"Cattle Annie," Bill said into his office phone at the end of June, 1951.

"Yes, Bill, honey?" she replied.

"Are you busy tonight?" he asked.

"No. What do you need?"

"Can you come over and take Rebecca out tonight?"

"Where to?"

"Anywhere. I'll take care of Wade Jr." he replied.

"What's goin' on, Bill?" she asked.

"Nothing," he replied. "Just thought Rebecca needed some time out."

"That's true, but why am I takin' her? What are you up to, Bill Houston?"

"Wade called," he said.

Annie gasped. "What does that polecat want?"

"He wants to see his son," Bill replied.

"Well, it's been over a year now. He's more your son than his," she replied.

"Maybe, but the arrangement was that we'd watch him while he got his head together," Bill said.

"Does he want him back now?" she asked.

"I don't know. He just said he wants to see him," he replied.

"Well, this is just going to devastate Rebecca," Annie said.

"I know. That's why I want you to take her out while I talk to Wade," he said.

"What time?"

"I'll be home by six and you can take her out to dinner right after that. Wade will be there at seven," he said.

"How long?"

"As long as you can. Don't come back earlier than ten. Find some other things to pass the time," he replied.

"Okay, honey. I hope this doesn't blow back in your face, when Rebecca finds out what you're doin'. You better not give him that baby without her around," she said.

"I don't know what he wants yet, Cattle Annie. He just said he wanted to see his son," he replied.

"Alright, then. I'll be there shortly after six," she said with a sigh.

"Thanks, Cattle Annie," he said.

"Uh-huh," she said.

Around 6:15 that evening, Cattle Annie showed up to the Houston residence. It took some coaxing, but she was able to convince Rebecca to have a night on the town for a change. Rebecca kissed Bill and the baby and left with Cattle Annie. Just after 7, Wade knocked on the door and Bill answered it, holding Wade Jr. in his arms. The two men stood briefly in awkward silence while Wade held his hat in his hands and looked at his son.

Bill broke the silence. "Well, c'mon in, Wade," he said, directing him with his free arm to the living room.

"Mind if I sit down?" Wade asked.

"Not at all. Please do," Bill said with a slightly impatient tone.

"Thanks," Wade said.

"So…the obvious question here, Wade, is where the hell have you been?" Bill asked.

"That's a fair question," he replied. "I've been in Mexico."

"This whole time?"

"Most of it," Wade replied. "I traveled around a bit before heading there."

"I suppose you realize you've missed your son's first year and your business is ruined," he replied.

"Yes. I'm sorry for not keeping in touch," Wade said.

"That really doesn't matter much since you're here now," Bill said. "Do you want to hold your son?"

"Okay," Wade said hesitantly. Bill passed him Wade Jr. and he awkwardly cradled him in his arms. "Where's Rebecca?"

"I had Cattle Annie take her out tonight so we could talk," Bill replied.

"Where's your baby?" Wade asked.

Bill looked at the ground and then back at Wade, "He didn't make it. He was a stillborn," Bill replied.

"I'm so sorry, Bill," he said.

"We were too. Since it was her third failed pregnancy we decided to quit trying," Bill said.

Wade shook his head. "I'm so sorry. I really am."

"Thanks," Bill said and paused. "You have really missed out on this time with your son. I will never know that with my own child. If you could see it from my point of view, you'd appreciate that," Bill said.

"You're right. I've been selfish," Wade said.

"No truer words were spoken," Bill said with uncharacteristic sarcasm.

Wade Jr. started crying and wriggling in Wade's arms. He reached out for Bill and said, "Da-da…Da-da," while stretching as hard as he could to reach him. Bill put out his hands and took Wade Jr. Wade watched his son call another man his father and his eyes teared a bit.

"It's okay, Wade," Bill said, stroking the baby's head and rocking him in his arms. He turned to Wade Sr., "What's your plan? What did you want to talk about tonight?" Bill asked.

Wade paused and thought for a bit watching Bill with his son. "I'd be a terrible father, Bill."

"And?" Bill asked impatiently.

"I can't do it by myself," he said.

"I told you before, you wouldn't be doing it alone," Bill said.

"The child needs a mother," he replied.

Bill sighed deeply and exhaustedly. "What do you want to do, Wade?"

"I can't take him," he said. "It's obvious to me that he belongs to you and Rebecca now. More importantly, he belongs with you. You both can give him a life that I can't."

"Do you know what you're saying?" Bill asked.

"I had been considering it for a while, but now that I see him with you, I know that even Susan would want it this way," Wade said with a twinge of sadness in his voice.

"Wade, I can't take your son," Bill said.

"Yes you can. I want you to," Wade replied. "Rebecca and you should be his parents. I'm just a drunk, wildcatter, has-been."

Bill thought to himself for a bit. "Wade, this isn't something to take lightly and once you decide to do it, it's not something that can be reneged on."

"I know. I really think this is the place for him. You and Rebecca can give him the stable life he needs and it will be good for Rebecca after losing so many babies," he said.

"Well, I don't feel comfortable just shaking on this one," Bill said.

"We can make it official if you want to," Wade replied.

"Why don't you think on it some more and I'll call you tomorrow. Where are you staying?"

"At a cheap hotel. I'll call you tomorrow. Will you be at work?" Wade asked.

"Yes."

"I won't need to think on it more, but we can make plans to make a formal adoption tomorrow," Wade said.

"This is a major decision, Wade. It's permanent."

"I know….Well, I don't want to take up more of your evening. I'm sure it's getting close to put Wa….," he said, stopping himself…. "to put the baby to bed." With that, Wade stood up and Bill stood up with the baby and put out his free hand to shake Wade's hand and Wade shook it.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay, Wade. I'll see you to the door," he said.

Wade left and Bill bathed the baby and rocked him a little in the rocking chair in his nursery until he dozed off and then Bill put him to bed. He went back downstairs to his den to work on a project from work. Rebecca and Cattle Annie showed up around 10 pm as expected.

"Did you ladies have a good time?" Bill asked.

Cattle Annie hung back with her hands on her hips and glaring at Bill while Rebecca said, "A great time! I really needed that. I didn't know how much until about half way through the evening."

"What did you do?" Bill asked.

"We put in our reservation in at that Mexican Restaurant on Gray. Luckily they had one about an hour after we got there. Then Cattle Annie and I window-shopped before our table came available," said Rebecca.

"Yep. There looks like there's a new place downtown that sells Western wear. Gonna have to check it out during business hours," Cattle Annie said. "Looks like they even have tiny little baby cowboy and cowgirl outfits. May have to get something for Wade Jr."

Rebecca agreed. "Wade would look adorable as a little cowboy, don't you think, Bill?"

"Sure he would. How was the food tonight?" Bill asked.

"It was really good. Especially the dessert," Rebecca said.

"So what did you do tonight, Bill?" Annie asked, putting her hands on her hips again and throwing out a hip.

"Well, let's see. I fed Wade and watched him crawl around a bit and explore. Then, I bathed him and put him to bed. Since that, I've been working on a project from work," he said.

"I think I'll go up and watch him sleep," Rebecca said as she walked up and kissed Bill on the cheek. She turned to Cattle Annie. "Thanks for the great time, tonight, Cattle Annie."

"You're welcome, honey, and you kiss that little angel on top of that sweet little head for me, will you?"

"Definitely," Rebecca said.

Cattle Annie and Bill silently watched Rebecca walk up the stairs and disappear toward Wade Jr.'s room.

"So, what the hell happened tonight?" Cattle Annie said curtly.

"Keep your voice down," he said, looking upstairs.

She stood there glaring at him.

"He stopped by and we talked for a bit. He wants to give Rebecca and I Wade Jr. to raise as our own son."

"Well, I'll be….Man has more sense than I thought he did. That's good news."

"We're going to talk about making it official tomorrow."

"Rebecca will be so happy. She loves that little angel," she said.

"I know," he said.

"I'm happy for you too, Bill. Now you'll have the son you've always wanted; well, the son you've already had."

"Thanks, Cattle Annie."

"Well, I'll see myself out now, while you spend the evening with family. Take care, Bill, and let me know how it turns out."

"I will. Have a good evening."