Chapter 9
Nine
“ A lright. This should be the last of the ones for the past three years.” Sam stacked the last box on top of the others he’d insisted on getting out of the storage room for her.
“Great. I’ll start with the oldest ones and work my way up to the current receipts and invoices. It’s probably going to take me the better part of this week.”
He nodded. “We’re going to be moving the cattle out of the west pasture this week, but before we can do that, there’s fencing to fix. I’d like to be here to help, but I need to be out with the guys.”
“Sam,” Evie waved her hand dismissing him. “You hired me for this. I’ve got it. I’ll have everything sorted and put into the new program and we can sit down some time next week when you are free to go over it all.”
His face has his doubts written all over it.
“None of that,” she scolded. “Go be the rugged cowboy and move your cattle around. I’ll be fine here.”
He nodded, walking past her to grab his hat off the wall.
“Hey, Boss?” Zeke walked into the office .
“Hey. I was just coming out to meet you guys.”
“Good.” His eyes darted over to Evie before landing back on Sam. “We got a problem with the herd. Better get out there.”
“What is it?”
“Derrick and I’ll show you.”
Sam brows furrowed and Evie knew what he was wondering. Why was Zeke hiding what was worrying him?
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. Just work in the office today, okay?”
“Of course.”
Sam and Zeke left, their hushed words distantly registering with her.
Evie sat back in her chair, just as an alert chimed on her phone.
Shoot. She had her doctor’s appointment later that morning, and completely forgot to mention it to Sam.
“Looks like we’ll just have to leave Sam a little note in case he gets back to the office before we do, Jellybean. Hopefully he won’t be too mad that we have to leave.”
Another chime on her phone caught her attention. This time a text. Her stomach sank as she read the message.
You’re going to pay, bitch.
“She’s so beautiful, Evie. You can already tell she’s going to be a little princess.” Emma stared down at the ultrasound picture.
“She really is,” Grace agreed. “Look at her little nose. It’s so dainty, just like her mama’s.”
Grace had been chatting with Emma over lunch when Evie stopped in to grab treats for the guys before heading back to the ranch. She hadn’t meant to stay so long, especially with the groceries she picked up still in her car, but she wanted to share the special moment with her new friends.
“Dr. Hayes says she's on the smaller side for her gestation.”
“Is he concerned?” Grace asked.
“No. Not yet. It just means I need a few more growth scans to make sure she’s keeping up. What are you doing?” Evie laughed as Emma handed the ultrasound back to her and started putting chocolate muffins on a plate.
“We need to fatten you up, Evie. Auntie Em will love this baby no matter what, but as the official town baker of Bell Ridge, any niece or nephew of mine is required to have rolls.”
Evie laughed. “I’ll take that under advisement. I wish I had more time to chat, but I’ve got to get back to the ranch.”
“How is everything going with Sam?” Grace asked.
“He’s at least warmed up to me. But something happened with the herd this morning. He rushed out of the office and wasn’t back by the time I had to leave for my appointment. That’s why I have to get back. I want to make sure everything is okay.”
“Well, let us know if it’s anything we can help with. We’ll volunteer Seb and Jackson to help and then we can have girl time!” Emma laughed.
“Yes!” Grace agreed. “And no matter what, girl time is needed.”
“I’d love that. I’ll let you both know. Thanks for the treats, Em.”
“No, no, no. Come on, Opal. Just make it back to the ranch for me, okay?”
The car sputtered and clanked, before steam started rising from the hood. Evie pulled to the side of the road and parked, resting her head on the steering wheel .
“Shoot!” She didn’t want to have to call for help. She knew Sam was swamped with whatever happened to the herd, and now she was about to burden him more. But Jellybean pressing on her bladder and the sweat that was already trickling down her back had her grabbing her phone.
The line rang and rang until his voicemail picked up. He was probably still out of range.
“Hey, Sam. It’s Evie. Honestly, this is no big deal, so please don’t worry. I had a doctor’s appointment for Jellybean in town, and my car kind of died on me on the way home. I’m not even sure where I am…I think I might have taken a wrong turn at the creek. Anyway, I’m just going to call for a tow truck, but I didn’t want you to worry if you got back to the office and I wasn’t there. Okay, I’ll let you know.”
She tossed the phone into her passenger seat and leaned back, closing her eyes as she ran her hand over her belly. The baby was having a field day in there, kicking up a storm. Maybe she could feel the heat creeping into the vehicle now that the car was off and the air condition was no longer working. Poor peanut.
Okay, Evie could do this. She could figure out a local towing company and get them to bring the car back to the ranch. Grabbing her phone once more, Evie searched for the nearest tow company or garage.
Twenty minutes later, the sweat was pouring off of her as she laid with the driver’s seat fully reclined, trying to relax the tight muscles in her belly. Maybe she should have tried to walk a few miles back to the ranch. Her stomach ached. Why hadn’t she thought to bring some water with her? Evie smoothed her hand over her belly, trying to calm the pains down.
Maybe she should call one of the girls? Evie hated the idea of needing to ask anyone for help, but surely it was better than being slowly roasted in her car.
The sound of gravel crunching under tires had her heart picking up. Had the tow truck finally made it out to her? Or maybe Sam had finally gotten her message and was about to be her hero. She moved her seat back upright and took off her seat belt.
“Hey, everything okay?” Evie let out a yelp at the towering figure standing next to her door.
The man’s hands went flying up by his head, as if to show he meant her no harm. Her heart would hear none of that, and continued to pound in her chest.
“Sorry for scaring you, ma’am. I’m Dr. Jacob Rahni. I saw your car off to the side of the road and in this heat, I just wanted to make sure everything’s okay.”
“Oh,” Evie let out a heavy sigh. “Thank you for stopping, Dr. Rahni.”
“Jake, please. Only my mom insists on people calling me ‘doctor’.”
“I would too if my son achieved something like that.” She smiled. “I’m Evie, by the way. Do you know the Red River Ranch?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I’ve been there a lot.”
“Oh, really? I started working there a few weeks ago, but I’m still not super familiar with the roads around here yet and I think I got turned around. Then my dear old Opal here decided to kick the bucket, which I already know Sam is never going to let me hear the end of. I appreciate you stopping, but a tow truck is supposed to be here in an hour or two.”
“An hour or two? It’s way too hot today to be sitting in your car waiting for that long. Why don’t I take you back to the ranch and you can let me know which tow company is coming out?”
“That’s really sweet of you, but I can wait.” She rubbed her fingers over the pendant on her necklace. It was awfully nice of him to stop, but she still didn’t really know who he was, and she wasn’t about to put Jellybean in any sort of danger.
“I’m sure it’s hard to trust a stranger, but I could call Sam. We’ve been friends for years, and I’m sure he’d want me to make sure you made it back to the ranch in one piece and without heat stroke.”
She laughed. “It really is scorching today. I completely underestimated the heat. But I don’t think you’ll get Sam if you try to call. I’ve had to leave him a few messages.”
“Ah, he’s probably out where the reception isn’t all that great.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, Evie. It’s up to you.”
She thought about how difficult it would be to sit in her car-turned-oven for the next few hours.
“Can you give me just a second?”
“Sure.”
Evie grabbed her cell and wrote a quick text to Emma.
Evie: Do you know Dr. Jake Rahni?
Emma: Yes! Is he at the ranch right now? Watch out…
Her stomach lurched.
Emma: That cutie is a huge flirt! He’ll probably ask you out on a date! You’re definitely his type!
Lord. Why didn’t she write all that at the same time? Tucking her phone away, Evie decided to put her trust in Jake.
“Okay, well, you got my friend Emma’s seal of approval, so I’m ready to take you up on your very generous offer. Besides not wanting to bake anymore than I already have, Jellybean here is really unsettled today.” She ran her hand over her belly where the baby was rolling. “So, thank you.”
He looked her over for a second, almost as if he was evaluating her after she revealed her pregnancy, but he changed his concerned look to a bright smile.
“How far along are you? ”
“Six months. It’s flying by. But I imagine if it’s already this hot, the summer and the end of my pregnancy are going to be miserable.”
Jake laughed. “I foresee lots of air conditioned rooms in your near future.”
“Might as well order myself a walk-in freezer,” she joked. “I’m lucky. The AC in my apartment seems to be in good working order.”
“That is good. Alright, let’s get you out of the car. Is there anything we need to take with us?”
Jake held his hand out for her to take. Evie swung her feet out the door and ducked her head as she stepped out into the sunlight.
“If it’s not too much, do you think we could also tote along my groceries? I really don’t want to lose all that money I just spent on them.” Her head swam as her ears began to ring. “Oh, I think—” Bile rose in her throat as her stomach bottomed out. She placed her hand low on her belly, trying to ground herself and stop the world from spinning.
“Evie? You okay?”
She braced her arm against the car as her breathing sped up.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t eaten much, and the heat…”
Jake was by her side, his arm hooked around her back stabilizing her. She would have been worried, but the buzzing in her ears and the swell of nausea were overwhelming her.
“Take a couple of slow deep breaths for me, Evie. Then we’ll get you into my truck. The AC’s going and it’ll help to get you cooled down.”
“I’m so sorry, I don’t think I?—”
The last thing she saw as the world faded away was Jake’s worried face.