(I’d like to thank Dee for being such a great beta! She’s helped me a lot with all my submissions.) Staring down at the bundle in her arms, Louise thanked God once again for her son. Had it really been just that morning that she had been on her way to see Rachel when a sudden and violent pain gripped her middle? She had leaned over, clutching the railing when Tompkins had seen her out the window and rushed out to see if she were all right. Never before had she seen such concern on the shopkeeper’s face as another contraction had washed over her making her legs buckle. She would have collapsed on the walkway if it weren’t for the man grabbing her and picking her up in his arms. Tompkins rushed her to Rachel and then went for the doc himself. The baby was about six weeks early but the doc said he was just fine and healthy. Doc said that sometimes a baby decided that it was time to be born and there was no stopping it. Louise was momentarily saddened that Jimmy had not been present for their son’s birth. He had been awaiting their first baby’s arrival like a child on Christmas morning with a stocking full of presents. He had not wanted to leave her to be part of the posse chasing down some deserters from Fort Laramie that were causing havoc in the territory, but Sam needed his help and the baby hadn’t been due yet. A little yawn and gurgle brought her attention back to her son. His eyes opened and she could see them trying to focus on her face. His eyes were so like Jimmy’s, that same shade of brown that you could just melt into and she smiled to herself thinking about what Jimmy’s reaction would be upon looking into them himself. Lou stroked the soft down upon the baby’s head as he drifted off to sleep once more. It was the softest thing she had ever felt. In amazement, she unwrapped the blanket once more to count all the baby’s toes and fingers. Lou looked up at the sound of muffled laughter as Rachel came into the room to check-up on the new mother and son. “I swear Lou, you’ve counted his toes at least ten times and there aren’t any more or less then the last time you did it. Let that baby sleep peacefully. You should rest too.” “I know Rachel, I just can’t help myself. It’s hard to believe that he’s really here. I can’t wait for Jimmy to get home. I hope that they catch them deserters soon. Boy is he in for a surprise.” “Did you two finally agree on a name? I know that you were arguing over a couple that last time you were over for dinner.” “It took awhile and a lot of compromise but we decided on Hunter James. We both agreed on Hunter in honor of our ‘father’ Teaspoon and James after Jimmy.” Smiling at the sleeping baby, Rachel whispered, “That’s a mighty fine name for a son. Welcome to the world little Hunter James, I’m your Aunt Rachel.” Looking up at Lou, Rachel felt the love she had in her heart for this young woman, who was like a younger sister to her, well up inside and the sight of the two sleeping brought tears of joy to her eyes. Quietly Rachel backed out the door, closing it softly behind her. Wrapping her shawl around her shoulders, she went out to the porch to wait the arrival of some of her other ‘children’ who were due back shortly. What a surprise she would have for them when she told them, “I’m an aunt!” *~*~*~*~* Within an hour, she saw Teaspoon coming with the rest of the riders. She was practically bursting at the seams to tell them the news and went to meet them at the gate. “What’s got you looking like the cat that got into the cream Rachel?” Teaspoon asked seeing the grin on her face and the sparkle in her eyes. Just as Rachel was about to tell them the big news, she saw Jimmy coming down the street. Her excitement grew tenfold. “Oh, Jimmy!” she waved and called out to the rider urging him to go faster. “Hey Rachel. What’s up? What’re y’all doin’ standin’ out here? Is Lou here?” Jimmy enquired getting down from Sundance. Rachel grabbed his arm and practically dragged him up the steps to the house. “Lou’s upstairs. She has a surprise for ya. Hurry on up now” Rachel told him as the others came into the room. “What’s goin’ on Rachel?” Buck asked as Jimmy took the stairs two at a time. Rachel turned to them and clapped her hands in delight as she blurted out, “Lou had the baby! It’s a boy! I’m an aunt!” Amid murmurs of “It’s a boy!” and “Well, I’ll be!” and “I’m a Grandpa!” there was a sudden wailing of a tiny baby heard from up above. “Looks like he’s awake. After Jimmy has some time with his family, y’all can go in and see the baby and Lou,” Rachel told them as everyone sat at the table to wait. *~*~*~* “Lou?” Jimmy called out softly as he opened the door to their room. He could see she was sleeping in bed. He wasn’t sure he should wake her when he heard a small gurgling sound to his right. Turning he caught a glimpse of a tiny bundle in the cradle. It began to move as he went closer to take a look. Jimmy’s heart caught in his throat as he beheld his child. With shaking hands he lifted the bundle and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Well hello little one. I’m your daddy. I sure didn’t expect to see you when I came up here to see your momma.” A hand reached out and touched his arm drawing his attention from the bundle in his arms. “Jimmy, what do you think of our son? Beautiful isn’t he?” Lou asked peeking at the baby. “I’m glad you’re home. I missed you.” He leaned over and gave her a lingering kiss until the bundle in his arms began to squirm and sent up a loud wail. Lou laughed at the look on poor Jimmy’s face. He looked totally lost as he looked at the crying baby. “What should I do Lou? How do I get him to stop crying?” he asked as he gently rocked the baby in his arms. Lou sat up in bed and told him to hand the baby over. “He’s probably just hungry. Give us a few minutes and then you can hold him again.” Jimmy was about to leave when Lou told him that he could stay while she fed the baby. “I just thought you might like some privacy,” he told her sitting back down on the bed. “Don’t be ridiculous Jimmy. You ain’t gonna see nothin’ that you ain’t already seen before. ‘Sides, Rachel says a baby eats about every two hours so you’re gonna have to get use to seein’ a baby feed.” “Every two hours? You sure he and Cody ain’t related?” he joked, stroking the baby’s head. *~*~*~* Rachel knocked at the door and peeked in when a voiced called out to come in. “I was just wonderin’ if you were up for some more company seein’ how I got a kitchen full of men just itchin’ to get a peek at that precious new baby.” “Sure Rachel. Tell them to come on up,” Lou told her handing the baby back to Jimmy. A few moments later the room was full of riders and Teaspoon all ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ over the newest addition to the family. Jimmy was beaming as he introduced everyone to little Hunter James. He went over to Teaspoon and offered the baby to him to hold. As he passed Hunter over to the man that was like a father to them all, he noticed a tear in Teaspoon’s eye. “Say hello to your first grandson, Teaspoon. Hunter James, this here’s your grandpa, you’re named after him”. Teaspoon was so choked up with pride and love for the little bundle in his arms all he could do was hold the baby and lean down and gently kiss his head. After several more minutes, he turned to Ike and passed the baby to him to hold. Rachel came in to hustle everyone out after they all had a chance to hold their nephew so that the new mother and baby could rest. As she closed the door she heard Jimmy saying how he was sorry he hadn’t been there when the baby came. “Sometimes babies can’t wait….” Was the last thing she heard as she headed down the stairs. Email Lisa L. HOME