Dearly Beloved

Chapter 10

April 1885 – One Year Later

"Quiet!"

"Give me the presents, you'll drop 'em."

"Ow, Ethan, you're standing on my foot!"

Kid hushed his children once more as they paused outside the bedroom door. He nodded to Jake who opened it and peered inside. His mother was still sleeping. Jake gave the others a quick nod and Kid, Jamie, Charlotte, Ethan and he slipped inside the room.

Kid knew she was only pretending to be asleep. No one could have slept through the ruckus in the kitchen as they prepared her traditional birthday breakfast in bed. But she kept up the charade, enjoying the annual treat that Jamie and Adam had started when they were little, and which all her children participated in every year.

"Okay, son," Kid nudged Jake, whose turn it was to wake the birthday girl.

The ten-year-old's response was to jump on the bed and yell 'Happy birthday!" at the top of his lungs, and he was soon joined by Ethan. Lou shrieked in mock surprise and sat up in bed to receive hugs and kisses and birthday wishes from her children.

"We made pancakes," Ethan said, as Kid deposited the tray onto her lap.

"Thank you, they look delicious," she replied, kissing Ethan once more.

"Open your presents first, Mama," ordered Charlie, as she produced a number of gifts.

Lou beamed, and accepted the presents. Jake and Ethan had made theirs, while Jamie and Charlie had pooled their money to buy her a gold locket.

"You shouldn't have," she gushed, allowing Charlie to fasten it behind her neck. "It's beautiful."

"Guess you'll have to choose your favorite now – you won't be able to fit a picture of all of us in there," said Jamie with a grin.

Kid produced a small gift from behind his back. "Here, Adam sent this from St. Louis."

Lou took it gratefully, pleased that he had remembered even though he was busy with final exams. She unwrapped the box to find a set of pearl earrings. She smiled through misty eyes as she read the enclosed card from her son.

"No cryin', it's your birthday," Kid said sternly.

Lou nodded and sniffed. "Adam and Beth send their love."

"Eat your pancakes!" cried Jake, hating to see their masterpiece go to waste.

Lou did not stop smiling as she sampled the chewy offering, thinking they were the best pancakes she had ever eaten.

Later, after she had dressed and was getting ready to start the day properly, Lou was surprised when Kid reappeared in their bedroom alone.

"I thought you were down in the stables," she said slyly, noting he was hiding something behind his back.

"I haven't given you your present yet," he replied, eyes twinkling.

She accepted a loving kiss from him which deepened until her hand snuck around behind his back and she plucked the envelope from his hand. Only then did she break the embrace.

"What do we have here?" she inquired in light voice.

Kid sighed, and threw up his hands. "Go on then, open it."

Unable to hide her grin, Lou took a seat on the bed, followed by Kid. She tore open the envelope without ceremony and read the contents of the piece of paper within.

"Kid," she breathed, after she realized what he'd done.

He grinned in response, glad to see his gift had the desired effect. "Well, I figured we're headin' to St. Louis for the weddin' next month, we might as well keep on goin'."

"New York?"

"You always said you wanted to visit a big city."

"I did…"

"Thought we could stop off and see Theresa along the way, and Jeremiah's promised to come up from Texas for a few days, if he can get away."

"We can see Theresa's new baby!"

"Uh huh. And after New York, maybe Washington, and I was hopin' we could take a trip through Virginia too."

Lou knew how much that would mean to him. She threw her arms around his neck and help him tightly. "Thank you. I love my present."

She drew back, looking at the paper once more. Only then did a small frown crease her brow. "All this will take some time."

"Yep, reckon we'll be gone several months."

"But what about –"

Kid cut her off. "It's all been planned. Jamie will run things here, and Charlie will look after Ethan and Jake. Now she's finished school she'll be able to spend more time helpin' Jamie too."

"But we can't go away for such a long time after Adam and Beth come home…"

"Adam and Beth will be settlin' into their own house – they don't need two old folks like us hangin' around."

Lou tried not to smile at the comment. "We're not old."

"No, and I'd like to see somethin' of the country before we are. Besides, it's not like we ever had a honeymoon. Thought it was about time we did."

That was true enough, Lou admitted. The weeks after they were married was such a tumultuous time, with their family being torn apart by the war and the untimely (or, more precisely, the timely) discovery that she was already pregnant with Jamie. The last thing they'd been able to do back then was think about a honeymoon. In subsequent they'd been too busy with the ranch and babies to travel, and she'd almost forgotten her wish to visit a big city and stay in a fancy hotel. She was touched that Kid had remembered all these years.

"Guess we got some packin' to do. Won't be long before we leave," she said happily, taking his hands in hers. "I love you, Kid."

"Happy birthday, Lou." Kid kissed her once more.