Page 8 (1/2)
She lifted a ive up that whiskey you have at the end of every day That ravely, "I’d rather have needles in h adjustments so he could sleep in a real bed, in a real house, ed holes and placed traps Luke did so Then there was a new erator, both of which he could transport in his truck and move with a dolly A couple of weeksand dirty His muscles ached There was an endless amount of work to be done
It wasn’t yet five when he was showered and headed for a beer and some of that excellent food at Jack’s He’d only been there afor soled into the bar, baby against her chest, toddler in hand, diaper bag slung over her shoulder Right inside the door, the toddler took a tumble down onto his knees and sent up a wail "Oh, punkin," she said She spied Luke and said, "Oh, Luke, here" She thrust the baby into his hands so she could stoop to lift up the boy "Oh, you’re okay," she said, brushing off his knees "Don’t cry now, you didn’t even break the floor It’s okay" She was just about to stand, when she heard her husband’s voice
"Mel," he said
She looked up from the floor Jack was behind the bar He inclined his head toward Luke with a s the baby out in front of hith, a startled expression on his face while Ehing, then covered herthe baby "I’ time since I’ve been around a man who didn’t know exactly what to do with a baby"
"Sorry," he said "I don’t have much experience with this"
"It’s okay--ain "The first day I met Jack, there was a newborn at the clinic and he scooped her up like an old pro"
"Because I was an old pro, Mel," Jack said, coht nieces and one on the way," he told Luke
"Prolific family," Luke observed "I don’t knowto learn babies, this is the place," Mel said "I don’t think there are any virgins left in Virgin River The birth rate around here is on the rise"
"Me and babies--incompatible And I like it that way"
Jack crouched in front of the bar "Co hands to David "Co his chubby arh speed toward Jack
Jack hoisted the boy up onto his hip and went back around the bar "What’s your pleasure?" he asked Luke