By Suzy
Copyright 1999
'Our Lou... pregnant.' Teaspoon frowned.
'A baby.' Rachel sighed.
'She can't be?' Jimmy exclaimed.
'Is she alright?' Buck asked.
'Well I'll be damned.' Cody chuckled.
At any other time Doc Barnes might have found their simultaneous exclamations amusing, but the seriousness of the moment precluded any laughter on his part.
'She's almost three months along, I'm worried about her because she's so small and fine boned. She's already been under too much stress for my liking when young Noah died. This added stress is not good for her at all.'
What can we do?' The five of them spoke at once.
'Nothing really, she must be kept as stress free as possible and she must get as much rest as she can. Above all she mustn't know that I have told you. She made me swear to her that I would not tell Kid, so I don't think she'd be happy with you knowing before him' the doctor concluded as he turned to reenter his surgery leaving the five of them to ponder their thoughts.
'She must have been so thrilled.' Rachel spoke. remembering her own feelings when she had first found she was pregnant before her world had fallen apart around her.
'Weren't they only married a month ago?' Cody frowned, as usual only opening his mouth to put his foot in.
'Not any of our business Cody, They're in love, it happens' Teaspoon stated.
'If I ever hear you say that again Cody, you'll have to answer to me.' Jimmy spoke angry that Cody should darken Lou & Kid's moral beliefs in that way.
'And Me' Buck stated forcefully, also angry at Cody.
'Hey I didn't mean anything by it truly, you know that I love Lou just as much as the rest of you.' he tried to explain himself.
'The important thing now is keeping her well' Teaspoon spoke, 'You boys can cover both hers and Kid's chores for the time being can't you.' he asked and watched the boys all readily agree 'As far as she knows we're giving her time off to look after her husband. I don't want to hear that any one of you have let her surprise slip.'
Their conversation stopped when the surgery door opened and the Doctor emerged.
'He seems to be waking now, you can all come in if you like. It might do him some good to see some friendly faces.' he was almost knocked over in the rush of people trying to get in the door.
They found Lou seated by the bed, her head resting on the bed beside her husbands head, speaking softly to him. Although his eyes were closed, he occaisionally murmured to her as she spoke. His face still a pasty grey colour, his lips still holding a faint bluish tinge his condition didn't appear any better.
'Kid, Jimmy's here' she murmured, her voice still full of unshed tears.
'Jimmy' Kid croaked hoarsely.
'I'm here Kid." Jimmy rapidly moved to stand by his bedside.
'I thought the wagon had got you' he swallowed convulsively trying to speak further, 'I'm sorry for the things I have said' Kid murmured.
'Not as sorry as I am that I'm such a pigheaded fool' Jimmy replied.
'Jimmy can I talk to you alone?' Kid spoke trying to moisten his lips as he asked.
Jimmy turned his teary eyes on the rest of their little family, they nodded in instant agreement. Lou stood and placed a gentle kiss on Kid's forehead, wordlessly hugged Jimmy tightly and followed the others out of the room.
'We're alone Kid, What is it?' he spoke softly as he sat on the chair that Lou had vacated.
"Jimmy, I want you to promise me something?' his eyelids fluttered closed again as he fought the waves of exhaustion washing over him.
'Are you okay Lou?' Rachel asked as she embraced her young friend.
'There's something wrong with Kid.' she stated flatly.
'Ah Lou honey, he was run over by a wagon, I think that is an understatement.' Cody smiled weakly trying to cheer her up a little.
'No you don't understand, there's something he's not telling me.' she answered.
'Lou you're just scared' Teaspoon tried to placate the girl who was like a daughter to him.
'Teaspoon the whole time he was awake, he wouldn't look me in the eye when he spoke to me, and he kept trying to push me away. You know he only gets like that when he's trying to hide something from me' the threatening tears started to trickle down her cheeks and she melted into Rachel's embrace.
Jimmy sat by Kid's side, unsure of what to do and uncomfortable with the whole situation. He gently touched Kid's hand and waited for a response 'Kid' he murmured.
'Jimmy, promise me please.' Kid pleaded weakly, his eyes teary.
'Anything Kid' pleased to be able to pay his friend back for his selfless act in anyway he could.
'I want you to take Lou and Katy and look after both my girls for me.' he spoke, closing his eyes, his exhaustion almost too much for him to fight.
'What for Kid, you are going to be fine.' Jimmy spoke calmly, as his mind whirled in confusion, thinking that maybe there was something that he wasn't being told about Kid's condition.
'Both of them need a real man Jimmy. I can't be that man' Kid stated flatly.
'Kid look at what you did for me, you're more man than anyone else is this town.' he spoke his admiration evident in his voice.
'You don't understand Jimmy' Kid was fast losing his grip on consciousness 'Promise me Jimmy please' tears overflowed from Kid's pain glazed eyes.
'Sure Kid, you know I'll do anything for you.' Jimmy answered 'Just tell me why you can't look after them?'
'Jimmy I can't move my legs' Kid murmured as he sank back into the pain free inky blackness of unconsciousness.
On to Chapter Four
