillow, her eyes squeezed shut and her teeth gritted. She had a death grip on his hand.

Melinda asked, “Have you two taken a birthing class?”

He shook his head.

“Taylor, it helps if you breathe through the contractions.” She turned to Colt. “Dad, you can look up breathing exercises for giving birth on your phone. Then you can help Taylor with these contractions.”

Colt nodded. “I’ll do that. Thanks.” He winked at Taylor, and the corner of her mouth lifted.

The door opened, and Shannon walked into the room. “How are you, honey?” She came over and gave Taylor a hug. “How close are your contractions?” She smiled at Colt and grasped Taylor’s other hand.

The contraction ended, and Taylor expelled a loud breath. “I’m glad you’re here, Auntie. And they’re about two minutes apart.”

“Have you seen your doctor yet?” Shannon asked.

“Not yet.”

“I’ll give you two a few minutes,” Colt said and headed for the door. Before he went out, he turned back and met Taylor’s gaze. “I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.”

It didn’t take long to find the gift shop, where he picked out a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a blue theme and added a mylar balloon that said, “It’s a boy”.

He figured nobody should give birth without flowers. When he returned to the room a few minutes later, Taylor’s look of relief was palpable. He gave her the flowers, and the joy in her eyes made his heart thump. She brought his hand to her cheek and mouthed “Thank you” with tears in her eyes.

He bent down and kissed her forehead.

Shannon beamed at both of them, and warmth spread through him. He was glad he was here with these two special women to share in this momentous occasion.

Another contraction started, and Taylor clutched her belly. A tiny moan escaped her.

Shannon took the flowers from her.

He laid his hand over Taylor’s and said, “Cletus, you quit giving your momma such a hard time.”

Through clenched teeth she looked at Colt and said, “I’m not...naming him...Cletus!”

Colt laughed and patted her hand. “When are you going to tell me the baby’s real name?”

“Ugh! This hurts!” She took a deep breath and let it out. “It’s on a need-to-know basis, buddy.”

Colt laughed again. “Oh, so I don’t need to know, huh?”

She breathed in again and held it for long seconds before expelling it. “Give it time, give it time. If you’re lucky, I may put you on the list.”

“So there’s a list now?”

With the contraction eased, she relaxed onto her pillow. “Of course. All sorts of people are on it.”

Colt grinned at how she was teasing him even through the pain she was suffering. “Tell me who’s on the list, smarty-pants.”

She shrugged. “Well, Teddy, of course.”

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