AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twelve
Hannah lifted her head from the form she’d been filling out. Part of her ranch responsibilities included going over the budget at the end of every month, and while Emma ran paychecks, Hannah had to authorize the funds to be released.
She had to balance the expenses for the maintenance supplies they ordered every month, something Dallas did almost all the time for her. She had to calculate the amount spent on feed, supplies, human resources, everything.
She loved numbers, because they didn’t lie. They told the truth, and they lined up. She could understand them, and she enjoyed balancing the books every month. The ranch was thriving right now, and they had some concerning accounts, but that was due to the construction and expansion of their horseback riding program.
The air conditioning blew softly across the back of her neck, causing a shiver to slide down her spine. The weather had definitely warmed in the past month, and her body temperature went wild whenever Luke Holt got close to her.
They’d been out several times in the past few weeks. He held her hand, and they’d taken some time to get to know each other. He hadn’t scheduled formal appointments with a counselor, but she suspected he talked to his friends about how he felt. They met in the equipment shed at six-thirty every morning to lift weights, something Luke claimed he enjoyed doing even when he wasn’t going to step inside the boxing ring.
He seemed better and better every day, and Hannah was glad he had friends he could rely on. She wrote down the number on the next receipt and looked up when she heard a cry from the office next door.
She rose to her feet, her chair scraping on the tile floor. “Ginger?” she asked. Ursula started barking, and the German shepherd ran down the hall past Hannah’s office.
“Hannah,” Ginger gasped, and Hannah flew around her desk and out the door. Three steps later, and she darted through the doorway of Ginger’s office, where her friend had been working more and more often.
Ginger had one palm pressed firmly to her desktop and one holding the bottom of her belly. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear, and as she stared at Hannah, another wave of pain rolled across her face.
She blinked, and Hannah remembered the numbness that had assaulted her on the beach. She wasn’t going to do that here. One of her best friends needed her, and she was going to help them.
“I’ll call Nate,” Hannah said, striding forward. “Sit down, Ginger.” She helped Ginger ease into the chair, and Ginger panted and groaned. Ursula came tearing back into the office, and Ginger reached for her, quieting her barks.
Hannah quickly dialed Nate, who picked up with, “Hey, Hannah.”
“Ginger is having contractions,” Hannah said in a brisk voice. “It’s time to take her to the hospital.”
“I’m on my way. Three minutes.”
“I’ll meet you in the driveway.” Hannah hung up and shoved her phone in her back pocket. “Do you have an overnight bag, Ginger?” She crouched down in front of the tall, strong redhead. “Where is it, honey?”
“By the front door at the cabin,” she said, her voice breathless. “Don’t leave me here.”
“Ursula is with you. She’s not going anywhere.” Hannah took both of Ginger’s hands in hers. “I’m going to go get the bag for you and the baby. I’ll be gone for less than sixty seconds. Then, we’re going to meet Nate in the driveway. You’re going to stay right here until I get back.”
Ginger nodded, the movement almost frantic.
Hannah nodded in a more controlled manner, and then she stood and strode out of the office. She ran down the hall and through the kitchen. Hannah didn’t do a lot of running, but her adrenaline fed her muscles to move quickly. She took the steps two at a time up to the front door of Ginger and Nate’s cabin, and she grabbed the bag from just inside the front door. She had no idea what to put in a bag to take to the hospital to have a baby, but Ginger was always prepared for everything in every way.
She called Jill on her way back down the steps. She couldn’t run back, because the most physical exercise Hannah did was some yoga on the weekends and her work around the ranch. She didn’t race from task to task, and her chest heaved while her lungs burned.
“Ginger’s gone into labor,” Hannah said. “I’m helping her get out front to meet Nate.”
“How exciting,” Jill said, laughing. “I love babies so much.”
Hannah grinned. “Me too.” She hesitated. She wasn’t going to the hospital. She could’ve easily texted Jill and Jess and anyone else she wanted once she got Ginger in the truck with Nate.
Her chest constricted. “Let’s have dinner together tonight,” she said. “Just me and you. Can you?”
“I—of course I can.”
“I love Slate, but I just…miss you.”
“Aw, Hannah,” Jill said. “For the official record and all of that, you’re the one hosting a very cute blond-haired man at the West Wing every evening.”
Hannah hurried up the steps to the back door. “I know. I’ll tell him he needs to find something to do with Slate tonight.”
“Perfect,” Jill said. “See you later.”
