“She was on the side of the road?” Wade Hollister, one of the patients, asked.
Cody humored the man, despite the fact that he felt the answer was self-evident. “Well, she was in labor so I don’t think she really felt like she was able to do any driving.”
Rusty Saunders scratched his head. “Hell, what was she doing out there in her condition, anyway?”
Cody laughed quietly as he eased Layla out of Mrs. Moretti’s arms. The woman looked at him skeptically, and then smiled and surrendered her precious package.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask her,” he told Rusty. “I was kind of busy at the time. We both were.”
To underscore his point, he smiled at the baby in his arms.
“You delivered that?” Nathan McLane asked Cody. He was as close as possible to a permanent occupant at the Murphy brothers’ saloon. His weathered expression was creased with awe.
Cody had never been one to embellish on a story or give himself credit if he could avoid it. He shrugged now. “I was just there to catch her. She more or less delivered herself,” he told Nathan and the rest of the waiting-room occupants.
Travis Wakefield, ever the practical man, was obviously trying to work out the logistics to Cody’s story. He’d gone to the window to look again at the truck Cody had driven over.
“You leave your truck back there?” he asked. “’Cause the one out there sure isn’t yours.”
That was when Cody suddenly remembered. He looked up. “My horse.”
“What about Flint?” Red Yakima asked, getting up and moving closer to Cody.
Cody had risen to his feet as well and now walked over to the bay window, scanning as much of the area as he could make out from his present vantage point. Flint was nowhere in sight.
“I couldn’t tie him to the back of the truck because I had to drive fast,” he told Red. “I told him to follow me.”
“You ‘told’ him to follow,” Rosie Ortiz, one of the occupants in the waiting room, repeated skeptically. “And what, he said, ‘Sure’?”
“Horses are smarter than most people,” Red tonelessly informed the woman. He turned his attention back to Cody. “You want me to go out and see if I can find him for you?” the man offered.
Cody turned the matter over in his head. He could either take the man up on his offer or turn the infant back over to Mrs. Moretti—and he did want to hang around to make sure Devon pulled through. There was a chance that she might not, although he really didn’t want to entertain that idea for the baby’s sake.
He had no idea why, but he felt that if he remained here, she wouldn’t die. He knew he was being superstitious, but everyone around here had some superstition they clung to. His was that if he walked out, the door would be left open for bad things to transpire.
Cody looked at the weathered ranch hand he had known for most of his life. “I’d appreciate that, Red.”
“Don’t mention it,” the man told him, waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll stop at the sheriff’s office and tell them you didn’t fall into a ditch or off the side of the cliff, put Rick’s mind at ease,” Red added matter-of-factly.
“I owe you.”
Red smiled for the first time. “Hey, buy me a beer next time we’re at the saloon together and we’ll call it even.”
“You got it,” Cody agreed, although in his opinion it didn’t really even begin to repay the man for taking the trouble to track Flint down.
Red walked out of the clinic.
Less than a minute later, Holly came out, an apologetic expression on her face. She looked around the waiting room at the patients.
“It’s going to be a while, I’m afraid,” she told them. Braced for complaints, she was surprised when none were voiced. “The doctors have got their hands full. Your names are all on the sign-in sheet. If you’d like to come back tomorrow, you’ll be seen in the order that you arrived today,” she said, once again looking around the room, waiting for some sort of descent or grumbling.
“How long is ‘a while’?” Oral Hanson wanted to know, obviously weighing his options.
Holly answered honestly. “At least a couple of hours.” Honesty forced her to add, “Maybe more.”
The man shrugged his wide shoulder. “Got nothin’ I’m doing anyway, not since my boys took over the ranch. Seems they’re always telling me to ‘go take a load off’ anyway, so I might as well do that and stay put.” Smiling at the baby in Cody’s arms, he added, “I’d like to find out if the little one’s mama pulls through.”
Most of the other patients were not of the same mind as Oral. They had busy lives to get back to, so they decided to leave the clinic and return the next day as suggested.
But a few, including Mrs. Moretti, remained. When Cody looked at the older woman quizzically, Mrs. Moretti said, “I thought maybe I’d stick around, give you a little help if you need it. You’ll want to have your hands free if they call you back in there.” Lowering her voice, she added, “You know, just in case.”
It was obvious to Cody that Mrs. Moretti had already convinced herself that there was more going on between him and the woman he’d found today.
Anita Moretti wasn’t a gossip by any stretch of the imagination, but the woman did enjoy a good story, both hearing one and, occasionally, passing one along. He couldn’t fault her for being human, even though what he knew she was thinking was entirely a fabrication.
And Cody knew better than to protest or try to set the woman straight. Saying anything to the contrary would only get him more deeply entrenched. Mrs. Moretti would go on believing what she chose to believe.
Connor had always maintained that when you lost control of the situation, the best thing to do was to politely say “thank you” and then back away as quickly as possible.
“I appreciate that, Mrs. Moretti,” Cody told the woman.
Because he was agitated and didn’t know what to do with himself, Cody began to walk the floor. Layla seemed to enjoy the rhythmic movements and before long obligingly dozed off.
Making no secret of the fact that she was watching him, Mrs. Moretti smiled and gave him the thumbs-up. “You’re a natural,” she told Cody, beaming.
“I’m not doing anything but walking,” Cody pointed out.
He heard the door behind him opening. Turning, he was about to tell whomever had come in that service was temporarily on hold until further notice.
But he didn’t have to say anything. It wasn’t a new patient. Red had returned to the clinic.
“Couldn’t find Flint?” Cody asked the older man. Red hadn’t been gone very long, but, then, Cody had no right to expect him to scour the area. After all, Flint belonged to him, not Red.
“Didn’t really have to look,” Red replied. “That is one loyal stallion you’ve got yourself there, McCullough. Saw him coming right into the outskirts of town, as pretty as you please, minding his own business like he didn’t have a care in the world and was just out for a morning stroll. Had to gentle him a little before I tied him to the hitching post down the street, but that’s to be expected. He’s waiting for you there,” the ranch hand informed him.
Well, that was a relief, Cody thought. He hadn’t realized he was so concerned until just this moment. He supposed this morning’s events had stretched his nerves taut to the very limit.
“I appreciate it,” Cody told the man.
“Yeah, yeah,” Red dismissed the words of gratitude. “I said a beer would square us, remember? Now I’ll go tell the sheriff you’re safe and sound. See you around, McCullough,” he told Cody.
Inclining his head in a show of respect, Red nodded at Mrs. Moretti just before he left the clinic.
Chapter Four
As Cody tried to decide his next move, the infant he was holding against him began to make a noise he couldn’t quite
make out. It didn’t exactly sound like a whimper or a cry, but the baby was definitely voicing some sort of discontent.
In a few seconds, he had his answer. The infant had turned her head into his chest and appeared to be rooting around, her tiny lips making noises as she attempted to suck on his shirt.
“Looks like she’s hungry,” Mrs. Moretti told him helpfully. “She’s trying to get her sustenance out of your shirt.”
“Sorry, Layla, I’m afraid you’re out of luck there,” Cody told the baby, very gently separating the tiny mouth from his shirt.
At a temporary loss as to what to do, he looked at Mrs. Moretti for help.
The older woman shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything for her. I stopped carrying formula with me several years ago. All my grandchildren are older than she is. But let me see if I can get one of the nurses to find something for her.”
Rising heavily to her feet, the woman approached the registration desk and looked over it in hopes of seeing someone coming out of the impromptu operating room. She didn’t, but that didn’t stop her.
Making her way around the desk, Mrs. Moretti continued to the rear of the clinic. The doors to four of the exam rooms were wide open. Mrs. Moretti zeroed in on the one that was closed. When Melissa, one of her granddaughters, had needed stitches for the gash she’d gotten on her forehead thanks to a game of hide-and-seek that had gone wrong, she’d been taken into that room.
Knocking on the door, Mrs. Moretti raised her voice. “Sorry to bother you, but the baby out here seems to be hungry. Is there any formula in the clinic?” she asked politely.
After a moment the door opened in response to Mrs. Moretti’s question. Holly was in the doorway.
“You didn’t have to come out, dear. You could have just told me where the formula’s kept and I would have gotten it,” the woman said to Holly.
If given a choice, Mrs. Moretti always preferred being self-sufficient instead of dependent on the help of others.
“It’s just easier this way,” Holly told the woman. Besides, the doctors really didn’t want to have civilians rooting through their supplies. However, there was no polite way to say that to Mrs. Moretti, so she let that pass. “How’s everyone out here?” she asked as she took the woman to the supply cabinet in the last exam room.
There were several bottles of formula on the bottom shelf. Taking one, Holly decided to look in on the baby before heating the formula up.
“Mostly gone,” Mrs. Moretti told her matter-of-factly, still following behind her. “Except for a couple of us. And, of course, Cody and the baby. Poor little thing’s hungry.” She smiled sympathetically. “I guess being born was hard work for her.”
“I guess so,” Holly agreed. She walked out into the waiting room. “How’s our girl?” she asked Cody.
He was rocking the baby back and forth in an attempt to soothe her. “Okay, I think.” And then he flushed. “I’ve got more experience with newborn calves than humans.”
It amazed Holly how someone who looked the way Cody McCullough did—broad-shouldered, athletic with a soft, sexy smile and soul-melting blue eyes—could be so humble.
“You’re doing fine, Cody,” she assured him. “I’ll just go and warm up this formula for you.” Holly paused for a moment, needing to ask him a question just to be sure. “You all right with feeding it to her?”
Cody nodded, adding, “Not much different than with a calf, right?”
She’d never heard it put quite that way before. She supposed that there were similarities. “As long as you make sure you don’t try to get her to stand up while she’s doing it.”
Cody laughed. “I think I’ve already figured that part out.”
* * *
HOLLY RETURNED WITHIN MINUTES, the small bottle of formula warmed and ready to be given to the hungry infant. “There you go,” she said, handing Cody the bottle.
She was about to coach him through it, but saw that she needn’t have worried. Cody was doing just fine with feeding the baby.
Instead, she gave him an encouraging smile. Still, she had to admit to herself that there was a little concern on her part.
“You’re sure you’ll be all right out here?” she asked him.
“He’ll be fine,” Mrs. Moretti told the nurse, answering for Cody. “I’ll stay on just in case,” she volunteered.
Cody looked at the older woman as he fed Layla. “You sure? It might be a long wait to see one of the doctors, when they’re finally free.”
It was becoming obvious that the delay would be even longer than anticipated. “I can come back for that tomorrow, but I’ll stay here with you as long as you feel I might be of some help.”
“I don’t want to keep you, Mrs. Moretti,” Cody told her.
Mrs. Moretti laughed. “It’s been a long time since I was a kept woman,” she told him with a wink that both surprised and amused him. There was still a little bit of the young flirt within the older matron. And then she waved her hand, dismissing his protest. “Don’t give it another thought.”
Feeling that everything was under control, Holly told them, “I’d better be getting back in there.”
A flash of anxiety came out of nowhere, surprising Cody. “How is she doing?” he asked.
“Better than when you first brought her in.” That was all Holly felt comfortable saying at this point. She’d learned that it was better to say too little than too much.
With that, the young nurse left the waiting room and hurried back to the operating room.
Mrs. Moretti sensed Cody’s concern.
“She’ll be fine,” she assured Cody, patting his hand in the same soothing fashion she’d employed with all of her own children. “They don’t come any better than Dr. Dan and Dr. Alisha,” the grandmother of six told him. “Those two are the best thing that ever happened to this little town,” she said with conviction.
* * *
HALF AN HOUR PASSED. Layla finished the formula that Holly had brought out for her.
Though he strained his ears, Cody couldn’t discern anything coming from the rear of the clinic. He didn’t hear any voices, nor did he hear a door being opened.
This “operation” was going on much too long, he thought. Something was very wrong.
As if reading his mind, Mrs. Moretti leaned forward. Her eyes meeting his, she told him, “Remember, no news is good news.”
“Yeah,” he murmured without conviction.
Cody knew that the woman meant well, but the old saying didn’t really comfort him at this point. He’d always been the kind of person who met everything head-on. He didn’t have that option here. All he could do was wait and the inactivity was making him fidget inwardly.
“Well, I guess I’ll come back tomorrow,” Oral Hanson suddenly announced to the room, even though Cody and Mrs. Moretti were the only two occupants left.
After getting up, the man crossed over and paused in front of Cody. He looked down at the baby and allowed a nostalgic expression to pass over his face.
“Brings back memories,” he explained, referring to when his children had been that small. “You hang in there, Cody, you hear?”
Cody merely nodded. There wasn’t anything else that he could do, really.
“You’re doing a good thing,” Oral said as he left the clinic.
“He’s right, you know,” Mrs. Moretti told Cody, adding her voice to the sentiment.
He was really beginning to feel guilty having the woman remain here with him.
“Mrs. Moretti, you don’t have to stay any longer,” he told her. “You’ve got a family to get back to.”
He knew that because of extenuating circumstances, Mrs. Moretti was helping to raise two of her younger grandchildren. It wasn’t fair to the woman to make her stay on his account. After all, it wasn�
�t as if he was helpless.
But Mrs. Moretti shook her head. “I don’t feel right about leaving you alone.”
“Two doctors and two nurses is not ‘alone,’ Mrs. Moretti,” he reminded her. “All I have to do is raise my voice and one of them is bound to come out. Really, go home to your family,” he urged, then added, “Layla and I will be fine. Really.”
Mrs. Moretti’s dark eyes crinkled as she smiled at the sleeping infant in his arms. “Such a lovely name,” she told him. “That was your mama’s name, wasn’t it?” she asked. Cody nodded in response. “All right,” the older woman said with a resigned sigh as she rose to her feet. “I guess they’ll be wondering what happened to me if I don’t get home soon.” Mrs. Moretti spared him one last encouraging pat on the shoulder. “Don’t give up hope, Cody.”
“No, ma’am, I won’t,” he promised her.
Nodding her head, Mrs. Moretti picked up her oversize purse and finally made her way out of the clinic.
“Looks like it’s just you and me now,” Cody whispered to the baby once the door had closed behind Mrs. Moretti.
“And then,” he amended as he heard the door to the clinic opening again, “maybe not.” Raising his voice so that the woman would turn around, Cody said, “Mrs. Moretti, really, it’s okay. Go home.”
“I’m not Mrs. Moretti and I’m not going home, at least not until I find out just what the hell is going on here.”
Surprised, holding the baby pressed against his chest, Cody shifted around in his seat to see Connor walking into the clinic.
Anyone looking at them would have instantly known that Cody and Connor were brothers, but Connor, three years older and two inches taller, was leaner and more weathered-looking than Cody. And while they both had the same blue eyes, Connor’s hair was a darker shade of blond than Cody’s.
COWBOY AND THE BABY, THE Page 4