The giggling from afar caught the attention of the big man on his rented Quarter Horse. He halted the chestnut gelding, so he could observe the toddlers as they frolicked in the shallow water at the edge of the pond. Matt sucked in a breath. He'd wondered how different the twins would be since the last time he'd seen them. The boy was definitely taller than his sister, and he certainly could splash more than her. Their mother chased them, encouraging their playful romping, her own long, red hair bouncing as she skipped through the water. Their mother. He could have had this life with Kitty if he'd only listened to her.
Matt gripped the saddle horn with a hefty sigh as he set his eyes on the two-story home framed by the oak trees. He treasured the visits, but he wished he could be around Alexandre and Vivienne more. He closed his eyes, reminding himself that his children would live a wonderful, privileged life, and he was lucky to be a part of their lives at all, considering the situation. He released a slow, fortifying breath while nudging the gelding in the direction of the pond, cutting through the trees. His face broke into a grin as Vivienne noticed him, excitedly waving her arms above her head.
"Maman! Le maréchal!" Vivienne shouted, jumping up and down. She knew he'd have her favorite rock candy on a string tucked into his shirt pocket, and he'd swing her into the air before hugging her tightly to his chest.
"Vivi, parle anglaise," Kitty told her daughter, holding onto her son's hand. "Let him come to you. Vivienne, do not run," she cautioned, catching that willful glint in the toddler's eye. "Matt, she's coming to you!"
Matt quickly dismounted as Vivienne lost her footing close to the sloping bank, falling face first into the shallow water and weeds. "Vivi, you alright?" he asked as she quickly popped up, sputtering while wiping her face. He'd learned not to make a fuss over falls and tumbles. Matt picked her up as she nodded her head. He took his handkerchief out of his pocket, carefully cleaning mud off her freckled cheeks. "You almost made it to me," he praised, kissing her head.
"Merci beaucoup, Maréchal," Vivi replied, grinning at him, sweetly smacking her lips to his cheek. She ran her fingers along the brim of his Stetson, debating on taking it off his head.
His brow furrowed as he stared at his little girl. His French speaking little girl. He'd been able to understand only a handful of words she'd said months ago. Oddly, her French seemed clearer. "Hold on a minute," he mumbled, adjusting his hat. "What did you say, Vivienne?"
"Merci beaucoup, Maréchal," she repeated slowly, slipping her arms around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her hand crept into his vest pocket, searching for the rock candy and her brother's peppermint stick.
"English, please, Vivi," Kitty reminded, helping Alexandre onto the level grass. "Hello, Matt."
"Kitty, what did she say to me?"
Kitty softly laughed at his perplexed expression as Alexandre let go of her hand. "She said, 'Thank you very much, Marshal.'"
"Hi, Marshal!" Alexandre launched himself at the big man, hugging his legs.
Matt beamed at his boy, ruffling his hair. "Hi, Son," he greeted. "Hold on tight, Vivi," he instructed as he bent to lift Alexandre onto his other hip. He chuckled at Vivienne's infectious giggles.
"You got 'em, Matt?" Kitty glanced over her shoulder as she picked up her shoes. "You can leave your horse. Silas will get him and bring your bags to the house."
Matt dipped his head while the children crunched on their treats. He'd wondered if the caretaker was still the same as last summer. He liked Silas Jackson. The man reminded him of Moss Grimmick. He followed behind Kitty, staring at her backside until Vivienne poked his jaw. Alexandre copied his sister, sticking his finger into Matt's cheek.
Her daughter's murmur of her name stopped Kitty in her tracks. She saw her rubbing at her eyes while fighting a yawn. "C'mere, Baby," she softly uttered, taking her out of Matt's hold. "You need a nap."
"Non," Vivienne pitifully wailed while shaking her head. She twirled a loose curl of her mother's hair around her finger, holding her string of rock candy in her other hand.
With a smirk on her lips, Kitty listened to her daughter's objections to a nap. She smoothed her hand in circles on her baby's back as she walked to the house, knowing Vivienne would be sound asleep before she made it through the door. She glanced back at Matt, whispering, "Did he fall asleep?"
"Yeah," Matt answered in a low pitch. "What'd they do today?"
"They woke up at the crack of dawn…spent all morning in the barn with Silas. There are new baby goats and kittens out there. They tried their best to convince Henri and Doc to take them into town before they left. I took them to the pond to cool off."
"By golly, Kitty, they might sleep through supper."
"They'll be rearin' to go after an hour or two. Thank you," she said as he stepped ahead, opening the door. "The house is a mess. It rained yesterday, so they were stuck inside."
"You know I don't care about that."
"I know," she returned softly, unhurriedly eyeing him, wondering how many line-of-duty injuries he'd taken since Christmas when he'd shown up with his arm in a sling. Doc had to patch him up when he'd popped a stitch roughhousing with the twins. "You look good, Matt."
He swallowed hard at her compliment as he made his way to the staircase and the twins' room. Matt glimpsed at her, thinking the buttery color of her blouse made her skin glow. His cheeks flushed as she caught him blatantly staring. He'd been lost in remembering the first time he'd seen her with a paint-free, freckled face with her ginger waves falling over her shoulders. He could have sworn she looked precisely the same now. "So do you," he flattered, but then cocked a brow, snickering. "You got rock candy in your hair."
Kitty rolled her blue eyes. "Wonderful," she muttered and placed Vivienne on top of the covers. The girl's grip tightened on the confection. Kitty grimaced as her auburn locks tangled around the candy more. "For heaven's sake," she mumbled as Vivienne tugged the string to her. "Matt!" Kitty hissed.
"What?"
"Matt, I swear if you don't come over here this minute. Ow! Matt!"
He tucked his son under the covers, swiping Alexandre's hair out of his eyes and straightening to his full height. He turned around, stifling his amusement at Kitty's predicament. He rambled over, putting his hands on his hips, surveying the damage he'd unwittingly caused.
The older redhead glared at him, blindly attempting to unwind the sticky mess from her tresses. "Are you just gonna stand there?" she inquired as her eyes burned into him.
"Hold on," he replied, unsuccessfully attempting to loosen his daughter's grip. He heard Kitty's whine as the little redhead rolled over, taking the candy and her mother with her. "She's not lettin' go."
"Get it outta my hair," Kitty griped through gritted teeth. Her neck was starting to ache from the awkward angle.
Matt clumsily untangled the mess and let out a sigh of relief once Vivienne released the clump of rock candy, making his job easier. "No more rock candy?"
"No, no more. Thank goodness." Kitty righted herself, frowning while running her fingers through her hair. "Think anybody in Dodge would believe I traded broken saloon furniture for sticky toddler messes?"
"Nope," he retorted. "Festus still can't believe it."
Kitty laughed softly. "How's he taken to Hannah?" She referred to Hannah Cobb, the lady that had finally purchased the Long Branch.
"He doesn't get as many free drinks."
She simpered. "Come on to the kitchen. I'll rinse my hair and fix you a cup of coffee. Henri and Doc should be back soon enough."
"All right," he hummed, grateful to have time alone with her to catch up on all he'd missed since the twins had turned two.
"Golly, it's a scorcher today," Doc remarked, dabbing his sweaty face with his handkerchief. He didn't think he'd ever adjust to Southern summers. To him, Baton Rouge seemed warmer than New Orleans. He gazed at the field of sunflowers, knowing he and Henri were a mile from the estate. "I hope it rains."
"Perhaps." Henri heard the snap of the retired physician's pocket watch.
"I wonder if Matt's made it in."
Henri kept his eyes on the road, clucking his tongue, snapping the reins to speed up the horses.
Doc chuckled with a shake of his silvery head. He didn't think he'd ever not be amused by the Frenchman and the U.S. Marshal. The men could play cards or indulge the twins in hours of hide and seek then scowl at each other by a simple show of affection from a certain redhead. But he had noticed the tension always seemed to lessen at The Oaks. Doc swiped his hand over his mustache and nudged his companion. "Henri, you're a shrewd man."
The younger man slanted his head, surprised by the spontaneous remark. "Merci, Galen."
"I suppose you have to be in all aspects of life as successful as you are."
"Oh?" Henri stole a glance at the elderly man as he contemplated the path of the conversation.
"I've figured you out."
"You have?"
"You prefer Matt being at The Oaks as opposed to home in New Orleans."
"I do?"
Doc fiddled with his ear as he bowed his head. "Certainly. The Oaks is secluded…out of the way. Seventy-nine miles from prying eyes. No one to question why Alexandre resembles the lawman from Kansas."
Henri let out a mild sigh. "Am I that transparent, Galen?"
"In this case, yes."
"It's not a shocking revelation. It is easier here," he admitted and steered the buggy off the road, starting down the long, shaded driveway. Henri noticed the chestnut gelding roaming the property. "It appears le maréchal's summer has begun."
Henri knew where to find his wife. He folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the doorframe, observing her stretched out across the sofa with a cool cloth plastered to her forehead. He crept into the den while she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. Henri dropped down next to her comfortingly rubbing her thigh.
"Are they awake?" she asked without opening her eyes, savoring the afternoon's quiet and the gentle breeze coming in through the open windows.
"No, Chérie." Henri removed the cloth and dipped it into the enamel basin, wringing the rag. "Have you taken a headache powder?"
Kitty shook her head and let out a worn-out sigh as he applied the cloth to her brow. "No," she murmured, knowing the dull ache would eventually subside. "I'll be fine." She scooted closer to her husband while he pressed his lips to her temple. "I need to wake Alexandre and Vivi up. They've slept too long as it is."
"Kathleen, stay with me," he faintly pleaded, hooking his arm around her waist before she could get up.
"Madame," Delia chimed as she came into the room with a cup of hot tea in her hand, "your ginger tea."
She arched a brow at her maid. "Delia, I didn't ask for tea."
"Monsieur did," she replied with a smile, taking the damp cloth from Kitty and handing her the cup.
"Thank you, Delia," Kitty acknowledged. She settled against her husband's chest, sipping the brew and watching Delia clear away the basin. "And thank you," she murmured to Henri.
"You're welcome. Better?" he asked.
"A little."
"Venez à moi, Kathleen," he directed, shifting on the sofa. He slid his hands onto the sides of her slender neck, adeptly massaging with his fingertips. He listened to her deep breathing as he delicately kneaded the knots at the base of her head, smiling at her soft groans and moans of relief. "Better?
"God, yes," she moaned.
Henri kissed the crown of her head, spreading his palms over her shoulders. "The marshal and I are going to take the twins fishing. Galen believes he'll catch the most catfish."
"Of course, he will. He won't have one of the babies in his lap," she mumbled, unwinding further from his ministrations.
"Well, I'm sure Vivi will want to dig for écrevisse. There are plenty for the boil, but Anne-Marie knows how much she loves it," he mentioned, referring to Silas' wife. The couple always did a seafood boil to kick off the first weekend of June. There were pounds and pounds of seasoned andouille sausage, sweet corn, potatoes, lemons, onions, crawfish, shrimp, and crab.
"Henri, you'll be the one to give her a bath tonight. Please, make sure she keeps her bonnet on while she's in that sun."
"Of course, mon amour," he replied and rubbed his hands down her arms.
The noise of little feet running hit his ears, and he smiled warmly. "Here they come."
Kitty laughed softly and finished her tea, setting the cup aside.
"Slow down," Henri advised the twins as they barreled into the den and climbed onto the sofa.
"Papa!" Vivienne squealed, hugging him. She glanced at her brother as he scrambled into their mother's lap.
"Bonjour, mon petit amour. Careful, Alexandre," Henri advised.
"He's fine, Henri," Kitty said, combing her fingers through her son's unruly curls. "Have a good nap, sweet boy?"
He nodded his head and cuddled into her, sensing she wasn't at her best.
Matt stepped into the room, slipping his hands into his back pockets as he cleared his throat. "Who's ready to go fishing?" he asked, grinning at the twins' enthusiastic shouts. He turned his head at the sound of Doc shuffling behind him. Matt stepped further into the room.
"Let's go," Henri said and waited for Vivienne to slip off him.
"Maman," Vivienne crooned, peering at her mother.
"What, Sweetheart?" Kitty replied as she steadied Alexandre, standing on the sofa cushion. He held his arms out to Matt, launching himself at the big man, wildly laughing as he was swung into the air. She sucked in a breath, observing Matt easily toss the boy into the air and catch him. As much as Alexandre loved the game, she loathed it. Kitty breathed out a relieved sigh as Matt put him down.
"Dig écre," the toddler faltered, furrowing her ginger brows while tilting her head towards her father. "Papa…"
"Visse," Henri finished the word. "Écrevisse," he repeated the word slower as she said it with him. "Try, Vivi."
"Maman, dig écrevisse."
"I thought you were fishin'."
"Nope," she replied with a wrinkle of her petite nose and a giggle. "No fishin'. Maman, go."
"Baby, I'm going to stay here. You go with Papa, Pépère, and Matt."
The two-and-a-half-year-old poked her lips out in a pout, sliding over to her mother. "Please, Maman." Vivienne shoved her brother's hand off her as he tugged on her arm.
Henri rose to his feet and lifted Vivienne off her mother, ignoring her protests. "Vivienne Serena," he spoke firmly, "she's not feeling well. Let her rest."
"Oh," Vivi murmured, leaning forward in her papa's arms and gently hugging her mother's neck. She pecked her on the cheek. "Je t'aime."
"Je t'aime aussi, Vivi. Have fun. Okay?"
"Oui, Maman. Papa, down," she insisted as she noticed Alexandre running towards the doorway. Her feet hit the hardwood. "Alexandre!" she yelled and took off to catch up with him.
Doc jumped out of the way. "Slow down! I'm not using all my bandages on you two!" He shook his head at their boisterous laughter. He wished he still had that sort of energy. He looked up at Matt, scrubbing his hand over his mouth, "You got everything ready, Matt?"
Matt shifted his weight, craning his neck to hear the whisperings between Henri and Kitty. He grumbled under his breath as Doc pulled on the sleeve of his worn button-up.
"C'mon, Matt. Alexandre and Vivi might be clear to Texas if we don't stop them."
"Alright, Doc," he muttered, knowing it was the man's subtle way of telling him not to worry about Kitty. It wasn't his concern, but he couldn't deny that he was concerned. He'd never known her to turn down a fishing trip.