A Very Special Delivery

do the infusion. That’s why the company sent me. Otherwise, Laney and I would be safely home for the night.”
    Molly squinted in consideration. A baby but no wife. A delivery man with medical expertise who was willing to risk his life to make a nearly impossible delivery. Ethan Hunter was as full of secrets as she was.
    “Are you a doctor masquerading as a UPS driver?”
    She wished she hadn’t asked. The handsome lips narrowed to a thin line. The sculpted jaw clenched, blanching the beguiling scar snow-white.
    “Look, Molly, a man’s life depends on me, and the clock is ticking here. All I’m asking you to do is babysit for a couple of hours. You obviously aren’t going out anywhere, and I’ll pay you well. Why should that be such a big deal?”
    If only he knew, he wouldn’t let her within breathing distance of his daughter. But that was a secret she couldn’t share with a stranger.
    Suddenly too hot despite the frigid temperatures, Molly moved from the fireplace to the window. The ice pellets pecked incessantly at the glass pane like angry birds. In the glow of the yard light, ice glistened on everything in sight. Trees bent low and power lines bowed with the heavy encrustation of ice. In only a matter of time the lines would snap and the power would go.
    What could she do? What choice did she have? Chester’s life depended on this gamma stuff, and as much as she wanted to argue the point, taking a baby out in this weather was unconscionable. Regardless of her family’s accusations, she’d never intentionally cause harm to anyone, especially a child.
    She sighed, wishing she’d stayed in town with Aunt Patsy last night when the first warnings had come about the ice storm.
    No, that was selfish. She didn’t wish that. She wished she wasn’t such a coward.
    Ethan Hunter certainly wasn’t. This man with the baby was willing to put his own life at risk to help an old man he didn’t even know. And he was willing to put his child’s life in her less-than-capable hands to do it.
    Lord, what a mess. Please help me know what to do.
    She dropped into the overstuffed chair and rubbed at shoulder muscles gone as tight as cheap shoes.
    “Ethan, you don’t even know me. How can you be sure I’ll take proper care of your daughter?”
    He studied her for a long, serious moment then smiled. Molly’s breath caught in her throat. Goodness, gracious and mercy! Ethan Hunter was devastatingly handsome when he smiled.
    “The eyes are the windows to the soul. That’s what my mama taught me.”
    “Oh, so my eyes tell you that I’m good with children?”
    He came toward her, hunkering down in front of the chair, the baby still in his arms. “They tell me you’re a good person. A little sad, maybe, and real scared of something, but a gentle, caring woman who’ll look after Laney with everything in you.”
    Disturbed by his all-too-accurate assessment, Molly lowered her gaze to the baby, her stomach churning in trepidation. Chester’s life hung on her decision. Spending even an hour alone with a baby would be pure torture, but she had no choice. She had to do this. She only hoped the baby’s life wasn’t in jeopardy, too.

Chapter Two
    M olly stood at the window watching as the delivery truck struggled down the driveway, this time leaving her alone with a diaper bag and a small baby. The hazy fog of ice crystals blocked the van from view in no time and the howling wind covered the hum of the disappearing motor. He was gone. And she was alone for the first time in two years with someone else’s baby.
    She hadn’t had a panic attack in the last six months, had believed she was finally past the painful valley of mourning, but she was near the point of panic now. The terror that closed off the windpipe and rattled the pulse wasn’t far from taking over. Drawing in a deep breath, she rested her cheek against the frozen windowpane and quoted the scripture Aunt Patsy had made her personalize and memorize. God has not given me the spirit of fear.
    Even though she still struggled to believe that God was with her, helping her, the scripture somehow calmed her terror. It hadn’t at first, but over the months of constant repetition and Aunt Patsy’s gentle counsel, she’d slowly gained control over the attacks.
    A soft mewling sound issued from behind her. Whirling, hand at her tight throat, Molly hurried to the couch. True to his word, Ethan had moved the chair against the sofa and organized the cushions so that