Chapter 8

Lou looked down on the newborn child she cradled in her arms. Lightly, she traced the tiny male features, her heart full of awe and wonder. The eyes were closed, but she knew the delicate lids covered eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day. The rosebud mouth moved as if to suckle and Lou couldn't resist the temptation to place a light kiss, inhaling the baby's sweet smell.

Barely thirty minutes passed since she had given birth, yet she had already forgotten all the pain of labor. Even the prickle of fear she felt at the difficult delivery, which she'd never confess to her husband, was now a dim memory. She looked over to Kid who was standing next to the bed. He carried in his arms a sleeping female infant.

Twins. They were blessed with twins.

"She's beautiful." Kid's tone was hushed, almost reverent. Even after two children, birthing still left him speechless. Carefully, he sat down next to Lou on the bed and bent his head to place a light kiss on his wife's lips. "Just like you."

Doc Williams coughed softly to catch the couple's attention. "I think there are people outside who would like to greet the new members of the family. I could let them in for a while. And then Lou needs to rest."

Lou smiled and nodded wearily at the kind doctor who had been taking care of her family since their return to Sweetwater. Kid followed him to the door, thanking him profusely for his help.

Teaspoon was the first to enter the room and he had a quiet little boy in tow. They were followed by Buck, who had Marylou propped on his hip. Louisa, Paul and Rose brought up the rear.

"Jamie is excited to see his new brother and sister," Teaspoon said as he helped Kid's oldest son up the bed.

The little boy watched the infant gravely for a while before looking up at his mother. "Can I touch him?" he asked shyly. Lou nodded and shifted the baby so Jamie could see him better. Jamie extended his forefinger and stroked the baby's forehead. After a while, he looked at his father and grinned, "He's real."

Everybody laughed and the solemn mood was broken. Buck took the baby from Kid after setting Marylou down. She tugged at Kid's shirt, eager to be reassured by her father that she was still loved. Buck looked down to find the infant staring at him and his lips curved in a gentle smile. "Hello," he whispered softly. The infant's lips moved and Buck swore the little angel smiled.

Paul must have read his mind because the foreman spoke up. "He likes you already."

"You think?" Buck murmured, his eyes never leaving the bundle of joy in his arms.

It was Lou who answered, "Who wouldn't?"

Buck looked up to smile at his friend. "Two for the price of one," he joked. "Not bad, Lou."

Lou grimaced, "You make me sound like a bag of corn at Tompkins."

"Do you have names yet?" Teaspoon asked.

Kid and Lou exchanged a glance before Kid answered. "We were thinking Peter Aloysius and Susannah."

Teaspoon's eyes misted. Aloysius was his own name and he was touched Kid and Lou would name their son after him. "Hell of a name to saddle a kid," he observed, his voice gruff with emotion.

"At least he has a choice. My mother never gave me one," Kid noted dryly.

His real name had been a running joke when they were riders for the Pony Express. The boys thought they would finally hear the truth at Kid and Lou's wedding but Teaspoon mercifully chose to spare Kid from further embarrassment. Only Lou and Teaspoon were privy to Kid's secret.

"Well, I think Louise should be getting her rest now," Teaspoon said, moving to the bed and giving Lou's still damp brow a kiss. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," he whispered and Lou basked in the compliment.

Buck followed, and as he leaned down to kiss her, he couldn't resist teasing his friend one more time. "Good job, Louise. Six more and we could probably play Teaspoon's baseball again."

"Have respect for the new mother," Lou replied, pinching Buck who danced away from Lou's fingers.

Paul and Rose also said their good-byes, with Rose promising her special rabbit stew for Lou the next day. Kid and Lou kissed their children and Kid promised to tuck Jamie and Marylou to sleep later. Louisa tried to leave the room unobtrusively with the others, but Kid and Lou saw her and called out. She offered them her congratulations which Kid gamely accepted, saying, "The labor was very difficult." His remark earned him a jab in the ribs from his wife.

"Men," Lou said, shaking her head. "I hope Cody does more than hold your hand when you give birth."

"That's if he doesn't faint first," Kid pointed out. 

Louise smiled at the couple's easy banter, but her attention was on the exquisite child in Lou's arms. Buck had placed the other baby in the bassinet next to the bed before he went out.

Lou read the longing in her friend's eyes. "Would you like to hold him?

Louise's eyes lit up, before panic set in. "I don't know how to. I don't want to drop him."

"Just hold your arms like this," Kid crossed his arms in front of him, forming a cradle. Louisa awkwardly imitated the action and Lou placed Peter in her arms. the baby's face scrunched a bit, displeased at being disturbed, but promptly settled back to sleep. Louisa's heart melted and she unconsciously started cooing to the infant. 

"You'll be a good mother," Lou said.

"I can't wait until I have my own child," Louisa admitted. 
 

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