Finally a Bride (30 page)

“Don’t! You’ll hurt him.” Jack pulled at his sleeve.

Rachel fell back onto the bed, her eyes wide, face pale. “Lord, save my son.”

Noah turned his body away and gave the child a downward shake, then whacked him a bit harder. The baby jumped, arms outstretched. He gagged, then uttered a strangled cry. Easing up, Noah continued to tap and hold the baby’s head down. Jack grabbed a cloth and swiped the boy’s mouth. After several more fervent coughs, a pitiful squeal that resembled a lamb’s bleating filled the room and sent spears of relief straight through Noah.

Jack dropped down on the side of the bed and peered at the infant’s face, tears making her eyes glimmer. “Oh, thank God!”

Noah shifted the child to his other arm, relishing the sounds of ever-strengthening wails. Dark, damp hair was matted to the baby’s head. A thick cord protruded from where his navel should be, and someone had tied twine around it. Noah had never seen a brand-new baby before and sure hoped that was normal. The boy’s cries magnified, and his face pinked up, then turned red. “I think he wants his mama.”

He passed Jack her newest brother. His heart warmed, watching her kiss the newborn’s forehead and pass him to Rachel. Noah turned and hurried out of the room, knowing he was no longer needed. He made it as far as the kitchen before he sagged against the doorframe. His whole body shook, and tears rolled down his face. “Thank You, Lord, for saving that baby.”

A light touch on his back made him straighten. Jack stood there, her blue eyes glistening and tears of joy making rivers down her cheeks. “I was so scared. I th–thought he was … dead.”

Suddenly she lunged into Noah’s arms and hugged his waist. Surprise washed through him, but he shut his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. Jack’s warm tears dampened his shirt. Fresh love for this woman flooded his heart. No, in truth, he’d loved her for years, even though she hadn’t given a hoot about him. He was afraid to hope that God might change her heart—that she might ever come to care for him.

He couldn’t fool himself. Gratitude was her motivation for this hug—and relief.

No matter, for this one moment, this single second, he savored having Jacqueline Davis in his arms.

Jack couldn’t quit shaking. Her tears refused to stop. What if her ma hadn’t made it through the birthing? What if she’d cut the cord wrong and the baby had died?

She’d feared he had.

And if not for Noah, he probably would have, but thank the Lord, the baby seemed fine now.

She never wanted to be in such a situation again.

Jack pressed her face against Noah’s solid chest and hugged him tighter.
Thank You, God, for sending Noah to help. For saving the baby
.

Suddenly she stiffened. She was hugging Noah. The preacher. Her roiling emotions had caused her to momentarily take leave of her senses.

“H’looo, Jacqueline?” came a woman’s voice from the front of the house.

“In here.” Jack jumped back and swiped her cheeks. She couldn’t look at Noah. His arms dangled at his side, and she deeply felt the loss of their comfort.

Mrs. Phillips scurried into the kitchen. “I’m so sorry to have taken so long, but I’d just started”—she glanced past Jack, at Noah, then leaned forward—”nursing my baby,” she whispered. “I couldn’t very well stop, not knowing how long I’d be away. Besides, I figured I had time since babies aren’t generally in a rush to get here.”

Noah chuckled.

The doctor’s wife glanced back and forth between the two of them. “Is everything all right here?”

Jack nodded, feeling for sure that her mother’s friend thought they’d been up to no good. “We’re fine, but Ma could use your help. She’s in her room.”

“Of course, I’ll just scurry on in there.” She started to leave, then looked at Noah again. “Are you doing all right, Reverend? Your face isn’t hurting overly much?”

“I’m fine, but thank you for asking, Mrs. Phillips. Your husband tended me last night and did an excellent job.” Noah smiled but it looked more like a grimace, since one side of his mouth didn’t lift as much as the other because of the cut on his upper lip.

Mrs. Phillips nodded. “I’m glad you’re doing well.” She spun out the kitchen doorway then suddenly halted and peered back over her shoulder. “Someone really ought to see to Alan before he makes himself sick.”

The woman disappeared, and Jack wondered what she meant. Where was Alan? Where were all the children for that matter?

“You really should have told her,” Noah’s deep voice quivered.

Jack worked up the nerve to look him in the face. “About what?”

“Heavens to Betsy! The baby’s here?” Mrs. Phillip’s loud exclamation bounced off the walls and clattered down the hall.

“About that.” Noah’s lips were pressed together so hard they’d turned white around the edges, but his eyes danced with mirth. At least the one that wasn’t swollen shut did.

“Oh. Surprise! Surprise!” A grin tugged at Jack’s mouth. “I’d better check on Alan. Do you know where he is?”

The smile on Noah’s face faded, and he shook his head.

Jack crossed into the dining room and glanced around the empty table. All seats were vacant, but the dirty dishes remained and food still sat on the buffet. A loud belch pulled her gaze downward. She bent over and lifted the edge of the tablecloth. Her brother sat on the floor with a near empty pie tin on his lap, sugary juice and crumbs covering his mouth and chin. “Alan Davis, what do you think you’re doing?”

She could hear Noah’s chuckles behind her, and she scorched him with a glare. Obviously, he didn’t realize that Alan would see that as support and it would just encourage the imp all the more. Her brother’s blue eyes stared up at her from under the table. She saw the worry written there, but then they turned pleading.

“Come out from under there, and take care not to spill any more crumbs on the floor.”

He slid the pie pan along the floor and crawled behind two chairs. He handed her the pan then glanced at Noah, as if looking for help.

Jack set what remained of the pie on the table and shoved her hands to her hip. “Well?”

“I was hungry, Sissy.”

His whining tone was wasted on her. “Then why didn’t you finish the food on your plate?”

His lip curled up, and his nose wrinkled. “You know I don’t like them kind of beans.”

“So you thought you’d eat a whole pie while everyone else was busy?”

His gaze dropped to the floor. “I didn’t eat the
whole
thing.” He pointed at Noah. “The preacher and Miss Carly both had a slice, and Abby had a
huge
one.” He stuck his lower lip out.

“And you didn’t?”

Alan shrugged.

Noah leaned close to her ear, and her stomach flip-flopped. “Miss Payton said he couldn’t have any since he hadn’t finished his beans,” he whispered, tickling her ear and making it hard for her to think straight. She gave her head a little shake, hoping to recapture her thoughts. “But this is probably my fault. I—”

Jack cut a sharp glance at Noah. “No, it’s not, and don’t take up for him.” She looked Alan in the eye again. “Since you disobeyed Miss Carly, young man, and ate pie when you knew you shouldn’t have, you can just march up to your room until I talk to Ma. It would serve you right if she doesn’t let you have any dessert all week.”

His eyes widened. “But that ain’t fair.”

“Not fair.” Jack snatched a napkin off the table and wiped the mess off of Alan’s face.

“That’s what I said.”

Noah uttered a little snort, and she elbowed him in the gut. “What I meant was that you shouldn’t say
ain’t.”

“Oh.”

“Now, get on up to your room.” She gave him a nudge on the shoulder.

“Aw … “ Alan hung his head and trudged toward the door.

He was trying to make her feel bad, but it wouldn’t work. Just as he reached the doorway, the baby let out a high-pitched shriek. Andy spun back toward her, eyes wide. “What was that?”

Jack contemplated not telling him, but she was too excited. “That was your little brother.”

Alan’s mouth dropped open. “The baby came?”

Jack nodded, pleased that she’d surprised him.

He gasped. “I have a brother!” He jumped up and punched his fist in the air, then turned and raced out of the room and up the stairs. “Wahooo!”

Jack grinned, and behind her, Noah chuckled. She spun around, and he seemed to struggle to contain his mirth.

“Should I not laugh at that?” He pressed his lips together, they quivered, and then he grinned.

“No, that was actually funny.” Jack smiled, then forced a stern expression. “But never laugh at a child being scolded. Don’t you know anything about children?”

His eyes dimmed, and he shook his head. “No, not really.”

A jab of compassion pricked her heart, but then she remembered her sisters. “Hey, speaking of children, where are the girls? I just realized I haven’t seen them for a long while, and that’s not a good thing, especially where Abby is concerned.”

He nudged his chin toward the ceiling. “Emma fell asleep not too long after dinner, so I, uh, put her in her bed.” He swallowed so hard she noticed his Adam’s apple move. “Then Abby fell asleep on Alan’s bed.”

“That was very gracious of you to watch them.”

“It was an emergency. I was happy to help out.”

“You helped out a lot today. You saved my brother’s life.”

He shook his head. “Not me. God did that.”

“Well, you still helped.” He was such a kind, humble man. How could he be so caring when he’d had such a rugged childhood and no example of a loving father, like she’d had in Luke? She hated seeing his handsome face marred and his eye nearly swollen shut. Her gaze landed on the damp spot on his white shirt where her tears had spilled over, and he looked down.

He lifted his hand and brushed it.

“Don’t worry, it’ll wash out.” Jack winced when she saw the stains on his sleeves from where he held the baby. “You’d better change out of that and let me get it soaking.”

One dark brow lifted.

“I’m serious. You don’t want your shirt to stain, do you?”

He checked his sleeves, then shook his head. His dark hair, normally combed back, flopped onto his forehead, and Jack had a powerful urge to reach up and smooth it back in place.

“No. It’s the only good shirt I’ve got to preach in.”

“Well, go change, and I’ll wash it.”

“On Sunday?”

Jack heaved a sigh. “Sometimes you must do what you must. I just delivered a baby on Sunday.” At the reminder of the baby’s near death, her knees started shaking. Now that the danger had passed and she wasn’t distracted by Noah or her brother, the realization of all that had happened made her weak. She reached out for Noah’s arm.

“What’s wrong?” He grabbed hold of her upper arms.

“I—I delivered my brother today.” The wonder in her voice surprised even her. She started wobbling, and he yanked out a chair.

“Sit down.”

She obeyed, then leaned over, resting her head in her hands. Noah patted her back. “You’re fine. Your ma’s fine. And the baby’s fine. You did a great job today, Jackie.”

The momentary faintness passed at his encouragement, and she bolted upright. She craned her neck to see his face, so high from her seated position. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

He pulled out the chair beside hers and lowered himself. His gaze connected with hers, and she couldn’t look away. “I used to know someone named Jack. Someone who caused all kinds of trouble.” He shrugged and looked past her. “I just think Jackie fits you better.”

A feeling as of warm honey glided through her. She’d never had a man call her by a special name, and she liked it. A lot. “I guess it won’t hurt if you call me that, but you probably should be prepared to explain yourself.”

His gaze snapped back to hers, and he smiled. “I can do that.” His black eyes—even the one barely visible—shone bright with something that looked like affection. She licked her dry lips, wondering if he actually felt something for her or if he was just feeling emotional from all that had happened. How could he when he’d known her less than a week?

But surely he must, if he gave her a nickname.

His gaze dropped down to her mouth and lingered there a moment, sending her heart bucking around her chest like a crazed bronco.

He bolted out of the chair. “I … uh … should …” He cleared his raspy throat and walked toward the hall. “Better get changed … so you can set this shirt to soaking.”

Nodding, she watched him stride away, surprised at her disappointment. Had she actually thought the preacher would kiss her? She shook her head at the foolish thought. He was just being kind, because that was his nature. She sighed and rested one arm on the table and leaned her head against it. What a crazy girl she was. She had no plans to be courted by a man or ever marry, and here she was getting starry-eyed over the new minister.

Surely it must just be from all the emotion swirling through her today.

Chapter 22

J
ack pushed her shoe against the porch floor, moving the rocker in a gentle sway. Even though baby Andrew was only a few hours old, her mother had assured her it was fine to rock him on the porch as long as she stayed out of the sun, but she still worried. At least it was quiet out here. With the three children all excited about the new baby, sneaking outside was the only way she could have him to herself.