The Reckoning, A Wilde Brothers Christmas (The Wilde Brothers Book 4) by Lorhainne Eckhart Page B

around his eye, which was about to turn into a nice shiner.
    This was exactly what Logan had been afraid of: a woman playing one brother against the other.
    “Enough!” Olivia yelled, and Logan turned to see Julia wide eyed, her mouth open as she took in the broken lamp and table. Margaret, Carrie, and the kids had appeared, too. The girls gasped, and Ryan had a look of shock on his face but nodded as if he thought this Christmas brawl was something to be proud of.
    “Let me go.” Jake shrugged off Ben’s hand.
    “Only if you’re going to cool it,” Ben said, stepping in front of Jake so he couldn’t lunge at Samuel again. Jake shrugged off Logan’s hand, as well, and then stepped back, shaking out his fist, which already appeared to be swelling.
    “Oh no,” Julia said, and Logan glanced over to where she was standing. Her hand on her belly, she said, “My water just broke.” She glanced down at the floor, where a puddle pooled at her feet.

Chapter Eleven
    “I don’t understand, honey. Why can’t we go to the hospital now?” Logan said. Julia was lying on her side on their bed, and he was rubbing her back.
    “Logan,” Margaret said. She was standing beside him, and she reached down and touched Julia’s shoulder. “I called her doctor in Arco, but there’s a weather advisory for more snow. It’s best to wait until morning. Besides, I don’t think you should be on the road this time of night. Everyone’s been drinking but me, and Julia’s contractions are close together. You could be delivering on the side of the road—or rather, I would be, and I’d rather not in this cold.”
    “I heard that, Margaret,” Julia said as she blew out another breath and groaned. “I don’t want to have my baby at home. I want a hospital where there are drugs for the pain.” She groaned again and squeezed the quilt when another contraction hit her.
    “Are you able to deliver the baby?” Logan looked up to Margaret. Of course she could. Stupid question. She was a surgeon, a neurologist—or had been.
    “She’ll be fine,” Margaret said. “Your mom’s here, too, but I need supplies. Does your sheriff’s department have a paramedic’s kit?”
    “Yeah, I’ll call Stevens. He’s a part-time paramedic and fireman, and he’s got a trauma bag. There’s one at the sheriff’s office, too.” Logan ran his hand over his head, worried about Julia, who lay there groaning as she rode through the pain of another contraction.
    “Margaret, I really need something. This really hurts!” Julia cried out.
    “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here,” Logan said as he knelt beside her.
    “Logan, I need that kit now,” Margaret said.
    “Margaret, I have some towels here,” Olivia said as she came into the bedroom. The door was open, and Logan could hear his family’s voices outside. “How’re you doing, honey?” Olivia asked, rubbing Julia’s arm.
    “Logan, kit, now,” Margaret urged him again.
    Maybe his mom knew, as she patted his arm. “Go, Logan. I’ll stay with Julia. Not much you can do but get in the way right now.”
    He could hear Julia crying out when another contraction hit, and he paused for a second as he stepped into the hall. Trinity and Dawn were lingering at the door to their room, wide eyed and panicked. He pulled the bedroom door closed, put his hands to their backs, and guided them into the living room. “Hey, you stay in here with your uncles,” he told them.
    Carrie was perched on Ben’s lap, and Joe was standing off to the side, talking to Samuel.
    “How’s Julia doing?” Raymond asked.
    “She’s having the baby—here, apparently. Jake, can you keep the girls here and distract them?”
    “You know, Logan, I’m capable of making sure they stay here,” Raymond said. “Honestly, I’m tired of you pushing me out of your lives. Ever since you were young, you’ve been doing this. I’m your father! You’re not Jake, Samuel, Ben, and Joe’s father—I am.”
    Logan couldn’t believe