The Cowboy's Family Plan. Judy Duarte

the orderly returned with the wheelchair, Shannon took a seat as another pain gripped her.

      They’d explained to the children what was happening while they’d been in the car, but little Kimberly was still worried. “Where’s he going to take my mommy?”

      “Upstairs to have the new baby,” Selena said. “But don’t worry, honey. I’ll stay with you and Tommy until the baby is born. And then I’ll make sure you get to your grandma’s house.”

      Selena and the children followed Shannon through the E.R., into an elevator and on to the O.B. floor. They stopped when they reached the waiting room.

      “I’m sure my friend Alex will be arriving with your dinner soon,” Selena said.

      They’d no more than settled into chairs near the television when Alex—thank goodness for reinforcements!—popped his head into the room. “I hope you guys like grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders.”

      “We do,” Tommy said, getting up from his chair. “Thanks.”

      “I also brought milk to drink and cookies for dessert,” Alex added, as he placed the bags on a nearby coffee table.

      Selena couldn’t help but grin. The cowboy was proving to be both thoughtful and generous.

      After setting out the food and watching the children take seats on the floor around the coffee table, Alex nodded for Selena to step off to the side. As she did so, he lowered his voice. “How’s their mother doing?”

      “She’s already been admitted and is being examined now.”

      “Is everything going to be okay?”

      “I called her doctor in Houston and let him know what was happening. He said the baby was breech at her last appointment. Unless it’s turned, the delivery will be more complicated. She’s also nearly six weeks early, but Dr. Chin, the resident in charge, is competent. So I’m sure everything will be okay.”

      “What about the kids?” he asked. “What are you going to do with them?”

      “I’ll wait here until Shannon is out of delivery. Then I’ll drive them to Oakville to stay with their grandmother.”

      “Are you taking her car?”

      “No, it was making some weird noises on the way here, so I’d rather take my own. I’ll have to transfer the car seat, though.” The minutes the words were out of her mouth, she realized she’d have to ask Alex to give her a ride back to the wellness center.

      “Okay,” he said. “I’ll just hang out here until you’re ready to go back.”

      “You don’t have to do that.”

      “I know.” His gaze locked on hers, and for a moment, she felt as though they were a team.

      Selena couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like she had someone on her side—a friend, a lover...

      Oh, for Pete’s sake. They might be developing a friendship, but they’d never become lovers.

      Before she could tear her gaze from his and get her mind back on track, Ella Wilkins poked her head into the doorway. “Dr. Ramirez?”

      Selena’s gaze moved from the handsome cowboy who was proving to have a protective streak to the obstetrics nurse who’d just arrived. “Yes, Ella?”

      “Dr. Chin has decided on a C-section and wanted to know if you’d assist.”

      Selena stiffened. “Of course. I’ll be right there.”

      “He’s also put out a call for Dr. Parnell,” Ella added.

      Roger Parnell was a neonatologist, who’d be in charge of the baby when it was born. It was standard procedure in a C-section, but had something unexpected happened?

      Why was Darren Chin asking her to assist?

      Selena turned to Alex, who was no longer smiling.

      “What can I do to help?” he asked.

      “Watch the kids. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

      She just hoped she wouldn’t have to bear bad news to Shannon’s children when she returned.

      Chapter Three

      Alex didn’t have any idea what was going on beyond the double doors that led to the obstetrics unit, but he was glad Selena was in there with the kids’ mother.

      He’d always been uneasy in hospital settings, and even more so after Mary’s accident. In fact, when he’d entered the main lobby of the medical center tonight, carrying the takeout food, his gut had clenched and his steps had slowed. The memory of that rainy afternoon he’d rushed to the E.R. to be with his dying wife had slammed into him, knocking him off stride.

      He’d shaken it off the best he could, telling himself he had a job to do, kids to feed. So he’d bypassed the hospital volunteers who guarded the lobby entrance and went right for the elevator. All the while, his heart had pounded like a son of a gun, but he’d pressed on.

      Selena had told him she’d be in the waiting room just outside the maternity ward. And that’s right where he’d found her.

      Once he’d entered the small room and seen Selena and the children seated together and watching some animal show on television, his pulse rate had slowed to a normal pace and the painful memory had faded away.

      Selena had looked up and blessed him with a smile that had gone a long way in chasing off the bad memories and promising to create a new one. But before either of them could speak or move, a nurse in scrubs entered the room.

      As soon as Alex heard her say “C-section” and watched Selena’s expression turn somber, all those dark memories he’d held at bay came flooding back.

      Most people came to hospitals to get well, to heal. But some, like Mary, weren’t that lucky. And Alex couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that things weren’t going as expected in delivery.

      Thank God Selena was in there now.

      It was weird, though. He had no personal knowledge of Selena’s medical skill, yet just knowing she was with the pregnant mother provided him with an inexplicable sense of relief. For some reason, he was convinced the mother and her newborn were in good hands.

      When it came time for his babies to be born, he hoped the doctor delivering them was a lot like Selena.

      Alex glanced at the clock on the wall. How long did this sort of thing take? When would Selena come back?

      He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten involved in all of this in the first place. He’d just been at the wrong place at the wrong time, he supposed.

      Either way, he’d do his part by looking after the pregnant woman’s children. Only trouble was, he didn’t have a clue what to do with them, other than to feed them and let them watch television. So he’d just have to wing it.

      At least they seemed to be good kids—quiet, obedient. But what did he know? They were probably scared, just like he was.

      For a guy who was determined to be a father, he sure didn’t know much about raising children. Was he going to have to take some parenting classes, too?

      Probably, although he had no idea where something like that would be offered. He’d have to ask Selena about it.

      Again he looked at the clock. What was keeping her?

      “Hey, look, Kimmie.” The boy pointed to the television screen, where a commercial for kitty litter filled the screen. “Doesn’t that cat look a lot like Whiskers?”

      The girl looked up and nodded. “Only Whiskers has more white on his paws.”

      Alex made his way to the oak coffee table, where he’d spread out the grilled cheese sandwich and the chicken fingers