Madison chuckled, shooting a look at her brother. “At least someone is.”
Chandler gave Madison a quick squeeze. “I love you, sis. Be careful, okay?”
“I love you, too.” She glanced at her very pregnant sister-in-law and then back at Chandler. “Take good care of Wendy.”
Chandler and Wendy disappeared back inside the house, and Madison rubbed her hands up her arms. “I should probably get back to my place. I’ve got plenty of boxes to unpack.”
I wasn’t ready to take her home, but I needed to regroup. How could I keep her safe when she didn’t believe she might be in danger?
We made our way through the house saying our goodbyes to all the pack members. By the time we got out the front door, my phone buzzed. I took it out of my pocket and frowned at the text from Chandler.
Wendy’s water broke.
Aw shit.
CHAPTER 10
Madison
The color drained from Cole’s face as he stared at his phone. He sent a text reply and pocketed his cell. “I have to get to my clinic right away. I’m going to see if Asher can take you home.”
Asher? I’d just met him. He was Naomi’s husband and this was their house, but beyond that, he was a stranger.
“I don’t mind tagging along to the clinic.” My tone brightened. “Maybe I can be your assistant again.”
“That’s not a good idea this time.” He turned to go back inside, and I caught his hand.
“Wait.” When he met my eyes, I recognized the calm, cool doctor I’d seen while he was treating the mare with colic. I sighed. “Is this about the telepathy stuff? Why are you shutting me out?”
“I don’t have time to explain right now, but I promise I will, okay? You’ll be safe with Asher.”
And there was that word again. Safe. Was there some kind of crime spree in this mystical desert town that I wasn’t aware of? Cole and my brother acted like I could be on someone’s hit list and needed a bodyguard.
I followed him inside. He was already asking Asher to take me home. I stopped beside Cole and interrupted. “I’m just going to get a Lyft home. It’s no big deal.” I eyed Cole. “I didn’t realize I’d be this much trouble.” I focused on Asher. “Thanks for the wonderful shower. You’ve got such a beautiful home.” I glanced at Cole. “Hope the emergency goes well.”
Without waiting for a reply, I made a beeline for the front door and got outside before anyone could interrupt me with another round of goodbyes. I barely remembered all their names anyway, and for some reason, my emotions were in hyperdrive. I kept replaying my conversation with Cole out back. Why was he so insistent that what I’d heard during my run might be real?
I pressed the Lyft app and groaned. The closest car was forty minutes away. The door opened behind me, and I tensed.
“I’m sorry.” Cole’s gruff voice made my traitorous heart race.
I didn’t turn around. “No problem.”
“Actually, it’s a huge problem.” He came up beside me. “Maybe we can talk about it in the truck?”
“You made it pretty clear I’m not welcome.” I crossed my arms, fighting the urge to touch him. “Why would I get in the truck with you?”
He jogged down the steps ahead of me as he answered. “Because your brother is going to be a dad tonight.”
It took a second for his words to sink in. I raced after him and jumped in the passenger side of his vet truck, my heart racing. It was too soon for the babies to be born. “Wendy’s in labor? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“That’s what we need to talk about.”
I buckled my seat belt, puzzled by his answer. Whatever Cole wanted to discuss, he didn’t look happy. Maybe the tense lines on his face were due to the twins being so premature. He wasn’t a human doctor, but he must’ve understood the risk for babies born this early.
He drove through the gates and onto the narrow road, the ranch shrinking behind us as we got farther away. My phone remained silent. I stared at it and frowned. “Why did Chandler tell you and not me?”
He tightened his grip on the wheel. “Because I’m delivering the babies.”
“What?” My jaw dropped as I struggled to grasp the situation. “You’re an animal vet. Why are you delivering my brother’s premature twins?”
He didn’t so much as peek in my direction. “They’re not premature, and your brother and Wendy can’t go to a hospital. They’re meeting us at my clinic. I’m the closest thing to a doctor we’re going to get.”
I had to be dreaming. This couldn’t be real. “I don’t understand. Chandler has health insurance, and Wendy inherited a fortune. There’s no reason they can’t afford a hospital stay.”
“No doctors.” Cole finally glanced my way. Pain shadowed his hazel eyes. “You’re not going to believe me if I tell you everything anyway, and I swore to your brother you wouldn’t hear any of it from me, so let’s just leave it at that for now.”
“No.” I wanted to shake him, but I also didn’t want us to fly off the road at eighty miles per hour, so I resisted the urge. “Either tell me what’s going on or let me out of the truck.”
I hated that I was trapped in a moving vehicle. I’d never yearned to walk out and slam a door more than I did right now.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere.” He didn’t take his eyes off the road.
“I don’t care where we are.” My phone buzzed, interrupting my meltdown. Chandler’s name lit up the screen. I accepted the call. “Chandler! Cole told me the babies are on their way. Is Wendy all right?”
“She’s doing amazing.” He didn’t sound worried about the high-risk birth.
I frowned. “Shouldn’t she be in a hospital with a NICU unit? She’s not even five months along yet.”
Cole took the phone from my hand, speaking into it like a walkie-talkie. “Madison is coming with me to the clinic. We’ll be there in ten minutes. How far apart are the contractions?”
“About five minutes.” There was a long pause. “You probably have time to take her home first.”
Cole met my eyes and replied, “I’m not lying to her anymore.”
He ended the call and handed me my phone. Heat blossomed on my cheeks and rage smoldered in my belly. “What the fuck was that? And what do you mean about lying to me?”
Chandler’s name came up on my screen again, but Cole caught my hand before I could answer. “Don’t.”
“I’m not going to ignore my brother’s call while his wife’s in labor.”
He released my hand. “Your choice.”
I glared at Cole, wondering what I ever saw in him. “Sorry, Chandler.”
“Tell Cole to take you home, okay? I’ll explain everything later.”
“Why wouldn’t you want me there?” I frowned. “I can wait outside. What if something happens?”
“I’m protecting you, okay?” His tone was clipped and firm. “Trust me. You’re better off going home. Wendy’s going to be fine.”