Chapter 9

Jimmy sat around their fire the next day. This trip was taking longer than he had expected. He sent Lou a telegram before they left town telling her that they were running late and not to worry. He carefully pulled his shirt off. He held it up and looked at all the little holes. Lou would kill him. He pulled his other shirt out and tried to slip it on but groaned instead.

"Here let me help."

Jimmy grunted but let Luke help pull his shirt on. He looked down as he buttoned it.

"I know you are upset but…"

"I'm more than upset, Luke."

"I know but look on the bright side. We know he's mine."

Jimmy glared at his child.

"A girl died, and a family was torn apart because of your stupidity. How could this happen? How did I let this happen? This is my fault. I put too much trust in you kids and this happened. First you, now Lori. I really screwed up." Jimmy said as he hung his head.

"No, I know I shouldn't make light of what we found, but I can't let myself think like that. I can't think that I killed Jenny. I mean, I know it was because of what we did but."

"Just stop. It was because of bad decisions. Trust me, I made enough of those to last a lifetime."

"Dad…"

"Let's just try to get past it. I'll figure out how to tell your Mom."

Jimmy eased back on his saddle trying to get comfortable. Luke watched him squirm.

"How many he get?"

"Enough." Jimmy growled as he finally settled down.

"Sorry bout that. Should have been me."

"Yeah, should have been you. Right in the ass. Then you could have had that shit dug out of your ass. Would have served you right." Jimmy mumbled closing his eyes.

Luke laid back to watch the fire. He sighed. It could have been a lot worse. His Dad could have been seriously hurt instead of just a few hits to his arm and back. He tried to let the tension and blame that he was keeping hidden go. He heard something in the trees. He looked at his Dad sleeping. He eased up and made his way over into the edge of the trees with his gun drawn. He walked around but saw nothing. He made his way back to the fire. His Dad hadn't moved and was snoring. He went to get his cup and it was gone. He looked around and saw it sitting on the other side of him. He picked it up and watched the fire.

Tate worked in the bunkhouse the next day. He was instructed to move Luke's things to Teaspoon's old room in the barn. Lori sat and yelled instructions to him. Lou thought it best for them to live in the bunkhouse temporarily until the baby arrived and they could build a small home. He moved the beds what must have been fifty times before she was satisfied. He stopped and wiped his face.

"I think that will work. I just need to head into town for some material to make curtains."

"No, I uh…."

"Did you just tell me no?"

"I think you should just wait on the curtains."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I think that's best."

"My God, Dad told you to keep us out of town, didn't he?"

"No." Tate said not making eye contact.

"You little piss ant liar. You just let him run all over you, don't you."

"No Lori, now that ain't fair. I gave him my word that I would watch things and I aim to do that."

"Let's. Go. To. Town." Lori said emphasizing every word.

"No."

"Really." She replied crossing her arms.

"I can't let you go to town."

Lori stood up and stared him down before stalking away angrily. When Tate could finally breathe again, he fell back against the wall. He saw Teaspoon coming in from town with Eli in the distance. Buck walked over to join Tate.

"You and Lori, huh?"

"Yes sir."

"Gonna be a Dad." Buck smiled.

"You got something to fuckin say about that?" Tate asked.

Buck fell back and laughed. Tate watched him in wonder.

"Lou told me that you had a mouth. No, I got nothing to say about that, except I wish you luck." Buck said between laughs. "You don't know what you are getting. Lori and a baby." Buck wiped his eyes.

"Don't worry, I know what I am getting. I'm so fucked."

Buck laughed again. He liked the boy.

"Oh shit. Oh shit. Fuck me!" Tate yelled as he jumped off the porch.

Buck watched in wonder as the boy stopped Teaspoon. He started arguing then begging. Buck couldn't help but smile. There were two more goats in the back of the wagon. Tate was flinging his arms and yelling. Buck saw Lori pulling her horse out the barn. Tate saw her go to mount up and stopped arguing with Teaspoon. He ran over to Lori, grabbing the reins. Buck laughed even harder as Teaspoon took that chance to pull farther in the yard.

"Hurry, Eli, toss em in the pen with the others!"

Eli laughed as he pulled the goats in the fence before Tate could wrangle Lori. Buck watched Teaspoon get his cane and ease down.

"I think Tate promised Jimmy no more goats." Buck said.

"Tate has his hands full." Teaspoon said as Tate finally walked Lori back to the house. "Sides that, I got two of the same color that we already got. Jimmy will never notice."

Buck fell over laughing again.