03 The Long Road Home (6 page)

"Doing what?"  She raised her glass to her mouth, wanting to hide from the intensity in his gaze. 

"Courting you."

Margaret choked, coughed, and spluttered, as the chocolate milk went down the wrong way.  "Excuse me?"

Matthew Magnum chewed, swallowed, and then stated very calmly, "You're an old-fashioned girl, Margaret, and so I've decided to court you the old fashioned way."

"Co...co...co....” she coughed again.

"Drink some water," he said kindly.  "Yes, Margaret, my first impression of you was wrong.  I don't think an affair will suit you so I've decided to court you."  His eyes, alight with laughter, belied his serious expression.

He was laughing at her again.  Margaret's temper blazed.  "Why you male chauvinistic..."

"Paging Ms. Browning.  Paging Margaret Browning.  Please return to Maternity." 

The well-modulated voice cut through the red fog of her anger.  Margaret reached the door before she realized he was at her elbow. 

"You don't have to come," she flung at him.  "Finish your meal."

"I can eat later," he said, matching her pace.  "I told you, I've had training in Lamaze.  I can help."

"Gina's water broke, and she's getting nervous," said the nurse, meeting them at the door of the room.  "We have two women about to deliver at any time, and the nursing shortage means I can't spare anyone to stay with her all the time.  That's why I paged you...."

"Thanks," said Margaret.

"Nurse, I went to Lamaze classes with my sister last year.  If I could..."  The voices faded as Margaret entered the room and shut the door behind her.

Joe stood up, his face awash with relief, "Margaret's here."

Another scared soul?  Margaret wondered.

Gina turned frightened eyes to her.  "My water broke, but the nurse says it's still going to be about two hours from now."

"You're lucky," said Margaret, picking up a damp washcloth and smoothing it over Gina's face and neck, with a hand that shook slightly.  "An article I read recently stated most first time mothers are in labor for longer periods."

"I'll see you later, girls.  Don't have too much fun.  If it wasn't for the call of duty, I would love to stay."  Joe retreated hurriedly.

Margaret fluffed up Gina's pillows and smiled, "You're doing fine."

"Gina, did I ever tell you about the time my sister, Susan, found out she was pregnant?"  Matthew Magnum positioned himself on the other side of Gina's bed.  He picked up the girl's hand, and Margaret had to admit touching came as naturally to the man as breathing.  Admit too that some of the tension left her because he was there.

"No."

He smiled, and nothing could disguise the male vitality he oozed.  The cleft in his chin should be cited a hazard.  Margaret shook her head slightly to throw off the ridiculous impressions her mind registered. 

"Pete, my brother-in-law, was stationed abroad when Susan found out she was pregnant.  She called Pete up right away, and told him he had to come home at once.  There was no way she could have this baby on her own.  When Pete told her he couldn't because he was on active duty, Susan sat down and wrote a five page letter to his commanding officer, telling him what she thought of rules that kept couples apart at times like this.  If he couldn't send Pete home on paternity leave, she concluded, she was coming there to have this baby."

Gina burst out laughing.  Matthew Magnum smiled, and Margaret had to force her gaze away from the deep cleft in his chin again.  "She finally got used to being pregnant," he said solemnly, "but it took her the complete nine months.  Luckily for Susan, Patricia my other sister, and myself, Pete arrived a month before the baby was born."

"Ooh!"  Gina doubled over, and before Margaret could move, Matthew had an arm around her shoulders.  "Easy now.  Little breaths.  One, two, three, four.  That's it.  Now again.  One, two, three, four.  You're doing great."

His gaze was fixed on her, and Margaret had the strangest sensation the last words were meant for her as well.

Feeling as limp as the washcloth in her hand she wiped the sweat from Gina's face.  The last contraction had been a big one.  How much more of this was there?

A bustle at the door proved to be the arrival of the nurse.  "I need to be alone with Gina for a few minutes," she said.

"We'll be right outside." 

Margaret stalked to the door ahead of Matthew.  When she heard it close, she turned on him.  "Jack would have been here if he wasn't a trucker."

"Hey!"  Two hands came down to cup her shoulders.  "I know this is rough and scary, but that's no reason to hit below the belt.  There are a great many men whose jobs prevent them from being with their wives at important times.  What about those in the armed forces?"

"Jack should have been here," repeated Margaret stubbornly.  "He's not defending our country or human rights; he's just driving a stupid truck somewhere."  It was all back...the old pain and bitterness.  The time her parents hadn't been home when she'd fallen and had to have three stitches in her knee, the night she'd burned up with a high fever and wanted them to hold her.

The pressure on Margaret's shoulders increased slightly, forcing her mind back to the present.  "Do you think Gina would rather have a husband beside her with no job and no money, or one who's able to provide for her and the baby, but who can't always be with her?"

He was right of course.  As usual.  Unable to say anything more, Margaret simply leaned against the wall.  She was going to save her strength for what was yet to come.  The back of her top was damp, and her knees felt as if someone had replaced them with cotton wool.  Closing her eyes, she forced herself to take deep breaths, conjure up a calm scene.  All she could see was Gina's face contracted with pain. 

"So much fire," Matthew Magnum said.  "I wonder if it's only in your hair."

Her eyes flew open to see him rubbing a lock of her hair between thumb and forefinger. 

As their gazes meshed, Matt felt the electricity between them.  The panic in Margaret's eyes told Matt she was aware of it too.  She might not want it, but it was definitely there.  He looked at her mouth, and Margaret's lips parted slightly.

"You try to appear as if you're always in control, don't you Margaret?"  Matt asked.  "But your eyes and hair give you away.  The former tells me your sophisticated air is not even skin deep, and your hair hints at hidden fires within you."

He watched the confusion in her eyes deepen.

The door opened, and the nurse said, "You can go in now.  She's doing fine."

Matt moved away, wondering about the attraction he felt towards Margaret Browning.  She had shown very clearly that she wanted nothing to do with truckers and trucking.  To let himself become involved with someone like her was as smart as touching a plugged in iron to see if it was hot.

"Mr. Magnum!"

Margaret turned to see a husky, young man hurry down the hospital corridor to them and cling to the strong hand outstretched toward him.  "How is Gina?"

Margaret stared at the newcomer.  This must be Gina's husband.  Where had he come from?

"Fine...see for yourself."  Matt pushed open the door of the room behind them.

Jack went through the door, as the nurse asked, "The husband?"

Matthew Magnum nodded.  "Yes."

They heard Gina say, "Jack!  Oh, Jack!"

"Baby, are you all right?"  There was no mistaking the love in her husband's, hoarse voice.

Matthew Magnum shut the door gently, giving the couple the privacy they needed. 

The nurse beamed at him, "Now, which fairy godmother managed that?  We love happy endings here at Garrison Community."

As the woman walked away, Margaret asked, "How did he get here?"

She continued to prop herself up against the wall, unable to believe the suddenness with which she had been relieved of her task.

"I called the truck stop, and the men contacted him on the Citizen's Broadcast radio.  I'm not sure yet but I guess another trucker must have offered to give him a ride back here.  I hope you're not too disappointed that your help is no longer necessary?"

She glared at Magnum ignoring the teasing light in his eyes.  "What about Jack's truck?" 

"Parked somewhere safely till another driver can get to it."

"What about his driving schedule?  Won't he get behind and lose money if he doesn't make his delivery on time?"  In her father's time, a man had been fired for being too ill to go into work.

"Why the sudden change of heart?"  His smile told Margaret that Matt wasn't angry, simply curious.

Margaret wet her lips.  "I may not like the fact Jack is a trucker, but I'm concerned about him as a person.  He can't lose his job now, with a baby to support."

"Stop worrying Margaret.  Jack won't suffer in any way.  If any questions are asked, they'll be asked of Bedouin Trucking, not the drivers.  My guess is that one of my men has already taken over and will get the job done for Jack."

"How?"

"He'll hitch a ride with another trucker going in that direction, pick up Jack's truck and complete the run."

"You don't mind that he left his truck just like that?" 

"Why should I?  It isn't every day a man can be present at the birth of his child.  This baby's birth is going to make news waves over the CB radio before the night is over.  We truckers stick together.  I bet right now there are a great many good wishes being sent over the air for Jack and Gina."

"Oh."

It was a whole new concept.  And had he said `we truckers'?  Margaret shook her head.  Her thoughts were all bouncing around in her head again, confusing her.  It would take a while to sort them out.

"What made you decide to call it Bedouin Trucking?" Margaret asked.

She was unprepared for the way Matthew Magnum's eyes darkened.  "I named my company after a man who made a very big difference in my life."

Margaret nodded, aware he didn't want to discuss the subject further.

"What do you plan to do now that our services are no longer required?"  he asked after a small pause.

Margaret checked her wristwatch.  It was barely four o'clock.  If the nurse's predictions were right, the baby wouldn't be born till six o'clock.  She intended staying around till then.  "I'm going upstairs to visit a friend of mine who works in administration," Margaret said.  "Helen Swatchey and I went to school together.  Don't wait for me.  I'll get a ride home with Joe."

"Right."  His nod indicated perfect compliance with her plans. 

On the lift going up, Margaret tried to puzzle Matthew Magnum out.  She had seen so many different facets of the man today.  Humor, as he'd teased her and told the story of his sister, gentleness, as he'd helped Gina through her pain, understanding with her fears.  Underlying it all was Matt's demand that she take a closer look at her own needs; reach out to life before it was too late.  Margaret took a deep breath.  Matthew Magnum was like a strong current, and she felt herself helplessly tugged along by it.

The lift door opened, and Margaret stared blankly out at the corridor for a second, before she realized this was the floor the offices were on.  Collecting her rampaging thoughts she headed for the room her friend, Helen, worked in.

An hour and a half later, Margaret entered the waiting room and stopped short.  Matthew Magnum rose from the couch where he'd been sitting, his head propped up against the wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him.  "There you are," he said as if she had asked him to wait for her.

"Yes," snapped Margaret, angered by the thrill of excitement that coursed down her spine at the sight of him.  "How's Gina?"

"It's all over, earlier than anticipated.  Beautiful baby girl.  Six pounds, three ounces, shows promise of great beauty already.  Gina's in Room 110."

Margaret turned away, "I'll go in and see her."

A hand on her shoulder stopped her.  "Not in this mood.  What's happened?  You look like a thundercloud."

"Nothing."  Margaret held herself stiffly, wishing she could grow horns on her shoulders to butt his hand away.  "Why are you still here?"

Matt wondered why she was always so tense around him. 

"I'm waiting for you," he said easily.  "Joe works the night shift, so you won't be able to ride back with him till tomorrow morning."

"I'll find my own way home," she snapped, and Matt wondered how long it had been since Margaret had allowed anyone to take care of her.

"Go see Gina.  Maybe you'll feel better after that."  Matt turned her toward the door, let her go. 

Margaret knocked on the door before entering Gina's room.  Gina looked exhausted, but her eyes shone with happiness.  Jack sat beside her on the bed, his shoulder supporting his wife, beaming with pride.

"Congratulations, you two."

"Margaret, this is Jack, my husband.  Jack this is Janet's niece, Margaret, whom I told you about," Gina said with all the impatience of a new mother, hurrying through what wasn't really important to what was.  "Have you seen Mikela Margaret?"

"Not yet," said Margaret, leaning forward to kiss Gina, surprised they liked her name enough to use it as the baby's middle name.