Autumn 1899
Heyes walked back towards their saloon where he and Kid had their office, grumbling to himself. He hated banking their takings, there was always a seemingly endless line of people in front of him and too many dumb questions that the man asking already knew the answer to. He'd found it even more irritating than usual this afternoon, as it should have been his partner's turn to endure it, but Kid had been so distracted that Heyes just thought it easier to do it himself.
He walked briskly up the stairs and though unsurprised, still sighed in some frustration when as he entered his partner didn't even look up from the cup in his hand. He was sat with his feet up on the heavy wooden desk in the middle of the room. Throwing his jacket and hat over his own chair Heyes flopped to sit down with an exaggerated groan as he said. "You owe me, Kid, I got stuck next to old man Jarvis and he was telling me about everything wrong with him. I'm deaf in one ear!"
The Kid didn't respond and in fact didn't even appear to have heard. Heyes slammed one of his desk drawers noisily which briefly made Kid notice him and say with little interest. "Oh you're back." Before returning to his distracted mug staring.
That was it, he'd had enough. "Dammit, Kid, you ain't even trying. Tell me what's on your mind. The way you've been today I think Kathleen could waltz in here nekkid and you'd not notice..." Heyes despite his annoyance managed a chuff of laughter as that comment brought his partner's head sharply up, a small reminiscent smile on his face. "All right, so at least you'd notice that." He paused and added. "You and her have a fight?" It was rare that Kid and his wife argued, unlike him and Victoria, who bickered for fun. But when they did it often resembled the 4th of July and sometimes left folk diving for cover. Heyes didn't think it was a fight as Kid didn't seem either frustrated or guilty which were generally his reactions to any disagreement he and Kathleen had.
Kid shook his head still smiling slightly. "I still ain't blind, Heyes, I'd sure notice my wife nekkid!" He stopped talking and his smile dropped before he added. "We ain't had a fight neither, just she's pregnant and I ain't certain how to break it to Lizzie."
Heyes' amusement faded. Lizzie was as fiery as her father had been at that age and used to being the center of both his and her stepmother's world. He could see why Kid was worried about how she'd take the news. "She might be happy, Kid. Can be kinda lonely being an only one." He spoke from some experience, he remembered well how happy he'd been when Jed had grown old enough to join in his mischief. But he also remembered how upset a five year old Jed had been at the news of his Ma being pregnant. Lizzie was very like her father in so many ways that he appreciated why Kid was concerned about her reaction.
"We ain't sure, Heyes, you know how I was when Mary was born." Heyes instinctively reached out to his partner and squeezed his shoulder, knowing how hard that memory still was. Only a few years later, he'd have given anything to have a sister to argue with. "Well Caroline and Jacob don't seem to fight too much." Heyes' face clouded as he added "Well no more than six times a day anyway and it'd probably be more if Jacob was older."
He genuinely for once hadn't meant to tease, despite the suspicious look Kid threw him as he replied. "You ain't helping, Heyes."
Heyes leant back in his chair with his ankles crossed and studied his partner's face for a few moments. He felt both sympathy and a degree of mirth at the almost fearful expression there. It never failed to provide some small amusement that his usually fearless partner was so wary of his nine year old daughter's wrath. He pointed out in what he hoped was a reasonable tone. "You ain't gonna know 'till you tell her, Jed, it's best to just get it outta the way and deal with what comes after."
Kid sighed heavily and said drily. "Easy for you to say, when you ain't gotta live with the slammin' and sulkin'."
Heyes couldn't hold back his laughter at both tone and expression. "Kid, she ain't even ten yet, just how bad can it be?" As he got no answer except for the continued glare from his partner he added. "Besides it's only your ears that are gonna ache Kid, it ain't like she's armed."
Kid snorted and glanced down at his colt as he said darkly. "Yeah, it's a good thing I keep my gun locked up when I ain't wearin' it these days."
Heyes decided a little reluctantly, that teasing his partner, when he was so genuinely worried and quite possibly with good reason was both unfair and probably unwise. So instead he swallowed his amusement and said mildly. "Maybe you oughta let Kathleen tell her. She'll deal with it better, if Lizzie does take it as badly as you think."
He wasn't surprised when Kid shook his head with a grimace. "Ain't right takin' the easy way, but maybe me and Kathleen oughta tell her together. Kathleen sure does knows how to handle her better than me. Must be some secret woman thing."
Heyes laughed. "I don't think so, Kid, pretty sure it's a you and Lizzie thing..."
Kid narrowed his eyes in a glare reminiscent of the one that had sent many men scurrying away, thanking their lucky stars that they were still alive as he said. "You still ain't helpin'" The look faded almost as quickly as it had appeared as he said ruefully. "I wouldn't say no to a drink after though, if you ain't busy."
Heyes smiled finally unable to resist teasing. "When am I ever too busy for a drink with my partner? Especially when he's had a run in with something as dangerous as a nine year old girl." He snorted at the disgruntled glare Kid shot him and patted him on the shoulder. "Victoria bought me some real nice whisky for my birthday, so that'll settle your nerves whatever happens."
XXX
Kid picked at his supper under the concerned gaze of his wife. "You've got to have faith, Jed. Lizzie might be real happy that you'll have someone else to fuss over."
Kid looked up grumpily into the warm hazel eyes of his wife, twinkling in some amusement. "I don't fuss..." Kathleen continued to look at him her lips twitching and he added reluctantly. "Much, but Lizzie is as good at finding trouble as me and Heyes were."
"Jed, I grew up in a houseful of kids finding trouble- me included. We all turned out pretty good with no limbs missing."
Kid sighed heavily and pushed his plate away half full. He sometimes wished that being a father wasn't quite so hard on his appetite.
Kathleen sat down next to him and patted his hand as he asked. "You really think she's going to be all right with it sweetheart? I don't want you thinkin' I ain't happy just 'cos I'm fretting ' bout Lizzie."
"I'm not worried Jed, I saw your face when I told you. I don't know about Lizzie to be honest, but she's bound to come round soon enough. I think she'll enjoy having someone to look out for, same way her Pa does, not to mention her Uncle Heyes. For someone who swears he doesn't worry in the same way you do, he sure frets a lot."
Their attention was drawn to the door as Lizzie bounced into the room, with a huge grin on her face, looking like she'd had a run in with a cougar and escaped by dragging herself backwards through a hedge. She gave them both a hug before stepping back with her arms folded, the smile making Kid's heart flip slightly as it still so often did when he looked at her. It hurt sometimes that he could see so little of Lily in her. Although Emily insisted that she herself could see her niece in Lizzie quite clearly, usually when she was being told no. She caught the look on his face and her smile faded a little, as not really understanding its cause, she thought he was annoyed at the state of her. "Oh Pa, don't look at me like that! I couldn't let those boys steal my apples, what would I have given Moonlight?"
Kid looked at his wife in mute appeal, then turned back to his daughter, deciding to take the bull by the horns and just tell her about the baby. "Lizzie, we got something important to tell you."
"Oh is this about Ma giving me a brother or sister? I think a puppy would be more fun, but guess I'll have to settle for a baby." Her eyes fell on Kid's half eaten meal and her eyes lit up. "Ooh pancakes! If you're not gonna eat them can I finish them?"
Kathleen laughed as Kid felt his mouth fall open."You know?" He slid his plate across to Lizzie, who after taking a mouthful of food and swallowing it carefully before speaking, mindful of the look her stepmother threw her said. "Well Pa, I ain't dumb. Ma's been sickly for days and Rose says her Ma was just the same when she was having her little brother. I was wondering when you'd get round to letting me know properly, cos I want to go tell Caroline, it might make her less smug about having a brother. She sure is bossy for a baby."
"I guess you can come with me when I go see your Uncle Heyes later." Kid wondered if he sounded as stunned as he felt. Judging by the look Kathleen was giving him, he figured the answer was yes. He thought suddenly that he'd never have put it together at her age.
Later in the Heyes' comfortable living room, his partner handed him a glass with a smug smile on his face. "You always worry too much, Kid. Told you it'd be a breeze."
Kid took a large gulp of his whiskey before replying. "You gotta do somethin' 'bout that memory of yours, Heyes," But there was no heat to his tone, far too relieved at how well Lizzie had taken the news to be easily provoked. Now at least all he had to worry about was Kathleen and the baby.
