Badland Bride (28 page)
"Or her Aunt Willamina.” Willamina's gnarled hand pointed at her chest.
"We thought you might like to meet your new nephew,” Jessie said, stepping forward to give a quick hug.
Lila had to blink to keep the tears at bay. “Thank you. Thank you all so much. This is perfect.” She glanced about, smiling. “This is the Christmas I always wanted."
"Well, then you just sit there and enjoy your new chair,” Ma said as she slipped off her knitted shawl. “You boys go get everything out of the wagon. Jessie you sit down there with Lila, Joel must be about ready to eat again. Hog, you and Eva start decorating those cookies on the counter..."
Ma kept giving instructions that others quickly followed as Skeeter stepped in front of the rocking chair and knelt down. “I didn't know they were coming."
She leaned forward, cupped his handsome cheeks. “It's just what I was wishing for, a house full of family for the holidays.” She looked around before her gaze met his again. “My family—our family. It's perfect."
His lips met hers, but with Ma still barking orders, they couldn't linger. “I love you,” he whispered then stood to slip out the back door seconds before his mother would have hit him in the backside with the straw end of the broom.
Lila giggled, it didn't matter how old the Quinter brothers were they would forever be little boys in their mother's eyes. She relaxed against the back of the chair, took in the organized chaos as Jessie pulled up a chair. A dark-haired, little head emerged as her sister-in-law unbundled the blanket-wrapped baby in her lap.
"Oh, please, may I hold him?” Lila asked.
"Of course, he's been waiting to meet you."
"Not as much as I've been wanting to meet him, I assure you.” She took the baby, snuggled him beneath her chin, and kissed the downy softness of his head. “He's beautiful."
"Yes, he is. Looks just like his daddy,” Jessie said, running a finger across the baby's cheek.
"Yes, he does.” She kissed the baby again. “He's perfect.” Glancing around the room, she added, “And this is awful, but I think I'm going to be really selfish and sit right here in my new chair, holding my nephew for the rest of the day."
And she did. Well, almost all day, she had to give Joel to Jessie when an hour or so later he started to fuss, ready to eat. By then Hog had a meal fit for royalty covering the table.
Gratefully, she accepted Skeeter's aid to rise and walk to the table. A dull ache had formed low in her back. The short jaunt across the kitchen did little to lessen the pain and she arched, rubbing at the area.
"You feeling all right?” he asked.
She smiled, nodded. “Just stiff from sitting too long."
He eased her onto a chair, kissed her cheek before sitting down next to her. “You can take a nap after we eat."
"I will not, not with all this company.” She glanced at the family taking seats around the table, her heart thudding with excitement. “Isn't this wonderful?"
Halfway through the meal, the ache in her back increased and began to send small, sharp fingers of pain around her hips. She cringed a bit more with each one, wiggled to find a more comfortable position. Skeeter grasped her hand. “What's wrong?"
"I think I need to get up, walk around a bit. My back really hurts."
He stood, pushed his chair out of the way and helped her rise. She'd only taken two steps when she stalled, gasping. Warm fluid rushed down her legs, soaking her socks as it pooled into a puddle below her skirt. Suddenly, a gripping pain shot across her stomach, made her double over.
Lila didn't have time to straighten before the room became a whirlwind. Skeeter hoisted her into his strong arms as Ma shouted, “It's time! It's time!"
"I'll set some water to boil,” Willamina yelled.
Bug's voice said, “I'll get your medical bag, Ma."
Jessie rushed past, “I'll get extra linens for the bed."
Lila's heart picked up speed. She looked at Skeeter. “It's time?"
"You'll be fine, love. Just fine,” Skeeter said as he carried his wife up the stairs. The smile he planted on his face was meant for her reassurance, and did little to suppress the way his stomach had started to roll. The time had come, the moment anxiously awaited for, and feared at the same time. He forced his arms not to tremble as he shouldered his way into their room, and waited for Jessie to pad the bed before lying her down.
Turning to the door, he shouted, “Hurry up, Ma!"
"Hold your horses, Skeeter. It's gonna be awhile afore this little one makes their debut. First ones always take the longest.” His mother walked to the bed, tugged on his arm. “You go on downstairs, there's nothing more you can do here."
Lila's hand stretched toward him. “Please don't leave me."
He wrapped his fingers around hers, leaned down to look into her pleading green eyes. “I'm not going anywhere, ever."
"You're just as bad as your brother,” Ma said. “He wouldn't leave Jessie's side either. I'll tell ya just what I told him. Stay out of my way while I work."
He kept out of the way, but stayed close to Lila, even helped as she was undressed and re-clothed in a nightgown trimmed with purple lace. Every so often she'd grip his hand and huff through the pain he knew was bearing down on her womb.
In some ways time sped, in other ways it trickled.
He fluffed her pillows and waited.
Ran a cool cloth over her head and waited some more.
When the sun had long since set and the moon no longer glowed through the window, she was weak and tired. He rubbed her back, gave her sips of water to moisten her lips drying out from laborious breathing.
The pains became closer together. She barely had time to relax before the next one tensed her body again. Ma sprinkled some powder onto a spoon, held it up to Lila's lips. “Here, sweetie. This will take the edge off the pain."
Lila nodded, opened her mouth like a little bird. After she swallowed, she said, “You wouldn't happen to have an epidural in that bag of yours, would you?"
"A what?” Ma asked.
She shook her head, sucked in a deep breath as another pain set in. “Never mind,” she groaned between gritted teeth. When the pain ended, she flopped back onto the pillow. “I don't think you gave me enough powder."
"I gave you a full dose,” Ma said.
"Yeah, but I think my pain is worse than most women. I need some more."
Ma patted her arm. “It takes a few minutes to work, you—"
"Make her give me some more,” Lila interrupted, her eyes pleaded at him.
Skeeter felt as helpless as a scarecrow. “Give her some more,” he said, grasping Lila's hands with trembling fingers, his palms covered with sweat.
"Like I said, it takes—"
"Now, Ma. Now!” He could tell by the vigor his wife squeezed his hands another contraction was already upon her. If only he'd taken her back to the future, she could be having their baby with the comfort of modern medicine. He didn't know how they could make childbirth comfortable, for he'd certainly never seen someone in so much pain. With all his heart he wished there was some way he could absorb it from her.
Ma shook her head, but gave Lila another spoonful, and she'd barely swallowed it when her eyes grew wide. “I either gotta push or go to the bathroom!” An ear wrenching screech escaped her clenched lips, filling the room and running along every nerve in his body like a bolt of lightning.
Ma threw aside the sheet, bent Lila's legs at the knees. “Yup, it's a comin', honey, I can see the head. Push, sweetie, push hard."
Lila grunted, “I am pushing!"
"Push harder,” Ma said.
Sucking in a deep breath of air, Lila screeched, “I am!"
Skeeter, having no idea how to help her, twisted to sit behind her on the bed, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You're doing great, honey. Just push a little harder. You can do it."
She huffed, and closed her eyes, pushing with all her might. A loud scream filled the room, and he tighten his hold, used his shoulder to support her back as the baby slipped from her womb into his mother's waiting hands.
"Oh my God,” Lila moaned as her body slumped against his.
"It's a girl,” Ma said, holding up a tiny body. Red and wrinkled little arms and legs flayed about.
Skeeter was glad he was sitting down, for he'd never been so light-headed. The room swirled before his eyes, and he felt almost as if was a ghost again, floating about. Lila lifted her chin. The lovely smile covering her face made his daze fade and pulled him back to earth. He kissed her lips, while wrapping her into a solid hug.
"Here's your daughter,” Jessie said a second later.
Lila lifted her arms, and he repositioned, making enough room for her to cradle the baby. Tiny orange curls were plastered to the little head, and as the miniature, scrunched, red face settled into the crook of his wife's arm, he bent down to kiss his daughter's forehead.
"Oh, my, it's a mini-me,” Lila giggled.
"She's beautiful, just like her mommy,” he whispered.
After a few minutes, Ma said, “Let Jessie bundle her up now, then Skeeter you can take her down to show your brothers while we get Lila cleaned up and settled."
He glanced to his wife. She gave a slight nod. He could see exhaustion overcoming her body. Carefully, he took the precious baby from her hands. The tiny head barely filled his palm. He twisted and gently laid her onto the pink blanket Jessie had spread out on the side of the bed.
An expert from recent practice, Jessie had the baby diapered and bundled with a few swift movements. She snuggled the baby to her chin for a few seconds before handing her back to him. “You can come back in a few minutes. It won't take long. Lila will be fine, I promise."
He hadn't realized his fear showed on his face. With a slight nod, he turned, kissed the top of Lila's head before he folded his arms around the baby and vigilantly left the room. He forced his feet to walk slow and steady, knowing he'd never carried anything so valuable in his life.
By the time he stepped off the stairs, he felt stronger, more sure of himself. Pride squared his shoulders, filled his chest as he walked into the living room. “Take a look at this, fellas!"
The Quinter brothers, and to his surprise, Buffalo Killer gathered around, oohing and ahhing his prized cargo. He instantly knew, from this moment on his daughter had every Quinter man and the fearsome brave wrapped around her little finger, and always would.
A short time later Eva appeared at his side, shyly whispered, “You can go back up now."
He nodded and strolled up the stairs, the whole way telling his daughter about the pony he'd buy for her, the kittens she could play with in the barn, the flowery fields she could toddle through, and that her daddy would always be there for her.
Entering their bedroom the words stilled in his throat. Lila, more beautiful than she'd ever been, sat against an array of pillows. She smiled, patted the open space on the bed. He sat near her knees, handed the baby to her.
Ma stood on the other side of the bed, ran her hand over the tiny head. “Boys are wonderful, but there's something about a little girl that just makes your heart sing, isn't there?"
He gaped, wondered how she'd nailed his feelings. “Yes, there is. Thank you, Ma. Thank you for being here tonight."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world.” She nodded then said to Lila, “Go ahead and put her to nurse, she's got to learn how to do it right away."
Lila pushed the wide neckline of her gown down, exposed a breast to her precious daughter. The tiny face rutted for a moment before the petal lips opened and clamped on. Lila sucked a breath at the shock of force the little mouth had then raised her gaze to look at her husband.
That adorable grin, the one she loved with all her heart, covered his face. Grey-green eyes glistened with solid, strong devotion. His brows furrowed as he asked, “How do you feel?"
"Wonderful,” she said truthfully. “Come sit by us."
He bent down, took off his boots, and then scooted up to sit beside them. One arm wrapped around her shoulders as his other hand went to gently caress the baby's back.
"I'd like to name her Kendra Stephanie Quinter. After my mother and yours,” she said. Her glance followed his, to where his mother stood near the door.
Ma pressed one hand to her chest, wiped at her eyes with the other.
"That sounds like the best name in the world to me,” he said.
Stephanie smiled. A pink blush covered her cheeks. She wiped her eyes again, turned to Jessie and said, “Come on, let's leave these three alone for a bit."
Jessie wrapped her arm around their motherin-law, and winked back toward the bed as she pulled the door closed with her other hand.
Skeeter's warm lips brushed her temple before he said, “You sure you feel all right?"
"Yes, I feel perfect. My life is perfect."
"I love you,” he said. “I love you both."
She snuggled closer, rested her head on his shoulder. “I know,” she said. “I love you too, and I also know you'll never let us down. Never."
Christmas Day 2008
Charles Scott eased the car to a stop, cut the engine with the flick of his wrist before he glanced toward his wife. Even though the last six months had been wearing, she still looked as beautiful as she had the first day he'd met her, almost forty years ago.
He reached over, took her hand. “You doing okay?"
Her gaze settled on the small cemetery in front of the car. She nodded, let out a slow breath of air. “Yes."
Giving her hand a final squeeze, he released it, and twisted to open his door. She followed suit, and they met at the front of the car. Hand in hand, they walked along the faint trail to the aged-old grave markers. The Kansas wind swirled past, carrying a warm temperature that almost mocked the calendar saying it was December.
Stepping through the wrought-iron gate, his breath stilled in his chest when he noticed a person bent over, lying flowers near the base of a large headstone. His wife's grip tightened, letting him know she too had noticed the girl. The slender frame and long red curls reminded him so much of their daughter his body began to tremble.