"Time for what?" Megan said nonchalantly. Within a few seconds, the words registered and her mouth flew open. "Oh, my gosh. What do I do? Can I take you to the hospital?"
"There isn't time."
"There has to be," Megan stuttered.
"Megan, the hospital is 2 hours away and I will not have my baby in a truck." Tracy grabbed her stomach as she clenched her jaw. After the pain subsided, she whispered, "Help me upstairs."
After settling Tracy in bed, Megan ran downstairs to see if Charlie or Brett had returned. "Of all the days for them to go to town. Why me?" she said, pacing and tapping her fingers against her legs. "I don't know anything about babies." Confusion and fear mounted with the realization she would have to deliver the baby. "I'm not ready for this. Surely someone is around to help."
"Gray Cloud and Colby," Megan said, snapping her fingers and running outside to the barn. A note was on the table. "Thanks for your persistence. We're taking a walk. See you soon. Colby."
"Why now?" She rubbed her temple to reduce the ever-growing headache. She stepped outside, squinting in the bright sunshine. When she spotted Jason in the distance, a piece of wood in his hand, she sprinted to him. "I need your help," she said, grabbing his arm. "Tracy's having her baby."
"I don't know nothing about babies," he said, planting his feet firmly against the ground.
"It's anything, and neither do I. But I need help."
"I don't want to be there," Jason stuttered, growing whiter by the minute.
"Be my look out for Brett, Charlie, Colby, Gray Cloud, or Faith. I need someone fast."
"Do you want me to find Faith?" Jason asked, almost relieved to do anything but go in the house.
"There isn't time," Megan yelled and dragged him to the house.
He protested more, but his words were drowned out by Tracy's scream. "Megan."
Megan dashed inside taking the wooden stairs three at a time. Outside the bedroom door, she took deep breaths, praying for strength and help with each one. "Someone has to come and do this for me," she said, staring at the pine door.
"I need you now, Megan," Tracy yelled, almost out-of-breath.
Stepping into the room, Megan said, "What do I do?"
"I don't know," Tracy said, breathing heavily and squeezing the blankets. "Our great-grandmothers didn't have babies in hospitals. It's a natural process, right?"