The Md She Had To Marry Part 8

"Rose,"Logansaid. "Her name was Rose."

Lacey stroked her baby's slightly sticky head. "Margaret Rose, then. What do you think?"

She had never seen his eyes look so soft-or so very dark. "Yes," he said. "All right. Margaret Rose."

"Rosie, for short."

"Rosie it is." He put down his index finger. It brushed Lacey's bare breast and then Rosie's wrinkled red

fist. Tiny perfect fingers opened-and closed, holding on.

"She's strong,"Logansaid in a voice low with emotion. "Strong and healthy. Lace, you did a h.e.l.l of a job." "Praise? From you-directed at me? Are you feeling all right?" "I don't think I've ever felt better in my life." The words were there, in her heart, rising up, undeniable. She didn't know why she'd ever cared to deny them. Why she'd ever thought it wise to hide the truth from him.

All her old fears and hesitations, her need to guard her independence and protect her woman's pride, seemed foolish now. She didn't need to deny her love anymore, not after what she'd just been

through-what all three of them had been through: she andLoganand this tiny miraclewho lay rooting ather breast, clutchingLogan's index finger, making soft, mewling sounds. "I love you, Logan," she whispered. His eyes grew softer still. He started to speak. She put her hand to his lips. "Shh. It's okay. It's just... I wanted you to know. I've known for nine months. It's been my big secret. But it seems kind of silly now, after this, to go on keeping it. It seems like the best thing just to let you know."

He nodded, and pressed his lips to her temple. They sighed together and their daughter gave a small,

impatient cry.

A few minutes later, the ambulance pulled up in the yard.

Chapter 6.

Dr. Pruitt arrived with the ambulance. He clamped and cut the umbilical cord. Then he supervised as Lacey pushed out the afterbirth. He performed a formal post-natal exam and weighed the baby: seven pounds, two ounces. He also examined Lacey.

When he was done, he confirmed what everyone already knew: mother and daughter were doing just fine. He said he saw no need for a hospital visit, especially when he learned that the baby's father was a doctor and would be in close attendance over the next twenty-four hours.

The ambulance drove away less than an hour after it had arrived, at a little after three in the morning. Tess suggested a move to the main house, but Lacey vetoed that. She hadLoganto look after her and Rosie. And the little cabin somehow seemed like home now. She wanted to stay there, for the next few days at least, just the three of them.

And then ... well, she'd worry about that when the time came.

Tess called Zach on the cell phone and instructed him to pile all the baby equipment into the pickup and bring it on over.

"We're keeping everyone awake tonight," Lacey said ruefully, after Tess had hung up.

Tess waved a hand. "We are ranchers," she said. "We're used to being up all hours of the night."

Lacey andLogantook Rosie to the bathroom.Loganheld the baby while Lacey showered and changed into a nightgown that b.u.t.toned down the front. Then Lacey rested, sitting on the rug with the commode to lean against, as Logan gave Rosie her first bath-which amounted to a few gentle strokes with a warm washcloth.

When they got back to the main room, Tess had changed the sheets again and put up the curtain that made the sleeping nook into its own private s.p.a.ce. Lacey climbed gratefully onto the bed and drank two gla.s.ses of cool water asLogan, over at the daybed, put on Rosie's first diaper. Tess helped Lacey to get comfortable. ThenLoganlaid their daughter beside her. The baby rooted at her breast. This time, the little darling actually managed to latch on.

"Let her nurse for five minutes or so on that side," Tess said. "They we'll try the other one."

By the time Logan and Tess tiptoed out, Lacey was as deep in sleep as Rosie. She didn't even hear them bring in all the baby things.

Lacey woke when Rosie did, about three hours after she'd fallen asleep.

She looked down at the fuzzy, misshapen little head of her daughter and groused, "You aren't going to turn out to be a day person like your father, are you?"

Rosie opened her tiny mouth-first for a big yawn, and right after that, to let out a wail.

The curtain slid back andLoganwas there, looking tired and rumpled and absolutely wonderful. "Good morning."

Lacey gave him a smile with all of her newly revealed love in it. "This baby is hungry."

"That's the way babies are. What about you?"

"I'm starved. But I think she's going to insist on eating first. Let's try it in the rocker this time."

It was quite an experience, getting out of that bed. Lacey's body felt as if she'd done something horrible

to it-like go through childbirth. Her uterus was still cramping, everything lower down ached from all that pus.h.i.+ng-and the last thing she ever wanted to do again was to stand up straight.

Loganchuckled. "I hope you don't feel as bad as you look."

She moaned and muttered under her breath, "Men. And all they'll never have to suffer..."

"I do sympathize."

"Why doesn't that help?"

She left him to comfort the squalling Rosie as she hobbled outside to the bathroom, where she used the facilities, changed her menstrual pad and then forced herself to straighten her spine. Every overworked muscle protested. But she did it. And she stayed upright all the way back to the main room.

Loganbuilt up last night's fire and got started on the breakfast as Lacey and Rosie practiced nursing. Bythe time she'd changed the baby-on the bureau/changing table that Zach had brought over while shewas sleeping-Loganwas cracking eggs into a pan.

"How many?" he asked.

"Four."

He laughed. "I see you've gotten over your aversion to eggs."

"And toast, please. And juice and some of that applesauce that's up in the cupboard. And maybe, after

that, a big bowl of cereal..." * * * Tess and Edna arrived at a little after ten. By then, Rosie had been through three diaper changes and two more short nursing sessions. Between the feeding and the changing, Lacey faded in and out of a drowsy half-sleep. She felt sore and tired and utterly content, with her baby in her arms andLoganto take care of them both. Tess and Edna told Lacey she was not to get up. She ignored them and pulled on her robe. "I need to move around a little." She tried not to groan as she pulled herself straight for the walk across the floor to the rocking chair.

The visitors each held Rosie, cooing over her shamelessly and declaring her the most beautiful child they'd ever seen.

Lacey couldn't help laughing-which hurt her poor tummy. "Why is it people always say that new babies are beautiful? They haverashy red skin and squashed faces and this one even has a point on the top of her head."

Edna was holding Rosie right then. She clucked her tongue and rocked back and forth. "There, there," she told the baby, "don't you listen to Mommy. She knows you're beautiful. She just doesn't want you to become vain about it. And don't you worry about this point on your head. It won't be there for long." She stroked Rosie's fuzzy head. "Of course,Jobeth and Starr can't wait to meet you..."

Tess added, smiling at Lacey, "We told them maybe tomorrow, after you've both had a little more time to recuperate."

When they were through fussing over the baby, they handed her back to Lacey and enlistedLogan's aid in making up a grocery list. "We're going into town this afternoon," Edna said. "We'll pick up whatever you need. Anything else we can do?"

Jenna, Lacey thought. She stopped her lazy rocking. Over eight hours since Rosie had come into the world and her Aunt Jenna didn't even know that the momentous event had occurred.

Lacey shot a swift, guilty glance atLogan-and then instantly wondered whatwas the matter with her . She was not going to put off sharing the wonderful news with her sister just because the mention of Jenna's name might causeLogana little emotional discomfort.

She spoke firmly. "You can take me over to the main house for a few minutes. I need to make a phone call toFlorida, to give Jenna and Mack the news."

Edna frowned in disapproval. "But don't you have one of those portable phones?"

Lacey put Rosie on her shoulder, pushedherself from the rocker and drew her sore body up tall. "I hate to use a cell phone. When it does work, it tends to cut in and out. And then there's an irritating delay on and off, too. It's no fun trying to talk on it, especially for something like this.Logan, if you'll take the baby, I'll just get into some clothes and then-"

Edna clucked her tongue and bustled over. "You sit back down, young lady. You're in no shape to go traipsing down the road right yet."

Logan and Tess stayed where they were, over by the counter. Neither of them spoke-Loganfor reasons Lacey didn't really want to examine. And Tess ... well, Lacey had told her aboutLogan's feelings for Jenna just yesterday. No doubt Tess didn't know what to say.

But Edna was blithely ignorant of the emotional minefield they were forging across here. "Why don't you let Logan or Tess make the call for you right now? Then you can call again yourself in a day or two, when you're feeling up to it."

Tess finally decided to speak up. "Uh, Edna, I think Lacey wants to be the one to give her sister the big news."

Lacey sent Zach's wife a grateful smile. "Yes, I do. I want to tell her myself. And if you'll just drive me over there and then drive me back ... please. It won't take long. I'm sure I'm up to it."

SheglancedLogan's way again. His face betrayed nothing-not the usual concern for her welfare, and certainly not whatever emotions all this talk about Jenna called up in him. "Logan, do you think you could look after Rosie on your own for a little while?"

He did move then. He strode toward her. "I think I can handle it." His voice, like his expression, gave her nothing. But at least he wasn't trying to talk her out of it. He took Rosie from her, carefully laying a diaper and then the baby on his broad shoulder.

Lacey found herself staring at his fine, large hands, thinking how small-and how safe-their daughter looked cradled in them. Her love was an ache right then. It filled her with warmth-and it hurt, too. "Great," Lacey said brightly. "I'll be dressed in a flash." * * * Tess let Lacey use the phone in Zach's office, off the dining room, where she could close the door and enjoy complete privacy.

Her sister answered on the second ring. Just the sound of that soft, clear voice brought tears to Lacey's eyes.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"Jen. It's me."

"Lace. h.e.l.lo."

Lacey closed her eyes, picturing her big sister's gorgeous wide-open smile. n.o.body smiled quite like Jenna. n.o.body in the world.

Lacey said, "So tell me. How are you feeling?"

Jenna laughed. "Great. Considering I'm as big as a house. How about you?"

Lacey breathed deep. "Well, let me put it this way.I'm not quite as big today as I was yesterday."

Jenna gasped. "The baby? You had the-"

"Yes. This morning at about two. A baby girl. Seven pounds, two ounces."

"OmiG.o.d. I can't believe it. How do you feel? Are you okay? You're calling from the hospital, then? And the baby. How is the baby?"

"We're both fine. I'm at the main ranch house now. Tess brought me over, to call you. We never made it to the hospital. I had the baby in the cabin."

"Oh, dear Lord. You didn't."

"I did. It all happened really fast. I went to sleep at around eleven last night and I woke up when my water broke, two hours later. And an hour after that, I was holding my baby in my arms. And she's perfect. Absolutely beautiful ... even if she is the ugliest thing I've ever seen."

Jenna was laughing and sighing at the same time. "Oh, Lace. I ... I don't have the words. Hold on. I have to tell Mack."

Lacey heard her sister call her husband, then the excited exchange of information. Then Mack came on the line. "Congratulations, sister-in-law."

She smiled. "Thanks, Mack."

"Take it easy, now. Get lots of rest."

"Yeah. With a newborn. Right."

"Well, get as much rest as you can, at least-and I have to go now. Jenna's trying to rip the phone out of my hands."

"Bye, Mack."

"Take care."

"Tell me you named her after Mother-" it was Jenna again "-that you didn't forget what we agreed."

"How could I forget? If I had a girl, she'd be Margaret. If I didn't and you did, then my niece would be Margaret. I did. So she's Margaret. Margaret Rose. We're calling her Rosie."

"Rosie. I like it."