“You think she’d do it out of spite?”
Iconsider this for a moment. Remembering the arguments that we’vehad in the past, and how Sloane and I would try to rival eachother, by getting the other in trouble with mama and daddy. Mybrothers were no different. Hell, if one of my brothers found out,I’d be sunk for sure. “She might. I kicked her out of her not fiveminutes before you came. Never kicked my sister out of my housebefore.”
He seemsimpressed. “Well, she probably deserved it then.”
“Like I said, she was rubbing my nose in the fact that I’mpregnant, divorced, and she was all but trying to make me feelguilty about sleeping with you.”
“That’s between you and I, sugar.”
“I know. But Sloane’s very overbearing. As you saw the daythat I moved here. She all but shoved that positive pregnancy testin your face.”
“That what was in the bag, darlin’?”
I nod.“Yeah. She wasn’t making it easy on me then, and she’s surely notmaking it any easier on me now.”
“Well, then, maybe you ought to think about telling your folksyourself, love. Just in case. I’d hate for you to hurt them. You’llneed their support.”
“But part of me also thinks that mama will chide Sloane if shedangles her tongue and tells her.” I chuckle.
“I can assure you that I’m not telling any of my family. Notuntil we’re ready. There ain’t a doubt in my mind on thatscore.”
“Now that I’ve seen how Sloane was with me earlier, I thinkthat my mama would be more supportive. My mama’s an understandingwoman. Never been afraid to tell her anything and that’s thetruth.”
“Whatever you feel is right, darlin’. Y’all gotta do what youfeel is right in your heart.”
I lookat him. “You know, as much as you may not think that you have, youreally are a great help to me. More than anyone has, for thatmatter.”
“Well, I’m happy to help, Ellie. We’re in thistogether.”
Something is still nagging at me. Would he be here if itweren’t for this baby? Somehow, I’m not sure if I’ll everknow.
Chapter 8
Maverick
Gunner’sgetting ancy and can’t sit in bed anymore. So, I’ve got him doingremedial tasks in the barn, where I can keep my eye on him. He’smoving light things from one place to another, counting inventory,stuff like that, stuff that isn’t too strenuous. When I give himone of the smaller saddles to polish, he looks at me. “So, you’renot going back to El Paso?”
“Na, that didn’t pan out.” He’s satisfied with my answer, so Iask him. “What about you and school, huh? You going to try and goback?”
“I think so.” He shrugs. “I’ll go back in the fall and give itanother go. I just went at it all wrong.”
“Bit off more than you could chew, huh.”
He nods.“Yeah. I took too many courses. Didn’t give myself enough time toadjust. My mind was all over the place.”
“Y’all think about changing universities, too, maybe? Go toDallas instead? Stay closer to home?”
“That, too.”
“Well, I think that’s wise, brother. That way you’ll have yourhead on straight and if you don’t me and the others will bring youback down to earth.”
Hechanges the subject. “So, what’s the story with Ellie? She’s realnice.”
“Yeah. She’s a doll, ain’t she?” I’m smiling but I take itdown a notch, not wanting him to pick up on the fact that, well,hell, that I’ve got some serious feelings for this girl.
“You spent the night over there again last night, didn’t you?”He asks conversationally.
“Who was asking?”
