Chance's Joy

Chance tightened his grip on the saddle horn as he thought about the fateful summer he’d been made a fool of. It had taken him years, but he’d learned all kinds of tricks to keep his emotions under control. And his practiced stony gaze could shield his hurt from just about everyone. He wasn’t going to let anyone get close enough to hurt him again.

He pushed away the memories and gave Ace a slight nudge. He rode through the gate and stopped at the barn about a hundred yards from the old house. Might as well check on the winter feed. A few years back he’d arranged a deal with Lillian Kirby to use her barn to store feed. It had also been an excuse for Hank or Chance to check up on the old woman who’d lived here alone until her death about twelve months ago.

Chance swung his leg off his horse and tied the reins to the rusted metal fence. He glanced toward the house and saw that the paint was faded and starting to peel. He could easily take care of the problem in a few days. Some scraping and prepping, and the house could be ready to paint. White. He’d always wanted a white ranch house. The big wraparound porch sagged a little, but that could be taken care of, too.

He walked around to the barn door and discovered it open. Great, had kids been in here again? Inside, he examined the bags of feed and found them untouched. That was when he heard the noise.

It was more of a cry. Like an animal in pain. He moved down the aisle between the empty stalls toward the tack room, where the noise got louder. Carefully and slowly, not wanting an injured animal to attack him, he opened the door. What he saw was a shock. A woman. A very pregnant woman doubled over in pain.

Joy Spencer’s timing couldn’t have been worse. She’d thought she had everything figured out. But her plans hadn’t included her baby deciding to come two weeks early. She’d had back pain most of the morning, but thought it had been caused by the long drive here, not labor. She had to get some help. Once the pain subsided she stood up and tried to walk, but before she could make it to the door another pain hit her, making her cry out again.

“Oh, no,” she groaned, when she felt a gush of warm water running down her legs. She was in big trouble now. Sinking down onto the wooden bench, she managed to ride out the contraction.

“God, please help me,” she whispered as she tried to catch her breath.

“Guess you’re stuck with me instead.”

She jerked around to find a tall man with shoulders so wide they blocked the doorway. His long legs were encased in jeans and brown leather chaps. A black cowboy hat sat low on his head, nearly covering a pair of piercing gray eyes.

“Who are you?” she gasped.

He came further into the room. “Name’s Chance Randell. A neighbor. By the looks of things, you could use some help.” He knelt down beside her.

She nodded. “It’s my baby. It’s early. Please, can you get me to the hospital?”

“Only if you have a car,” he said. “I rode over here on a horse.”

“My keys are in my purse—” she groaned as another pain raced through her. Joy gripped the man’s shirt and cried out. This was all happening too fast.

“Okay, ma’am, try to take a slow easy breath,” he coaxed.

Joy did as he directed, and finally the pain faded. He helped her to the cot in the corner of the room where she collapsed and closed her eyes.

“I’ll be right back.” The stranger started to get up and she grabbed him again.

“No, don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going anywhere, ma’am. Just need to get my cellular phone from the saddle bags. I’ll call an ambulance.”

Joy was too exhausted to do anything but nod and whisper, “Just hurry.”

Chance ran outside and tore his saddle bags off Ace. His hands were trembling as he took out his phone and punched in the emergency numbers. When someone answered, he nearly yelled in the dispatcher’s ear. “I need an ambulance at the Kirby place out off Highway 56. A woman is about to have a baby.”

Several moments later, they had patched him into the hospital. A doctor came on the line. “Hello, I’m Dr. Hager. Are you the husband?”

“No, I’m a neighbor, Chance Randell. I just found the woman…” Damn. Wasn’t this his lucky day?

“Well, it looks like you’re all she has for the moment. How far apart are her pains?”

“Not far. A few minutes at the most.”

“Okay, Chance, I’ll stay on the line with you until help arrives.”

“Thanks. My only experience with birthing is with the four-legged variety.” Chance hurried into the tack room just as another pain gripped the tiny blond woman. He went to her and let her grasp his hand until the pain finally subsided.

She looked at him, fear etched on her face. “They’re not going to get here in time, are they?”

Chance forced a smile. “Hey, I’ve got it under control, blue eyes. I’ve got Dr. Hager right here on the line.” He handed the phone to her. She talked with the doctor and answered his questions.

She gave Chance back the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”

“Look, Chance,” the doctor began. “I want you to make sure she stays calm. Just in case things speed up and she gives birth before the paramedics get there, you’ve got to help her breathe through the pains.”

And just how was he supposed to do that? Cows didn’t need this kind of help. “Sure, Doc,” he said, more confidently than he really felt.

The woman grabbed his arm again and groaned as another contraction began.

“Breathe, breathe.” He puffed out his cheeks and started panting rapidly. Finally she got the picture and followed his lead as the pain faded out.

Three minutes later another pain struck. They repeated the same breathing technique until she collapsed exhausted on the cot.

Chance took out his bandanna and wiped the moisture from her face. “You’re doing just great,” he said.

She looked at him skeptically, clearly not convinced. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The baby’s early.”

“That happens. Is there anyone else I can call? Your mother, husband…?”

She shook her head. “No, my husband is dead. It’s just me…and the baby.” He didn’t question her when she closed her eyes. But not for long, he thought as another pain began.

“Oohh, I need to push.”

“Breathe,” he pleaded with her.

Chance hung in there, coaxing her, wondering why the hell a pregnant woman was out here all alone. If he hadn’t come by she’d have really been in trouble.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Ssh. Save your strength,” he said and got her some water from a bottle in his bag. While she rested, he raised the phone to his ear. “Look, doc, where the hell is the ambulance?”

“It’s en route. Chance, just concentrate on your patient. I have to know if she’s crowning.”

Chance swallowed. He knew there was only one way to find that out.

He put down the phone and turned around. “Look, ma’am, the doctor says I need to examine you. I’m sorry. I’ll try and make it quick.”

Her eyes got big and wide, then she nodded. “Go ahead.” She looked so tiny, so fragile with her oversized shirt and long skirt, her belly rounded. After pulling off her panties, she bent her knees and draped her skirt over her legs. Another contraction hit her. “I’ve got to push again,” she cried.

“Don’t. Not yet. Breathe,” Chance ordered, then he gave a quick glance under her skirt and saw the baby’s head. He grabbed the phone. “Okay, doc. We have a head showing.”