The
Welcome PartyThe
Welcome Party
Kid pulled his horse to a stop as he came over the rise in the road. There it was, just as he had left it nearly four years ago - four long and lonely years. Years spent with a heart heavy with regret, regret for leaving and regret for what he'd had to do to survive. Maybe he could put it all behind him one day but for now the only thing on his mind was what lay before him.
He recalled the day he took Lou out to see the ranch for the first time and when she couldn't stop talking about the possibilities it possessed, he had then surprised her with the news that it was already theirs. He had bought it outright, with money he'd earned from working the Express and the rest a loan from Teaspoon. Kid had known almost since the moment he'd gotten married that he couldn't ignore the calling inside of him and that he would have to return to Virginia to join the war effort. He wanted Lou taken care of first and foremost; she needed a home that couldn't be taken away from her and a means to support herself. The money she had saved from riding would buy her food and clothes and he was very relieved when Rachel had assured him that Lou could assist her at the schoolhouse, which would give her a small income but still it was better than nothing.
Kid urged his horse forward and entered the yard slowly. Dusk was settling over the land so it was hard to make out much except what was right in front of him. He looked toward the barn, his beloved Katy was in there where he had left her when he'd rode out. How he wanted to mount her and ride across the plains, feeling one with his animal again, but that would have to wait. A woman far more important to him than any horse, or memory, or even ideal was just on the other side of that front door.
He tethered his mount to the hitching post alongside the front steps. He noticed the flower beds running the length of the house. They added such a nice homey feeling to the place. Lou must have spent hours planting and maintaining the gardens, he thought, happy that she'd obviously found something to keep her busy that she was good at. He climbed the steps, looking at the house as he walked. There were lights lit in several rooms, in the front and around the side, as he'd noticed on his ride up to the house.
Without thinking, Kid reached for the doorknob then drew his hand back, almost as if he'd touched a hot skillet. Maybe he had no right anymore to just walk in, it was so much more her house than it had ever been his. Lou had unhappily accepted his news that he was leaving her all those years ago - maybe she was mad at him and would want to take things slow. After all, four years was an awful long time to be apart and they had only been married for a month before he'd left her.
But Kid found himself arguing with that idea. The letters that he had gotten from her were filled with love and plans for their life together once he returned. There was no clear bitterness on the pages, only sadness. Still, she could have been masking her true feelings for his sake - if he'd been worried about her or upset himself, it would have marred his judgement and made him vulnerable out on the battlefields.
"Well, I may as well get this over with," Kid muttered to himself. He was thankful that he'd taken the opportunity to clean himself up when the stage had stopped for the night in Seneca. He had bought new clothes, shaved off his beard and gotten a haircut. He had some scars that were more visible once the beard was gone but for the first time in four years he was really starting to feel like his old self.
Pushing aside the feeling of stupidity that came upon him at knocking on his own front door, Kid rapped his knuckles against the hard wood anyway. He waited for several seconds for an answer and when none came, tried to peek in the front window closest to the door. That accomplished nothing since the curtains Lou had hung there were made of a heavy lace and all he could make out was a couple pieces of furniture and the fireplace.
He knocked once more, this time more firmly than the last. He was rewarded with the sound of running. Running? Why would Lou be running to the front door, unless she was expecting someone. He knew it wasn't him; Kid had taken the first train west then jumped stage after stage to get home as fast as he could. It would have been a waste of time to write that he was coming home - he would have beaten the letter anyway.
The running had stopped close to the door and now he could barely make out the muffled sounds of voices coming through the wood. He leaned his ear toward the door but couldn't make out what was being said. Just as he was about to knock once more, the door was slowly pulled open.
Kid looked around the opening door and saw nothing. No one was there. Now what the hell was going on? Someone had to have opened the door but where were they? He opened his mouth to call out a greeting but stopped as he heard something behind the door. It was the same mumbling he'd heard when the door was closed.
He also heard the shuffling of feet and found himself glancing toward the floor. Kid observed not two but four tiny feet huddled together. Lifting his eyes slightly, he took a step back in surprise at what was in front of him. This was not what he expected to find. Suddenly he was nervous that something had happened to Lou and she'd been forced to sell the ranch and he was intruding on someone else's family. Quickly, he tried to glimpse something, anything, that would look familiar to him but knew it was futile - anything done to the inside of the house would have occurred after he'd left.
Taking a closer look at the two heads peering around the door at him, Kid started to brush that thought aside. There was something about these two small children in front of him that was so familiar. It was as if he'd seen them somewhere before. The boy had wavy hair and bright blue eyes, it was like looking at a picture of himself at that age, and the girl had dark thick straight hair that flowed down her back, tied in place with a colorful ribbon, and she had the biggest brown eyes he'd seen since the last time he'd gazed into Lou's own eyes.
His breathing became heavier as he realized what he was staring at and what was staring back at him: it was his future, his life. Kid placed a hand on the molding around the door for support as he dared to think the impossible; standing in front of him were his son and daughter. His. Two products of the love he had shared with his wife.
Kid found himself smiling at the two perfect little persons. It must have been enough of a greeting because the boy's curiosity must have gotten the best of him as Kid saw him emerge from behind the door. He noticed the little girl did not venture out after her brother but still held tight to the boy's hand. Kid noticed the child's clean appearance, striped white shirt and dark pants. Knowing the kind of trouble small boys could get themselves into, Kid grinned thinking that Lou must have instructed him that he had to change or there was no way in the world he would be sitting at her table. She probably said he would be eating outside with the animals instead, Kid thought, almost laughing out loud as he pictured Lou having that kind of discussion with someone small as the boy in front of him.
"Who you be?" the boy demanded, as he placed his hands on his hips and scrunched his face up in the exact same manner Kid had seen in Lou more times than he could count.
Kid tried not to laugh at the serious little boy, obviously being the man of the house and protecting his mama and sister.
Before he could answer, Kid saw the girl tug on the boy's hand and softly say, "Jed, you know what mama say 'bout 'trangers."
Jed. Kid felt tears come to his eyes as he realized Lou had named their son after his brother.
"But mama busy, Emma," Jed told his sister. He turned his eyes back to the man in front of them.
Kid smiled at them and spoke with so much emotion that he hoped he wouldn't break down in front of the children and scare them. "Jed, Emma, I'm looking for your mama. Is Louise here?"
Both heads nodded. "She here," Emma said shyly. She kept raising her eyes to look at the tall man before her but when he caught her looking, she quickly blushed and glanced away, rubbing her toe over the floor repeatedly.
"Mama!!" Jed suddenly screamed, glancing down the hallway. "Mama!!"
Kid watched with amusement as his son tried to get his mother's attention by doing everything but going to find her himself. The next instant Emma joined in the calling with her brother, bringing her out from behind the door. She was so pretty in a yellow dress and white apron. He could picture Lou looking just like her when she was that young.
Kid froze as he heard a muffled shout from the back room at the end of the hall. It may have been almost a screech but it was the most beautiful sound he'd even heard.
"Jed, Emma, what's going on out there? Can't I take a bath in peace for five minutes without the two of you tearing the house down?!"
Kid stared at the door where the voice had come from. Lou was in there, ten feet away from him. She was apparently trying to take a bath and not having any luck with it. Kid's mind wandered to another time when she'd taken a bath, only that time she'd invited him to join her and join her he did! He was brought back to the present by shouting coming from below him.
"But, Mama, there a man at the door!" Jed informed his mother.
"Someone's here?" Lou asked in confusion. "Well, if it's your Uncle Buck or Grandpa Teaspoon just let them in. I'll be right there."
"No, it someone else," Emma said innocently.
"Someone else?"
Kid heard the panic Lou's voice took on and could even make out the sound of water sloshing against the side of the tub, obviously from her hasty exit from the water.
"It o'right, he nice," Jed said, smiling at the man.
Kid kept his eyes riveted to the door down the hall as it started to open. He wanted to see her so bad but also didn't want to scare her so he moved slightly so all she would see at first was the children. But before he moved, he could make out her tying a robe in place then pushing her hair over her shoulder. It was so much longer than it had been when he'd left.
Lou had only wanted to soak in the tub and let the muscles from the hard day's chores relax. Usually the kids would give her ten minutes of peace before they came banging on the door, demanding a drink or something to eat. But when Jed said there was a man at the door, she had felt instant panic as to who it could be. Family would usually rap once to get her attention then let themselves in so this was obviously someone the children didn't know.
She could make out the dim outline of a man on the porch but he moved into the shadows before she could see if she knew him. Since the children were now excited to see her and trying to talk to her at once about this stranger, she gave them her attention.
"Mama, he big and nice, he got gun like Unca Jimmy," Jed said, jumping up and down in his excitement.
"Mama, he talk to us," Emma informed her mother, not to be outdone by her brother.
"Now, what did I tell you two about talking to strangers when mama's not around? Mmm? You should have come to get me, not open the door," Lou scolded them.
"See? Tol' you," Emma said to her brother, knowing her mother would say just that.
"I'll deal with you two later," Lou said, sighing. She pulled the belt on her robe tighter and crossed her arms, feeling self-conscious to be talking to a stranger while wearing nothing but a bathrobe. "I'm sorry, sir, but is there something I can help you with?"
"I certainly hope so."
Lou's eyes got wide as she heard the voice out on the porch. It can't be, she told herself. She'd wished just such an occasion too many times, knowing it would more than likely never occur.
"Wh - what did you say?" she hesitantly whispered. She found herself taking a step closer to the open door.
"I said, you've helped me so much in the past, I hope you can help me now." Kid moved until he was standing in the center of the doorway so he and Lou were facing each other.
Lou gasped and brought her hand up to her mouth. Tears instantly came to her eyes as she couldn't look away from the person in front of her. Kid, she cried, but no sound came out.
Jed and Emma instantly attached themselves to their mother, worried over the tears they were seeing.
"Mama, what wrong?" Emma asked, her bottom lip quivering in worry. She relaxed a little as she felt her mother's reassuring hand soothing her hair like it always did when she'd gotten hurt or had a nightmare.
"Mama, know him?" Jed asked, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to show who he was talking about, just in case his mama couldn't figure it out on her own.
Touching her son's shoulder, Lou smiled through her tears and said, "Yeah, Jed, Mama knows him. Mama knows him real well in fact." Her children let their arms release her as they seemed to hear something comforting in her voice.
If this was a dream, it was the best one she'd had in four long years and she hoped she'd never wake up from it.
"Lou," Kid said softly, his voice breaking.
It wasn't a dream, it was real. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Not taking her eyes off her husband, afraid if she did that he might disappear, she said to her son and daughter, "Actually, Jed, you and Emma have never met him but you do know him, from the stories Mama tells you and you see his face around here each and every day. It's the last face I say good night to and the first one I say good morning to each day."
Kid kept his eyes glued to his wife's, not believing what he was hearing. She'd talked about him so his children would know him. How could he thank her for such a gift, let alone for giving him these two precious little beings in front of him?
Curious about what his mother had told him, Jed moved until he was standing under the man in the doorway. He looked this man up and down from head to foot and suddenly realization struck him and he started jumping up and down again.
"Emma, Emma, we know him. It him, he home now. I show you, come on." He grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her toward the stairs. Just as fast as he'd moved, he stopped and came back to Kid. He held up his hand and ordered,"You 'tay here." He then went back to Emma and together then ran up the stairs and out of sight, making a lot of noise in the process.
"I hope you're staying here," Lou said, finding her voice.
"I ain't goin' anywhere," Kid told her, echoing the exact words she'd said to him that afternoon out by the creek after he'd lost his childhood friend, Doritha. It had been the first confirmation that there was a future for the two of them together. He wanted her to know that now as well.
Tentatively, she raised her hand and held it out to him, just like she'd done that day so long ago. She smiled as Kid grinned at her and grasped her tiny fingers into the palm of his large, calloused hand. She prayed he never let go again.
Both turned at the sound of footsteps barreling down the stairs. Jed was very excited as he showed Kid what he'd brought with him. Kid knelt down to see it, glad that his son would give him the opportunity to get this close to him, then looked back up at Lou. It was their wedding picture. He held onto her hand tighter, knowing it was a strain in the positions they were in but not caring.
"You him with mama," Jed told Kid. "He our daddy." Jed showed Emma the picture then pointed to Kid again and again.
"That's right, Jed, he's your daddy." She hated not writing him that she was expecting but she wanted him to come home on his own, just as he had tonight. Lou hoped he would understand why she had done things this way. She paused then addressed Kid,"I bet you never expected a welcome party this big."
"I couldn't have asked for anything better," Kid said standing.
She heard the love in his voice and with the way he was smiling at the children, she knew he accepted what she had done.
Kid had his hand on Jed's shoulder and with the other one, pulled Lou toward him. "Lou, they're gorgeous. You did real good by them." He gingerly released her hand and brought his up to caress her cheek.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. It had been so long. "I always wanted to thank you for your going away presents," she told him as she looked at him then indicated the two heads below them.
Kid stared as he realized what she was telling him. "Well I'll be damned ... I mean -"
"Daddy, that bad word," Jed informed him, tugging on his hand, trying to bring his newfound father down to his level.
"That it is, son, that it is. Your mama taught you well." He smiled at his boy, loving the familiarity that played across the youngster's face. Suddenly he felt a small hand on his other arm and turned to see his daughter beside him.
Ever since the two of them had come bounding down the stairs, Kid had noticed that Emma had held back. She appeared a lot more shy than her outgoing brother and Kid didn't want to push, afraid he would scare her off.
"And it's very nice to meet you, Emma," Kid said quietly, smiling at the beauty next to him. "I'm sorry I haven't been here for you, for both of you, but that's about to change. If you'll let me, I'd like to stay here for maybe forever, how does that sound?"
Emma's face radiated with the biggest smile ever and instinctively, she threw her arms around her father's shoulders. "It sound good, Daddy, right, Mama?"
Lou watched at Kid engulfed the little girl into his big arms, arms that she knew were so gentle to the touch. She then laughed as she saw Jed trying to squirm his way into the hug. Kid ended up losing his balance and landed on his bottom on the hard floor. He grinned up at her as their two children made themselves comfortable on his lap, pushing each other aside in their effort to get the best seat possible.
Lou knelt next to her family and said,"It sounds real good, Emma baby, real good indeed." She reached out and caressed Kid's cheek, noting the scar above his ear but that was a topic for another day. Inching toward him, she paused when her mouth was an inch from his and whispered,"Welcome home, Kid, I mean, Daddy."
Kid laughed then reached out and captured her lips with his. She fell onto him, smothering the children in the process.
"Mama! That hurt," Jed cried out.
Ignoring the squirming going on beneath them, Lou mumbled against Kid's mouth,"You better get used to it, son, I've got lots of time to make up for." She giggled as Kid kissed her harder.
Two heads peeked out from the tangled arms above them then they wiggled their bodies out into the open. Standing up, Emma looked at Jed and said proudly,"That my daddy!"
"That my daddy!" Jed challenged, facing her with hands on his hips.
"That my daddy!" Emma defended, taking on the same stance.
"That my daddy!"
"That my daddy!"
Kid pulled Lou onto his lap now that it was vacant. Nodding toward the stand off in front of them, he asked,"So, how long will they keep that up?"
"Longer than you could ever imagine so you better get used to it right away," Lou sighed, knowingly.
"Well it sounds like music to my ears," Kid told her. He smiled, listening to the tiny voices as they raised in anger, then he turned to the woman in his arms. "Now where were we?" He grinned as she showed him, both becoming oblivious to the shouting around them. They were only interested in greeting each other at the moment, everything else could wait.