Judy Christenberry - A Randall Hero

“You two live in Rawhide?”

John squeezed Lucy’s shoulder, forgetting about her pain until she grimaced again. “Yes, we do.”

“Nice place. I was gonna settle down there, but I didn’t. I heard about the sheriff, though. They say he does right by people.”

“Yes, he does.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna talk to him.”

“You got a problem with someone in Rawhide?” John asked.

“Yeah!”

“I know a lot of people in Rawhide. Maybe I know who you have a problem with.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I might.”

“Nope.”

John gave up the puzzle of the stranger. He didn’t really care about him as long as he got them to the hospital in time. And they didn’t have much time left. He felt Lucy trying to relax, but the pain came even harder than the last time. He checked his watch surreptitiously, noting the time was nine-twenty-nine. The last pain had been at nine-twenty-one. He didn’t say anything to Lucy. And he certainly didn’t want to urge the old man to drive faster.

But he hoped they got there soon.

When they passed the turn to his family ranch, he smiled. At this speed, they were five minutes away.

“Uh, you’d better slow down inside the city limits. You don’t want to meet the sheriff from the back of a squad car.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Can’t we just tell him we have an emergency?” Lucy asked.

“Good thinking, girl,” the driver said as he accelerated. “That’ll do it!”

They got pulled over two minutes later, just as they entered the town.

The deputy pulled behind them and approached the car. “Pardon me, sir, but did you know you were going eighty miles an—”

“Dave,” John interrupted him, leaning toward the driver’s window, “we’re trying to get to the hospital. She’s in labor.” He nodded toward Lucy.

The deputy sprang to action. “I’ll lead the way!”

John laughed under his breath. There was no traffic on Rawhide’s main road, but now the deputy was turning on his siren and motioning for them to follow him. It was a little ridiculous, but John didn’t suggest the driver slow down again.

He noticed Mike coming out of his office to find out what the siren was for. He’d come to the hospital to talk to his wife.

The squad car came to a halt beside the clinic and the old man pulled right in behind it.

“Thank you so much for helping us.” John started easing Lucy out of the truck.

“You aren’t going to pay for the gas?” the driver asked.

Lucy stared at the man, but John reached for his billfold again. “I guess that would be twenty dollars again, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, it might a’ been more, but I’ll let you slide, seein’ as you’re having a little one.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t forget my luggage,” Lucy reminded him.

Since two nurses were bringing a gurney down the slanted sidewalk and Lucy would be cared for, he reached in for the luggage. Then he followed Lucy and the nurses into the clinic.

“John?” Lucy called, holding her hand out to him. “Will you—will you mind going in with me? I—I’m scared.”

“Yeah, I’ll go in with you, Lucy.”

“Thank you so much.”

He grinned. “I guess that will be twenty dollars, right?”

She smiled back. “That man would’ve charged us for breathing if he could figure out how.”

“Probably. I was just glad I had enough twenties to last us. I think he would’ve thrown us out if I hadn’t.”

“He kept staring at my stomach, as if I were faking labor to get a ride.”

“You are having pains, aren’t you?” the nurse asked.

“Yes. The last one was—What time was it, John?”

“Nine-twenty-nine.”

“How far apart are they?” the nurse asked.

“About—Ohhh…Now!”

“But it’s only nine-thirty-five!” John said as he looked at his watch. He yelled out, “Caro! She’s down to six minutes apart and coming faster.”

A tall woman in a white medical coat came out of her office.

“Hello. I’m Dr. Randall. I haven’t met you, have I?”

“No. I—I’m Lucy.”

“Well, welcome to our little hospital. John said you were eight months along?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, my nurses are going to take you in this room, so I can do a quick examination.”

“John?” Lucy cried urgently.

“Caro, I think she’ll be more calm if I go with her.”

“Of course, John. If you stand by her head, you won’t be in the way and you won’t see anything.”

John did as Caroline suggested. Lucy clutched his hand as if it was a magic charm. He bent and added a kiss to her hand.

Caroline gave John a sharp look. But he didn’t say anything. Lucy was frightened and he wanted to reassure her as much as he could.

After a quick examination, Caroline stood up and told the nurse to bring in the sonogram machine. “Lucy, we’re going to look at your baby on our sonogram machine. That means I’ll need to put some jelly on your tummy.”

“John can stay, can’t he?”

“Certainly. We always let the father stay if he wants.”

John didn’t correct her assumption, nor did Lucy say anything.

Caroline raised her top for the ultrasound and the purple bruises on her stomach were obvious.

“Lucy, who beat you?” Caroline asked.

“M-my husband.”

“John? John did this?”

Caroline was shocked, and John hurried to reassure her. “No. No, I didn’t do this.”

“Then who?”

“My husband,” Lucy said again.

“Where is he?”

“Kansas City…I hope.”

“Was he trying to cause a miscarriage?”

“I think so.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and John bent down to reassure her.

“All right, let’s do the sonogram. I have to press down a little, but considering what you’ve withstood, I think you’ll be all right.” Caroline spread the jelly over Lucy’s stomach and then she pressed a roller on her stomach connected to the machine.

“Now you can see your baby. There’s so much natural insulation I think she’s survived and is doing fine.”

“It’s a girl?” Lucy asked, holding her breath.

“Yes. I think you may be a little further along than eight months. I think your baby is going to come about two weeks early. She might even be six pounds.”

“Is that good?”

“It means you can take her home after a couple of days.”

Lucy closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks.

John knew the problem immediately. He bent down to whisper to her, “Don’t cry, Lucy. You can come home with me. I’ll be holding your hand all the way. Okay? We’ll give your baby a home. It will be all right.”

John’s words didn’t give her the reassurance she needed. Sobs ripped out of her as she lost control.

“Lucy, what’s wrong?” Caroline asked.

She just shook her head. John put his arms around her and brought her face to his chest, turning her toward him. “It’s all right. We’re going to take care of you, both of you.”

“I can’t s-stay, John. He’ll find me,” she said between sobs.

“Are you talking about the man who beat you up—your husband?” Caroline asked, her voice turning hard.

“I need to go away!” Lucy sniffed and then gasped as another pain hit her.

“Honey, right now you have to have a baby. You can deal with the other things afterward.” John held her close.

Caroline ordered the nurse to bring Lucy into the delivery room then turned to John.

“We’re going to change her into a hospital gown. If she doesn’t mind, you can go in.”

“Maybe I’d better step outside until they get you changed, Lucy, but I won’t go anywhere, I promise.”

“You’ll come right back?” Lucy asked, her hand still clinging to him.