Should Have Been Her Child

Inside the baby’s bedroom a lamp was on, shedding a pool of light over the sleeping child. Jess’s heart clutched with fear as he took in his daughter’s little red face and hot, dry skin.

“I don’t want to take her to the hospital. All of the machines and strange faces would scare her.”

“But Jess, she needs medical attention! I—”

Before his grandmother could finish, Jess was stuffing diapers and extra clothing into a diaper bag. At this moment nothing mattered but his daughter.

“I am going to get her medical attention, Ma. I’m taking her over to the T Bar K. To Victoria.”

Chapter Five

Nearly a half hour later, Jess braked his truck to a stop in front of the Ketchum ranch house. The porch was illuminated with light and, as he killed the motor and reached for Katrina, he could see Victoria stepping through the door.

On his drive over, he’d called on his cell phone to make sure Victoria would be home. Jess hadn’t talked to her, but Marina had assured him she would give her the message. Apparently the cook had come through with her promise.

By the time he stood down on the ground with the baby in his arms, Victoria was standing outside the door of the truck. When he looked at her face, the only thing he saw was concern.

“Did she hurt herself or is she ill?” Victoria quickly asked as she stepped toward father and daughter. “Marina sometimes has trouble with her English. She wasn’t exactly sure what you’d told her over the phone.”

“She’s burning up with fever,” Jess told her.

Victoria didn’t waste time pulling back the blanket Jess had swaddled around the child. Instead, she motioned for him to follow her into the house.