Six Shots Deep

Learning To Be A Mother

"Dutch."

"Miss Rose," he chuckled, looking over to Arthur, "Arthur."

"What're you doin here, Dutch?" He asked, keeping his pistol fixated on the man.

"Heard you two had children," he said, sticking up his hands, "figured I'd come and pay a visit."

Eugene came out of the hallway, alerting me. I looked back. His eyes were wide as he stared at Arthur. "Momma?" He said, his voice hardly a mutter.

"Is this your boy?" Dutch asked, stepping towards Eugene. "Hi there."

Eugene quickly stepped behind me. He chuckled and stared at him. "Well, ain't you just a brave kid."

Arthur quickly pulled Dutch back. He stumbled against the wall, and Arthur held the pistol to his head. "Leave my son alone." He growled.

"Well, where's your other kid? Heard you had children, not just one kid."

"You don't get to meet my kids after what you did."

"Momma, what's going on?" I heard Bria asked. I quickly looked behind me. There stood Bria, holding her baby. I shook my head.

"Bria," I stepped away from Eugene, "you need to lie down."

"But-"

"Go." I looked over to Eugene. I handed him a revolver. "Back to your sisters room."

He nodded and took his sister by the shoulders, leading her back. I looked back over to Arthur and Dutch.

"So, your grandparents, huh?"

"Leave." I said, pointing my rifle at him.

"Oh, well, I can't do that. I haven't even met my grandchildren. Bria, was it? And who was the other one?"

Arthur grabbed his collar, pushing him towards the front door. "I ain't gonna say it again. Leave my kids alone and go. You ain't got no place bein here. If you don't leave right now, there will be a bullet in your head."

"Such a man with a temper, Arthur." Dutch chuckled. "You should get that under control. Not a very good example for your children."

I heard a gunshot ring from behind me. I looked back and saw Charles, a repeater smoking. I looked over and saw Dutch, a single gunshot wound to the head. He fell back and landed with a hard thump. I shook my head, lowering my rifle. The doctor stood behind Charles, a bag in hand.

"Looks like I came back just in time." Charles said. "How's Bria?"

"Fine," I replied, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.

"Where is she?"

"In her room," I set my rifle down on the table. I sat down in a chair, dropping my head to my hands. Arthur joined me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "What just happened?"

"I believe Charles just shot Dutch."

I smacked his chest. "I know that."

"And our daughter gave birth."

"Shit," I quickly stood, running back to Bria's room. When I arrived, the doctor sat on the edge of her bed, examining her.

"Is she okay?" Eugene asked.

"She's fine. Perfectly healthy." He looked up at Bria. "Here, let me look at the baby."

She nodded and handed him the bundle. He quickly unwrapped the blanket and pressed on the baby's stomach. He then examined the cut umbilical cord. "Baby seems fine." He laid his hand on the baby's chest. "Heartbeat is good." He smiled. "You guys did well for a home birth." He handed the child back to Bria. "I'll come back tomorrow to check up."