Read Online Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) by Laura Browning - Free Book Online

now. Think you can deliver a baby?”
    “Uhh, Jen…we covered the basics in training, but I’ve never done it.”
    “Jake, I’m at home and stuck. If you move her on this ice and get stranded, the situation could go from bad to worse—life-threatening worse for her and the baby.”
    Jake closed his eyes then opened them to stare at the ice hitting the windowpane with its rhythmic tick , tick .
    “Give me a refresher. Her water’s already broken.”
    “How’s she holding up?”
    “Other than being scared, breathing and color seem okay. I haven’t checked her pulse.”
    “It’ll be elevated. I’m not so worried about that. Has she said anything about feeling the need to push?”
    “No.”
    “Chances are she’s not fully dilated yet. Clean her, get her changed, and make her comfortable. Check to see if you can see the baby’s head, then give me a call.”
    Jake punched End and stared at the blank phone screen. What the fuck? He was barely on a first-name basis with Holly and Jenny wanted him to… He looked at Holly’s pale face and wide eyes. Jake blew out a deep breath. Time to put his personal interests aside. This was professional. Right. And he was no doctor.
    “Holly?” Tyler’s voice came from the doorway. His face was pinched and pale as he took in her soiled clothing. “What’s wrong? It’s too soon for the baby, isn’t it?”
    Jake heard the edge of hysteria in the boy’s voice and realized he must be thinking about losing his parents the year before. Now the only family member left was bloody and in pain.
    “It’s okay.” Holly’s smile vanished as another contraction slammed into her. “Just a little early. No big deal.” She panted and closed her eyes as if to hide her fear from her brother.
    So Jake smiled. “Your niece, Uncle Tyler, has decided it’s time to be born, and she and Holly will need our help. Can you be a big man and do that?”
    Tyler straightened his thin shoulders. “Y-yes. Yes. I can.”
    “Good. I just got off the phone with Doc Owens. She says we need to get Holly cleaned up and make her comfortable. Can you find me a nightgown?”
    “Yeah.” Tyler went to the chest of drawers and pulled out an oversize T-shirt. “Here you go. It’s what she usually sleeps in.”
    Holly lay against the pillows, sweat beading her brow. She must be so tired, and he felt nearly helpless to change that.
    “Great, buddy. Now get me a warm washcloth and a clean towel so Holly can wash.” As soon as Tyler left the room, Jake stripped off his jacket. “Can you clean up, or do you need help?”
    Her gaze slid away from his. “I—I’m going to need some help.”
    Jake skimmed her cheek with his fingertips. “Now’s not the time to be embarrassed. You and I are gonna get to know each other a whole lot better in the next few hours. Doc says not to move you.”
    Holly’s eyes widened. “Have you done this before?”
    “No,” he admitted. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it now, but he couldn’t tell her.
    She smiled, weariness plain on her face. “Couldn’t you lie to make me feel better?”
    He stroked the hair off her face. “No. We need to be straight with each other about what’s going on. It’s the only way to get you, the baby, and Tyler through it too.” And me, his internal voice shouted.
    Holly nodded. Her expression relaxed somewhat. If she still didn’t quite trust him, she at least didn’t look petrified anymore.
    Tyler returned and handed them the cloths.
    “Thanks, man. Say, if you’ve got any coffee around here. I could use a pot.”
    “There’s some in the freezer,” Holly said. “You remember how to make it, Tyler?”
    “Yeah.”
    Jake grinned. “Then get to it while I help Holly.”
    As soon as Tyler left the room, Jake hefted her to her feet, supporting her with one arm while he helped her remove the damp nightgown with his other. He wiped her, patted her dry, and then slipped the clean shirt over her head.
    As much as he tried to be