Second Chance Pass (Virgin River #5)(113)

“Of course they’re for you, sweetheart. Aren’t you the new mom?” She opened her arms to him and he held her a long moment. “You sure look wonderful for someone who just had a baby.”

“I’ve been very spoiled this week. Lots of help. When you need something, anything, this is the place to be.”

“You’re feeling good?”

“Fantastic. And she’s a good little girl.”

He peered into the cradle. “Ah, then where is she?”

“I’ll give you three guesses. I can’t get John to put her down.”

He chuckled. “Is he holding her while he’s stirring a pot?” Joe asked.

“Lord, I hope not. He said he was going to see if Christopher would lie down for a little nap and took Dana upstairs with him. The one who could use a nap is John. He must surely be exhausted.”

Joe laughed. “Here, honey—sit down. Tell me about it. Did you have an easy time?”

“I had a very long time. It wasn’t so much hard as it took forever. I was starting to think she’d never come. And John almost drove me out of my mind. After about twenty hours of labor, I was afraid he was going to go in after her.”

“He must have been pretty wound up,” Joe said. “Is he pestering you for another one yet?”

“Oh no, I think he’s going to lighten up on all those children he thought he had to have. The birth was kind of hard on John.”

“Really?” Joe said, surprised.

“Yeah, he doesn’t like to see me uncomfortable. And it turns out that this big man who can shoot and dress animals or carry wounded soldiers off the battlefield doesn’t do too well if there’s a drop of blood within ten feet of his wife.”

“He’s a little on the protective side,” Joe confirmed. “Think you’re going to be able to move out to the cabin soon? As soon as you do—we pour the extended-foundation slab and start tearing out walls.”

“Oh—I’m ready,” she said. “I can’t wait to get going on this building. We’re just going to move clothes and toys and the computer. Paul will cover everything, right?”

“It will all be protected—either in storage or pushed up against a safe wall and secured, but you’ll be able to get to it.”

A few minutes later, Preacher wandered in. He was holding the baby in the crook of his arm and she looked small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Her little pink blanket was wrapped neatly around her, her bald head sticking out of the top, and he handled her as if she were attached to the inside of his forearm. “Joe!” he said, but he said it with quiet enthusiasm. “Great to see you, man.”

Joe stood and reached for the baby. “My turn, buddy. Let’s see what you made here.”

Preacher handed over the baby and Joe brought her into his arms. “God, she’s beautiful. I think you lucked out, Paige. I think she’s going to look like you.”

“John’s been worried that she’ll be six-four and three hundred pounds. I tried to explain that would take a lot more testosterone than she’ll have.”

“I want her to be sweet and beautiful like her mom,” Preacher said.

“How much did she weigh?”

“Eight-ten. Nice and big.”

“She looks like a five-pounder in your husband’s arms,” Joe said. “You two do good work.”

“My man, it was the hardest work I’ve ever done,” Preacher said.

“Um, John,” Paige said.

“I didn’t mean you didn’t work hard, baby, you know that. But I damn near worried myself into the ground. Mel almost had to give me something.”

“Was it everything you thought it would be?” Joe asked.

“It was way more than I thought it would be. I cried like a baby.”

These two, Joe thought. He wondered if they had any idea how cute they were. “We have to call Paul, tell him I’m here. And Brie and Mike. I think we have the plans final and I’d like to get out to the properties today so I can leave early tomorrow.”

“You have to take off so soon?” Paige asked.

“I’m afraid so,” he said. “I could have had the plans delivered, but I didn’t want to miss a chance to see the baby. And if Paul’s building schedule goes as planned, you’ll be in your new apartment in no time at all. You shouldn’t have to spend even six months in Jack’s cabin, which puts you back home before Christmas. Plus, if Preach can cook during the day in spite of the noise, the crews should be able to leave the property by dinnertime. I don’t think the bar will have to be closed much at all.”

“I can’t wait,” Paige said.

Phone calls were made and everyone convened in the bar to look at house plans. When everyone seemed in agreement about their plans, Joe and Paul went out to the general’s house so that Vanessa could comb over her plans, which took a couple of hours.

“Okay, let’s walk your property first,” Joe said to Paul. “Then you’re good to go. We’ll get the Valenzuelas on the way back to town. You have concrete ready?”

“Coming this week. Will you come back for dinner?” he asked Joe.

“I’ll take a rain check,” Joe said. “I want to visit with Jack and Mel a little bit tonight, so I’ll take dinner at the bar. Then I’m on the road early tomorrow morning.”