A Midwife Crisis by Lisa Cooke

came from eating barbed wire and beans.
    He would have handled the wiry farts with much more aplomb had he not felt Katie’s shoulders shake beside him. Looking down at her was his fatal mistake. She had raised her hand to cover her mouth, but her dimple could not be hidden so easily.
    A smile tugged the corner of his mouth.
    He coughed, but it did no good. A laugh bubbled up his throat, where he tried to squelch it despite its uncontrollable desire to escape.
    Cough again.
    Katie giggled softly, then covered it with her own cough, one he could feel more than hear.
    Folding his arms across his chest, he rubbed his hand over his chin in an attempt to relax his face muscles. He couldn’t give in or the laugh would blurt out, embarrassing himself and all around him.
    Should he concentrate on the sermon? Not likely.That was what had started this dilemma to begin with.
    She cleared her throat again. Good idea. It seemed to be the plan of action for most in the congregation. He hadn’t heard that much throat clearing since the last flu outbreak.

Chapter Seven
    Katie saw the muscle twitching in John’s cheek. Like the rest of the congregation, she had developed ways to restrain herself during Reverend Stoker’s accidents , but today’s was threatening to undo her—most likely due to her nerves being on edge. John sat so closely beside her.
    She could feel the heat from his body and smell the bay rum he’d used after shaving. Though none of that affected her as much as the feel of his leg against hers. She’d tried not to move in the crowded pew, but he was fidgety today and every time he shifted, his thigh brushed hers. It was all she could do not to gasp in response.
    It’d been a week since she’d last seen him, and despite the fact that she’d tried not to think about him, he had occupied more than his share of her thoughts. Even here in church, it was think about either him or wiry farts.
    Oops. She giggled.
    John’s shoulders began shaking, so he moved, and that thigh of his seared her from knee to hip.
    “Turn in your hymnals to page four hundred thirty-two,” Reverend Stoker said, and Katie couldn’t have been more relieved.
    Flipping to the right page, she bolted to her feet. John reached to share the hymnal with her and for some reason, his hand on the book drew her attention more than a hand should. Strong square fingers with neatly trimmed nails, a smattering of dark hair brushed his wrist. The only adornment was a thin gold band. A wedding ring implied a wedding, so where was the wife?
    “Amen,” the congregation sang, and she realized with a jolt she’d missed the hymn. It seemed appropriate considering she’d missed most of the service altogether.
    The crowd dispersed quickly with the women making their way out of the sanctuary first. Today was Homecoming and that meant a meal had to be laid out, eaten, and cleaned up before they could go home.
    “Are you going to stay and eat?” Katie asked John as she stepped into the aisle. “There’ll be plenty.”
    John smiled the empty, tight-lipped smile he seemed fond of and said, “I suppose we could stay for a bite. I need to speak with you about something anyway.”
    Something else to add to her curiosity quotient.
    “Katie?” Oh dear, Randy Kopp had spied her in the aisle and was heading her way, glaring at John.
    “I’m Randy Kopp.” He stuck out his hand toward John, but Katie had the feeling it was more of a challenge than a greeting.
    “John Keffer,” John said, returning the glare, much to Katie’s surprise.
    He shook Randy’s hand, and Katie knew knuckles must have been crunching. Each man stood toe-to-toe,neither breaking the grip or the eye contact, until Ka tie couldn’t take it any longer.
    “Randy? Did you need a word with me?”
    Finally hands dropped, and the duel ceased. Randy turned toward her, grinning. Such a charmer.
    “I was wondering if you’d let me sit with you at dinner today”—he leaned closer, lowering his