Page 137 of Rocky Mountain Home

Vicki handed him the basket, and they were in the truck and headed over to the house across the coulee from the homestead.

A veritable party boatload of trucks and vehicles were parked there, and when they went to the house, Ashley’s mama Tina was waiting for them.

“They’ve got everything set up in the studio.” She pointed to the building behind the house. “I’ll be over in a little while. Just making some tea.”

Jesse slowed his pace. “We don’t need to rush. I’m sure this is going to take a long time.”

Maybe he was right.

“If I slow down I might chicken out,” Dare admitted, holding his hand tightly enough he couldn’t get away. Tight enough she couldn’t turn on her heel and escape.

They pulled to a stop outside the door, and he took a deep breath. “Okay, I first thought you were crazy, but considering there’s no getting out of doing this with Buckaroo, you’re right. I’m not looking forward to it, but knowing a little more what will happen will make it easier down the road.”

They’d been taking prenatal classes, but that kind of knowledge wasn’t the same.

Of course, what they found in the studio was nothing like the hospital birth that Dare planned on having. The large, open-air studio space at the top of the stairs had been given a few key additions. Like usual, the sun streaked in the windows creating golden rectangles that decorated the hardwood floor, but in one corner a king-size mattress had been added, covered with blankets towels and pillows. Beside that a group of upright wooden chairs, as if waiting for a musical ensemble to gather. Outside on the deck, though, was the star of the show. A wood-fired hot tub big enough to hold a half-dozen people.

Jesse grinned as he stepped forward. “You guys put a hot tub in Ashley’s art studio?”

“We were told to decorate the place the way we wanted, and if you hadn’t noticed, Ashley has a decidedly hedonistic mindset.” Cassidy was in the hot tub, holding Ashley against him. Her head rested on his shoulder, bikini-covered breasts and the round of her belly bobbing against the surface of the water like three islands in the ocean. “It’s not quite the proper temperature at the moment, but it works for today.”

Ashley lifted a hand and waved. “Hey, guys. You made it on time.”

Dare stepped toward the edge of the tub and slipped a hand in. “That feels comfy. Is it nice?”

The other woman nodded. “You really need to hit the swimming pool. All the support when you’re ninety percent stomach is incredible. Makes it easier for the back rubs, because right now it feels as if I’m being squeezed into a tiny little space while a million knives stab into my lower back.”

“But hey, Dare. Don’t worry, this giving-birth thing is a breeze,” Travis muttered from the other side of the hot tub.

Ashley held up her middle finger. “Love you too, asshole.”

“Just saying.” Travis came to the side of the tub and caught her fingers, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Maybe you should consider not freaking out the other pregnant lady.”

Ashley’s eyes brightened. “She’d rather know what to expect than have rainbows and sunshine lollipops tossed at her.

Dare wasn’t sure. “Although, lollipops are nice.”

Behind Ashley, Cassidy laughed, the sound turning into soothing encouragement. “Breathe, Ash. Breathe.”

Ashley obeyed, a long, slow inhalation followed by a purse of her lips as she blew air at Travis. Staring into his eyes as she worked through the contraction.

Everyone got caught up in the rhythm, the whole room breathing in unison until Ashley let out a sigh and relaxed back into Cassidy’s arms. “Whoa, that’s one more done. They’re getting stronger.”

Skyler, Ashley’s mom was there, reaching into the tub to brush a hand over her belly. “You comfy, sweetie?”

“Yup.” Ashley motioned at her mother. “Mom is a midwife, so she gets to pull double duty.”

“Your mama—Tina,” Dare said. “She was making tea. She said she’d be out in a minute.”

Skyler laughed. “No, she won’t.” Dare must’ve made a face because the woman took pity on her and explained more thoroughly. “Tina is not much into childbirth. That’s why I had Ashley. When she was born, Tina went out drinking.”

“I volunteered to follow that tradition,” Travis offered, “but I was told in no uncertain terms I needed to be here. There were words like cut off for life and cut off for real bandied about.”

He was joking, because as the contractions continue to hit it was obvious Cassidy and Travis were the only support team Ashley really needed. Cassidy offered soothing words of comfort, and Travis acted as an anchor, occasionally bullying Ashley into doing the next thing.

“You’re doing good cop/bad cop with her,” Jesse pointed out quietly when Cassidy stepped aside to dry himself. Travis had taken Ashley from his arms and carried her to the side of the room to use the towels there.

Cassidy took a deep breath as he glanced across the room to where Ashley stood, the situation teetering at the point where the baby’s arrival was imminent.