Title: [Untitled]
Author: Kathy
Email: [email protected]
Summary: Happiest of Birthdays, Phyllis!
Rating/Warnings: None
Type:
Universe: Little Britches
JD lay in the dark, waiting for the sun to rise. "Vin? Vin, you awake?"
There was no answer from the sleeping boy lying next to him. Sighing heavily, JD decided he had waited long enough. He slipped out of bed and tiptoed into Buck's room, where the big man lay gently snoring.
Poking one of his chubby fingers into Buck's eye, JD pushed the eyelid open.
"Buck, are you awake?"
"I am now," Buck growled, removing the little finger from his eye.
He grabbed the dark-haired child and pulled him into bed, making JD squeal.
"It ain't even light out yet, JD. What are you doing up?"
"It's my birthday," JD replied. "'Member?"
"That was today?" Buck said, looking at the little boy in surprise.
"Vin told you," he replied indignantly. This was JD's first birthday with Buck and Chris, and Vin had wanted to make sure they knew it was coming. Neither boy had been given much in the way of a celebration in the past, but Vin knew some folks treated it like a big deal, and he was hoping their guardians would make a fuss over the boy.
"Well, come on, cowboy, let's see what we can rustle up for breakfast."
"Hope it ain't oatmeal," JD grumbled. Buck hid a smile as he pulled on his britches. JD hated oatmeal, even though Buck tried to get it down him by telling him it was horse food. They went into the little room the boys shared. A sleepy Vin was just waking up as Buck helped JD dress. "Happy Birthday, JD," Vin yawned.
"See," a smug JD told Buck, "Vin remembered."
"He did, didn't he?" Buck agreed as he pulled JD's suspenders into place. "Better get yourself into the kitchen before JD eats all the oatmeal, sleepyhead," he said, reaching over to tousle Vin's curls.
The boy swatted at his hand.
Buck picked up a disappointed-looking JD and carried him into the kitchen.
He sat JD down at the table and set a big bowl in front of him.
"What's that for?" JD eyed it suspiciously.
"Well, this bein' your birthday and all, I figured you deserved an extra big helping of oats today."
JD was not happy. Buck smiled as he turned to the cupboard and started pulling out flour, salt, and sugar. With a curious JD looking on, he poured some of each into the bowl, adding milk and eggs.
Handing JD a wooden spoon, he told him, "Stir that while I make coffee."
JD's pout turned into a grin as he set to work. This definitely wasn't oatmeal. "JD, try and keep some of it in the bowl," Buck laughed as he tied a dishtowel around the boy's neck.
Buck stirred the stove to life, then set the coffee perking and greased the griddle. He pulled a chair over to the stove and helped JD to stand on it before giving a few quick stirs to the batter. He handed JD a mug and told him to scoop some batter onto the griddle.
They were joined shortly by Vin and a grumpy Chris. Buck handed the bleary-eyed man a hot, strong cup of coffee before turning back to supervise JD.
Feeling better after a few sips of Buck's brew, Chris winked at Vin.
"Flapjacks? Is it Christmas or somethin'?"
"It's my birthday," JD said loudly and slowly. Had both grownups lost their mind?
"It is?" Chris asked. "Buck, did you know today was JD's birthday?"
"I recall Vin sayin' somethin' about it."
"How old does that make you now, JD? 21? 50?"
"I'm six," JD laughed as Buck poked him with the spoon.
"Figure an old man of six would rather tend to the chores than go fishin' with us. What do you think, Vin?" Vin knew Chris was teasing, but he wasn't sure JD did. Before he could protest on behalf of the boy, JD jumped down from his chair and ran to Chris, his mug dripping batter across the floor. "I wanna go fishing!" he shouted at Chris, thinking maybe the poor man was losing his hearing as well.
Chris lifted the boy into his lap, heedless of the batter spilling onto his clothes. "You would?" he asked. "You sure? Cause it's your birthday and I don't want to make you go fishing if you'd rather muck the stalls." Vin laughed softly. They were going to be alright with these men.
After a breakfast of flapjacks and bacon, with no oatmeal in sight, the little troupe headed for the stream to spend the morning fishing.
As they made their way back home for lunch, Vin was the first to notice the horses in the corral. "Uh-oh, Chris, might be trouble. Josiah, Nathan, and Ez are all up at the cabin."
Chris felt a momentary pang that Vin would anticipate trouble instead of a birthday surprise. Whatever kind of life these boys had lived up til now, he and Buck would do their best to make sure they were safe from now on, that they knew they were loved and wanted.
"No trouble, Vin," he assured him. "The boys came by to help us celebrate JD's birthday."
"I'm glad they remembered," JD said, casting a dark look at Buck and Chris. The men exchanged a fleeting look of chagrin before Buck burst out laughing. "C'mon, hoss, let's go say howdy." He sat JD on his shoulders and jogged up to the cabin.
The men had carried the kitchen table outside and spread it with chicken, hard boiled eggs, fresh bread, and a frosted cake. Neither boy had ever had a cake before and Ezra decided it was worth a few burnt fingers to see their expressions as the butter frosting melted on their tongues. When everyone had eaten their fill, Josiah stretched out for a nap while Nathan practiced some knife throwing with Vin. Ezra took JD onto his lap and amazed him with card tricks while Chris and Buck disappeared.
A little later they heard Buck's voice booming across the yard. "JD, get your little britches out to the barn this minute."
JD's eyes grew wide. What had he done now? He hadn't been out of anyone's sight long enough to get into trouble. Vin, who had been taken into Chris' confidence, smiled at JD. He took his hand and led him to the barn. "It's ok, JD." The other men smiled to each other and followed.
The barn was dim after the bright afternoon sun. JD could just make out Chris and Buck standing together, their arms crossed. Maybe Vin thought he wasn't in trouble, but it sure looked that way to him.
"JD," Buck started, "Lucky's been tellin' me he doesn't like that old saddle o' yours � it pinches him."
"It's not my fault, it pinches me, too," JD protested. Though he tried to smother it, Chris's stern expression shifted into a smile.
Buck cleared his throat. "Well, pard, looks like we have to get you a new one." He pulled a blanket from the sawhorse he and Chris had been leaning against. JD gasped, his little mouth caught in an expression of awe. A new saddle, the color of caramel, seemed to glow in the filtered sunlight. JD reached out to touch the saddle. "Better see if it fits," Buck said, lifting him up. JD looked from Chris to Buck and back again. "It's mine?' he asked almost reverently. "All yours, JD," Chris answered. Buck put his arm around his friend, knowing he was thinking of another little boy who had never been big enough for his own saddle.
It was early evening and the rest of the gang had taken their leave, wishing JD a happy birthday. Vin and Chris were sitting on the porch, easy together in their stillness. Buck was in the kitchen, cleaning JD's sticky hands and cake-smeared face. As he helped him into his nightshirt, the little boy threw his arms around Buck's neck and hugged him so tight the man could barely breathe. When he finally let go, JD's little face was beaming. "Thanks, Buck, this was the best birthday in my whole life."
"Happy Birthday, Little Bit," Buck hugged him back, his eyes prickling with tears.
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