In the Nick of Time
By Lady of Spain
Chapter 1: On the Hunt
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
It was deer hunting season, and the wolf pack was hungry for venison. Quil and Jacob were the two best shots, so it was decided that they should go, along with Embry. Paul wasn't shoddy with a rifle either, but he was too trigger happy, and once took a pot shot at Embry, essentially ruining his tattoo.
Jacob was reluctant to go; Bella was getting closer to her due date, and he was worried about leaving her home alone.
"Jacob," she admonished, "If you're that worried, I'll go see Leah tomorrow, and get her
opinion. There's three weeks left before this baby sets foot on earth. The pack is counting on that meat. I'll be fine."
"Okay, if Leah says you'll be all right, then I'll take her word for it. I still have my doubts though."
Bella smiled lovingly at her sweetheart. "It's the first time father jitters. All new fathers- to-be get a little anxious."
Wrapping his arms around her, Jacob nuzzled her hair, and whispered, "I just don't want anything to happen to you. I'm a nervous wreck when I'm away from you for any length of time. I'll be so glad when that baby makes his appearance."
He corralled her over to the couch, nestled her against his side and turned on the TV to watch their favorite show together.
The clinic was practically empty. Leah was talking to the receptionist at the desk, when Bella walked in. She looked up, surprised. "What are you doing here, Bella? Your appointment's not until next Monday."
Rolling her eyes, Bella responded. "I need you to settle an argument. Are you busy?"
"Oh, no—I help to deliver babies, not settle domestic disputes. What is it this time? Ya burn his pancakes?"
The look on Bella's face made her drop the teasing. "Guess not. Okay, I'm not busy; c'mon back to an exam room."
They walked in side by side. Bella sat on the examination table and Leah parked on the stool.
Leah didn't hesitate a minute. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. "You havin' problems with Jacob? I'll go right over to the house and straighten him out for ya."
"No, nothing like that. He's as sweet as ever. The thing is, he needs to help bring home some venison for the pack, but he's afraid to leave me. Sam can't go; he's busy caring for Emily's father. Jared's going out of town to meet some of Kim's relatives. And nobody wants Paul around. That leaves Jake and the gruesome twosome. Do you think if you examined me, I could ease his mind? He'll listen to you."
"You asked for it; get undressed, and I'll pull out the stirrups."
Leah positioned the gooseneck lamp close to the edge of the table. After feeling around with two fingertips, she finally looked up. "Okay, Tink, it looks like your cervix is pretty much softened, and you've actually dilated to three or four centimeters. That means your labor will probably be shorter. The baby's head is in good position. He's dropped down and really settled in there."
Bella lifted her head from the table, bracing herself on her elbows. "In English, Leah."
Leah removed her latex gloves and washed her hands. She pushed the stirrups back under the table and helped Bella to sit up. "It doesn't mean anything. You could walk around for a month without going into labor. Plenty of women are dilated and still hang on 'til the baby's ready to come. Everybody's different. Then again, you could go into labor this afternoon. I'm a midwife, not a fortune teller."
With a faraway look in her eye, Bella remarked, "Well, I'll leave that last part out. He needs to go. He'll have his cell with him, so I can still contact him if I need to."
Jacob got up from the couch, pacing. "Sure, sure. C'mon, Bells. You know I trust Leah, but I'm still reluctant to go. Maybe I should send Paul instead."
"Poor Embry. Quil too. Why don't you just paint a target on both their chests?"
"Paul says that was an accident."
"Oh yeah, I heard that he didn't like Embry sniffing around his girl. You still call that an accident."
"No … I call that a coincidence."
She shook her head. "You are so naïve."
"It won't happen again."
Bella's eyebrow rose an inch. "You sure about that?"
Sitting back down beside her once more, he asked, "Why—did you hear something?"
Looking, away with a smirk on her face, she said, "I'm not telling …"
"How do you women always know this stuff?"
"Well, it's like … oh," she grunted, her face contorted.
Jacob grabbed her hand, and quickly knelt in front of her. "You okay?"
"I'm fine; your son just kicked another field goal."
Gently tugging, she moved his hand so that he could feel the squirming child within her womb. His face lit up just like it always did when little hands and feet pushed against the walls of her abdomen. With a nod, and a smile, Jacob declared, "He's gonna be handful, Bells."
"Just like his daddy.
"Now, what were we saying before Liam butt in?"
Jacob kissed her belly, and stood in front of her. "I said, I was gonna send Paul with the guys."
"I don't think that's a good idea. What about Seth?'
"He's too soft-hearted. He won't shoot at a deer. Jeez, I'm stumped."
Her head tilted up at him as she remarked, "How about if I come along on this hunting party? That way, you can be close by if I need you, and Quil and Embry will keep their tattoos intact."
Jacob's hands rose above his head. "I surrender. You are the most stubborn woman on the planet. But I'm tellin' you, if you have one tiny little twinge, you get on that cell phone."
A hand traveled to her forehead in a mock salute. "Yes, sir. Mr. Alpha, sir!"
The boys loaded up two vehicles—Quil's Jeep Cherokee, and Jacob's Dodge Ram. Jacob was sure to pack along some pillows and a few blankets to keep Bella as warm and comfortable as possible.
Jacob led in the Jeep, Quil and Embry following behind. They set out for Uncle Omni's bungalow in the mountains, so Bella could have a safe place to wait while the boys scouted the area for deer or elk.
There were a few light snow flakes falling as they neared the cabin, giving it wintry aura.
The snow would be thicker in the higher elevations which would make tracking a lot easier. Looked like this might be a great day for hunting.
Jacob made Bella sit on a stuffed chair with her feet up on an ottoman. He then wrapped her in blankets to ward off the cold while his pals gathered up more fire wood. Then he got out his lighter. The kindling caught quickly and the flames spread to the logs piled neatly on the hearth.
"Gosh, it looks so different from the last time we were here … like a winter wonderland. It's so gorgeous. Can we come back after the baby's born?"
Jacob replaced the fire screen, and faced her. "You got it, honey."
He stared dreamily into space, a smile creeping slowly across his lips.
Why was he smiling like that? "I want to know what you're thinking about, Mister."
His eyes zeroed in on hers. "I was remembering when we were here in the spring. You were so beautiful, and I couldn't keep my hands off you."
Bella patted the bulge under her sweater. "I more than remember. We'd only been married four months, and we were both still in spring training. And now, here I am, carrying around the results of those passionate nights. You definitely hit a home run."
Jacob closed in, squatting down at her side. "You don't regret it do you?"
Reaching her fingers toward him, she threaded them through his black mane. "I could never regret a single moment that I spend with you. I love you, Jake."
He leaned forward, capturing that sweet bottom lip of hers. While he was busy in this …ahem … activity, Quil walked in with an armload of wood. "Hey, you're a little late with that move. Your bun is already baking in her oven."
Embry came through the front door next, and put a stack of wood chunks in the nearby wire basket, on top of Quil's deposit. "Yeah, none of that. You trying to put her into labor?"
Tipping his head back, Jacob complained, "We're just kissing."
Quil flippantly commented, "That's what started this whole situation. So, unlock your lips, and let's get goin'."
They were about twenty miles out, when they pulled to the side of the road. Quil and Embry got the rifles off the rack in the rear of the cab, and trudging through the snow, threw one to Jacob.
The snow was coming down heavier now, but they could see clearly, and the frosty nip in the air didn't bother them in the least. They moved as one, quiet, cunning, businesslike. The tracks of a deer were still visible in the white covered ground, and they followed, keeping down wind. Embry saw the antlers rear up first, as the deer sniffed the air, sensing their presence. He motioned silently to his pals. All three hunkered down after a quick prayer to the Great Spirit, thanking him for this gift of meat, and asking forgiveness for taking the buck's life.
Quil was the best shot, so the other two let him take a bead on the animal. The buck began to make a run for it, but Quil was quicker. The rifle rang out, and the deer dropped to the ground, dead. Embry yelled, "I got it," and ran to the beast, hoisting it onto his shoulders.
The threesome jostled each other, and joked around on the way back to the vehicles. Embry placed the carcass onto the truck bed, and they trussed it up securely.
"Man that was fast," Quil remarked. "We may not get up here anytime soon, so what say we bag another one?"
"Sure, sure, why not? Let me check first to see if my phone's still working okay."
Jacob removed the cell from his jeans pocket, and glanced at it. Everything was in working order. "All right, let's get a move on. This time in the other direction."
They were just about a mile from a ridge where they had hunted before, when Quil shoved Embry playfully. "You better not let Paul know you've been flirting with Val."
"All's fair in love and war," Embry sang. "It's not like he imprinted on her or anything."
"So what? He's gonna pound you—imprint or not."
Jacob laughed. "I don't believe it. Bella said there was something going on. That's why I'm here and brought her along with me. She was afraid that Paul would accidentally shoot you again."
"See that? Even Bella knows that you're messin' in dangerous waters."
"Pfht! I like to see him try it."
Quil stopped, and backed up a pace. "Well, don't expect me to step in front of you, and take the bullet." He shoved Embry with his shoulder for the second time.
Jacob suddenly yelled, "Look out! Trap!"
There was a conibear trap to Embry's right, and he missed it by inches. Unfortunately, he took a tumble in his attempt to sidestep it, and twisted his ankle.
"Oh, man … this is just great."
Gesturing for Quil to shut it, Jacob crouched near Embry and asked, "Can you walk on it?"
Embry stood up leaning a hand heavily on Jacob's shoulder for stability, nearly taking his friend down with him. On the second try, as the two simultaneously rose, the cell phone slipped from Jacob's pocket and slid under a blanket of snow.
A/N: To all my followers … I have just published my first novel, The Lost Years, by (my real name), Star Merrill. It's based on two of my fanfic stories, expanded, and with all the Meyerisms removed. It's available in Kindle and paperback edition. Just look for the helicopter on the cover. Thanks for all your reading and reviews. Your encouragement aided me in taking this big step.