Winning The Rancher's Heart. Arlene James

Wyatt across the yard as quickly as he could possibly manage in the horrible conditions. He didn’t want to think about trying to drive Tina to the hospital in Ardmore. As he followed his brother to the house, he resumed his fervent prayers.

       Please, God. Please don’t let them lose their babies. I’ve given Wyatt enough heartache already. Please don’t let them lose their babies.

      The next hour passed at a crawl, with Wyatt and Tina closed in the bedroom and Kathryn going in and out. The boys caught the gloomy atmosphere. Their snacks abandoned, they looked around with wide, worried eyes. Finally, Jeri interceded.

      “Say, why don’t you guys show me your room? Bet we can find something to do there.”

      “My room,” Tyler clarified.

      “I got a room!” Frankie insisted. “I got two.” He held up two fingers in case Jeri didn’t understand, adding, “With puppies.”

      “You just nap in the room here,” Tyler argued. “You live in your room in town.”

      Jeri lifted her eyebrows at Ryder as she urged the boys toward the stairs. “Let’s go upstairs anyway.”

      Ryder thought that she was good with kids, but the greater part of his mind was centered on Tina and Wyatt. Minutes crept by. At last Ryder heard a vehicle pull into the carport. Rushing to the door, he recognized the truck and the couple getting out of it. Wes Billings was a local rancher, and his wife, Alice Shorter Billings, was the local doctor. Ryder closed his eyes and whispered a prayer of gratitude as the pair hurried toward the steps.

      “I’m so glad you’re here,” Ryder told them.

      “Tina’s OB called me,” Alice said. “I came as soon as I could.”

      “Thank you so much.”

      He stepped back to let them enter then led the way to the bedroom. After tapping on the door, he opened it.

      “Wes and Dr. Alice are here.”

      Wyatt rose from the chair beside the bed and came to greet them. Wes carried her medical bag into the room, smiled at Wyatt and Tina, left the bag on the chair Wyatt had just vacated, and backed out again, pulling the door closed behind him. Suddenly, Jeri was at Ryder’s elbow.

      “We heard a vehicle arrive. Frankie says it’s the doctor.”

      “My wife,” Wes supplied. “She’s in with Tina now.”

      Ryder quickly made introductions. “Uh, our guest, Jeri Bogman. And Wes Billings.”

      Wes shook Jeri’s hand then lifted an eyebrow at Ryder.

      “I’m the official house-call barista,” he said. “How about a cup of coffee?”

      “It’s already made,” Ryder muttered, fighting the impulse to stand by the bedroom door and listen in case he was needed.

      Wes’s next words pulled him away.

      “Coffee and prayer,” Wes said. “Being married to a doctor, I’ve learned to specialize in both.”

      “That sounds good to me,” Jeri said, lifting a hand to Ryder’s shoulder.

      That small hand comforted him in a way he couldn’t describe. Coffee and prayer with Jeri beside him sounded good.

      In fact, they sounded essential.

      He turned, giving her the best smile he could muster, and led the way back into the kitchen.