“You have a daughter,” said the doctor, his voice filled with glee. “A big girl.”
Nora couldn’t see all of Tristan’s face when he looked toward her, but she knew he was beaming. His eyes told her everything she needed to know. He was here…safe, happy, able to share this special moment with her. They wrapped their daughter in a blanket.
The nurse brought her to their side. “Such a beautiful little girl.” She pulled the blanket away from her face to show the proud parents. “Congratulations.”
Nora touched her daughter’s face. “Thank you,” she said to the nurse. “Welcome to our world, Trista Rose Carlson.”
Tristan removed his hat and mask. He cupped his hand around his daughter’s head. “We love you, little girl.” When the nurse took her away, he kissed Nora’s lips. With misty eyes, he said, “Congratulations. I know another little girl who will be jumping for joy.”
“For sure. We have two daughters.” Nora beamed with pride and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck. “You’re the best father, honey. Now you get to prove it all over again. I love you so much.” She kissed his lips.
“You too, Mama.” Tristan gave her another kiss. “After we introduce the family to Trista, I fear I will have to leave you for a short time.”
Nora’s eyes widened. “Why? No.”
Tristan scooted the chair back, lifting the top gown to show scrubs underneath. His arm was in a sling. “Seems I have a broken shoulder blade or clavicle that needs tending to. I insisted on coming up here first when Jase told me where you were. But they made me get out of my muddy clothes. Thought I’d have to deck one of them first though for trying to hold me back.”
“Oh, honey. What happened to you?”
He wrapped his hand around his elbow. “Yep, Roark threw me. He hasn’t done that since breakin’ him.”
She peered at his body from top to bottom. “Where were you? How’d you get here?”
“It’s time to get you back to your room, Mrs. Carlson.”
Tristan stepped out into the hall while they got Nora ready, and he followed them to her room. They covered her with a warm blanket. She pressed her palms against her cheeks and stared into space. “Wow. Amazing. I can’t believe it.” It’s over. Our baby is here. My baby girl. “Whew, what a long day for both of us.”
When she was settled, Tristan sat on the edge of the bed. The nurse brought the baby in and handed her to Tristan. He held her in the crook of his right arm.
“Aw, honey,” said Nora, brushing her fingers over her baby’s cheek. “Look how much hair she has. It’s dark like yours. I love it.” She peered at her husband. “I was so worried.”
“So was I, but it’s all good now.”
“How’d you get here? Who found you?” Tristan eased forward enough for Nora to take Trista Rose, and she clutched her tight against her chest.
“Jase called search and rescue after he found the horses. Since the storm eased up, they met Jase, got in the air, but sent the ground crew out, too. They found me, but I was half covered in mud after being washed down the hill a second time.” He brushed his knuckle over his daughter’s cheek. “The same rock I tried to grab hold of is the same rock that prevented me from going over the second edge. My guardian angel was there. I had that orange vest on, the one I wear when I’m working near the road at dawn or dusk, so that’s what they spotted first.”
Nora kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “Don’t ever go into the mountains without that vest again. Your girls need you. I need you.” Nora gave a deep sigh, yet sniffled at the same time. “I knew you needed help. Don’t ask me how because I’m unable to tell. The answer is beyond my knowledge.” She placed her hand over his. “So both horses are okay, too?”
“Yeah, but as soon as I can, I’m rebuilding the whole back corral, so this never happens again.”
“I won’t be surprised if the guys aren’t already on that job.” They both looked up when the door opened. Judy stood in the doorway holding Destiny’s hand. Jase was behind them. Tristan reached out for her. “Come here, baby cakes.” Tristan moved to the chair beside the bed. He told her to be careful of his shoulder when she took his arm.
Nora patted the side of the bed. “Come here. Sit beside me. Meet your baby sister.”
She crawled up beside Nora. Her big smile seemed impossible for the size of her little face. “I told you I was having a sister.” With a little cock to her head, she asked her dad, “Trista Rose, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He poked her in the belly. “You’re a big sister now!”
“Yippee.” Destiny leaned closer to the baby’s face. “She’s little. Hi, baby.”
Nora did a quiet chuckle. “She didn’t feel little trying to deliver her.”
“Eight pounds and two ounces is a big baby for you,” said Judy. “She’s gorgeous.” Judy hugged Tristan. “You gave us all such a fright. Do you boys ever do anything easy?”
“I guess not, Mom, but now, I better go get this shoulder taken care of because it, honest to God, hurts like hell.” He held his hand up with his palm facing her. “I know, money in the cussin’ bank. Guess I’ll be out of commission for a while.” He said to his brother, “You dude, thanks for everything. Dang, you’re a great brother to have around.”
“I’m the one doing the thanking.” He tickled Trista’s cheek with his fingertip. “Thank you, little girl, for waiting until you got to the hospital to be born.”
“She waited all right.” Everybody laughed, but Nora reached out for Jase. “Come here, you.” She hugged him. “Thank you so much. What would I have done without you today? You’re a hero.” She whispered, “Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“Hey,” said Tristan, “I’m the one out there on a cliff in the mud and torrential rains. What am I?” He winked at his brother.
Nora held the baby tighter. “You’re my kids’ daddy. The love of my life. You will forever be my hero.”
“That’s my girl.” He laid his hand on the baby’s head. “I like being your hero.”
Destiny said, “You’re my hero, Daddy. My sister’s, too.”
“Aw, darlin’. I hope you both tell me that when you’re fifteen.”
“I will. Promise.”
“Good girl.” Tristan glanced down at what he was wearing. “I don’t like being in these clothes, but I have no idea what happened to mine once I was brought into this place.”
Trista Rose opened her eyes. Destiny got on her knees and bent forward. “She looks like a doll.” Destiny grinned at Nora. “I’m a big sister.”
Nora caressed the side of her face. “Yes, you are, my little sweetheart.”
She followed Destiny’s finger as she pointed at the baby’s face. “Look!” She put her finger real close. “She has a green eye like my daddy.” Destiny straightened up. Then she pointed to the other eye. “A blue one!” She jumped off the bed onto her dad’s lap. “Trista is like my daddy, too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Tristan did all he could not to yell out. The grimace on his face gave away the pain. Jase lifted Destiny off his brother’s lap. “Come on, kiddo, get off your daddy’s lap, so I can get him back to the emergency room. He needs that broken bone fixed, and probably a pain shot.”
“Good idea,” said Tristan, his voice an octave higher than normal. “Yeah, good idea.” He shuddered. Glancing at Nora, he mumbled. “I’ll be back later after I find out what they’ll do with me. Doc says probably just a sling for a while, but an X-ray is needed. Also, my knee doesn’t feel too good.”
Everyone else left the room to give them time together. When they were alone, he said, “All I could think about out there was you and Destiny. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you from the beginning.” He kissed the back of her hand as her fingers curled around his. “Thank you, Nora, for making my life complete.”
Nora brushed her lips across her child’s forehead but lifted her eyes to his. “I was so scared.”
“Not to worry. Our f
amily is here together. I can’t believe we both went through that hell.” Tristan sat back. “Wait, what about your mom. Where is she?”
“Your mom called her, but she didn’t come. It was your mother who sat with me through this—every single hour, every pain. I love your mother. She’s so good to me.”
“She loves you, too, as much as one of her own kids.”
“I do know that.” Nora stretched her shoulders. “It feels like I’ve been through a war.” Everything from her waist up ached and her body was exhausted. Glancing at her husband, she knew she’d be forever grateful for stopping that day to help a cowboy in distress. Nora gazed upward but right back to Tristan. “Our child has a hiccup.”
“My baby girl has an anomaly. Different colored eyes just like me. I’m glad about that. My dad would be tickled. He’d tease her for having a hiccup like he did me.” Tristan lifted his chin high. “He’d be damn proud, too.”
Nora nodded toward the door. “You best get doctored up, cowboy. We got a whole life to live ahead of us.”
“You got it.” Tristan smoothed his hand over Trista’s head. “Love you, baby girl.” He wiped his eyes. “I’ll see you later. Get some rest while you can.”
Jase tapped on the door before entering. Nora asked him to lay the baby in her bed. He took Trista Rose from her arms, held her up, beaming like a proud uncle. “You two did a great job. Even if she does have a hiccup.” His wink said it all.
At the same time they both said, “We know!”
***
Tristan and Destiny rode the elevator to Nora’s room. Destiny held a pink teddy bear in her arms, a gift for her baby sister. Tristan carried a bouquet of red roses with two pink roses tucked in the center for his wife. For his girls, all three of them. “Over here, Des. This is one time I don’t mind being in this old hospital.”
When they entered Nora’s room, she sat waiting in the chair with their child wrapped in a pale green blanket. Tristan came to a halt, for the sight of them took his breath away. Destiny ran over, climbing onto the arm of the chair, showing her little sister the teddy bear. He set the flowers on the table.
Nora hugged her. “That’s so sweet of you to give your sister a stuffed animal. If she could talk she’d thank you.”
Destiny ran her finger over her sister’s hand, and the baby clenched her finger. “Trista likes me!” She eased her hand back, patting her palms together. “I love my baby sister.”
“She loves you, too.” Nora directed her gaze to Tristan when he held up his phone to snap a picture. “The three of you are the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen.” He came forward and gave her a kiss. “We’re excited to have you coming home. How long before you can leave?” Tristan sat on the edge of the bed.
“As soon as you tell someone you’re here, they’ll come in to finalize the paperwork.” Nodding toward his leg, she asked, “You’re limping. Is your knee still hurting? At least nothing broke in there.”
“It aches, but the knee brace helps. It’s all intact, just sore.” He stood, holding his hand around the elbow of his left arm, now in a sturdier sling. “Coming with me, Des?”
She gave a firm head shake. “Nope. I’m staying with Nora-Mama and Trista Rose.”
Ganging up on me already, huh. Tristan went to Nora. He brushed his finger over Trista’s cheek before kissing his wife. “I’ll be right back, girls.” Stopping at the door he said, “Let me see if I can go lasso up a doctor in this place.”
Destiny giggled. “You’re funny, Dad.”
“I try…” He tipped his hat to her before leaving.
Chapter 13
Decorations appeared before they even got to the ranch road. She peeked to the back seat at a little bundle of softness beside a rowdy little girl wearing cowboy boots. “I love the pink balloons. I bet they were your idea, Destiny.”
She perked up. “There’s more!” she said. “We have a surprise.”
“Des,” said Tristan, glancing back. “You know better.”
“Well, we’re home now so the secret’s over.”
“Hush, child.” He said to Nora, “I’m glad I talked you into this new truck. I’m loving it. You’ll like the party that is no longer a secret.” He peeked back with the look.
Nora laughed. “I’ll prepare for anything.”
When they pulled up, everyone was there at the end of the road. The whole front yard was decorated with balloons. The porch had tiny white lights spread out. A table with food waited. There was a pink, yellow, and mint green three layer cake. Another held gifts. The ranch hands from both ranches all waited, too.
“I’m tickled everyone showed up. How’d you pull this together so fast?”
“Don’t ever underestimate my mom. This is what happens around here when one of Mama’s boys has a baby. Get used to it.” Tristan snickered. “We’ll have to invite the whole town…no, county if Dane ever has a kid. It’s not impossible for Jase again one day either.”
Nora laughed, too. “I will get used to it with no complaints. I’m proud to be the mother of your children. To be a part of this family.” She peered back at Destiny. “Both of my children. I love you, Destiny, so today I’ll also celebrate you being my first daughter.”
“Me, too!”
When they pulled up, Tristan opened the back door, slipped his arm from the sling, and proudly lifted their daughter from her baby carrier. He carried her to Nora when she stepped out. He called for Destiny. “Come on, sweetie.”
Nora peered at the happy faces everyone wore and her eyes welled with tears. “You guys are all wonderful. I love every one of you.”
Even Randy stood off to the side. Roxanne stepped out from behind him. “Do you think I’d miss this?” She ran over to Nora, peeked at the baby, and tickled her rosy cheek. “Congratulations! I’m happy for you, Nora.” She hugged Tristan. “Y’all are such a beautiful family.” Randy came over to stand beside her. Nora eyed them.
Roxanne gave Randy a quick glance. “Randy picked me up from the airport.” Roxanne winked at him. His return smile was one of pride.
Nora was still stunned but happy for whatever was going on between them because it made her friend glow.
Judy rushed over to take Trista Rose from her arms. “You go fix a plate now, dear. That hospital food couldn’t have been very satisfying.” She tickled the baby’s chin. “Grandma’s got this little sweetie.”
Nora hugged Judy. “Thank you for everything. I love you.” Over Judy’s shoulder, she spotted her mother who had a twisted up look on her face. “I didn’t know my mom was here. Thank you for inviting her.”
“Of course. She needs to be here. I’ll show her the baby,” said Judy. “She’ll mellow out.”
Tristan took hold of Nora’s arm. “She didn’t even come over to see the baby? I can tell you right now, she’s not herself today, or I should say, she is herself today. She’s got a freaking attitude because Brody insists on taking her back home with him. He wants her to sell the house so she can live with his family.”
“Yes, he mentioned it to me on the phone. He’s not taking no for an answer.” Nora watched her mom with Judy and her daughter. She barely even glanced at Trista when Judy eased the blanket away from her face. “My God, what’s her problem? She didn’t want to get together after we both got out of the hospital the first time. This time she didn’t return my calls.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Dammit, Tristan, what have I ever done to her?” Nora knew what she had done to her. She was born.
Judy walked up the steps with Trista Rose. Brody came out the door with his family. They waved to Nora but stopped to fuss over the baby. The kids came running off the porch to meet Destiny. “I have to go to my mom.”
“You’re not going alone.” Together they walked over to Sandy. “Thank God for your brother, huh?” Tristan said.
Nora sighed, preparing herself for what could turn into a confrontation. But this was a happy day, and she was not in the mood to put up with her mother’s nastiness. �
��You can say that again. I don’t know what I’d do without them. My brother’s always been my anchor.”
Brody and Leann both hugged Nora when she reached her mom. “Trista’s beautiful, Nora,” said Leann.
Her mom didn’t even say hello. “Hi, Mom. I’m glad you came.” Nora wrapped her arms around her, but her mom’s body stiffened. “I couldn’t wait for you to meet Trista Rose. She looks like Tristan, don’t you think?”
“Well, thank God for that,” Sandy said, in a sneering manner. “At least she don’t have that red hair.”
Nora was taken aback. I got the red from you, Ma. It was true, she had said it herself that she was glad the baby didn’t have red hair but not with the animosity her mom had in her words. “Yes, she’s Tristan all the way.” Nora squared her shoulders. “Well, get yourself lunch. I’ll run in to see how my daughter’s doing.”
She intended to follow Brody and Leann inside, but Nora twirled around before reaching the steps, meaning to ask Tristan if he wanted a beer. She came to an abrupt stop behind him. She was stunned yet proud overhearing what Tristan had to say to her mom.
“You dare say that about your grandchild, Sandy? If you want to remain a part of our family—Nora, the kids, or me, you’ll have to show more respect.” Tristan set his hands on his hips. “Maybe you don’t care about the hurt you inflict upon my wife, but I see her pain after you’ve hurt her. You’ll not drag my kids down with it. I will not tolerate Nora being hurt when it can be prevented.” He leaned forward. “Is that clear?”
Sandy tilted her head to the side, glimpsing Nora standing there.
Tristan whirled around. “I’m sorry, honey, but it is, what it is.” He faced Sandy again. “You make the choice.” He took Nora’s hand and they went up the steps.
“Nora, wait.” Sandy came onto the porch. “I’d love to hold your little girl. She truly is a beautiful child, you know.”
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