Emma looked pointedly at his friend and John looked in the direction she was looking. He quirked a brow and turned back to her. He shook his head, “No way is Brad leaving. For all I know, you and your viper friend here want to harm me.”
“Viper? Do you want me to show you how a viper acts?” Carrie hissed. Once again, Emma pulled her back.
She sucked in a deep breath, looked at John and said, “I’m pregnant, John.”
While Brad’s mouth fell open, John shrugged and he said, “So what? How is it any business of mine? Can you leave now?”
“You are the father, John. I haven’t been with anyone else besides you,” Emma said softly. She was wringing her hands and her green eyes were filled with tears.
“How am I supposed to believe that? I might have opened your gate but it is quite possible that the traffic there since then has been endless.” he grinned and jabbed his friend. He winked and said, “You know what I mean?”
Brad laughed and Emma cleared her throat loudly, shutting them up. “John, I am not the kind of girl who sleeps around.”
John shrugged as he said, “How would I know that? You slept with me the first night we met, so who’s to say you haven’t been going wild around the town since then?”
Emma bit her lip and shook her head, “Yeah… sleeping with you was my mistake, John but the child that is growing inside me, is real, a result of the night we spent together. Now, if you don’t believe me, we can have a paternity test. You don’t even have to wait till the child is born.”
John stalked towards Emma and Carrie stepped between them. She crossed her arms and stared at him defiantly. He scoffed and said, “Do you both know how many girls claim they are pregnant for me every week? Now, do you see any living here? No. Why? It is because I don’t give a damn. So what if you are pregnant for me, Emily? I don’t give a fuck. You can abort, keep the child, give it out for all I care, but you’re getting nothing from me, money or attention, none of them. Now get out.”
“It’s Emma, the name is Emma, not Emily, Emma. You know, I cannot believe you don’t have the decency of knowing the name of the girl you slept with,” Carrie snapped as she eyed him.
John spread his arms out and said, “I am who I am. The list is quite non-exhaustive. I can’t keep track of all the names. Now leave.”
“John, I don’t think that is a good idea-” Brad started saying but John interrupted him.
“Oh shut up, will you? It’s your fault I had to listen to this trash this evening, Brad.”
“We’ll leave. I knew you were a bum but Emma felt you deserved to know as the child’s father. Thank you for proving me right. You are scum and don’t deserve to be a part of Emma’s or the child’s life. Have a great life.”
Carrie pulled her reluctant friend away. Emma looked back sadly and John slammed the door in her face.
“Good riddance,” he muttered as he settled onto the couch. He glared at Brad and said, “You messed up, man, you know that right?”
“No, you are the one who messed up,” Brad replied as he settled down in another chair.
“Why? Because I refused to take ownership of some pregnancy? It won’t be the first. You are guilty of it too, you bastard.”
Brad shook his head. Quietly, he asked, “Do you know what a dude ranch is?”
“Dude ranch? Is it not some kind of guest ranch? Like a hotel with ranch activities? Some sort of agribusiness and tourism rolled into one?” John asked disinterestedly. He had no clue why his friend was asking something that was so far off from the discussion at hand.
“You are correct. Do you know that there is lots of money to be made from this business?”
John sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “If you are thinking of going into the business, remember that I am broke. I am badly looking for any gig that will bring in some cash, you know that. And that’s not to mention the bills I owe at the tracks.”
“Exactly, man. You need so much dough yet you throw away such a good thing? If I were in your shoes I would never do what you just did,” Brad shook his head as he spoke.
“Can you tell me what you mean by that? What do you mean I threw away a good thing? Don’t tell me you mean that stupid virgin? What could she possibly do for me?”
“That stupid virgin as you call her is a heiress of one of the biggest and most prosperous dude ranches in Texas and you just threw it all away. You threw away your platter of gold, man.”
“What?” John croaked.
“Oh yes, you heard me right. She is the only heir of her grandfather and she is set to inherit all he owns. Now, where would that have put you, the father of her child and possible husband? In a very comfortable position.”
“How sure are you of this?”
“Very, very sure, my man. I am just coming from the tracks. I had a couple of drinks with Henry there, you know, one of the jockeys and coincidentally, we started talking ranches, horses, the works. He mentioned the Prices, known for their thoroughbred horses in Texas and a name that’s becoming more known around the country. The name rang a bell. There was a news article he showed me, published a couple of years ago of an event at their ranch and darn, as soon as I saw her face, it hit me. Why else do you think I let them in? I saw her there and thought it was great she still wanted you. You finally had your chance to be a sweet boyfriend and worm your way in. Little did I know what news they brought.”
