Page 5 of Scarlett's Mountain Man
CHAPTER 2
THORIN
Istare at the baby in my arms— Juniper. Or at least I think this is Juniper. That was the last word Scarlett mumbled before she collapsed in my arms.
To say I was scared is an understatement. Having a woman unconscious in my arms wouldn’t ordinarily worry me, but the blood is what sent me into action.
I immediately called Aiden to get him down here, not knowing what to do with Scarlett. I’m not a doctor. My medical knowledge is the basics.
“How’s the baby?” Aiden whispers as he walks back into the room.
I’m standing next to Scarlett as she lies asleep on the bed. After Aiden looked her over, he said she had to have given birth within the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours and shouldn’t have been driving.
What was she thinking?
She may not have had time to think. The doctors probably told her what she could and couldn’t do, but I doubt she had a choice. I can’t judge her for what she did if she is in danger.
Just the thought of her being in danger makes the Daddy inside of me scream. The darker side of me is begging to be let out so it can go after whoever is after her.
“Fast asleep,” I reply. “She’ll wake up soon, though. I have a feeling.”
Newborn babies eat every couple of hours.
“It could be a little while. We don’t know if she fed her before getting here,” Aiden points out.
I sigh and rock Juniper in my arms, trying to keep her asleep.
“We don’t have any formula.” I turn to look at him. “All the stores are closed, and even if they were open, they are at least thirty minutes away.”
“I know,” he says. “I’ve been thinking about that.”
An idea pops into my head, but I don’t know whether it’s okay or not.
“I know that look,” Aiden says. “Why don’t we go out in the hallway and talk?”
I shake my head, not ready to leave Scarlett. I don’t know if I ever will be. Over the phone, I felt like there was a connection between us, but I couldn’t be sure. Looking at her when she arrived, I knew she was mine.
“I’m not leaving her,” I reply, my chest rumbling.
“Easy,” Aiden reminds me. “Precious bundle in your arms.”
I look down at Juniper, still sleeping soundly. I let my shoulders relax as I turn toward him.
“Closer to the door. That is the farthest I’m going. I want to be able to see Scarlett at all times.” I look him in the eyes.
What if she wakes up when we are talking outside the room? I don’t want her to panic and think someone took her baby when she is in an unfamiliar place. I don’t know if she will remember driving up here. I’m not going to take that risk.
Aiden nods and walks to the door, with me following.
“Do you want me to take her?” Aiden asks, holding his hands out.
I take a step back. “No, I’ve got Juniper.”
“How do you know her name is Juniper?”
“Scarlett said it before she passed out in my arms. It was either her baby or a stuffed animal.”
A stuffed animal who looked really old and loved. Could it be Scarlett’s? When I picked Juniper up, there was a blanket and a little stuffed animal. Maybe Scarlett is a Little.
