“You don’t have to worry. I’d be punishing myself if I did.”
“Two more things.” His eyes were drooping and he was near passing out. “When I’m a little stronger I want you to tell me about that funny looking gun of yours.”
“I’ll be glad to do that.”
“Then I want to make love to my wife all night long.”
“I’ll be even happier about that.”
Jake went to sleep with a smile on his lips.
* * * *
A month later, Rachel’s buggy pulled up to the cabin. Rena was telling the men what to put on the wagon. “I see you’re moving.”
“We’re trying.” Jake grinned at her. “It’s a little confusing though. They won’t let me lift anything heavy and Silas won’t let Adela lift anything at all and Rena is telling everybody what to do.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him, Rachel. Now that he thinks he’s all well, he tries to be the big man on campus.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Never mind, darling. Come in, Rachel, and have a cup of tea.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
Billy came running up. “Can I take care of your horse for you, ma’am?”
“Why thank you, young man, but can you handle it?”
“Corny will help me.”
“I didn’t know Cornelius was still here.”
“Oh, he and Billy are great friends. I think they’re good for each other.” Rena looked at Jake. “Do you and Silas want a cup of coffee?”
“We were waiting for you to ask.” He winked at her.
They found Adela in the kitchen. “We came for coffee and tea,” Rena said.
“Good. I need company. Silas is making me sit here and not move a muscle.”
“I just want to protect her,” Silas said.
“You’d think I was the only woman to ever have a baby.”
“You are the only woman to have my baby.” Silas grinned at her.
“I hope somebody will be having my baby someday,” Jake said.
“Somebody?” Rena raised her eyebrows at him.
“Lord have mercy, there’s so much love in this room it makes me want to hurry home to Mr. McGregor.” Rachel sat down at the table and took the tea Rena handed her. “I’ve got some news for you folks.”
They all took seats and Rachel went on, saying, “Jasper Wigham is dead.”
“Dead?” Jake and Silas asked together.
“I didn’t think that shot would kill him,” Rena said quietly.
“Rena, honey, it didn’t. Not your bullet anyway. It was the one that Mirabel Jefferson put in him last night.”
“Mirabel Jefferson shot him?” Adela exclaimed.
“She sure did. He was at the Silver Slipper getting drunk, just like he’s been every night since the doctor released him. You know his crew has all about left town. His only friend is that Ralph fellow. He sits there with Ralph and drinks and plans how he’s going to get revenge on the lot of you. Of course everybody knew it’d never happen because as soon as the US Marshall gets to town, he’ll arrest Jasper for the murders of Sheriff Allison and Wadell Jefferson.” Rachel paused and drank from her cup.
“So what happened,” Jake prodded.
“Mirabel has been crazy without Wadell. Somebody told her that Jasper had bragged that he’d shot Wadell just for the fun of it and she couldn’t wait for the slow workings of the law. She marched into the Silver Slipper last night, pulled a Derringer from her purse and shot him in the chest. He lived a little while, but the doctor couldn’t save him. He died about two hours later.”
“Poor Mirabel,” Adela said. “What’ll happen to her?”
“She says she’s going to Santa Fe. I’m not sure that anyone is trying to stop her. Ralph was the only one who seemed to care about Jasper. He told Mirabel he’d escort her to Santa Fe and I guess she agreed to it. He was helping her put things in her buggy when I decided to ride out here and let you know what was happening.”
“Since he was close to Wigham, you don’t think he’ll…” Silas didn’t finish his question.
“I don’t know, but there’s nothing anyone can do. It was Mirabel’s decision to go with him.” Rachel shifted her position. “There’s another reason I came out today.”
“Oh?” Jake looked at her.
“I had a discussion with some of the folks in town. We’ve decided we need a sheriff. We can’t depend on the Marshalls who come into the area so infrequently.”
“And you thought of Whitt?” Rena looked excited.
“I did and everyone liked my suggestion. We can’t pay a lot, but there’s a nice house for him and his family in town. Big enough for the mother-in-law, too.”
“Iris will be thrilled. She wants to stay here, but she knew Whitt had to find a job.” Adela smiled.
“Bless you Rachel. Iris told me they had to leave in the next week or so. I’m glad she’ll be in Yellow Creek.” Rena grinned at her.
“Things are going to work out for everyone, aren’t they?” Silas sat back. “We’ll be moved into the master bedroom of the new house and my son will be here and…”
“Now, wait a minute, honey.” Adela laughed. “It could be a daughter.”
“I won’t mind if it’s a little girl.” He reached over and patted Adela’s arm. “I just want you to take good care of yourself so we’ll have a healthy happy baby.”
“I’m probably being nosy, but may I ask what you’re going to do with your cabin now that you’re moving into the big house on the other ranch?”
“It’s all one ranch now, Rachel,” Jake said. “But to answer your question., we’re turning this house over to Finn and Belle.”
“They’re excited about it,” Silas added.
“I never believed a couple like them could be so happy, but she’s crazy about him. She said she’d live in a tent to be with her Gideon.” Rena looked at Jake. “She loves her man almost as much as I love mine.”
Jake winked at her.
“Everybody knows how much you love Jake, Rena. They’re still talking about what you did to Jasper.”
“I’m just glad I didn’t kill him before she came up with the idea to castrate him,” Silas said.
“I would’ve probably killed him if I hadn’t been on the verge of passing out.”
“Are you doing all right now, Jake?”
“I’m doing great, Rachel. Back to normal at last.” Again he grinned at Rena.
She blushed.
Rachel cleared her throat. “Why don’t I go to the bunkhouse and talk to Mr. and Mrs. Gentry.” Rachel stood. “I’ll be back and let you know his answer.”
“We’ll walk with you,” Rena said. “Come on, Adela.”
“Honey, maybe…”
“I’m fine, Silas. I can’t sit for the next six months. I have to exercise.”
“If you’re sure.”
She went out the door shaking her head.
“Boy, you’re excited about this baby, aren’t you, brother?”
“Can you believe it? I knew I wanted children, but…well, I just hope…”
“Don’t even think about it. I’m sure this child will live a long healthy life.”
“I’m hoping so.” He drained his mug. “How about you? When are you going to start your family?”
Jake grinned. “Since I’ve got most of my strength back, don’t think I’m not working on it.”
“I figured as much.” He stood. “I think there’re a couple of more trunks to go on the wagon. Might as well get them loaded.”
“Since Rena isn’t here to stop me, I’ll help.”
The two brothers went out the door laughing.
Chapter 37
Jake unbuttoned the back of the emerald green silk gown Rena had worn to the Christmas Eve party the Haywoods had thrown in their new home. He slid it off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. “You were the most beautiful woman here tonight,” he whispered. He leaned down and kissed her should
er as he removed her chemise, leaving her naked before him.
“You looked handsome yourself. I like you in that black suit.”
“I only wore it to make you happy.”
She began unbuttoning his shirt. “I know, and I admit, though you look nice dressed this way, you turn me on when you’re my cowboy in your denims and vest.”
“I’m glad, because most of the time I wear my denims and vest.” He kissed her again. “You turn me on no matter what you have on.”
“Or off?”
“Off is good.”
“You would say so.” She bopped him playfully in the stomach.
“I’ll get you for that.” He swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed and stood over her. “Damn, I like looking at you with no clothes on. You look just like that picture I saw in your camera a couple of times.”
“I guess you’re still grieving because the batteries died.”
“Why should I? I get to look at the real thing any time I want to.”
She grinned. “And I have to look at you still half dressed.”
He grinned back and shed the rest of his clothes. He winked at her when she looked at his body with approval. He blew out the lamp and got into bed beside her.
After they made love, he held her in his arms. “I love you so much, Rena. We’ve been married since last summer and every time I make love to you it gets better.”
“It doesn’t seem like we’ve been married all that time and then again, it seems like we’ve been together from the beginning of time.”
“Are you still as happy as you were last summer, Rena?”
“You should know I’m the happiest woman on earth. I tell you all the time.”
He grinned into the darkness. “I know, but I also know you gave up a lot of luxuries and…”
“What do you mean luxuries? This house Wigham built has all the conveniences of this time.”
“Someday soon I’m going to build you a house on that knoll about a half mile from here. I want it to have everything in it you can imagine, but now I’m not talking about you missing the conveniences of this time. I mean your time.”
“Jake, nothing I gave up in my time is as important as our life together. Look how many friends we have who moved here from New Mexico Territory. Only Grover Beeson and Hank Hawkins moved on. I’m so glad that the rest stayed.”
“This sure is a better world because you decided to stay here, my beautiful little wife. The friends spending the night here think I’m the luckiest man in the world. I bet every one of them wishes they were me.”
“I think they’re all happy with who they’re married to.”
“I bet none of them are as happy as we are.”
She shook her head. “What about Finn and Belle?”
“After Silas and me, I think Finn runs a close third as a happily married man.” He laughed. “Can you believe Finn is going to be a father for the first time?”
“He seemed excited when he told us tonight.”
“They’re working on the old house. Owen and I were over there the other day, and Finn told us Leo Fisher was helping them build a room on the back. I think they want lots of children.”
“I’m not sure I can match Leo Fisher up with anyone, but speaking of Owen Gentry, we need to find him a girlfriend.”
“What brought that on, Rena?”
“Didn’t you see how he was looking at Sophie Dunnel tonight?”
“I was only looking at you.”
She laughed. “Be serious, Jake.”
“I am serious. You looked so beautiful tonight I was afraid one of the men would run off with you if I didn’t keep you in sight.”
“You know I’m not going anywhere.” She snuggled closer to him. “You just don’t want to talk about your old girlfriend being with another man.”
“She’s not an old girlfriend and I wouldn’t care who she saw if she were.”
“That’s good because I think they make a nice couple.”
“Speaking of couples, what did you think about Curly and Leona announcing their engagement?”
“Oh, I’ve known that was coming for months.”
“Rena, how in the world did you know?”
“Honey, a woman can tell about these things. I’m just glad Curly finally asked her.” She snuggled closer to him. “Like Gil making eyes at Becky Jordon. It’s not going to be long until I get all your old girlfriends married.”
“Silly girl.” He hugged her tighter. “What do you think of the new banker?”
“Isn’t their little boy a cutie? Eliza is such a good mother.”
“Sam told me tonight that they’re expecting again.”
“Really?”
“You mean there’s something you didn’t know?” Jake kissed the top of her head. “I don’t usually get to tell you any news.”
“Now that we’ve talked about all our friends, how about—”
A scream interrupted her.
Jake yanked his pants on and Rena grabbed a robe. They rushed into the hall while other bedroom doors began to swing open.
“What’s going on?” Whitt asked. Iris came out of the room behind him.
Silas barreled down the hall. “Wake the doctor! Adela’s in terrible pain. She needs help.”
Rena put her hand on Jake’s arm. “Calm your brother. I’m going to put on some clothes and go to Adela.”
“But what…”
“I think Silas is about to become a father. You take care of him and we’ll handle the rest.” Rena nodded at Iris, who returned the nod.
Twenty minutes later, Rena and Iris were in the bedroom with Adela and the doctor and his wife.
Jake was in the kitchen with Whitt and Silas. He was making coffee and trying to calm Silas down. “She’s going to be fine, brother.”
“Sure, Silas.” Whitt grinned. “Having babies is one thing women do best. I know. Iris gave me four of them.”
“But I want to help her.”
Whitt’s grin turned into a laugh. “Silas, you’ve already done your part. You planted the seed and she grew it. Now there’s nothing more you can do. It’s up to her to bring it into the world.”
“I know all of that, but…”
“No buts, brother.” Jake set mugs on the table. “There’s nothing you can do.”
“How do you know? You don’t have any kids,” Silas blurted.
“No, but I’ve got some common sense. I know a man doesn’t know a thing about childbirth.”
“Do you and Rena want kids, Jake?” Whitt changed the subject.
“We sure do. Probably would’ve beat Silas becoming a father if Wigham hadn’t shot me.” He chuckled. “But I’m working hard to catch up.”
“That’s the fun part for a man,” Whitt said.
The coffee boiled and Jake filled the mugs.
“If I’d known how much Adela would hurt, I might not have…”
“Don’t hand me that bullshit, Silas.” Whitt sipped his coffee. “There’s not a man worth his salt who won’t lay with his wife. Women say all the pain is worth it to have their babies.”
“Listen to Whitt. He knows what he’s talking about.”
“I just…”
“Well, gentlemen, things are progressing nicely with Adela.” The doctor came into the kitchen. “Can you spare me a cup of coffee?”
“Sure thing.” Jake stood and got a cup for him.
“Why aren’t you taking care of my wife?” Silas glared at the doctor.
“Your wife is doing fine, Silas. There’s a roomful of women with her. They sent me out.”
“Yes, but…”
“Don’t worry, son.” The doctor patted Silas’s arm. “My wife’s in there and she’s birthed about as many babies as I have. They’ll call me when they need me.”
“See, Silas. I told you not to worry.”
“That’s right, Jake.” The doctor looked at him. “You planning on becoming a father any time soon?”
“I hope so.
We’re working on it.”
“Well, when you do, I probably won’t be needed. Knowing your wife, she’ll have the baby by herself, then get up and cook you a full supper and clean the house.”
Jake shook his head. “You still upset because she ran you off when I was shot?”
“I guess I am. It don’t do a man’s pride much good when a feisty little woman like Rena shows him up.”
“Doesn’t bother me.” Jake laughed. “She shows me up all the time.”
“I think all our wives show us up. We just don’t want to admit it.” Whitt refilled his cup. “Iris can handle most any situation when I’m not around.”
“Rena’s actions are rubbing off on Adela, too. Why, my pregnant wife has been learning to shoot. I keep telling her she don’t have to, but she won’t listen.” He looked at his brother. “Another habit she’s picked up from your wife.”
“Why do you think Jake doesn’t argue with his wife? Not many women can shoot the end off a man’s penis and not nick any other part of the body.” Whitt laughed. “They’re still talking about it in town.”
The men continued to kid Jake and an hour passed without notice.
Silas yawned and frowned. “I wonder what’s happening in my bedroom.”
“I’m sure everything is—”
“Doc!” Rena ran down the steps. “It’s time. We need you.”
The doctor stood and stretched. He walked through the parlor to the stairs. The other men followed.
The doctor looked at Rena and asked, “What do you need me for? Can’t you handle it?”
Rena cocked an eye at him. “Of course I can, but I don’t want to. It gets messy.”
Jake laughed out loud. “That’s my Rena,” he announced. “Always has an answer.” He watched her run up the stairs ahead of the doctor.
Soon there was the sound of a baby’s cry. Silas bolted up the steps two at a time. The others followed.
The doctor and Rena came out of the bedroom door and met them.
“Is…” Silas started.
Rena smiled at him. “Silas, you have a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She and her mother are doing fine.”
“A girl? Are you sure? I thought it’d be a boy.”
“It’s a girl, Silas.” Rena laughed.
The other women came out the door. “You can go in now, Silas,” Iris said.
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