The next pain caught her unawares and she grabbed her stomach and doubled over.
“
Not sure what to do next, Mary Jo paced, deliberating on the best course of action. Her brothers were due any moment. If she told them she was in labor the second they arrived, they’d panic. One thing Mary Jo knew: she did
None of them had any experience or even the slightest idea of what to do. Linc would probably order the baby to wait until they could get to a hospital. Knowing Mel and his queasy stomach, he’d fall in a dead faint, while Ned would walk around declaring that this was just perfect. He was going to be an uncle to a baby born on Christmas Eve—or Christmas Day, depending on how long this labor business was going to take.
Another pain struck and again Mary Jo bent double with the strength of it. She exhaled slowly and timed it, staring at her watch. This one lasted thirty seconds. Half a minute. It wasn’t supposed to happen this fast! Labor was supposed to last for hours and hours.
Mary Jo didn’t know what to do or who to call. Her mind was spinning, her thoughts scrambling in a dozen different directions at once. She considered phoning Grace. If she was going to give birth here, at the ranch, she wanted a woman with her—and she couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather have than Grace Harding. But Grace had left just a few minutes before and the only way to reach her was by cell phone. Unfortunately, as she’d learned earlier, coverage in this area was sporadic at best. And she hated to interfere with the Hardings’ Christmas plans.
The second person she thought of was Mack McAfee. He’d been so kind, and he was a trained medical technician. He was calm and logical, which was exactly what she needed. He’d called—when was it? Half an hour ago—and urged her to go home with her brothers. There’d be plenty of time to talk to Ben and Charlotte Rhodes after the baby’s birth. Her brothers wouldn’t have the opportunity to confront David or his father now, anyway, and she’d manage, somehow or other, to prevent it in the future, too. While she was speaking with Linc, she’d realized how desperate her brothers had been to find her. Mary Jo hadn’t meant to worry them like this.
If Linc or Mel or even Ned had reasoned with her like Mack had, she would’ve listened. Too late to worry about any of that now…
Mary Jo went slowly back down the stairs to the barn. She didn’t want to dial 9-1-1 and cause alarm the way she had with her dizzy spell at the library earlier, so she decided to call the fire station directly.
Sure enough, when she picked up the receiver she saw that Caller ID displayed the last number that had been received—the firehouse. Mary Jopushed there dial button.
On the second ring, someone picked up. “Kitsap County Fire District.”
Relief washed over her at the sound of Mack’s voice. “Mack?”
There was a slight hesitation. “Mary Jo? Is that you?”
“Ye-es.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I…Grace and her family left for Christmas Eve service at the church about ten minutes ago. I didn’t go because my brothers are on their way here.”
“They haven’t arrived yet?” He seemed surprised.
“Not yet.”
Mack groaned. “I’ll bet they’re lost.”
Mary Jo didn’t doubt that for an instant.
“I’m sure they’ll be there anytime,” he said.
“I hate to bother you,” she whispered and gasped at the severity of the next contraction.
“Mary Jo!”
Closing her eyes, she mentally counted until the pain subsided.
“What’s wrong?” he asked urgently.
“I’m afraid I’ve gone into labor.”
Mack didn’t miss a beat. “Then I should get out there so I can transport you to the birthing center.”
At the rate this was progressing, he’d better not lose any time. “Thank you,” she said simply.
He must have sensed her fear, because he asked, “How far apart are the contractions?”
“Three minutes. I’ve been timing them.”
“That’s good.”
“I didn’t take all the birthing classes…I wish I had, but David said he’d take them with me and it never happened. I went once but that was just last week and—”
“You’ll do fine. If you want, I’ll stay with you.”
“You?”
“I’m not such a bad coach.”
“You’d be a wonderful coach, but you have to remember I’ve only had the one class.”
“Listen, instead of talking about it over the phone, why don’t I hop in the aid car and drive over.”
“Ri-ight.” At the strength of the last contraction, Mary Jo was beginning to think this was an excellent idea.
