Hurricane Nurse (18 page)

"I think it's very wise for them to have a doctor look her over," Donna said. "After all, it was my first delivery."

It was like one of those happy processions at the hospital. Missy came in Mrs. Ward's wheel chair, holding the baby in her arms. Jack moved proudly beside her. Hank went in front and the others walked at some distance to the rear.

"I don't think you could catch measles from us, but you might," Donna warned. "I'd feel terrible if the baby took it."

Missy had remembered something. "I want to talk to you, Miss Ledbury. I hate to yell at you."

Donna laughed. "You do that and be safe, honey."

Jack turned the chair so that Missy was facing Donna at her desk. "We decided not to name this baby for Jack. We're going to save that for a boy."

Donna nodded. "A girl named Jackie and a boy named Jack might make for confusion."

Missy looked embarrassed, diffident. "We hoped you wouldn't mind if we named her after you."

Donna swallowed and her eyes misted. "I'd be flattered. I'd love it. Donna Hartson. Yes, it sounds very well, I think."

"You and Miss LaRue," Missy went on. "She doesn't like her real name and we can't really name the baby "Baby," so it's going to be Donna LaRue Hartson. Miss LaRue likes it. I hope you won't mind our naming her after you and her?"

"I can't think of anybody I'd rather have at hand when I deliver my next baby." Donna grinned. "Or anybody I'd rather share a namesake with. Baby LaRue's wonderful."

There were tears in the young mother's eyes. "Yes'm. She is. You both are. Come to see us, hear?"

"I'll be back to take you home, Mary," Hank called.

"Weren't the Hartsons the last?" Mary asked when she had watched them out of sight.

Donna glanced at her list. "Nobody left, except Dusty Hosey's crowd."

"Then I'll go clean up a bit," Mary decided.

But Donna and Cliff weren't to be alone long. Dusty arrived almost immediately.

"I done all you said, Mr. Warrender," he reported, shaking water from himself much as a dog might. "Then I went home to see how the folks done during the storm."

"You mean you came here when your family stayed at home?" Donna asked, amazed.

He nodded sheepishly. "Don't hardly none of the kids come just because they're scared their house might blow away," he explained. "'Course some of 'em come with their folks. But it's fun, sort of. You never know what's going to happen."

"You can say that again," Donna agreed.

"Only," Dusty's eyes moved from Donna to Cliff, "I sort of hoped— Seemed like you two—"

Cliff put out a big hand and shook the boy's shoulder affectionately. "Who does your courting for you, boy?"

Dusty's eyes widened. "Why—I reckon I do, sir."

"A man likes to," Cliff reminded him.

"And a girl likes him to take a little time about it, Dusty," Donna added gently. "Your Mr. Warrender and I haven't even had a date. Yet."

Her eyes met Cliff's over Dusty's head. Both pairs of eyes were laughing.

Dusty looked once more from one to the other. He grinned then. "I reckon I busted in where I hadn't no business," he admitted. "I reckon I'll pick up my gang and get out of here."

A moment later, the boys went out, strutting cockily as they had come, proud of their recently acquired adult maleness. Donna and Cliff, their hands locked, watched them go.

"I'll go to the garage, get my car and pick you up," he suggested.

"I always liked to walk in the rain," she said.

"Then come along," he agreed. "You had measles?"

"No, I never have," she said, her mouth smiling. "You?"

"Nope," he said, and they both laughed aloud.