Harper
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
A light but steady rain accompanied them throughout their two day journey back to Cheyenne, and as they passed the lane leading to the Curry homestead, Kid hesitated as he seriously considered a brief stop for a change of clothes and a cup of hot coffee.
But Deidre, a full eight months pregnant, was in Cheyenne staying with her parents and Kid's eagerness to be reunited with his wife outweighed the physical comforts of dry clothes and a warm belly.
"Just five or six more miles," Heyes said, encouraging his partner to continue on.
Kid leaned forward and a little to one side and let the pooled water stream off the brim of his hat. He readjusted his hat so any additional accumulation of water would stream down the back of his sherpa, and gave his chestnut a kick with his stirrups. The horse nickered as though trying to tell Kid they were home, where a warm barn and fresh hey awaited. Then as though realizing the journey was not over, the animal shook his head and continued down the road.
"Sure hope my saddlebags stayed dry," Kid grumbled, knowing he had a change of clothes buried deep in the bags. "Might hafta to warm em by the fire first though."
"I'm sure Deidre ain't gonna notice you're sopping wet. She'll just be glad to see you."
"It's funny Heyes, but I don't like being away from her, especially right now with the baby just a month away."
"I think that's what they call true love, Kid, when a man starts thinking more about his family than he does himself."
Kid shot Heyes a smile, realizing he and Heyes had often shared a similar, though platonic kinship throughout the years. But not wanting to appear sentimental, Kid turned his head, then leaned slightly forward and gave the chestnut a pat on the neck.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Cheyenne was a moderately sized town, not well situated for industrial growth, but very near both the Colorado and the Nebraska borders, and less than a day's travel to Denver. It's primary business attraction was the vast, open grazing lands much sought after by cattle ranchers. Those ranchers kept Cheyenne's staple businesses such as the liveries, two blacksmith shops, and three general stores thriving. The hired hands made saloons, and even bath houses and barber shops lucrative. Kid's gun shop also profited handsomely as no cowboy felt completely dressed without his six shooter and a gun belt stocked with bullets.
The Whitmer house was located on Spring Street, one of a dozen side streets branching out from the original main street of Cheyenne. It was here that Heyes and Kid parted company.
"You two gonna be heading back to your place yet today?" Heyes asked as he watched Kid dismount and gather his saddlebags.
"I doubt her Ma's gonna want us out in the rain, so I suspect I'll be spending the night here."
"Breakfast tomorrow?" Heyes asked.
"I'm guessing not. Mrs. Whitmer likes cooking so I think I'll likely be having breakfast with the in-laws before heading home with my wife. Maybe you could come out for supper later in the week."
Heyes smiled. "Just let me know when."
Kid nodded but turned and hurried up the walk to the porch. Heyes watched for just a moment before pulling hard on his reins to head to the nearest livery.
Kid removed his hat and drained the excess water onto the plank floor of the porch. Then he slipped out of his coat and draped it over a chair. As he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open and his very pregnant wife greeted him with arms spread wide. Kid dropped his saddlebags and walked into her warm embrace, wrapping his own arms tightly about her.
"Oh, I've missed you," Deidre exclaimed.
"Is that Jed?" Deidre's mother called from the parlor before Kid could even offer a reply.
"Ah, yes Ma'am," he called, then planted a warm kiss on his wife's lips.
"Deidre, bring him in here out of that rain, child! Mrs. Whitmer called.
Kid smiled, picked up his saddlebags, and slipped his arm behind Deidre's back as he walked into the house and shut the door with his boot.
"She's been cooking all day in anticipation of your arrival," Deidre whispered in his ear.
Kid smiled. "Good, cause I've been living on rabbit stew."
Walking into the kitchen, still arm in arm with his wife, Kid took a deep breath to savor all the sweet aromas. Closing his eyes, he smiled. "This must be what heaven smells like."
Mrs. Whitmer smiled. "Come, sit down and I'll fix you something to tide you over till supper," she said as she opened the oven and lifted out a heavy pan of pot roast. She set the pan on the top of the stove and began slicing a few pieces that she placed on a plate to set down in front of Kid. "Would you like some coffee?"
"Please, Ma'am. Need something to take the chill outta me," he replied as Deidre handed him a knife and a fork and he cut a healthy bite of the meat and popped it into his mouth. "Mrs. Whitmer, you are the finest cook I have ever come across."
Mrs. Whitmer laughed as she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. "So tell us all about this hideout of yours," she said as she returned to her work ladling broth over the roast beef before putting the pan back into the oven.
Deidre pulled a chair up beside him and eased herself into it, an awkward process that did not go unnoticed by her husband.
"You alright, darlin?" he asked with some concern.
Deidre gently rubbed her large midsection as she sighed, but smiled. "This child is getting pretty active in there. I think he's getting anxious to get out and see the world."
Kid reached over and gently laid his open palm on her belly. He smiled and laughed when he felt a kick against her abdomen.
"That baby better not be too anxious. Still got another month to go before he's ready to greet the world," Mrs. Whitmer cautioned.
"Still think he's a boy, uh?" Kid asked.
"She's carrying him high and as round as a big ball of yarn. If I was a betting woman, I'd put money on a boy."
"Ma, doctor says there ain't no way to tell till he,or she is here," Deidre told her mother.
"A doctor don't know everything, dear. A woman knows about these things."
Deidre didn't argue with her mother, but she did turn to Kid and shot him a knowing wink. "So, tell us about the hideout, Jed," she said, changing the subject.
"That invitation only party went real well," Kid replied. "Dee, you remember that newspaper reporter we met on the train a few months back?"
She nodded eagerly, content to hear every detail.
"Well he came and wrote an article about us. He said it would get posted in the Denver paper and the Cheyenne paper this week."
"Oh, that's exciting," she exclaimed. "I'm anxious to see what he's written. I'm sure it will be good. He was so excited about the possibility of interviewing you."
"And this time he got Heyes and the other boys as well."
Hearing a commotion at the front door, Mrs. Whitmer wiped her hands on her apron. "Your pa must be home," she said as she hurried out of the room.
"So how are you, really?" Kid asked now that they had a minute alone.
"I'm fine. I'm tired, and my ankles are puffy, but Doc says that's normal," she told him.
"You want to head home after supper tonight? We could borrow the buckboard and I can bring it back in the morning," Kid suggested.
"Ma would have a conniption and besides, the doctor is stopping by in the morning. It would save him a trip out to our place if we was to stay here tonight."
"Alright, darlin, whatever you're comfortable with," Kid replied.
Deidre gave his arm a squeeze, then tilted her head, expecting him to lean in and kiss her, to which he willingly obliged.
"Jed!" Mr. Whitmer called from the foyer.
"We're in the kitchen, Pa," Deidre shouted in return.
"Jed, did you fill that order for Fort Bridger before you left?"" Mr. Whitmer asked.
"Yes sir."
"Well you got a telegram this morning saying you're six cases short on the ammunition."
Jed nodded. "I told them that when I sent the order out to them. Those six cases are being delivered directly from the supplier."
"Probably ought to send another telegram then and let the Captain know."
"I'll go to the telegraph office after supper and take care of that."
"I figured it must have just been a miscommunication," Mr. Whitmer replied."So, how are all your outlaw friends?"
Kid laughed. "Just fine, sir."
"We were thinking of heading home after supper, Ma," Deidre said with a quick wink to Jed.
"You'll do no such thing. You can leave tomorrow after the doctor's seen you. Honestly, sometimes I worry about the common sense the two of you share between you."
"You want to walk with me to the telegraph office after supper, if the rain has stopped?" Kid asked Deidre, but again, Mrs. Whitmer piped up before Deidre could answer.
"You know a respectable lady does not go out in public in your condition, Deidre. It's not proper and ladylike."
"Ma, I married an outlaw. I think the ship has sailed on anyone ever thinking of me as being proper," Deidre teased.
"Deidre!"
"Former outlaw," Kid corrected.
"I'll dress to camouflage, Ma, but if the rain stops, I'm taking a walk with my husband."
Kid looked at rather sheepishly and shrugged just a little. "I'll tell you what, Ma'am. My duster's on the porch along with my jacket. Dee can wear that and nobody's gonna be seeing she's in a family way," Kid replied, trying to appease his mother-in-law without actually giving in to her.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"I can't tell you how much I've missed you," Deidre told Kid as they walked hand in hand down the street toward the telegraph office. "Ma is being so protective."
"She just worries about her own baby, that's all. She don't want nothing happening to you."
"You think she's right, about the baby being a boy?"
"All I know is she's got a fifty-fifty chance of being right, darlin.' If it turns out she is, we'll never hear the end of it, and she becomes an automatic expert."
"Will you be disappointed if it's a girl?"
Kid smiled. "Only thing that's important to me is that the baby and the mama are healthy. You been thinking about names, Dee?"
"That's about all I've been doing all week."
"Come up with any?"
"Jedediah if it's a boy?"
Kid shook his head. "I don't want to saddle my child with a Junior attached to his name. His last name is going to be hard enough on him over the years. I don't want to add insult to injury."
They reached the telegraph office and walked inside. Deidre took a seat on the bench while Kid wrote out and paid for the telegram he was sending to Fort Bridger. Ten minutes later they were on their way home again.
"How about Thaddeus?" she asked, resuming the conversation.
"I don't know. I was never too fond of that name. Heyes was the one that chose it."
"I think is sounds like a strong name. Didn't President Lincoln name one of his sons Thaddeus?"
Kid shrugged. "Tad Curry, it don't sound too bad. But what if it's a girl?"
"My Ma's maiden name was Harper. I kind of like that."
"Harper Curry," Kid mused, then smiled. "Say that real fast. Harpercurry. It sounds like some medical ailment."
"How about Sawyer?"
"Sawyer?"
"I read a book about..."
"I know the book and we ain't given our daughter the last name of some wild little boy who won't mind his aunt Polly."
"You have read the book," Dee remarked.
"At least four times," Kid said proudly.
They reached the house and Kid helped Deidre out of his duster.
"You look tired," she told him.
"To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind calling it a night."
Deidre smiled. "Alright, I'll let Ma and Pa know we're back, then I'll be in to join you."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The next morning they had breakfast with Deidre's parents and late in the morning Doctor Harvey stopped by for Deidre's examination. At Deidre's insistence, Kid accompanied Deidre and the doctor into the bedroom for the examination.
When the examination was finished, Dr. Harvey packed his medical bag while Deidre finished readjusting her clothing.
"Well?" Kid asked
"Well, everything seems to be going along as expected," Dr. Harvey said. "There's a little more swelling around the ankles than I'd like to see, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned about. Keep your legs raised up as much as you can."
"And the baby's alright?" Kid asked.
"The baby appears to be healthy and strong. I'd say you have about six more weeks before that child makes an appearance. In the mean time, take it easy and don't overdo, but don't let yourself get too lazy either."
Deidre carefully brought her legs over the side of the bed to sit on the edge and placed an open hand over her belly. Kid smiled and crossed the room to sit down beside her and gently rested his hand on top of hers.
"I'll just see myself out," Dr. Harvey said as he left the room.
Kid, smiling ear to ear, rested his forehead against Deidre's. "Six more weeks and you're gonna be a Mama" he whispered.
Deidre smiled. "I already am."
Kid pulled his head back, looked at her with admiration. "Yes you are," he said and leaned in and kissed her. "You ready to go home now, Mama?" he asked.
Deidre giggled. "I sure am, Papa."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
They borrowed Mr. Whitmer's carriage and drove the five files out of town to their cabin. Kid helped Deidre out of the wagon and kept a steady arm about her as they walked the uneven path up to the house.
"As soon as we get in the house, you sit down and get your feet up and I'll go take care of the carriage. You want something to drink before I head out to the barn?"
"Jed, I'm not an invalid, and if you start treating me like one, I'm going to start calling you Ma."
I think I'd be a poor excuse for a mother," Kid grumbled. "By the way, has the doctor said anything about you and me... you know...doing...?"
Deidre laughed. "I actually asked him about that last week. He said if we can find a way to accomplish that, well more power to us."
Kid smiled. "I'm a firm believer that where there's a will, there is a way. I'll be back in a few minutes," he added, and headed out to take the carriage and the horse to the barn."
But when Kid came back into the cabin, he found Deidre fast asleep on the daybed. He reached for the blanket on the back of the settee and carefully draped it over his sleeping wife. Then he headed to the kitchen to see what he could do in the way of getting supper started.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"You sure you're gonna be alright while I'm gone?" Kid asked the next morning after harnessing his horse to the carriage and tossing his saddle and blanket in the rear seat.
"You planning on making a day of it?" she asked.
Kid shook his head. "Thought I'd order the lumber for the cradle, though."
"If you see Heyes, why don't you invite him to supper on Friday."
"I think he'll be busy on Friday, darlin. That's a poker night in the saloons and he's prospecting a new business. I think he'll be visiting all them establishments, purely for work, mind you," he said with an impish grin.
"Then Thursday," she replied.
Kid nodded. "If I don't see him, I'll leave him a note at the hotel where he's staying."
"If you think of it, pick me up some soaking salts so I can take a foot bath and maybe get rid of some of this swelling."
Kid nodded. "I'll look for a newspaper, too. I'll should be back around noon."
Kid stopped first at the in-laws to drop off the carriage. Having anticipated his arrival, Mrs. Whitmer had kept a plate of breakfast warm in the oven, so Kid sat down and, without a complaint, had a second breakfast.
"I wish the two of you would reconsider staying here until the baby comes," Mrs. Whitmer told him over her second cup of coffee. "I hate her being so far out of town and away from the doctor's care."
"Yes Ma'am," was Kid's only reply not wanting to commit to her request, but not wanting to offend her as well.
"You know, when Deidre's sister Claire was born, I had a terrible time of it. I'm just afraid the same might be true of Deidre with her first one."
"I'm taking good care of her," Kid assured her. "I've brought more than a few colts into this word. It can't be much different from that."
"That's a man's way of thinking, Jed, comparing a human baby to an animal. The two ain't the same at all."
"No Ma'am," Kid replied, then quickly thanked her for the breakfast before making the excuse that he wanted to get back to Deidre as quickly as possible.
Kid next stopped by his gun shop that Mr. Whitmer was still managing for him. He did a quick inventory check and made a list of the items that needed to be restocked.
"I'll order these things before I head home," he told his father-in-law.
Kid then placed his order at the lumber mill, stopped at the general store for a few things, including a newspaper, then headed to the hotel in hopes of seeing Heyes.
I know it's early, Kid, but why don't we run across the street to the Silver Dollar and get a sandwich?"
"That would be my third meal since I got up this morning. Even I don't have that big of an appetite, Heyes."
Heyes grinned. "Then how about a quick beer?"
Kid nodded with a grin. "Let's go," he said, and they headed across the street to the saloon.
"You gonna be out scouting your new business today?" Kid asked as the beers were brought to the table.
"Actually I may have already found it," Heyes replied.
"Where?"
"Right here."
Kid looked around the saloon with an admiring eye.
"I was in here last night talking to the owner, trying to put out some feelers. Well, the owner is an older man and he actually offered me a manager's job. When I told him my background, he said he might be interested in selling half of this place."
"You're getting another new partner?"
Heyes laughed. "No. He said he was looking to full out retire in a couple of years and I could likely buy him out by then. I didn't tell him I had enough money to buy him our right now. I figure sharing ownership for a couple of years helps me get established and don't put as much financial burden on me. I figure with the money I got left over I could buy me a place to live."
"Sounds like a good plan. You gonna make him an offer?"
"I figure I'll talk with him some more tonight and see what kind of money he's thinking of making in a deal. Then I'll go from there."
Kid nodded and took a sip of his beer. "Oh, before I forget, Deidre wanted me to invite you for supper Thursday night."
"Well tell her thank you. I'll be there. How's she doing?"
"Tired. Doc says these last few weeks are about as hard as those first couple of months."
"Morning sickness again?"
"No, just tired and holding water," Kid said, then gave a slight chuckle. "I ain't stupid enough to say nothing, but them ankles of hers is huge. Doc says that's where all the extra water is going."
"Maybe she ought to cut back on the amount of water she's drinking," Heyes suggested.
"That was my first thought, but Deidre says that would cut back on the amount of water the baby's getting, too. So, she's just keeping her feet up as much as she can."
"Well, it shouldn't be too much longer."
"Doc says about six weeks."
Heyes smiled. "I can't believe my partner is going to be a father."
"Hard for me to believe, too."
Kid returned home just before noon and found Deidre sitting on the daybed with her feet up. He waved the newspaper in the air. "I ain't read it yet," he announced.
"Well come here and sit down and tell me what it says," she replied eagerly.
Kid sat down and scanned the first page, finding no mention of the Devil's Hole Inn and Tavern. He turned to the next page, then the next page, and still nothing and the expression on his face turned to a frown. Continuing to turn pages, he finally spotted the article on the next to the last page.
"Ah, here it is," he said as he folded the paper and began reading silently to himself. When he reached the second paragraph he smiled.
"Jed, what does it say?" she demanded.
Kid cleared his throat, then began reading aloud. "The primitive buildings set in a rustic and heavily forested location explains why the Devil's Hole Gang was never successfully invaded by any posse and today offers a serene refuge to the weary traveler. Being greeted and catered to by a few of the former outlaws, including Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes only adds to the highly anticipated nuance."
"Why are you stopping?"
"What's nuance?" Kid asked.
"Atmosphere."
"So that's a good thing?"
"Very. It sounds like he loved the place."
Kid's eyes returned to the article as he looked for the spot where he had stopped. "Accommodations are rustic and lack a certain amount of privacy, but I am assured that improvements are forthcoming. Despite its out of the way location, I would highly recommend a visit to what has been renamed The Hole Inn and Tavern, located just eighteen miles east of Claymore, Wyoming. For additional information as well as as detailed interview with several former members of the Devil's Hole Gang, see this weeks Denver Chronicle Newspaper."
"That was a wonderful promotional ad for the place," Deidre said.
Kid smiled. "Yeah. Maybe Wheat and Kyle will make a good go of it, after all."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The next four weeks passed uneventfully and by the end of the month, the baby's position had obviously changed as the bulk of the pregnancy appeared to have dropped lower in Deidre's abdomen. This put additional pressure on her back, but eased her breathing some.
"Doc says the baby's dropping lower means he or she is getting into position to get born," Deidre explained to Kid. "He says I ain't got as much pressure on my... I think he called it my diagram," she explained and swept her hand across the area below her breasts where the diaphragm muscle was located.
Kid watched her movement but was more interested in the growing size of her breasts.
"My diagram is down here," she said with some exasperation.
Kid laughed. "Sorry, darlin. It's just that..."
"Well these ain't for your pleasure right now," she scolded.
"That baby don't know just how lucky he is," Kid replied.
"I think my Ma was right after all. Men only got one thing on their minds."
"Once again, I don't mean to contradict your Ma, but that just plain ain't true," Kid replied. "I am every bit as interested in your diagram as I am in your... In this baby coming, darlin."
Deidre laughed. "You're just already thinking about the next one, ain't you?"
"I swear darling, I'm only thinking about the here and now. Priorities is what they are, and this baby and your well being are tied for number one."
"I swear you could charm your way out of a snake pit... Jed, you realize we're gonna be parents by Christmas?"
"It's kind of a daunting thought, ain't it? But I know you're gonna be the best mother that ever walked this earth."
Deidre smiled. "Yep, right out of a snake pit."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Jed!" Deidre exclaimed and threw her arm hard against the stomach of her sleeping husband.
Jed woke with a loud groan from the hard and unexpected blow. "What is it?" he asked urgently.
"My water broke."
Only then did Kid become aware of the wet sheet beneath them and he sat up and shifted to look at her. "The baby coming?"
Her eyes shifted in his direction and he could see both excitement and fear in her expression as she nodded her head, then winced at the ensuing contraction.
Having only the moonlight casting a dull gray hue in the room, Kid turned and fumbled with the matchbox. Pulling out a single match, he struck it against the nightstand and a small flame erupted on the stick. Removing the glass globe, Kid lit the oil lamp, returned the globe to it's proper position, shook out the match, then turned his attention back to his wife.
"You able to stand?" he asked.
She nodded rapidly. "I think so."
Kid got up and crossed to the other side of the bed and took her hands in his own and gently helped her move her legs off the bed, She managed to stand and he wrapped his arms around her and walked her to the rocking chair in the corner of the room. Then he quickly pulled the sheets from the bed, spread a heavy blanket over the damp mattress, then darted out of the room to retrieve a clean set of sheets.
Deidre sat with both arms wrapped protectively about her abdomen and gently rocked in the chair as she eyed his every move.
"Ready to get back into bed?" he asked after the clean dry sheets had been spread over the heavy blanket.
Deidre nodded nervously and Kid again wrapped her in his arms and helped her back into the bed.
"Better go get the doctor," she told him.
"Dee, it's the middle of the night. It would take me at least an hour to wake him and get him back here. I ain't leaving you here all alone. Besides, he said he'd be here in the morning.
"Jed, I'm scared."
Kid sat down on the bed beside here and stroked her hair. "Darlin, this is your first one and they generally take longer getting born then the ones to follow. You ain't had but one contraction. I think we still got a few hours before this baby makes his first introduction.
Deidre laughed nervously. "He?" she asked.
"Or she," he corrected. "Now I'm gonna go put a big pot of water on the stove and bring some towels and cloths in here. You need anything, anything at all, you just give a holler."
"What if the baby comes before the doctor gets here?" she asked frantically.
"Then I guess I'll be helping you birth him. It won't be the first time I've brought a life into this world, so don't be frettin'."
She nodded rapidly and rubbed her belly. "Hurry," she told him.
Kid left the room and raced about gathering all the things he thought they might be needing. He returned to the room and placed all the supplies on the seat of the rocking chair. He could feel her eyes glued to his every movement.
"You need another pillow?" he asked as he turned to see how she was faring.
She nodded and Kid reached across the bed for his pillow, then gently lifted her shoulders from the bed and slipped the pillow behind her. He had no sooner laid her back down when she arched and winced with another contraction.
"Don't hold your breath," he told her. "Breathe in and out like this," he said, taking short and rapid breaths through his mouth.
She tried to do as he instructed and slowly the contraction subsided.
"Was that your second contraction?" he asked and watched her nod her head.
Kid smiled. "Been just over half an hour between contractions. They'll pick up some before the baby's ready. Now I'm gonna go pump a bucket of water to get a pot boiling. I won't be gone more than ten minutes. You alright now?"
This time she nodded without looking directly at him. "Jed, something's dripping."
Kid got a towel from the chair and brought it to the bed. "That's normal, darlin. Can you lift your hips and I can get this towel down to catch that?"
With some joint effort, Kid got the towel in place. "Now you try to relax and I'll be back in just a few minutes."
"How can you stay so calm?' she asked.
Kid gave her a warm, reassuring smile, pleased with his ability to expertly conceal his own anxiousness. "Like I said darlin, not the first life I've helped bring a life into this world."
"When this is over, I expect you to tell me just who's lives you've brought into this world Jed Curry."
Kid smiled. "That's a promise."
The dark hours of the remainder of the night passed slowly despite the tension and trepidation enhanced with each contraction. By first light the contractions were still nearly half an hour apart, but the intensity of each contraction was increasing. Deidre had even been able to catch a few quick naps, while Kid moved the supplied to the top of the dresser and sat in the rocking chair watching her every movement.
When the dawn finally arrived, Kid pulled himself from the chair and reached for his clothes. For the moment, Deidre slept.
Kid slipped out into the main room and added water to the boiling pot steaming on the stove. Then he put a pot of coffee on the stove, knowing it was going to be a very long and sleepless day.
"Jed!'
Kid hastily dropped the coffee pot on the stove and ran into the bedroom.
"Something wrong?"
"Just had another contraction," she replied, panting.
Kid checked the clock on the wall and noted the frequency of contractions were beginning to increase. He also noted beads of sweat on Deidre's forehead. "I'm getting a bowl of cool water and I'll be right back."
"Hurry," she said nervously.
Kid returned moments later with a bowl of water in one hand and a kitchen chair in the other. He placed the chair next to the bed and put the bowl on the seat of the chair. Then he sat down gently on the edge of the bed and dipped a cloth into the water, wrung it out, and placed it gently on Deidre's forehead. As he let his hand move away, she reached out and grabbed it. Kid lifted her hand up and kissed the back of it.
"You sure everything is going the way it's supposed to?" she asked.
"Dee, everything is fine. By tonight you're going to be cradling our brand new little baby in your arms."
"Tonight? This could go on that long?"
Kid smiled. "Might be a lot sooner. You gotta remember, the baby is calling all the shots today. I think that's cause babies know the parents get to do that for the next fifteen years."
This made Deidre smiled. "I hope this baby is a girl, so she'll have a day just like this one day."
Kid laughed. "Oh, you are a vengeful one, ain't you?"
"I'd like to see how long you'd last trying to give birth," she quipped.
"Couldn't hold a candle to the good job you're doing," he replied.
Kid perked up at the sound of horse hooves outside. "Someone's arrived. I hope it's the doctor." he said and got up to answer the door.
Kid was greeted by his in-laws. "I was hoping you was Doc Harvey," Kid told them from the porch as Mr. Whitmer was helping his wife from the carriage. "Baby's on the way."
"How close are the contractions?" Deidre's mother asked as she hurried up the steps.
"Almost twenty minutes apart," Kid told her as she brushed by him and hurried into the cabin.
"I'll ride back and get the doctor," Mr. Whitmer said as he climbed back into the carriage and hurried away.
Kid closed the door, breathed a sigh of relief, and headed back to the bedroom.
"No place for a man in here," Deidre's mother affronted him as he poked his head into the room.
"No Mama, he can stay."
"A man don't belong in a birthing room," Mrs. Whitmer replied.
"Begging your pardon, Ma'am, but I belonged in here to get this baby started and I'll not have no one trying to shove me around in my own house," Kid said politely but firmly.
"Well, just stay out of the way," Mrs. Whitmer replied, trying to maintain some level of authority.
Kid let this comment slide by as he did not want to upset his wife. "Mrs. Whitmer, would you like a cup of coffee while you tend to your daughter?" he asked diplomatically.
She looked up at him, appreciating the truce offering. "Yes, thank you, Jed."
0-0-0-0-0-0
It was well over an hour before Mr. Whitmer and the doctor arrived. Kid greeted them at the door and brought the doctor up to snuff as far as the delivery was concerned.
"How far apart are the contractions now?" Dr. Harvey asked.
"A little more than ten minutes."
"How far is she dilated?"
"I ain't checked since her Ma arrived."
Dr, Harvey smiled. "I understand completely son. Her Ma in there with her now?"
Kid nodded.
"I'd advise the two of you to wait out here. We don't want it to get too crowded in that room. Mrs. Whitmer can help if I need it. Sounds like you've been doing all the right things Mr. Curry."
Kid nodded and Dr. Harvey hurried into the cabin. Kid turned to Mr. Whitmer and sighed. "Would you like some coffee, sir?"
Mr. Whitmer could plainly see how tired and exhausted Kid was. "You sit down and rest. I'll get us both a cup," he replied.
Kid smiled and eased himself into one of the porch rocking chairs. He leaned back and closed his eyes. By the time Mr. Whitmer returned with the coffee, Kid was fast asleep.
Almost three hours passed by the time Kid was awakened by Mrs. Whitmer's gentle hand on his arm. He opened sleepy eyes and, when he realized who was waking him, he sat up with a start.
"Something wrong?" he asked with some alarm.
Mrs. Whitmer smiled and shook her head. "Just thought you'd want to go in and meet Harper," she said with a warm smile.
Kid felt his eyes beginning to moisten and he rubbed them with his palms. "The baby's here?"
"Uh-uh," she replied.
"Dee alright?"
"She's tired, but she's fine."
Kid stood and took a deep breath to compose himself. Then he reached out and gave a warm embrace. "Thank you for your help," he told her.
Mr. Whitmer grabbed Kid's hand and shook it vigorously. "Congratulations, son!" he exclaimed.
Kid smiled, took another deep breath, then turned and walked into the house.
He opened the bedroom door and eased his way inside. Deidre was sitting in the bed, propped up with pillows, and holding the tiny swathed baby in her arms. Kid sat down on the bed and gazed at the tiny, pink face of his...
"A boy or a girl?" he asked.
"A boy," Deidre told him proudly.
Kid smiled proudly. "And you've settled on Harper?"
She looked at Kid tentatively. "It's a family name."
Kid nodded and sniffled. "Only other family name I got is Heyes," he said jokingly.
"The how about Harper Heyes Curry?"
Kid laughed through now flowing tears. "He's gonna hafta use that middle name, so he don't sound like a bottle of medicine," Kid joked. "Harper Heyes Curry. I like it. And I love you darlin," Kid added and leaned over the child to kiss her.
"You want to hold your son?"
Again Kid sniffled as he nodded his head and moved to stand up. Then, reaching down, they carefully shifted the child into Kid's arms. He stared down at the sleeping child, his own tears still streaming. "Welcome to the world, Harper," he whispered.
Mrs. Whitmer tapped on the door before coming into the room.
"Well, I think I'll be on my way now," Dr. Harvey told Kid. "I think that son of your is in good hands."
"Doc, when you get back to town, will you stop by the hotel and tell Heyes I need to see him?" Kid asked.
Dr. Harvey nodded. "I'll do that, son."
Mrs. Whitmer reached out and Kid slipped the child into her arms. She looked at her daughter and noticed Deidre had already fallen asleep.
"Probably best to let mother and son sleep for a while. For the next few months you're both going to be catching sleep as best you can. Deidre's asked me to stay for a few days to help her get adjusted... If that's alright with you?"
Kid nodded. "We're both grateful to you, Mrs. Whitmer."
"You and Deidre just made me a grandmother. Don't you think it's about time you started calling me Ma?"
Kid sighed and smiled through his emotional exhaustion. "I do think it's about time... Ma."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Late that afternoon Kid saw Heyes racing up the lane at a full gallop. He retreated to the bedroom and tiptoed quietly to the cradle and scooped the sleeping baby up into his arms.
"Heyes is here," he explained to Mrs. Whitmer in a soft whisper so as not to wake Deidre.
Mrs. Whitmer nodded. "Don't be long. Baby's going to wake up hungry any minute now," she reminded him.
By the time Kid returned to the main room of the cabin, Heyes was standing just inside the doorway, grinning ear to ear. Kid slowly walked over to stand in front of him.
"Harper, this is your Uncle Heyes," Kid whispered.
Heyes stared down at the baby, an open mouth smile on his face.
"Except for that tuft of blond hair on his head, he don't look nothing like you, Kid."
"Really? I think he looks just like Grandpa Curry with all them pruney little wrinkles," Kid replied.
"He does have them Curry pouty lips."
"I think all babies has got them. Makes it easier to suckle."
With that, Harper's eyes fluttered open and he yawned, then began to cry."
Kid laughed. "Right on cue. Better take him back to his Mama," he said and headed back to the bedroom.
A few minutes later Kid, Heyes, and Mr. Whitmer sat on the porch, each smoking a congratulatory cigar that Heyes had brought for the occasion and drinking a shot of whiskey that Kid always had on hand. Not one of them spoke much, but all three could feel the bond forming among father, uncle, and grandfather.
"Wonder what his life will be like," Kid quietly mused.
"Wonder what all are lives are going to be like now," Heyes added.
"Well, I've got two daughters," Mr. Whitmer replied. "I can promise you both, your lives won't ever be the same."