Chapter 1

Jimmy stood outside the barn brushing one of their horses. He stopped and smiled watching Louise attempt to work in the garden with Rachel. Their surprise arrival was running around almost tearing up the entire thing. Elijah was born five years ago. Jimmy remembered how close that he had came to losing Louise that day but he also remembered the day that she got to hold her child for the first time almost a week later. The light in her eyes that day always seemed to push away the bad thoughts of his birth. Jimmy shook his head as he led the horse back in the barn. He could hear Lou and Rachel fussing outside. She met him at the door as he was walking back out pulling a giggling Eli by his hand.

"Your turn." She said.

"What in the world is that look for? Are you trying to tell me that your baby is giving you a hard time? Not Eli." Jimmy smiled.

"I ain't gonna say anything. Just take him. And he is still my baby!" Lou turned around and walked back to the garden where Rachel was trying not to smile.

"Where's Annie and Lori, by the way?" Jimmy yelled.

"Pulling laundry!" Lou yelled over her shoulder.

Jimmy looked down and Eli was gone. He spun around just as he was climbing on the top rail of the corral. He grabbed the wild boy and pulled him down.

"Let's see. I think your Grandpa is moving chickens this morning. I think it might just be the job for you."

"Please, can we go now?"

"Sure. I think he is gonna be so happy to see us." Jimmy said as the two walked over to Teaspoon's new chicken coop.

Rachel pointed over to Teaspoon as Lou looked up.

"Oh Lord. That ain't gonna last long." She said.

"I think it will keep him occupied for a while. That boy has so much energy. Wish I had it." Rachel smiled as she watched Jimmy sit beside Teaspoon to watch Eli run chickens all over the yard.

"Of all the ways to occupy a child. I tell ya we are getting too old for this. Those poor chickens will never be the same."

"Count your blessings, Louise. You have a beautiful, healthy family."

"We've sure had some tough times in the past years."

"But look at y'all now."

Lou smiled as she watched Eli run a chicken down and grab it around its neck. Jimmy jumped up and pried the chicken out of his grasp. She saw Eli turn and argue with his Daddy. Jimmy just stood bent over in front of him trying not to smile as the little boy made his point. She laughed as Eli turned to run after another chicken. Jimmy put his hand on his lower back as he slowly straightened back up. He walked over and eased down next to Teaspoon. She knew that he was always in pain ever since he was shot in his lower back but he never said a word. The front door of the house slammed shut as Annie and Lori now fifteen came out fussing carrying a load of laundry. Lou's girls both had long dark hair. Annie always kept her hair braided and neat while Lori usually let hers just fly everywhere. They were just a little taller than she was.

"Here comes my blessings." Sighed Lou.

"What's going on with them now?"

"Boys. And their Daddy."

Rachel and Lou went back to their garden. Hunter and Lucas took that moment to ride into the yard. Lou watched as her boys tied and swung down from their horses. Hunter was now a man at twenty and hard as hell to deal with sometimes. Lucas was now eighteen and too damn smart for his own good. Hunter now looked just like Jimmy did that first day that she met him at the beginning of the express. Lucas had took a turn and now looked like his father but he had kept her eyes. He had caring eyes. Both of those bad boys of hers had that same long hair as their father. She watched the two little Jimmys tend their horses wondering where the hell they had been. She watched Jimmy hand Eli off to Teaspoon and walk over to his boys. Triple trouble she thought. She went back to her gardening.

"Hunter! Where did you and Lucas go?!" Annie shrieked as she dropped the laundry.

"Here we go." Mumbled Lou.

Annie stomped over to Hunter who was ignoring her. Lori followed.

"Where did you go?!" She yelled again.

"Town." Said Hunter.

"You had no right putting your nose in my business!"

"I had every right! You are my sister and that boy ain't good enough for you!"

Jimmy stepped up and got between his kids. He pushed them apart.

"He ain't nothing but trouble so we had to do something. We didn't hurt him if that's what your implying." Said Lucas.

"Lucas!" Annie yelled.

"Stop! Stop it right now!" Yelled Jimmy.

Lou stood and wiped her hands off.

"Sorry Rachel. I'll be back shortly. Like I said, boy trouble."

She walked over and got her girls.

"Come tell me what the hell is going on, now." She pulled the two girls back toward the house.

"I'm gonna kill you Hunter!" Yelled Annie.

"Just you wait until you get a girl. We're gonna make your life hell!" Yelled Lori.

Jimmy stood with his hands on his hips. He turned to look at his boys who were smiling.

"What did y'all do?"

"Annie was trying to see Billy from town. We just had a little chat with him today." Said Hunter shrugging.

"Y'all can't get in your sister's business like that." Said Jimmy.

"I didn't let Hunter hurt him. We just talked is all. Delicately but not too delicately." Smiled Lucas.

"Let's just say that he hopefully won't be a problem anymore." Said Hunter.

Jimmy heard the door to the house slam. He waited just a minute before putting his hands on his boy's shoulders. He laughed.

"Good job, boys."