Chapter 14

They didn't pursue Kid. Teaspoon thought he may have come to have a last say. He still loved Kid after all. He couldn't bring himself to hunt down one of his boys. Kid just needed time to make amends with himself. He was sure of it. Things around the station had began to get back to normal. Jimmy had finally started improving physically. Lou had taken up sitting with him every day. She told him again that she loved him. He still would not hear of anything about it. She finally told him of the baby. He was shocked, panicked. He withdrew into himself for a while. He still had no hearing or eyesight on one side, the side that took the brunt of the hit. He was laid up for about a month before he even tried to stand. Teaspoon was the one to finally urge him to get up. Now he walked somewhat unsturdy around the station. Noah pushed him everyday until he got him so mad that he got up. Cody, in his own way, took the time to place things at random places all around the station so Jimmy could walk and sit when he got winded. Buck never strayed too far. He kept one eye on Jimmy but Jimmy never knew this. When Buck was gone, Ike took over. Jimmy still had not discussed Lou or his baby. He just kept silent and walked, sat, and went right back to his room. Day after day, they pushed him. They were relentless. Slowly he began to move more out of the darkness into the light. But he was scared. Scared of a gunfighter sneaking up on him cause he couldn't hear, scared of being called out and not acting. He could only see out of one eye, the other was just a blur. They would shoot him easily. He wouldn't leave the station. Teaspoon thought enough was enough. He followed Jimmy on his usual walk, waited for him to sit. He sat beside him.

"Son, this ain't helping nobody." Said Teaspoon quietly.

Silence.

"What's done is done. Time to move forward."

Silence.

"Reckon you still ain't talkin."

Grunt.

"Lou loves you Jimmy. She wants you and only you. She is having your child. You and her should be happy. A baby is a blessing to anyone."

"Why should I? Look what I am, what I've done."

"What are you son?"

Grunt.

"Louise will stick by you no matter what. You know that." Said Teaspoon.

"I do know that Teaspoon. She has told me as much. That is why I don't want her to! I am nothing but trouble. Look what I drove my best friend to! I wrecked Lou's life! I make poor decisions Teaspoon! I ain't fit to be no husband or dad. Now I ain't even whole. It's just a matter of time fore some jackass with a gun comes calling. And when that happens, I'm gonna die Teaspoon."

"Son, that ain't true. People make mistakes. That is what makes us who we are. This happened for a reason. Who knows how Kid would have turned out. Lou might have married him and lived in misery. He might of beat her Jimmy. She may have pined for the one she truly wanted but didn't want her. If you ask me, all this is a good thing. It's time to change things son. This has given you a way out of your old life. Lou will help you heal. You will make her happy. This baby will heal you both. This family will save you if you let it."

Jimmy looked at Teaspoon.

"I can't even see that well. How can I provide for them?"

"Just let them make you happy. The rest will come."

Teaspoon stood and left. Jimmy sat thinking on what he said.

The following weeks, Jimmy starting talking more with Lou. He found that everything just came natural with them. He began to smile and she pulled him into the light. He moved around more every day. His wounds were healing. He felt alive again. Lou picked him up in the buckboard one afternoon since he still could not fully ride. She took him to the pond. They sat and talked. Jimmy stared at the water.

"Louise, I have been an ass. I am sorry for the way I treated you. I just felt that I had done the worst kind of betrayal. I felt low, sick. I still feel like a lost cause, a waste of space."

"Jimmy I love you. I always have. I think what happened was what was meant to happen for me to see my way. And my way is sitting here beside me." Said Louise.

"I ain't a whole man anymore Lou. How will I provide for a family?"

"We will do it together. I will love you no matter what. You are my best friend. You will be a great father, and hopefully a husband one day if I get my way." She giggled.

"I love you Lou. Thanks for not giving up on me. I guess you saved me this time around."

They sat holding hands til the night came.

Jimmy and Lou married beside that same pond. Lou was about seven months pregnant at the time. She didn't want to wait til after the baby was born. Jimmy was back to his old self mostly. He had a few scars, inside and out to keep as a reminder. He often thought of his actions and where Kid was. Teaspoon and the boys helped them build a fine cottage right on the station grounds. Jimmy ended up following some advice from Teaspoon. He changed his last name to McCloud. No more James Hickok. Hopefully no one would ever put two and two together. His hearing never returned on that one side and his eyesight never improved on that same side. He was learning to live with it. Louise took his ivory handled revolvers and locked them in a trunk upstairs. She knew he was recognized by them. She surprised him with a new black revolver and holster. He didn't have to be Wild Bill anymore. His life was finally falling into place.

Their son was born not long after the house was built. They named him Hunter in honor of Teaspoon. The man, the father, who saved them both. The express ended shortly after. Buck and Ike stayed on at the station. Between Jimmy, Buck, Ike and Teaspoon, they built a thriving horse and cattle ranch. Buck and Ike lived in the old bunkhouse. Cody left for the army and bigger things or so he said but he visited often. Noah met a fine young lady named Cassie. They married and lived in town. They were expecting their first child. Teaspoon married Rachel the next year. He now lived in her house. Life was good. Life was beginning. Jimmy sat next to Lou and Hunter on the swing one afternoon watching the sun set.

"Do you miss it Jimmy?" Asked Lou.

"Miss what?"

"The life of adventure and danger."

"Can't say that I do."

"You ever think of Kid?"

"Quite often. I hope he and I cross paths again. I need to know he is alright, that I am sorry. "

"Sorry?"

"I went about this all wrong. I should have went to him from the start. Told him how I felt towards you. Got the anger out. He might still be here today."

"He might also have done the exact same thing as well. His temper was horrible when he got out of control."

"I know but I also kinda need to thank him. He put me in my place. I had to stop and see what was in front of me. I had to change my life because of him. He actually did me, us a favor. I can never hate him. I still hate myself sometimes though."

"Jimmy, don't ever hate yourself. I am the happiest person in the world right now. Things went wrong, people got hurt, but we grew up and now look at what we got."

"I know Lou. I can't ever forget though. "

"I know. Me either."

"I love you Lou."

"I love you Jimmy."

Jimmy picked up his son and held him tight. A little replica of himself. He smiled.

The happy family didn't realize that sitting on the horizon watching them with hurt and anger in his eyes was Kid. I hate him. I hate Jimmy Hickok. If I am miserable, then he will be too. The time will come soon enough. Yes, his time will come.

The End