"Come on Jimmy, move over. I'm freezin'! Lou complained trying to get into the narrow bunk with her fellow Express rider. "Wouldn't you know it, the coldest night this year and we are the only two here. Body heat Jimmy, that's what we need," Lou hissed through chattering teeth as she snuggled next to Jimmy under all the blankets in the bunkhouse. "Uh, Lou? What do you think anyone would say if they came in right now, with you here in my bunk with me and us in our long johns?" Jimmy asked trying not to get too close to her body when that is all he wanted to do. "Right now I'd love for another body to get warm with! It's never been so cold before. Seems like that fire in the woodstove isn't putting out any heat at all." Lou told him. 'You sure are putting it out though,' he thought to himself and couldn't help but wonder what other heat the two of them could make there under the blankets. Finally they settled down to sleep as comfortably as possible on the small bunk. Later that night, Jimmy was wakened by Lou as she touched his cheek, stroking lightly the strong jaw and ran a finger along his lip. She smiled when she looked up and noticed him watching her. All of a sudden, Jimmy's hand reached up behind her head, bringing her lips to his in a kiss filled with longing and love. Instead of pulling back, Lou deepened the kiss. She moved up against Jimmy in a way that was unmistakable. He pulled back briefly and whispered, "Are you sure about this Lou? Cause if you ain't, you need to stop right now." Starting to undo the buttons on his long johns, she kissed him again murmuring against his lips, "I've never been so sure in my life." *~*~*~*~* One morning, several weeks later Rachel called the boys into breakfast. Lou was the first into the bunkhouse. "Rachel, this looks like heaven. I'm starved," she said sitting down and filling her plate. All of a sudden she stopped and put her hand up to her mouth, stood up and ran for the front door. Lou made it to the side of the porch before losing her stomach. Rachel ran out after her, wiping her hands in her apron. "Lou, are you alright?" she asked putting her arm around the girl and leading her back inside the bunkhouse. Lou sat down and leaned her head on her hand. "I don't know Rachel. One minute I was starving and couldn't wait to eat and then my stomach....I feel better now though. A little upset, but better." Just as Rachel sat down next to Lou, Kid was reaching the steps for breakfast while the others were finishing up in the barn and heading in to eat too. He heard Rachel ask Lou if she might be pregnant. He stopped in his tracks, trying to hear Lou's answer. Lou looked up at Rachel and told her that she wasn't sure, but that she might be. Kid turned around and headed for the barn as fast as he could go. Jimmy and Noah were coming out the door when he reached them. Jimmy looked at their friend and saw the terrified look on his face and asked "Kid, what's the matter with you? Did you see a ghost or somethin'?" Kid looked at the two and told them, "It's not mine. I swear it's not mine!" "What's not yours, Kid?" they both asked. "The baby. I swear the baby isn't mine!" Kid said. "What baby? What are you talking about Kid?" Jimmy demanded since the rider was making no sense at all. "Lou's. I just heard Rachel ask her if she was pregnant. I swear it isn't mine!" he repeated again but Jimmy was already running for the bunkhouse, leaving a stunned Noah and bewildered Kid behind. The door almost swung off it's hinges when it hit the wall as Jimmy ran through it, startling the two women inside. Lou looked up as Jimmy stopped in front of her on one knee, taking her hand in his. Breathless, Jimmy asked, "Is it true Lou? Are you having our baby?" "I'm not sure Jimmy, maybe..." she whispered. "Why don't we just take a trip in to see the doc and see what he has to say Lou," Rachel suggested and the two nodded their agreement. Rachel watched with a knowing smile. She had seen how the two riders had gotten even closer over the past months since the break up between Kid and Lou. What made her smile even more was how Jimmy asked if Lou was 'having OUR baby' and not just 'having A baby'. Just then the other riders arrived at the door and weren't sure if they should enter or not. Rachel cleared her throat and motioned to the pair that they were no longer alone. Jimmy stood up and offered his hand to Lou and she reached for it as Rachel told the boys to come in and eat their breakfast before it got cold. "Boys, tell Teaspoon that we'll be back in a little while. Lou, Jimmy and I have an errand to run." With that the trio left the bunkhouse and went to get the wagon. As they left, Cody could be heard asking with a mouth full of food, "Where they goin'? Does this mean I can eat their breakfast? I'm starving!" Ike passed Cody the pancakes as Noah shook his head in disbelief at his fellow rider, "When aren't you starving Cody?" *~*~*~*~* "Jimmy, would you please stop pacing. You're going to wear a path in the doctor's carpet!" "I'm sorry Rachel. I can't sit still. How much longer? They've been in there a long time." Jimmy kept looking at the door to the office every other breath and was driving Rachel crazy. Just as Rachel contemplated knocking the young man out with his own pistol, the door to the exam room opened and the doctor came out. "How is Lou doc? Is she going to be alright?" Jimmy asked. "Well now, you must be the expecting father? Congratulations young man. Both mother and baby are doing fine." As the doctor turned and started speaking to Rachel, Jimmy finally sat on the settee, speechless. All he could think about was that he and Lou were going to be parents. They had made a baby. Never had he thought that his life would take such a turn of events, especially not since that Marcus fellow wrote that book about him. He had never thought he and Lou would be together either, but they had grown close, really close since that night in the cold bunkhouse. All their free time had been spent together when not on runs or doing the never-ending list of chores at the Express Station and lately, things had been looking brighter to him, but he never thought that he would find himself becoming a father. When Lou came out the door Jimmy drew her into his arms and hugged her, gently holding her close. He whispered so that only she could hear him, that he was thrilled. She looked into his eyes with some disbelief at his words. "You really mean it Jimmy?" "Yeah Lou, I do. This is one of the best things that ever happened to me. You being the first." Email Lisa L. HOME