Chapter Fifteen

“I won’t pretend I agree with this decision.” Chase Boyd’s voice was gruff with displeasure.

Tyler sat in one of the old rattan chairs that Charli recently had refinished. The cushions were all recovered and re-stuffed, giving the entire wrap around porch an old-fashioned, warm, welcoming feel. It was another way in which Tyler could tell Chase’s wild daughter was going out of her mind with boredom. Across from him, she lazily pushed the swing with her bare foot while gazing over the yard.

“I didn’t make this decision lightly.”

Chase turned a sharp eye on him. Tyler held his stare.

“Turning down an opportunity like this because of a woman, even if that woman is Beth, makes no sense to me.” The older man insisted, leaning against the porch railing.

Tyler nodded. Chase’s wife had run off when Charli was a toddler. Since that time, except for the occasional date, as far as Tyler knew, Chase had devoted his life to his ranch and his daughter. He didn’t trust women and he’d made that clear.

“I love her, and her practice is there. I need to be there, too. What I’m proposing is that we put this new guy in place and see what he does on a daily basis. You’ll be on hand to watch him, and I’ll come out in a few weeks and check up on him. If he doesn’t work out, we’ll find someone else.”

Chase shook his head. “That’s not what I had in mind when I turned over part of my ranch to the Double B. I thought you’d be here. That’s what I wanted, expected.”

Charli stopped the swing. “Daddy, there’s no reason we can’t try it this way. Tyler’s not that far away.”

“I’ll be here if you need me. You have my word, Chase. I am taking this seriously. I won’t let you down.” His chest was heavy. This wasn’t what the older man wanted. Hell, it wasn’t even what he wanted, either. Tyler suspected that Chase also wanted him close because he knew his daughter was growing more and more restless. He could understand that, but it put him in a worse position. Beth or Chase?

There was no decision there.

Chase gave a curt nod as a car pulled into the driveway. He stood up straighter and tucked in his shirt.

Tyler and Charli exchanged amused glances. Daisy was here.

Chase turned his head back. “I’m willing to try it your way, but I want to look at this again in three months.”

Tyler nodded. “I understand. Trust me on this Chase. The new guy is solid. You know I wouldn’t leave if he wasn’t.”

The nurse who’d been taking care of Chase since his surgery shut her car door and lifted her hand to wave. Chase’s gaze softened and his lips twitched. The petite woman ducked into the backseat of her car and came out carrying a plastic container. Tyler watched her smile grow wider as she glanced across to Chase.

“You’ll be back next weekend?” Chase asked him but his gaze was on Daisy as she shut the door.

Tyler could tell Chase wanted the ‘family business’ discussion ended before the other woman reached his side. “I’ll be here by Sunday night. I want to talk to Beth and check up on Sara. The baby is overdue now by almost two weeks.”

“The doctor said he’s letting her go until the twentieth, and then they’re going to induce if she hasn’t gone into labor by then,” Charli added and stood up.

“Evening everyone.” Daisy smiled as she reached the bottom of the porch.

Chase looked down at the petite woman and a smile lit his face. “Hey, Daisy. What did you bring today?”

She lifted the container in her hands. “I brought some carrot bran muffins. They’re good for your heart.

“Carrot and bran? What’s wrong with cinnamon or chocolate chip?” Chase’s face scrunched up, reminding Tyler of an obstinate five year old.

Daisy laughed, not sounding the least bit insulted. “You don’t have to eat them. I’m sure there’s some ranch hands who would be more than glad to take them off my hands.”

The older man grunted. “There’s still some coffee in the kitchen.”

She inclined her head. “That sounds wonderful. Let’s leave these two young folks alone, and I’ll let you taste my muffins.”

Chase chortled as if choking and Charli laughed. The nurse winked at his boss. Daisy was definitely good for him.

The two disappeared into the house and Tyler turned to Charli. “What do you think?”

She grinned. “I think it’s about time.”

Tyler paced the porch. “He’s annoyed with my plan.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll get used to it. Once he sees it works, he’ll be fine.” Charli raised her arms and stretched her body in the swing. “You’re the son he never had you know.”

“I know, and I appreciate his trust. It’s just that...”

She dropped her arms down. “It doesn’t keep your bed warm.”

He nodded. “That, and I want more. I want a family. I want to share dinner with Beth and talk about our day. I want a couple kids running out to meet me when I get done with work.”

Charli shuddered. “I can’t think of anything worse in the world, but everyone has different dreams. Have you talked to Beth about this plan?”

Tyler paced to the far end of the porch and watched a horse in the distance. The sun was setting and as always, there was nothing more beautiful than the ranch yard at sunset. “No. We’re taking things one day at a time, no talk about the past or the future.”

“You think she’ll be okay with you flying back and forth?”

Tyler shrugged. “For a while, and until we work something else out, it’s the only solution.”

“You’re going to be a busy man.”

Tyler turned and leaned his back against the porch pillar. “I’m not going to let either of them down.”

Charli moved to stand in front of him. “I know you won’t. But what about yourself? You’re a good man, Tyler Weston, and Beth is a lucky lady to have you so devoted to her.”

He set his hands behind him on the railing and stretched his legs out. “I made a huge mistake when I left her like that. If she’s willing to give me a second chance, I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to her.”

Charli touched his arm. “Don’t punish yourself too hard, Ty. You did what you thought you had to do at the time. We all do that. Sometimes it’s the right thing, and sometimes it’s not. But you followed your gut and took a chance—something not everyone has the courage to do.”

Tyler never thought of his leaving as the courageous thing; he always thought it was the exact opposite.

Just the thought of seeing Beth tomorrow made his entire body come alive. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms, sink into her, and feel her welcome him home. He wanted to lose himself in her deep blue eyes, listen to her laughter, and breathe the same air that she was breathing. Corny, but the truth. He simply wanted to be with her.

Charli rose and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for all you did, and for coming when he had the attack.”

Tyler wrapped the tall redhead in his arms. “I’ll always be here for you, and for Chase. I don’t want you to ever hesitate to call me.”

She pulled back. “You know I hope that everything works out with Beth, don’t you?”

He nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you next week.”

As Charli stepped back and headed to the screen door, a sad cast lit her face. “I’ll be here as far as I know.”

Tyler frowned as she stepped inside. She was like a beautiful caged bird, and it killed him to see her trapped like this.

Once he got his life settled once more, he was determined to help Charli get off the Circle S again and back to her own life. Maybe Cord could talk to her. She always listened to him.

Pushing away from the pillar, he headed inside to finish packing his things. He planned to be on the road at first light.

****

Beth rolled over, glanced at the clock radio and groaned. Even on her day off, she was wide awake before dawn. Giving up on falling back to sleep, she padded to the bathroom. She lifted her hair off her neck; it was getting long again. A few months ago, she would have made an appointment and got it cut immediately. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered how much Tyler liked it longer. She had no intention of growing it down to her waist again, but she could compromise and let it fall to her shoulders; maybe long enough to pull it back from her face when she worked, or wear it down without it being in the way. He’d like that.

Downstairs, the house was quiet except for the rain beating against the large picture window. She turned on the coffee and stared outside, or tried to. A trickle of dread ran up her spine. With the ground as hard as it was, the rain would bounce off, and that’s when the real trouble always began. Flooding. The water couldn’t soak in and seep away fast enough and ended up laying atop the hard earth in heaping pools. Tyler was supposed to drive home today. If the roads became impassable, he wouldn’t be able to make it. Maybe she should call him and see how the weather was there.

Sipping her fresh coffee, she noticed a light on at the Weston house. Cord had probably been up for hours. The phone rang and she reached for it, knowing already it was probably Flo. She hoped she could talk the older woman into not coming out in this weather, even if it was only across the ranch yard.

“Hello.”

“Hey, baby girl.”

“Morning, Flo.” Beth sipped her coffee. “I hope you aren’t going to try to come over here today. Stay dry in the house.”

“Actually, I was going to start down to Sara’s. I’ve got a feeling she needs me.”

Beth’s heart skipped a beat. Flo’s ‘feelings’ weren’t to be ignored. “Did she call you?”

“Nope. She wouldn’t tell me anything on the phone, anyway. I need to check on her in person.”

“You stay put. I’ll go.”

“Well...”

“I’ll go,” Beth interjected with a bit more force.

“Okay but don’t just call her,” Flo warned.

“I won’t, I promise. I’ll even go there right now.”

Hanging up the phone, Beth grabbed a long rain slicker and sat down to yank on oversized rubber boots.

Driving the five miles to her sister’s house had never seemed so long. If she hadn’t known the road as well as she did, she would have gone off the side several times. As it was, she had to guide her truck up and around several large puddles. Without knowing how much water was in the road, she wasn’t about to risk going through them.

Damn. It was bad. The rain made it all but impossible to see the start of Buck and Sara’s driveway, but she managed to swing the truck in, and was soon racing up the front porch of her sister’s house. She pushed the hood of her slicker down and pushed open the front door.

“Sara!” she yelled. No response. Maybe she was in the back of the house.

Walking through the kitchen, it didn’t look as if anyone had been up yet. She frowned and glanced out the back door, trying to see if the vehicles were parked, but the dark and rain made it impossible to see. Her heart raced thinking that Sara might have gone out in this weather either on foot or in the truck. Either way, it wasn’t good.

“Sara!” She raced back to the front of the house and flew up the staircase, hoping her sister was lying in bed. Her boots left a wet trail on the hardwood floors, but that was the least of her concerns right now as a cold chill set her spine trembling. The bedroom door was half closed and she knocked on it briefly before shoving it open. “Sara?”

Hunched over, her sister sat on the edge of the bed, her hands cradling her enormous stomach. Beth’s own stomach clenched and her heart flew into her throat. Sara’s face was white, her eyes closed.

“Oh my God, you’re in labor!”

Sara breathed through another contraction and then opened her eyes. She half-smiled. “I’m fine. It’s early labor that’s all. Maybe even false pains.”

Her feet were frozen in place and her mind raced. “Where’s Buck?”

Sara winced and pushed herself upright. “He’s—oh, oh.”

Beth’s gaze fell to Sara’s front. A dark, wet spot streaked across her short nightgown and down her thighs. Awkwardly, her sister pushed herself up and wobbled across the carpet to the ensuite bathroom.

Staying close to the door in case Sarah needed her, Beth closed her eyes and listened to the water running in the bathroom. Breathe, breathe, she chanted to herself. In and out, focus on taking one breath after another. The panic attack began to subside.

She opened her eyes and tried to get a handle on their situation. There was no turning back to the main house and Flo because the road would already be washed out. They had to get in the truck and head for town, now, before they were trapped here alone. Panic rose again at the thought of delivering the baby by herself. She couldn’t do this. Yes, she could. No, she really couldn’t.

Sara walked slowly back out, her large form now encompassed in a bathrobe. Though her face revealed her agony, the stubborn woman moved about the bedroom as if nothing was wrong, tossing a bath towel down on the spot on the floor where her water had broken. “There’s flooding in the south pasture, Buck had to go. If he knew what was happening, he would have stayed here with me.”

Beth’s jaw dropped open. “And that would be a bad thing? He is going to kill you.”

Sara grimaced and placed a hand over her abdomen. “By the time he finds out, he’ll be too busy holding his son or daughter to yell at me too loud.”

“What was your plan? Were you simply going to drive to the hospital yourself?”

“No, I mean, I don’t think so. I was going to call down to the house and get you or someone to drive me in.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“We have to go now, so get dressed. The roads are starting to flood and I have no idea how bad things are in town. I couldn’t even see to get here.” Beth’s heart felt as if it was going to pound out of her chest. She focused on a spot over Sara’s shoulder praying for calm.

“Beth?”

Beth breathed in and out once more. This wasn’t happening. This really wasn’t happening.

“Beth!”

Beth’s gaze slammed into her sisters. “What?”

“Get a hold of yourself. I’m the one having the baby.”

Beth narrowed her eyes. “I realize that.”

Sara quirked her head. “Good, ‘cause I don’t need you falling apart. Where’s Flo?”

Beth strove for patience. “Flo is home, staying dry. If she knew you were in labor, she’d climb on a horse to get here.”

Sara opened a dresser drawer and pulled out some clothes. “My suitcase is ready to go if you want to take it down to the backdoor. I’ll throw on some clothes.”

Beth spun around, eager to distract herself. “Okay, do you need any help?”

Sara let out what could have been a groan or a moan or maybe even a growl, but it was drowned in cuss words. Beth decided to give her a few minutes alone and headed downstairs.

She put the hood of her raincoat back up and pushed open the front door. The rain was relentless. Please let us get to town before the roads close. What the heck was she going to do if they didn’t make it off the ranch? Don’t think about that. Just focus. Get her into the truck, drive. One step at a time, one action at a time. Breathe.

Back in the kitchen, she grabbed her cell phone. Sara would kill her if she knew she was calling Buck, but she couldn’t help it. Immediately, the phone went to voicemail and she hung up without leaving a message.

“I’m ready.”

Sara stood in the doorway dressed in a large flannel shirt that had to be Buck’s. Her legs were bare. “No pants?” Beth glanced out the window at the rain beating against the glass.

“I’ve got gym shorts on. I don’t want anything heavier on. I’m hot. “

Beth wasn’t about to argue with her about what she was wearing. She just wanted to get on the road. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”

Sara moved to the refrigerator and Beth threw up her hands, anxious to get on the road. “What do you need out of there?”

Her sister pulled out a six pack of her beloved soda. “They said I can’t eat anything, but I can have liquids.”

Beth grabbed one of Buck’s slickers off the coat rack and threw it over her sister’s shoulders. “I think they meant water or even juice but probably not soda.”

Sara shrugged. “To each his ow—” She suddenly stopped and grabbed her middle, her face contorted with pain.

Beth grabbed her shoulders and held on, hoping she was helping. She had no clue what to do to get her through labor. Animals needed very little assistance when they were in this state. Somehow though, she didn’t think rubbing her sister’s ears and talking softly was what was needed. This is Buck’s job, damn it. He’s the one who got her sister in this condition. Where the hell is he? Irrational thoughts of killing Buck wouldn’t help.

Sara’s eyes were closed and she softly counted. Good. At least one of them appeared to know what she was doing. Once it was over, Sara’s eyes popped open. This time, she didn’t look so confident. Even so, ever the trooper, she lifted her chin and gave a brisk nod. “Let’s go.”

By the time she helped the expectant mother into the passenger seat and moved around to the driver’s seat, Beth was beyond drenched. The slicker simply wasn’t made for the downpour they were experiencing. She tossed the hood back, gave one last prayer, and pulled away from the house. The defroster blowing warm air did its best to keep the window clear, but it didn’t matter; clear or not, the pounding rain made it impossible to see the road.

Fighting to keep the truck straight, her shoulders tensed and began to ache from the stress of hanging onto the wheel. Worse, she couldn’t look at Sara if she wanted to stay on the road, but she heard the heavy breaths and panting every time a contraction hit. Each landmark they passed, Beth gave a prayer of thanks they were that much closer to the main highway.

“Beth,” Sara groaned.

“We’re getting there, hang on, we’re almost off the ranch.”

“We’re not...going to get there,” her sister panted.

She shook her head in opposition. “Oh yes, we are. We’ll be fine. You just keep your legs closed and don’t bring that baby out before we get somewhere safe.”

“Right, okay.”

Beth groaned. If Sara was suddenly agreeing with her, putting her in control, this was not good. In fact, it was very, very bad.

She breathed, focused, counted. Her sister’s life and her unborn niece or nephew’s life were completely in her hands. Sara needed her....and she was a doctor. She could do this.

The night she lost Cole’s baby calf and the mother flashed across her mind. What if...

No. Don’t go there. It’s going to be fine...everything is going to be fine.

Suddenly, the truck nosedived straight down and the wheel jerked from her hands. She couldn’t see and had no idea what was happening. It stopped dead seconds later, and she thanked the heavens that they hadn’t appeared to hit anything.

She immediately glanced to her sister. Sara’s eyes were wide but she looked okay for the moment. Beth rolled down the window. Best she could figure, they were in a ditch on the side of the road.

“Damn it!”

She touched her hand to Sara’s shoulder but another contraction came and Sara was focused on that.

“I’m going to get out and see if I can get us out of here. Stay put.” She put the hood up on her coat and pushed open the door. Rain pelted her and she blinked, trying to see where on earth they even were.

With a quick study of the stuck truck, panic began to rise. There was no way they were going to be driving anywhere.

Trying to keep the fear out of her voice, she climbed back in. “We’re stuck.”

She grabbed her cell phone and dialed Buck’s number but it never went anywhere. No signal. She tried again and then sent a text praying a text would go out over the weak connection.

Sara wet her lips and closed her eyes as she rested her head on the back of the seat. “Did you see a landmark? What number is it?”

Beth shrugged. “I don’t know, I didn’t see one.”

Sara bit her bottom lip. “If I’m right, we’re near the 1500 mark, which means that the old cabin isn’t that far from here.”

“The old foreman’s cabin?” Beth shook her head. “Even if it was nearby, I can’t get the truck out of the ditch.”

The old cabin, as Sara referred to it, was really nothing more than an old, run-down shack. Better than a line shack, a little bigger, but definitely rough. It did have indoor plumbing, though. What was she thinking? They couldn’t get there—the rain hadn’t let up, it would be wet and muddy...and Sara was in labor!

Sara’s head rolled her way and her sister’s eyes opened. “We should be able to walk there.”

Beth shook her head. “I don’t think you can make it.”

Sara narrowed her green eyes into hard slits. “I’m not having this baby in a truck. Now let’s go.”

Beth stared after her for a split second. Did anything ever rattle her? As if in answer, another contraction overtook Sara and she doubled over, crying out. Beth sat helpless, swallowing back the nausea that rose in her throat and caused a sour taste in her mouth. So many things could go wrong with this. What if they fell? She’d never be able to get Sara back on her feet let alone carry her. Weren’t they better to stay here where it was at least dry?

Sara didn’t leave room for discussion and pushed her door open. “We have to go now before another contraction hits.”

Beth gave a quick prayer, grabbed the keys out of the truck, and shoved her cell phone in her pocket. Reaching behind her seat, she quickly collected the smaller of her two medical bags and met Sara at the front of the truck. Rain blinded her as she looked up. “Which way?” she yelled.

Sara pointed.

Holding her sister’s arm in support, she gingerly led the way. Please let her be right. She couldn’t see a thing. What if Sara was confused and they weren’t near the cabin at all?

Sara squeezed her hand. “Wait, I have to stop.”

They stopped as a contraction took hold of her sister. Beth held tight to her hand, whispered words of encouragement, and blocked as much of the rain from the agonized woman as possible while Sara cried out and squeezed her fingers, hard.

Two more stops and several long minutes later, the cabin was suddenly right in front of them. Beth could have cried with relief. At least they’d be out of the rain.

Inside the cabin, she helped Sara remove her raincoat and boots and guided her to a chair before taking off her own gear. A small wood stove stood in the corner of the room ready to be lit.

Picking up nearby matches wrapped in plastic, she lit the kindling. Within seconds, a fire blazed. She glanced around. “This cabin isn’t so bad. I guess I remembered it being a lot worse.”

The cabin had a small table with four chairs. The far end of the room held a recliner and double bed, the mattress covered in plastic. Beth hoped a plastic tote next to the bed held bedding.

Sara glanced up after the most recent contraction stopped. “We redid a lot of these cabins the past couple of years. That way the ranch hands can just stay out here if they need to and not waste time coming back to the main house all week.”

Beth lifted the lid to the tote and pulled out a sheet and blanket. First, she needed to get her sister into bed, then she’d check out the supplies they had. By the time she had the bed made and helped Sara onto it, her sister’s face was as white as the sheets. The pain she must be in had to be worse than she was letting on. Sara lay down on her back and closed her eyes.

“I’m going to slip these wet shorts off okay? Then we’ll get you under some blankets.”

Sara nodded and lifted her hips. Beth laid the wet clothes on a chair that she moved close to the woodstove. Within a few minutes, she had Sara covered up. Her sister’s eyes were closed. An old sweatshirt hung on a hook on the wall, and she stripped off her own damp clothes and put that on instead. It hung past her knees but at least it was warm and dry.

Sara swore and let out a loud groan.

Beth moved to her side. “I think we need to start timing them.”

Sara nodded without opening her eyes. Beth pulled out her cell phone and fiddled with it until she found the stopwatch. “Let me know when the next one starts.”

Beth was alarmed to discover how close together they were coming. “Okay, listen. I’m going to get some supplies out and see what we have here.”

In the kitchen, she put a kettle on the gas stove and started water to boil. They could both use a cup of tea, and even if they didn’t drink it, the simple job kept her busy.

A memory flashed through her mind of being with Tyler when they were kids in these rough buildings. What the two of them wouldn’t have given to have a comfortable bed instead of the old camp cots that used to be here. She smiled. They’d passed a lot of afternoons pretending to be western settlers—usually newlywed western settlers.

With two hot cups of tea, she crossed the cabin floor and took a seat by the bed. She checked her cell phone, trying in vain to get a signal.

Sara looked over and Beth wiped her face with a wet cloth. “How ya doing?”

“I’d rather be wrestling a bull.”

Beth grinned. “No doubt.”

Her sister’s brows furrowed. “What did you come down to the house for earlier anyway?”

“Flo sent me. She had a feeling. She’s probably sick to death with worry.”

“She’ll have everyone out looking for us; they’ll find us.” Sara closed her eyes again.

“Most likely.” Beth chewed her lip. “Sara?”

Her sister’s green eyes fluttered open. “Yeah?”

“I think I’m going to move to Abilene to be with Tyler,” she confessed, figuring it was as good a distraction for her sister as anything.

Sara frowned and leaned up on her elbow. “What are you talking about? What about your practice?”

“Grant can run the practice here. We’ll bring in another vet or two, and they can manage it while I work somewhere in Abilene. I don’t care where, it doesn’t matter anymore. I just want to be with Tyler. I want to have our future the way you and Buck are having yours.” She grimaced, lifting her shoulders and letting them droop. “I miss him.”

Another contraction shook her sister, and for several minutes, Sara was absorbed in riding out the pain. When it finally subsided, her face was bathed in sweat. She lay back catching her breath. “I can’t imagine living without Buck, not even for a day. If that’s what you think is best, then that’s what you have to do.”

“I do.” Beth wiped her brow again. “Tyler deserves his chance to do what he wants to do. I’m portable. I can be a vet anywhere. I don’t need my own practice to do what I love doing.”

“I hate to see you move, especially when the baby is going to be here.”

“We’re not that far away. I can come home as often as I want. In fact, if I take a job in someone else’s practice, I’ve got more freedom.” The thought actually lightened her heart. It was a tough job being in charge of so much. It might be nice to ‘punch a clock’ and not have the responsibilities on her shoulders. “It’ll be especially nice when we decide to have kids.”

Another contraction hit hard and Beth helped her through it, timing the duration on her phone. When it ended, she got up and moved to the kitchen again. Her hands were shaking and her stomach was queasy. She couldn’t let her sister guess how scared she was. She had to be strong and confident.

She closed her eyes, swallowed hard, and tried to focus. She thought about her years of training, thought about the years of growing up with Sara and how close they were. She had to get a grip on herself; she couldn’t lose control. Sara needed her. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she bit down hard on her lip.

Opening her eyes, she squared her shoulders. She was a doctor; an animal doctor, but a doctor nonetheless, and she would get her sister and the baby through this. There wasn’t any choice.

The door suddenly swung open with a bang. Beth’s eyes widened in shock and surprise.

Tyler stepped into the cabin.