Read Gladioli in August for Free Online

translated. “And we’ll be back tomorrow to check on him.”
    She drank about half the pitcher of juice, leaving the rest for Micah who was overseeing the men carry her patient back to the house. Then she washed her hands and did her best to get the blood off her shirt and slacks.
    “Losing battle,” Micah told her. “But I put five sets of scrubs in the locker in the plane. Figured they might come in handy after yesterday.”
    “Thank you.”
    ****
    When they got back to the plane, the radio was buzzing. Micah picked it up. “I’ll keep my back to you while you change.” He thumbed the mic. “OK, I’m here, keep your hair on.”
    “One of the women on the Franz ranch has gone into labor—I’m assuming its Mrs. Franz although the message didn’t specify. Can you assist?”
    “I assume you don’t mean me personally,” Micah snorted. “Give me the co-ordinates.” He scribbled on the paper as Jael strapped in beside him. “OK. Babies can take all day. Better warn everyone else we’ll be delayed, or come tomorrow.”
    “Just delay them,” Jael told him.
    Micah raised an eyebrow. This woman never ceased to amaze him. “Are you sure?”
    “Steve can handle the clinic. And you can land in the dark, right?”
    “Of course I can,” he snapped.
    “Then we keep going until we’re done.”
    “OK. Danny, Jael has spoken. Just tell everyone we’re coming, but I’m not sure when we’ll get there. Out.” He took off and flew towards the Franz ranch. “Please tell me you’ve delivered a baby before.”
    “During my training,” Jael said quietly. “Not much call for that in ITU or the OR.”
    “I guess not.” He sighed. Why did he have to end up with a nurse who seemingly knew nothing and wasn’t prepared for the unpredictability of emergency medicine? In fact, why hadn’t they just sent a doctor out instead?
    He brought the plane into land. The strip was closer to the ranch house than he liked. If he ever lost control on landing he could quite easily end up on the front porch.
    Mr. Franz ran down the steps to greet them, panic etched on his face.
    Great. First time father in meltdown mode.
    Jael grabbed her pack. “Micah, can you bring the box?”
    Muttering under his breath, he did as she asked and followed her from the plane.
    “Please, hurry. She’s in pain,” Mr. Franz said.
    Micah resisted the urge to say the stupid comment that came to mind. “Panicking won’t help,” he said instead. “It’ll just upset her more.”
    Mr. Franz led them into the house and pointed to the stairs. An agonized scream echoed down the hallway.
    “I need hot water and clean towels…” Jael broke off as Mr. Franz ran from the house. “Fine. Don’t then. Micah, can you get them for me?”
    “Sure.” He gave her the box. “It sounds like she’s upstairs.” He turned and headed down the hallway in search of a kitchen. Overhead he heard footsteps and screams as he boiled water and assembled clean linen. Balancing the linen over his shoulder, empty bowl under his arm and jugs of hot water in his hands, he made his way upstairs.
    The screams came from behind the only closed door. Figures. He put one of the jugs down and tapped on the door.
    “Come in.”
    He opened the door and picked up the jug. He took three steps, then gasped.
    Jael hissed her displeasure. “For goodness sake, don’t be such a prude. Put the stuff over here then come and help.”
    He couldn’t move. It was all he could do not to throw up. Blood he could deal with, but this…this was something else. No longer would he snap at men who couldn’t deal with their wives in pain. The woman was pale, covered in sweat and her legs… No way was that normal.
    He closed his eyes. Actually, he’d never look at a woman the same way again.
    “Micah!” Jael’s harsh voice made him jump. “Get over here. I need you to go to the top of the bed and translate for me. What I don’t need is another panicking male!”
    “OK.” He put the