Ronsel came into the house and he was vibrating. Florence was seated bottling some herbs. Ronsel comes over and dips down to his mother's height. He places a gentle kiss on her cheek before walking over to his nearby cot.

"Hey Momma." He greeted.

"Hey baby…You hungry?"

Ronsel shook his head. "Nah…I'm good." Ronsel took a look around. " Where is everybody?" He questioned.

"Down by the church. Late service." She supplied. 

Ronsel nods. The young man's eyes lingered heavily on his mother. An overwhelming feeling of guilt turned around in his stomach. He stood up from the cot and took the seat next to his mother. Florence watched him move. Concern written all over her face.

"Momma…I need to tell you something…" Ronsel began.

Herbs forgotten, Florence's full attentioned was pulled to Ronsel. "What is it baby?"

"I got myself in a situation mama..And 'm so frightened and so happy all together." Ronsel explained. 

Florence reached over and touched his hands. "Just tell me…"

"Momma…I'm having a baby." Ronsel managed to say. A weight off his chest.

Florence froze and stared at him for a long time. Her fingertips rubbed between his knuckles. Her eyes casted down at them in thought.

"It's Mr. McAllan's brother ain't it?" Florence began. "He the father?"

Ronsel gave a slow nod.

"Was it…" Her words hung in the air incomplete. Ronsel got the message.

"No…I…we both wanted to.." Ronsel said.

Florence closed her eyes. "Baby…" She sighed. A mother's worry knew no end. Her eyes opened. "I know some teas that would send it all out."

Ronsel knew what she meant. An abortion. He heard about it in passing when he was in Europe.  Ronsel gripped his mother's hand tighter. "No Momma. I…I can't."

Florence looked her son in the eyes. There was no hate or vitriol in those eyes. Just a worried mother scared for her child. 

"I was afraid you would say that." Florence sighed. Her hands remained gripped with her son's. "You know it's going to be hard. The hardest thing you have and would ever do." She explained.

"I know Momma."

She rubs his knuckles again. "Then baby, I will try to support you where you need it. This is a hard path you chose."

Ronsel nods.

A small smile cracks on her face. "My baby…having a baby…I thought the war made you grow but you had some left to do."

Ronsel feels a sprinkle of tears burn his eyes. Florence takes her son into her arms and gives him a big squeeze.

"Thank you…" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jamie barely made it into the house before Pappy was up and angry. To answer Ronsel's question from earlier, yes, Pappy saw them. 

"There he is…drunk again!" Pappy announced.

"Well, hello, dear family." Jamie greeted with a sly smile on his face.

Amanda and Isabella cheered seeing their uncle return. Isabella tried to run up to him. "Uncle Jamie!"

Laura motioned for them to freeze. "Let Uncle Jamie get cleaned up first."

Those girls. Jamie is going to miss them.

"Who in the hell was that with you in the truck?" Pappy questioned. 

Jamie rolled his eyes. "No.. 'Hello, son. I’m glad to see you'..."

"On the road. When I saw you driving. Who was that?"

Jamie brought a cigarette to his mouth. "Ronsel Jackson. What’s it to you?"

Pappy smacked the cigarette from between his lips. "You care to tell me why that nigger was sitting right next to you like you was two peas in a pod?"

"Because I was giving him a ride."

"He can ride in the back."

"He can ride wherever I say." Jamie growled. He locked his gaze to Pappy's. "Anything else?"

Pappy smacked him. He smacked over and over again. He pushed his youngest son to the wall and held him to it. "Give me your keys. I'm out." Pappy snapped. 

Jamie held out the keys and Pappy snatched them out of his hand. He walked to the door and grumbled. "You ain’t worth a damn, you know that?"

"I know that well enough."

"Look at mister big war hero. Nothing but a drunk."

"Just go!" Laura butted in.

Pappy turned to face her. "Want him all to yourself huh, gal? Too bad he’s too liquored up to be any good to you."

Laura placed her hands on her hips. "I beg your pardon."

"I’ve seen the way you sniff after him-" 

Jamie cuts him off. "Pappy.." Jamie is all too aware of the infatuation Laura held for him. He may have delved into it if he hadn't tasted forbidden fruit so sweet.

"Henry may be too thick to notice, but I ain’t." Pappy sneered before leaving the house.

The truck soon faded off into the background before Jamie moved. He walked out into the fields to shed the shed he has been staying in. God he hated that shed. He began to pack things away. He needed to go. Sooner than later. Maybe he could swing by Ronsel one last time before heads on the first bus to the station. 

"Hi there, will you be here for supper tonight?" Laura asked.

"uh…no." Jamie answered simply. He buzzed around the poor excuse for a room collecting the necessities.

"Are you going someplace?" Laura asked as he notes the bags.

"Out west probably. Gotta buddy from the war who lives in Los Angeles." Jamie explained simply.

Laura sputtered, "Los Angeles? Jamie, what are you talking about?"

Jamie looked at her. "He didn't tell you?" He questioned. "Henry told me to leave. Probably for the best"

Laura gapped. "So just like that you up and leave? Were you even plannin' on saying goodbye?"

"'Course," Jamie stopped his frantic packing to focus on Laura. "First bus don't leave until 2:00."

"What about the girls? This will break their hearts."

Jamie knew that. He loved those girls like they were his own. Just as much as he will love his and Ronsel's child when it comes.

"Laura, I can't stay here.", Jamie answered honestly. "I don't…"

"You don't have to leave Jamie." Laura started. 

The hairs on his neck stood on edge as Laura came into his space. She leaned on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. Maybe in a different world he would have indulged that enticement. To sleep with his brother's wife. But Jamie couldn't stomach it with the knowledge of someone there who has him hooked like a drug.

When Laura separated, she looked at him with anticipating eyes. Jamie shook his head. Laura moved to retreat but Jamie grabbed her hand. "Laura, I need to tell you something."

Laura met his eyes. "What is it Jamie?"

"You need to promise me you won't tell a single soul. Not even Henry." Jamie declared.

Laura looked at Jamie closely. Her eyes scanned his face. Where did this man come from? The drunken man who just argued with his pappy faded into this serious individual.

"I don't understand you Jamie McAllan, but you have my word." Laura said. 

Jamie led Laura to his bed and they both sat at the edge of it. Laura looked at Jamie with an expectant look on her face.  

"Ronsel Jackson…Hap's son.. We have been seeing each other for quite some time now." Jamie decided to get the prior information out of the way.

Laura's eyes widened. She can't say she is overly surprised. When she has gone into town, she has seen Jamie and Ronsel leave in that same truck together more than the action to be generous. She thought they were simply close. Being that they both served in the war. But to know that it was that type of relationship was a big shock.

"Oh..Oh! For how long?" She questioned.

"Going on eight months. Give or take."

Laura touched her cheek. "Explains why you are alway off all the time. Thought it was just off getting drunk."

Jamie smiled, "Oh…I did awful lot of that too. But, mostly with him." Jamie looked ahead of him. "Laura, I love that man something awful. I don' even have the words for it."

"Is that why you are leaving?" Laura questioned. "You and him running off together?"

Laura was always the smart one. Way too smart for Henry's ass.

"No..not yet…Going to head up west first and get thin' settled." Jamie paused. "Ronsel..can't come with me right now."

Laura cocked her head. "I know his family needs his help and all but they can't keep him from his alpha."

Jamie shook his head. "Ronsel….he's pregnant."

Laura gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh my…"

"We didn't want to risk leavin' and somethin' happening up there with no one we could trust up there." Jamie explained.

"I understand…but Jamie…what if Pappy-"

"He aint gonna find out!" Jamie retorted. Laura flinched and Jamie breathed off. "He don't need to know."

Laura nods. "Well, you know that it's safe with me." She said with a sure nod. "Based on how you take care of the girls, you will be a wonderful father."

Jaime smiled at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ronsel waited until after dinner to tell his family. 

Florence was clearing the table while Lilly May helped her wash up. His brothers were mingling amongst themselves and Hap was looking out the door into the field. Ronsel could feel his hands shaking though it was not from the war. He stood up abruptly and gained the whole room's attention.

"Everyone…I got something to say."

Hap eyed him. "What is it Ronsel?"

Ronsel licked his lips. Out like a broken bank. "I'm…having a baby."

Lilly May dropped a plate.

The room echoed with the vibrating sound.

Hap took a breath. "It's with that McAllan man ain't it? The one you always around?"

Ronsel nodded his head.

"Didn't I tell you be careful. Now look what he did!" Tensions rose in Hap's voice.

"Hap.." Florence called out. "Listen to him."

Ronsel placed his hands in his pocket. "We didn't plan it or nothin' It just happen'. But, we gonna raise it…together."

Hap shook his head and raised to his feet. His crutched shoved under his arm. "Ain't no we. I see how that man moves. He will be out of town and out of mind in time."

"He ain't leaving for good. He is comin' back for me." Ronsel argued.

"See! Leavn' Just like I said. I thought you smarter than to fall for that."

Ronsel bowed his head. Emotions ride high in his heart. "But, pops…we…liked each other."

"If he so liked you, why didn’t he bond with you? Why is you the one without security?"

Ronsel didn't realize the tears falling down his face. His mouth was filled with cotton. He had no answer. Ronsel moves quickly past his father and out the door. His legs took them wherever they needed to go.

"Ronsel. Ronsel!" Florence shouted after her son. Hap sat down in his chair and placed his head in his palm.

It was later in the evening. Florence had long since sent her children to bed. She walked out onto the patio and eased into a seat next to her husband. He was staring. Staring at Ronsel who was seated by the same tree he sat consistently at for the months prior. The long thousand yard stare on his face. Florence was just happy he didn't go out down the street alone.

"That boy…He don't know what trouble he bring himself to." Hap grumbled.

Florence lays a hand on his shoulder. "I think he does. That's why, he came to us."

Hap turned and looked at Florence. "I worry for him."

"He's our son. We gotta worry." Florence said. "But, we also need to let him make his own choices. His own path."

Hap lets out a long breath. "It had to be with him"

"Love has no boundaries." Florence smoothed his shoulder. "Me and you both saw how he light up everytime that truck came in. And I bet you saw how that white boy looked at him."

Hap nods. "I hope he has good intentions."

"Our baby is no fool. I bet Ronsel know a thing a two from the army to put him right in his place." Florence smiled.

Hap smiled right along with her. "Yeah…our sons a fighter. Gets that from you."

Florence squeezed Hap into a hug. She released him, turning,heading into the house. Hap picked up his crutch and hobbled over to Ronsel. Ronsel looked up at the sudden shift.

"You didn't have to come all the way out here." Ronsel argued.

"No..I did." Hap said and eased himself onto the grass next to him. "Listen, son, what I said inside aint right."

Ronsel blinked. "You ain't wrong though. I'm too hopeful."

"And I'm too stubborn. Your Momma tired tell me." Hap chuckled. "This a stressful time for you. I shouldn't be adding to it. For that I'm sorry"

"I'm sorry too."

A beat passes between them.

"Where did he say he was taking you?" Hap asked.

"Up west. Los Angeles. Said he going to settle and then come for me." Ronsel explained.

"Sounds mighty big and mighty far." Hap joked.  "You know not to let all your eggs sit in one basket." 

Ronsel nodded. "I know pops. I got this old tanker buddy who lives up North. Told me it has some factory jobs that are looking for mechanics. Thought…if he don't come message, I could go up there."

"That's very far from your family Ronsel." Hap said. "You sure about that?"

"Can't stay here. I need to go somewhere that me and my baby won't be hanging from a tree."

Hap grimaced but nodded knowingly. He placed a hand on Ronsel's back.

"I gotchu' son. We all do. Don't forget that."

Ronsel nodded. "I know."