The Cowboy's Love

Four: Baby Matt Weston

The next morning Laura sat by the fire with her baby boy asleep in her arms. She smoothed over his black hair as she gently hummed an old hymn. Wes sat across from her, asleep aswell. She knew he tuckered out from last night, she knew he never went through anything like that before. She heard a door squeak open and a sleepy Caleb walk into the room. She couldn't help but giggle at his hair, that was standing straight up. He yawned before he walked over and said," Did you have the baby yet?" She nodded as he made his way over and looked st the little bundle in her arms. He smiled as she said," Meet your little brother, Matt Weston." Caleb gently patted the little boys head before he kissed his head. Laura smiled at Caleb and said,"I hate to ask you but will you feed the horse and cattle this morning? I don't think Weston will be waking up soon. I'm about to make ya' some of them honey biscuts you like." She watched him lick his lips before he quickly nodded and ran to his room to change. Laura slowly stood before placing little Matt in his crib. She smiled down at her little baby before she went to the stove, starting a fire. She groaned slightly at the ache between her legs but she took a deep breath before she began making her dough.

Caleb sat at the table wrapped in a blanket with a half eaten honey biscut in his hand. Laura gently rocked Matt as she fed him. Keeping a blanket around her chest to cover herself. Wes was still asleep in his chair, deep breaths leaving his open mouth. Laura closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the back of the chair. She felt the baby unlatch himself from her breast and whine slightly. Laura hummed lightly as she began pulled tight on the lacing of her night dress to cover herself again. She moved the blanket and gently patted Matt's back. Wes slowly woke, to see Laura holding the little baby. He smiled slightly as he looked across the room to find Caleb at the kitchen table nursing a biscut. He let a yawn as he stood up. Bones cracking and popping from sleeping in the chair. Laura smiled up at him and said,"Good morning. I was starting to think you died on me." Caleb let a laugh as he stood up and picked up another biscut. He walked over to Wes and handed him the biscut. Caleb smiled and said,"Momma makes the best honey biscuts. You'll love em'." Laura couldn't but roll as her son talked about the biscuts. Wes took a bite and moaned as he took another. She saw how tears welled up in his eyes as he chewed. Once he swallowed, he wiped at his eyes as he said," My mother's tasted just like this. I haven't had anything like this in almost twenty five years." He bent down and gently kissed Laura's forehead before he whispered," You are a truly amazing woman." She blushed as Caleb cleared his throat causing Wes to stand up straight. Caleb rolled his eyes before put his fimger in mouth and made a gagging noise. Caleb smirked slightly before he said," Y'all are nasty." Both Laura and Wes let boisterous laughs before Caleb in joined with them.

Laura rocked back and forth in the rocking chair with little Matt happily content on her chest as Wes sat across from her with a large book in his hand. Caleb sat at Wes' feet as he began to read 'Tale of Two cities'. Caleb excitedly listened to words as Laura began to nod off. The extreme tiredness of childbirth finally taking it toll. Wes' voice sent her to a light sleep before he was done with the second page. Wes smiled when he looked up at Laura, she was napping with a small smile on her lips and her arms wrapped around her son's small body. Wes looked down at Caleb to find looking up at him intently waiting for him to continue. Wes patted his knee and said," Climb up here, bud." Caleb quickly sat on Wes' knee as he continued reading. Wes smiled once again, as he thought to himself,"I have a family again."

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Wes and Caleb began dragging a small pine tree through the snow. It was a week till Christmas and Caleb could hardly wait. Wes smiled and said," What ya' want for Christmas buddy?" Caleb shrugged his shoulders and frowned slightly. Caleb grunted slightly before he said," We've never really done presents before. Pa thought it was stupid. But momma always gave me a set of gloves and a toboggan after Pa went to bed." Wes frowned slightly as he shook his head. The more he heard about that man the more he hated him. Wes cleared his throat and said," Well that's gonna change. If you could have anything, what would it be?" Wes saw Caleb purse his in thought as he re-adjusted his hand. He saw a giddy smile cross the boys face as he looked uo to Wes. Caleb smiled and said," A wallet. Grandpa always had a leather wallet in his pocket." Wes smiled and gave him a nod. Wes figured out just what he was gonna give Laura and Caleb.

Laura slowly rocked little Matt as he cried. Ever since Caleb and Wes left two hours ago, he'd been crying non-stop. Caleb never did this as a baby, she was beyond worried. She tried feeding him, changing him, everything but nothing was working. She tried to blink away the tears gathering in her eyes as the baby began screaming and sobbing again. Laura let the tears flow down her cheeks as she heard a giggle outside. Soon Caleb and Wes began carrying in the tree. Wes saw the tears dripping from Laura's eyes and quickly went to her. He put his hands on her shoulders as she looked back down at Matt. She frowned and said," You need to go get Haylee. He hasn't quit since you left." Wes wasted no time as he ran back out the door. Caleb stood beside his mother trying to give her some comfort buy gently rubbing her back.

Wes quickly came back with Haylee and her husband. The three of them came rushing back in, the sound of a crying baby coming from Laura's room. Wes looked to find Caleb sitting by the fire, hugging his legs to his chest. Haylee ran past the men to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Wes sat down beside Caleb, wrapping his arm around him. Caleb cuddled in Wes' side as he just stared at his mother's door. Soon the crying stopped and Haylee walked out with a teary Laura behind her. Wes stood and walked to ber bringing her into his arms. Haylee frowned and said," He's got a small infection from where his umbilical cord fell off. He'll be alright. I got to cauterize the infection and he'll be fine. For the next few days keep it covered and I'll give you some sauve to put on it." Haylee took the surgical knife in her hand and walked towards the fire. Haylee looked to Wes and continued," I'd take them to the barn. She's going to want to kill me when I start." Wes quickly got her in her boots and jacket before ushering her and Caleb out the door. Once they were in the barn Laura was back in his arms and Caleb was trying to busy himself brushing the horses. He kissed her forehead and said," Everything's gonna be just fine. Matty is gonna be just fine." Laura just nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist. Caleb couldn't but smile as he looked at his mother and Wes held eachother. He hadn't seen anyone hug his mother like that before.

Laura held Matty in her arms as she gently rocked him, humming 'Amazing Grace'. Wes sat behind her watching her gracefully rock the child to sleep. He smiled as he watched her lay him in his crib and kiss his little forehead. She stood up and looked down at her peaceful baby. He couldn't help but look at the purple circles underneath her eyes and her tired demeanor. He held out his arms to her and it wasn't long before she was snuggled in his arms and sitting in his lap. She let out a large sigh before she placed her hand over his heart. She smiled and said," I don't know what I'd do without ya' Wes. I was so scared today and you were, ready to do anything you could do for little Matty. Caleb's father never would have gave a second thought when Matty was crying. But you stepped up and went riding out for help. I love you for that, Weston." Wes didn't quite know what to say but he did the next best thing. He gently placed a finger underneath her chin and lifted her face to meet his. He leaned in and placed a love and passion filled kiss on her naturally red lips. She was shocked to say the least but eventually melted into the kiss. He pulled away and said,"It's my job now, Laura. I will care for you, Caleb and Matty till the day I die. I love ya', Laura."