Daddy with a Deadline (22 page)

“Push, Annie, push,” Dr. Newsome said.

“I’m pushing for all I’m worth,” Annie wailed.

“Push harder.”

Annie pushed harder, hardly able to believe she could manage it.

“Here comes the head,” Dr. Newsome said. “Keep pushing.”

Annie did. And moments later she heard a baby cry. Her baby. Emotion washed over her, and tears ran down her cheeks. “Is it a boy or girl?”

“A little boy. And he’s gorgeous. Keep going, Annie. Baby number two is next in line.”

Some agonizing minutes later, Annie heard the second cry. “And this one’s a little girl,” the doctor said. “One of each, you lucky girl.”

“I secretly hoped for that,” she told the doctor and nurse working with the babies. “Matt and Missy are here.”

After that things got really busy. Before Annie knew it the babies were cleaned up and ready to learn to nurse. My, but her life would be busy now, Annie thought. Everything was perfect. It could only be more perfect if Trent were here with her. But she’d sent him away.

A nurse and an aide continued working with the babies and taking Annie’s blood pressure. “There’s a cowboy in the waiting room,” the aide said. “He’s been here all night.”

Annie pulled herself up. “A cowboy? Are you sure?”

She grinned. “I’m positive. I’ve seen a few, since we live in Texas.”

Annie’s pulse started to pound. There were lots of cowboys, and the one in question might not be Trent. “Would you hand me that notepad and a pen?” she asked the aide.

“Sure.”

Annie scribbled out a few words and handed it to the aide. “Could you do me a big favor? Would you give this note to the cowboy? If he’s still out there?”

“Glad to.”

As the woman scurried off, Annie fluffed her curls. If it was Trent, he deserved to meet Matt and Missy. He’d done a lot to make their world brighter. And if it wasn’t, some other cowboy would think she was nuts.

She had to take the chance.

Trent’s head still ached with residual pain from his injury. And pacing the hospital waiting room all night had left him exhausted. But not nearly as exhausted as Annie must be.

He wondered for the thousandth time how she was doing. Had she delivered the babies yet or not? He didn’t dare ask. If Annie heard he’d spent the night here, she’d slap a restraining order on him!

He slugged down yet another cup of coffee. He’d watched the sunrise from the hospital waiting room, and while it was OK, it couldn’t touch a Copper Creek sunrise.

A woman approached with a note in her hand. “There’s a lady in maternity that asked me to give this to the cowboy in the waiting room. Is your name Trent?”

Trent came fully awake. “Yes, yes it is.”

“Then this is for you.” She handed him the note and went back the way she came.

Trent’s heart pounded as he flipped it open.

Dear Trent,

After all you’ve done for us, I’d like you to meet the babies. Please come and introduce yourself to the twins. We’re in room 301.

Annie

Trent smiled broadly as he headed down the hall to meet Annie’s babies. When he reached their room, he saw their mom
first. Annie lay in bed cradling one baby wrapped in blue and another wrapped in pink. When she saw him, she smiled. “Here they are. Matthew and Melissa, the Samuels twins.”

Trent felt a jolt of pleasure. “You used the name I suggested.”

“It seemed to fit.”

Trent studied the little ones. Melissa’s cheeks were rosy like Annie’s, and Matthew looked darker complected. Both had fuzzy down on top of their heads. Trent stared at them with a sense of wonder. “They’re amazing, Annie. Completely amazing.”

“Aren’t they?”

“I can’t believe they’re really here.”

“Boy, I can. That was some night’s work.”

“Are you OK?”

“Perfectly fine, thanks. And incredibly happy.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“When a nurse said a cowboy had been pacing the waiting room all night, I put two and two together. It equaled Trent Madison.”

“I’m glad you did. I was about to come unglued worrying about you. And wondering about the twins.”

Annie reached for his hand. “Oh, Trent. I didn’t dream you were here, or I would have had a nurse tell you when the babies came.”

“I had strict instructions to stay away.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I know. But I really wanted you to meet the twins.”

He nodded. “Me too.”

“How’s your head?”

“Improving.”

“I’m glad.”

A nurse scurried into the room, and Trent figured he’d better be leaving, but he couldn’t go yet. Not till he got something settled.

“Look, Annie, I want to finish what I started. I’d like to drive you and the twins home from the hospital. After that, I won’t bother you again.”

The sincerity shining in his eyes tugged at Annie’s heart. How could she refuse?

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“OK, then. We go home Tuesday at ten.”

“I’ll be here.”

Trent took one long look at the babies, and when his gaze settled on Annie, his heart split in two. Was there no end to the pain? he wondered as he turned and left the room.

“M
RS.
H
IGGINBOTHAM’S COMING
for a visit,” Annie told her week-old twins as she dressed them in cozy sleepers. “So be on your best behavior.”

Annie kissed both babies, and since they needed naps she tucked them into their cribs. Matt cooed and Missy stared at the mobile spinning over her bed.

Before heading downstairs Annie gazed around the nursery. She remembered the morning Trent stormed in, unannounced, to paint the room. She remembered the thrill she had felt when he gave her that painting lesson. As she gazed at the marvelous cribs Trent had brought home and put together, she felt a surge of gratitude. No father could have done more for his children than Trent had done for hers.

The doorbell rang and Annie hurried downstairs. Mrs. Higginbotham came in, and they went into the living room to chat.

“How’s everything going?” Mrs. H asked.

Annie smiled. “Great. I’m getting the hang of being a mom.”

“You’ll do fine, honey. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

When the doorbell rang again, Mrs. H said, “That’s Sara. I called her and asked her to come over.”

“You called Sara?” Annie asked in disbelief. “Why?”

“Because we want to talk to you.”

Annie opened the door and, sure enough, Sara waited on the porch. She ushered Sara into the living room as well.

Annie eyed her two friends cautiously. “Anyone care to tell me what’s going on?”

“This is an intervention,” Sara said matter-of-factly.

“A what?”

“An intervention,” Mrs. H affirmed. “Sara and I think you made a big mistake by breaking things off with Trent.”

“Yes we do,” Sara said. “Now don’t take this wrong, Annie, but you can be pretty bullheaded at times. You probably gave Trent the impression that you weren’t interested in him.”

“This seems more like psychoanalysis than intervention,” Annie countered.

“Trent’s an amazing man, and there’s no question that he loves you,” Mrs. H said, totally ignoring Annie’s comment.

Sara nodded. “But you’re too proud to realize that he does.”

“Ouch,” Annie said. “I think there’s a rule about not being overly frank with new mothers. Our emotions are fragile.”

“It’s for your own good.” That came from Mrs. H, who was obviously the ringleader.

“Don’t you miss him?” Sara asked.

A lump swelled in Annie’s throat, and her heart ached more than she could say. “I miss him desperately. Trent and I became close these past few weeks. He’s very dear to me and...”

“Stop beating around the bush! Do you love the man or not?” Mrs. H again. Forthright and to the point.

Annie bit her lip and considered fibbing but couldn’t. “I love Trent Madison with all my heart.”

“Then you need to tell him so,” said Sara.

“I can’t just invite the man over and tell him I’m in love with him.”

“Well, you’ll have to figure something out,” Sara added. “And soon.”

“If you tell Trent you love him, he’ll take it from there,” said a very assured Mrs. H.

Annie’s thoughts swirled with possibilities, and hope swelled in her heart. “Do you think so?”

“Are you kidding?” Sara asked. “That take-charge man will sweep you off your feet, given the chance. But he has to know you’re available.”

“So do we agree? Will you invite Trent over and let him know how you feel?” Mrs. H asked.

“You mean open my heart completely? When I don’t know if he’ll accept me or reject me?”

Mrs. H nodded. “Exactly. Nobody ever knows that, Annie. Not in the game of life. Life’s about taking chances, not protecting yourself against all possible pain.”

Since Annie didn’t know if she could survive another week without Trent, she decided to give the plan a try. “OK. I’ll figure out some reason to invite Trent over. And...oh dear. I’m not sure I can do this.”

“You have to,” Sara affirmed. “Or someone else will come along and claim that cowboy.”

“Like Angela Langford.”

“Who?”

“It’s not important,” Annie said. “OK, OK, I’ll call Trent and invite him over.”

Sara got to her feet. “Good. Now can we see the babies?”

“Is this intervention over?” Annie asked.

“Yes, it is,” said Mrs. H. “Fortunately you cooperated.”

Annie giggled and led her friends upstairs to the nursery so they could enjoy the twins with her.

“When are you going to call Miss Annie?” Rosa probed as she cleaned up the breakfast dishes.

Trent frowned. “Why would I call her? I have no claim on Annie and the twins. She chose to move on without me.”

“So you’re quitting? You’re actually quitting?”

“How can you call it quitting? I did everything Brad asked me to do. And when I drove Annie and the babies home from the hospital, I said good-bye. It was the worst day of my life.”

“That’s exactly why you need to call her.”

“I’m heading for the corral, Rosa. And no more talk about Annie Samuels. Is that clear?”

Rosa sighed and nodded, but Trent knew the woman would never quit. She’d be planning her next offensive before he finished the session with Wildfire.

To Trent’s surprise Wildfire was downright agreeable. He saddled the horse and rode him around the corral. “Good boy,” Trent said as he stroked the horse’s neck. “You and I came a long way together.”

As he headed back to the house, Trent realized that persistence had made all the difference with Wildfire. Trent never quit—he just kept assuring the horse and calming the horse, and finally Wildfire decided to trust him.

Maybe he hadn’t been persistent enough with Annie. Would the strong-willed woman marry him if he proposed? Probably not. In the short time he’d known her, she’d said no to every suggestion he ever made.

“But I’m going to try,” he said aloud. “Rosa’s right. Again.” He guessed he’d go to the kitchen and eat some humble pie.

When he got there, Rosa held the phone in her hand and her eyes sparked with excitement. “It’s Miss Annie,” she whispered. “And she wants to talk to you.”