Megan's Hero (The Callahans of Texas Book #3): A Novel

by Gillenwater, Sharon

  “Not much. They checked me every thirty minutes. I’d just doze off, and the nurse would be in here again.”

  “Is everything okay? Are you having any contractions?” A frown creased his forehead.

  “Just a few more of the Braxton Hicks ones.”

  “Those are kind of like practice contractions, right?”

  “That’s what I’ve read, and that’s what the night nurse called them.” That didn’t seem like common subject matter for a bachelor. “How did you know about them?”

  “I heard you and Dr. Cindy talking yesterday, so I looked it up on the internet when I got home. Is Sweet Baby’s heartbeat still good?”

  “Yes. The nurses said it’s been in the right range the whole time.”

  “Good. How are they treating you?”

  “Everyone has been very nice. The meals were certainly better than I’d expected. I think they brought me a double serving of everything plus snacks.”

  “I thought Cindy might try to fatten you up. Alva, Nadine, and their helpers are great cooks. They prepare the food in the cafeteria too. I eat there occasionally when I’m visiting someone, like last night.

  “I was also in here for a few days my junior year with a broken leg. Ran into an overzealous tackle. The food was the only good thing about it. Seemed like I’d just get to sleep, and somebody would come wake me up to check this or that or some visitor would come stompin’ down the hall.” His grin was a little sheepish. “Of course, half the time, my football buddies were the ones doing the stomping. I was real happy to go home. Mom would just peek in the door and leave me alone if I was asleep.”

  Her mother had checked to see if she was asleep only when she wanted her to do something or to steal money from her purse. Sometimes she’d barged in when she was drunk and angry.

  Megan was nervous about staying with the Callahans. Would she be able to sleep without a chair shoved against the door? Logically, she knew such a thing wasn’t needed in a normal family. Having grown up with an alcoholic mother, she found that logic didn’t always override fear.

  Worrying about it wouldn’t do any good. She just had to adapt. Time to get the subject off of mothers before he asked about hers. “They airlifted Mr. Bentley to San Angelo last night.”

  “That’s what I heard. Dalton Renfro, the deputy sheriff who covers this part of the county, is a good friend. He’s been living at the ranch since his house burned in the fire. He stopped by the folks’ on his way home last night and told us. He’ll be checking on Ted periodically and will keep us posted. The doctors think he’ll be all right, though his recovery might take a while.”

  She nodded and pushed the table out of her way. “That’s what the nurse told me last night. He asked Peg to let me know, which was really sweet of him.”

  “He thought you were sweet too. He called you an angel and a purty little gal.”

  “The poor man hit his head awfully hard. He was delusional.”

  “Not by a long shot.” Will grinned and eyed the last half slice of toast. “Are you going to eat that?”

  “No. I’m stuffed. Help yourself.”

  “Thanks. Do you know when you’ll have the sonogram?” He stood, picked up the toast, and took a big bite.

  Megan noticed the nurse park a wheelchair outside the door before she went back toward the nurses’ station. She motioned toward the waiting wheelchair and took a deep, shaky breath. “Soon I think.”

  Will laid the remaining bit of toast back on the plate and wrapped his fingers around hers. “Are you okay?”

  “Nervous.” She gripped his hand, feeling like a ninny. “What if something is wrong with Sweet Baby?”

  “If Cindy had been real concerned, she would have had the technician come in last night. I’d offer to go with you, but that would be a little awkward considerin’ we just met and all.”

  That made her giggle. “You got that right.”

  “I’ll hang around if it will make you feel better.”

  “You have a meeting to go to.” She couldn’t let him see how much she wanted him to stay.

  “It’s not until 10:00, and it will take all of five minutes to get there. I’ll visit with some other patients while you’re gone.”

  “I’m being silly.”

  “No, you aren’t. I’ll ask the nurse to come get me when you’re back.” He gave her hand a light squeeze and released it. “Besides, I’m curious to find out if your baby is Sweetie Pie or Sweetie Guy.”

  She laughed. “Baby isn’t going to get stuck with either of those nicknames. But I do appreciate you staying so I can share the news with someone.”

  “I’ll see you after a while.” He strolled out of the room, leaving his hat on the end of the bed.

  Fifteen minutes later, Megan lay on a bed in the radiology department. The ultrasound technician smeared some cold gel around on her stomach, and Megan sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Sorry. I warmed it up a little, but it’s still a shock.” She flipped some switches, and the monitor lit up. “Are you ready, Doctor?”

  “Yes, go ahead.” Dr. Cindy grinned at Megan. “I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see this little person. This is a 3-D ultrasound, so it gives us great pictures. Will’s sister, Jenna, bought it for the hospital and sent the whole radiology staff to Dallas for special training to run it.”

  Megan lay still, trying to stay calm as the technician placed the wand on her stomach. She couldn’t see the monitor and assumed the doctor wanted to make sure everything was all right before showing her anything. Of course that made her more nervous.

  “Ah, we’re looking good. Your baby is a little small but not enough to worry about.” Dr. Cindy studied the monitor as the technician moved the wand around. “I don’t see any abnormalities or anything that raises a red flag. But we have some other areas to check.” She patted Megan’s hand. “So far, so good. But it takes a while to cover every area thoroughly. We also take measurements to make sure the baby is growing properly. Hang in there just a little longer, then we’ll swing the screen around so you can see too. I like to have it turned this way so I can see it more clearly. I don’t want to miss anything important.”

  After what seemed like forever, but the clock on the wall said was only fifteen minutes, the doctor stepped around to the other side of the bed and nodded to the technician. She turned the monitor around to where Megan could see it. “It appears that you’re going to have a little girl,” Dr. Cindy said, resting her hand on her patient’s shoulder. “A healthy little girl.”

  Megan stared at the screen in awe. Unlike the fuzzy black and white picture a co-worker had shown her when she was pregnant, this was almost like watching a movie. Her little baby looked like a real person!

  “Oh, my goodness! She’s sucking her thumb!” She watched Sweet Baby blink her eyes and even turn her head slightly, as if she heard Megan’s voice. “Her eyes are open,” she added in hushed amazement.

  “Yes. She can sense light changes now. And she can hear pretty well too, so be sure and talk to her.”

  “I already do.” Mainly because Sweet Baby had been about the only person around to talk to.

  “Good. Keep doing it often. Read to her. Sing to her, play music. She’s very aware of sounds now and recognizes your voice.”

  All the more reason to always speak lovingly to her child. “The tornado was so loud. Do you think it scared her?”

  Dr. Cindy tipped her head thoughtfully. “Maybe not. I’m guessing the increase in noise was gradual?” When Megan nodded, she continued. “When I was about this far along in my pregnancy, Misty would kick at a sudden noise.” She chuckled quietly. “Although she might have moved because I jumped. But I never detected any agitation when I was in a generally noisy situation. Do you see her heart beating?”

  “It’s supposed to be fast like that, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. Theirs goes faster than ours.”

  Megan studied the picture. Sweet Baby had popped her thumb out of her mout
h and opened and closed her hand. It was amazing.

  The doctor laughed. “She’s practicing grasping things so she can grab hold of your finger after she’s born.”

  The thought of the baby holding her hand sent even more joy spiraling through her.

  The top of her baby’s head was dark. “Does she already have hair?”

  “Yes. Looks like she’s going to start off as a brunette, but that could change after she’s born.”

  Megan hoped she stayed a brunette. She’d worried that her little one might be blonde like her father, which for some weird reason would be a constant reminder of her foolishness. Most people would consider the baby the reminder, but she didn’t think of it that way. Sweet Baby might have been conceived by mistake, but she was a precious gift.

  Thank you, God, she thought. Her heart was full of love for this tiny child. “Can I keep a picture?”

  “Of course. We’ll print one out for you. I need to check on another patient, but I’ll drop by your room in a few minutes. We can go over your lab results.”

  The technician put the wand away, cleaned the gel off Megan’s stomach, helped her off the bed, and directed her to the bathroom in the hallway. When Megan came out, she was waiting with the wheelchair. Once Megan was seated, she handed her two pictures of Sweet Baby. “I did an extra one for fun.”

  “Thank you.” Megan smiled all the way back to her room.

  A few minutes after she was settled back into bed, she heard Will’s footsteps in the hallway. Odd how she could pick out his from everyone who went up and down the hall.

  He tapped lightly on the door and peeked around it. “Safe to come in?”

  “Sure.”

  He walked into the room, met her gaze, and grinned. “Well?”

  “Sweetie Pie.” Laughing, she motioned him closer to the bed. “Come see my beautiful baby.”

  When she handed him the first picture, his jaw literally dropped. “Wow. I didn’t know they could take pictures like this.”

  “Dr. Cindy said your sister bought the new 3-D machine.”

  He scratched the back of his neck and wrinkled his face. “I heard about that, but I guess I didn’t pay too much attention when she was prattling on and on about it. Now, I’m impressed.” He stared at the picture. “Her eyes are open.” Wonder filled his quiet voice. “What’s she reaching for?”

  Megan shrugged and laughed. “Only she knows. The doctor said she’s practicing grasping things so she can hold my finger when she’s born.”

  Will’s face softened into a sweet smile. “What a cool thought.”

  “They made me two pictures.” Barely holding back a grin, she handed him the other one.

  Will took one look at it and burst out laughing. “Your kid is already sucking her thumb. That’s amazing.” He studied the picture, glanced at her, then back at the picture. “Does she already have hair?”

  “Uh-huh. Brown like mine, according to the doctor.”

  He handed her the photos with a satisfied smile. “Now, aren’t you glad you had the ultrasound done?”

  “Yes. But even happier and relieved that the doctor said she looks fine. A little small but not enough to worry about.”

  “She’ll be petite, like her mama.”

  Megan laughed again. She was so happy she thought she would float down the hall when she got out of bed. “I didn’t think cowboys knew words like petite.”

  “Hey, I’m not just a cowboy. I’m a college grad-u-ate. So I know stuff.”

  “Like petite.”

  “Yes, ma’am. It’s the itty-bitty steak on the menu, so when it applies to a woman, it means a small one. And if I hadn’t figured that out, strolling through the petites department in a clothing store trying to find something for Jenna explained it.”

  Dr. Cindy walked in.

  “Very astute,” Megan said.

  “I thought so. ’Course, it was easy considering my sister is only five-three.” He glanced at the papers in the doctor’s hand. “Do you need to speak to Megan in private?”

  “Only if she wants me to. I have your lab results.” She sent her patient a questioning look.

  “I don’t mind if he stays. He’d probably hunker down outside the door and eavesdrop anyway.”

  “Probably.” The doctor winked at Will and turned her attention back to Megan. “Your blood sugar is fine. So no concern there. You are anemic, however. Not badly, but we need to get more iron in you. Here is the brand I want you to take because it’s easier on your stomach. It’s over the counter. They have it at the pharmacy in Miller’s Grocery. Continue taking your regular prenatal vitamins. You’ve picked a good brand of those.” She handed her a sheet of paper. “Here is some other info about iron, what foods contain it, what to avoid. Get Will to buy you a big steak.”

  Megan couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a steak. Since she’d been able to keep food down, she’d tried to eat hamburger at least a couple of times a week because she knew she needed some red meat. But that was all she could afford.

  “No need to buy one. I’ve got some in the freezer. So do the folks. We’ll feed her good.”

  Dr. Cindy raised an eyebrow. “You’re going out to the ranch?”

  “Just for a few days, until we figure out what to do with my van.”

  The doctor paused, tapping her finger on the bed rail. “Megan, I don’t really know what your situation is, and if I’m sticking my nose where I shouldn’t, I apologize ahead of time. If you don’t have anywhere to go and the Callahans offer you a place to stay, I strongly recommend you take them up on it. You’re going to have a baby in about three months, and you really shouldn’t try to go it all on your own. You need a support group, so to speak, now and after your baby arrives, and the Callahans are one of the best around. But I’ll let y’all work that out.

  “Personally, I hope you stay around Callahan Crossing. It’s a good town, and I’d enjoy being your doctor and bringing that little girl into the world.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate all you’ve done for me.” Megan let it go at that. She had some serious thinking to do. Maybe even praying, if she could figure out how. During the night, she’d convinced herself that it would be all right to go to a shelter in Abilene or Dallas and try to find work.

  But if the Callahans were willing to give her a place to stay, not just for a few days but until the baby came, wouldn’t it be irresponsible to turn them down?

  7

  A short time later, three ladies trooped into her room, bringing bright smiles and laughter. Even without an introduction, she knew the Callahan ladies had arrived. The two redheads bore a slight resemblance to Will, but the clincher was the familiar blue suitcase pulled by the blonde.

  Will’s mom appeared to be in her late fifties, with strawberry blonde hair and bright turquoise eyes. The petite woman standing next to her was obviously her daughter, Jenna, with the same eyes and brighter red hair. Megan estimated her age at close to thirty.

  The blue-eyed blonde, whom she assumed was Chance’s wife Emily, was a little younger and a few inches taller. They all wore jeans, but where the older woman had opted for a short-sleeved western shirt and boots, the others had chosen colorful tank tops and running shoes. Jenna and her mother were slim and pretty. Emily was beautiful enough to grace a fashion magazine.

  Megan felt fat and frumpy.

  “Good morning. I’m Sue Callahan. This is my daughter, Jenna, and my daughter-in-law, Emily Rose. We heard it was time to spring you.”

  Megan laughed and greeted them. “I’m ready. Dr. Cindy said I was free to go. That does sound like I’m getting out of jail, doesn’t it?”

  “Hopefully it’s been more comfortable than that,” said Jenna. “The guys rescued the suitcase with maternity clothes. I checked to make sure that was what was there. If it hadn’t been, I would have stopped by the Mission and picked up some things for you. They found a bunch of other clothes too, but they need washing. They’re just muddy and not filled with glass.”
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  “That’s a relief. I was afraid I might not see any of them again. Well, except for a sweater I spotted in a tree and a pair of jeans caught in a cactus.”

  “They got those too. Chance could just reach the sweater by standing in the back of the pickup. I think he made Nate—that’s Jenna’s husband—pull the jeans out of the cactus.” Emily heaved the big suitcase up on the foot of the bed.

  “Thank you for bringing it.”

  “Will said you didn’t want to waltz out of here in that spiffy hospital gown.” Jenna grinned. “I can’t imagine why.”

  “Real clothes will be much more comfortable.”

  “Do you need any help?” asked Emily.

  “No, thanks. I can manage. I’ve been climbing in and out of bed and walking around without any mishaps.”

  “Then we’ll tell the nurse that you’re getting dressed,” said Sue. “Just wander out into the hall when you’re ready. We’ll keep an eye out for you.”

  “It shouldn’t take long.” Megan waited until they walked out, shutting the door behind them, then climbed out of bed. Opening the suitcase, she breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she’d packed almost everything she needed these days in one bag. Clothes, toiletries, even some extra makeup she’d bought on a two-for-one sale before she got pregnant. Her sandals were there too, so she wouldn’t have to wear muddy tennis shoes.

  She chose a soft knit sleeveless print top with a creamy background and tiny peach flowers. It went well with a pair of cotton beige shorts and would minimize the fabric rubbing against myriad cuts and bruises.

  Slathering her face with moisturizer was much better than merely using the lotion the hospital provided. Mascara, blusher, and a bit of lipstick came next. It was amazing what a little color did to make a girl look and feel better.

  She added the bag of toiletries provided by the hospital to her suitcase. The extra toothpaste, lotion, and hand sanitizer would come in handy. Using the comb that came with them, she combed the back of her hair, then ran her fingers lightly through the curls on top. Now that she had her suitcase, next time she could use setting gel and it would look better. Donning a pair of gold loop earrings cheered her up even more. She couldn’t compete with the Callahan ladies, but at least now she didn’t look quite so dumpy.