The Texan's Christmas

“And she hit you?” Chance was clearly shocked.

“No. I waited until the bar closed so we could talk, but then three guys accosted her. Let’s just say they didn’t leave easily.”

“You took on three guys?” Chance asked.

“Yeah. I wasn’t going to let them hurt Lucky.”

Cadde shook his head. “Was she grateful enough to sign the lease?”

“Damn it, Cadde. I don’t give a flying pig’s ass about the lease.”

His brother frowned. “Isn’t that why you talked to her?”

Kid jammed his hands through his hair and wanted to pull it out by the roots, pull until there was nothing left but the pain. He drew a calming breath. “It started out that way, but she was angry and I couldn’t figure out why. So I asked and she told me in a colder-than-ice voice I’ll never forget.”

“What did she say?” Chance took the seat next to him.

Kid had to swallow several times. “Soon after I left for Tech she found out she was pregnant.”

“What!” echoed around the room.

“Kid.” Chance spoke up. “Lucky doesn’t have a child. I’m positive of that.”

He had trouble breathing and he gulped a breath. “He…he died.”

Silence followed those two words.

“How?” Cadde was the first to speak.

“Lucky had to drop out of nursing school because of the pregnancy and she had very little money. She had to go to a free clinic. When she went into labor, she went to an indigent hospital and they sent her home. The baby wasn’t due for another month. But the pains wouldn’t go away so she went back. It was too late. The placenta had separated and the baby was deprived of oxygen. Lucky dealt with all that alone.”

“Why didn’t she call her father?” Chance wanted to know.

“She was ashamed.”

“She could have called Aunt Etta and she would have gotten in touch with you.”

Kid jumped to his feet. “Don’t you dare blame Lucky or I’ll knock you out of that chair.”