Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4 Read Free Page A

in the house,” he said. “And some water.
Hot tea for Val. Something herbal. We’re pregnant.”
    “ Congratulations sir,
ma’am. I’ll bring that right away.”
    Valerie smiled.
    “ What?”
    “ I love it when you take
charge,” she said.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Saturday evening — 5:45
P.M.
    “ Sam.”
    Or at least that’s what he thought he heard.
Sam moved from the chair by Delphie’s bed to sit on her hospital
bed.
    “ I’m here,” he
said.
    Delphie opened and closed her eyes. Hoping
she might wake up, he waited for a moment. The doctors thought
she’d be awake by now. Every passing minute she remained asleep,
her prognosis got worse. He sighed and moved back to his chair. He
must have imagined her voice.
    “ Sam?” He heard five
minutes later.
    He moved back to the bed. Delphie’s eyes
were open and she seemed alert.
    “ Where am I?” she
whispered.
    “ St. Joe’s,” he said. “Do
you remember what happened?’
    “ I remember Levi.” Delphie
shivered and closed her eyes. “Awful.”
    “ He’s dead,” Sam
said.
    Delphie looked surprised.
    “ I’m sorry. I know how much
he meant to you.”
    “ Did Jacob kill him?” she
asked.
    “ Jill,” Sam said. “Although
the coroner said he was riddled with cancer. He probably wouldn’t
have survived the week. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. We
still haven’t figured out how the security system
failed.”
    “ I doubt it did,” she said.
“He would have been able to get around it. Everything failed but
the dogs. You can’t trick a dog. They would have kept him away. I
should have remembered that. I thought they’d be happier if they
went to the groomers all together than if they went by
themselves.”
    “ They’re at home waiting
for you,” Sam said.
    “ Home.” Delphie’s voice
echoed with longing. “I’d like to be home.”
    “ Tomorrow or the next day,”
Sam said. “You’ve been very ill.”
    “ I died,” she
said.
    “ Listen,” Sam said. “I’ve
had a lot of time to think and I’d really like to marry you while
we still have time left.”
    Delphie laughed.
    “ Why is that
funny?”
    “ Because you’re Celia’s
husband. What would Celia think?” Delphie asked. “Plus I like the
idea of you being my super hot boyfriend. Gives me a little
thrill.”
    “ Celia would want us to get
married. You’ve told me over and over again that she wants us to be
happy.”
    “ You are a sweet man,”
Delphie said. “What I can’t figure out is how you can talk to me.
Did you gain some psychic skill?”
    “ Me? Psychic skill? Not a
chance,” Sam laughed.
    “ You must have gained
some,” she laughed.
    “ Why?”
    “ Because I’m
dead!”

CHAPTER
NINETY-ONE Wish we didn’t have to
    Sunday mid-morning — 11:16 A.M.
     
    “ Heather!”
    Blane yelled as he ran in the house.
Slamming the door, he ran toward where he could hear her voice.
    “ Heather?”
    “ We’re in here,” she
said.
    He jogged toward the den off the kitchen.
Heather was sitting on a rocking chair with Mack on her
shoulder.
    “ Hi,” she said. “How are
you?”
    “ Missed you guys,” Blane
said. “Can I?”
    “ Sure.”
    Standing, Heather held Mack out to him.
Impulsively, Blane hugged them both. Heather laughed. He kissed her
cheek and took Mack from her. Mack made a happy sound in
recognition of Blane. He kissed Mack’s face then settled him on his
shoulder.
    “ What’s going on?” she
asked.
    “ I’ve been at the hospital
with Sam and…. I’m just happy to have you guys.” He smiled at her.
“That’s all.”
    She hugged him.
    “ Sorry you missed church,”
Blane said.
    “ Mack and I went with the
girls. We just got back,” Heather said. “He was an
angel.”
    “ You fed him before you
went?”
    “ In the car. Like his Mama,
he’s happy with a full belly,” Heather laughed. “Can I get you
something?”
    “ No, I’m just home for a
shower. I have to help Jake today. Does that work for
you?”
    “ Of course,”