Prelude: Prequel to The Lewis Legacy Series (30 page)

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“What happened?” After Sam struggled to rise up on his elbows, he plopped back down on his back. He was lying on the bed in Jewell and Danny’s guest bedroom. Sarah sat in a chair beside the bed, her eyes closed. Had he actually fainted?

He groaned. “Don’t even tell me.”

“Okay, then.” Her eyes fluttered open. “I won’t.”

“First time that’s ever happened. You’d think a guy who’d spent time in the service would—”

“I happen to think it’s adorable.”

“You’re going to be a nurse and you think fainting is adorable? That’s a great bedside manner.” He moaned and scrubbed one hand over his face. “Still think Rockbridge is boring?”

She crossed her arms and surveyed him. “While you were passed out”—she grinned when he grunted—“I was thinking you deserve a reward for being so wonderful in coming. You didn’t have to stay, but I’m glad you did.”

“Right. Like I would drop you off in front of the house, wish you a nice home birth and take off down the street.” He caught her expression and needed to cut the sarcasm. “I don’t need any kind of reward. You’re the one who did all the work.” Sitting up on the bed, Sam swung his legs over the edge. Whoa. Maybe that was a little too fast. Closing his eyes for a second, he deep breathed. When he felt as though he could stand without fainting, he focused on Sarah.

“I was so proud of you today, Sarah. You were absolutely fantastic. Far out,” he said with a grin. “Are Jewell and the baby okay?” He rubbed the back of his neck, chastising himself for not remembering to ask about them first thing.

Oh, that smile of hers was a thing of rare beauty, like a slow-blooming rose.

“Let’s go find out.” Reaching for his hand, Sarah tugged until he reached a standing position. “You okay there, Captain?”

“Yeah. I think.” The room spun a bit, but he’d be fine. “Just need to get my sea legs.”

“Is it the Ménière’s Disease?”

“No, I don’t think so. To be honest, I hadn’t even thought about that. How did I get moved to the bed in here, anyway?”

“I picked you up and threw you over my shoulder. How do you think?” When he frowned, Sarah shrugged. “Danny did most of the work, but I picked up the rear. I mean,” she said, her cheeks flushed a deep pink, “I held your
legs
. You were out cold. Actually, I’ve never seen you so peaceful or quiet. It was rather nice for a change.”

Sam chuckled. “Don’t make me take back those compliments, but you can tuck me in anytime you want, Miss Jordan.”

“Flirt.”

“Only with you.”

Laughing softly, Sarah canvassed the room and picked up a red T-shirt from the top of the bureau. She returned to his side and handed it to him, her eyes skimming over his shirt. “Here. You should put this on.” When he hesitated, she practically shoved it in his hands. “Jewell told me to grab it for you.”

Glancing down at his shirt, Sam grimaced. Blood stains were smeared over much of his T-shirt. “You’re right.” He looked back at the bed. “I hope I didn’t get blood on the sheets.”

“Don’t worry about it. I offered to strip the sheets and do the laundry, but Jewell told me her mother’s coming in a couple of hours and she’d take care of them.”

Sarah had changed out of the T-shirt she’d worn earlier. The way the white cotton blouse hung on her, slipping off one shoulder to reveal her smooth, tanned skin, he figured Jewell had loaned it to her. He silently thanked Jewell. Although it wasn’t the best time to think of such things—highly improper, actually—that glimpse of Sarah’s slender shoulder was nothing short of alluring. Added to that, her cheeks were still flushed and her lips looked entirely kissable. His focus moved to that tiny mole on her neck.

Stop staring at her like a man who hasn’t dined in a month.
Forcing his gaze away from Sarah, Sam took the shirt she offered.

“What?” Sarah tilted her head. She honestly hadn’t a clue as to the thoughts running through his mind. His very male mind.

“Are you going to watch me change?”

She gaped at him. “Does it matter? I’ve seen you without your shirt on at the creek a number of times, you realize.”

“Considering we’re in a bedroom, it seems sort of intimate in an awkward way.”

“Oh, good grief.” She turned her back to him, shaking her head.

“I just thought in case you’re having trouble keeping your hands off me.” He couldn’t believe he’d voiced that comment. What a dumb thing to say.

Her shoulders moved up and down. At least she found his idiocy amusing. Whipping the soiled shirt over his head, he held it in his hand, not knowing where to put it. He could ask her to hold it, but no. Stuffing it between his legs, he tugged on Danny’s shirt. After grabbing the stained shirt, he balled it between his hands.

“All done now. You can turn around.” Danny was a beefier guy than he was, and the T-shirt hung on him worse than Jewell’s top did on Sarah. He should tuck the shirt in his shorts, but what did it matter?

“You look great in red,” she said. “You should wear it more often. The color really brings out your eyes.” Gesturing for him to hand over his T-shirt, she retrieved a plastic bag from beside the chair and stuffed the shirt inside. When she started to leave, he stopped her with one hand on her arm.

Turning back toward him, Sarah dropped the bag as he pulled her into his arms. She inched her warm hands around his midsection and her teasing smile filled him with the need to kiss her. “This is getting to be a very nice habit with you.”

“I hold those in the medical profession in the highest esteem,” he said. “I don’t know how you can think about seeing blood on a daily basis.”

“Then we’re even.” Was that a giggle?

He cocked a brow. “I beg your pardon?”

“I don’t know how you can work around money all the livelong day.”

“Oh, it’s not so bad.”

“It’s dirty and full of germs for one thing.”

“Huh.” Moving his hands to the middle of her back, clasping his hands together in a tight hold preventing her escape, he leaned in for a kiss. Brushing his lips lightly over hers, he smiled and then settled in more fully.

“We’re in a bedroom, remember,” she said against his lips.

“All the better.” He started to deepen the kiss, but she stopped that soon enough when she pushed against his chest with both hands. Playfully, but with a firmness that told him he’d gotten out of line. She was right. Regrettably so.

“Sam, please. What’s gotten into you?” She didn’t seem upset.

You.
That came out wrong in his own mind, so he’d definitely get his face slapped if he said it out loud. He’d deserve it, too. Still, it was true that this woman had settled in every part of him.

He lightly skimmed his thumb over her cheek and drank his fill of her. If he stared all day long, he would never get enough of her. “I’m sorry, Sarah. You’re just. . .” He smiled and ran a hand over her hair. “Completely irresistible.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said, sounding slightly breathless as she smoothed down the front of his T-shirt. “To be continued another time. But, um, not in a bedroom.” When she winked with a grin—saucy and fiesty—Sam knew he’d do anything for this girl. Without a doubt, Sarah was his perfect match.

“I’ll definitely keep that in mind.” He followed Sarah back down the hallway and into the master bedroom. “Sorry about fainting,” he said to Danny, Doc and Jewell. Might as well acknowledge his shortcomings before someone else did. “I didn’t mean to cause a scene, but I guess I can kiss my macho image goodbye.” After he heard Sarah snort, he grunted. He’d pay her back later for that one.

“That’s okay.” Danny winked at Sarah. “Now we know you’re human.”

Awed by the sight of the sleeping baby in Jewell’s arms, Sam moved closer to the bed. “Boy or girl?”

“Boy,” Danny said, sounding proud as a new papa should. Sam couldn’t imagine how it must feel to know you’d created a new life. Hopefully, one day he’d experience the joy of bringing children into the world. In his heart, he couldn’t imagine anyone other than Sarah being the mother of his kids.

“You can hold him, if you want,” Jewell said. She lifted her sleeping son, offering him to Sam.

“Only for a minute.” Cradling the baby in his arms, Sam marveled at his perfection. Truly, this child represented God’s promise, innocence in its purest manifestation. “He’s a treasure.” He supported the infant’s head with one hand and lightly ran his finger over the child’s cheek. From the corner of his eye, he caught Sarah watching him with a look of wonder as he smoothed his palm over the baby’s head. “Look at all that dark hair. Have you given him a name?”

Turning her head, Jewell smiled at Sarah. “Jordan. In honor of the one who helped bring him into the world.”

Sam snapped his attention to Sarah. Her eyes were full, and she lowered her gaze.

“That’s a great name.” He’d never heard Jordan as a first name before, but he loved it.

“Danny and I decided that boy or girl, we were going to name our baby Jordan.”

“You should have seen Sarah,” Danny said. “She caught him. I mean, my boy came flying out like nothin’ I’ve seen before.”

Doc Meriweather chuckled. “I’m thankful you could be here, Sarah. All that time on a softball field came in handy, eh?”

Sarah nodded, wiping away a tear. Could any woman ever be more beautiful?

“Well done. He’s incredible. Congratulations to you both.” With the utmost care, Sam transferred Jordan back into his waiting mother’s arms.

As they returned to the truck a short time later, Sam draped his arm around Sarah’s shoulders. Both walked slowly, exhausted in the best way imaginable, leaning on each other for support.

After he climbed in behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition, Sam heard Sarah’s quiet laughter. At first, he thought she might be crying, caught up in the emotion of the day. He quirked a brow and sat back, waiting. “Are you okay, baby?”

“Yes.” She sniffled and wiped her fingers beneath both eyes. So, she
was
both laughing and crying. “I can’t believe they named their son Jordan. That’s incredibly precious to me.”

“I agree, but why does that make you laugh?”

She leaned her head back against the seat. “I researched the name ‘Jordan’ for a school project once. It means ‘descend’ or ‘flow down.’” She waved her hand and closed her eyes. “Forget it. I’m just tired and being silly.”

“No, you’re right,” he said as he pulled the truck onto the road. “It’s an appropriate name in more ways than one. In my eyes, the fact that Jordan is the name of the river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus also makes it mighty special.”

Sarah’s eyes fluttered open and she turned her head to look at him. “Thank you again for being with me today, Sam. You’re precious to me, too, you know.”

“As you are to me.” He dared not dwell on those gorgeous brown eyes or he might run them off the road. Faint circles ringed her eyes, but her face was still slightly flushed from the events of the last few hours.

“Welcome. I’m thankful everything turned out so well. God’s answer to prayer. I was driving myself nuts when I didn’t know what was happening. The only thing that finally settled me down was when I started to pray.” He reached for her hand, an action as natural as breathing. As he drove, he caressed the side of her hand with his thumb. Glancing at their joined hands after he pulled into the driveway a short time later, Sam left the engine idling. For a couple of minutes, he sat transfixed, unable to move, simply observing her. Sarah had fallen asleep, and her chest rose and fell with each quiet breath.

Seeing how she’d reacted in a medical emergency only confirmed what he’d known all along: she’d be a great nurse. If he hadn’t already known it, he was filled with complete admiration for the woman beside him. She was compassionate and tender yet tough enough to withstand the intense emotions and stress. By not panicking, she’d kept everyone else around her calm. And she’d dealt with the sight, the smell, the everything of blood. Ugh.
Nothing but the blood
took on an entirely new meaning. Sam shuddered again before guilt consumed him. His Savior had died on a cross, beaten to a bloody pulp, had the oxygen drained from his lungs, and all for what? A military man who was so cowardly he fainted at the sight of a little blood?

I’m not worthy, Father. Thank you for loving me enough.
Sam bowed his head for a few moments, allowing a peace to flow over him. He prayed once more, thanking the Lord for strong souls like Sarah who embraced the daunting rigors and demands of the medical profession. He’d stick with handling financial matters and endure the teasing from the woman he loved.

The woman I love.
He’d loved her almost immediately upon his return to Rockbridge. She’d enchanted him when he’d spied her standing beside Tess at the parade. Tall, statuesque, and composed. Grownup and lovely. She’d impressed him by the way she’d held her own in the face of Kathy Parker’s unkind taunts. When he’d talked with her privately at the counter, he’d admired her obvious intelligence and the fire in those gorgeous brown eyes.

Gifting her with the anonymous cashier’s check was probably the best thing he could have done. Sure, he’d miss her like crazy when she left for UT, and he’d be putting a lot of miles on Volvo—he’d adopted Sarah’s name for his car—traveling the highway between Rockbridge and Austin.