Sherry chuckled and waited for Ellie to breathe her way through the next contraction.

“I was five miles out of town when I saw this man on a horse galloping after me as if catching me was a matter of life or death. It was Luke.” She shook her head, remembering. “When I pulled over to the side of the road, he jumped off his horse, removed his gloves, then fell to one knee and proposed. I knew then and there I wasn’t ever going to find a man who’d love me as much as Luke Johnson. Suddenly nothing mattered without him, not anymore. I know my parents were disappointed that I didn’t finish college, but I’m happy and that’s what counts.”

“You don’t mind living so far away from town?”

“At first, just a little. Now I’m happy about it.”

“That’s a wonderfully romantic story.”

Ellie smiled. “Is there a special man in your life?”

Sherry exhaled slowly. “I’ve never fallen in love. Oh, I had a few crushes. I dated a doctor for a while, but both of us knew it wasn’t going anywhere.” Sherry smiled to herself as she recalled how difficult it’d been for Colby Winston to admit he was in love with Valerie Bloomfield.

During the next few hours, Cody came up to check on their progress twice and give a report of his own. Luke, he said, had worn a path in the living-room carpet pacing back and forth, but thus far, Cody had been able to restrain him from racing up the stairs. He doubted Luke would have much hair left before the ordeal was over; he’d jerked his hands through it so many times there were grooves in his hairline.

“He loves me,” Ellie said softly.

When Sherry walked Cody to the bedroom door, he asked quietly, “Will it be much longer? Luke’s a mess.”

“Another couple of hours.”

Cody nodded and his eyes briefly held hers. “I’m glad you’re here.” He turned and headed down the stairs. A surge of emotion overwhelmed her, but she wasn’t sure how to read it. All she knew was that she felt alive, acutely sensitive to sounds and colors, and she had the impression that Cody experienced the same thing.

“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Ellie said from behind her.

Sherry moved back to the bed. “Doc would’ve done just as well.”

“Perhaps, but it helps that you’re a woman.”

The second stage of labor arrived shortly after midnight, and Ellie arched against the bed at the strength of her contractions, panting in between. Sherry coached her as she had so many others. And then, at last, with a shout of triumph, Ellie delivered a strong, squalling son.

The baby was barely in his mother’s arms when the door burst open and Luke barged into the room.

“A son, Luke,” Ellie whispered. “We have a son.”

Luke knelt beside the bed and stared down at the angry infant in his wife’s arms. The baby was a bright shade of pink, his legs and arms kicking in protest. His eyes were closed and he was yelling for all he was worth. “He looks just like you when you get mad,” Ellie told her husband.