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Arliss found dad and brought him to the hospital. Mother attacked him yelling and screaming and crying. "Where were you? Where were you when MY son was dying!" was all she yelled and father hugged her tight. I remained in my seat as Arliss had already told him about what had happened. Father was furious and was spewing nothing but cuss words up and down the hall which of course many doctors had to quiet us down. One doctor had the audacity to tell my dad that Negro's have their own waiting area and I had to go there. Father punched him twice in the face. I felt I might be sick so I got up and moved down the hall and into the bathroom. I didn't throw up I merely kept my eyes on the mirror in front of me. Ray was hurt because of Rakes, Howard was hurt because of my father and my eyes widened remembering Howard. I had to check on him. I moved back to the door quickly and opened it only to see Forrest standing there and I gasped from being utterly shocked and he immediately walked forward closing the door behind him, locking it. I took a step back not really even sure what he was going to talk about.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." he stated.
"What exactly am I explaining." I said. His frown remained yet his body looked so calm.
"Who the hell was that boy?" he asked. I placed my hands on my hips.
"The man who helped save my brother's life. And we don't have time to talk about who is who. How is Howard doing?" I asked. Forrest looked down now at his feet but nodded.
"He'll be alright…how's your brother?" he asked. I sighed and shook my head.
"I don't know. He was shot by Rakes." I replied and Forrest frowned deeply and looked at me.
"That city boy... It seems we are going to need to get down and dirty if we're going to get this fucker." he replied. I agreed then remembered that I had to apologize for my dad.
"I'm sorry for what my father did." I replied. "Why did he come to the bar anyways?"
Forrest crossed his arms a bit and looked away.
"To intimidate me of course." he replied and I wasn't sure but I could've sworn my fiancé was pouting.
"Was Mr. Bondurant afraid of Kincaid Sr.?" I asked moving up to him a bit and he looked at me now as if I was crazy.
"I ain't afraid of nothing." he stated and I couldn't help but let a small smile play on my lips.
"So when the baby comes, you won't be afraid to hold it?" I asked. He gave a now softer stare and then looked down at my stomach and gently raised his hands almost nervously shook as he began to touch my stomach.
"I'll be trying not to be." he said and then looked up at me with a warm gaze and he slowly kissed me and I closed my eyes and returned it. His lips were warm and soft and I missed them so much. He leaned back now and looked down at me and the softness was slowly fading.
"If that boy becomes a problem I will be forced to handle him physically and painfully." he said softly and I knew he spoke of Brandon. I shook my head.
"No need to be jealous of him. He's just a friend." I told. He scoffed.
"Eula, don't try to ignore the signs and misjudge his happiness. He clearly likes you and even I can see that." he said. I took his words into account before he huffed. "And I ain't jealous."
I smiled a bit before I remembered my family and I looked at the door.
"I have to go check on my family. You best be going too and check on Howard." I said. He nodded before taking my hands slowly.
"I want to see you tonight." he replied. I grinned at his words and nodded before kissing him swiftly.
"I'll come visit later on." I told him and he nodded before letting me go. I slipped from the bathroom and moved down the hall. I found my family talking to a doctor who was just now walking away. I felt my heart beat increase thinking about the new he gave my family. I approached them and looked at mom and dad.
"How is he?" I asked. Arliss looked me over.
"Where were you?" he asked.
"Bathroom, now how is he?" I asked. Dad nodded slowly.
"He'll be fine. No major organs were bruised. Just a shot to the shoulder. You boys need to be careful about where you drive. I'ma go have me a talk with the sheriff about this new deputy." Father said and began to move to the doors of the hospital only to be grabbed by mother.
"Dohn no. We have to think about this. We cannot go running around shooting up the place. We will get this deputy but first Ray needs to get out of here and he needs us now." she said. Dad frowned a bit but nodded. I was too busy being relieved that my brother was okay to really care about what dad was going to do next.
"You're right. We have to be smart about this. The doctor says he's still asleep so let's head home and we'll visit him tomorrow." he said. I wanted to see him now but I knew he needed the rest. We left home and it was silent on the drive back. We ate in silence and separated to different parts of the house in silence. When the moon finally came up I snuck out in a purple nightgown and moved down the road until I saw the Bondurant's bar. I slowly moved up the porch steps and I checked to see if the door was locked which it was. The side door of the bar was locked to so I was about to move to the back when suddenly the front door opened and I turned to see Forrest looking around and I slowly came back around and he looked at me with deep eyes and I smiled and moved up the porch slowly and that's when I saw him more clearly. He didn't have a shirt on. Just his pants and his hat. In seconds he swooped me up in his arms and our lips collided passionately.