Page 14 of A Mommy for His Daughter

Derek was moved by Katlian Yazzie. There was a heart in there. Everyone in Wolf’s Harbor loved Katlian Yazzie, even Mo, but with Derek she’d always been untrusting and a bit cold. This was a different side to her.

“She’s a doctor!” Katlian said in disbelief. “A doctor!”

“Maybe you’ll have to change your stance on doctors now, eh?” he teased.

Katlian’s dark eyes glittered as she frowned, but then she smiled. “Perhaps.”

“Do you want me to get her?”

Katlian shook her head. “No, you let her work today. She’s going to see Jennifer and I want her to be focused on her work. I will see her later.”

Katlian stood up and Derek opened the door for her. She walked out of the clinic, past a few people who were still concerned about the always strong and steadfast Katlian Yazzie breaking down in the waiting room.

Derek ran a hand over his head.

Was this what his rotation with Evelyn Saunders was going to be like? All these relatives coming out of the woodwork and daily emotional reunion    s? As much as he was all for family coming together, he couldn’t let this keep happening.

The office door chimed and a pregnant woman hunched over came in.

“I need help!” she cried out. “I’m in labor and my husband is out in the bush on a logging run.”

“Evelyn!” Derek shouted over his shoulder as he dashed toward the woman.

He held on to her as she breathed through a contraction.

“Christina…” Derek said in a soothing tone. “Don’t worry we have an OB/GYN here.”

Christina nodded. “But it’s too soon. Dr. Pearson said last week my baby was breech and he was going to try and turn it this week.”

Damn Dr. Pearson.

“He didn’t turn it?” Derek asked as he helped Christina toward the exam room while the receptionist worked to rebook the couple of patients who were waiting. She knew the drill when an emergency patient came in.

“He was supposed to turn it today,” Christina said. “I was coming here to have it done, but labor started…”

This was why Wolf’s Harbor needed a hospital. The air ambulance to take her to Sitka would be ready in thirty minutes, but this baby might be born before they got there.

Evelyn came out of the exam room where she had been going through case files. Her eyes widened as she saw the woman, but it didn’t take long before she was helping Derek get the woman up on a stretcher in exam room two, which sometimes acted as an operating room.

“I’m Dr. Saunders and I’m an obstetrician. How far along are you…?”

“Christina,” Derek said as he handed Evelyn a box of rubber gloves as if it was second nature.

“Thirty-seven weeks,” Christina panted.

“Well, if the baby needs to come anything over thirty-six weeks is safe, Christina. Let’s get you draped and then I can see how far along you are.”

Derek helped drape Christina while Evelyn helped her remove her clothes.

“Is this your first baby?” Evelyn asked gently.

Christina nodded.

“How far apart are your contractions?”

“Two minutes. They started hard and fast.”

She gripped the sides of the gurney and Evelyn reached out and laid her hand on Christina’s belly, closing her eyes.

“Derek…” Evelyn said.

“What do you need?” he asked.

Evelyn stood up, pulling off the rubber gloves and dumping them in the waste receptacle. “Can we talk briefly outside?”

“Is everything okay?” Christina asked.

Evelyn smiled. “Perfectly. You’re seven centimeters dilated. Still a bit to go, okay? Your water is intact and I’m going to send the nurse in to set up an IV to get some fluids into you and make you more comfortable.”

Christina nodded and smiled. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Evelyn motioned for them both to leave the exam room. “Can you get Janet in here? Get her to set up an IV and stay with Christina?”

“Sure.” Derek went to the front desk and relayed the instructions to Janet, who went straight to work.

Nancy the receptionist had locked the front door and closed the blinds.

“All your patients and Dr. Saunders’ patients have been rescheduled,” Nancy said. “I’ll man the phones. And I’m still trying to get hold of Christina’s husband in the logging camp.”

“Thanks, Nancy. How about that air ambulance?”

“It’ll be ready in thirty minutes, but there’s a storm brewing off the coast.”

Great.

Derek scrubbed a hand over his face. “Keep them on standby, okay?”

Nancy nodded. “Will do, Dr. Taylor.”

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