When the Bough Breaks (Rose Gardner Investigations #6) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,107

I’d say you’re about a nine. You’ll soon be feeling the urge to push, but don’t, okay? We need to cross the creek.”

He wrapped an arm around my back to usher me along, but I pushed him away. “Cut the bull, Dermot. You’ve always been straight with me before, and I need you to be straight with me now. What’s wrong?”

He looked me square in the eye. “Rose, your baby’s breech. I felt the foot when I was checkin’.”

I shook my head, fighting my rising hysteria. “No. The doctor said everything was good. Head down. You’re wrong,” I said, starting to walk, but my legs felt like noodles.

“I’m not wrong. Sometimes it happens,” he said, taking my right elbow with his left hand. “Has the baby been active since your last appointment?”

“He or she’s been movin’ around a lot the last day or so, but I figured they were tired of bein’ cramped.” Fear made it hard to choke out the next words. “Can you deliver a breech baby?”

“I will if I have to.”

“Have you ever done it before?”

“No.”

“Okay, then,” I said with a brisk nod. “So if I feel the urge to push, I just won’t. Problem solved.”

He gave me a pitying look but didn’t say anything.

“I thought you were dead, Dermot. Are the other two guys okay?”

Frowning, he shook his head. “I would have been here sooner, but I passed out after she shot me.” He shook his head. “When I came to, I called for backup, patched myself up, and went after you, which wasn’t easy. I took a few missteps—I hadn’t realized she’d crossed the creek—but I was never so glad to hear your voice.”

“You have no idea how relieved I was to hear yours. Thanks for comin’ after me.”

He glanced down at me. “Rose, I promised I wouldn’t let anything happen to your baby.”

I bumped my shoulder into his arm. “Thank you.”

“What happened to Vera?”

“She led me to the Collards’ property. They were keepin’ the kids in an icehouse. Once we got there, she told me her job was done and took off. I managed to sneak in and get them out, then we started down the path. I keep expectin’ them to find out the kids are missin’ and come after us.”

“Let’s hope we can get out of here before that happens,” I said as we continued on the path, Dermot leading the way. The kids hiked about ten feet in front of us.

“When did your labor start?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It may have been goin’ on all day. I just figured it was more false labor. The contractions got a lot stronger before we reached the Collard property. My water broke before I got the kids out.”

“You rescued them in active labor.” He looked back, grinning a little as he shook his head. “Of course you did.”

“Don’t glorify it, Dermot. I did what I had to do. No more. No less.”

“Did Vera mention why the Collards took them?”

“No. And I haven’t had a chance to ask the kids if they overheard anything.”

“It would be better to wait until they feel more secure,” he said, turning back to grab my arm and make sure I didn’t trip over a tree root. “The danger’s not over yet, and they’re bound to sense that.”

I had to agree. “Ashley’s been asking for her dad.”

“That’s a rough one.”

“No word on him?”

“None.”

“Skeeter sent Vera to me,” I said. “I had a vision.” I described it to him and then, on impulse, told him about the vision of James and Joe.

“What’s Malcolm up to?” Dermot asked.

“I don’t know, but I want no part of it.”

We caught up with the kids before my next contraction hit. Dermot helped me keep walking until I couldn’t take another step, then eased me to my hands and knees. He rubbed my back again, telling me I had this, and that I was doing great. And there was no denying I was doing much better with him here. Only I still wanted Joe.

I had two more contractions before we heard the sound of the creek, and when the next one hit, the urge to push hit me like a freight train.

“I have to push, Dermot!”

He moved in front of me, inches from my face. “No, you don’t,” he said in a calm voice. “Look at me. We’re gonna breathe through this together.”

“I can’t stop it,” I cried. Every part of my body screamed to push.

“Yes, you can,” he said. “Now breathe with me.” He