Rysta's Birth

"Yer doin’ good, Riana, I kin see t’head.” Flynn tried to keep from jumping up and down with excitement. Finally, another grandchild after all this time. His daughter-in-law was panting from the effort of the birth and Kenyon was holding onto her and whispering encouraging things.

Riana had been nervous when she had awoken with labor pains that morning, despite Flynn’s reassurance that he knew what he was doing, having delivered both his own children and his four previous grandchildren. Thankfully the nervousness dissolved into the determination of a woman who was done being pregnant and she was following his guidance without question.

“Ye push th’next time ye feel th’urge, Riana.” Flynn put his hands down to catch the little one, who already had what looked like a full head of hair. Riana did as she was told and Flynn grinned as the babe popped out, screaming in protest.

“Ye got a lil’girl!” Flynn did what was necessary to finish up the birthing process, then wiped off the baby and handed her to her mother. “Here y’go, Riana. Good job.”

Riana looked exhausted but took her newborn with a smile on her face, “She’s so loud.”

“Aye, but that’s pretty standard fer an Eachen. They all come out yellin’.” Flynn couldn’t stop grinning, “Shows how strong we’er.”

Kenyon looked at his firstborn with amazement. It wasn’t the first time he’d been present at a birth, he’d seen all of his nieces and nephews born, but the fact that this little one was his made it more special in his mind, “A lil’girl. I’ve got a daughter.”

Flynn tried not to chuckle at his son, “Aye, that’s th’other Eachen tradition. Girls always come first.” He smiled as Riana sorted out how to feed the babe, proud of his daughter-in-law for how well she held up during labor. “Ye got a name fer her?”

“Rysta.” Kenyon watched his wife feed their child with a bemused smile plastered on his face.

“Rysta. Pretty name. Bits of Riana’s wit th’traditional ‘y’ in there.” Flynn nodded approval. “I’m gonna clean up ev’rythin’ then check th’horses. Bin a long mornin’.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

“Nah, Kenyon! Y’stay here n’git t’know yer daughter and keep n’eye on yer wife. Birthin’s hard work and Riana’s gonna need ye t’take care o’her.”

Kenyon nodded and hovered over his family as Flynn cleaned up the birthing mess then left them to deal with the normal chores of the ranch.

The baby hiccupped and let out a sigh, obviously full and sleepy. Kenyon kissed Riana’s cheek and stroked the baby’s fuzzy hair. “She’s so beautiful.”

Riana nodded, “She is.”, then yawned. “I need sleep.”

“Aye. Ye sleep, Rysta looks like she’s drifted off already. “I’ll be close, jest let me know if ye need anythin’.”

“I will.” Riana snuggled her daughter close and sighed contentedly as she joined her in slumber.