Vic was surprised to see Cady at the door. "Walt left this morning. He'll be gone three days."

"I know; I waited on purpose and came to see you."

"Sounds serious."

"It is. I need your advice."

They sat down. Cady fidgeted but didn't speak. Vic was getting worried. "Just spit it out. We'll go from there."

Vic's miscarriage a year ago had been a terrible time but since then she and her father had built a happy life. Cady hoped her news wouldn't revive hurtful memories. She took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant."

Vic was stunned for a few seconds. She studied Cady's face. "You don't look unhappy, so … happy?"

Cady nodded. "Very. But it's complicated."

"Are you and the baby okay?"

"Both healthy."

"I didn't know you were seeing anyone."

"I'm not, really. But sort of."

"Thanks for clearing that up." Vic paused. "Do you … um … know who the father is?"

"Of course!"

"Okay, good, I just wondered if not knowing was the complication."

"I know who the father is but who the father is, is the complication."

"I'm not going to try and unpack that sentence. Just give me the name."

"Jacob Nighthorse."

Vic looked faintly puzzled, as if she hadn't heard correctly. "Sorry, who now?"

Cady looked her in the eye and said slowly and clearly, "Jacob Nighthorse is the father of my baby."

"Are you having a psychotic break? The man is in prison!"

"That part is a little embarrassing to explain."

Vic looked at her silently for a few moments then raised her eyebrows. "Well?"

"Oh, I meant that rhetorically. Are you sure you want to know?"

"No, but I can't resist."

"I signed in as his lawyer so we could have a private conference room."

Vic covered her face with her hands. "Oh, fuck!"

"That pretty much covers it."

Vic dropped her hands. "You're awfully glib about this, missy."

"Did you just call me missy?"

"My inner step-mom is coming out. Cady, what were you thinking? You're half his age."

"A little over half. In twenty years I'll be two-thirds his age and in forty-five years I'll be three-fourths his age."

"In forty-five years he'll be dead and you'll be near enough that it won't matter."

"We're getting off the subject."

"I assume the subject is how to tell your father which is why I'm trying to avoid it. Walt is going to be a tough sell."

"That's why I need your advice."

"Tell him it's Branch's baby from frozen sperm."

"I really need you to be serious."

"I know; I'm sorry. I'm going to help. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around this. I mean, I knew you were attracted to each other but I figured it was a harmless May December flirtation."

"Really? You saw that we were attracted?"

"Yeah, there was something between you. I liked Nighthorse better whenever you were with him."

"He's not a bad person."

"Nobody is all bad or all good."

"Dad might disagree."

"Walt has been wrong before."

"It's more like May September."

"What?"

"Jacob isn't that old."

"Fifty-five is up there."

"Dad is sixteen years older than you."

"Which is a lot less than the years between you and Nighthorse. And he's two years older than your father."

"It's never felt like that many years between us. We just 'get' each other."

"Well, you've certainly had each other."

"You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"Nobody else will. Why should I be different?"

"Everyone in Durant will know, won't they?"

"Durant and the rez. Not everybody is good at math but the smart ones will tell the dumb ones. I'm sure your kid will figure it out."

"What do you mean?"

"At a certain age he'll look at his birth date and his father's incarceration dates. Start saving for therapy."

"I know how the whole situation sounds but do you think Dad might be okay with it? After all, it's his grandchild."

"Honestly, I think the best thing about this is that Jacob Nighthorse isn't around."

"He's being released in less than a month."

"How did you manage that? Because I'm sure you made it happen."

"I got him out as a non-violent offender of a white-collar crime. He'll be on parole for the rest of his sentence. I also said that you would personally be his parole officer."

"That was smart strategy."

"Thank you. Sorry I put you in the middle of it."

"Part of the job. So, how do you think Nighthorse will like being your baby daddy?"

"He's very happy about it."

"He knows?"

"Of course. I told him first."

"Was that by phone call or conjugal visit?"

"I encourage you to say all this stuff before Jacob gets out so he won't have to put up with it."

"I think he better develop a sense of humor about it. There's going to be plenty of talk when word gets around that you're pregnant. It'll die down for awhile but there'll be more when the baby is born. It should be over then."

"I do worry about that. Jacob is a proud man."

"Prison didn't humble him?"

"Not entirely, no."

"Well, he can be proud of knocking you up in a prison conference room. That doesn't happen a lot."

"He is kind of proud. Not of the prison conference room but making me pregnant in two tries."

"Separate occasions?"

"No, it was only one visit."

"Twice, huh? In half an hour max. That's above average for fifty-five. Although he had been deprived for awhile." Vic paused. "Did you sleep together before prison?"

"No. It turns out we were both thinking of it but we didn't take it further. And then it wasn't good between us by the time he was convicted."

"So, if you don't mind me asking, how was it?"

"It was ..." Cady's eyes glazed over. "... spectacular."

"Did he think so, too?"

"Uh huh."

"You've both got it bad. I hope sex beyond bars won't disappoint. You're definitely going to be together?"

"It's not even a question; it's more of a compulsion. We have to be together."

Vic fiddled with her phone for a moment before speaking. "I'm only going to ask these questions once, and you don't owe me any answers but I hope you'll be honest with yourself and really think about them if you haven't already. First, have you truly considered the age difference? Because twenty-five years is a lot. It might not seem so much right now when Nighthorse is healthy and active but it can go downhill pretty fast and suddenly. Second, do you understand what it means to be with him? A lot of his identity is tied up in his heritage. You've become interested in Cheyenne culture but learning it isn't the same as living it. Third, he's been in prison for fraud and that will always be with him. Last and not least, Jacob Nighthorse and your father don't get along. Mistakes were made on both sides. They have some respect and even admiration for each other but they don't like each other and that may never change even though they have you and your baby in common."

Cady smiled. "This is why I came to you; I knew you'd ask the tough questions. And I'm going to answer because I have thought about them. First, age. I used to wish that Jacob and I were closer in age but I don't anymore. The people we are now fell in love and I can't regret that. I'd rather have a shorter time with Jacob than a lifetime with anyone else. Second, his heritage is important to him but Jacob has always straddled the Cheyenne and white worlds. He doesn't even live on the rez. Third, his record. He did it, he paid the price, and I'll live with it just as he will. I believe in the justice system and I believe in people starting over. Last, I love Dad. I always will. I hope it never comes to this because it would tear me apart but if I had to choose, I choose Jacob."

"Okay," Vic said. "You should tell your dad all that. It's what he needs to hear even if it's not easy to hear."

"I won't remember it," Cady said in a panic. "I'll never be able to say it the same way."

Vic tapped at her phone. "I recorded it and sent you the recording. It might be better not to talk right away. Tell him you're pregnant and Jacob is the father and you want him to listen to something and you'll talk after he's had time to process it. No, say you'll talk later. Walt hates jargon like 'take time to process'."

Cady laughed. "Thanks, Vic. I love you."

"Love you, too, missy."

Cady got a call from her father when he was home again. It was obvious that Vic hadn't said anything and that he was just checking in with his daughter. She stopped by after work. Walt offered her a Rainier which she had to refuse. Vic stayed in the cabin, pretending to start supper, while Walt and Cady sat on the porch.

"Dad, I have some things to tell you. I'm pretty sure you won't like them but I hope you'll think everything through because this is so important to me."

"You're making me nervous, Punk."

"I'm pregnant. You're going to be a grandfather."

Walt's surprise gave way to a smile. "Why wouldn't I like that? And why am I always the last to know you're seeing someone? Is everything all right with the baby?"

"It's fine." Cady took out her phone and queued up the recording. "I'm going to tell you the father's name and then go inside while you listen to this and think about it. We can talk later, whenever you're ready. Vic already knows everything." She handed Walt her phone.

"Cady, what's going on?"

"Dad, the father is Jacob Nighthorse and we love each other." She kissed his cheek and went inside.

Vic hugged her. They peeked out and saw Walt sitting still as stone. After a minute he pressed play. Vic and Cady went to the kitchen where they couldn't hear even the faint sound of the recording. Walt should have privacy for this.

Ten minutes later he called out, "Vic, can you come out?"

Vic went, throwing an apprehensive look over her shoulder at Cady. Cady stayed in the kitchen so she wouldn't overhear their conversation. Another fifteen minutes and Vic called, "Come out, Cady."

Walt was standing, waiting for her. He said simply, "I'm sorry."

For a moment Cady thought he was apologizing because he couldn't accept Jacob, wouldn't be a grandfather to their child, was going to cut her out of his life.

Instead he hugged her. "You're in love and having his baby. This should be the happiest you've ever been in your life and I ruined it by making you afraid to tell me."

"You haven't ruined it." Cady was practically crying with relief. "I know this isn't what you wanted for me but will you try to get along?"

Walt nodded. "It's time I got over myself."

"That sounds like something Vic would say."

"She did say it. To me. And I listen to her sometimes."

"Thank you, Dad."

The three of them sat together, not completely at ease yet but it wasn't hostile.

"I suppose no one wanted to tell me that Nighthorse was released. When did he get out?"

Cady and Vic froze. Vic mouthed "Oh, shit" at Cady behind Walt's back.

Cady took the plunge: "Um, actually he gets out in three weeks."

Walt frowned. He was silent for a moment then sighed. "So my grandchild was conceived in prison."

"I'm afraid so. You won't feel any differently about the baby, will you?"

"Of course not." Walt paused. "I blame the parents."

Cady saw his upturned mouth and smiled back. "We're going to get so much grief about that."

"Does Henry know you're pregnant?"

"No. Only my doctor, Jacob, Vic and you."

"You going to tell him next? He's your godfather."

"Would you like to tell him?"

Walt thought about it. "I would. If you're sure."

"You should be the one to tell your oldest friend. And I really can't face the 'conceived in prison' conversation again."

The next day Walt went to the casino and told Henry that Jacob Nighthorse was being released in three weeks.

"I hope you will stay away from each other. This feud must end."

"I agree, but we'll have to see each other. Your goddaughter is having his baby."

Henry struggled to keep his usual impassive expression. "How did this happen?"

"Let's just say there was nothing immaculate about the conception."

"You are not going to pretend the feud is over and then kill him when he gets out?"

"It crossed my mind briefly but Vic forbids it."

"You are taking this remarkably well," Henry said.

"He's Cady's choice, he's the father of her baby, and apparently they're in love. She'll see you soon but she doesn't want anyone else to know until he comes home."

Cady stopped by the following day. "Dad said he talked to you."

Henry nodded. "Congratulations, Cady. You will be a wonderful mother."

"Thank you. I hope you'll help make things easier for Jacob."

"I spoke with the tribal elders. Tell Jacob there will be a purification when he returns."

"I love you. I'm lucky to have so many good men in my life: Jacob, my father and you."

"And we are the same age. Except Jacob. He is older."

Cady laughed. "I'm going to give you that one."

Cady had been surprised to learn that Jacob still had a lot of money. He had started with nothing, became very wealthy, overextended his finances, and then made a couple of bad decisions that landed him in prison. She had only been to his house a few times but had loved what she'd seen of it. She called the cleaning service first. As soon as the house was in order she moved in. The pool had been drained when the house was closed up. It only took the crew a couple of days to clean it, service the equipment and fill it. Landscaping didn't take much work either, mostly close to the house. Jacob had preserved the natural grasses and plants native to the area for the rest of the acreage.

She liked living here, swimming in the pool and sleeping in his bed, but it was just marking time until Jacob came home.