Pregnant by the Texan(68)

                How important was she to him?

                * * *

                Stella went by the hospital Thursday. A doctor was with Mayor Vance, so she couldn’t see him. She talked briefly with his wife and found out he was still improving, so Stella said she would come back in a few days. She called on others and talked to Lark briefly about the Christmas drive.

                Lark smiled at her. “Stella, I really didn’t recognize you at first. Your hair is so different and it changes your whole appearance. I saw you on a Dallas TV show. You were great and you took our case to a big audience. It’s wonderful for people here to find out about these agencies and how to access them.”

                “Some of those agencies were new to me. I didn’t know all that help was available.”

                “The shows should do a lot for us. You got in a plug for the Christmas drive also, which was nice. Speaking of the drive, I think there will be some big presents for people this Christmas.”

                “I hope so. Some of the stores are donating new TV sets for each family on our list. That’ll be a fun present. Other stores are sending enough iPads for each family to have one. It makes me feel good to be able to help. I hope Skye and the baby are getting along.”

                “We just take everything one day at a time for both of them. There’s still no word on Jacob Holt. If you hear anything, please call.”

                “I will, I promise. I’m home to stay now until Christmas Eve day when I’ll go to my sister’s.”

                “You just look beautiful. I love your hair.”

                “Thanks. You’re nice.”

                “I have a feeling your quiet nights at home that you talk about are over,” Lark said, smiling at her.

                Stella laughed. “I’ll keep in touch on the Christmas drive.”

                As she left the hospital, outside on the sidewalk, she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Cole headed her way.

                “Hey, you look great.”

                “Thanks, Cole.” To her surprise, he smiled at her. Since the storm she had rarely seen Cole smile.

                “You’re doing a bang-up job for the town. Aaron has let me know. Excellent job.”

                “Thanks. I’m glad to and I’m thrilled by people’s generosity and finding specific agencies that can meet people’s needs.”

                “I just wanted to thank you. See you around.”

                “That’s nice, Cole.”

                He headed toward the hospital entrance and she wondered whom he was going to see. There were still too many in the hospital because of the storm over two months later.

                “Stella, wait up.”

                She turned to see Lance Higgens, a rancher from the next county and someone she had known most of her life. She smiled at him, feeling kindly because the afternoon of the tornado he had come to Royal to help and that night he had made a $1,000 donation to the relief effort.

                “I saw you on television yesterday.”

                “Good. I guess a lot of people caught that show around here.”