Lawless Love

Chapter Ten

Lucius looked at her, with tears in his eyes. He wiped them away with the back of his hand. "I'd be happier'n all get out to be his grandpa!" He got out of his chair, walked around the table and hugged her tight. Sarah laughed and hugged him back. Jake walked through the doorway, holding Rouser. He cleared his throat and the two broke apart. "You better not be trying to steal my woman, Lucius." he said jokingly. Lucius slapped him on the back and laughed.

"She's all yours, boy!" Sarah blushed and started rocking the baby again. Jake carried the puppy over to her and knelt down still holding him. Sarah started petting him. "Rouser, this is Matty. I need you to help take care of him." She kept petting him as she talked. Matthew started moving and making noise, which made the dog nervous. Jake kept a hold of him so he couldn't get away. "It's okay, boy." Sarah said soothingly. The puppy's tail started to wag a little. She held the baby down so he could see him.

"See? It's okay. He's just a baby. He's nothing to be afraid of." Rouser sniffed him and the baby moved and made a small sound. This time, Rouser didn't move away. He got closer and sniffed again. He looked up at Sarah and whined a little. "Let go, Jake. He's okay." Jake let go and the puppy stayed by the baby. Sarah looked at Jake and smiled. "I think he's gonna be just fine now." Jake admitted. Sarah nodded and smiled. "I think you're right. But, you will excuse me, I should go feed Matty." Both of the men stood as she got up from the table.

"Are you going to be okay walking by yourself?" Jake was still concerned about his wife. "I'm sure I can manage, darlin'." She smiled and walked to her rocking chair. The dogs followed her into the other room. Lucius and Jake sat down at the table. "Sorry about him crying, Lucius. I didn't think he would do that." Lucius shrugged. "I just panicked. Like I told Miss Sarah, I don't know much about babies." 

Jake laughed. "Hell, neither do I. I'm learning as I go. Sarah seems to know everything there is. Must be a woman thing." Both of the men laughed. Lucius grabbed a bottle of whiskey and opened it. He offered it to Jake, who took it without hesitation. It burned his throat but it was a good burn. "Damn, that's good old man." Lucius took it back and took a long drink from the bottle. "Hot damn! That's good stuff right there!"

Lucius leaned closer to Jake and lowered his voice, "You ain't never gonna guess who stopped me in town." Jake had his suspicions but he didn't interrupt. "Carlotta. She was askin' about ya sayin' how much she missed you, this 'n that. You shoulda seen her face when I told 'er Sarah had the baby." Jake could only imagine, though he couldn't care less about her. No other woman mattered other than his Sarah.

"I got somthin' for Sarah while I's in town." He pulled out the fabric and showed Jake. "Think she'll like it?" Jake felt it. "I'm sure she will. It's nice and soft." Like her he thought. "So what that telegram say?" Jake took another drink from the bottle. "Her friend will be here in two weeks and she plans on staying for awhile, going by the last letter she sent." Lucius took the bottle from Jake and drank some more. "Well, I we'd better get that room done 'fore she gits here." Jake nodded in agreement. 

Sarah was sitting in her chair, rocking the baby. She held him to her bare breast and he started suckling. "I love you, Matty. You're perfect in every way." She smiled, content with how everything was going in her life at this moment. "Your grandfather would be thrilled to have a grandson. You're named after him, you know, and you're father's father too." She knew he couldn't understand what she was saying but she felt the need to tell him everything.

She could hear the men talking in the kitchen, which made her happier. She didn't know what she would do without either of them. She looked down at the dogs lying on the floor next to her. They were the best dogs she could ask for. She got Lafitte the first week she was in Lone Bluff and he kept her company during the long, lonely nights. Now she had Rouser, who had a lot to learn. She smiled as she kept rocking.

She started dozing in her chair, along with her son. He had finished eating for now and had a full belly. She managed to cover herself without waking him. The men were still in the kitchen, talking but she couldn't hear what they were saying. She let herself let go of consciousness and slipped into a light sleep.

Jake looked toward the room where Sarah had gone. "Maybe I should check on them." Lucius nodded as Jake got up from the table. He quietly crossed the room to find Sarah and Matthew fast asleep. The dogs both looked up at him just long enough to realize it was him and put their heads back down. Jake couldn't help but smile to himself. His heart filled with pride and love, more than it ever had. He didn't know he could love anything as much as he loved his little family.

He leaned down and kissed both his wife and son on their forehead and walked back to the kitchen. He sat back down and took another drink. "Lucius, have you ever love something so much that you feel like you could never love anything more than that one thing and then something else comes along and proves you wrong?" Lucius thought for a second, running the question over in his mind. "Jake, my boy, I honestly can't say that I have. Ever since I lost my wife, ain't never loved nothin' like I loved her." The old man wiped a tear from his face.

Jake wasn't sure what to say to make him feel any better. He just stood up and gave the man a hug, which caught him off guard. "Thanks boy. I needed that." Jake sat back down and they started talking again. Neither one wanting to stop.