Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) Read online

  “Ready, kid?” Jake asked.

  “Yeah. I don’t wanna be late.”

  Jake glanced at Holly. “You have my number if you need anything.”

  She nodded, but he already knew she wouldn’t call. She didn’t want to owe anybody anything. Someone had shown her all too well there was always a price to nice.

  Chapter 3

  Thoughts of Holly nagged Jake all night. First thing the next morning, Jake was in the station and on the phone. Mountain Meadow might be a small police force, but they still had resources they could call for help. And friends. And right now he was calling in a favor.

  “Trev, it’s Jake.”

  “Hey, dude! How are things hangin’ out there in the Blue Ridge? Longing for the big city yet? You know there’d always be a place for a man like you here at the bureau.”

  “Not a chance,” Jake shot back. “I’ll leave the big city and the politicking to you, buddy. Give me my mountains any day. Look, I need a favor.”

  “Anything. I still owe you for that night in Kandahar.”

  Jake shook the memory off. Not something he wanted to think about, let alone talk about. “I need some information about two people: a Holly Morgan and her brother Tyler…same last name. Tyler’s just a kid.”

  Trev laughed. “You got anything other than names? You know, maybe ages, descriptions, some basic ID I can use?”

  Jake passed on what he’d gotten out of Tyler on the way into town. He’d been hesitant to try to pump too much information from the kid. “Until about two months ago, they lived in Lynchburg, She graduated from a college or university there.”

  “Well now. That’s more to go on. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

  Jake hung up, then called Jenny.

  “Hey, Jen, it’s Jake. Busy?”

  “I’m a family practitioner in a small town with the only hospital in a three county area. What do you think, Jake?”

  “No need to be testy. I won’t take much of your time. I just want to know what Holly Morgan’s due date is.”

  “Jake, I’m overjoyed you’re showing such personal interest, but you know I’m not supposed to tell you anything. Besides, I still haven’t forgiven you for your choice of friend to bring to my party.”

  “Come on, Jen. I just want to help.”

  “Okay, I will give you one interesting tidbit. You’re the second person today to ask the very same question. Someone else called first thing, claimed they were planning a shower for her. Sure didn’t sound like anyone from Crawford’s, so I think it might have been somebody just fishing.”

  Jake’s senses went on alert. He hadn’t gotten the impression from Jen or Holly she’d been around long enough to have friends wanting to give her a shower.

  “Did you tell them anything?”

  A snort sounded from the other end of the line. “No. We didn’t even let them know she was a patient. And I’m not telling you anything either.”

  “Look you already told me she’s all but lost her job. What else is stressing her? I mean, she looks at me like I’m Jack the Ripper—not Dudley Do-Right as you keep calling me.”

  Jenny’s exasperated sigh floated over the line. “I am so violating confidentiality here. Her ex-fiancé hassled her to give him the kid after they split. He wants her to play incubator and then hand the baby over to his new fiancée. That’s why she’s got the PO.”

  Jake grimaced. “Damn! That’s cold.” He jabbed the pencil he’d been tapping on his desk blotter back into the cup holding a half dozen other pens and pencils. If a woman like Holly were having his child, there wouldn’t be anyone but her.

  “Okay. So now I’ve told you way more than I should’ve because you’re one of my very best friends, and I think Holly could use a friend like you. I hope the information is for a good cause.”

  “I thought I’d take more food over later this week. The weather forecast calls for snow, so I don’t want her and the kid stuck with nothing to eat. Jeez, Jen. I opened her fridge to get a glass of tea yesterday, and it was almost empty.”

  The pause stretched. “Like I said, Jake. She could use a friend, even if she doesn’t think so.”

  He ended the call so he could take his turn doing patrol duty. As he drove, he kept turning over the mystery call to Jenny’s office. If someone was sniffing that close, chances were they had a lead on Holly already. Jake blew air out in frustration. If it turned into knowing her address, she and Tyler would be in deep trouble. Crawley’s place was way too isolated.

  He had just cleared a domestic argument, sparked by a husband who spent too much of the family paycheck on holiday cheer, when his phone rang. He pulled his unmarked cruiser into the parking lot of the Presbyterian church.

  “Jake here.”

  “Hey, dude. Got you the info you were looking for.”

  Jake pulled out a notebook and a pencil. “Okay, Trev. Shoot.”

  “Holly Marie Morgan. Twenty-two years old. Bachelors degree in Accounting from Lynchburg College in May of this year. Legal guardian of Tyler Matthew Morgan. Eleven years old. Parents were Matthew and Marie Morgan, both killed in a car crash Thanksgiving of last year. Tyler was injured, but survived. Until five months ago, Holly was engaged to Spencer Dilby, of Richmond.”

  Jake raised his brows. “Would that be like Dilby Department Stores?”

  “You got it.”

  And the guy wanted her kid? That was some serious pressure with the money and pedigree to back the name.

  “Who ended it?”

  “He did, and is now engaged to a Celia Segal whose family is from Fairfax. Pretty straightforward stuff. Hope it helps.”

  “More than you know, Trev. Thanks.”

  “Anytime, bro.”

  Jake sat in the car and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. That would explain why the ex-fiancé might be after the kid-to-be. The child had a claim on the Dilby fortune. It would also explain some of her wariness around him. She no doubt figured the Dilbys could pressure anyone with all the money they had backing them, protective order or not. If so, they hadn’t ever been to Mountain Meadow. Folks in this part of Virginia didn’t take to people who flashed their cash.

  * * * *

  Just as Holly suspected, the phone company cut service Wednesday. They’d told her the last time she’d called a partial payment wouldn’t be enough. She rubbed her back as she returned to the couch from her latest trip to the bathroom. She had the radio tuned to one of the local stations for some background noise because, with no satellite and no cable, they got almost no television reception in the hollow where they were, even with the box to convert the digital signal.

  Her forced inactivity drove her bananas. Used to working, she made a list of baby items she still needed, but all she did was frustrate herself when she realized she had neither the time nor the money to be ready for her daughter’s arrival.

  Jake stopped by Thursday with another box of food in hand. Without Tyler as a buffer, he swallowed, and after he handed the box to her, he took his cap off and slapped it against his leg a couple of times. She was relieved when he mumbled something again about chopping wood and hurried outside.

  The window gave her a great view while he worked. He made it look so effortless, and for him it no doubt was. There wasn’t an ounce of flab anywhere on him. Holly bit her lip and let the curtain fall into place. He was handsome, but she had no business looking at him. She had no business looking at anyone. Still, she twitched the corner of the curtain again, drawing some comfort from the smooth swing of the ax. She was disappointed when he just stuck his head in the door and mumbled a good-bye.

  What did she expect? She’d been pretty bitchy to him. Holly bit her lower lip. This wasn’t who she was or what she was like, but after the mistake she’d made about Spence, trusting anyone else was nearly impossible, even someone like Jake.

  Jim Tarpley brought Tyler home most of the week. On Saturday, he stepped into the house for
a minute to say hello.

  “Susie had me bring this box of baby clothes and whatnot. We kept items around when our grandchildren were tiny, but most of them are in their teens now, and she thought you might could use it.”

  Holly smiled in genuine pleasure. “Thank you, and please thank Mrs. Tarpley, too. You’ve been such a help.”

  His eyes twinkled when he smiled. “Anything we can do, you just let us know. Tyler’s a hard worker, and we’re real fortunate to have him with the holidays coming. You let us know if you need anything, you hear?”

  Holly smiled. Tarpley waved his good-bye and shut the door behind him.

  While Tyler did his homework, Holly went through the clothing, blankets and small toys. In addition, several items appeared brand new. Baby wipes and powder, diapers, a bulb syringe, and a couple of bibs. She blinked back tears.

  They had met some nice people since they came to Mountain Meadow. Folks like the Tarpleys, Doc, even Jake. Maybe things here were different. Jake called it being neighborly. Until Spence, Holly had trusted in the basic goodness of people. Then he opened her eyes to reality, but maybe that was Spence’s version of reality. Her eyes drifted to the full wood box. Somehow, she bet Jake’s reality was a lot different. And given a choice, she wanted Jake’s version.

  After Tyler went off to bed, Holly doused the living room lamp and settled on the couch. She now slept half-propped just to find some comfort and still be able to breathe. Even so, she was getting far less sleep than she needed. By Tuesday morning when Tyler set off for school, she was achy and lethargic.

  “Pay attention to the weather, Tyler,” she told him as he started out the door. “They keep calling for snow.”

  He waved at her. “I will.”

  Just after noon, Holly realized the weather wasn’t her biggest problem. Her labor had started. The first hard pains hit about the same time the snow began to cascade in thick, fluffy flakes. As the contraction rippled through her, Holly clutched the edge of the kitchen counter and tried to regulate her breathing. She stared at the phone in frustration. She had no way to call anyone. Stupid.

  Well, it would be hours before she needed to worry. Weren’t first labors generally long? And someone would bring Tyler home. She could get a ride into the hospital then. In the meantime, she would pack a bag for her and the baby.

  * * * *

  Spence tapped his finger on the manila envelope in front of him and smirked. The detective hadn’t brought much, but it might be enough. Tyler was enrolled in the Castle County Schools, a fifth grader at Mountain Meadow Elementary. He’d made some other phone calls, but had so far come up empty. His information didn’t include a physical address, just a PO box.

  Maybe it was time for a ski trip. He and Seely could go through there, giving him the perfect excuse to stop and nose around just a little. Holly’s baby should be born any time. A Dilby. That was all his parents cared about. So if he could deliver, they’d quit pestering him.

  Yep. Time to head to the mountains.

  * * * *

  Snow blanketed the town square, and Jake thought of the additional box of food he had for Tyler and Holly. He had to let Jenny know not to say anything. He told Holly the boxes were gifts from Doc, but aside from the first one, Jake had packed them. He hated to think the grief she would give him if she found out. Hell, Evan was already calling him Father Teresa. Yeah, he hated the way he smirked when he did it, too, like he thought Jake was going all moony over Holly. He was just being neighborly, like his parents had taught him.

  He called the general store and talked to Susie Tarpley, letting her know he’d run Tyler home in a couple of hours. In the meantime, he finished the paperwork on his desk. It included a proposal to the town council for an expansion to the building and the force. Right now they had just six sworn offices. Jake hoped to add two more. Ernie had shuffled more and more of the administrative work on him. About four-thirty he grabbed his coat and cap and checked in with the chief.

  “I’m gonna get out of here early. I told Jim and Susie I’d run the Morgan kid home, so I’ll be in my truck. I’ll have my cell phone with me, though.”

  “Careful. Scanners are starting to light up with a lot of traffic problems north of here along the interstate. Looks like this is switching over to freezing rain.”

  Jake frowned. All they needed was an ice storm. Snow was one thing, but when things iced up, nobody moved no matter what they drove. He stopped by his house and grabbed the food he’d forgotten, tossing the box onto the backseat of the four-door truck. A half hour later he halted in front of Tarpley’s.

  The snow indeed switched over to thick drops of freezing rain. They plopped like syrup on the windshield before the wipers whisked them away. Why was he doing this? Holly didn’t even live in Mountain Meadow, and she hadn’t given him any come-hither looks. Hell, maybe that was it. She was so determined to do everything on her own… Tyler slipped and slid his way to the passenger door and climbed in. Jake waved to Jim and Susie across the seat.

  “Buckle up. This could be an interesting ride home.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have you talked to your sister to let her know you’re on the way?” Jake put the truck in gear. When Tyler didn’t respond, he glanced over and saw the boy shift. “Tyler? Did you call her?”

  “Our phone’s shut off.”

  Jake started to swear, remembered the boy sitting next to him, and bit his tongue, smacking his palm against the steering wheel instead. “You mean to tell me your stubborn sister is all alone out there on bed rest with no way to call anyone?”

  “Yes.” Tyler’s voice shook. “We couldn’t pay it, so they cut it off last week.”

  Last week? Why hadn’t she said anything? He’d been by several times. Did she mistrust him so much? Jake pressed his lips together. “Okay, okay. We’ll get you home, then come hell or high water, I’m taking you and your sister out of there tonight. Even with a phone, I’m not sure any help could get to y’all in an emergency.” Thinking of the protective order, he added, “You can stay with me until you find someplace closer in where Holly can get help if she needs it.” And by God, if she bowed up on him, he’d carry her out over his shoulder, pregnant or not.

  As they set off, Jake realized he was doing what Jenny had angled for at her party. He realized something else. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let Holly and her brother stay in that piece-of-shit house any longer. The place should have fallen in years ago.

  * * * *

  How long had it been since the last contraction? Holly huddled in the bathroom. She’d been sick a couple of times as the contractions rolled through her. The pains came harder and faster, and now she wasn’t sure just how much time she had. She put clean towels on her bed and boiled water. What the water was for she had no idea, but it seemed like people always wanted boiling water when they screamed about birthing babies in the movies.

  She checked her watch. Five o’clock. She’d been in labor about four hours. Not very long. She remembered other women at Doc Owens’s talking about being in labor for twelve hours and more. She checked her watch as the next contraction hit. Less than five minutes. The freezing rain hit the windowpanes with an ominous ticking noise.

  For the first time, unease stirred and with it the realization she was in very real trouble.

  When she heard a vehicle outside, she braced one arm on the edge of the tub and tried to stand, but she was tired. As she shifted one more time, something popped and was followed by a gush of warm liquid that drenched her clothing and left her gaping in horror. The front door opened and Tyler called to her.

  “Holly? Where are you?”

  Another contraction hit, and she moaned.

  * * * *

  Jake pushed into the house right behind Tyler and stomped the snow off his boots. He heard Holly’s moan as soon as the door shut. He took in the scissors and string on the table, the pot of water on the stove, the towels and a book on pregnancy and bi
rth. Dropping the box he carried into the chair next to the door, Jake shot past Tyler.

  “Holly!” Fear drove him down the hall.

  She knelt on the floor of the bathroom in a puddle. His throat ached. Her eyes swallowed her pale face. He had seen the look before: pure, unadulterated fear. For soldiers, it could be deadly, and Jake had no doubt this could be just as dangerous. Calm down. He had to be the strong one because she must be scared spitless.

  “Holly, honey, it’s Jake,” he murmured, not sure how aware she was. “You need me to help you?”

  She nodded. “My water just broke, but I’ve been in labor for a while.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “Oh, Jake. Thank God you’re here.”

  He picked her up, mindless of her wet clothing, and carried her down the hall to the room he assumed belonged to her. He was relieved to see the bedcovers turned back and towels already covering the sheets. He glanced at her with new respect. She’d prepared to get through this on her own. As he settled her on top of the towels, he asked, “How long have you been having pains?”

  “They started around one.”

  He glanced at his watch. About five hours. “How far apart are they?”

  She swallowed and whispered, “The last ones were three minutes.”

  Jake pulled out his phone, checked to see he had a signal, and punched a button. It rang just two times. “Doc? It’s Jake.”

  “Hmm, you’re calling me Doc, so this must be business.”

  “It is. I’m at Holly’s house. I brought Tyler home. She’s in labor. About five hours. Pains three minutes apart.”

  “Shit.” There was a pause and then she said, “Why didn’t she call someone? No. Never mind that now. Think you can deliver a baby?”

  “Uhh, Jen…we covered the basics in training, but I’ve never done it.”

  “Jake, I’m at home and stuck. If you move her on this ice and get stranded, the situation could go from bad to worse—life-threatening worse for her and the baby.”

  Jake closed his eyes then opened them to stare at the ice hitting the windowpane with its rhythmic tick, tick.