Colton's Covert Baby

by Lara Lacombe

  He reached for his phone, wincing a bit as the movement pulled his shoulder.

  “Still hurts?” Molly asked.

  “It’s fine,” he said.

  She eyed him doubtfully. “I think you’re going to need a little more than ice and ibuprofen.”

  He didn’t want to talk about his shoulder, didn’t want her to worry about him. “How’s your head?” In the gray light of the carriage, he could see that a dark bruise had formed at the edge of her hair. Even though she hadn’t hit her belly in the earlier commotion, he’d feel better once she’d been seen by a doctor.

  “I’ve been better,” she admitted. “I just want to go home and take a hot bath.”

  “I’m going to call the fire department again.” Impatience bubbled in Max’s chest. “We need to get you out of here.”

  As he thumbed through the call history on his phone, a low hum filled the air. It grew steadily louder, resolving into the characteristic thwop-thwop-thwop of a helicopter blade.

  Max reflexively glanced up, though he couldn’t see through the ceiling of the gondola. “That might be our ride,” he murmured.

  Sure enough, the sound kept growing louder until it reached a crescendo over their heads. Molly looked nervous. “I probably should have asked this before,” she said loudly. “But how exactly are they going to get us down?”

  “It depends,” Max replied. There were a couple of possibilities—they could rappel down to the ground, or be pulled into the body of the helicopter and ride to safety. Given Molly’s inexperience with rope lines and the state of his shoulder, Max sincerely hoped the rescuers opted for the latter option.

  Loud thumps sounded on the roof of the carriage. Metal groaned as the rescuers on the roof pried open the hatch of the carriage. A blast of cold air entered the space, and Max drew Molly close to try to keep her warm. A metal ladder descended from the hatch. Max helped guide it to the floor, then stepped back to make room for the rescuers.

  The first man descended the ladder quickly. Once inside the carriage, he pushed his ski goggles onto his forehead and glanced around. His eyes landed on Molly, and he smiled broadly.

  “Hello, ma’am. My name is John, and I’ll be your rescue worker today.”

  He was a big man, at least five inches taller than Max. Long legs, broad shoulders, muscled arms and a dark beard completed the picture. Like a lumberjack straight out of central casting, Max thought sourly. All that was missing were the flannel shirt and ax.

  John’s size made Max feel a bit inadequate, and it didn’t help that Molly was staring up at him like he was some kind of superhero.

  Stop it, he told himself. The only thing that mattered right now was getting her to safety. The fact that her rescuer had a pretty face shouldn’t bother him. John was just going to get her out of the gondola—nothing more.

  John nodded at him. “My partner will take care of you, sir,” he said. He glanced up. “Hey, Chris. Plenty of room in here for you to join us.”

  A second man climbed down the ladder. He was closer to Max’s height and build, and had the look of a ski bum. “Howdy,” he said.

  “Hello,” Max replied. “So how are we going to do this? Up or down?”

  “Up,” said John. “The wind is starting to pick up again, and we don’t want you folks sliding down ropes in case it turns nasty.”

  Max nodded in agreement. It would be a lot easier for Molly to ride in the helicopter, and they wouldn’t have to worry about getting off the side of the mountain after making it to the ground.

  “What does that mean?” Molly asked, her worry plain.

  Max opened his mouth to explain, but John beat him to it. “I’m going to put this harness on you, ma’am,” he said, lifting the gear with one hand. “Then we’re going to climb to the roof of the gondola, and the crew in the helicopter will winch us up.”

  Molly’s cheeks went pale. “Okay.”

  “Don’t worry,” John said with a smile. “I’ll be holding you the whole way.”

  Max fought the urge to roll his eyes. This guy was really laying it on thick. But Molly seemed to appreciate it.

  “All right,” she said, nodding. Her eyes widened as John stepped closer, harness in hand.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said, her voice a little shaky.

  Max clenched his jaw as he watched John’s big hands move over Molly’s body, tightening straps, securing buckles. He should be the one helping her, not this burly stranger.

  “What about you?” Chris asked him.

  Max reached for the harness and began to strap himself in, his eyes on Molly and John the whole time.

  “I take it you’ve done this before?” Chris asked.

  “Yeah. I’m former military,” Max said, not really paying attention to Chris.

  “Right on, brother,” Chris said.

  Max didn’t reply. He was too busy staring holes into John’s back as the man knelt to arrange the straps between Molly’s legs. He reached up to secure a belt around her stomach, but paused when Molly clutched her belly protectively.

  John spoke softly, but Max was so focused on the pair of them that he heard him clearly. “Are you—?”

  Molly nodded.

  John patted her hip, causing Max to see red. “Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I’ll get you both out of here safely.”

  “Am I just going to be dangling from a rope?” Molly asked nervously.

  “Not exactly,” John said. He stood, towering over her. “I’m going to bend my knees, like I’m sitting.” He walked over to the ladder, leaning against it as he demonstrated the pose he was going to assume. “You’ll sit on my lap, facing me. Lock your ankles around my waist, and I’ll keep my arms around you. I’ll hold us steady as we go up.”

  Max thought his head might explode, but by some miracle, he managed to keep his emotions in check.

  “First things first, though,” John said. He shrugged out of his coat, revealing—of course, Max thought—a flannel shirt.

  John draped his coat around Molly’s shoulders, making Max feel like a giant ass. He wanted to protest, to let everyone know he’d offered her his sweater, but it hadn’t fit.

  “It’s cold outside, and that wind is no joke,” John said. “Don’t want you turning into a Popsicle on the way up.”

  “Thanks,” Molly said, smiling up at him. “I appreciate it.”

  “I don’t think my coat will fit you,” Chris said as he finished checking the fit of Max’s harness. “But we have blankets in the chopper.”

  “No worries. I’ll be fine,” Max managed to grit out.

  “Ladies first,” John said, gesturing for Molly to start up the stairs.

  She grabbed the first rung, but before she began to climb she glanced at Max. “Are you going to be okay with your shoulder?”

  Both John and Chris turned to look at him. “Are you hurt, sir?” Chris asked, his gaze sharpening as he gave Max a once-over.

  Max shrugged, wishing Molly hadn’t said anything. He didn’t want to look weak in front of these men. It was a ridiculous reaction, but he had his pride...

  “We got tossed around a bit earlier,” he said. “I wrenched my shoulder, but it’s fine. I’ll be okay for the ride up.”

  “All right,” Chris said. “I know you’re a pro, but I’ll stand at your back and hold you steady. Will that work for you?”

  Max nodded, knowing he couldn’t really refuse. These men had safety protocols to follow, and the last thing he wanted was to make their job more difficult.

  He watched as first Molly and then John ascended the ladder. Max scrambled up after John, his head popping through the hatch just in time to see Molly climb onto John’s lap. She wrapped her legs around his waist and threw her arms around his neck, clinging to his large frame like a barnacle.

  A wa
ve of jealousy washed over Max, the emotion so strong he nearly lost his grip on the ladder. It should be him holding Molly like that, him rescuing her from the gondola. Instead, he had to watch while some stranger lifted his woman and unborn baby to safety.

  Except...was she still his woman? Their relationship had been episodic at best, moments of stolen time he’d carved out of his schedule. They’d never made their association public, never let Blaine or anyone else know they were together. They only saw each other when he stayed at The Lodge during his quarterly visits. When Max considered things from a different perspective, their connection seemed like less of a relationship and more of an ongoing booty call.

  The thought left a bad taste in his mouth. He’d never thought of their relationship in such cheap terms before. But as he watched Molly and John rise into the air, he had to wonder if perhaps his actions had made Molly feel that he took her for granted.

  He certainly hadn’t meant for her to feel...disposable. The problem was, he couldn’t offer her anything permanent. After the demise of his first marriage, Max knew he wasn’t a forever kind of guy.

  But Molly was carrying his child. It didn’t get more serious than that.

  He relaxed a bit as she and John disappeared into the body of the helicopter. Chris stepped behind him. “Our turn,” he said loudly. Max nodded, ignoring the cold gusts of wind buffeting the gondola carriage.

  Max felt a tug and then they were airborne, slowly moving away from the roof of the carriage. He knew he should look around, take advantage of the uninterrupted view. This was likely the last time he’d fly through the air without being encased by glass. But he couldn’t take his eyes off the door of the helicopter.

  Molly was up there, waiting for him. When they’d been stranded in the gondola, it had been easy to feel like life had hit the pause button. In some ways, he wished they’d had more time together, so they could have come to an understanding about how things stood between them. But now they were returning to reality, and they were no closer to knowing what to do next.

  “Don’t give up on me yet,” he murmured. Max knew he didn’t deserve a second chance after the way he had treated her, but maybe Molly would listen to him for the sake of their baby if nothing else. He didn’t think they could ever go back to the way things had been between them, but there had to be something he could do to help them move forward, some plan he could devise to make things right again.

  He had a goal. Now he just had to figure out how to reach it.

  Chapter 7

  “Do you know how much longer this will take?”

  Molly tugged the thin sheet over her legs, shifting a bit as she searched for a comfortable position. The hospital mattress was thin, and though both the head and foot of the bed were adjustable, she had yet to find an angle that didn’t make her back hurt.

  “I believe you’re next on the list,” said the nurse. “I’m sorry about the wait. It’s been a little crazy around here.”

  Her words triggered a rush of guilt. “No, I’m sorry,” Molly said. “I don’t mean to complain. I know you guys are doing the best you can after the avalanche.”

  The woman gave her a grateful smile. “Let me bring you another blanket,” she offered. “I know it’s chilly in here, and you must still be cold after your ordeal.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured as the nurse left.

  Alone again, Molly rested her hand on her belly. The baby had been reassuringly active throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Even though she’d missed her ob-gyn appointment, the ER doctor had mentioned doing an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay. Maybe she’d get to find out the sex of the baby today after all...

  Max’s face flashed through her mind. Would he be here for the scan? More importantly, did she want him to be?

  The helicopter ride down the mountain hadn’t taken too long. John had sat beside her the whole time, a steady presence amid the rush of activity. Max had sat across from her, watching her quietly. Molly could tell there were things he wanted to say, but the noise inside the helicopter kept him from speaking. Then they’d landed, and each of them had been ushered into the back of separate waiting ambulances. She had no idea where he was now. Maybe he was still waiting to see a doctor, too. Or perhaps he’d already been treated and released.

  If that was the case, would he wait for her? Or would he leave her here while he made his way back to The Lodge, where Furbert was undoubtedly waiting for him?

  At the moment, Molly wasn’t sure which option she preferred. Given his reaction in the gondola, it was clear he wasn’t happy about the baby. She knew he was still adjusting to the news, but if he was going to ultimately decide to leave, she’d rather he did it now. If he stuck around to try out the role of father and supportive partner, it would hurt all the more if and when he decided the job just wasn’t for him. Besides, her baby deserved more than a part-time dad.

  But could Max really offer more? He was totally devoted to his charity, a fact that had seemed admirable before. Now it made her wonder if there was room in his life for anything else. He had a track record of prioritizing his work over his personal life. She recalled him telling her about his marriage, the way his commitment to the team had placed a lot of strain on the relationship and ultimately contributed to his divorce. He’d since thrown himself into K-9 Cadets, pushing everything else in his life to the fringes.

  Including her.

  Molly couldn’t find it in her to be bitter, though. She’d known the score when she’d first gotten involved with him. And while she’d accepted the fact that Max didn’t think their relationship could move beyond their quarterly visits, she wasn’t willing to consign her child to the same fate. Their baby deserved to have center stage in Max’s life.

  But would he agree?

  She didn’t know what kind of history Max had with his own father—he’d never talked about his parents with her before. Now she wondered what kind of childhood he’d had, and what kind of upbringing he wanted for his own kids.

  It was one of many conversations they needed to have in the coming days. If Max held true to pattern, however, he would only be in town for the week. They were going to have to pack a lot of decisions into that short period of time, which meant Molly needed to try to keep an open mind. After Max’s radio silence in response to her messages, she’d just about accepted the idea of being a single mother; now she had to allow for the possibility that Max would want to coparent their baby.

  A soft rap sounded on the door; probably the nurse returning with the extra blanket. Molly called out, “Come in,” just as the door was pushed open a crack.

  Max peered into the room. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” Relief was a warm rush in her chest, though she quickly quashed the emotion. He was here now, sure. But she couldn’t read too much into that. There was still plenty of time for him to walk away.

  “May I come in?” He sounded hesitant, which was a departure from his usual confidence.

  “Sure.”

  He slipped inside, revealing a sling on his left arm.

  “Are you okay?” she asked as he settled into the chair by her bed.

  “What, this?” He lifted his arm slightly. “Yeah, it’s okay. Just a little strain.”

  “Let me guess,” she said drily. “They told you to ice it and take ibuprofen?”

  He grinned, “Right you are. I tried to save them the trouble, but they insisted on the sling.”

  Molly rolled her eyes. “You’re not a Green Beret anymore. It’s okay to be human.”

  “Never,” he deadpanned, leaning back in the chair. “What about you? How’s your head?”

  “Fine. Just a bump.” The doctor who had initially examined her had cleaned a little blood off the spot, but had declared she didn’t need stitches. Molly had passed some kind of concussion screen, and the woman had told her to rest and take over-the-counter m
edication for any pain she might develop.

  “What about the baby?”

  “I think everything is okay there, too, but I’m waiting for an ultrasound.”

  Max nodded, absorbing this information. “Um...do you mind if I stay for that?” He looked simultaneously guarded and hopeful, as if he wanted to stay but was prepared to accept no for an answer.

  “Yes, you can stay,” Molly said. She was glad he actually wanted to be there for the scan, though perhaps he needed to see the baby to truly believe this was happening.

  They sat in silence for a moment. “I’m surprised you’re still here,” she commented. “I figured you’d leave after being seen to get back to Furbert.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” Max said. “I managed to get ahold of Blaine, who said none of the cabins were affected by the avalanche. I left out food and water, so he should be good for a while.”

  Molly was glad to hear it. Furbert really was a sweet dog, and she’d hate for anything to happen to him.

  There was another rap on the door, and this time a doctor entered, pulling a rolling cart after him. “Hi there,” he said, his tone friendly. “I’m Dr. Fitzpatrick, the OB on call tonight. Just going to do a quick scan to make sure the baby is all right.”

  “Sounds good,” Molly said.

  Dr. Fitzpatrick eyed Max as he set up the ultrasound. “Are you the baby’s father?”

  Max’s eyes widened slightly. “Yes,” he replied. Molly thought she heard a hint of surprise in his voice, as if he didn’t quite believe he was really here.

  “Great, great,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said as he pushed buttons and twisted knobs. He turned to Molly. “Ready for the goo?”

  Molly smiled wryly. “I suppose.”

  “It’s warm,” the doctor assured her. “I wouldn’t give you cold stuff.”

  “Thanks.” She tugged up the gown, and Dr. Fitzpatrick tucked a sheet across her hips. Then he applied a healthy dollop of gel to her abdomen; true to his word, it was pleasantly warm on her skin.

  “Here we go,” he said. He applied the wand to her belly. After a few seconds, a steady thump-thump-thump filled the air.