Moonlight Road (Virgin River #11)(106)

He nodded. “Yes,” he said without a trace of anger. “God.” He looked up at Aiden. “Is he going to be okay?”

“They’ll check him over in Redding, but he looks good, cried right away, has good color, just big enough but not too big for that delivery…I’d say you’re in good shape there.”

Erin was by Aiden’s side and his arm went around her shoulders. Seconds later, paramedics with a litter were in the room, taking vitals, assessing the patients, asking for details of the birth from the doctor and whisking the new family away. As they were wheeling Marcie out, they heard one of the paramedics ask, “Ever been for a helicopter ride, Dad?”

“Yeah, once or twice, but never a real good one.”

“You’re gonna like this one—getting your family to safety…”

Seconds later, a deputy was in the doorway. “Thought you’d like to know we caught that woman you didn’t beat up halfway down Highway 36 in her car, making a run for it. She went off the road—like she couldn’t see where she was going. She’s in custody.”

“Thank you,” he said.

Erin leaned against him. “The baby’s okay, isn’t he?” she asked.

“I think he looks great.”

“Have you really done that before?”

“Sort of,” he said with a shrug. “Sometimes in the case of twins, the second one is breech. If the mother goes into labor early and doesn’t make a scheduled C-section to accommodate that breech presentation, we have to deliver. I’ve done that a few times. Little…what’s his name?”

“Heath.”

“Little Heath cooperated by being small. And you were a wonderful help.” He kissed her forehead. “Thanks, baby. I couldn’t have managed without you.”

“Oh, God.” A teary voice came from out of nowhere. “That’s so…beautiful!”

Aiden looked around and then laughed when he realized the 911 operator was still on the line. “Got everything you need, my friend?” he asked.

She sniffed. “Yeah. If there’s more the attending physician needs…?”

“No problem,” Aiden said. “Soon as we hose out this room, we’re on our way to the hospital. I’ll check in there. Adios.” He clicked off the speaker. Aiden looked at Erin. “You okay?”

“I was planning to be in the room with her when the baby was born, but I wasn’t planning on seeing it. I really saw it. If I’m lucky enough to have a baby, I’d prefer not to do it that way,” she said.

“I’d prefer you not to.”

“Aiden, I gave Annalee fifty thousand dollars.” His eyes got huge and his mouth dropped open. “She had it all worked out—a transfer of funds via computer to her offshore account. And she had a gun. I really thought she’d just leave after getting her money, but she didn’t. I couldn’t wait to see if she’d cooperate in time for Marcie to get help. Really, I waited too long as it was.”

“So you crowned her?” he asked.

“Not exactly. After Marcie’s water broke and I realized we were out of time, I sprayed her and then whacked her. I should’ve done it before I gave her the money.”

“Of everything that went on here today, the money is the least of it. You might not be able to recover it, but believe me, where she’s going, she isn’t going to spend it.”

Marcie and Ian’s baby was small but perfect; Aiden and Erin spent a couple of nights in Redding to be sure things were looking good. Little Heath was cleared for discharge in just two days; Ian would take them home to Chico, and Aiden offered to tow Marcie’s car for her.

Word of crazy Annalee and the emergency delivery were all over town, and when Aiden and Erin finally showed up at Jack’s, drinks were on the house in exchange for details. In fact, the bar was busier than usual for a few days because the entire landscape of the town and its people was about to change as summer was drawing to a close. “Pretty exciting way to wrap up a summer vacation,” Jack said to Aiden.

“Yeah,” Aiden replied. “Remind me never to take another summer vacation like that!”

“What now, Doc?” Jack asked.

“We pack up, say our goodbyes and head for Chico. I’m sure we’ll be back for the occasional long weekend, but I have two things I have to get taken care of right away. I need a job and a wife.” He grinned. “I don’t have the job picked out yet.”

“Toldya,” Jack said, giving the bar a wipe. “This place is hell on a man’s plans for a quiet life of fishing…or hiking.”

Aiden lifted his beer in a toast. “I’m okay with that.”

There was packing up to do, farewells to celebrate. For a couple of nights, there were family gatherings of Riordans, plus larger crowds at Jack’s to say goodbye to new friends and neighbors. George and Maureen were heading toward Montgomery to be on hand for the first day of Rosie’s school; Luke had decided that once his family cleared out and Shelby got back to her nursing program, he was going to clear an area behind the cabins and install RV hookups for vacationers. Luke and Art promised to visit Erin’s vegetable garden to water and weed, and then to harvest whatever they could.

Aiden had packed up and loaded his car and had Marcie’s hooked up behind so he could tow it. He helped Erin load her belongings into her SUV. While she went back into the cabin to check locks and lights just one last time, he started her engine for her and leaned against her car, waiting. When she came out, he opened his arms and she walked right into them.