Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Hawk grunted. “Charming story.”
“When he grew up, David plowed fields with his own hands and ate nothing but bread and water. He believed physical labor brought him closer to God, but he’s best known for building a monastery on the edge of the woods and offering shelter to travelers who had lost their way.”
Hawk smiled and kissed her temple. He was no saint of course, but he was no longer afraid that he couldn’t be a better man.
Chapter 56
FEBRUARY
Hawk beat feet home at the end of the workday and jumped in the shower. Everything was ready, the reservations, the flowers- but he was still a mess. He fumbled the hair dryer twice and wasn’t quite done when Tildy came through the front door. He dressed quickly in black slacks and a black cable-knit sweater, then pulled on his boots. He found her in the kitchen with her face in the bouquet of roses, breathing deeply. She grinned when she saw him.
“They’re beautiful!” she squealed and threw herself at him. Hawk kissed her firmly but backed away when Tildy’s tongue swiped playfully at his.
“Nope,” he admonished.
Tildy pouted. “Why not?” Then she noticed his clothes. She raised an eyebrow at him. He grinned at her.
“We’re going out,” he informed her. She opened her mouth, but he raised a finger. “Don’t even ask where. Don’t ask anything.” He pointed to the bedroom door. “Go put on something I’ll like. Hurry up. Reservations are at six.”
Tildy squealed again, just as Hawk’s phone rang. He recognized the ringtone and slid the phone out of his pocket. He frowned at the screen. Shooter knew they had dinner plans, but Hawk answered anyway.
Shooter didn’t wait for a greeting. “She’s unconscious!”
Hawk’s stomach twisted into a hard knot, and he looked at Tildy. She could tell by his face something was very wrong.
Sarah? she mouthed silently. He nodded gravely.
Tildy was already pulling her coat back on. She snatched her purse off the back of the chair, and Hawk followed her to the truck. Tildy got in on the driver’s side and revved the engine as Hawk listened intently.
“I came home, and she was on the floor. She’s not waking up this time.”
Sarah had been diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia early on in her pregnancy. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to be done about it. She had dangerously high blood pressure and had passed out three times previously, the first time at Thanksgiving. Things had only gotten worse.
Tildy gunned it and headed for the hospital. Shooter was waiting for the ambulance to get to the house and would follow.
Hawk disconnected the call and dialed the Cowboy. “It’s Slick,” he told him. “It’s bad this time.” Tex didn’t need to hear more than that. He promised to meet them in the Emergency Room in fifteen minutes. Hawk didn’t bother to call Caleb; with his medical training he would’ve been the first person Shooter alerted.
It was icy, even for February, and Tildy took the turns a little fast. Hawk said nothing though; he simply braced himself on the dashboard. They made it in record time. Chris and Sarah lived outside the city limits, and everyone watched the automatic doors, waiting for them to arrive. When they did, Tildy cried out. Sarah was still unconscious, laid out on a gurney. She looked sickly and pale. Caleb was with the paramedics as they wheeled her in. No longer a paramedic himself, he stopped escorting Sarah when they were fully inside the ER admit area. The paramedics continued on, taking her through the swinging double doors. Caleb spotted the group and headed over.
“Where’s Chris?” Tildy asked, glancing anxiously at both sets of doors.
“Right behind,” Caleb told them. “He gave up a spot on the bus. He wanted me with her instead.”
“She’s going to be okay, right?” Abby demanded. “When will she wake up?”
Caleb rubbed his face with his hand. “There’s no way to know.”
At that moment, Shooter came through the automatic doors, searching for a familiar face.
“You’ve got to go,” Caleb said, gesturing toward the swinging doors. “You’ve got to prep while they anesthetize her.”
“Anesthetize her?” Abby demanded. “For what? She’s already unconscious!” Then understanding dawned on her, and she covered her mouth with her hands. “Chris,” she said quietly. “You can’t. It’s too early.”
Shooter glared down at Abby, making her shrink back from him. “There’s a chance,” he insisted. “Lots of babies have made it this early.” He didn’t wait for the rest of the argument. He spun away from them and headed through the doors.
“Can she survive?” Tildy asked Caleb quietly. Hawk put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
“She could,” Caleb replied. “The steroid shots should’ve strengthened her lungs. She could make it.”
She was the baby, still unnamed. Sarah wanted to meet her daughter first.
They sat in a somber group in the waiting area. No one spoke. In the corner, the TV was tuned to reruns of an old sitcom. Tex turned it off though. None of the other people in the waiting room argued with him.