“I’m a midwife, as well as a physician assistant,” Sherry supplied. “I can do just about everything Dr. Lindsey does, including prescribe medication and deliver babies. Now, where’s your wife?”

“Cody?” Luke looked at his friend uncertainly.

“Do you want to deliver Ellie’s baby yourself?” Cody asked him.

Luke went visibly pale and shook his head mutely.

“That’s what I thought.” Cody’s hand cupped Sherry’s elbow as he escorted her into the house. “You’ll have to forgive Luke,” he whispered. “As I said earlier, he’s been a bit…irrational ever since he met Ellie.”

The door led into the kitchen. A toddler was sitting in a high chair grinning happily and slamming a wooden spoon against the tray.

“Christina Lynn, I assume,” Sherry said.

The toddler’s face broke into a wide smile. At least Luke’s daughter seemed pleased to see her.

“Where’s Ellie?” Sherry asked Luke.

“Upstairs. Hurry, please!” Luke strode swiftly toward the staircase.

Sherry followed, taking the stairs two at a time, Cody right behind her.

When Sherry reached the hallway, Luke led the way into the master bedroom. Ellie was braced against the headboard, her eyes closed, her teeth gnawing on her lower lip. Her hand massaged her swollen abdomen as she breathed deeply in and out.

Luke fell to his knees and took her free hand, kissing her knuckles fervently. “They’re here. There’s nothing to worry about now.”

Ellie acknowledged Sherry’s and Cody’s presence with an absent nod. Sherry waited until the contraction had ebbed before she asked, “How far apart are they?”

“Five minutes,” Ellie said. “They started hard, right after my water broke.”

“How long ago was that?”

“An hour or so.”

“I’d better check you, then.” Sherry set down her bag at the foot of the bed and removed a pair of surgical gloves.

“Cody?” Once again Luke pleaded for his friend’s advice.

“Cody,” Ellie said, “kindly keep my big oaf of a husband entertained for a while.” She motioned toward the door. “Make him tend to Christina Lynn—she shouldn’t be left alone. Whatever you do, keep him out of this room.”

“But, Ellie, you need me!” Luke protested.

“Not right now I don’t, honey. Cody, please do as I say and keep Luke out of here.”

Cody virtually pushed Luke out of the room. After the pair had left, Ellie looked at Sherry. “Whoever you are, welcome. I’m delighted to see another woman.”

Sherry smiled. “Sherry Waterman. I’m new to Pepper. Doc was so excited by my arrival that he took off fishing. He said you weren’t due for another couple of weeks.”

“I’m not, but then we miscalculated with Christina Lynn, too.”

“I’ll wash my hands and be right back.” By the time Sherry returned, Ellie was in the middle of another contraction. She waited until Ellie had relaxed, then adjusted her pillows to make her as comfortable as possible.

“How am I doing?” Ellie asked after the pain receded. Her brow was covered with a thin sheen of perspiration. She licked her dry lips.