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Here is a little preview of Cassie and Ian from the next book. If you have a minute after you read, please sign up for my newsletter. Every new signup will be entered into a drawing for a signed book and some awesome swag! Sign up is at the end of the preview. ________________________________________________________________________________________
“I don’t understand how you didn’t know! How could you let me take you out here when you were in labor?” Ian yelled as he paced around the farm while Cassie tried to concentrate on her breathing.
He just purchased the old farm and he was going to transform it into a sanctuary for animals who had been abused. He also wanted to help the soldiers who needed a place to go and feel productive and needed.
“I have been having contractions for a few days and I thought it would stop,” she said as she tried to take deep breaths. “Stop yelling at me.”
“I can’t get any reception out here and it’s dark out and about to storm. Can you just cross your legs?” he asked and she glared at him.
“Yes. I will cross my legs and stop labor. That sounds like a great plan,” she said and yelled as another contraction ripped through her body.
He ran to her and tried to help.
“Ian, it hurts,” she said as her tears came. “What are we going to do?”
“Um, well I can boil some water and make you a bed of hay,” he said and raced around the barn.
“Ian! I’m not a cow!” she said.
“Well no, of course not. A cow would give birth standing up,” he said and chuckled before he saw her look. “I mean, right. I know you’re not a cow.”
She groaned again and he ran his hands through his hair.
“Okay, I can do this. I mean, really, how hard can it be? I can do this,” he said to himself.
“What exactly is it you’re doing?” Cassie asked. “I think I’m the one in trouble here. You’re a doctor, Ian, help me!”
“I’m a vet. They barely need any help when giving birth. I mean I watch and help when needed. I can just watch you. Should I just watch? You’re not going to lick the baby clean, are you?”
Cassie stared at him.
“Right. No time for a joke. Okay, I got this. Don’t move,” he turned and ran out of the room and came back a few minutes later with a blanket, some towels and a medical bag. He took some hay and laid it down before he covered it with a blanket.
“That will make it a little softer,” he smiled and walked to her. “Come on.”
He walked her to the blanket and helped her lie down. She had beads of sweat on her forehead and he sat down next to her.
“Okay, look at me and breathe,” he said and took her hand. “You are doing great.”
“Ian, I’m scared. What if something goes wrong? You’re right. I should have never come to the farm with you, but you were so excited about the potential of this place and I wanted to see it. I want to know what our legacy is going to be for our child. I want to know that everything is going to be okay,” she said as her tears fell.
“Hey, I’m here and we’re together and we’re going to bring our child into the world. Think about the story we’ll be able to tell him or her.”
Thunder crashed outside and the wind howled.
“This isn’t how I wanted this to be. I wanted to be in a hospital and I wanted drugs. I don’t think I can do this,” she cried.
Ian held her face in his hands.
“You are the strongest person I have ever met. You can do anything and I am so proud to be your husband. Now we have a child to meet and it’s time we did that.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “I think I need to push.”
Ian nodded and helped her get undressed.
“Okay, let me see what we have,” he said and was grateful the electricity was working in the barn. “Oh my God! I see a head!”
Cassie moaned and he looked at her with concern.
What if something went wrong? What could he do?
“Ian? What is it? I need to push!”
“I’m here. Go ahead and push,” he said and counted for her.
A little while later, Cassie was exhausted and Ian sweat through his shirt. There had been little progress and the storm was raging outside.
“I changed my mind,” Cassie said weakly. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Ian wiped her sweaty face and smiled.
“Look at me. You have served two tours in Iraq. You fought your way through every battle you have ever faced and now we’re here and we’re married and about to welcome our child into the world. My love, the best is yet to come,” he said and pressed his forehead to hers. “You got this.”
She nodded and he moved.
“Give me one really big push,” he said.
“Aaargh!” she screamed and Ian delivered the baby.
“Oh my God,” he said as he looked at her. “It’s a girl. We have a daughter,” he said as he put her on Cassie’s chest.
“Waaaa!” the little girl cried.
He cut the cord and used the sutures to tie it off.
Cassie held the baby and looked at her.
“Hi little beauty,” she said as she took the towel and gently wiped her clean.
Ian looked at them and his tears fell.
“My girls,” he said softly. “How blessed am I?”
“We are going to love you forever,” Cassie said as she looked at her daughter and Ian put his arm around her.
“Thank you for the most amazing gift,” she said as she looked at him.
He kissed her and held his family tightly.
