by Jolene Faye
Chapter Six
"Mr. Marshal, it's a girl! Your wife and the baby both are doing fine. The doctor will come retrieve you in a moment," the middle aged red headed nurse spoke quickly before sliding back into the room. "Woohooo, another girl," Jed yelled as he stood and shook Cole's hand, "congratulations son!" Cole stood shaking and covered in a thin layer of sweat. A thin smile creasing his lips as everyone shook his hand and hugged him. The door opened again as the oldest Kiowa woman and the medicine man appeared with their faces twisted into smiles flushed with exhaustion. It seemed like a dream as they floated toward the rest of their family, Little Feather and Dancing Moon in tears as White Eagle and Daniel each lit up their cigars in celebration. "Another girl," his sister's soft voice rang as she turned him and wrapped him in a tight hug. "I'm so happy you could be here for this, Samatha," his voice barely a whisper as he held his sister tight. "Mama and Papa would have been so proud," she assured as she stepped to the side at the urging push of her niece's small hands against her hip. "Papa, is Mama ok? Is baby Jacob ok," Rose questioned, confused over all the commotion. Cole lifted the little girl and hugged her tight as he laughed softly. "Well Rose, Mama is ok, but would you be ok if Jacob was actually a girl? You have a little sister now instead of the little brother we'd talked about," he chuckled as he pressed a soft kiss against his daughter's cheek. "Oh a sister," she screamed happily as she wiggled in her father's arms, "She won't still be named Jacob will she? That's not a very pretty sister's name." Everyone in the small waiting room of the doctor's house laughed as the large miss matched family celebrated the arrival of the baby.
Cole lay beside Sybil holding her in his arms, pressing kisses to her temple as they watched the small girl wiggle her fingers and toes. "She's so beautiful," he whispered as Sybil turned and passed the small bundle to him, smoothing the blanket over his arm. "Cole, I've thought of a name, but I think we need to talk to Jed and Robert first," Sybil whispered softly as she watched Cole's fingers smooth over the small hands of their newborn child. After long minutes of talking and cuddling with the new baby, Cole called Jed and Robert from the waiting room. Robert stood at the foot of the bed and smiled watching as everyone cooed at the baby and congratulated the couple. Jed held the small bundle as lovingly as he'd always held Rose when she was smaller. Clearing her throat softly, Sybil squeezed Cole's hand and turned her attention toward Jed. "We've decided on a name," she started as she watched the old man smile and cradle the baby. "If it is ok with the both of you," Sybil looked back and forth between Robert and Jed for a moment before continuing, "We'd like to name her Lily." Robert stepped toward Jed and the baby and dropped his arm over the old man's shoulder. Jed smiled, a solitary tear rolling down his cheek as he looked over his shoulder to his son. "After Mother," Robert questioned choking back his own tears as he raised his gaze from the tiny newborn to Sybil. Sybil nodded softly as Cole sat back beside her on the bed, "Lily Cecilia Marshal. I didn't get a chance to meet your mother, but without you two, I'd have never had a family of my own."
