Hometown Christmas

by Joleen James

  "Besides, giving birth is not pretty," Brandi said. "There's tons of blood and afterbirth. Her lady parts don't look like lady parts, believe me, I know. There is nothing the least bit sexy about giving birth. This is about the miracle of life. You boys can wait down here. It's not like we are going to jump out the window."

  "Shut up," Mr. Tall yelled. "Just shut up. I can't take all the talk."

  Star tensed. "Oh God, it hurts."

  "You're almost there," Ruby said, "I'm sure of it."

  "I want Cade," Star said, tears in her eyes. "It's not supposed to happen like this."

  "I know," Ruby said soothingly.

  "Take her upstairs," Mr. Tall said with a wave of his hand. "Get her out of my sight."

  "I don't think that's a good idea," the short one said.

  "Then don't think." Mr. Tall looked at Tawney. "Go."

  Ruby and Brandi helped Star to her feet.

  "She stays," the short one says, pointing at Ruby.

  "No," Ruby said. "Star needs me. I’m the most qualified to help her give birth."

  Tawney had no idea if that statement were true or not, but the men didn't need to know that. "She's right. Ruby is a nurse."

  "She's a nurse and she didn't doctor him?" The short one gestured to Mr. Tall.

  "You gave the orders," Tawney reminded him.

  "You stay down here," the short one said, his mean eyes on Tawney. "I don't trust you anyway. You're trouble."

  "Fine," Tawney replied, happy to have won a small battle.

  Ruby gave her a sympathetic look as the trio of sisters started up the stairs.

  "There are clean sheets in the closet in the bathroom," Tawney said. "I'll reheat the water."

  The three sisters disappeared into the loft area.

  "May I?" Tawney pointed to the kitchen.

  Mr. Tall nodded.

  She really couldn't get a handle on him. Mr. Tall definitely seemed less unstable then the short one, but he gave off a super scary vibe. She didn't think he was one of those criminals who didn't possess a conscience. No, she had the impression he wanted out of the cabin without upping the body count.

  Tawney turned the burner on. The snow had slowed. The clock on the stove read five-thirty. Rick would be off work in an hour. She prayed to God that he wouldn't go home to sleep. More than ever, she needed him.

  "Got any more of that meat left?" the short one asked, coming up behind her.

  "Yes." Tawney removed the lid from the crockpot, dishing him up a good-sized portion.

  "You want any?" the short one called over his shoulder to his partner.

  "No," Mr. Tall replied.

  Mr. Tall seemed tired, almost sick.

  Tawney passed the short one his food.

  He sat at the table and dug in.

  Tawney moved back to the sofa.

  From upstairs, Ruby said, "Okay, the bed is clean, let's get you in."

  "There you go," Brandi said. "Comfy?"

  "Yes," Star replied. "Oh no, here comes another one."

  "Five minutes apart now," Brandi said.

  "Breathe," Ruby told Star.

  Tawney had never felt more helpless in her life.

  Mr. Tall's head bobbed. Was he falling asleep? They'd all been up all night, but there was no way she could sleep.

  The short one scraped back in his chair. He walked to Mr. Tall, giving the man's chair a kick. "Hey. You sleeping?"

  Mr. Tall's head fell to the side.

  "Shit," the short one said. "What the—"

  He parted Mr. Tall's jacket. Blood soaked his sweatshirt.

  "You," he said to Tawney. "Get up and help me."

  Tawney helped him get Mr. Tall on the floor.

  "He's lost a lot of blood," Tawney said.

  "Red," the short one called. "Get down here. He needs a nurse."

  "I'll take a look," Tawney said, not wanting to put Ruby in the short one's path.

  "Red," the short one bellowed. "Get down here or I’m going shoot your sister."

  Ruby appeared at the top of the stairs. "What happened?"

  "He's bleeding," the short one said. "You're a nurse, save him."

  Ruby knelt beside Mr. Tall. "Grab the first aid kit," she said to Tawney.

  Tawney ran to the bathroom and got the kit. She passed Ruby a pair of gloves, and she gloved up herself.

  Were they really trying to save the man who held them all hostage?

  Ruby rolled the man's shirt up. "Where is the blood coming from?"

  "I don't know," Tawney said. "There was an exit wound."

  "This is your fault," the short one said to Tawney. "Why didn't you let Red doctor him in the first place?" He cuffed Tawney.

  Her head snapped to the side, striking the end table. She saw stars. A numbing pain shot up the side of her face. Tawney blinked trying to clear her vision. Her ear throbbed.

  Ruby jumped to her feet. "Touch her again, and I'll let your friend die. I swear to God I will."

  "You don't give the orders around here, Red," the short one said.

  "Watch me." Ruby bent down to help Tawney. "Let me see."

  The short one grabbed a fistful of Ruby's hair and yanked her up. "Listen, you bitch."

  "Let go of me," Ruby said with dead calm. "Your friend has internal bleeding. This isn't Tawney's fault. He should have been taken to the hospital after he was shot. I have no way of seeing inside his body, but I'm guessing the bullet nicked something vital. I'll do the best I can; now get out of my way."

  The short one let go of Ruby's hair. She knelt beside Mr. Tall and took his pulse at his wrist.

  "He's alive," she said, sounding like she knew what she was talking about, "but his pulse is very faint."

  "Son of a bitch," the short one said.

  "There's only so much I can do," she said. "He's bleeding internally. He needs surgery."

  "Then do it," the short one barked.

  "I'm not a doctor," she told him. "I'm not even a surgical nurse. I have no idea how to help him."

  "You're lying."

  Boy was she ever. Tawney's wits were returning. Her vision cleared.

  "Tawney, help me change his bandages," Ruby said. "We will wrap him tight and put more pressure on the wounds. It's all we can do."

  Tawney nodded, ignoring the queasy feeling in her stomach. Together they managed to change the bandages, using rolled gauze to wrap around Mr. Tall's body to add pressure on the wounds.

  When they finished, Tawney leaned back against the sofa, tired, her head throbbing. She prayed she wasn't going to get sick.

  "Let's cover him with a blanket," Ruby suggested to the short one.

  "I'll get it," Tawney said.

  "No," Ruby said, "I'll go. You don't look so good. Are you sure you are all right? He hit you so hard."

  "I'm okay," Tawney replied.

  Ruby studied her for a second before jumping to her feet. She ran upstairs, returning a minute later with the blanket. She covered Mr. Tall. "He needs medical help," she told the short one. "I don't think you'll be able to take him with you when you go."

  "The hell I won't," the short one said.

  "I'm heading back upstairs," Ruby said. "Star needs me."

  Star let out a long moan.

  The short one didn't protest. Ruby went upstairs.

  "I don't like you," the short one said to Tawney, his beady eyes like two lumps of black coal.

  "I don't like you either," she returned, not bothering to hide her hatred for him.

  Her head ached, and she wondered if he'd given her a concussion. Her thoughts were fuzzy.

  Upstairs, Star gave a loud, anguished cry.

  "Damn, I can't take much more of this," the short one said. "I have half a mind to gag her."

  He had half a mind all right. If he made a move to gag Star, Tawney wouldn't hesitate to shoot him.

  The short one didn't move.

  Feeling slightly disappointed, Tawney pressed a hand to her upset stomach.

  CHAPTER NINEr />
  December 22nd, 6:30 a.m.

  Cade was waiting for Rick in the police station lobby when he got off work.

  "Ready?" Cade asked.

  "Yeah." They stepped outside into the cold. The snow was barely spitting now. "How did you get here?" Rick surveyed the poor condition of the roads.

  "Stayed at Dane's," Cade said. "He wanted to come with us, but I told him to stay with Ellery. No sense in all of us being out in this weather."

  "I called Van Paul, he's meeting us here," Rick said.

  "Great."

  A big white truck rumbled around the corner, the wide shovel on the front clearing a path.

  "There he is." Rick started for the truck, Cade on his heels.

  The driver's window rolled down. "Morning," Van said with a smile. "Not that I got any sleep last night."

  "Good morning," Rick returned, climbing up into the cab. He scooted over to make room for Cade. "Don't think any of us have slept. You know the way to my cabin?"

  "Yep." Van put the truck into drive.

  "Then let's go and check on the girls," Rick said.

  "Thanks, man," Cade said to Van.

  "No thanks necessary," Van said. "Happy to help."

  * * *

  "I can see the head, Star," Ruby said with awe. "The baby has dark hair."

  "O'Brien hair," Brandi agreed, smiling. "Oh, Star, the baby is almost here."

  "I don't know what to do," Star said in panicked tone. "It hurts so much. Should I be pushing? Is the baby okay?"

  From the living room, Tawney listened to her sisters. More than anything she wanted to be upstairs with them.

  The short one was stretched out on the sofa now, his gun on her. She prayed he'd fall asleep.

  "Tawney," Ruby called. "Can you bring up the water?"

  Tawney got to her feet. She swayed. The second hit to her head had been a real killer. Her stomach rebelled.

  "I'm going to be sick." Tawney ran for the bathroom, vomiting. Chicken mole. Yuck. She gagged, then vomited again. Sweat broke out on her forehead.

  "Son of a bitch," the short one muttered from the living room.

  No doubt she was inconveniencing him. Well, too bad. She should have vomited on him. With a shaky hand, she flushed the toilet, but she didn't rise, not sure if she were finished. Her breath came in short spurts.

  Upstairs, Star moaned, low and long. Was she pushing? She had to get it together for Star.

  Tawney used the toilet to steady herself as she rose. On her feet, she went to the sink and rinsed her mouth.

  Star made a primal sound.

  Tawney ignored the nausea in her gut and left the bathroom. She took the still warm water from the stove and mounted the stairs, the short one on her heels. For a second she considered throwing the water on him, but the water had cooled slightly and was no longer boiling hot.

  When Star saw the short one, she cried, "I don't want him here, make him go. I'm going to lose it."

  Tawney set the water down. "Please leave us alone for a minute."

  "I need Tawney's help," Ruby said. "Can you support Star's upper back and shoulders? Brandi, you have to help me. I'll need an extra pair of hands when the baby comes out."

  "Okay," Brandi said.

  The short one stood there, his eyes on Ruby.

  "Go," Ruby said to him.

  "What will you give me if I do?" he asked, the words lewd and ugly.

  "Anything," Ruby said. "Just go."

  Brandi gasped. "Ruby, no."

  He chuckled. "I’m going to hold you to that, Red."

  Thankfully, he turned away and left them.

  Star cried out again, baring down.

  "The baby's coming," Ruby said excitedly. "One more push, Star, and I think the head will be out."

  "I can't." Tears slipped from Star's eyes. "I'm so tired. I'm scared."

  "You can do it, Star," Tawney encouraged. "I know you can. You're stronger than anyone I know."

  Brandi's hand rested on Star's belly. "I can feel the contraction starting. Push, Star."

  Star bore down. Tawney felt the tension in Star's back and arms as she helped to support her sister. A cry tore from Star.

  "The head's out," Ruby said, in a rush. "Push again, Star. You're doing great."

  Star pushed long and hard.

  "Shoulders are out," Brandi said. "The rest is easy."

  "Easy?" Star cried, as a contraction overtook her. She pushed. The baby slid into Ruby's hands.

  "Oh my God," Ruby said. "I did it." She glanced at Star. "We did it. It's a girl. You have a daughter."

  "A girl?" Star breathed, her voice filled with wonder. "I have a daughter?"

  "Yes," Brandi said. "A beautiful, dark-haired little girl."

  Brandi had a soft towel waiting. She helped Ruby wrap the baby. They cleaned the baby's face, checking to make sure the airways were clear, then handed the little girl to Star.

  Star cried freely now, her baby cradled in her arms. The baby made a tiny mewling sound as she greeted her mother. "She's gorgeous. Have you ever seen anything more precious?"

  "No," Tawney said, her heart full. The baby had thick, dark hair. Her eyes were closed. She scrunched her little face up and let out a pitiful, sweet cry. "She's perfect, Star. A Christmas miracle."

  "You need to push again, Star," Ruby instructed, "so we can get the afterbirth."

  Star did her part effortlessly, her attention focused on her daughter now.

  "Do you think we should cut the cord?" Ruby asked.

  "I think so," Brandi said. "We have no idea how long we'll be here."

  "Tawney, you do it," Star said, through her tears of happiness. "Please."

  "Me?" Tawney said. "I'm the least maternal person here."

  "I want you." Star gave her a gentle smile. "Please."

  Tawney took the scissors Brandi held and cut where Ruby told her to. Thankfully, vomiting had helped her upset stomach, and she was able to keep herself together. Ruby and Brandi worked to clean Star up, while Tawney sat with Star and the baby. She touched the baby's tiny hand. The little girl was perfect.

  Could she do this? Could she get pregnant, give birth, all for the reward of a sweet baby like Star's?

  "What are you going to name her?" Tawney asked.

  Star smiled. "Cade and I talked about it, and we are going to name her Patricia after Aunt Patsy. We didn't decide on a middle name, but I like Noelle. Patricia Noelle. She's my best Christmas gift ever."

  "Will you call her Patsy?" Ruby asked.

  "I don't think so," Star said, "probably Patty or Trisha, we'll just have to wait and see what her personality is like."

  As if on cue, Patricia let out a cat-like cry. She scrunched up her little face.

  "Oh, my," Star said, her eyes locked on her daughter. "Aren't you the sweetest?" She kissed her baby's forehead, stroked her hair. "I'm so in love with you already."

  Tawney watched it all, the powerful love, the tiny baby, and she realized she wasn't afraid to have a baby of her own. That wasn't it at all. She was afraid to be this happy. Damn her mother. Just because her mother couldn't stay with one man didn't mean Tawney and Rick couldn’t have a long, happy marriage. She was not her mother, a woman who sabotaged every relationship she had. Why hadn't she seen it sooner? She could do this, make her marriage work, have a family. More than anything she wanted to know this all-consuming kind of love. And she wanted to have a baby with Rick.

  She'd almost ruined her marriage.

  If they ever got out of this cabin, she'd tell Rick what was in her heart. She'd beg him to get her pregnant. She'd insist on it.

  She wasn't afraid anymore.

  She was ready to fight for her life and for the lives of her family.

  Remembering the men downstairs, and the gun and mag in her waistband, she went into the bathroom and inserted the mag. The gun was loaded, and she was just angry enough with the short one to do some bodily harm if he tried to hurt her or her sisters again.

  * * *

/>   Tawney took a load of laundry down to the bathroom and started the washing machine.

  The short one had kept quiet during the birth and clean-up. His eyes were on her when she headed for the stairs.

  "Send Red down," he said. "Time for her to pay up."

  "Star needs her," Tawney replied.

  There was a bottle of wine on the table next to the short one. He'd been drinking.

  "I said, send Red down." He drank from the bottle.

  "I'll stay." Tawney sat on the sofa.

  "Red, get down here," he yelled.

  Mr. Tall didn't move, and Tawney wondered if he were still alive.

  Ruby appeared at the top of the stairs. She fixed her stare on Tawney. Tawney shook her head.

  "I’m busy," Ruby said. "What do you want?"

  "Are you taking a tone with me?" the short one asked, coming to his feet.

  "My sister just had a baby," Ruby said, but she didn't back down. "Don't you have any compassion?"

  "I said get down here, or I'll put a nice round hole in your sister." He turned the gun on Tawney.

  Frowning, Ruby came down the stairs.

  "That's better," he said. "You be nice to me, and I'll be nice to you."

  Ruby grimaced. "Have you even checked on your friend?"

  "He's breathin'," the short one said. "That's about all I can do."

  "It's getting light out," Tawney said. "It's stopped snowing. Maybe you should be on your way."

  "I'm not a fool," the short one said. "I'll never get out of the driveway."

  "You can't stay here forever," Tawney said. "Our husbands will come looking for us."

  "If you're so quick to get rid of me, go outside and shovel that Jeep out."

  He grabbed Tawney's arm dragging her to the door.

  "No," Ruby cried, her hand closing around his arm. "It's too cold. She'll freeze. Plus, she's hurt."

  "That's her own fault." He yanked the door open, shoving Tawney outside.

  "Wait," Ruby said. "I'll behave, don't make Tawney go outside."

  "Get upstairs," he said to Tawney, "and don’t come back down until I say so."

  He shoved Tawney in the general direction of the stairs. Brandi stood at the top of the staircase, her face white with fear.