I Own Absolutely Nothing

This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak.
I find reason to believe,
In my daughter's eyes.
- In My Daughter's Eyes by Martina McBride

Chapter Five

Morgan Family Farm

The part of Rooster's brain that still had some sense of clarity was screaming at him for standing on the Morgan's front porch and was begging him to run away. The other part of his brain that was so fogged up thought being here was a great idea.

God, he was an idiot. He just really hoped Danny didn't answer the door. Katie's older brother had made it clear over the last few years that he didn't like Rooster and the only thing keeping the other man from downright attacking him again was because his baby sister asked him not too. So, he could only imagine what would happen if Danny were to answer the door.

I really need to leave, Rooster thought turning away from the door. "I can't believe I even came here," he said stepping down from the porch. The eldest Bennett son heard the door creak open.

"Rooster what are you doing here?" He heard her ask. Well at least it wasn't Danny who opened the door. Rooster turned around. How was it that after nine years Katie still looked Katie? Short, red hair, hands on her hips, waiting for an answer Katie.

"I- "

"Rooster's here?" He heard Abby ask from inside the house. Of course, that's all he needed was for Abby to be here. It wouldn't surprise him if Colt was here too just make things even better.

Rooster watched Katie step inside for a moment. He heard hushed voices and Abby saying 'okay' before Katie came back outside and shut the door.

"Well Rooster?" She asked crossing her arms. Good. She was just as nervous right now as he was.

"I- "Why was he here? "I don't know," he answered shoving his hands in his pockets. "I don't know why I'm here, Katie."

"You don't know why you're here." Katie snapped stepping down from her spot on the porch. "You show up on my family's farm late at night and you don't know why you're here?"

Rooster gulped. Katie had always been beautiful to him, but back when they were dating he had lived for moments like this when she was riled up. That was when she had been the most beautiful to him. Rooster took a good look at his ex. Her long red hair was piled on top of her head, white t-shirt, and yoga pants. God why was he here?

"Rooster go home," Katie said turning around and heading to the front door.

"Jameson."

"What?" Katie asked whirling around.

"Jameson. You've always called me Jameson. Why are you calling me Rooster?" Jesus. Rooster.

"What!" The redhead cried. "You want to know why I'm calling you Rooster? That's your name isn't it?

"Mama!" A little red headed girl screamed launching herself at Katie. Katie wrapped her arms around the girl who was hugging her mom's legs.

"Ellie? What are you doing up?" Katie asked softly.

"I had a bad dream," the little girl said quietly.

"I'm sorry baby."

Rooster's heart started racing to the point that was all he could hear his heart pounding and his blood rushing through his veins. Katie had a kid? He had heard Dale mentioning something about it and had briefly seen Katie fleeing with someone earlier today but now actually seeing it. Katie had had a kid with someone who wasn't him. What was he doing here?

"I-"

"Is everything okay here?" He heard Colt ask. When did Colt get here?

"Yeah Colt," Katie answered. "Rooster was just leaving. Aren't you Rooster?" She asked leveling her gaze at Rooster. Rooster felt himself nodding.

"C'mon Rooster I'll take you home," Colt said grabbing him by the arm and dragging him to the truck. "I'll see you later Katie," Colt said opening the passenger door for his older brother. Rooster got in the truck mechanically and shut the door.

"Are you drunk?" Colt asked climbing into the truck and slamming the driver door shut. "Does alcohol even affect you anymore?"

"Katie has a kid."

"Yeah, Ellie well Elizabeth Abigail looks just like Katie don't you think?"

Cracker Barrel the next day

"Mama when's Uncle Danny going to get here?" Ellie asked coloring away in her book.

"I have no idea sweetie," Katie supplied tapping her fingers on her menu. "But if he doesn't get here soon we're going to order without him."

"Hi, I'm Mary I'll be your waitress," an older blonde woman said coming up to their table. "What can I get you to drink?"

Where have I seen her before, Katie thought "I'll have a water, please." Katie answered. "Ellie?"

"I'll have a chocolate milk, please," Ellie said looking up from her book to smile at Mary.

Mary smiled back at her. "Okay water and a chocolate milk. Are you ladies ready to order or do you need a minute?"

"We need a minute," Ellie answered. "We're waiting on my Uncle Danny."

"Who is here," Danny said breathlessly sitting at the table beside his sister. "I'll have a coke," he said nodding at Mary.

"Do you know what it means to be on time?" Katie quipped turning to her brother.

"Hush, Katie. The kind lady wants to know if we're ready to order."

Katie rolled her eyes as her brother placed his order, she watched the waitress smile again when Ellie placed her order by herself. After Katie ordered and Mary walked away, she turned to the older Morgan. "Where have I seen her before?" she whispered.

"Oh, that's Mary Roth, she's Roosters- fuck. She's Rooster's girlfriend." Danny supplied. "I'm sorry Katie."

"It's okay Danny," she said trying to reassure her brother.

"Uncle Danny will you take me into the store?" Ellie asked looking up from her book and batting her baby blue eyes at her uncle.

"Of course," Danny said getting up from the table. "That's okay right Katie?"

"Yeah go." Katie said waving him away.

Katie watched her daughter drag her brother into the store. They'd been in there for awhile she'd probably have to drag them out when their food came. Oh, well, she thought surveying the room.

"So, you're Rooster's ex-girlfriend Katie," Mary said placing the drinks on the table.

"Mhmm." Katie said taking a sip of her water.

"Cute kid. Looks just like you. Except for those pretty blue eyes and those curls."

Katie gulped down some more water and felt her heart rate pick up a bit.

"Does Rooster know she's his?" Mary asked.

Katie felt her water go down the wrong pipe and choked a bit. She felt everything freeze around her and in that moment, she felt like it was only her and Mary in the restaurant.

"Why?" Katie finally asked. "Are you going to tell him?"