A Randall Hero

John took Lucy’s hand and held it in his own. “Lucy, you need to tell Caro who you are,” he said, hoping to force Lucy to reveal her identity.

“No, John!” Lucy protested.

“You know you need to. I’m going to have to tell my parents, too.”

Ignoring him, Lucy held out her arms for her baby. “Can I hold her?”

Caroline handed the tiny infant to her mother. “I need to know her name, Lucy.”

“Oh, I want to name her after my grandmother. Emma.”

“That’s a lovely name. Now, what’s her last name?”

Keeping her head down, Lucy said, “Horton.”

“All right. Do you have a middle name?”

“I think Lynn. Emma Lynn Horton.”

“That’s lovely.”

John wasn’t satisfied. “Tell her, Lucy!

“No!”

“You must. For Emma’s sake.”

Caroline remained silent, but he could feel her eyes on him.

“You must,” John prompted Lucy again. “Tell her why I said you were family.”

Finally, Lucy raised her head and looked at Caroline. “I’m Harry Gowan’s sister.”

Chapter Three

“You’re Harry’s sister?” Caro seemed pleasantly surprised. “How did you come to know John?”

“I didn’t know him till yesterday. But he’s been so very kind to me. I’ll never be able to thank him adequately.” She looked at John, gratitude in her eyes. “I was alone and scared and he made me feel safe. He even convinced me he could deliver my baby.”

Caroline stared at John. “Oh, really?”

“I was just trying to reassure her. I’m not challenging your skills, Caroline. You know that. But we were both stranded on the road last night, and all we could hope for was a car to stop by so we could get a ride into town.”

“But I don’t understand how you got together. Did you—”

“I’ll tell you later. I think Lucy should get some sleep.”

“All right,” Caroline agreed. She knew Lucy was exhausted. “Let me take the baby. I’ll put her in a bassinet.”

“Thank you,” Lucy said.

As Caro exited with Emma, John told her, “I’ll stay with Lucy until she falls asleep. Then I’ll go talk to my parents.”

“Are you going to leave then, John?” Lucy asked.

He heard the fear in her voice, and he said, “No, I won’t leave you, Lucy. My parents are waiting here. I’ll just visit them for a little bit while you sleep.”

“I know I’m being a baby about you staying. I promise I’ll get stronger, but right now I can’t quite be brave.”

“You don’t have to. I’m here.” He took her hand in his and insisted she go to sleep. After several minutes, he slipped his hand away and waited to see if she would wake up. When she didn’t, he left the room. In the hallway, he found a nurse. “I’m going to the waiting room to talk to my parents. Let me know if she wakes up.”

“Okay. Do you want to take the baby to show them?”

“Can I do that?”

“Caro said you could.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

John figured his parents would like to see the baby. His mother would be excited about the tiny infant, and his father’s protective urge would be aroused.

Besides, he liked holding Emma.

When he reached the waiting room, he saw his parents sitting quietly. He stepped into the room, holding Emma, and his parents jumped to their feet. He couldn’t help the proud smile he wore. “I want to introduce you to Emma,” he said, pulling the blanket back a little.

“Oh! Let me hold her,” Camille Randall said.

He immediately handed the baby to her. He and his father crowded around. It was amazing to him that his parents didn’t demand an explanation. But he would give them one anyway. “I’m not the father.”

Griff Randall looked at him sharply. “Then who is?”

“A man named Cecil. The important person of the two who created this baby is the mother.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s Harry’s sister.”

“What?” Camille said. She appeared stunned.

“I said she’s Harry’s sister.”

“But how did you know her?” his father asked.

John replayed the past twelve hours for his parents. “She’s scared and doesn’t know what to do. Her husband beat her, hoping to provoke a miscarriage.”

Horrified, his parents stared at the infant in Camille’s arms.

“Oh, no!” Camille said, holding the baby closer.