Falling for the Cowboy. Mary Leo

he knew he couldn’t. Not now. Not like this.

      “You can leave, but I want to be here when Kitty wakes up.” She turned back to her sister, ignoring his outstretched hand.

      Blake gave the nurse, a woman he had dated briefly when they were in their early twenties, a pleading look. She walked over to Maggie, and gently patted her back. “Maggie, I’m Cori. Tim’s cousin.” Maggie stood and they gave each other a tight hug. “Believe me, sweetie, I know how you’re feeling.” Maggie went back to sitting next to Kitty. “I have a sister, and if she were in here I’d want to camp out as well, but it’s really better for everyone if you go home and get some rest. That way, if she needs you in the morning, you’ll be clearheaded.”

      “We always promised each other that if anything ever happened to one of us, we’d be there. I have to stay. I promised.”

      “But nothing’s happened. And nothing’s going to happen. Not on my watch. Kitty’s fine. So are her babies.”

      “How can you be sure? What if those contractions start up again?”

      “Trust me. I’ve been taking care of pregnant women for the last eight years. As long as she stays down and takes her meds, everything will be just fine. I promise.”

      Blake had to admit the whole thing made him nervous. He’d already been through a birth tragedy with Colt’s wife, when Joey was born. But he knew this was different. For one thing, Kitty was in much better shape than Colt’s wife had been. And Kitty wasn’t hemorrhaging, she had merely started labor six weeks too soon. Plus, he knew Cori wouldn’t make a promise if she thought she couldn’t keep it. She was a straight shootin’ kind of girl. Always had been, and probably always would be. It was her brutal honesty that Blake had had a hard time with when he was dating her. However, over the years he’d come to realize that Cori’s honesty was a dependable force.