Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9)

her. “Soon, huh?” I asked and looked over at him.
He nodded nervously. “Yeah.”
“Why?” He shrugged and looked at the box. I smiled and asked, “How many months do you have?”
“What?” He quickly asked.
“Well. You said you needed to give it to her soon. And she wasn’t feeling good earlier. I didn’t think anything of it until you said that. But now, well, even I can do that math.”
“Please don’t say anything,” he pleaded.
I smiled and asked, “Why? What’s the big deal?”
“Well,” he hesitated, “We’re not married or anything. She doesn’t feel right about it.”
I laughed. “What the hell does that have to do with anything? So, you didn’t go to the county courthouse and buy a license. Big damn deal. You two love each other, right?” He nodded. “That’s all that matters. It’s not like you’re going to be filing your taxes married, or adding her to your health insurance. All that matters is what you two think of it. No one around here is going to think anything less of you. Hell, all those hens back at the ranch will probably be excited as hell for you!”
“You don’t think anyone will say anything?”
“Hell no! Who would have the right to say anything to you two anyway?”
“I guess you’re right. I just don’t know what to do.”
I stood up and patted him on the shoulder. “What you need to do is give her that ring. I mean, shit, you’ve had it long enough.”
He looked up and smiled. “I guess you’re right. But what about the baby? She’s kind of scared. You know, no hospital and all.”
“Don’t worry, buddy. When it’s time, it won’t matter. Babies are born all around the world every day without hospitals. Nature will take care of that. Besides, we’ve got Doc and the clinic as well. Not to mention, Miss Kay and Mel. She knows a thing or three about having babies.”
The girls were walking back towards the buggy now, without the dress. Aric gripped the little box in his fist. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and elbowed him. As Fred walked up, I said, “Go ahead. What are you waiting for?” He looked mortified, but Fred asked, “Go ahead what?”
Aric stepped down off the buggy. He looked at Fred, the box was still wrapped in his fist. “What?” Fred asked.
“Well,” he started. Then Jess squealed and cupped her hands over her mouth.
Fred looked confused and asked again, “What?”
Aric held the little box out in front of him. Before he opened it, Fred covered her mouth and took a step back. He opened the small velvet box and took the ring from its satin setting and held it out. “I’ve had this for a long time.”
Fred looked at me and I nodded. “He has. I was with him when he traded for it.”
Aric reached out and gently took Fred’s hand. “I want our child to be born to parents that are married.” He slid the ring on her finger. She held her hand up and looked at the stone in the sunlight.
After a moment, she said, “But we aren’t married.”
I smiled and asked, “Do you want to be?” She looked at Aric and smiled, nodding her head. I shrugged and said, “Then you’re married.”
Fred let out a squeal and fell into Aric’s arms. He caught her, and they hugged one another for a long time, then kissed. Aric looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders. Personally, I found the whole thing funny. People were so stuck in the old ways that even now they were worried about not being properly married. What did that really mean though?
When they finally let go of one another, Jess pulled Fred away, drawing her hand out so she could see the ring. “Oh, that is so beautiful,” she said with a tear in her eye.
Fred held her hand up again and replied, “Isn’t it, though?” Looking at Aric, she asked, “Where did you get it?”
“He went to Jarred,” I laughed.
Jess scrunched her face at my joke. Before saying, “We need to have a party for them!”
I nodded. “That’s a fine idea. We’ll have a party for you two.”
“Really?” Fred asked.
“Of course! It’s not every day two people get married,” I paused and smiled, “and we find out there’s going to be a baby.”
Fred looked at Aric in surprise. He held his hands up, “He guessed it! I didn’t say anything, I promise!”
“He didn’t tell me Fred,” I said in his defense. Then I asked, “How far along are you?”
She put her hand over her belly and said, “Five weeks, I think.”
“I say six!” Jess interjected.
“Five, six, it doesn’t matter,” I said and leaned in and hugged her, then kissed her on the cheek. “Congratulations. This is going to be big news. Everyone is going to be so excited.”
“You don’t think anyone will be mad?”
“Mad at what? No, sweetheart, no one will be mad,” I smiled.
Now, she too looked relieved, and I watched in amazement as she took on a glow that I would never have expected. She went to Aric and they stood side by side with their arms around one another. He looked happy, on top of the world even. And she was radiant. It was a moving thing to see. They’d kept it in and hidden this wonderful news from everyone as though it were something to be ashamed of. But they were two consenting adults, and I knew looking at them, they would be together for the rest of their lives.
“We got work to do first, newlyweds. We got to make this run to town then we’ll go back and tell everyone the good news. Why don’t you two sit in the back,” I said.
“You ride shotgun. I’ll drive,” Jess said.
I looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Really? You’re going to drive?”
With her hands planted on her hips, she cocked her head to the side and replied, “Yes! I can drive!”
I reached for my side