Adam peeled away her clothing, taking care with her injuries. Ethan hovered by the bed, his face a study in panic.
“Oh God, Adam, I feel like I need to push!”
Adam tossed her pants aside and took stock of the wide, panicked eyes that stared up at him. His own gut was clenched with so much anxiety he couldn’t even think straight. But he knew he had to be calm for Holly and try to make her as much at ease as possible.
“Listen to me, baby. I need you to try and calm down and breathe deep. Don’t push yet if you can keep from it.”
Ryan strode back in. “She’s on her way, but it’s going to be a while.”
“We don’t have a while,” Adam muttered.
“What are we going to do?” Ethan asked as he walked over to join his brothers. “I don’t have a clue about delivering babies!”
Adam shrugged, working to keep the clawing panic from his voice. “We’ve delivered foals. It can’t be that different.”
Holly raised her head from the bed and leveled a disgruntled look at him. “You did not just compare me to a horse.”
He grinned, feeling the tightness recede from his chest just a bit. They could do this. They would do this. Holly was depending on them.
“Ryan, you go get behind her and do your best to keep her calm,” he said in a low voice. Ethan you and I need to wash up then you have to find me some supplies. I need something to clamp the umbilical cord, and I need one of those bulb syringes we have in the medical box outside. Get whatever else you think we need because I can’t think straight to save my life. And hurry the hell up.”
Chapter Five
Ryan sat behind Holly, his arms around her, hands resting on her belly. She leaned back into his chest, her back cradled in his pelvis. He moved one hand up to push her hair from her face as another contraction seized her body.
She trembled in his arms, and it was all he could do not allow his fear to override all else.
When he’d returned to the house after exercising the horses, he hadn’t been able to find her anywhere. In that moment, a whole host of terrifying scenarios ran through his mind. Crazy, insane ideas, but they’d scared him nonetheless.
Her ex-husband had escaped from jail. Or maybe he’d hired someone else to kill her.
It brought back the memories of the night he’d lain helpless on the floor while Holly had been taken from him. His inability to save her, the fact that he’d failed her when she needed him most.
He closed his eyes and buried his lips in her hair. The sting of tears burned his eyelids, and he took deep steadying breaths to try and remain in control of his emotions. He wouldn’t fall apart. Not now. Not when she needed him to be strong. He wouldn’t fail her again.
“Breathe, baby. Deep breaths. That’s it,” Adam encouraged.
Adam was positioned between her legs while Ethan hovered over his shoulder.
“Oh God, it hurts!” she cried.
Her back arched and Ryan could feel the tension in her body, like a rubber band at full stretch.
“You’re crowning, baby. We’re almost there. Close your mouth. Breathe in through your nose then hold it and push. One long push. Let’s see our baby.”
At Adam’s calm direction, she quieted. Ryan could feel her suck in a deep breath and then she bore down.
“That’s it, love,” Ryan whispered in her ear.
Ryan’s hands cupped her belly, trying to infuse his strength into her.
“That’s it!” Adam said in an excited voice. “Come on, baby, one more good push. You can do it.”
An agonized rasp tore from Holly’s throat and Ryan hurt for her. He ached. Felt her effort. Lived it with her. God, he wished he could take her pain. He’d do anything for her not to suffer like this.
“Aaaaah!”
“Okay, rest a minute,” Adam urged. “The head is out. That’s the hard part. Let me suction and then we’ll work on getting our baby the rest of the way here.”
Ryan looked down to see a wide grin splitting his older brother’s face. Behind him, Ethan stood, his face alight with amazement, with awe.
“I need to push again, Adam.”
There was panic in her voice as if she wasn’t quite sure what she should be doing. Ryan kissed her hair and rubbed her belly with his hands, wanting to do something to offer her comfort.
Adam reached up and squeezed one of her hands. “Go on and push, baby. One more good push and we’ll be done.”
Holly’s back arched once more and every muscle in her body tensed. Then she relaxed, much like a wilted balloon. She fell back into his arms, like a limp noodle. She breathed raggedly, her chest rising and falling with exertion.
Ryan looked down once more and met his brother’s eyes.
“It’s a boy,” Adam whispered. “We have a son!”
A tear rolled down Ryan’s cheek and he hastened to shrug it away with his shoulder.
Ethan crowded in and Adam held the squirming, slippery bundle up for Ethan to take.
“Can you take care of the cord?” Adam asked. “I’ll need to make sure she delivers the placenta.”
Ethan reached reverently for the wailing baby, tears glittering in his eyes as well. The three brothers exchanged glances, their eyes full of emotion. Ryan squeezed her in his arms, the rush of love he felt for her so strong it was all he could do to contain himself.
Ethan cut and tied off the cord then wrapped a blanket around the baby. He walked over and gently lowered the bundle into Holly’s outstretched arms.
Ryan got his first glimpse of his son. Holly cradled him in her arms, her fingers lightly exploring his tiny face and fingers.
“He’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice heavy with emotion.
Ryan sat there, holding them both in his arms. He held everything that mattered right there, close to him, against his heart. Another tear rolled down his cheek and this time he didn’t wipe it away.
“I love you,” he choked out against her hair.
Ethan bent in close to kiss Holly’s temple then he lowered his face to kiss the baby’s brow. “Thank you,” Ethan whispered. “He’s absolutely beautiful.”
Holly turned her face up to beam at both him and Ethan. “Isn’t he though?”
She turned the baby into her breast, offering him her nipple. After a few moments of the baby nuzzling and rooting, Holly managed to get him latched on. Soon he was contentedly feeding.
Footsteps sounding in the hall and a second later the midwife bustled in. She took in the scene then beamed over at Holly. “Well, I’d say you all did just fine without me.”
She hustled over and took control of the situation. She shooed the men away, giving them each a different task, assuring them they could come back just as soon as she’d had a chance to get mother and baby cleaned up and checked over.
Chapter Six
Holly lay in a clean bed, a clean gown on and her baby in her arms. The midwife had fussed over her, gotten her and the baby cleaned up and checked over before beaming at her and declaring her and the baby just fine.
She felt tired. Exhausted, really. The midwife had wrapped her ankle and cautioned her to stay off of it for a several days. Not that Holly planned on getting out of bed anytime soon. She might just sleep for a week.
But she’d never been happier than at this moment.
The midwife bustled out, saying she’d be out to check on her and the baby the next day. Immediately afterwards, the guys filed in, all headed to where Holly lay.
They crowded around, easing on to the bed with her but being careful not to jostle her.
They stared in awe at the baby, each taking turns touching his cheek or his tiny fingers.
“He’s beautiful,” Ethan whispered reverently.
Ryan curled an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. “Are you all right? How are you feeling?”
“Yes, baby, how are you feeling?” Adam asked, concern darkening his eyes.
Her chest clenched. Tears swam in her eyes as she
surveyed the scene before her. “I’m fine,” she choked out. “I’ve never been better.” And it was the truth. How did life possibly get better than at this moment? It would never be as perfect again.
This picture would be forever locked in her memory. As frightened as she’d been, now that it was over, she couldn’t imagine a better delivery. No sterile hospital environment. No strangers bringing her son into the world. Just the men she loved more than life. Just the way it should be.
She looked up at Ryan who was still studying the baby with an expression akin to rapture. “Do you want to hold him? You’re the only one who hasn’t yet.”
“I’d love it,” he said huskily.
She lifted the bundle up, and Ryan eased his large hands around the tiny baby. He cradled him to his chest and watched in fascination as his son opened his eyes.
“What are we going to name him?” Ethan asked.
“Seth,” Holly replied. “I like the name Seth.”
“Seth Colter. It’s a fine name,” Adam said, his eyes softening when they met Holly’s. “Thank you.”
She cocked her head, smiling up at him. “For what?”
“For our son. For loving us. For understanding us,” he returned.
Her throat tightened, and for a moment she couldn’t have spoken if she wanted. She struggled to process the surge of emotion that built and swelled within her. Suddenly it was too much and not enough all at the same time.
She was safe. She was loved. She loved with all her heart. She was home.
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