Chapter Ten
More than once on their way to Tompkins, kid had to refrain from putting his arms around Lou or offering to assist her onto the sidewalk leading up to the mercantile. There was something about her carrying Katie that made him want to hold her close, and shelter them in the protective folds of his arms.
"I wonder if Rachel's done any shopping for Katie yet?" Kid said as he held the door open for her.
"I doubt it." Lou entered the store with Kid a step behind her. "She said she would wait for us to join her so we could all do the choosing."
"Rachel?" Kid called out, nodding to Tompkins at the back of the store.
He saw the older man's bushy eyebrows arch as Tompkins caught sight of the bundle in Lou's arms. He flashed the shopkeeper a grin before following Lou down the first aisle to the right towards the location where Rachel's answering,'over here' had come from.
They found Rachel standing in front of a shelf displaying a wide assortment of items Kid assumed were all needed in the caring of a 'baby'. There were glass bottles in different shapes and sizes, a collection of ins that had labels which read 'lotion,''powder,' and 'salve.' There were also brush and comb sets, silver spoons, and many other things.
Kid stared at the display of baby items and felt overwhelmed. He had no idea where to start shopping and was glad Rachel and Lou were there to help him select the items they would need to care for Katie.
"Kid, you okay?" Lou asked, noticing the way he was staring at the shelves of baby items.
"Yeah, just a bit overwhelmed is all." Kid admitted.
"That's normal." Rachel assured him. "Most folks have time to prepare for a baby coming, not have one dropped on them out of the blue."
"I'm glad I have you and Lou to help me. I'd be lost otherwise." Kid said.
"You aren't alone,Kid." Lou reminded him softly. "Whatever happens next, we're in this together."
Kid smiled at her.
"Hand Katie over to Kid, Lou, and we'll get started." Rachel suggested.
Kid welcomed Katie into his arms, and the threesome set to work on picking out the things they would need to care for Katie. Rachel and Lou did most of the choosing, with Kid voicing his opinion. After choosing bottles, spoons, tins of lotions, powder, and salve among other things, the trio moved over to the aisle where the ready to wear clothing and bolts of fabrics were located.
The list of items they had already picked out, grew as they made their selections. Bleached muslin for diapers. Durable material for blankets, quilts, bedding, and pillows. Several lengths of cotton, in various colors and patterns were chosen for Rachel and Lou to fashion into dresses and bonnets. Brightly colored yarn was chosen for shawls and booties. By the time they were finished shopping, there was quite a pile stacked on Tomkins' counter.
"You and Teaspoon take on another orphan?" Tompkins asked the housekeeper as she, Kid, and Lou stepped up to it.
"No," Kid told the shopkeeper, "Katie's mine."
"yours?" Tompkins' mouth dropped open in surprise. "I didn't know you were attached to anyone around here Kid."
"I'm not." Kid didn't look at Lou." Katie's ma was someone I knew before I joined the express."
"So you are a pa now." Tompkins commented."Guess congratulations are in order."
Tompkins' words surprised Kid. He had expected disapproval or a snide remark from the storekeeper. The older man had never cared much for him or any of the other riders and there had been many altercations between all of them.
"Thanks," Kid murmured.
"Rachel, the express supplies have already been tallied up." Tompkins directed his next words to the housekeeper.
"I guess we should have brought a wagon." Rachel commented as she took in the express supplies and the pile of items they had selected for Katie.
"We'll take the few things we'll immediately need for Katie with us to the station, and then I'll come back with a wagon for the rest." Kid said.
Katie began to stir in his arms as he spoke, Kid watched with fascination as her tiny eyelids fluttered open and she gazed up at him through blue eyes identical to his own. Katie's nose wrinkled up and her little mouth opened, and he was startled by the ear piercing wail that escaped between her small lips.
"I'll take Katie back to the station and feed her." Lou suggested, reaching for the squirming bundle in Kid's arms.
Kid's relief was obvious as he handed his upset daughter to Lou. "Will you send one of the fellas over with a wagon?"
"Sure." Lou turned to leave, but Rachel stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"You're going to need this." The housekeeper tucked a can of "Nestle Infant milk" between the crook of Lou's arm and Katie's tiny feet.
"Thanks." Lou made a quick departure with the fussing Katie, leaving Kid and Rachel to wait for Tompkins to finish adding up the items Kid was purchasing for Katie.