AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The phone clattered as it hit the floor. Her hands fumbled, finally latching on to the steering wheel. She squeezed hard, a low moan escaping her lips she couldn’t have held back if her life depended on it.
Finally the contraction—oh, God help her, they reallywerecontractions!—subsided and that’s when pure, unadulterated fear kicked in. No cell signal. Lost because of a wrong turn, stranded in the mountains in a snowstorm and—in labor?
“Oh, God, please. It’s been a while. Okay, I know, it’s been a long,longtime, but please—” She bit her lip, unable to deny the truth any longer. “Help me. I can’t do this here. I can’t do thisalone.I need help.Please,I need help!”
Time passed, minutes blurring together as contractions came and went. She remained where she was, her grip tight on the wheel, eyes closed during the worst of the pain when it felt as though her body was being shredded from back to front. Oh, please. Please, please, ple—
Bang-bang-bang!
The pounding on Darcy’s car roof scared her so badly she shrieked and leaned sideways in the bucket seat to escape. How had she missed seeing the headlights of the vehicle stopped beside her car?
I’ve told you a million times, child. Ask and ye shall receive. Believe and, if it’s His will, you’ll be just fine.
She blinked, dazed by the combination of pain, surprise and the memory of her grandmother’s voice.
“Hey,” a man’s voice called, “you okay in there?”Bang, bang.“Need some help?”
“Please don’t let him have a knife.” Her pain-tensed body tightened even more when she spied the large shadow looming outside her window. But what choice did she have?
Hoping Nana was right, Darcy flipped the lock, fumbled with the handle and pushed weakly, but the door didn’t budge. She hit it with her palm.
Apparently catching on that the door wasn’t opening, the man yanked twice before it gave with a shattering explosion of ice. “Are you all right?”
Unable to respond because the contraction hit its peak, she bit her lip and shook her head because it was all she could manage.
“Are you hurt?” The man’s tone was more insistent.
She reached out and grabbed his overcoat to make sure he didn’t leave and the soft, expensive feel of the cloth registered at the same time the banded muscles finally loosened their grip on her body. She fell against her seat in relief.
The man bent into the car, effectively blocking the opening and shielding her from the worst of the weather. She caught a brief sniff of his cologne. The dome light above their heads didn’t illuminate much, but she was able to make out dark, close-trimmed hair, thick brows, a longish nose and the shaded roughness of lightly stubbled cheeks. He had to be gorgeous, didn’t he?
His lips were turned down at the corners in a concentrated scowl, his expression clearly worried and concerned rather than threatening. A little of her anxiety eased, but not all.If you sent me an angel, Nana, this one has black wings.
“Where do you hurt?”
“I…I’m p-p—Oh, no.” She moaned when another contraction made itself known, and vaguely heard her handsome rescuer mutter something indistinguishable when he realized the lump between her and the steering wheel wasn’t just the bulk of her coat.
“You’repregnant?”
She managed a nod, imagining she heard his deep voice squeak a bit there at the end.
“Okay, uh—How far apart are the contractions?”
This pain ended fairly quickly and wasn’t as intense as before. That was a good thing. Right? She released the air from her lungs in a gush. “They’re…c-close together b-but irregular.”
A glove-warmed hand brushed the hair off her forehead. He had calluses on his fingers, not thick or abrasive but there; something she wouldn’t have guessed him to have, given his expensive appearance.
“How far along are you? Any special conditions? Who’s your doctor?”
She struggled to focus on the questions. “I…I don’t have a doctor. Not here. I’m on my way to Indiana.” Her grip tightened on his coat. “Ican’thave the babyhere!” She felt herself weakening, the fear she’d barely managed to keep locked away breaking free.
“Hey, no tears. Come on, sweetheart, don’t do that to me,” the man murmured. He brushed his thumb over her cheek.
The gesture had a calming effect, and even though her body ached and everything had gone wrong, she felt a connection with him.
Because he’s the only thing standing between you and self-delivery. Did you even look for a knife?
“Stay still, okay? I’ll go call for help. Don’t move.”
