Do You Take This Enemy? (11 page)

“Get over there with him and I'll take one of both of you.”

“I didn't have anything to do with capturing the horse,” she said, but Gabe extended his hand and she took his hand in hers and stepped beside him. Quinn snapped their picture and then Gabe took one of Ashley, Quinn and Julian with the stallion in the background.

“Are you going to ride him?” Julian asked in a high voice, and Gabe laughed.

“No, I'm definitely not. He and I agree on that one. I think I'll call Josh and see if he'd like to take the stallion off our hands. If Josh says no, I've got several people in mind. You have anyone you know, Quinn, who would want him?”

“I don't. He's a hellion. I'll never know how you caught him.”

“It took seven of us to get him boxed in and then we backed a trailer up and ran him into it. He kicked the daylights out of the trailer, but it's an old one of mine. I thought we might lose him before we got here and could turn him loose, but we didn't.”

“Well, cowboy, did you work up an appetite?” Ashley asked him. “Supper's almost ready.”

“I could eat that horse, I'm so hungry.”

They all turned back toward the house. “I just can't believe you've got him. Damn good, Gabe,” Quinn said.

“Thanks,” Gabe replied easily.

Two nights later, Josh agreed that he would come over soon and try to move the white stallion to his ranch, but the time was postponed, and the stallion remained at the Triple R, a spectacle that friends and townspeople came out to the ranch to view.

As Ashley's due date, the thirteenth of July, approached, she forgot about the stallion.

By the sixteenth, she began having twinges and mild contractions. Gabe rushed her to the hospital twice, only to be sent home because of false labor.

On the twenty-fourth of July, a Monday afternoon, Ashley drove back to the ranch from Stallion Pass where she had had her hair cut and stopped at the grocery. While her hair was being cut, contractions had started again. After two false labors, she didn't think this would be the real thing either, so she finished her haircut and went to the grocery store.

Even though she was in her thirty-ninth week, she wasn't going to the hospital for a third time until she knew that she was really going to have this baby.

When she was halfway home, the first hard contraction came. In another five miles she had a contraction that almost doubled her over.

Gripping the wheel, she slowed and pulled off the road. “Not now,” she said aloud to herself.

She yanked up the cell phone and called her father, first paging him and then, when he didn't answer his pager, trying his cellular phone. She knew Julian was with Gabe out on the ranch somewhere.

Feeling panic, she turned the ignition on and tried to drive, hoping to get home, but with the next contraction, she couldn't. Gritting her teeth, she pulled off the road beneath a shady cottonwood and tried home again, getting the answering machine. She rummaged in her purse, found a slip of paper with Gabe's cellular number and called him.

“Yep?” she heard his deep voice, but she was in the throes of a hard contraction and didn't want to talk.

“Gabe—”

“What's wrong?”

“I'm on the road,” she paused to pant, “about twenty minutes from the entrance to our ranch. I can't find Dad. I'm in labor. I think it's real this time.”

“I'll be right there. I'll call nine-one-one now. Keep your phone on, and I'll call you back.”

She opened both doors to get a breeze and stretched out across the seat. “Not here and not now, please,” she whispered, wiping her brow.

In minutes the phone rang. She answered and heard Gabe on the other end. “I'm on my way.”

“Where's Julian? Is he with you?”

“He's with my foreman, and he's fine. I've called your doctor and he'll be available if you have the baby in the pickup.”

“Gabe, I don't want to deliver this baby myself,” she said, gasping.

“When did all this start?”

“A long time ago,” she said, not wanting to tell him that she had experienced twinges and contractions off and on since the first false labor. “But it really started this morning in Stallion Pass.”

“Ashley, why the hell didn't you go to the hospital? Why were you even in Stallion Pass in the first place?”

“I've been to the hospital twice and it was false labor!” she snapped. “Now stop yelling at me and start being a help.”

“I'm not yelling and I'm on my way. You won't have to deliver by yourself. You keep talking to me.”

“I don't think—” Her sentence was forgotten as another contraction came.

“Ashley! Ashley? Are you all right?”

“No! I'm in labor and I don't feel like talking!” She
turned off her phone and dropped it on the floor beside her. “Just get here,” she whispered.

Time blurred in a haze of heat and pain and relief between contractions. Twice she turned on her phone and tried to find her father, leaving messages everywhere she called.

Occasionally, cars raced past and every time, she wondered if it would be Gabe. And then he was there, his pickup door slamming.

“Ashley!” he called and appeared at her feet. She raised her head to look at him, thankful to see him arrive.

“I'm here and help is on the way,” he said, leaning into the pickup to touch her cheek. “I'm in contact with the doctor, so just relax. You're not alone,” he said calmly, smoothing her hair from her face, and some of her panic receded.

“When will that ambulance get here?”

“They're on their way, but the Stallion Pass ambulance had gone to a wreck on the highway, so we had to get one from San Antonio.”

“That's going to be too late, Gabe. My contractions are less than two minutes apart now.”

“The ambulance will get here fast. If the baby isn't ready to deliver and if you can ride, I can drive you to meet the ambulance.”

“Let's try that,” she said.

“All right. Let me get things from my pickup.”

In minutes they were driving toward the city. Gabe had the air conditioner on again, and she was cooler.

“Gabe!” she gasped as another hard contraction came. “Gabe, I don't know how long—”

He took her hand and held it, driving with one hand on the straight road that had little traffic. She was barely aware of his presence other than knowing that she was no longer alone.

Fifteen minutes later, she gasped. “Gabe, this baby is coming now!”

P
ulling off the road, Gabe cut the motor, and she heard the rumble of his voice as he talked to someone on his cellular phone. They were parked beneath a spreading oak, and a slight breeze played through the leaves.

Gabe stepped out of the pickup. “I'm going to get the back ready. Fortunately, I've got two blankets and part of a clean sheet. Just a few minutes and I'll move you.”

“You can't deliver this baby!”

“Oh, yes, I can,” he answered calmly. “Remember, I've been delivering animals for a long time now.”

“A baby is different.”

“Ashley, it's not that different.” He leaned forward to squeeze her shoulder. “I have professionals on the phone. We'll be fine.”

She relaxed. Gabe sounded confident and calm and she was willing to leave things up to him and let go of her fears.

She didn't know how much later it was that he came
around to open the other door. “Ashley, can you sit up where I can reach you and carry you to the back of the pickup?”

She panted as a contraction stopped. “I'll try,” she said. “I want something to put over me.”

“I've got part of a clean sheet. You're between contractions. I'm moving you.”

With great care he lifted her into his arms. She wrapped her arm around his neck, feeling his solid strength, thankful he was with her. Gently, he placed her on a blanket in the back of the truck. She had more space and it was cooler than the cramped front seat.

“You and little Ella will be fine,” Gabe said soothingly. He poured ice water from a thermos onto a bandanna and sponged her forehead. “I talked to Gus and he's on his way. He'll find your dad and get him here. Your dad and your uncles have gone to a horse sale.”

“This isn't what I expected,” she whispered.

“Gabe, if anyone stops to help, you keep strangers away. I want some degree of privacy,” she said.

“Don't worry, Ashley. Leave it all up to me. You just breathe and relax between contractions,” he said, smiling at her and stroking her hair away from her face.

She looked at him as he moved around her. They had developed a friendly relationship, but she knew if he delivered her baby, she would have to give her body over to him in the most intimate way, and she would have to trust him completely.

He poured more water on the bandanna, placing it on her forehead. “Babies have their own agendas about when they'll come into the world. For such tiny little people, they have a way of taking charge of your life.”

She smiled, and Gabe's hand slipped down to cup her cheek tenderly. “That's my girl. We'll get this baby here, Ashley.”

A contraction gripped her in a wave of pain that wiped
out all other considerations. When she cried out, Gabe held her hand. “You're doing fine,” he said quietly.

He moved between her legs, spreading the half sheet over her stomach. As the wave passed, she looked at him between her legs. Before she could think, another contraction came, and she had to push.

“Gabe, I'm going to have this baby. I should be in the hospital—” she gasped, some of her panic returning.

“You're doing great,” he said calmly.

“Suppose the baby needs something special—”

“Right now everything is as normal as blueberry pie.”

“Oh!” Through the haze of pain, her panic subsided as Gabe talked in a steady, calm voice. His confidence was catching and she concentrated on contractions, no longer thinking about the doctor or ambulance or hospital.

She lost all sense of time as more contractions came.

“Push, Ashley. Bear down and push.” Gabe held her hand and she was aware of squeezing his hand tightly.

“That's it! Good going!” he said, calling encouragement. His voice was a steady reassurance and she was calm, feeling secure, now excited to have her baby.

“I can see the head, Ashley! That's the way. Push. We're going to have a baby here.”

Dimly she could hear Gabe's encouragement, but she was lost in pain and a force that she seemed to have no control over. Yet through it all, she was aware of his eager voice, telling her what a great job she was doing.

“Gabe—” she cried out, feeling wracked by a contraction. And then she felt the baby being born and she heard Gabe's exultant voice.

“Push! That's it, Ashley! That's great. Here's our girl, Ashley! Here's our beautiful girl!”

Gabe placed the baby on her bare stomach. “There she is,” he said, looking at Ashley and bending down to kiss her forehead. “You did great, and we have a beautiful baby girl.”

With Gabe's words and the tone of his voice. Ashley felt
something inside her clutch and warm. She squeezed his hand and he brushed another kiss on her cheek.

Gabe moved back between Ashley's legs, working and listening to directions from the doctor on the phone. She pulled the baby close, looking at the little girl in her arms and tears of joy streamed unheeded.

Finally, Gabe took his T-shirt to wrap around the baby as best he could.

“Gabe, thank you. I wasn't very cooperative—”

“You were great,” he said, bending down to kiss her forehead again. He touched the baby's cheek. “Even if she needs to be cleaned up, she's beautiful, Ashley.”

“Little Ella,” she said.

“Our Ella,” he echoed, his voice becoming hoarse. “I think it's a miracle, Ashley.”

“You're certain naming the baby Ella will be all right?”

“I think it'll be the best possible name.” With great care Gabe took the tiny baby into his arms, looking at her strands of black hair and wondering if she would look like her mother, knowing he would love her and be a father to her. “She's beautiful,” he said, feeling as touched as if she were his own baby. “Little Ella,” he repeated, his throat closing. Thank God she was healthy and normal and the birth had been routine! He gave the baby back to Ashley and stroked locks of Ashley's hair from her face.

“Thank you for all you did.” It was then that she realized he was shaking. “Gabe?” She caught his hand. “You're trembling.”

“Reaction.”

“You were so cool and collected.”

“I wasn't quite as calm as I sounded. You were right, there is a world of difference between a baby and a calf or a colt.”

“Well, you could have fooled me. You sounded as if you had delivered dozens of babies.” Impulsively, she pulled his hand up and brushed a kiss across his knuckles. They looked into each other's eyes, and she felt a bonding
with him that ran deep. He wrapped his hand around hers and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“We did good together, honey.”

Her heart thudded as she gazed into his eyes and then he leaned down to envelop both her and little Ella in a gentle embrace. “We did really good together,” he whispered.

“I'm glad you were with me.”

He straightened up and looked beyond her. “Hey, here comes the cavalry,” he said, and she heard engines. “Here comes Gus and your dad leading the ambulance.”

She covered herself with the sheet. “Gabe, this is bad enough with you and dad, but Gus—”

Gabe grinned. “I won't let Gus near you. Hang tight. I'll meet them.” He swung over the side of the pickup and jumped down. Doors slammed and she heard the wail of a siren.

“They're too late,” she said, smiling at the tiny baby who had stirred up such a storm with her arrival.

 

Two hours later in a San Antonio hospital, Ashley was propped up in bed with Ella nearby in a bassinet. Gabe had stepped out and bought a new shirt and jeans and had showered in her adjoining bathroom. He looked as fresh as if he had just gotten up on the ranch in the morning. He had brought her a huge bouquet of pink roses.

At a knock on the door, he stood and turned as Julian came into the room, his hand held by Quinn Ryder. Julian flew to Ashley's bedside to give her a hug.

Her dad held a bouquet of mixed flowers which he set down and crossed the room to give her a hug and a kiss. “When you came back from Chicago and said you wanted to have this baby at home, I didn't know you meant in a pickup out near the ranch.”

She laughed. “I didn't.”

“Let's see your new little sister,” Quinn told Julian as he carefully picked up the tiny baby.

“Can I hold my little sister?” Julian asked.

“Yes, you may,” Ashley said.

“You're sure?” Gabe asked, and she nodded.

Quinn motioned to the sofa. “You sit down, Julian, and I'll put her in your lap.” Quinn carefully handed the baby to Julian and Gabe sat next to his son while Quinn settled on the other side of him.

“She's little,” Julian said.

“Yes, she is. So were you at one time,” Gabe said, smiling.

“She's perfect,” Quinn said. “Delivering all those calves must have given you experience,” he told Gabe.

“It wasn't quite the same, but it helped.”

Ashley looked at the men in her life. Her marriage wasn't real yet, but she saw hope, and Gabe had been a tower of strength for her today. She felt a closeness to him now that ran deep. Gabe's dark head was bent over his son and the baby. She remembered his words clearly,
“Our baby…”
He acted very much the proud father, and she was relieved that he had completely accepted Ella from the first moment.

Bringing gifts, her aunts and uncles came to visit and Gabe discreetly took Julian and left, staying away for a couple of hours and returning after the Ryders had gone. Friends visited, and then finally only her father, Julian and Gabe were there. “I'll take everyone out to dinner,” Gabe said. “Want me to bring you something?”

“No, thanks,” she answered, feeling exhausted. The moment she waved goodbye to them, she fell asleep.

When she stirred, she opened her eyes to find Gabe relaxed in a chair, his long legs stretched out and his sock feet on the foot of her bed.

“How long have you been back? Where are Julian and Dad?”

“They've gone home. Your dad is keeping Julian tonight. I'll spend the night. That sofa makes into a bed.”

“You don't have to do that,” she said, surprised.

“I know I don't have to,” he answered easily. “I didn't want to leave you two here by yourselves this first night.”

“That's sweet, Gabe.”

“This is an exciting moment in our lives, Ashley, and I've gotten to share every second of it with you. That's important.”

“I'm glad you think so.”

“It's been a big day,” he said, stroking her hair from her face. He reached into his pocket. “I brought you something to remember the occasion.” He handed her a box.

Surprised, she took the box from him, aware when their fingers brushed. She opened the box and looked at a sparkling diamond drop on a thin gold chain. “Gabe, it's beautiful! Thank you!” she exclaimed, touched by his thoughtfulness.

“You may want to wait until you get home to wear it.”

“No. I'm wearing it tonight. You can take it home for me tomorrow morning when you go.”

He smiled and took it from the box to lift her hair and fasten it behind her neck while she leaned forward. His warm fingers brushed her nape. She settled back against the pillows and took his hand. “Thank you. You were great today.”

“I'm glad I was there. We have a beautiful daughter,” he said quietly. “I want to be a daddy for her, Ashley.”

“That would be good,” she said, surprised and touched by all he was doing for her. “You're good to treat Ella as if she's yours.”

“She will be mine. I'll raise her, and she'll know me as her daddy. You're already getting to be a mother to Julian.” Ashley gazed into his dark eyes and knew they had forged a strong bond this day. While it wasn't love, it was a tie that bound them together.

“When I thought this deal up,” he said, “I was thinking how we could each benefit, but I didn't know you. You were a dim blur and so was the baby. This is all so much better than I ever thought it could be. Today was special,
Ashley.” He leaned forward, brushing her lips lightly as he had done on their wedding day. His arms went around her, and he hugged her gently. She knew he was hugging and kissing in a friendly manner and nothing more, but an ache for more blossomed within her. She closed her eyes, leaning against him and hugging him lightly in return, her face against the solid muscles of his chest.

“I trusted you completely today,” she whispered. “I hope I can always trust you like that.”

“You can,” he said quietly.

She looked into his dark eyes and knew only time would tell.

“Want something cold to drink?” Gabe moved around waiting on her, getting things for her, giving Ella to her when the baby woke. He disappeared down the hall for a while and then returned to sit with her until she began to nod.

“I can't stay awake,” she said. “Are you sure you can sleep on the sofa?”

“Absolutely.” He stood.

“Call me if you want anything,” he said. “I'm going to sleep. I'm bushed, too.”

While he moved around in the darkness, she switched off the small light by the bed, leaving the only light in the adjoining bathroom. There was an intimacy in sharing a room with him even if he was sleeping on the sofa and she had just been through childbirth. She glanced at him and saw that his back was turned and he had stripped to the waist, was wearing only his jeans and boots. She watched the muscles ripple in his back as he spread covers on the sofa. Then she turned her head to look at her baby, and Ella filled her thoughts.

The next day they took Ella home, and Ashley's life revolved around the baby and Julian through the rest of summer and into fall. During that time, Gabe, Quinn and Josh moved the white stallion to Josh's ranch.

 

As the months passed, Ella began sleeping through the night and Ashley began to get her life back. Autumn leaves turned red and yellow and a chill was in the air now at night.