Chapter 4

Tate sat with Lori as she laid on the blanket under the big tree. He handed her another biscuit as she tried to nibble on it. He had been trying to find the perfect time to properly ask her to marry him. Luke was right. He didn't need to wait. They had a baby on the way. He knew that she was, but still, he should do something right. He pulled the flowers from the basket where he had hidden them. Lori smiled when she saw them.

"My, my what has gotten into you." She smiled.

"Lori, I been needing to tell you something….."

"What? Tell me what?" Lori said sitting up.

"No, I mean, no."

"So, you don't have something to tell me?"

"I do but not that."

"You better not tell me that you are leaving. I swear I will cut off your….."

"Lori! No! I wanted to ask you to marry me!" Tate yelled holding out the ring.

Lori got quiet. She started smiling. She snatched the ring from his hand. She started crying.

"Lori, will you please marry me? I mean I knew we would, but this is the right way."

He watched as Lori's tears fell. She opened her mouth to say something then suddenly lurched forward. Tate grabbed her hair as she vomited the biscuit that she had just eaten all into his lap. He held her hair and rubbed her back. She finally eased back up wiping her mouth.

"I will take that as a yes."

She nodded and hugged him. Vomit and all.

Jimmy sat on their bed as Lou rocked Garrett in the rocker in their room. He watched her hum and rock the child. He loved her more than he could ever say. She was always up to a challenge. She looked over at him and smiled.

"He looks just like the boys when they were this age."

"Yeah, he is definitely one of ours."

"You talk to Lucas about our suspicions."

"Yes."

"Well?"

"He gave me a list."

"A list? You have got to be kidding. Jimmy, how could he do this?"

"He was young. Cocky. Still is."

"I thought we did alright by them. Now I am not so sure."

"We did the best we could. It just happened."

"Just happened, huh?"

"Well, when you get a bull-headed mom like you."

"You better stop."

"Seriously. Down to three."

"Names."

"Jill Barnes, Matilda Warren, and Jenny Ware."

"They all moved away. I remember their families."

"I will see what I can find out. You talk to Penny?"

"I tried but she isn't saying much. We are going into town tomorrow to look at dresses for the wedding. I'll talk to her again."

"She has to come to terms that this is more than likely his child."

"I think deep down she knows. She just has to get over the shock of it all. She is young but she loves him."

"I hope you are right. I guess she will be fine if she is picking a dress out tomorrow."

Lou looked down at Garrett.

"It's not for her." She mumbled.

"What?"

"It's for your daughter."

"Lori? She hasn't picked a date yet. That ain't been discussed."

"Um well, Tate officially asked her earlier today and she wants to do it on the fourteenth."

"Wait? That's in 3 weeks!"

"Better now than later. You know how the tongues wag in this town."

"Where will they live? Can they take care of a baby by themselves? I don't know about this, Lou."

"Now you sound like me. Jimmy, you been pushing this to the back of your mind. It's gonna happen and that baby will be here before you know it. You can't keep thinking that it's not real."

"Lou, it's Lori. I swear this family does everything ass backwards. I can't think about it."

"You are gonna have to. Here hold Garrett. I'll be right back."

Jimmy got up and took over rocking the sleeping child. Lou smiled down at the pair.

"At least Annie seems to be doing things the right way."

Lou turned at the door.

"About that."

"What about it?"

"Billy isn't gonna be coming around anymore."

"God, Lou. He was a decent boy."

"Well, I don't know what happened, but Annie won't even say his name. I've asked."

"She ok?"

"Not really. If you ask me, she is jealous of what Lori has."

"He better not have hurt her. Maybe I should go find out."

"Hell no."

"Lou."

"No. Rock that baby, Pappy. Be right back."

"I'll Pappy you."

Lou laughed and hurried down the stairs.