Free Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) by Laura Browning Page A

moved through him, and not just for the baby, he realized. His emotions had been riding a roller coaster since he walked in the door. Now looking at them both, he realized a connection was there. He’d been interested the first time he saw Holly, and that had only grown as she tried to juggle her pride with what she knew was best for her brother and her baby—and how what was best always won. He would get them both to the hospital just as soon as he could, and then? Then he would move them in with him—her, the baby, and Tyler.
    Now, all he had to do was convince her. He hadn’t told her his suspicions about someone looking for her. Eventually, he would have to. For a moment, Jake wondered if moving her in was for them or him. He’d wanted a family, and fate had put one right in front of him.
    Holly and Noelle. Tyler’d said Holly wanted to name the baby Noelle because her birthday was supposed to be around Christmas. Well, it was December. An early Christmas gift. He touched the infant’s head with his big palm and shifted his gaze to Holly’s pale face. He had helped her bring this baby into the world. He hadn’t counted on how that changed things. Emotional ties bound them together, and he wondered where it would lead.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Jake stamped his feet and blew on his gloved hands. Ice glittered on tree branches like a million prisms the next morning, but he had a lot more to do than admire its beauty. His focus was on getting his precious cargo out of here. That meant clearing the trees and branches littering the rutted road.
    By chance, his chainsaw and a can of gas sat in the bed of his truck. He’d loaned them to one of the patrol officers who had taken his kids to cut a Christmas tree. Now Jake could put the saw to better use clearing a path for a holiday package to get to town.
    As he and Tyler dragged the last of the branches off the still slick road, the boy asked, “Are we taking Holly and Noelle to the hospital today?”
    Jake slapped bark and snow from his uniform with his gloved hands and grinned. “I hope so. I’ll call Chief Jones and Sheriff Barnes in a minute to see how the roads are. If they say four-wheel drives are moving okay, we’ll take Holly and the baby to see Doc.”
    “They’re okay aren’t they?” Tyler asked.
    Uncertainty clouded the boy’s face, so Jake put an arm around his shoulders. “’Course they are, Tyler. We did a great job helping Holly. It’s just a precaution. Kind of like having the teacher look over your work at school.”
    “Oh. Okay.” Tyler tossed branches on the pile near him with renewed energy, a grin back on his narrow face.
    After Ernie and Sam reassured him about the roads, Jake bundled the sleeping Noelle nice and tight. He strapped the infant carrier into the backseat. Jake hummed Christmas carols as he turned on the truck to warm it. He didn’t want Holly or Noelle getting chilled. He laughed to himself. Careful, man. He sounded like a new father.
    “Ready to go?” he asked Holly as he entered her room. She sat on the bed’s edge, frustration evident. “What’s the matter?”
    She sighed. “I feel useless, like I can’t do anything.”
    Jake leaned against the doorjamb. “You just gave birth. If you’re exhausted, you should be. Relax. Let someone take care of you for a change. It looks to me like you spend all your time trying to care for everyone else.”
    Her mouth quirked. “It would be a switch.”
    “Good. Because I’m giving you a ride out to the truck.” While he carried her out and belted her in, Tyler followed with Noelle cradled in his arms. Jake smiled as he secured the baby in her carrier. Noelle couldn’t ask for a more protective uncle.
    Jake climbed in. “Everybody ready?”
    Holly leaned forward to touch his shoulder. “Thanks, Jake.”
    Their eyes met in the rearview mirror, and he answered her with a small smile before putting the truck in gear.
    * * * *
    Holly stroked the baby’s cheek. Noelle had