Rugged Daddy

“She’ll be fine with me. Promise,” Hudson said.

“He’s right. Hudson’s very capable of protecting her if something happens. Then, if something happens to us, my attention won’t be divided. My focus can be on you,” I said.

“Do you think something will happen?”

“No,” I said. “I don’t think anything will happen to us at this appointment. But we can’t—”

“Be too careful. I know. I still think I should have Nikki on standby or something. She does know what's going on now.”

“If that makes you feel better, then go ahead,” I said.

It was the only way I knew to protect all of them. Heather and I had targets on our backs. If Audrey stayed behind with Hudson, it meant I could still protect my daughter while defending the mother of my child. I helped her into my truck, and we headed into town, both of us trying to focus on the appointment ahead.

But I saw the fear in Heather’s eyes as she looked out the window. I reached over and took her hand, smoothing my thumb over her skin. I needed her to keep calm and stay as rooted as she could for this child. It killed me that there was nothing I could do to settle her down. Her cell phone was in her other hand, and her finger hovered over Nicole’s number, ready to press it at a second’s notice if she needed something.

I really hoped Hudson’s plan was almost finished because Heather couldn’t live like this any longer.

I had stayed up the night before and helped him put some things into place. We put a tracker on the undercarriage of my truck as well as in all of Audrey’s shoes. He programmed my and Heather’s phones into a tracking system on his phone as a backup locator. I had a gun on my hip in case it needed to be used, and Hudson had locked away handguns in every single room of my cabin.

Not to mention we’d been readying the panic room with food and water and necessities if we needed to use it.

We were bringing the war to us. That was dangerous, but it was all we had. Baiting them and keeping them in town meant keeping our eyes peeled for anything. Hudson still had a few last-minute details to finalize, so the emergency protocols were put in place as a “just in case” measure.

I hoped to fuck we wouldn't have to use them.

“We’re here.” She turned toward me and smiled, and for the first time that day, I saw a light dancing in her eyes.

“Come on. Let’s go see our baby,” I said.

The doctors took us straight back, and I was glad. But I did take the time to scan the waiting room. I didn’t want to sit there with a bunch of strangers holding children with a gun in the belt of my pants, but I did want to commit their faces to memory. After all, I couldn't be too careful with the precious cargo I was accompanying. The nurse took Heather’s height and weight, and she put her hand over my eyes so I couldn't see. I chuckled at her. Then, the nurse ushered us into a room to wait for the doctor.

“All right,” the doctor said as he came in. “Heather Palmer.”

“That’s me,” she said.

“How are you feeling today?” the doctor asked.

“The nausea hasn’t been as bad, but usually it’s an all-day affair.”

“Are you doing anything to combat it?”

“Ginger ale and these morning sickness drops I found,” she said.

“Are they from the all-natural pharmacy up the road?”

“They are.”

“Those are really good. I actually advise my patients to get them if their nausea is kicking them while they’re down, so it’s a good thing you’re using them. Are you experiencing anything else?” he asked.

“I’m tired all the time, not eating too much.”

“I did notice you’ve lost a couple of pounds, so we’re going to keep an eye on that. It’s common for women who are sick through the first trimester, but if you’re still losing weight through your second trimester, we’ll have to find things you can drink that’ll help put weight on.”

“Is there anything we should be doing about it now?” I asked.

“Is this Daddy?” the doctor asked.

“He is.” The bright smile on her face as she answered warmed my chest with pride.