Chapter 17

Sam was sitting in bed reading a book when she felt a pain in her abdomen. She was now eight in a half months pregnant. When the pain went away as fast as it came she didn't think anything of it. When it came back twenty minutes later Sam put her book down. Unfortunately Jake was not the one who was home with her at the moment.

Taking a deep breath Sam shouted, "Nate!"

She smiled when he heard him clamber up the stairs in a rush. Sam heard him curse as he tripped in the hallway.

"What's wrong?" he asked from the doorway.

"I'm in labor."

"You're what?" Nate asked face going white.

"In labor," Sam said a little slower.

"Okay," he said panic in his voice. "Where's your bag?"

"The closet."

Nate rushed to the closet to grab her bag. He then rushed out of the room without Sam. When Nate reached the bottom of the stairs he realized that Sam wasn't with him. After going back up the stairs he found Sam in the hallway. As Nate offered his help to Sam she glared at him. She was determined to make it to the door on her own. Sam was halfway down the stairs when she heard the front door open and close.

"Hope you don't go into labor today Sam," Jake yelled as he stomped his boots. "Looks like a storm is brewin outside."

Sam caught Jake's eyes as she got off the last step.

"Let me see if I can get the car to go," Nate said tossing Sam's bag at Jake.

Jake eased Sam onto the couch as they waited for Nate to say he could get them to the hospital. Sam squeezed Jake's hand as another contraction occurred. When Nate walked back inside he was covered in snow.

"The truck can't get any traction," Nate told them.

"Looks like I'm gonna have to pull a Brynna and have this baby at our house," Sam said looking up at Jake.

Sam and Jake heard Nate slam the phone down before emerging from the kitchen. Jake gave his brother a puzzled look before he left Sam's side.

"Phone lines dead, I couldn't call mom," Nate told them.

"Take one of our horses and ride over, it won't be the first time mom's done it." Jake then looked back at Sam as she huffed. "You okay brat?"

"Peachy."

To Sam it felt like hours passed as she waited for Maxine to come over. Sam squeezed Jake's hand as another painful contraction passed through her body. Her contractions were now five minutes apart. Jake wiped the sweat off Sam's forehead as she tried to get in a more comfortable position.

"Where the hell is your mom," Sam growled.

Jake knew not to say anything whenever he heard Sam swear, which wasn't that often.

"I hear that my grandchild decided to come join us during a storm," Maxine said as she stomped her way into the house.

Sam and Jake moved to the floor as Maxine coached Sam. Jake sat behind Sam to support her back and held her hand. Even though the grip Sam used on Jake's hand hurt, he didn't say a word. Screams echoed the house as Sam pushed her child out. Sam slummed back against Jake as a baby's cry replaced Sam's in the house.

"Oh, I have a new grandson," Maxine said wrapping her newest grandchild in a blanket before handing him to Sam.

"Welcome to the world little Max," Sam said as she felt Jake pull her closer to him.