Doc said, "It won't hurt her to stand up. In fact, it might do her good."
He and Tiel supported Sabra beneath the arms and together assisted her to her feet. She baby-stepped far enough to take the extended receiver from Ronnie.
"Hello? No, sir. What Ronnie told you is true. I'm not leaving without him. Not even to go to the hospital. Because of my daddy! He said he'll take away my baby, and he always does what he says." She sniffed back tears. "Of course I came with Ronnie voluntarily. I-" She caught her breath and gripped a handful of Doc's shirt.
He lifted her and carried her back to the makeshift birthing bed, depositing her gently. Tiel knelt beside her and, as Doc had instructed, coaxed Sabra to relax, not to fight the contraction, and to breathe.
Ronnie was speaking anxiously into the telephone. "Listen here, Mr. Galloway, Sabra can't talk anymore. She's having a contraction. Where's the doctor we were promised?" He glanced through the plate glass. "Yeah, I see him. You bet I'll let him in."
Ronnie slammed down the receiver and dropped the phone back onto the counter. He started for the door, then, realizing how exposed he would be to sharpshooters, ducked behind the Frito-Lay display again. "Cashier, wait until he's at the door before you unlock it. Then, as soon as he comes through, relock it. Understand?"
"What d'ya think, I'm stupid?"
Donna waited until the doctor was pushing on the door before she flipped the switch. He came inside, and everyone in the store, including the young doctor, heard the metallic click when the door relocked.
Nervously he glanced over his shoulder at it before introducing himself. "I'm, uh, Dr. Cain. Scott."
"Move over here."
Dr. Scott Cain was a handsome man of medium height and build, in his early to mid-thirties. Wide-eyed, he scanned the people huddled in a group in front of the counter. Gladys waved at him.
His gaze swung back to Ronnie. "I was making my rounds at County when I was paged. Never would've guessed I'd be called in on an emergency like this."
"With all due respect, Dr. Cain, we're short on time."
Tiel shared Doc's impatience. The wet-behind the-ears Dr. Cain was obviously awed to find himself a player in such high drama. He hadn't fully grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Doc asked if he'd been apprised of Sabra's condition.
"I was told she was in labor and that there might be complications."
Doc motioned him toward the prone girl. "Is it okay?"
Cain asked Ronnie, glancing fearfully at the pistol.
"Open up your bag."
"Huh? Oh, sure." He unlatched the black valise and held it open for Ronnie's inspection.
"Okay, go ahead. Help her, please. She's in a bad way."
"It would seem so," the doctor remarked as a contraction seized Sabra and she moaned.
Reflexively she reached for Tiel's hand. Tiel held on tight and spoke to her encouragingly. "The doctor's here, Sabra. Things are going to get better now. I promise."
Doc was providing the doctor with pertinent information.
"She's seventeen. This is her first child. First preg nancy." They took up positions near the girl, Doc on Sabra's right side, Dr. Cain at her feet, Tiel on her left.
"How long has she been in labor?"
"Preliminary contractions started mid afternoon Her water broke about two hours ago. Pains escalated sharply after that, then for the last half hour they've tapered off."
"Hi, Sabra," the doctor said to the girl.
"Hi."
He placed his hands on her stomach and examined the mound with light, massaging squeezes.