“Where’s my bag?” I ask, tearing back the bedding and lifting the mattress.
He pauses. “Well, it ain’t under the covers, baby.”
“Jensen,” I say, giving him a desperate look.
He crosses the room, kissing my forehead briefly. “You run and get in the car. I will get the bag and be there in a second.”
It’s a relief for him to take control. I snatch up my phone and clatter down the steps, turning on the kitchen and hall light. Outside, it’s still hot, and the moon shines in the center of the sky. It’s a little after three. I yank open the truck door and climb inside just as Jensen steps out onto the porch, bag overhis shoulder. He’s calm, but when he gets in, there’s a trickle of sweat running down the side of his neck.
“Where was the bag?” I ask.
“In the bathroom.” He turns the key, backing up.
Now that I think about it, I did put it there the other day. He gets on the road, and I reach out, taking his free hand. He gives me a soft glance, weaving his fingers through mine.
“This is the next part,” he says.
“It is,” I say. “Thanks for doing this with me, all the parts of life.”
“Hell or high water, baby.”
I smile, despite my nerves. He says that a lot, has over the last twenty years. Nobody is more loyal than Jensen once he puts his roots down. I truly know nothing could tear him from his family. I squeeze his hand, and he drags his thumb over my skin, back and forth because he knows it calms me.
We drive hand in hand, heading into a new chapter together.
CHAPTER FOUR
JENSEN
Everything is quiet.
It rained for the rest of the night, but everything is settled now. Over the horizon, the sun creeps above Sovereign Mountain in the distance. I step out onto the porch with a cup of coffee in both hands. Behind me, Jon appears, still wide-eyed from the night.
“Congratulations,” I say.
“Thanks,” he rasps.
Della, Julie-Mae, and the midwife are upstairs with Delia and her baby boy, Toby. Landis and Julie-Mae dropped by to see everybody before heading out to work. I’ve never seen anybody more stressed than Jon last night, but he held it together, never cracking once. Now, he takes a deep breath and lets his shoulder sink.
“Feel useless in there?” I ask.
“Yeah, kind of,” he admits. “I like being able to fix things for her, but I couldn’t really do anything.”
“She’s all good now,” I say, handing him a mug. “And now is your time to shine so she can rest.”
He nods, eyes narrowed as he looks out. He looks like a Reed, tall and wiry with dark hair. Quiet, unassuming, and happy to sit in silence most of the time. He’s a good balance to Delia’s bright personality and quick wit. The little boy upstairs looks more like a Childress, but time will tell.
“I hate to say it,” Jon says, “but we still have to run the fucking cattle to the lower pasture.”
“Yep, that doesn’t wait for anybody or anything.” I drain my coffee, scalding my mouth in the process. “Why don’t you stay here today and I’ll bring in some help?”
He nods, clearly grateful. “Thanks. I think we’re about to pack up and head to the hospital, just to check everybody out. I’d like to be with them for that.”
That, I can understand. When Delia was born, I found myself constantly worried about leaving them. My wife has always been fine on her own at the ranch house. I’m more worried about anyone who tried to mess with her. At that point, she’d have shot first and asked questions afterwards. But there was something so vulnerable about Della with a baby so young, she couldn’t leave her for even a moment. That made me want to stay in from work, so I know exactly what he’s feeling.
“You go on inside,” I say. “I’m going to walk over the hill to the house.”
“That’s an hour’s walk,” he says.
