Something In The Water - Part 4

©2004 by Helen Gibson

Joey was excited about the party. She had been running around all day hoping it will be time and she was making Teaspoon and Sam VERY dizzy. She had been slowly working the other children into her dizzying frenzy. Jimmy saw that she was wearing the older men out so he came over to see if he could lend a hand, since the outdoor preparation was complete. Jimmy smiled at Joey – she was a spitfire just like her mum.

As soon as Joey saw Jimmy walking towards her she tore towards him. She loved Jimmy; he always made her feel special. She decided to call him what the other children call the men they live with. “Daddy” she screamed as she ran towards Jimmy. Jimmy stopped dead in his tracks as he heard the little girl call him daddy. His heart leapt into his throat; how was he going to deal with this? He looked towards the house and saw Lou come outside at the sound of her daughter’s scream.

Lou’s heart was beating rapidly ‘he can’t be here!’ she thought. When she got outside and saw that Joey had called Jimmy daddy, she couldn’t help the smile. She hoped he wouldn’t mind, then he looked at her and she knew he didn’t. She could see the fear in his eyes until he saw the approval on her face. When he saw Lou’s approval, a smile split his face in two. Just as Joey reached him, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms, giving her a giant hug and kiss. He loved Joey like she was his own.

“What’s up darlin’?” Jimmy asked Joey. “Have you been hassling your grandpa and uncle Sam?”

Smiling Joey just shook her head ‘no’. “Where party?” she questioned.

“The party? Hmmm, well why don’t we go and ask mama, huh?” he answered.

At the girl’s nod, they set off towards the house. Since Lou had gone back inside, they went into the house and found her busy in the kitchen with the rest of the women, finishing off the last of the food preparations for the party. As they entered the kitchen, Lou looked up and smiled. She put down the bowl of potatoes she was holding, went over to Jimmy and Joey and gave them a big group hug and kiss.

“What are you two up to?” Lou probed with suspicion.

“We want party!” Joey stated confidently.

Looking at both Joey and Jimmy, Lou replied “Oh really? Well it’s almost ready. We just have to take everything outside and lay them on the tables, and then you may have your party. Happy?”

At this, they both nodded. Jimmy gave Lou a long, lingering kiss as he backed her up towards the kitchen table. When she bumped into the table, Jimmy sneaked a hand around her and grabbed two muffins he had noticed sitting there when he and Joey entered the kitchen. He then put his muffin-filled hand behind his back. When he felt Joey’s little hands grasp the muffins, he ended his kiss with Lou and looked into her eyes.

“Well, we’ll just go back outside and wait, won’t we sweetheart?” Jimmy declared, turning to look at Joey nodding, who had hid the muffins behind her back.

Jimmy gave Lou a quick kiss on the nose, then turned, picked up Joey, walked outside and went over to the corral, where he sat Joey on the top rail * they ate their ‘secret’ muffins. Jimmy knew Lou saw what they did, but with the type of kiss he just gave her, he knew he could get away with almost anything.

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

Teaspoon was gob-smacked when Joey called Jimmy ‘Daddy’. He was wondering what might happen when this day came, how both Jimmy and Lou would handle the situation. He was very proud of them at the way they did cope, although he didn’t think this day would come so soon.

When he saw Jimmy and Joey leave the house, he saw that Joey was hiding something, then she handed Jimmy one, making Teaspoon laugh at their antics. They made a wonderful family, Teaspoon only hoped it would soon enough be ‘proper’ as the fine ladies in town would say.

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

All too soon, the tables were covered with food and the party had begun. Ike and Buck provided music with Buck’s homemade flute and Ike’s Harmonica, while the others danced and talked, after all, they had a lot to catch up on.

As the evening wore on, everyone sat down to eat. That’s when Jimmy decided it was time. He put his cutlery and stood up, clearing his throat.

“Excuse me everyone. Can I please have your attention.” Jimmy called over the noise, tapping the side of his glass with a spoon as he had seen done sometime in his travels.

“Ah hem. I’d just like to say how glad I am that we are able to all be here together. I know it’s been awhile….”

“Here, here!” came Emma and Teaspoon’s voices from the group.

“…Well anyway. I’d like to thank the ladies for making another most delicious meal. Now there’s something I’ve been meaning to say and do for a long time, so ahh…” turning to Lou, Jimmy went down on one knee and pulled a little velvet pouch from his shirt pocket. Taking Lou’s left hand in his shaking one, he looked deep into her drown eyes, then he asked her the one question that had been too long in coming…

“Louise Mary McCloud, will you marry me?” he breathed.

Tears glistened in her eyes, then a smile spread across her face. “Oh, Jimmy! Yes, oh yes, I’ll marry you,” Lou squealed, jumping into Jimmy’s arms and kissing him passionately.

The family erupted into applause, and words of congratulations. Joey went to Lou and Jimmy, squeezing between them, wanting to join in the group hug once again.

As the couple broke apart, they were enveloped in the arms of their family with warmest wishes.

The party continued with a new spirit. Slowly the children wore themselves out, as did the adults. As the night faded into dawn, there was only one couple left to watch the sun rise. The newly engaged couple sat snuggled together watching the horizon as the colours of early morn changed minute to minute. As the sun rose above the horizon, the couple decided to retire for a few hours of precious sleep before they had to face another busy day. They looked towards the quiet and slumbering house, but then turned and headed into the bunkhouse arm in arm. Jimmy took off his shoes and climbed into a bunk fully clothed, with Lou climbing in after him. She snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest, as he wrapped his arm around her and they both fell quickly into a deep slumber.

It was late morning when Lou and Jimmy awoke. Looking at each other, they giggled at the bed-hair they both sported. It had been a VERY long time since they had seen each other that way, the couple couldn’t help but laugh.

Upon hearing the laughter erupt from the bunkhouse, Cody couldn’t help himself. He entered the bunkhouse and decided to hassle the couple.

“What time do you call this? It’s almost lunchtime and you two are still in bed. I hope you don’t think I’m doing your share of the chores as well as my own.” He playfully fumed.

“Well just doing your own share of chores would be a first, Cody! Don’t worry, we’ll get around to them…eventually,” Jimmy stated, turning to look hungrily at Lou.

Cody knew that look, so he made a hasty retreat. Lou looked from Cody’s retreating form to Jimmy and yelped as he pounced on her like a wild cat. Jimmy couldn’t stop himself from kissing Lou. He just wanted to kiss her until the end of time.

Lou knew what would happen if she didn’t put a stop to it soon. Sure, she wanted to, but with Joey around, as soon as the child found out they were awake, she would come barrelling in like the devil’s chasing her.

Just as Lou was finishing her thought whilst reluctantly untangling herself from Jimmy’s embrace, Joey came thundering through the door.

“Mama, Daddy, it morning. Up time now.” She insisted.

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