Page 59 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

They made it in time for Lisa to be admitted then shown to one of the pretty and comfortable birthing rooms. There wasn’t time for the doctor to arrive, but the nurses who took charge were more than competent.

When the room quieted down, Lisa held little Silas, and Josiah held them both, and his heart could finally calm down enough to enjoy the moment.

He pressed a kiss to Lisa’s temple. “You were incredible.”

“Thanks.” She stared at their baby. “We make cute kids.”

“He’s a little squishy to know how cute,” Josiah pointed out, “but yeah, we do.”

She grinned up at him as the door opened and Ginny and Tucker poked their heads in.

“Can we come say hi?” Ginny asked.

“Of course.” Lisa wiggled upright a little as Josiah took Tucker’s firm handshake. “How are you doing?” she asked Ginny as the woman settled on the edge of the bed to admire Silas.

“Slow going, but okay. It appears I’m nowhere near in as much of a rush as you were.” Ginny stroked a finger down the baby’s cheek. “What a sweetie.”

“Ginny, Tucker. Meet Silas.”

“Hey, big boy.” Tucker leaned over the bed and gave Lisa a kiss on the cheek. “He’s a fine one. And so are you, Mama.”

“Go on, you charmer,” Lisa said with a wink. “How’s Kelli? Have you seen her?”

“She’s on the speedway between the two of us,” Ginny informed her. “She and Luke hightailed it to their room right about when we found out Silas had arrived.”

“Hope things are going well,” Josiah said earnestly.

Ginny made a pregnant woman noise. Sort of a grunt with meaning. “Okay, I’m off to do more funny breathing until it’s our turn to show off our kiddo.”

“Your fourth time will be easier,” Lisa offered with a very twisted grin.

Her friend flashed a middle finger as they headed out the door. But she also laughed, and Lisa’s laughter mixed with it.

All of a sudden, Josiah’s brain was a whole lot clearer. This was what he’d signed up for. Absolutely and without a single doubt. “I love you.”

Lisa turned her face to him, delight shining in her eyes. “I love you, too.”

He kissed her, soft and sweet. Put everything he could into it with all the emotions inside him that needed to be affirmed. They were a family, one more now, but they were first and foremost a couple in love.

That was pretty damn cool.

Finn and Karen Marlette had stopped at the hospital the previous day to meet Silas and congratulate Karen’s sister and her husband, but today was a full-on visit in celebration of three brand-new babies. A chance for Anton to meet his cousin and future friends.

Finn unlatched Anton from his car seat then waited for Karen to grab the flowers they’d brought for each couple. She’d dressed their little tyke in jeans, a jean vest, and mini cowboy boots that looked far too real.

“All you need is a hat, little cowboy,” he said.

Anton slapped a hand to his head. “Hat?”

Finn laughed. “You’re good for now. We’ll put your hat on when we get home. Now we go see your new cousin.”

“Baby.” Anton patted Finn’s chest.

“That’s right. But he’ll get bigger, and some day you’ll be able to play with him like you play with Tyler and Zoë and Mason and Nathan and Anneka.”

Anton made a delighted squeal at the names of his cousins.

“You two have a play date with Zach and little Anneka this afternoon,” Karen reminded Finn as they made their way to the maternity wing. “Julia and I are headed to Lisa’s to stock her freezer with meals.”