Short Rides (Rough Riders #14.5)(48)

“Happy anniversary, Keely.”


Jack made love to her again. Slower. Sweeter. Wearing her out to the point she’d drifted off to sleep in his arms.


He didn’t panic when he saw they’d broken another condom. He’d tell her later. For now he let her sleep. Chances were very good she’d need extra sleep in the coming months.


Seven months later...


“Piper McKay Donohue, get down from there right now.”


“No!”


“I mean it. Get down.”


“No!”


A chuckle sounded beside her.


Keely looked at her father. “Daddy, this is not funny.”


“It surely is. Pipsqueak climbs everything like Cam did, but her defiant tone is all you, baby girl.”


Piper started jumping on the couch. Her red pigtails bounced. The bells on her sock jingled, which made her giggle. A devious giggle if Keely had ever heard one. She pushed herself to get out of the recliner.


“Huh-uh. Stay put,” her dad warned. “I’ll get her.” Grandpa scooped her up with one arm. “No jumpin’ on the furniture, okay, Pipsqueak?”


“K.” Piper squirmed to be let down. As soon as her feet hit the floor she made a beeline for the couch again.



Grandpa laughed and grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder amidst her happy shrieks. “You are gonna be some trouble little miss.” He walked over and deposited Piper on the floor. “Sit with your mama for a minute while I see what Gran-gran is doin’.”


Piper scrambled onto the end of the recliner between Keely’s knees and laid her head on Keely’s enormous belly. “Hi babies.”


Keely smoothed the damp ringlets from Piper’s forehead. It was doubtful almost two-year old Piper understood the concept of babies inside the gigantic bump, but she said hi to the babies at least ten times a day anyway.


It’d come as a shock to learn she carried twins, especially so soon after Katie’s birth. High blood pressure complications with this pregnancy meant she’d been on bed rest since the fifth month, which wasn’t too bad since she wanted to be home with Piper and Katie anyway. Her family had pitched in to keep her company after Jack insisted someone be with her at all times. He’d cut back on his work schedule, so he was home at least part of every day. But today he’d had to drive into Rapid City for a meeting that couldn’t be handled over the phone or via email.


Piper looked up at her. Those big green eyes—eyes just like Jack’s—were serious and a little devilish. “What’s that?”


She smiled. “My tummy is making some loud noises. Think the babies might be hungry.”


“I hungry too.”


“Go ask Gran-gran for a snack. But no cookies.”


“K.” Piper shot her mother a smug look before she leapt off the recliner and tore off into the kitchen.


Keely wiggled in the seat, trying to get comfortable. She felt heavier today like something had shifted down low in her abdomen. Movement made her nauseous so she hadn’t done anything but sit for the last hour. Still, her heart raced like mad. Her fingers and toes tingled. Her shallow breathing increased the sensation of dizziness. This was not normal.


She put down the foot rest and set her feet on the floor. Had her toes fallen asleep? She couldn’t feel the rug beneath her, just more of those sharp tingles.


Her mom came around the corner carrying Katie, who immediately started saying, “Mama, Mama, Mama.”


“Hey, sweet pea.”


Katie shrieked and pushed away from Gran-gran, reaching for Keely desperately as if she hadn’t seen in her days, not minutes. Her mom set her down. Katie toddled over, her brown eyes teeming with tears, her blond hair sticking up in every direction. She clutched the side of the recliner. “Mama, Mama, Mama.”


“I know it’s naptime and you want a story, huh?”


Katie tried to crawl in her lap and Keely’s heart about broke. Katie was such a sweet, snuggly baby, but Keely didn’t have the strength to pick her up right now.


“Sweetheart? Are you okay? Your face is bright red.”


“No. I’d better call Jack and have him get me to the doctor.” A spike of pain hit her, like she was being ripped apart from the inside out. Then she felt a rush of wetness between her legs.


Alarmed, Keely looked down expecting to see water, but blood stained her shorts. Blood. A lot of blood. Oh God. Panicked, she stood abruptly.


Too abruptly. All the blood rushed from her head and she lost her balance. Black spots obscured her vision.


Her mom screamed, “Keely!”


Everything switched into slow motion. She knew she was going down but she couldn’t make her arms work to break the fall.


Two strong arms caught her. “Whoa, girlie. I gotcha.” But she and her dad both ended up on the floor anyway.


Keely couldn’t breathe. Her belly started to cramp like she’d never felt. She groaned with pain. What was happening?


“Caro, call an ambulance.”


Keely whispered, “No. Call Jack. Call him now.”