Heart Of Stone

Three

Ezra and Henry had come home from work in town to find both Mary and Jolene working away at the stove cooking away. Ezra smiled at his wife's prominently rounded belly. He was sure that she was pregnant with twins. He smiled at the thought of having two little feet running around the house. Jolene smiled to them both and said,"Just in time. We just finished frying the chicken." Ezra rubbed his belly at the thoughts of his mama's fried chicken. Ezra walked over to Jolene wrapped a hand around her waist as he held a hand to her growing belly feeling small kicks against his palm. Jolene smiled as Henry kissed her cheek and said," How are my grandbabies?" Jolene shrugged as he walked over to Mary giving her a quick kiss. Jolene sighed and said," Kicking up a storm." Henry pulled away and looked towards a very tired looking Jolene and a happy Ezra as rubbed her belly. He knew the babies were going to come earlier than they think. The way she was tiring herself easily and how big she was reminded him of Mary's sister. Henry smiled and said," They get it from their mommy. I remember your momm telling me you were driving her crazy, not giving her a lick a sleep." Jolene giggled as Ezra lead her to the kitchen table letting her sit and rest.

Jolene sat awake in the middle of the night as the babies kicked at her belly button. She slowly knitted baby socks as Ezra came from the bedroom. He rubbed his eyes and said," JoJo, come back to bed." Jolene waved him off and kept knitting. Ezra crouched beside her and said," Is it nightmares or babies?" Jolene put her knitting to the side and grabbed Ezra's hand. Jolene sighed said," Both. I have nightmares that they will evil just like them." Ezra sat in the floor and squeezed her hand. She looked down to him as he said," They'll have an amazing mother and grand parents to raise them to be good, God loving kids. Don't you worry, now come to bed. I want to hold my wife." Jolene just giggled as Ezra stood helping her from her chair before leading her back to bed. They both laid down and snuggled into one another. Ezra placed a hand on her rounded belly as he said," Pa asked me to be a deputy. He needs another deputy and he said I'd be right for the job. But I won't take it unless you want me to." Jolene knew this was coming. Henry had mentioned on multiple occasions that he'd make a good deputy and had been recruiting him alot for posses and missions. Jolene didn't like the idea of him being in harm's way but he loved the work he was doing. Jolene nodded and said,"You don't need my blessing Ezra but I'm okay with it. I know you love it and if it makes you happy then it makes me happy." Jolene kissed his cheek and laid her head on his shoulder. She felt Ezra's hand gently rub her belly, feeling the babies kick against his hand. He smiled and said," Then I'll tell Pa tomorrow. I swear these kids are kicking up a storm." Jolene just nodded as she felt her eyelids begin to droop. The last thing she heard before she was lulled to sleep was Ezra quietly saying," I love you."

Jolene watched as Henry and Ezra rode of towards town. She couldn't help but be nervous as he rode off. She bit her lip before sending a quick prayer to keep him safe. She waddled back inside and looked around her cabin. There was much to be done. The floors needed scrubbed, the stove cleaned, and laundry to be done. Jolene grabbed a nearby metal bucket and headed back outside to the well. As she headed towards the well, she heard a loud whine reach her ears. She got closer to the well to see a small dog laying on it side. She hurried to him to find a broken arrow in his left hind leg. She frowned and let the fragile animal smell the palm if hand. She smiled as he gently licked it before letting out another pitiful whine. She set her bucket down and picked up the small dog. She quickly laid him by the fire before running out and grabbing her pail, filling it with water before returning. She got to work boiling the water before going off to look for an old shirt of Ezra's to be made into rags, his sharp hunting knife, and the alcohol they only used for medicine. She sat in the floor by the dog, she gently rubbed behind his left ear and said," This will hurt but hopefully it'll be quick."

Jolene sat in the floor beside her new friend gently rubbing behind his ears as he ate little bit of the salted ham she had warmed over for him. Her belly growled at the smell of pot roast wafted up at her nose. She looked outside the window to find the sun setting, Ezra was yet to be home. Jolene looked down at the dog and said," Ezra will be home soon. He's a good man. He's been very good to me and my babies. He saved me. I believe you'll like him." She heard the dog grunt as laid his head on her thigh. She smiled and said," I think I'll name you Jax. You look like a Jax." He panted lightly as she heard the barn door shut. Ezra was home. She tried to get up only for her belly to get in her way. She growled lightly before getting to her knees and pulled herself up. She hated the way her belly seemed to get in the way lately. She headed towards the door as a very tired Ezra came in. She smiled and pulled him into a chaste kiss, making him smile against her lips. He jumped back slightly as Jax began loudly growling. Ezra looked over Jolene's shoulder to find the bandaged pup. Ezra frowned in confusion as he said," Where did you find him?" Jolene smiled as she watched him get down beside the dog and let him smell his hand. She shrugged and said," Out by the well. He had a arrow stuck in his leg. I couldn't let Jax suffer. So I did what I could and he's doing well." Ezra nodded and ran a hand on top of his scratching between his ears. He nodded and smiled up at Jolene. He waved her over and moved his hands from Jax's fur. As soon as she was close he wrapped his hands around her belly gently rubbing before he kissed it lightly. Jolene teared up as he began talking to the babies. He looked up to Jolene and said," I think were having two boys. The way your carrying and the way they don't stop kicking, they're gonna be rough, rowdy boys." Jolene playfully groaned and walked towards the stove making Ezra chuckle. He gave Jax a quick pat, knowing that he'd protect his wife and unborn children.