Chapter 2 -
' No Mom.'
Lebonnie hugged her tall brunette mother and sat down.
"How's it been goin?" Lebonnie asked though she really didn't care.
"Oh great!" Luanne replied taking a sip of her Coors beer bottle. "Me and yer Daddy just got back from Nevada. Rangel's doin' great! He's got himself a big 'ole ranch with some of the finest cattle."
Rangel was Lebonnie's twenty-five year old brother. He was a professional Bull Rider and doing very well. Luanne always liked to shove his success in Lebonnies face.
"That's good." Lebonnie said as she faked a smile. "I think I'll have the ribs and another beer." She told the waiter glad to change the subject.
"How's Little Dixie?" Luanne asked.
'Why doesn't she ever ask how I'm doing or how Chase is doing.' She thought to herself. 'Oh that's right, because Chase is an uneducated piece of trash and I'm a slut'
"Fine." Lebonnie replied already angry.
"She ever attend a college class with ya?"
"No. That's when Helens parents watch her." Lebonnie answered. This was the time to break the news to her Mom. 'Let's just git it over with.' She thought.
"Speakin' of college." Lebonnie began. "I ain't goin' back next year."
Luanne looked up from her plate of chicken.
"What?"
"I ain't goin' back."
Luanne closed her eyes and breathed deeply. 'Why have you sent this child upon me?' She asked God silently.
"Bunny that's plain stupid." Luanne said opening her eyes. "Me and yer Daddy pay for all yer classes. Alls you got to do is sit there for an hour a few times a week! Tell me why that is so hard?"
"Because." Lebonnie began not so nervous anymore. "I never git to see Chase and we're hardly bringing home any money since my hours at the After Shock are slim to none, and..."
"No one said it was gonna be easy Bunny." Luanne interrupted. "You have never been the type to give up! I mean, fer two years you snuck behind me and yer daddy's back to see Chase while we waved the death penalty over yer blonde little head, and you still would drive off with him! I mean...why can't you have that kind of determination fer schoolwork?"
Lebonnie, now angry, slammed her bottle of beer on the table. "I'll tell you why Mama. It's the same thing I've been tellin' you fer years. I love him! And I would risk gittin' my buns whipped just to have his arm 'round me fer a minute back when we were dating, and you know what, I still would. And as far as school goes, I just don't care! Never have, never will."
Luanne started to develop tears in her green eyes. Lebonnie wasn't bothered; She's made her Mama cry since she hit puberty. But the feeling was mutual. Lebonnie thought back to when she was a teen. She was forced to miss the biggest rodeo of the year because she flunked an Algebra test. No she didn't study, but that's because she was too busy training with her horse Breezy. She cried all night as Luanne told her what a complete and total disappointment she was. 'Rangle dropped out of high school!' Lebonnie would always argue. 'Yes but he's now a professional Bull Rider, who's made more money than everyone in this town!' Luanne would fight back.
Lebonnie released the tension in her closed fists and took a deep breath. She looked away from her Mother. 'I knew she'd act this way.'
"I can't begin to tell you, how much you've hurt me." Luanne whispered.
"Big surprise." Lebonnie said under her breath. "Sorry Mama, I don't think I'm that hungry anymore." She dropped a five dollar bill on the table, grabbed her denim blue purse, and walked out.
"Baby what's wrong?" Chase asked worriedly as Lebonnie walked into their home with tears in her eyes.
Luke knew his younger brother needed time with his wife, so he through the giggling Dixie on his shoulders and walked out the backdoor.
Lebonnie dropped her purse and cigarettes on the ugly couch and jumped into Chase's arms. "I...hate my...goddamn mom!" She said through sobs.
Chase held her and listened to her vent. They had been through this several times before. Sometimes he felt guilty. He knew he was eighty percent of the problem between Lebonnie and her Mother.
"She don't care...what I want! It's...all 'bout her! All 'bout what she wants! I swear...I'll never be like that...with...with Dixie!" She cried. Chase felt a tear on his scruffy cheek. He released her from his grasp as he wiped her wet face. She looked at him with love, trust, and dependence. She counted on him for everything. Chase let her down many times before when they were dating. He'd take advantage of her, he'd sneak around, and he'd lie. But ever since he slipped that tiny diamond ring on her young hand, he'd been a different man.
"Bunny, I've told you, yer Mama just wants the best for ya." Chase coaxed. "She wants to see you with a college degree, a world champion belt buckle, a fancy car, she just pushes you fer the best."
Lebonnie didn't want to hear those words. She wanted to hear what a bitch her Mother was, what a selfish jerk she was, not that she cared for her. But she knew Chase was right.
She set herself on the couch and sighed. Chase got her a tissue from the bathroom and sat beside her. "It'll be all right Baby."
"I love you." Lebonnie said as they kissed. "Love you too."
