Page 21 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

The nurse moved the tall light over to the bed. Dr. Mansfield turned it on and adjusted it several times until she had it just the way she wanted it.

“Okay. Now, Taylor, on the next contraction, I want you to bear down and push as hard as you can.”

She looked at Colt and gripped his hand. “Okay, I will.”

“Remember, take a deep, deep breath and then push, okay?” Colt said quietly.

“Okay,” she said with a tremor in her voice.

Just then a contraction started, and she sucked in a breath and bore down.

A deep groan escaped her, and Colt said, “That’s it—push, honey, push hard.”

Shannon, who was standing out of the way, said, “You’re doing a good job, sweetie.”

Taylor ran out of breath and blew out loudly.

Colt said quickly, “Take a deep breath and push again.”

She did, grunting like she was lifting a 100-pound sack of feed.

He gripped her hand hard until finally the contraction passed, and she relaxed against her pillows.

“You did well, Taylor. Another ten of those and we might have a baby,” the doctor said with a grin.

Taylor grimaced. “Ten more? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“If you can push harder, it might be six or seven,” she said.

Colt bathed her head with the cool cloth. “Six more? That’s a breeze, honey.”

Taylor glared at him. “Easy for you to say, cowboy.”

He laughed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Hang in there, sweetheart. You’re almost done.”

Ten minutes later, with an agonizing cry, Taylor delivered the baby’s head. A moment later, the shoulders and body followed.

Colt had a desperate wish to move to the foot of the bed to get a first glimpse of the baby.

Taylor sobbed quietly and asked, “Is it a boy? Is he healthy?”

Dr. Mansfield cradled the baby in her hands. “You have a beautiful baby boy, Momma.”

As the doctor examined him, Colt caressed her forehead. “You did a wonderful job, Taylor. You should be so proud of yourself.”

“Oh, Colt.” She reached up her arms and he leaned down and wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring for me.”

He kissed her cheek. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world, honey.”

Shannon stepped over to the bed and wrapped her arms around Taylor. “Oh, honey. You were just marvelous.”

“Dad? Would you like to cut the cord?” Dr. Mansfield asked.

Colt smiled at Taylor. “I’d love to.”

When he joined the doctor, he didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable at the view he had of Taylor. It seemed the most natural thing in the world. As he cut the umbilical cord, a magical feeling came over him, as if he were meant to be here, right now, in this place, with this baby boy.

The doctor clamped the cord and then handed the baby to Colt. “Lay him on Momma’s bare chest. We’ve learned that skin-to-skin contact is very important for bonding.”

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