Triplets for the Texan (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 5)

Finally, she was allowed to collapse into bed again. Meanwhile, Barb changed out the IV bag, straightened the room and drew more blood. As she packed up the vials, she eyed Simone with an assessing gaze. “Will you be okay for the next few hours? I hate to leave you alone, but I promised a friend I’d sit with her mother at the nursing home this evening.”

“I’ll be fine,” Simone said. “Dr. Hutchinson showed me how to unhook things so I can go the bathroom, and I’m feeling much stronger. Don’t worry about me.”

“There’s more gelatin and broth in the fridge. And I brought you a fresh box of saltines this morning.”

“You’ve been wonderful. Will you be here tomorrow?”

Barb nodded. “Dr. Hutchinson said at least three days.”

“Okay then. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Should I bring the meal before I go?”

“It’s still early. I’d rather wait.”

“All right then.” She gave a little wave. “I’ll let myself out.”

With the nurse gone and Hutch still presumably at the hospital, the house was desperately quiet. As the sunlight faded, Simone felt the weight of her situation drag her down. Whatever lay ahead, she would take care of these innocent babies. If she decided she was incapable of functioning as a single mother, she could give them up for adoption when they were born. There were likely dozens of couples in Royal with fertility issues who would be overjoyed at the chance to give three little babies a home.

The thought left Simone feeling hollow. Not only had she rushed into this situation with less than pure motives, she had given little or no thought to the future. Now that she was pregnant, the situation was painfully real.

At six thirty, she actually felt hungry...in a normal way. Hutch had said he’d be back, but who knew what kind of emergencies might have come up.

Mindful of her promises to Barb, she sat on the side of the bed for a full three minutes before attempting to get up. Unhooking the IV was not hard once she’d learned what to do. Walking slowly, she made her way to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. After eating a few bites of the gelatin, she drank half a glass of ginger ale. The calories she had consumed today were helping. She felt steadier and stronger already.

Darkness closed in, and with it, her uneasiness returned. Hutch had given her his phone number. Should she simply text him and tell him not to come?

When she saw headlights flash as a car turned into her driveway, she scurried back to the bedroom, reattached the IV and settled into bed. She didn’t want Hutch to think she was being reckless. It was important to her that he knew she was taking this pregnancy seriously.

When he finally appeared at her door, he looked tired, but wonderful.

“Hey there,” he said, his lips curving in a half smile. “Barb said you had a pretty good day.”

Simone nodded. “I’d give it a seven and a half. Thank you for suggesting her. She’s very kind and competent.”

“How’s your stomach?” He sat on the foot of the bed and ran his hands over his face. He had obviously showered before leaving the hospital,

because he smelled like the outdoors, all fresh and masculine.

She sat up and scooped her hair away from her face. Barb had taken the time to blow-dry it after Simone’s shower. Now it fell straight and silky around her shoulders. “We’re on speaking terms again. Barely.”

“Good.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I grabbed a burger in the cafeteria.”

“That’s not entirely healthy. Physician, heal thyself.”

“You let me worry about me. What did you have for dinner?”

“Some gelatin. I was contemplating Barb’s homemade chicken broth, but I’m feeling pretty normal at the moment, and I’d hate to tempt fate.”

“You look better.”

His steady regard made her blush. “Thank you.”

“How ’bout I warm the broth and bring it to you?”