by Sara Orwig
“And it might not be so temporary and we would have lost important time. Let’s let a doc decide. I’ll call him.”
She listened to him make the call, feeling foolish that he was overreacting, but then her muscles cramped again.
“He said he would meet us at the ER. I’m calling an ambulance—”
“Mike, it may just be a stomachache.”
“It’s too low for that. I saw you put your hand on your stomach.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. “I hate this and I’m scared. I don’t want to lose this baby.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be in good hands,” he said getting out his cell phone to send a text to Lindsay. Next he called Scotty over. “Scotty, you’re going to Aunt Lindsay’s house for a little while. Get your jacket. I need to take Miss Savannah to town.” With a grin Scotty ran out of the room.
Scotty reappeared and had on his coat and cap. “I’m almost ready.”
“Good for you,” Mike said, tying Scotty’s cap and fastening his jacket. Savannah’s fists clenched as she had another small cramp. Fear chilled her and she hated disrupting Mike’s life even further. His calm manner helped because she couldn’t have dealt with a man who would have gone to pieces.
When Mike’s cell rang, he turned to walk away, speaking softly, and Savannah assumed he didn’t want to alarm Scotty. It seemed a long time that he was gone, but she could see a clock and it was only about ten minutes later when he returned to cross the room to her.
“I’ve got my truck and the motor’s running so it will be warm. Ray’s coming to take Scotty to Lindsay’s house. I’ll get your coat. We’ll meet the ambulance and that will shave a little time off getting you to the hospital.”
Mike helped her into her coat and then picked her up. After a knock at the back door Ray entered. “Anybody still home?”
They met him in the hall. “Here we are,” Mike answered. “Thanks, Ray, for getting Scotty to Lindsay. She’s expecting you.”
“Glad to. Come on, Scotty, we’ll open the door for your dad and then come back to get your things and lock up the house.”
In a minute she was on the backseat of Mike’s biggest truck. She had her feet up on the seat and a blanket over her. Looking worried, Scotty threw her a kiss. She smiled and threw him an imaginary kiss in return.
Mike swung Scotty up in his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll call you, and Miss Savannah will be fine. Okay?”
“Okay,” Scotty said, hugging his dad’s neck. Mike drove away, seeing Ray racing Scotty and letting Scotty win as they ran back to the house.
“Mike, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s the matter.”
“Don’t worry needlessly. The doctor who’ll be meeting us has an excellent reputation and the hospital is top-notch with a great staff.”
“I guess I won’t be leaving after all when I thought I would.”
“You sure as hell won’t,” he said emphatically.
She was silent, worried, wanting to text her mother about what was happening, but resisting until she knew more because she didn’t want to worry anyone at home needlessly.
It seemed a long time had passed since they left, but she suspected it actually wasn’t. She heard a siren and Mike slowed. In minutes they moved her to the ambulance. Mike brushed a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be right behind you.”
She squeezed his hand and they put her in the ambulance, then Mike turned away to get back into his truck.
She met a gray-haired doctor at the hospital, gave her medical information and history, and the rest of the evening became a blur. They gave her a shot, attached an IV and soon she dozed easily, to waken and then drift back asleep. Aware of nurses, the doctor, of an ultrasound, she slept easily when she could.
Later, they moved her from a gurney to a bed. Several times she stirred to see Mike leaning back in a chair with his feet propped up, his hat and coat tossed on another chair.
“Mike, you need to go home to Scotty—” Her words were slow and she struggled to stay awake. “I can’t stay awake. Did the doctor say the baby is okay, or did I dream it?”
“Dr. Nash said the baby is fine. He said your cramping stopped before you reached the hospital, so they couldn’t find any cause or anything wrong. Just to be safe, Dr. Nash wants you to take it easy. Don’t worry about anything. I’m fine. Scotty is with Lindsay and very happy. They said for you to just rest.”
“That’s easy,” she said, closing her eyes and thinking a short nap was welcome. “I don’t hurt any longer. I haven’t since shortly after I got into the ambulance.”
“Everyone takes that as a good sign,” he said and pulled his chair close to the bed. “If you want anything, tell me.”
“I might not leave for California tomorrow.”
He smiled. “You might not leave here for the ranch tomorrow. Scotty and I will be happy to have you stay longer so don’t even think about it.”
She smiled and closed her eyes, feeling Mike’s hand close over hers. “Suppose I want a hamburger?” she asked sleepily.
“Sorry. That you’ll have to take up with Dr. Nash.”
“I’m kidding. I just wanted to see what you’d say,” she said and he shook his head.
He smiled. “You must be feeling better.”
“Mike, can’t you get a cot? Find some place to sleep, or go home and come back tomorrow.”
“I’m fine. I can sleep in a chair. I’ve done it plenty of times. I can sleep on the floor if I have to. Don’t worry.”
“I’ve been trouble to you since the first minute we were together.”
“I don’t view it that way and you’re worth any trouble you’ve caused.”
Smiling, she closed her eyes, finding it difficult to stay awake.
* * *
Mike sat watching her, thinking about how scared he had been getting her to the ambulance and then to the hospital. He had felt chilled to the bone and a choking terror froze him for a brief time until he got a grip on his emotions and began to think rationally.
Mike hoped she had told her mother about being in the hospital. He didn’t know how to call her family except taking her phone and finding their number on it.
He thought how scared he had been before they got to the hospital. The cold fear that had racked him also shocked him. Was he just upset for her, or did he care more than he realized for her? How important had she become to him?
The question nagged and was one he couldn’t answer. He should be able to answer about his own feelings, but he couldn’t. And Scotty had torn him up today. He hated to see Scotty hurting, but he expected Scotty to get over telling Savannah goodbye about an hour after she drove away.
Now she would be with them longer. He had to admit that he was glad. Part of it was because he would worry about her, but part was simply because he and Scotty wanted her to be there.
How deep did his feelings run for her? He hadn’t thought they were deep until this happened, but he had been terrified for her. He needed to be certain how he felt before he told her goodbye and she drove out of his life forever.
He held her hand, rubbing it lightly while she slept. He brushed a light kiss over the back of her hand, another across her knuckles. Was he in love with Savannah?
The idea shocked him because he had been so certain he wasn’t, so sure he wouldn’t fall in love at this point in his life, but they had spent hours in intimacy and every minute that ticked past with her was better and more binding than the ones before.
He tried to keep Scotty’s unhappiness from influencing him because Scotty was a baby and Savannah had been good to him and filled a void in his life.
In truth, she had filled emptiness in his own life.
No matter how he questioned his feelings and motives, he came up with the same answer—he was in love with her. When had that
happened? He wasn’t ready for love or its complications and it would be incredibly complicated with Savannah.
He had thought Wyatt Milan had been crazy to fall in love with Destiny Calhoun, a dynamic woman who would set any man’s world spinning in a new direction. Wyatt’s life had been turned upside down, yet here he was, Mike thought, doing the same thing himself.
He looked at Savannah and felt a rush of love. He didn’t want her to leave them any more than Scotty did. He hadn’t even recognized that he was falling in love with her.
When had he fallen in love with her? Had it been that first night they were together? Or each time, with their love just gradually building?
He leaned closer. “Savannah,” he whispered, the barest of sounds. “I love you.”
He kissed her fingers lightly and touched the golden ring. He spread her fingers in his hand to look at the ring—true love. How would he know if that’s what he felt?
He had never questioned his feelings with Elise. They had been wildly in love, younger, sure of what they felt. Now, he was hurt, vulnerable because of losing Elise, vulnerable because of Scotty. Was he making a huge mistake? Was his judgment about love as off this time as Savannah’s had been in her first engagement? He didn’t think so.
When had Savannah become important to him? Enough that he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her safe.
He needed to step back and take a long look at what he wanted before he made the mistake of his life. If he loved her, he shouldn’t let her go. If he didn’t love her, he should make sure they didn’t marry for the wrong reasons. Was he rushing into something he would regret?
Ten
It was Friday afternoon before she was dismissed to go to his home. Mike had driven her to the airport where they took his jet to the ranch. She was settled in a tilted-back recliner in the family room with her feet up and a blanket over her.
“Mike, I can sit up.”
“You heard Dr. Nash prescribe bed rest for the next few days. You can be up some, but you’re to relax, take it easy and not do anything strenuous. You’re to stay with us and not drive to California this month for certain. And we’ll love having you,” Mike said. “Scotty is going to be deliriously happy.”
“I know Scotty will be happy, but this wasn’t in your plans when you took me home in the rain.”
“Don’t even say things like that with what’s already between us,” he said. His dark eyes were filled with warmth and she smiled at him as he reached to take her hand.
“Thanks, Mike, for wanting me to stay. This will all make it much more difficult when I do go. I’m rethinking California. I may just call my folks and fly home. Mom will come and fly home with me and then they will all take care of me. My brothers will behave if they’re scared of upsetting me and making me sick.”
“That’s one bright thing from this,” Mike remarked. “From what Dr. Nash said, you shouldn’t travel at all for a while. I can talk to your mom if you want. I was with you through all this and I haven’t been given any medication to make my thinking fuzzy,” Mike said.
She shook her head. She reached over to take his hand again. “Mike, thank you for taking care of me. You’ve come to the rescue twice now.”
He hugged her lightly. Looking into her blue eyes, he held her. “No loving for a while until they see how you are, but I can kiss you. I’m sure kisses are good.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “Kisses are spectacular,” she whispered. “The most highly therapeutic thing you can do,” she added.
He kissed her, holding her tightly in his embrace.
Mike finally moved away. “I may have to walk around and cool down.”
“I feel normal and I haven’t had any cramps or anything.”
“Well, they couldn’t find anything wrong. Dr. Nash is just being cautious. I’m glad you feel all right.”
“I was so scared I’d lose my baby.”
“You didn’t and you’re doing well. Don’t think about what could have happened. Everything is fine now and you’ll be better off not going to California.”
“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day—ask Lindsay to come over and let’s have some little something for Scotty. I have a present from the hospital gift shop for him and I know you do, too.”
“How about you just taking it easy like Doc said to do,” Mike said, sitting by her again.
“Stop worrying about me. I’ll be careful. It won’t be any big deal and he’ll like having Lindsay here for a while.”
Mike pulled her close to kiss her again and then he left the room to call Lindsay. He returned about twenty minutes later. “Lindsay is bringing Scotty home. She offered to keep him another night, so if you’d rather she did, tell me and I’ll call her right back. It’ll be quieter without him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be happy to see him.”
“Okay, they’ll be here before you know it, so I get just a few more kisses while we’re alone.”
She smiled at him and held out her arms.
* * *
When Lindsay opened the back door, Scotty dashed into the house. Mike caught him up, swinging him in a circle and making Scotty giggle. “Look what we made, Daddy,” Scotty said and turned as Lindsay came into the room. She had shed her coat and shook her long pigtail behind her head as she smoothed her deep green sweater over her jeans.
“What did you make?” Mike asked.
“See for yourself. Here they are,” Lindsay said, handing Mike a box. He opened it to find all kinds of valentines made by Scotty with stick figure drawings.
Scotty came to look, selected a big red valentine and ran off.
“He’s gone to give that to Savannah. How is she?”
“Doc Nash said they couldn’t find anything wrong. He said bed rest, no traveling to California this month, just take it easy. She’s been doing fine since she got to the hospital.”
“Mike, take care of yourself,” Lindsay whispered, stepping close to him.
Surprised, he looked at her.
“We’ve been through this already, but I have to say it again. Savannah is nice, but she has concerns and I’m looking out for my brother. You don’t need more problems.”
“Your intentions are good, Lindsay, but let go the anxiety over me. Worry about your horses and dogs. I’m fine. Savannah isn’t a burden and she’s working her problems out.”
“Mike, you don’t need more problems in your life.”
“We’ve gone full circle with this conversation. I’m fine. Get rid of your concerns. I’m a big boy now. You’re a nice sister, but this isn’t necessary,” he said, patting her shoulder. Lindsay frowned as she stared at him. “You let me take care of me. I promise you, I’m happy.”
She studied him intently. “Well, I’ll admit you look happy. I just want to see you stay that way.”
“I’ll be even happier if we can wind up this conversation soon. You’ve been responsible for that big ranch of yours so long, you’re turning into a mama bear about everyone around you.”
“Okay, big brother. You’re on your own as of now. I’ll go say hello to Savannah.”
Shaking his head and smiling, Mike watched her walk away with the box of valentines. His baby sister was growing up, but the constant responsibilities she shouldered were changing her. Mike walked into the family room beside Lindsay. Scotty sat against Savannah, who had her arm around him as she looked at all the valentines he had made.
“Hi, Lindsay. Scotty gave me a pretty valentine.”
“He’s getting better at drawing and pasting. We had a good time making valentines. I’m glad you’re doing well and sorry you had trouble.”
“Thank you. They couldn’t find anything wrong. Hopefully, that won’t happen again, but I’m here for a while longer.”
Lindsay
smiled and squeezed her hand, then played with Scotty the next hour before standing and telling them goodbye. Mike walked out with her. As he watched her drive away, he smiled again, thinking about her worries. When had Lindsay started hovering over him and worrying about him?
Was he complicating his life with his love for Savannah as Lindsay feared? He shook his head. He may have already complicated the hell out of it.
Lindsay’s pickup disappeared around a curve so he went inside, locked up and walked back toward the family room, thinking about his feelings for Savannah.
That night after dinner when he was ready to take Scotty to bed, Savannah hugged Scotty’s neck. “Scotty, thanks for showing me your valentines, which are beautiful.”
He grinned and hugged her. “Will you read me a story?”
“Scotty,” Mike cautioned. “She’s supposed to be quiet and still. And say thank you when someone tells you that you have made beautiful valentines.”
“I’ll stay right here to read to you,” Savannah told Scotty. “You get ready for bed and then bring a book.”
“Thank you,” Scotty flung over his shoulder as he raced from the room while Mike shook his head at her.
“I think the thank-you was because I told him to say that. If you had kept quiet about reading, you could have taken a night off.”
“Do you know how much I love to read to him?”
“That’s what you’re going to get to do.” Mike helped Scotty get ready for bed and pick out two books for Savannah. As they went back to the family room, Scotty took a book and ran ahead. By the time Mike entered the room, Savannah had Scotty in the chair beside her while she read to him. After she read both books, Mike stood.
“C’mon, Scotty. You’ve had a long day and Miss Savannah has had a long day. It’s bedtime.”
Scotty kissed her cheek. “Good night, Miss Savannah. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Scotty. Good night,” she said quietly, giving him a hug.
He jumped down to go with Mike, who paused at the doorway. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Take your time,” she replied, smiling and picking up her phone to call her family.