Judy Christenberry - A Randall Hero

“Are you saying your husband beat you?”

She nodded her head, her gaze lowered.

“Had he hit you before now?”

“Once,” she whispered. “I thought he wouldn’t do it again. He—he said he was sorry.”

“So what happened this time?”

“He—he decided he didn’t want the baby.” She sobbed, then, tears streaking down her cheeks.

He scooted across the seat and wrapped his arms around her. “He’s a fool!”

She buried her face against him and wept.

After a minute, she collected herself and, in spite of sniffles, said, “When he got up this morning and left for work at six, I grabbed what I could and went to the bank when it opened. I took all our money and I drove to Rawhide. At least I tried to drive to Rawhide. I hoped Harry could help me.”

“He’s out of town for about six weeks.”

“Oh.” She sniffed several times, trying to control herself.

“Look—I don’t even know your name. But I can promise you I’ll do what I can to help you. Remember I said the sheriff was kin to us?”

She nodded her head as it rested against his chest.

“Well, that means he’s kin to you, too. Harry is his favorite deputy. He’d help you even if Harry wasn’t part of the family.”

“How is Harry part of your family?”

“You didn’t know? Harry married my sister.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize—Then I can’t bother Harry.”

“Then what will you do?”

“Can my car be fixed?”

“Yeah, if Larry can get the parts. That could take a week. Then he’ll take about a week to fix it.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m guessing you knocked a hole in your radiator.”

“Oh.”

“Hey, you can stay at our house while they work on your car.”

“No.” That was all she said.

“What’s your name?” he asked, which seemed a silly question since he was holding her in his arms.

“Lucy.”

“Well, Lucy, take off your coat.”

“Why?” She pulled back and fear lit her eyes when she looked at him.

“I’m going to wrap us up in a comforter I have so we can stay warm until morning.”

She scanned the truck. “You have a comforter?”

“Sure. It’s not safe to drive around here without something to keep us warm.”

“Where is it?”

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I just want to see it first.”

He took his arms from around her and scooted across the front seat until he could reach in the back. He had to stretch to take hold of the comforter, and a bottle of Gatorade. He brought them to the front seat.

Her eyes widened when she saw the drink. “Um, I’m really thirsty.”

“I don’t have any cups, but I think we can both share it.” He took off the lid and offered her a drink. Then he took one himself.

“Now will you take off your coat?”

“Wouldn’t we be warmer if we kept our coats on?”

“No. Body heat will keep us warmer. Besides, it’s not going to get that cold tonight.”

He took off his coat and laid it aside. Then he waited for her to do the same. Once she did, he spread the comforter over both of them and drew her back into his arms.

“You’ve got to relax, Lucy,” he coaxed, feeling how rigid she was against him.

“I—I’m not sure I can.”

“Sure you can. I know, I’ll tell you stories about Harry. That should make you feel better.” He began telling her things Harry had done, particularly the humorous ones. Finally he felt her relax against his chest.

After a few minutes of her silence, he whispered her name.

All he heard in response was the deep, steady breathing of a woman who had fallen asleep. He breathed in her scent. It reminded him of a fragrant blue flower that grew on the mountainside in spring.

He eased her even closer to him and lay his head against the headrest. His last thought was how right she felt in his arms.

LUCY CAME AWAKE SUDDENLY. She was snugly warm in her sleeping rescuer’s arms, but, unfortunately, she needed to go to the bathroom. She tried to slide out from under the comforter, but he stirred.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

She was embarrassed to tell him, but she had no choice.

“Oh, okay, let’s put on our coats.”

“No! I mean, you don’t have to…I’ll be all right on my own.”

“Lucy, I’m not going to watch you. But you’ll need help getting down. I’ll help you and then I’ll walk around the truck so you’re out of sight.”

“All right.”

He put on his coat and handed her hers. Then he stepped over her and got out of the truck. She shivered as she followed him down.

“It’s really cold,” she said with chattering teeth.

“Yeah, so let’s hurry. You should be all right here. I’ll go around to the front of the truck.”

He stood there in the cold, staring out at the night, waiting for her to call him. When she finally did, he came around the truck and helped her back in. “Okay, let’s shed our coats and huddle up again.”

This time he didn’t have to urge her to get close or to relax. She went naturally back into his arms and he spread the comforter over both of them.

Gradually they both warmed up and she relaxed against his chest.

“John?”

“Yeah?” he asked, on the verge of falling asleep again.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking care of me.”

“No problem,” he told her. Together they’d managed very well, better than he would’ve done alone. He settled her more comfortably against his chest.

He checked his watch. It was almost two o’clock. They still had a good portion of the night to get through.

They both went back to sleep.

Just as dawn broke, they both awakened because of sudden moisture. John assumed Lucy had had an accident. Lucy, however, thought something else had happened.

“I think my water broke.”

“What?” he asked groggily.

“I think my water broke. That means I’ll be going into labor soon.”

His eyes flew open. “You’re what? But we can’t—I mean, how soon will you—How much time do we have?”

“I don’t know!” She sounded frightened.

He felt the same way, but he realized he had to be the calm one. “It’s all right. Daylight is breaking. Someone will come along soon enough.”

“Are—are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m sure, and if not, then we’ll manage.”

“Have you ever delivered a baby before?”

“Nope. But I’ve delivered calves and foals. It’s almost the same, I’m sure.”

“I’m sorry you—I mean, I’m sorry this is happening. I’m so embarrassed!”

“Don’t be, Lucy. Having a child is a natural thing.”

“You’re so comforting, John. I don’t think I would’ve made it if you hadn’t stopped.”

He considered how he’d stopped his truck and decided not to mention it again. Lucy couldn’t help what had happened and she’d had a pretty rough time of it.

Lucy grabbed his shirt and gasped.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I think I’m in labor now!”

“What did you feel?”

“A tightening along the bottom of my stomach.”

He cleared his throat. Calmly he said, “That sounds about right, but it will probably be a while before anything happens.”

He hoped to God he was right. He lifted his wrist so he could read his watch. It was ten until six.

When Lucy woke him again, he checked his watch. It was almost six-thirty. He felt sure that was good. A weak sun was providing a little more warmth, and he realized he’d need to get out of the truck to see if he could flag down a car so they could get help.

“Okay, Lucy, I’m going to get near the road so I can flag down a car. You’ll be all right here under the blanket. Okay?”