born, he wanted to be there, hands-on. Between being fire chief and the town’s only medical professional…there wasn’t enough of him to go around.
But that was a problem for another day.
Right now he was here to consult with the NICU nurses. Scarlett and baby Georgia would be released soon, and he wanted to be sure he had the equipment he needed, in case Georgia required more than normal newborn care. He’d been reading up, but he wanted to talk to those who did the work every day.
Scarlett’s situation had been unusual, but his sister-in-law Rissa would deliver in seven months, and his Penny in eight. He hoped each would have a normal delivery in the hospital, just as Scarlett had planned for herself.
But life had taught him that planning could go out the window any second, and he was taking no chances.
Two hours later, after dogging the steps of the doctors and nurses in the NICU and paying Scarlett, Ian and Georgia a visit, his head was whirling with ideas and lists. Some people would be unnerved by all that could potentially go wrong with a delivery, but after first Maddie Gallagher’s surprise giving birth the night of his own wedding, then Scarlett scaring the life out of everyone, Bridger wasn’t one of them.
The SEAL motto The only easy day was yesterday was still his mantra. He believed in being prepared for every possible eventuality—which was one reason he had mentioned to the staff upstairs that he had funding for a new clinic, just in case anyone was ready for a change of pace.
And the same reason was why he was headed to the ER where he’d already learned that Jake Cameron, the doc who’d seen Scarlett when the band of them came crashing through on that chaotic night, was on duty today.
He’d spread the word here, too. Babies weren’t the only emergencies he dealt with. ER docs had to have cool heads, just like SEALs, and they had to be ready for anything. Sweetgrass was a nest of constant surprises. Sure, maybe no one here would be interested, but no one could say yes if he didn’t ask the question.
He stopped by the reception area and introduced himself. Asked if he could see Jake for a moment when he had a break. The daytime staff wasn’t impressed, but he had a stroke of luck when the barred doors opened and one of the nurses recognized him, even if she didn’t remember his name. There had been no time for pleasantries that night, but there were some advantages to being six and a half feet tall.
“Jake just finished up with a patient. Come on in, and I’ll grab him.”
Bridger was careful to thank the receptionist first—you never wanted to tick off the first line of defense—then he followed.
Soon Jake appeared, looking like ten miles of bad road.
Been there , Bridger thought, and with a smile, extended his hand. “Bridger Calhoun. I brought in the woman with placenta previa ten days ago. I just wanted to thank you again for all you did.”
Jake returned the handshake. “Yeah—half your town showed up not long after, right?”
Bridger grinned. “A sizable delegation, that’s for sure. Folks are more than neighbors in Sweetgrass.”
“So how are they doing, the mother and little girl? I keep thinking I’m going to follow up, but—”
“I hear you. Paramedics don’t often get the end of the story, either. They’re both doing well. Eager to go home, though it may be a while. That’s another reason why I’m here. I wanted to get equipment recommendations from the NICU.”
Jake frowned. “I thought there wasn’t a hospital close.”
“There’s not. But I’m putting together a clinic, and Sweetgrass has a guardian angel who wants to stock it state of the art.”
Jake’s brows flew upward. “That’s unusual.”
“Yeah, not every town has a video game tycoon as a resident benefactor.” He took in the lines of fatigue on Jake’s face. “Look, I won’t keep you. You look whacked.”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah…the shifts are
But that was a problem for another day.
Right now he was here to consult with the NICU nurses. Scarlett and baby Georgia would be released soon, and he wanted to be sure he had the equipment he needed, in case Georgia required more than normal newborn care. He’d been reading up, but he wanted to talk to those who did the work every day.
Scarlett’s situation had been unusual, but his sister-in-law Rissa would deliver in seven months, and his Penny in eight. He hoped each would have a normal delivery in the hospital, just as Scarlett had planned for herself.
But life had taught him that planning could go out the window any second, and he was taking no chances.
Two hours later, after dogging the steps of the doctors and nurses in the NICU and paying Scarlett, Ian and Georgia a visit, his head was whirling with ideas and lists. Some people would be unnerved by all that could potentially go wrong with a delivery, but after first Maddie Gallagher’s surprise giving birth the night of his own wedding, then Scarlett scaring the life out of everyone, Bridger wasn’t one of them.
The SEAL motto The only easy day was yesterday was still his mantra. He believed in being prepared for every possible eventuality—which was one reason he had mentioned to the staff upstairs that he had funding for a new clinic, just in case anyone was ready for a change of pace.
And the same reason was why he was headed to the ER where he’d already learned that Jake Cameron, the doc who’d seen Scarlett when the band of them came crashing through on that chaotic night, was on duty today.
He’d spread the word here, too. Babies weren’t the only emergencies he dealt with. ER docs had to have cool heads, just like SEALs, and they had to be ready for anything. Sweetgrass was a nest of constant surprises. Sure, maybe no one here would be interested, but no one could say yes if he didn’t ask the question.
He stopped by the reception area and introduced himself. Asked if he could see Jake for a moment when he had a break. The daytime staff wasn’t impressed, but he had a stroke of luck when the barred doors opened and one of the nurses recognized him, even if she didn’t remember his name. There had been no time for pleasantries that night, but there were some advantages to being six and a half feet tall.
“Jake just finished up with a patient. Come on in, and I’ll grab him.”
Bridger was careful to thank the receptionist first—you never wanted to tick off the first line of defense—then he followed.
Soon Jake appeared, looking like ten miles of bad road.
Been there , Bridger thought, and with a smile, extended his hand. “Bridger Calhoun. I brought in the woman with placenta previa ten days ago. I just wanted to thank you again for all you did.”
Jake returned the handshake. “Yeah—half your town showed up not long after, right?”
Bridger grinned. “A sizable delegation, that’s for sure. Folks are more than neighbors in Sweetgrass.”
“So how are they doing, the mother and little girl? I keep thinking I’m going to follow up, but—”
“I hear you. Paramedics don’t often get the end of the story, either. They’re both doing well. Eager to go home, though it may be a while. That’s another reason why I’m here. I wanted to get equipment recommendations from the NICU.”
Jake frowned. “I thought there wasn’t a hospital close.”
“There’s not. But I’m putting together a clinic, and Sweetgrass has a guardian angel who wants to stock it state of the art.”
Jake’s brows flew upward. “That’s unusual.”
“Yeah, not every town has a video game tycoon as a resident benefactor.” He took in the lines of fatigue on Jake’s face. “Look, I won’t keep you. You look whacked.”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah…the shifts are
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