Free Small-Town Brides by Janet Tronstad

young to be parents, in his opinion. He would have thought the realities of life would have knocked some of that love out of them by now, too. They both talked about it like they were sincere, though.
    â€œJust get in the truck. I’m cold and hungry and your girlfriend is waiting for you at the church—well, unless they found a way to get her to the hospital,” Clay said.
    â€œThe hospital?” Davy looked up in alarm.
    At least that seemed to get the guy’s attention. Clay had to admit the young man was probably making all the connections as fast as he could. His brain must be still frozen. Davy had been lost in the snow for hours by the time they found him. Fortunately, he had been wearing a heavy coat and had found a bit of shelter next to some squat trees on the side of a gully.
    Davy let go of the door handle to the car and held his hands out to Clay and Conrad. “Take me to her.”
    â€œFinally,” Clay said as he stepped forward.
    By the time they got to the outskirts of town, Davyseemed reasonably thawed. He was sprawled out between Clay and Elmer on the front seat of the truck. Conrad was squeezed into the small back seat, his legs almost to his chin. No one had the energy to talk or move until Clay drove into town. He wondered if anyone else had managed to get through the snow by now. The blizzard was over and the sun was starting to rise. It made him feel downright triumphant.
    Clay honked the horn on his truck briefly. That should get them a welcome.
    Sure enough, the door to the church flew open. There had to be a half-dozen people crowded in the doorway. Clay had to squint to figure out which one was Rene.
    Elmer opened the passenger side of the truck and climbed down. Clay had his hand on his own door handle when the minister came running up to his window.
    â€œThank God you’re back,” the minister said when Clay rolled down his window. “You need to take Mandy to the hospital in Miles City. Something is going wrong.”
    Clay didn’t like the way the minister looked; the man was worried.
    â€œI’m ready to go,” Clay said as Conrad climbed out of the backseat and stood by the passenger-side door.
    It didn’t take more than a few minutes for Rene to squeeze into the backseat and for the men to lift Mandy into the front seat next to Davy.
    â€œCharlie’s inside talking to the hospital on the phone,” the minister said. “They’ll be expecting Mandy. Go now. Call us when you get there.”
    â€œShouldn’t Charlie be coming, too?” Clay asked as he looked up at the door of the church. No one else was standing in the opening.
    â€œHe gave me instructions,” Rene said. “I’m all set.”
    Clay nodded and the passenger door was closed. Mandy sighed deeply as she leaned against her boyfriend while he put his arm around her. Clay started the truck and backed up so he could turn around to take the road into Miles City.
    â€œRemember to stay calm,” Rene said as she reached over and touched Mandy on the shoulder. “Try to think of something else.”
    â€œThe sun’s up,” Mandy said. “That’s nice.”
    â€œYes, it is,” Rene agreed.
    Mandy took a quick breath and then closed her eyes on a pain.
    â€œMaybe you should count,” Rene said. “Charlie said you needed distractions.”
    â€œCharlie’s a good man,” Clay offered. “It’s best to do what he says.”
    Mandy opened her eyes and looked over at Clay. Rene could see how the sun shined from the east and highlighted Clay’s profile. She wasn’t sure what Mandy’s slight smile meant, though, until the younger woman spoke. “We should add hats to the list.”
    â€œHuh?” Davy said as he shifted his arm so it would go behind Mandy more fully. “You want to buy some things? We could do that.”
    Mandy shook her head. “No, I’m adding it to the