©Becca
©Becca
Six Months Later
The small farmyard had gone through small changes, as had the people who lived there, since the day Louise awoke in the bunkhouse following Jon's rescue. An inquiry had been held shortly afterwards at which Louise had testified. The judge had not only cleared her name of all suspicion for Wicks' death, but he had also sealed the fate of Wicks' and Madison's operation.
Louise well remembered the promises she made to God the day Kid had been shot, and the first thing she'd done was hint to Kid that it might be good to get married while she could still fit into a dress. As her identity was revealed to the citizens of Sweetwater, there were, of course, many who'd already guessed some of which would never approve of her means. However, even more people realized that living in the West required new customs and traditions and were willing to accept a young woman who'd done the best with what she'd been given in life.
The shade tree behind the farmhouse now held a swing lovingly hung by Buck and Ike. Children's clothes joined the riders' and Rachel's on the clothesline. The beginnings of Sam and Emma's new house stood near the older one which they'd sold to Rachel. With the advent of war, Sam had given up his position as territorial marshal and moved Emma and new baby Sarah Lou back to Sweetwater. Teaspoon had gratefully retired from the marshaling business, allowing Sam to take over with the boys as part-time deputies, so he could enjoy "the grandpappy business." Three new rooms had been added to the bunkhouse to accomodate the new Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Valentine Travis. Yes, Kid finally spilled the beans, however not at the wedding ceremony, but rather on the wedding night to Lou. No one's ever called by their full name in a family so most people still called him Kid except when Louise was particularly perturbed at him when, as Jon put it, "Mama uses Daddy's big name."
Shortly after Kid and Lou's wedding, Russell, Majors, & Waddell's Pony Express went bankrupt beingunable to compete with the new telegraph lines sending war news west. Cody had joined the army as a scout and left Sweetwater, visiting whenever the army was scouting close by. Jimmy, who was still finding his way, was Sam's deputy for the time being. He, Buck, and Ike still lived in the bunkhouse with Jeremiah. Noah, had recently married a beautiful, sweet woman named Casie who'd moved with her brother to Sweetwater from the town of Rock Creek in an attempt to avoid the rising tensions there. They'd bought a smll place closer to town but were always at the old waystation for Sunday dinner.
Jon was sitting on the main house's porch with Emma as Louise emerged from the relative coolness of the renovated bunkhouse. It was going to be another July scorcher and she cursed the advanced pregnancy making her feel awkward and uncomfortable. She rubbed the belly that jutted out in front of her like the prow of a ship. The baby had been very active all night, keeping her awake and making Kid worry as she paced their room restlessly. "Can't wait 'til you're out here instead of in there," she muttered to her stomach.
Emma looked up at her as she approached with a sympathetic smile. "Well, good mornin', Loulabelle," she said brightly. "How you feelin'? Kid said this mornin' that you two had a rough night."
Lou eased herself onto the bench next to Emma. Jon scooted as close as possible to her. He'd be glad when Mama had a lap to sit on again. Lou grimaced slightly and rubbed at the ache in her back. "The baby was restless last night," Lou replied. "I just couldn't get comfortable. How's the house comin'?"
"It'd be goin' a lot slower without the boys' help," Emma said chuckling. "Sam never was the best with a hammer."
Louise glanced over at the half-finished house and chuckled. A sharp twinge in her back stole her breath making her gasp. Emma heard the gasp and turned toward her quickly. Shifting the baby in her arms, she placed a hand on Lou's shoulder, her brows furrowing at the grimace on the pregnant woman's face. "You alright Loulabelle?"
Lou's face relaxed as the twinge faded and she rubbed her back. "Yeah, it's just my back's hurtin' again. I'm fine. Hey Jon, Uncle Ike's over feedin' Samson. Why don't you go see if you can help."
Jon hopped off the bench eagerly. He loved the animals around the farm. "'Kay, Mama," he said. The women laughed as he dashed off toward the barn calling, "Unca Ike, Mama says to come help."
rachel and Theresa came out onto the porch, each carrying a table cloth needing shaken out. Theresa set the cloth she carried on the swing and hugged her older sister, kissing her flushed cheek. "Good mornin', Mama Bear," she said, using the old nickname Jimmy had given Lou. She bent down and kissed Louise's belly, jumping as she felt a strong kick beneath her lips. "Whoa! Good morning to you too, Baby."
"You've got a lively one there, Louise," Rachel laughed. "I see you sent Kid off to town with the others this mornin'."
"Aagh!" Lou exclaimed, venting her frustration at her overly protective husband. "Ya know, I understand him bein' a little worried and protective 'cause Kid's a worrier. He loves this baby so much and that's a beautiful thing, but he's drivin' me loco! 'Don't do this, don't do that.' He forgets that I have done this before."
"But he hasn't, Lou," Rachel said with a smile. "He's just excited."
"Enjoy it while it lasts, Loulabelle," Emma advised. "Once that baby's born and you want them to change diapers or go get the baby for their two o'clock feeding, they conveniently find somethin' else to do."
Another stab of pain hit Louise, this time radiating from her back through her whole abdomen, stealing her breath with a hiss. She couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her clenched jaws.
"Louise, you alright?" Rachel asked, concerned. She didn't like the flush on the young woman's face, nor how long it took her to respond.
"Loulabelle?" Emma placed a hand on Lou's knee and winced as Lou gripped the hand hard. "Honey, is it the baby?"
Lou nodded, panting as the contraction eased. "Oh, God, I don't remember it hurting this much before," she gasped.
Rachel was at her side quickly, an arm around her shoulders as she helped Lou stand. "No need to panic. Babies can sometimes take hours to come," she said calmly. "Let's just get you over to the bunkhouse and lyin' down."
They'd barely menaged three steps before Louise bent over with the force of another contraction. It's too soon, she thought, panicking. "No, this can't be happenin' now," she wailed. "He's too early!" There were tears in her eyes and her skirt was drenched and clinging to her legs as the pain eased.
"Her water's broken," Emma observed. "Looks like this one's in a hurry. Buck, Ike, come quick!"
Hearing Emma's call, Buck and Jeremiah came running from Sam and Emma's house where they'd been working. Ike jogged over with Jon giggling under one arm. Seeing the women's faces, the two friends shared very worried looks.
"I'll go get the doc," Buck offered.
Louise moaned again and Emma passed her daughter to Theresa before crossing to Lou's other side. "Ike, take Jon and go get Kid," she said. "And hurry you two 'cause this baby's comin' fast!"
Rachel and Emma helped Louise into the building as Buck and Ike set out on their way. Theresa and Rachel immediately began gathering what they'd need while Emma helped Louise into a nightgown and into the large double bed she shared with Kid.
"Oh, God, here we go again!" Lou moaned as another wave of pain washed over her.
Kid was whistling pleasantly as he walked into the law office. "Mornin' Sam, Teaspoon," he said. He settled into the chair opposite from Jimmy who was playing solitaire at the checkers table.
"Well if it ain't the papa-to-be," Teaspoon said from behind his newspaper. "Lou kick you outta the house this mornin'?"
Kid rolled his eyes, blushing slightly at his former boss' mild teasing. "No, she sent me to Thompkins' for some things. Said she wanted peaches," he replied with a sigh. Getting peaches in July in a place like Sweetwater was like trying to find snow in Texas.
Jimmy chuckled at his friend. "Don't tell me. You couldn't find any and you're just hanging out here until you get the guts to go home and tell her," he said. "Face it, Kid. She's got you wrapped around her little finger."
Sam laughed at the good-natured teasing. "And here I thought he just liked our sparklin' conversation," he added.
"It ain't necessarily a bad thing to be wrapped 'round Lou's little finger, Jimmy," Kid retorted mischievously.
"Can be downright fun with the right woman," came Teaspoon's two cents from behind the paper.
Jimmy bit back another off-color remark as Kid playfully smacked him in the chest with his hat. "Don't even think it," Kid warned.
"Think what?" Jimmy asked innocently, focusing on the card in his hand. "I was just wonderin' where I could use this two of clubs."
"Mmmhmm."
Sam pulled his feet down off the desk and stood as a horse pulled up outside the office. Seeing Ike dismout huriedly, he immediately sensed trouble. "We got company fellas," he said walking toward the door. He was nearly knocked down as Jon ran headlong into his legs. "What're you doin' here, Jon? I thought you were helpin' your mama."
The little boy looked up at him and grinned before running over to be picked up by Kid. "We gettin' a baby," Jon said in a singsong voice.
"I know Jon-Jon and you're real excited about 'im ain't ya," Kid remarked off-handedly. They'd been hearing about Jon's new baby for months now, so much so that it tended to go in one ear and out the other.
"No, Daddy!" Jon insisted. "Da baby's comin' now!"
"W-what?"
Ike pounded breathlessly against the doorframe for atention, his hands signing too fast for even Kid to follow.
Teaspoon set aside his paper and rose to place a steadying hand on Ike's shoulder. "Slow down, son. Now, what's goin on?" he asked.
<Lou's having the baby.> Ike signed. <Buck's getting the doctor and Emma sent me for Kid.>
Shock and incredulation spread over Kid's face. "She can't be! It's two weeks too soon," Kid said worriedly.
"Babies got their own timetable, Kid," Sam piped up, the only one in the room able to claim to be any kind of voice of experience. "You'd best get goin', Daddy, or Lou'll have your head."
"Among other things," Jimmy muttered.
Kid got up from the table in such a hurry that his chair tipped over, nearly tripping him. He pressed Jon into Teaspoon's arms and hopped over the low rail that divided the office. He was halfway out the door when Jimmy called him back for his forgotten hat.
"Don't worry, Kid, we're right behind ya," Teaspon called as Kid took off out of town on Katy.
To chapter 24 - the end
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