Short Rides (Rough Riders #14.5)(38)

“Keely’s water broke.”


His heart rate spiked. “When? Why didn’t she call me?”


“Ah, that’s the thing. Hang on.” He couldn’t make out any words from the muffled voices in the background. “Sorry about that. Look, no one knows what’s goin’ on with her. She drove herself to the hospital this morning without her purse, without her hospital bag, without anything except her keys.”


“Jesus. Is she okay?”


“No. She also showed up barefoot, in her pajamas. So, we, ah, think she’s in some kind of shock, denial thing since you’re not here. Doc Monroe did get her admitted into a private room, but she’s refusing to see anyone.”


“Even you?”


“Even me.”


Christ. He’d felt somewhat justified leaving her because she had so many family members willing to step in. Now when she needed them she was shutting them out?



“I did manage to talk to her for a minute before she called the nurse to have security remove me from her room.”


“What did she say?”


“That the two of you decided there’d be no one in the delivery room with you. Period. She says she’s sticking to that and waiting for you. When I asked what time you were expected to get to the hospital, she said after your big meeting ended in Arizona. At that point I realized she hadn’t even called you yet so I thought I’d better.” AJ blew out a frustrated breath. “Look. When does your flight leave?”


“At two. I get into Denver at four...and shit, that won’t work. I’ll still have to drive another four hours...” He paced, but his mind was not operating on all cylinders. Keely would never forgive him if he wasn’t there for the birth. Never. And he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself either.


“Jack!” AJ said sharply.


“What?”


“What are you gonna do?”


“I’ll charter a plane,” he said offhandedly. “Now let me talk to my wife.”


“I’m not kiddin’ when I say she won’t let anyone in the room. Just the nurse. Just Doc Monroe and she’s gone to the clinic.”


“Then tell her I’m on the phone.”


AJ groaned. “Carolyn tried that. As soon as Keely found out you weren’t on the phone, she threw the phone at the wall and told her mom to get out or else she’d have Cam arrest her for trespassing.”


“Why the f*ck would you guys lie to her? Why didn’t Carolyn call me?”


“I don’t know. I’m just the messenger. So my message is to hurry up and get home.” AJ hung up.


Jack called Gavin Daniels, Keely’s cousin he’d done business with. “Gavin? Jack. Do you have any private aviation contacts in Tucson? Keely’s in labor and I need to get home ASAP. Uh-huh. Rapid or Spearfish—preferably Spearfish. That’ll be fine. Cost is not an issue. Thanks. I owe you one. I’m on my way to the airport now.”


He arrived in Spearfish five hours later. Gavin picked him up and didn’t make idle chitchat on the way to the hospital, which Jack appreciated.


Jack nearly ran inside the ER doors. At the receptionist’s desk, he said, “Keely Donohue. She’s in labor.”


“And you are?”


“Her husband, Jack Donohue.”


The receptionist clicked the keys. “Looks like you’re cleared to go in—wow, looks like you’re the only one cleared to go in. Down the hallway, and take the first right. They’ll clear you through from there.”


Jack didn’t make it past the first reception area before he was surrounded by McKays, who all talked at once. He let loose an ear-piercing whistle—a trick his wife had taught him.


Silence.


“I appreciate you all being here when I couldn’t be. But go home. I promise we’ll call when we have news.”


“Go home?” Carolyn repeated.


“No way,” Carson snapped.


The arguing started immediately.


Jack didn’t have time for this. He walked to the next receptionist’s desk. “I’m Jack—”


“We know who you are. Your wife had been calling from the room every fifteen minutes to ask if you’re here yet. It stopped in the last hour, like she’d given up on you.”


His stomach knotted.


“She’s in room two. The nurse will fill you in.”


Jack scrubbed his hands over his face and inhaled a deep breath before he opened the door.


Keely was lying on her side, curled into a ball with her back toward him. The fetal monitoring device positioned at the head of the bed.


He rounded the opposite side of the bed so not to startle her. Her eyes were closed and her face was pinched with pain. “Hey, cowgirl. How you holding up?”


Keely didn’t acknowledge him at all.


Was she really that sound asleep?


Jack ran his hand up her arm. “Keely?”


Her eyes opened. “Jack? Is that really you?”