Chapter 23

The street was deserted, the only person at the hotel awake was the clerk. He barely glanced at the couple as they walked past him and toward Stephen’s room. Next to his parent’s room, down the hall from the room Louise had called home since she’d arrived, which now seemed an eternity ago to her.

They looked at each other as if to say “Here we go” and Louise knocked on the door. She waited a few moments and knocked again. She hadn’t thought about him not being there. She was almost relieved when she heard his groggy reply.

“Who is it”

“Stephen, it’s me Louise” she used her sweetest voice, making a face as she spoke.

“Louise, what the....” He opened the door wide and was shocked to see Louise and Kid standing before him.

“What the hell’s going on here” his voice become angry and loud.

“Stephen, let’s not wake the entire hotel, let us in, we’ll explain everything.” Seeing the crazy look he had begun to take on, she was frightened, but told herself she could do this as she glanced at Kid, knowing she could for them.

He turned his back leaving the door opened and stood near the night stand, Kid and Lou cautiously entered the room, leaving the door open.

“Stephen” Louise started “I don’t know an easy way to put this.... so.. I’m just going to say it.” she took a deep breath, Kid gave her a reassuring look. Stephen was frantically looking back and forth between the two.

“You see” she continued “ I overheard your mother and you talking a few weeks ago, I found out about your plan to steal my inheritance” she paused to try and read his reaction. His face emotionless at this point. She continued “Now I don’t really care if you believe this next part or not but I was not involved with Kid before then, we were only friends. “But” she looked at Kid “but after that we realized that we loved each other and well, that trip I took... well Kid was with me and....we got married.” she sighed heavily.

Stephen stood motionless, trying to make sense out of what she was saying. “What are you talking about Louise” he glared at Kid. “You married me on Saturday.”

“No Stephen, that’s where you’re mistaken, that ceremony was fake, that minister wasn’t a minister at all, the marriage is a fake Stephen, you are not entitled to anything that’s mine.” She waited nervously for his response.

It all happened so fast that neither Kid nor Louise had a chance to react. Stephen had quickly grabbed the Derringer he had started keeping by his bedside and leapt across the room, grabbing Louise by the arm and holding the gun to her temple. Kid cursed himself as he remembered he was unarmed.

Stephen was irrational, he had lost all control and began to scream. His ranting and raving waking the hotel guests. Louise was shaking, fearful that in his rage he’d pull the trigger, the life she and Kid could have had flashing before her eyes.

Kid tried to reason with him “Stephen even if you.....”

"Shut up!!” he screamed “Don’t you say one damn word you son-of-a-bitch, I knew you.... I knew you were trouble!” he momentarily pointed the fun at Kid, but not long enough for Louise to get away. Not that she would have tried, she thought afraid that he’d shoot Kid instead.

“You know” he was still screaming, “you're both nothing but lousy orphans!”

All three stood with their backs to the open door and though they heard the commotion in the hall, they did not dare to take their eyes off of each other.

“Louise” he screamed, “I swear to you, you will marry me and you will make sure that I get that money...you don’t think that I’ve lived in this pitiful town for this long, making my father believe this was all because he was such a sought after banker” he sneered “you will not ruin our plans, mother and I have endured far too much to not get the pay off!”

“Your father doesn’t know” she almost whispered.

“No, my father’s a stupid man, he would never have agreed. He thought” and laughed at the prospect “he thought that I loved you....what a fool he is, doesn’t he realize I could never begin to love a women or likes to wear pants and liked living out here, he just doesn’t know what’s best for him. Lucky for him mother and I understood how we could easily become richer than he could ever imagine.” His laugh evil and filled with greed.

Without warning there was a gunshot, both Louise and Stephen falling into a crumpled heap, blood spilling onto the floor, staining Louise’s blouse.

Kid went numb, his mind stunned. It only took a split second before he came to his senses. “No!!” his scream heart-wrenching. “No Louise!!” he was at her side, her hair matted with wet warm blood, the bright scarlet stain on her shirt leaving the Kid helpless and hopeless.

Teaspoon heard the commotion before the gunshot and was already on his way to the hotel. As he entered the lobby he heard the shot and Kid’s scream. “Holy hell” he ran to the room to find Kid gathering the bloody girl into his lap, sobbing and mumbling incoherently.

He quickly scanned the room and noticed Mr. Richardson, motionless, smoking gun in his hand hanging at his side, Mrs. Richardson, kneeling and rocking absently, crying and moaning loudly.

“Kid!” he yelled.

Kid did not respond, his only thoughts on his wife. The wife he had hoped to spend the rest of his life with, which now was a dashed dream.

Louise slowly began to gain consciousness, she didn’t move for a moment, trying to recall all that had happened. She felt herself being rocked in strong arms, tears falling into her hair. She briefly wondered why she didn’t hurt anywhere, if she had been shot, surely she would hurt. Or maybe not, she didn’t know, maybe it doesn’t hurt before you die. She too thought sadly for a brief moment about the promising life she and Kid would never have.

She groaned unconsciously at the thought.

Kid stopped rocking when he heard it, “Lou, Lou...” he shook her gently.

She slowly opened her eyes, her face blood, but she was awake. “What.... happened?” she looked at Kid for answers.

“Shhhhh... you’ll be fine” he tried to comfort her, not feeling confident himself.

“Kid, what ..... where..... did I get shot?” she questioned.

“I ... don’t know what happened Lou, do you hurt some where?”

She started to sit up realizing that there was no pain and moving didn’t hurt.

“No” she stated “I don’t feel anything” she tried to examine herself. She noticed the bloody shirt, but she was not shot in the chest, she felt the warm sticky blood in her head, but she had not been shot in the head.

Then her attention was directed to Stephen, laying in a bloody heap, no signs of life noticeable. The blood spilling from the bullet hole in his head obvious.

Kid and Louise realized at the same time that the blood she was covered in was Stephen’s, and that he had died at the hand of his father. Louise noticed Mrs. Richardson, a bundle of sobs and groaning, Mr. Richardson still stunned, had not moved since he fired the gun.

Teaspoon had removed the gun from his hand, but he was obviously not a threat to anyone.

Kid picked her up in his loving arms, “Teaspoon, we’ll come out to the station in the morning, right now I think she needs to clean up and get some rest.:

Teaspoon nodded his agreement and turned to face the task of dealing with the Richardson’s and getting Stephen’s body removed.

Kid placed her gently in the warm bath and tenderly washed her hair and bathed her. Examining every inch of her to satisfy himself that she really was fine, that she had not been hurt. He picked her up out of the tub, dried her carefully and laid her in the bed.

“Thank you Kid” she smiled sweetly.

“For what” he questioned.

“For loving me” she answered simply.

“Don’t thank me for that” he assured her “Loving you.... is just like breathing.”

Tonight they would spend only in each other’s arms, thankful that the future they had dreamt about was finally at hand.

Kid and Buck were trying to break one of the new mustang’s the K&L Ranch has just acquired. Not being very successful, they decided to take a break.

Sitting on the corral fence Buck remembered the date. “What you gonna do for your anniversary Kid” he asked. Probably the only ex-rider besides Ike that would even think about it, Kid thought appreciatively.

“Well, I don’t reckon she feels too much like doin’ anything” they both watched as Louise waddled across the yard toward them.

Buck appreciating her beauty let a low, complimentary whistle escape “you know Kid, I didn’t think it was possible, but she’s even prettier than when you married her..... 9 months pregnant and all.”

Kid chuckled at his friends compliment, he thought maybe he was the only one who thought she looked like she was glowing. He wouldn’t have believed she could have improved, but Buck was right. She was breath-taking.

As she got closer though he could see the look on her face, she looked frightened. He jumped from the fence and ran to her, followed closely by Buck “What is it, honey?” filled with worry.

“Kid” she was trying to remain calm “I think it’s time” she said, holding her back, apparently another pain beginning.

“Buck” a slight tinge of panic evident in his tone “go get Rachel and the doctor, hurry!” Kid yelled as he scooped Lou up easily in his arms and almost ran to the house; kissing her flushed face. “Just hang on baby, Buck’ll be back with Rachel and Doc Wells” he took the stairs two at a time and placed her gently on their bed.

She had not said anything and he was worried. “Lou” he looked at her. She saw the question forming, knowing he was becoming frightened.

“Oh no Kid, I think everything’s alright, it’s just that it hurts, it hurts real bad” she admitted.

He propped pillows behind her and stroked her hand lovingly. “I’ll be right here baby, I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

It seemed like forever, but it really didn’t take long before Rachel walked into their room, smiling at the expectant parents.

“Where’s the doc?” Kid questioned her with concern.

Eyeing him disapprovingly Rachel responded “Now Kid, don’t get upset, but he’s out at the Murray place, she’s deliverin’ too; he’ll be here as soon as he can. Just relax, I’ve done this plenty of times.” She laid her hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

“Now” she continued “if you’re staying” knowing he would not leave her side “I want you to be warned. She’s gonna scream and she’s gonna yell at you, she may even say some things to you, she may.... well just be ready. I’ve heard wives say all kinds of things while laboring.... now you’ll have to promise that you won’t take it personally” she grinned at him.

Kid shook his head, not too sure he understood, but willing to do whatever he needed.

Louise was trying not to focus on the pain, but it was becoming overwhelming. She couldn’t understand what Rachel was talking about, she couldn’t imagine herself ever screaming and yelling at the Kid.

Buck had returned to the ranch with the other ex-rider’s and Teaspoon, the parlor quickly becoming a room full of pacing men. All the boys had come to love Louise as a sister over the past year, Teaspoon becoming her surrogate father paced faster and heavier than the rest. Each cringing every time they heard a scream from the couples room at the top of the stairs.

It seemed an eternity, Louise did scream and yell and blame him for her predicament. He was shocked at her tantrum at first, then remembered what Rachel had warned, he never left her side, trying to soothe her pain.

Tears were streaming down his face as they welcomed their baby girl into the world. As soon as the very last pain had ravished her body she was apologizing to Kid for her screaming. He only kissed her and hushed her, both of them turning their attention to the perfect little bundle Rachel, tears in her eyes, was handing them. They were surprised that such a tiny little thing could make so much noise.

The boys in the parlor all stopped at the newborn cry they heard. A slow smile spreading on Buck’s face, the other rider’s quickly smiling and slapping each other on the back.

They waited patiently for Kid or Rachel to give them the news, laughing at the insistent crying of the newborn.

Rachel left the couple alone after making sure both Lou and the baby were fine. Holding her brand new daughter, she looked up at Kid with her beautiful eyes, eyes that never ceased to amaze him “What do we name her Kid?” she looked expectantly at him.

He sighed, he really hadn’t given it any thought.

“Well” she spoke when he did not answer “I’d like to name her after your mother, I know you didn’t have much time with her, but Kid she did such a wonderful job raising you, she must have been a remarkable woman.”

Tears again began to form in his strikingly blue eyes, overcome by the emotions. His mother had been a remarkable women, she had led such a hard and sad life, but Louise was right, she had been a good mother, he was honored by her request.

Sighing he ran his finger delicately over the baby’s tiny fist, amazed that she opened her hand and grabbed on, “Sarah Elizabeth Jacobs” he sighed.

Louise smiled at the name, “It’s such a beautiful name” she too was amazed at the little baby cradled in her arms.

“Yep, just like her mama, not only a beautiful name, just beautiful” his voice making his adoration of her well-known.

Exhausted, Louise fell asleep after counting her new daughter’s fingers and toes several times. Kid watched them closely, he didn’t try and figure it out, but his heart somehow made room for this little girl. During her pregnancy he had often thought.... worried really.... that he wasn’t sure he’d have room in his heart for the child. He loved Louise with every part of him and his heart often ached he loved her so much. He never told her, or anyone of his fears, but felt enormous relief right now as he looked at the baby beginning to fuss, laying in Louise’s arms. His heart could contain his love for both of them.

Hoping to let her rest he gingerly picked the baby up, awkwardly, realizing he had never held a baby he shook his head and thanked God for Rachel, he was sure both he and Louise would need lots of instructions.

Rachel had entered the parlor, but even with each of the boys and even Teaspoon begging her she would not divulge the secret. She would leave that up to Kid.

Finally Kid walked in to the parlor, carrying his brand new daughter. “Well boys” he beamed “want ya’ll to meet my daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Jacobs”.

They sighed collectively, Rachel had to laugh at the group of hardened cowboys oohing and ahhing over the pink bundle Kid carried awkwardly.

She offered to wrap the baby properly and nonchalantly showed him the correct way to carry her, to support her tiny head, he smiled gratefully at her.

After each of the boys had a chance to see her, and Teaspoon in a grand fatherly way held her, he handed her back to Kid. While they were arguing over who she looked like, and talked about how good it was that she was a girl, it must have made Kid and Lou’s job so much easier, knowing they’d have a hard time choosing which one of them to name a boy after. Kid laughed at their bickering and quietly snuck out the door, only Rachel noticed.

He headed toward the corrals, it was sunset, one of his favorite times of the day. Sunrise, the beginning, only God knew what was in store. And today, their first anniversary He had given them their anniversary gift. And sunset, the time to reflect and be thankful for the life and opportunities He provided.

He watched the horses for a bit then realized their was someone who hadn’t met the baby yet.

He entered the barn and approached the first stall, reserved for his beloved mare. Katy sensing his presence appeared from behind the stall door. She warily eyed the bundle in her master’s arms.

“Well girl, I want you to meet my daughter” he presented her to his horse. Katy turned in jealousy.

“I know, I know” he reasoned with her “you’ve already had to make room for Lou, but Katy, just look at her” he proudly presented Sarah to Katy again.

She sniffed and whinnied. “I know, but I’ll tell ya what” he scratched her lovingly between the ears, “you’ll always be my favorite four-legged girl!”

She nodded her head approvingly and neighed.

He turned to go and was reminded he had forgotten someone. Approaching the stall next to Katy’s to find Lightening stomping furiously “Calm down boy, she hasn’t forgotten you, she’s been a little busy” showing the baby to the stallion. “She’ll be back to ridin’ in a couple of weeks, trust me, she still loves you” the horse calming at Kid’s assurances, eyeing the lump he carried, hoping it didn’t mean his master would love him less.

As he left the barn to return to the house he scanned the land, he looked at the horses in the pasture, each so proud and beautiful. His eyes turned to the barn, full of the best horses around, including Katy and Lightening, finally his eyes rested on the house.

He could see the shadows of his adopted family in the parlor, he laughed realizing he had been lucky to find them, yes even Cody, he thought.

Then his eyes rested on their bedroom window. His thoughts turning to the women sleeping in their bed. Not sure what he had done to deserve her, but thankful that for some reason she loved him.

He knew his life was complete, he thanked God for writing his life’s script, knowing that if he had written it himself he was sure it wouldn’t have been this good!