A Randall Hero. Judy Christenberry

you say. How’s she doing, Wendy?”

      “The pains are coming faster, Doctor.”

      John interrupted the nurse’s report. “I’m going back in with her, Caro. I’ll stay at her head and just try to keep her calm.”

      “All right, John. I’ll go talk to your parents.”

      “It’s not what they’re thinking. She’s…almost family.”

      “Yeah, right!” Caroline said as she headed out to the waiting area.

      John wanted to go to his parents, but he’d promised Lucy he’d be there for her. He’d explain to them later. He entered the delivery room to find Lucy still sobbing. Immediately taking her hand, John kissed it and stroked it, then put his arm around her.

      With his deep voice, he talked to Lucy, calming her as he had earlier. “Hey, Lucy, we made it to the hospital. That’s a good thing, don’t you think? Now you can be sure your baby will get good care. That beats a comforter in a pickup truck, doesn’t it?”

      “I’m so glad you’re here, John,” Lucy said, her voice weaker as she tried to bear the pain.

      “I’m glad, too. You’re going to be fine.”

      The nurse entered then. “All right, Lucy, I’m going to give you a shot that should relieve some of the pain. Just hold still.”

      “She’ll be all right?” John asked, looking for reassurance.

      “Yes, she’ll be fine. We just like to make it a little easier.” She gave the injection then she said, “Okay, Lucy, just draw a deep breath. You’ll find it’s more bearable now.”

      John lost track of time as he stood by Lucy, watching her suffer for the sake of her child. He hadn’t had firsthand experience of a child being born and had no idea what a woman went through to give birth. To think that Lucy’s husband had tried to provoke a miscarriage just broke John’s heart.

      When Caro came in, called by the nurse, John knew it was time. He wanted to let Lucy rest, to take a well-deserved break, but he knew she had more work ahead of her.

      Several pushes later Lucy let out a gutteral groan and gave birth to her daughter. When Caro held Lucy’s baby in her arms and they all heard that fierce cry, John could feel tears in his eyes.

      “You did it, Lucy!” he said, bending down to envelop her in a hug. “You did it!”

      Lucy looked relieved. “Can I see her?”

      “Yes, as soon as the nurses clean her up,” Caro replied. “She’s got all her fingers and toes and looks like she’s healthy. After you see her, I’ll do an examination.”

      “Thank you so much, Doctor. I’m so happy.”

      John realized he shared Lucy’s happiness. Because she was Harry’s sister, of course. That was the only reason…wasn’t it?

      When he considered that he had to face his parents, he realized he needed to be able to reveal Lucy’s identity. He knew his mother would take Lucy under her wing like a mother hen, if she knew. And he had to be able to put Lucy there. Once they were alone, he’d talk to her about revealing her identity.

      The nurses brought Lucy’s baby back into the room. Caroline took the baby in her arms and carried her to Lucy. “Here’s your little girl, Lucy.”

      Lucy held her baby in her arms, glowing at the tiny creature.

      “John, look!”

      “She’s a beauty, sweetheart.”

      As Lucy began to fade a little from the exhilaration, John reached out and took the baby from her. As he felt the warmth of the baby, the little life, he stared in amazement.

      Caroline took the baby from him. “I need to examine her now, John. I think Lucy is going to sleep. A well-deserved rest, I might add.”

      He nodded. “I’ll stay with her until she falls sleep.”

      “All right, but don’t forget your parents are waiting for an explanation.”

      “No, I won’t.”

      Once Lucy was back in a room, John waited until the nurse had left before he broached the subject of her identity. “Lucy, I need to explain to my parents about you being Harry’s sister. You understand that, don’t you?”

      She nodded, as if resigned. Then reality struck and Lucy’s features crumpled. John knew she’d come face-to-face with the reality of not having a home for her baby.

      “Lucy, Mom will take you in, you and the baby. I live with my parents, so I’ll be there, too.”

      “I can’t stay there, John. I’m afraid he’ll come find me. He—he’s threatened me before about leaving him. He told me he’d come after me if I left him.”

      “Honey, we won’t let him hurt you or the baby. I promise.”

      “But I don’t want to bring trouble to either you or Harry. It doesn’t seem fair.”

      “We won’t worry about that, Lucy. Your husband is a coward. Only a coward would attack a pregnant woman, any woman, much less his own.”

      “I want to file for divorce as soon as I can. But I don’t feel I can bring trouble down on you. Please don’t ask me to—”

      “Honey, I’m telling you, you can’t deny your baby a home. That’s what I’m telling you.”

      Caroline came into Lucy’s room, a little bundle in her arms. “Lucy, your baby is as healthy as can be. And she weighs six pounds, one ounce. She’ll be able to go home with you.”

      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