Chapter 13  

"I'm gonna go saddle the horses then we can ride out to our new place,"  Kid told Lou, grinning.  They had been so anxious to leave the real estate office once Kid had signed the papers but Mr. Branch, the owner, had gotten into a talking mood and forced them to stay and listen to his ramblings.  After ten minutes of nonsense talk, they practically ran down the street in a rush to get on their way.

Lou knew she had to tell Kid her news and realized it had to be now, especially since he was about to get Lightning ready for her.  She’d been trying to come up with a unique way to share her news but nothing would come to mind so she just decided to play it as it went.  "Uh, Kid, you better hitch up the buckboard instead.  I can't ride,"  she said simply, waiting for his reaction.  She should have known it wouldn’t be the way she wanted.

He turned and seeing the look on her face, asked,  "Can't ride?  Why, what's wrong with Lightning?"  Not waiting for an answer, he rushed into the barn.

"Kid,"  Lou called after him.  "Kid, there's nothin' ... "  her voice trailed off as she realized he was already out of ear shot.  She stood in the middle of the yard, hands on her hips, waiting for him to finish the thorough inspection he was more than likely giving her horse at that moment.  She started grinning, feeling more and more excited about telling him what was in store for them. 

Kid came out of the barn and pointed behind him.  "Lou, what's goin' on?  I checked Lightning over good - there are no bruises, no limp, her shoes are fine.  Why did you say she can't ride?"  He stood in front of her waiting for an answer.

She shook her head.  "I never said Lightning couldn't ride, I said I can't ride.  Actually, I'm not allowed to ride.  In fact, Doc Barnes cautioned I shouldn't even be near a horse."  She knew she was being mysterious and was enjoying it.

"Doc Barnes?"  Kid asked concerned, grabbing her arms.  "Lou, what's wrong?  Does this have anything to do with you feeling ill last week?"  He had a feeling she was sicker than she was letting on.  He shouldn't have left when he did, he chided himself.

Seeing the look of worry on his face, she assured him,  "Everything that's been going on is exactly how I should be feeling."  She laughed as he looked even more confused.  "I've had an idea for a while as to why I wasn't feelin' right and when I told Rachel about it, she could tell that's what it was too.  So, we went to see the doctor to know for sure."  She paused, unable to stop smiling.  "He assured me I was most definitely right."

"Right about what?  You don't look upset so it can't be that bad,"  he assumed, trying to make himself feel better.

"It's not.  I can't believe I actually feel this way, I guess marriage changes a person in more ways than one.  But, Kid, it's the most wonderful thing in the world and I have you to thank."  She lovingly caressed his cheek.

"What did I do?"

"Everything!  You never gave up on our love and asked me to marry you again.  And now you've given me something so special, so precious.  It feels so good knowin' I'm carryin' a part of you inside of me."

"What do you mean by that?"  She was talking in circles and he had no idea where she was going with this.

"It's right here,"  she told him as she slowly took his hand and placed it on her still flat stomach.  "Now I know you can't see any changes yet but Doc Barnes assures me there will be no mistakin' it in about six weeks."  She smiled, still caught off guard that she now looked forward to the day when her body would start to physically expand.

Kid stood motionless, staring at his hand, which she still held against her stomach.  A crazy idea started running through his mind.  His eyes grew wide.  "Lou, what are you trying to tell me?"  He finally looked at her for an answer.

"I'm trying to tell you about a blessing.  Kid, I'm gonna have a baby."  She watched him, waiting for his response.

After opening his mouth twice but with no sound coming out, he finally whispered,  "A baby? A baby?  You and me?  We?"

Lou felt tears rising to her eyes as she repeatedly nodded her head.  "A baby, you and me,"  she told him.

"You're carrying my child.  Our baby,"  he said in fascination.  A slow but joyous smile spread across his face.  He let out a whoop then grabbed her in his arms and twirled her around.  Realizing what he was doing, he quickly put her down.  "I shouldn't do that,"  he said, worriedly.

"It's alright,"  she assured him, laughing.  "I ain't gonna break, though I might get sick to my stomach again."

He led her into the barn and sat her down on a bale of hay.  "The throwin' up, that's part of it?"  he asked as he sat down next to her.

She nodded.  "That's what made me figure it out.  It also explains my emotions goin' every which way and why I'm tired all the time.  There's so much more to expectin' than just gettin' fat."

"Oh, I can't wait to see that?"

"What?!"  she exclaimed in disbelief.

"I mean it.  You're so beautiful now, how can you not be more so when you're rounded with my child,"  he told her seriously.  It had never mattered to him how her appearance was, she was always the prettiest woman he'd ever seen and he would think so until his dying day.

Lou blushed and looked away.  "Well, it will be interestin' to say the least.  And I'm sure the boys will tease me plenty for my new looks."  She laughed nervously as she imagined what Jimmy and especially Cody would say if they found out.

"Does anyone besides Rachel know?"

"Do you really think I would tell them before you?  I want us to do that together."

Kid smiled his thanks to her.  He couldn't take his eyes off her stomach;  it was hard to believe that their love produced a miracle and that it was growing inside her as they spoke.  He shook his head at the wonder of it all.  "So, when, Lou?  How far along are you?"

Lou looked at the ground and took a deep breath, preparing to tell him what one of their late night jaunts to the barn had resulted in.  "A little over two months,"  she answered before finally meeting his eyes.

"Two months?!"  he asked, afraid he'd heard wrong.  "Are you sure, I mean, we've only been married a month."

"Well, it seems this little one wanted to give us a head start on things,"  she laughed.  "Come on now, Kid, you gotta admit we're pretty lucky this didn't happen sooner, considerin' how many times we've gone at it."

Kid blushed, realizing she was right.  He'd always been afraid of this very thing happening and that had been the reason why he kept proposing to her.  He wanted to protect her reputation in case they had an unexpected event occur.  He had always tried to have self control around her but once she was in his arms, all thoughts of virtue flew out the window as they went about getting reacquainted.

He stood up and started pacing in front of her.  "Over a month before the wedding,"  he muttered to himself, trying to calculate the time frame.  He caught his breath and looked at her.  "Davenport,"  he surmised.

She nodded and went to him.  "The night we got back ... "

"Celebrating the engagement ... " he started to remember.

"All night long ... "

"Over and over again ... "

"Until we were exhausted and sore ... "

"And with child,"  they both concluded, laughing and hugging one another.

"Thank you, Lou, for giving me this,"  Kid said, kissing the top of her head, as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.  "I know it's not gonna be easy but this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"Well, I didn't do it alone,"  she teased, looking up at him.

He blushed.  "No, I remember.  But these next seven months are all in your hands, or rather, in your stomach." 

They started laughing at the craziness of the situation.  They not only had to get a new house in order for themselves, now they had to also get things ready to welcome a child into their lives.

"I love you so much,"  Kid said, placing his hands on both sides of her face.

"I love you, too, Kid,"  Lou sighed and tilted her lips toward him.