Early Friday Morning, Bruce walked his bull from the pen, through the chute, and onto the cattle trailer to take him to the south forty. This was a yearly rotation of the bulls changing pastures and heifers. Relocating each bull was usually Allen's job, but because of Peg's delivery date, Bruce was doing it.

He had just pulled out onto the road when his cell phone rang. He looked at the face and then answered through the speaker system. "Allen, what's up?"

"Peg's water broke. I put Tim in charge around here. I'll give ya a call after we know somethin'."

His grin was stretched so wide his eyes almost closed. His voice was filled with excitement as he asked, "Have her pains started?"

"Not the real ones. I'll call ya back, she's waitin' for me."

"Right. I'll be handy." He disconnected. The day had finally come and he wasn't about to be left out. They were both like family. Hell, he was closer to them than his own brothers. As soon as he moved the last bull, he'd join them at the hospital and make sure they had all they needed.

He made a quick call to have two dozen yellow roses delivered to her room right away. Then, he'd buy something for his godson.

Bruce arrived at the gate, stepped out of his truck, swung open the gate, jumped back in the truck, drove through, stepped out, shut the gate and finally drove off towards the heifers. When Eddie grew big enough he swore he'd have him manning the gate. Bruce did it when he was barely six, just tall enough to reach the latch. The gates were light weight and hung to swing easy.

He parked and connected the ramp to the back of the trailer and swung the door open. It didn't take much encouragement for the bull to back his way out. His new harem waited. Bruce put the ramp back and closed the door. For a moment, he watched the bull sniff the air. With a grin, he drove away heading for the next bull.

A couple of hours later, he finally arrived at the house to drop the trailer and clean up. His head was still wet from his shower when he climbed into his newer truck and hit the highway heading towards the hospital. As soon as he arrived, he made a beeline to the gift shop. A speckled pup with big floppy ears and sad eyes begged to taken home. He knew that was a perfect gift for his godson. He picked it up and squeezed. It was cuddle soft and ideal for Peg to focus on during labor and then give to Eddie. He smiled up at the cashier and slid the dog towards her, as he pulled out his wallet.

Bruce walked to the information desk to find out Peg's room number and took the elevator up to the maternity ward. When the doors opened, he hurried down the hall checking for room numbers. Her door was open, so he just tapped and stuck his head inside the room.

He held the dog up and wiggled it. "Would this little fellow belong here?"

Sitting beside Peg, Allen grinned and stood. "I didn't 'spect ya to come out just yet."

Bruce handed the toy to Peg, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. "How's it going pretty lady?"

"Slow. Thanks for comin', but this won't get ya outta comin' round when Allen needs ya. He thinks it'll be a breeze, but I know better."

Bruce took her hand and gave it a pat. "You're in good hands. You'll be glad he's here later. Ya gotta have someone to yell at. But, Sweetheart, he knows all he has to do is holler and I'm here. I just came by to see ya before ya get too busy. I've gotta get back and help Tim. With Allen gone, it takes two of us to do his job."

"Ya don't need to do that. Tim can handle it." Allen complained. "I thought ya wanted to talk to some of the other ranchers today about this drillin' company."

"I can do it tomorrow or the next day. Besides, I wanna come back here and wait for the arrival of my godson. Is there anything I can get ya while I'm out?"

"We're set, thanks." Allen watched Peg grab the rail beside her mattress and hold on during a contraction. "Relax, baby. Take deep breaths."

Bruce picked up the toy from the bed and set it down on the dresser where Peg could see it. "There, now focus on that, Mama, and think of a gurgling baby with fat cheeks and a sweet mouth."

Peg had a dreamy expression came over her face, even while she practiced controlled breathing and then took a deep cleansing breath.

Focusing his attention on Allen, Bruce asked, "How long are the contractions?"

"Around twenty seconds," he said as he gave Peg's hand a little squeeze.

Bruce looked around the room. "Did ya bring her an extra pillow?"

"They'll supply it, if she needs one," Allen promised as he grinned at the look of concern Bruce had. "You would think this is your first child," he teased. "I promise to call if we need somethin'."

Bruce glanced at Peg. "Any sign of back labor, Sweetheart?"

Her expression was tolerant as she rubbed the sides of her belly. "Just around here so far. Quit worrying. Women have babies. It's what we do."

"Better you than me. I'll be back as soon as Tim's organized." He kissed Peg's cheek again and clamped a hand over Allen's shoulder as they walked out in the hall. "I'll pick up the cigars. Try to rest while ya can. She'll run ya crazy before this is over."

He shook his head in slow motion and grinned. "Yea, probably. I'll see ya in a bit."

Bruce gave him a nod and walked towards the elevators.

*

Allen walked back into the room with Peg. He'd been around Bruce all his life and he'd never met a kinder man. Sometimes, good parents had rotten kids, and sometimes, exceptional children were stuck with rotten parents. It made him wonder if anything a parent did would make any difference beyond teaching them how to survive.

Peg reached out to take Allen's hand as he joined her. She nodded towards the pup and grinned. "When he does things like this it makes me think there's not a woman good enough for him."

He kissed her fingers. "There's only one of you, Sweetheart, and I'm the lucky guy who caught ya."

"I think you've got this a bit mixed up, Sugar. I'm the one who went after you, remember?" She pulled him down for a kiss just as another contraction began and she gasped for air.

"Take a deep breath, focus on the mutt. That's right, blow it out steady now..."

To their surprise, the birth didn't take that long. A few hours later, Allen sat at the foot of the delivery table and caught his baby boy with Peg's last push. He laid his son on Peg's stomach and, after clamping the cord, snipped it off. Completely in awe, they examined their baby, as all parents do. Then the nurse picked him up to examine him, get his weight, length, and footprint. When she did, Allen followed her and Peg stretched her neck to see, while the doctor worked on delivering the afterbirth.

Ten minutes later, Allen came into the waiting room where Bruce was pacing and stopped him in mid-step.

Bruce joined him and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "That smile tells me all's well. How much does the little wrangler weigh?"

"Nine pounds, two ounces," Allen said proudly.

"Good Lord! If he was that big, maybe I better ask how Peg is doing."

Allen's grin stretched even wider. "She's fine. Just fine. You'd have been real proud of her. Hardly a peep of complaint."

"I'd have been proud if she screamed her lungs out," Bruce told him in serious awe. "Here, I have something for ya." He went over to the table to pick up a sack and handed it to him.

After peeking inside, Allen's expression was pure delight. "The cigars." He pulled one out and saw the little blue tag that said...it's a boy. He handed it to Bruce. "I know you don't smoke so give it to your ole' man."

"This one I'm keeping to show Eddie when he gets older. I'll give dad one of the Cubans I ordered. Look in the sack. The ones for you are on the bottom.

Allen pulled out a small leather case holding five cigars and opened it. He picked one up and ran it under his nose to smell even if it was wrapped. "Ah, man. This is great. I can't believe ya won't even try one."

"I'll pass, thanks. The rest of them are in the truck. I'll drop them off at your place for you to hand out to the men. Now, how long until I can see my godson?"

"Let's go find out." They left the waiting room and walked towards the nursery. "Wait till ya see him. He'll be herdin' cattle before he's three. Peg insulted me when she saw him. Said he looked just like me."

"Must be all the pain she's been in. She's gettin' even with ya." Their husky laughter rang down the hall.