Chapter 49 Slipping slowly

"Well I think last night went well, don't you?" Iziah asked her sister brightly, she was already up and pottering around. "I can't believe that Dad and his boyfriend are getting married! I didn't think I would be this happy for them but I guess since I'm happy, its ok for others to be"

"Ya-ha, its a tragedy really it is"

"A tragedy? Raven what the hell are you talkin' about?"

Raven looked up at her sister, "Sorry I was miles away. What?"

"Dad getting married. Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. So what were you saying about Dad getting married?"

"He's getting married, isn't that good news?"

"Yeah it is" Raven agreed going back to her bench, it was already clean but she kept wiping it anyway. "So do you think the cattle will be alright?"

"Raven what are you talking about?"

She looked at her sister, clearly concerned. "Raven are you ok? You're acting funny"

Raven let out a laugh as she threw the cloth down "I'm fine! Just worried about the cattle, its ok to be worried about them isn't it?"

John came up the basement steps, after kissing Iziah good morning he looked to Raven who's silver eyes were looking at them like a fascinated child. "You ok Rae?"

"Yessum." She touched John's arm in wonder "You're not Randy! Where is he?"

"No I'm not Randy." John took his arm back and looked to Iziah, clearly worried. "Is she ok? She don't look right"

"I don't know, she's going on about cattle and looking like she don't reconize people" Iziah looked to her sister, "Raven honey? Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine. Why is everyone askin me that?" She let out a long trail of giggles, her whole body rustling. "Where is Randy? I can't find Randy!"

Iziah and John were proper worried, Raven was, well she wasn't herself and that worried everyone. "Randy! Get out here!" Iziah hollered loudly, he didn't come when he was called which worried them even more. Randy not being there when Raven clearly needed him, it was worrying but also enraging. Randy came in the front door and was barely able to put the packages of food down before Raven lept into his arms. Her lips kissing his face lovingly, "Missed you so much! Where were you?"

"I went out to get groceries" Randy put her down and looked at those un focused eyes. "Babe are you ok?"

"I'm fine! I want you people to quit asking me that"

Raven got out of his arms and went into her bedroom, muttering something about cattle and the on coming rain.

"Ok I'm really worried about her. She ain't right"

"I'll go and see what her issue is" Randy said hoping that whatever was wrong he could actually fix.

He stood outside the door to their room just listening to her mumble.

"I hope the cattle are alright, rain is coming and no one is helping, bloody typical. No help and the cattle are gettin upset."

"Raven?" Randy said gently as he opened the door, "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine really, but the cattle are getting wet"

Randy took her in his arms, wrapping around her like a blanket. "My baby, the cattle are ok. I've pulled them all in, the rain won't get them"

"Oh thank God, someone with some sense" Raven nestled into his arms, "I missed you so much Randy" Her fingers trailed up to his face "You are so pretty Randy"

He took her face in his hands "Raven please tell me whats wrong?"

She squirmed out of his grip. "Nothing is wrong, I'm just happy"

He didn't believe her, there was something seriously wrong and he was going to firgure it out.