Page 46 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
“You can.”
“It’s hurts, and my legs are cramped.” Another moan has her bending over.
“Carry her.” Lauren slaps me. “Pick her up.”
“What?” I realize had it been anyone telling me to scoop up Lauren, I’d have done it in any circumstances, no questions asked.
“Pick her up, idiot.” Savi also hauls off and punches me. “Hurry up.”
Fuck me. I scurry into the living room and pull my boots on. Then I scurry back and scoop up Alison under the knees and behind her back. Her arms curl around my neck, and I wish I was anywhere but here. My dad had the right idea: run.
“Let’s go.” I am shoved, hit and pushed toward the archway by the other women.
The second I step into the living room, Alison gasps and I pause. I feel warm liquid running down my front.
“What happened?” I grit out.
My Ma, Savi, and Lauren also gasp. Their gazes trail down my front and when they reach my eyes again, they’re all trying to hold back laughter.
“What the fuck just happened?”
“My water broke,” Alison whispers to me.
The lord is tearing me tonight. He’s taking me to my limit and then pushing me over.
“Sweetheart, it’s fine.” My mother can not smooth this over. “It’s just a little liquid.” It feels like Niagara Falls down my body, but from inside a human.
“You have to go.” Lauren pulls my arm, and she doesn’t even try to hide her smile.
I’m gonna gag.
I’m not gonna gag.
I’m definitely gagging inside.
“Let me know when you make it.” She steps back.
“No, Lauren!” Alison reaches for her. “Don’t leave me. Come with me. Don’t make me do this alone. Please. Please. Please.”
Lauren glances at the twins still sound asleep on the couch.
“We’ll watch them.” My ma stands beside my pa.
Lauren’s hand slips into Alison’s. “Okay. Let’s go have a baby -“
Alison’s moan cuts her off.
“Hurry up, doofus.” Savi slaps the back of my head. Women turn into monsters when one of them is about to pop out a baby.
We all hurry out the front door. Alison squirms and cries out in pain all the way to the lodge. Lauren keeps saying how close the contractions are. Savi has trouble scanning her card at the door, but finally gets us inside. It’s ten on Christmas Eve and the lodge is ghostly quiet.
“Lauren, don’t think that way,” Alison says out of the blue and between one of those contractions.
“What way?” Lauren holds open a door.
“Like he’s going to fall in love with me because I’m the new wife without a husband.”
Lauren looks appalled. “Oh my god, I wasn’t thinking that ... until now.”
