Page 65 of Cry Wolf

Why hadn’t Dania thought of that? “I can stay in the car while you take her in.”

“You’re not thinking this through.” Brett looked in the rearview mirror at her.

She didn’t understand what he was getting at.

Hayley doubled over, caught in another contraction.

She squeezed Dania’s hand so tightly that her fingers tingled.

Once it passed, the young woman took a deep breath. “What he’s trying to tell you is that I know you’re an escaped convict, and I could very easily tell the authorities where you are.”

Dania pulled away from her. “So, youdoknow what happened to me.”

“Everyone in the state of Montana knows.” Brett turned the car down the road and headed out of town. “Hayley, where do you want me to take you?”

“My place.”

“And where is that?” Brett sounded irritated. Who could blame him?

Another moan. Hayley’s contractions were coming more quickly.

“Whatever you do, don’t push, okay?” Dania cautioned her. “I know it feels natural to do it, but pushing too soon can risk the baby coming out too fast, which could hurt both you and the child. Panting helps to relieve that urge.”

Hayley nodded as she drew a cleansing breath. Looking at Brett, she said, “I live not far from Wheeler’s cattle auction place.”

Knowing they had no choice but to do as Hayley demanded, Dania called upon her nursing skills. She could deliver Hayley’s baby. She stared into the rearview mirror at Brett. “You might want to speed up.”

A tight-lipped frown came to his face as he nodded, and then the vehicle jettisoned forward.

Another moan escaped Hayley. She’d said she didn’t know if she’d been having contractions, which, being a first-time mother, made sense. For most women, their first child delivery usually took a while. But having worked in the ER, Dania knew each woman was different. Since this was Hayley’s first, there was no telling how long they had. This could quickly turn into delivering the child right here in the back seat.

Hayley held her breath.

“Remember to pant.” Dania craned her head to look behind her seat in the SUV’s open trunk area, hoping to spy something she could use. A blanket lay in a heap. She grabbed it. If the worst thing happened and she had to deliver in the car, she could wrap the slippery baby in the blanket to keep it warm.

Brett careened around a corner. Tires squealed as they made the turn.

Dania glanced in back again to look for a bucket of some kind to catch the afterbirth. She knew better than to cut the umbilical cord here. She’d wait to do that once they reached Hayley’s place and would merely keep the afterbirth with the baby.

She reached up and clicked on the dome light. Unfastening her seat belt, she turned and got on her knees so she could do a better search in the rear of the vehicle.

“What’s going on?” Brett asked.

“I’m looking for a bucket of some kind and your first-aid kit.”

“I don’t have a bucket.”

“How about the first-aid kit? You do have one, right?” Olivia had had one in her car. Surely, Brett did too.

“Of course. It’s there. Keep looking.” He sounded as frustrated as she felt.

She continued the search. About to give up, she spied a red bag with white lettering on it snugged against the back seat. She grabbed it and turned about.

Hayley moaned again. Her face turned bright red as she panted.

Dania dug through the kit to see what was available.

“Here comes the valley,” Brett told them as they passed the sign advertising that Wheeler’s Auction House was five miles away.

---