Chapter 1

Jimmy eased out the door to his house to stand on the porch. He sipped coffee from his cup as he looked out at the still quiet of his ranch. He took another sip then suddenly winced as he heard the hellacious wail of the baby pierce the air. He sighed as he heard Lou's footsteps hurry around the house. Well, that didn't last long. He tried to tune out the ongoing chaos as it erupted inside. Lou rushing and fussing at the same time. Annie fighting Eli trying to get him ready to head to school. Lori was puking….again. He couldn't take it. He left his cup on the porch rail and walked across the yard into the barn. He found a quiet spot in the back to sit. He took a few deep breaths and tried to push the stress of the past two weeks away. He had been thinking a lot about the situation. He came to one conclusion. The baby had to be Luke's. He had not spoken with the rest of the family, but he knew they all had to be thinking the same thing. He looked up when Lucas entered.

"Morning." Jimmy grunted.

"Morning."

"Been over to the house?"

"No, I could hear it inside the bunkhouse. Decided to skip breakfast."

"Smart."

Luke sat down beside his father. They both stared out absently into the distance for a while. Jimmy spoke first.

"I know you been avoiding the baby but…."

"Dad, stop. I know what you are gonna say, and I know it. He has to be mine."

"We need to figure this out."

"I been thinking about it a lot. I think Penny has been too though she doesn't seem to want to talk about it. I mean I just got this feeling in the pit of my stomach, and the time isn't right for it to be Hunter's."

"I been thinking the same. Now we need to figure out the mother."

"I know."

"I know this is gonna be hard on you and Penny, but if he is yours then you have a responsibility to raise the child that you created."

"Yeah. I am so scared that Penny won't take this well. She seems, I don't know, distant."

"You can't blame her son. She has had a lot dumped on her last few weeks. She just found out a little while ago how popular that you were and now this."

"I screwed up big time."

"I told you. Time and time again. I can't believe this shit." Jimmy said shaking his head.

"I guess it wasn't all fun and games. What am I gonna do?" Luke said leaning over and placing his face in his hands.

"Make a list."

"A list?"

"Of all of them. Every last one that you…..um, you know. I can't believe I am even saying this."

"I don't want Penny to know."

Jimmy turned to face Lucas then.

"I think she needs to know. About it all. Start from the beginning. You can't base a marriage on a pack of lies and secrets."

Lucas nodded his head and tried to still the pounding of his heart. The fear of losing Penny forever was weighing him down.

"Jimmy!"

Jimmy groaned and shifted.

"Mom sounds pissed."

"She is always pissed. And tired, and irritated. The house is in an uproar."

"I'll get to work on the list. If he is mine, I'll take care of him."

"Luke, I ain't saying that we won't help."

"I know but he would be my responsibility and I would live up to that expectation."

"Jimmy!" Lou screamed even angrier.

"Well, excuse me. I must go milk a goat or risk getting shot. I think it would be better to get shot."