Something In The Water - Part 3

©2004 by Helen Gibson

At the feel of the little girl’s kiss on his cheek, Jimmy’s heart raced, fluttering to great heights. He looked at Lou and that’s when he made the decision to never leave her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Over the next few weeks, Lou and Jimmy’s courtship flourished. Teresa, Jeremiah and Joey all got to know the real Jimmy and really let him into their close-knit family.

As the summer months cooled to autumn, the small family made arrangements for the rest of the family to come and visit. A Reunion. It had been FAR too long since the whole family had been under one roof. Even Emma, Sam and their family were coming. Everyone save for the outcast Kid.

Come mid-October, everyone began arriving. Cody and Rebecca arrived first and were blown away at Lou and Jimmy’s relationship. Sam and Emma arrived the following day, then the next day greeted Buck, Ike, Noah and their families back to P.E.W. The old express riders decided to spend the first night all together in the old bunkhouse, “Just like old times”.

Two days after everyone’s arrival, the family threw a party. In the morning, the women prepared all the food and drinks, while the boys set up outdoors with tables, lanterns and wood for a bonfire when the party entered the twilight hours of the evening. Sam and Teaspoon were on child minding patrol…and boy did they have their hands full: Sam and Emma had 5 children – Samuel (a.k.a Junior), James, Louisa, Jessica and Elizabeth; Buck and Lana had 2 – Morning Glory and Eagle Wing; Ike and Emily had 3 – Buck, Aloysius and Kate; Noah and Cassie had 1 – Benjamin, with another on the way, then there was Jeremiah, Teresa and Joey. With 14 children to care for, the men were kept on their toes, although Jeremiah and Teresa were a big help at keeping the younger children occupied.

Lunch was just a simple affair of sandwiches. The feast would begin later that afternoon.