Taking her in his arms and pulling her close "Where did you two go?" "Oh we just went into town to get Mama's blood pressure pills." "How was that? "Oh it was good, I got everything out in the open this morning so we are on the same page, and she knows everything." "Good, I was hoping you would get a chance to have a chat." "So how was gathering cattle?" "Your Daddy is a pro on that thing, Blue was good for me, but I really didn't know what I was doing… Paul had a good laugh, and Susie helped me out, but I most certainly looked like a fool." "Oh baby, a bit more practice and you will be fine." She pecked him on the lips. "Look hun, I'm just dying to use the bathroom would ya let me go a minute." "Oh sure, Clark wanted me to go with them to mend a fence, so I'll see ya later"
She walked into the house Jac was in the kitchen fixing lunch "In your bathroom cabinet honey" "Thanks" She walked to her bathroom and quickly opened the box. She looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't stand the eyes that were looking back at her. She could see they were starting to get misty, and she hadn't even taken the test yet. She quickly peed on the stick and then put the cover on. She finished going toilet and washed her hands. Now all that was left to do was wait… Ohh how her impatient nature started to shine through. Her feet were tapping and she was trying to think of ways to keep her mind off of it. Those few minutes seemed to last a lifetime. Finally she looked down at the little window and there it was. A little pink plus, she set it down on the edge of the vanity. She was positively pregnant, and something that should of made her smile scared the hell outa her.
She hung her head. *How could I be so careless? How could I let this happen?* her and Narvel had only been dating a couple of months, and they weren't yet married. She always used protection. She had never even thought about children when she was with Charlie. Her sole focus was on her career, and she didn't even know if she could look after herself, let alone a child. She stepped back from the vanity and felt the cold of the shower glass on her back. She slipped down the glass and sat on the floor. She pulled her knees up to her chest, leaned her head on her them and started to pray. "Dear God, I know I'm probably not your favorite child right now after all that's happened, but I know you will always love me. Please forgive me for my sins, and give me the strength I need to get through this. Please God, please…. Amen" She wrapped the test up in toilet paper and put it in the bin. Her face had tears streaming down it and she knew she couldn't go out looking like that. She wet a facecloth and washed her face. She finally thought she looked presentable enough and walked out.
She knew her Mama probably needed some help with lunch. She strolled into the kitchen "What can I do?" trying to perk herself up. "Well Reba, you're only really good at vegetables, so how about you make a salad." She pulled out the veges and started cutting them up avoiding all eye contact with her mother. "So Mama, how has that other brother and sister of mine been?" " Well Alice is the same ole same ole working hard at whatever she does, and Pake is just enjoying life with his girls. He takes them out and teaches them everything he can without them rolling their eyes. "Haha, sounds about right. They really are gorgeous kids." "All my grandchildren are gorgeous Reba, even the ones that aren't born yet" Reba stopped cutting the veges and just looked down at the knife in her hand.
"How did you know?" "Mothers have a special knowing, soon you will have that experience" Tears started streaming down her face. "Reba those veges don't need extra salt, come here" She spun around and grabbed her mother. She rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "I'm so scared, I don't know how Narvel is going to take this news, we haven't talked about children, we're not even married yet, hell we've only been together 2 months." She rubbed her daughters back. "Mama would you mind not saying anything for a little while, I just need a little time to process things before I tell Narv." "Of course baby, this is not mine to tell. But you do know that the longer you hold onto things the harder it will be, and he WILL notice. If you tell him sooner you may be able to work through things together." "Yeah I know, It shouldn't be for too long. I just need a few moments, I'm too emotional at the moment." "Haha yes darling, that happens."
Reba got herself ready for bed early and climbed in grabbing her bible off the nightstand. She found console in reading some of her favorite verses before Narvel walked in. He climbed in next to her and she practically ignored that he was even there. "Red?" Not looking up from the page she answered "Mmmmm?" "Are you okay?" He shifted next to her and put his arm around her waist. "I'm fine Narvel, I'm just reading" "Okay he pecked her cheek good night and slid down bringing the covers up to his chest." She reacted coldly and kept on reading.
The next morning came and Narvel woke early to Reba saying her prayers. He never really listened until something she said caught his attention. He knew she thought he was still asleep so he played along trying desperately to hear the words she was whispering. "Our dearest Heavenly Father I thank you for all you have blessed me with, these beautiful parents, and this beautiful home. Please forgive me for all my wrongdoings, and Lord please give me the courage I need to tell him what we both know I need to. I say these things, and humbly pray for in the name of thy son Jesus Christ.. Amen" Narvel wondered what she could possibly be keeping from him, or was it even him. It could have been her Daddy, he wasn't even sure, but what he did know is that something was up.
Alice came bounding through the door. "Mama are the girls here?" "Alice is that you? Alice, Alice, I've been waiting for you… I've missed you, we have so much to catch up on." "Aww did little Reba miss her big sister?" "I sure did, I love you Alice" she nearly squeezed her big sister to death. "Oh boy, I love you too Baw, what's going on? You seem so energetic!" "Nothing, I'm just so happy to be with family again. Don't worry Susie got her hug yesterday." "I hope you were more gentle with her" "No way! You all get the same treatment" "Oh Baw you are so sweet, is Suz here?" "Nope shes down the house with Paul" "Ughh, I'm happy she's not here, you and I need to have a chat." "Oh I have so much to tell you" "Yeah, why don't we take a walk down the stream."
"I'm glad you're happy Reba, have you talked to Suz?" "Yeap she knows everything." "Has she told you how she's been?" "No, not really she just said she's been the same lookin after the kids, helping daddy, singing blah blah, nothing interesting why" "How is she looking these days?" "Well she looked thinner than usual, but when I asked her about it she just said, running around after 3 young kids will do that to you." "Reba... Paul has been beating her" "He what?" "I went around there the other day coz Daddy said she hadn't been around in a while and she was cleaning the house with a singlet on but she had bruises all over her arms and the side of her jaw was swollen. I asked what the hell happened and she just said she was on the roof cleaning the gutter and fell off. She lied through her teeth, the gutters were still dirty, and she aint clumsy like any of us." "What did you do?" "I threatened to tell Daddy if she didn't tell me the truth" "And did she?" "Well she's such a tough nut our little Martha, and I didn't get much out of her other than that he was a good father, she still loved him, and she would appreciate it if I didn't say anything while they worked things out." "And that was it?" Alice could see Reba's hair getting Red, "Reba, I only told you this because we need to be gentle with her, and be there for her, not to send her a spiel." "I could kill that man, Alice you better hide all our guns, because I'm a pretty good shot" "Reba that's her childrens' father. You wouldn't want them to grow up without a Daddy"
Reba started running, she was too fast for Alice, and Alice was actually shocked, Reba never ran. She burst through her sister's door "Where is your husband?" "Uhh, he's out getting the cattle, some broke out last night so he's mending the fence and getting them back in. Why?" "Where are your kids?" "They're out in the pickup with him" "Good now get in that room and take your top off." She stared at her sister slightly worried, Alice must have told her, she knew she still had bruises on her arms, back and side. But she didn't want to cross her older sister. She went into her bed room quietly weeping and took off her top to show her sister. "Running around after three kids my ass Susie, you're skin and bone, and look at you, you're a banged up mess." "Susie was now letting the tears fall freely, her sister walked up and helped her put her clothes back on, she hugged her gently, and sat with her on the couch. Alice walked in and made them all a cup of tea. She fixed Susie something to eat as her baby sisters talked and cried together.
Reba was unsure as to whether she should tell her sisters then while they were all alone, or wait knowing that this was a time to focus on their baby sister.