Lawless Love

Chapter Seven

"What are we going to name him, Duchess?" She looked at the baby and then back at Jake. "Well, I was thinking about naming him after my father and yours." He c****d his head at her confused. "I thought we could call him Matthew Johnathan Redman." Jake smiled and nodded. "That sounds perfect to me."

They sat holding each other, marveling over the baby. Sarah yawned, as she was understandably exhausted. Jake grabbed clean bedding from the chest at the foot of the bed. He had her stand just long enough for him to change the bed. He helped her lay back down and covered her up. "You just sleep now, darlin'. I'll be right outside if you need me." She nodded, closing her eyes.

Jake had to get some fresh air. He walked outside, carrying the soiled bedding, and went to the barn. He found Lucius inside, mending a fence. "Hey there Jake." He put down his tools and walk over to him. Lucius went pale at the sight of the blood. "What the hell happened? Is everything okay?" Jake slid to the floor. Lucius crouched down next to him. "Sarah had the baby. God, the blood." Jake felt like he was going to pass out. Lucius let out a whistle. "Well, I'll be damned! I knew she was gettin' close but not this close." 

Jake wobbled a bit. "Just breathe boy! You're no good to her if you pass out here" Lucius helped him back on his feet. "I've never seen anything like it. One second she was in so much pain then she was pushing and the next the baby was out." Jake was still stunned from what he had just witnessed. "How's she doin'? How's the baby?" He had grown fond of Sarah and he cared for her as his own daughter. 

"She's doing just fine I guess. The baby is fine too. He's so small but he sure is somethin' else. He's got Sarah's hair but he just might end up having my eyes. They look kinda grayish-blue right now. Damn though, the only time I've seen somethin' being born was when I helped deliver calves and foals." He thought about his wife. She looked so peaceful holding their son. "I need you to do something for me." Jake looked at his oldest friend. "Anything Jake. What you needin' me to do?" Jake paused for a moment. "I need you to go into town and get some more pillows and bedding." Lucius nodded. "I can sure do that. I was fixin' on headin' into town anyhow." Jake helped him get a horse ready to go and helped him into the saddle. 

"I can get up myself boy." Lucius grumbled. He knew Jake meant well but he wasn't helpless.  "I know Lucius. Force of habit I guess." The old man placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. "Can you also let the Liza know that the baby came today and that her ma was right about it being a boy." Lucius nodded. "You're gonna be a fine father Jake. Just remember to take things as they come." Lucius bumped the horse with his boots and took off for town. 

Jake quietly crept back into the house. He finally had a handle on his body to where he didn't feel like fainting. Lafitte met him at the door with a low growl but stopped immediately after realizing it was Jake coming through the door. "Easy boy. Thank you for guarding them while I was outside. I needed to get away from all of that for a minute." He scratched the dog and went up to see how his wife and son were doing.

Rouser perked up when he heard Jake coming up to the loft. "Good boy, Rouser." He pet him and stood there watching his family sleep. Thank god they're doing okay. I thought for sure I was going to lose one of them. Sarah opened her eyes and smiled. She still hurt but she was more concerned for her husband. He looked worse than she felt. "Hi." she whispered. "Come here, please." She patted the bed and he walked over and sat next to her. "Hello my strong, perfect, wonderful wife."

She blushed at his flattery. The baby stirred and they both looked. "He's amazing, Jake. I just can't get over him. Do you want to hold him?" She offered. Jake got a panicked look in eyes. Sarah couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. "It's okay, Jake. You're his father, there's no reason to worry. Just hold him like you would hold me." Feeling more confident in himself, he took the baby from Sarah. He held him as though he was made of glass.

"He's so small. He only has to weigh about five pounds but he has to be about two feet long." He held him close to his chest. Sarah started dozing again. "You just sleep, Duchess. I'll take our son for awhile. We'll just be down in the rocking chair." Sarah didn't argue. She was too tired to even think let alone form a proper argument as to why the baby should stay with her. "Okay, Jake. I love you so much. Thank you for taking care of us." He leaned down and kissed her. 

Jake took the baby downstairs with a blanket so they could rock in the chair. He carefully sat down, trying not to move too fast. The last thing he wanted was to scare the baby and make him cry. Jake wrapped the baby in the blanket and started rocking and the baby was asleep in seconds. 

Jake started singing, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know boy how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." He kept rocking, probably more for himself than his son. "Daddy will never let anything happen to you, Matty. I'll kill for you and I'll die for you if that's what it takes to keep you safe."

Tears ran down Sarah's face. She could hear Jake singing and talking to their son. It made her love him even more, even though she didn't think that was possible. She got Lafitte's attention and had him scoot closer to her so she could pet him. Rouser wasn't about to miss out on attention so he climbed on the bed too. "You're such a good dog, Lafitte. So are you, Rouser." Lafitte whined and licked her. "You're going to be such a good guardian. Both of you are." She fell asleep petting her dogs.