Chapter 3

Tate and Lucas pulled to a stop after checking the fence lines. Tate pulled the collar of his jacket up on his neck. Lucas did the same. Tate watched Lori's brother.

"Been awful quiet today." He mumbled.

"Got a lot going on."

"That baby yours, ain't it?"

Luke cut his eyes over at Tate but didn't answer.

"Yep." Tate said.

"It's a mess."

"A big fucking mess."

"What would you do? To handle all this if you had a baby just pop up as yours."

"Can't say but, I know I ain't got no fucking bush babies out yonder either. Not my thing."

"So, what are you trying to say? I'm a big man whore fuck up?"

"No man, nothing like that. Look, I don't say things the way I should. I just don't know what to tell ya."

Luke smiled. He knew that Tate meant well.

"Yeah, I know. It's just a tight knot that is choking me slowly. I can't lose Penny to this."

"You ain't gonna fucking lose her. She's got that look in her eye when she looks at you. Sides that, you could always just knock her up. She wouldn't go nowhere then."

"Like you did my sister?"

"No. Shit. I was kidding. I was, uh, responsible that time. I didn't know."

"You mean irresponsible." Luke laughed. "And how did you not know?"

"I ain't never. You know. Then it happened. Then happened again."

"God, enough. I get it."

"Like you don't know. You get a taste then it's over."

"Man, shut up. That's my sister."

Tate laughed as well as Lucas. Luke got serious again.

"When you going to marry her?" Luke asked.

"I got to build a house first. I don't know nothing about that. I got a ring though."

"That's a start. The house can wait. You better make it sooner rather than later. She is gonna be showing soon and you better be right by my sister." Luke said. "Time to head back."

Tate nodded as they turned their horses.

Jimmy looked up from the horse he was looking at as Teaspoon came back in the yard. The wagon was rocking, and he could hear Eli laughing. Teaspoon was hollering directions back at him.

"What the hell?"

"Jimmy! Come help your boy!"

Jimmy rushed over as they pulled to a stop. He stopped and stared.

"Teaspoon, there are four more goats back there."

"Yep."

"We got two, we don't need more."

"Sure, we do. Got these on a deal."

"No. Absolutely not. We ain't raising no goats here."

"Now, Jimmy, you asked me to help, and I did."

"Where did you help exactly?"

"You're looking at it. Got babies on the place now. Sides, Eli picked them out. He loves them. Now, excuse me, I smell a pie." Teaspoon got his cane and eased down. He went to walk away then turned back around at Jimmy who stood there fuming. "You'll thank me later."

Jimmy looked down at the toe of his boot in disgust.

"Daddy, you gonna help me get my goats down or just stand there all damn afternoon?"

"Elijah."

"Don't even. These my goats."

"Elijah."

"Fine. These "are" my goats, and I don't need your damn help."

Jimmy watched the boy let go of the ropes. The goats jumped out and darted in all directions. One went through the front door of the house. One to Lou's plants. The others ran to the feed shed. He heard Lou and Annie screaming along with the clackety clack of goat hooves as it flew through the house. He saw Tate and Luke chasing two out the barn. Eli was laughing as he chased one as it trampled Lou's plants. He rubbed his eyes and looked up to the sky.

Rachel eased out on their porch with Teaspoon. She saw Jimmy standing looking up at the sky. Goats ran back and forth around him along with the boys. Lou was beating one with her broom on the porch. She looked at her husband who was watching calmly.

"What did you do?"

"I, my dear, am helping."