A Randall Hero

He took off his coat and laid it aside. Then he waited for her to do the same. Once she did, he spread the comforter over both of them and drew her back into his arms.

“You’ve got to relax, Lucy,” he coaxed, feeling how rigid she was against him.

“I—I’m not sure I can.”

“Sure you can. I know, I’ll tell you stories about Harry. That should make you feel better.” He began telling her things Harry had done, particularly the humorous ones. Finally he felt her relax against his chest.

After a few minutes of her silence, he whispered her name.

All he heard in response was the deep, steady breathing of a woman who had fallen asleep. He breathed in her scent. It reminded him of a fragrant blue flower that grew on the mountainside in spring.

He eased her even closer to him and lay his head against the headrest. His last thought was how right she felt in his arms.

LUCY CAME AWAKE SUDDENLY. She was snugly warm in her sleeping rescuer’s arms, but, unfortunately, she needed to go to the bathroom. She tried to slide out from under the comforter, but he stirred.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

She was embarrassed to tell him, but she had no choice.

“Oh, okay, let’s put on our coats.”

“No! I mean, you don’t have to…I’ll be all right on my own.”

“Lucy, I’m not going to watch you. But you’ll need help getting down. I’ll help you and then I’ll walk around the truck so you’re out of sight.”

“All right.”

He put on his coat and handed her hers. Then he stepped over her and got out of the truck. She shivered as she followed him down.

“It’s really cold,” she said with chattering teeth.

“Yeah, so let’s hurry. You should be all right here. I’ll go around to the front of the truck.”

He stood there in the cold, staring out at the night, waiting for her to call him. When she finally did, he came around the truck and helped her back in. “Okay, let’s shed our coats and huddle up again.”

This time he didn’t have to urge her to get close or to relax. She went naturally back into his arms and he spread the comforter over both of them.

Gradually they both warmed up and she relaxed against his chest.

“John?”

“Yeah?” he asked, on the verge of falling asleep again.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking care of me.”

“No problem,” he told her. Together they’d managed very well, better than he would’ve done alone. He settled her more comfortably against his chest.

He checked his watch. It was almost two o’clock. They still had a good portion of the night to get through.

They both went back to sleep.

Just as dawn broke, they both awakened because of sudden moisture. John assumed Lucy had had an accident. Lucy, however, thought something else had happened.

“I think my water broke.”

“What?” he asked groggily.

“I think my water broke. That means I’ll be going into labor soon.”

His eyes flew open. “You’re what? But we can’t—I mean, how soon will you—How much time do we have?”

“I don’t know!” She sounded frightened.

He felt the same way, but he realized he had to be the calm one. “It’s all right. Daylight is breaking. Someone will come along soon enough.”

“Are—are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m sure, and if not, then we’ll manage.”

“Have you ever delivered a baby before?”

“Nope. But I’ve delivered calves and foals. It’s almost the same, I’m sure.”

“I’m sorry you—I mean, I’m sorry this is happening. I’m so embarrassed!”

“Don’t be, Lucy. Having a child is a natural thing.”

“You’re so comforting, John. I don’t think I would’ve made it if you hadn’t stopped.”

He considered how he’d stopped his truck and decided not to mention it again. Lucy couldn’t help what had happened and she’d had a pretty rough time of it.

Lucy grabbed his shirt and gasped.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I think I’m in labor now!”

“What did you feel?”

“A tightening along the bottom of my stomach.”

He cleared his throat. Calmly he said, “That sounds about right, but it will probably be a while before anything happens.”

He hoped to God he was right. He lifted his wrist so he could read his watch. It was ten until six.