55 "the ring"

"Damn it," I mumbled under my breath as I began being dragged across the gravel by the new colt that had been born almost a week ago.

"Damn, that boy is strong, huh?" Rip chuckled aloud as he and Travis both watched me struggle.

"Real strong. I don't know what's in his mama's milk, but he needs to slow down on it," I panted as I finally got him into the pasture.

"I'll give you a hundred thousand for him," Travis said.

My eyes widened, nearly crapping my pants right then and there.

"Jesus, Travis. Really?" Rip was just as shocked.

"Hell yeah! Look at the stock on that boy! I'll get my lawyer to write up a deal for you right now. I'll have it ready by tonight."

I stood speechless for a moment. "Well... I... I don't know... he's just so young."

"Come on, Scarface. Think about it." He crossed his arms before leaning his back against the fence. His eyes lingered on my body like he was thinking of something else too.

I shook my head. "It isn't mine to sell. In all honesty, it's Casey's boy. I'm just the caretaker." I frowned a bit.

"Well, tell his daddy the offer still stands." Travis reached out to pat Rip's chest. "Speaking of daddy, I've got broads I gotta call."

Travis walked away, pulling out his cellphone. Rip snickered, looking down at his boots while reaching into his pocket.

"Hey, Peanut. Wanna go on a quick trip?" Rip asked.

"Where to?" I dusted my hands off on the back of my jeans as I followed him.

Rip opened his passenger door for me. "I have to go get a little something. I need to know your opinion on it."

"Okay... sure! I'll go!"

⸻

Rip and I drove for about an hour. Throughout the drive, he stuttered, trying to come up with the words to describe what he wanted to do.

"I want to get a ring. And... uh... with this ring... I want to... you know... make this official."

He was very awkward when it came to feelings. I couldn't help but laugh at him.

"You want to get a ring? Are you proposing to someone?" I asked.

"Yes," he said bluntly.

I laughed for a moment before quickly frowning. "...Who?"

Rip glanced over at me, noticing my expression. "Ohhh, don't you start pouting on me, Wills."

"Who, Rip?" I asked again, though I already knew. My stomach was already sick.

"Beth, Willie. Who else?" he scoffed with slight laughter.

"You're making a mistake," I said without hesitation.

"A mistake? Wills, I've been with her for years," he replied.

"Bullshit! You've been banging her for years. She treats you like garbage! You'll be ruining your life if you marry that thing!" My voice rose. It wasn't like me to raise my voice.

Rip held out his hand. "Calm down, Will. My life won't change. What's the problem? Shouldn't you be happy for me?"

"I am," I sighed, calming down a bit. "I am... it's just..." I shook my head. "I am, Rip. I'm really happy for you. I think you'll be... you know... very happy, I guess."

Rip chuckled slightly. "It ain't the end of the world, okay? It's just something I've been pondering for years."

⸻

He got out of the truck as we parked in a cemetery.

"Pondering. That's a big word for you, Rip," I teased as I followed him.

"Hey! I listen to your vocabulary... sometimes."

I glanced around us as we stepped through the grounds. I was even more concerned than before.

"Rip... I don't understand," I said.

"You don't have to."

Rip stood in front of a casket carved with beautiful wood. His hands clenched against it.

"Rip..." My voice was uneasy.

"This is my mom," he said. "She died around 1997. My father killed her and my brother when I was about fifteen. I killed my father. That's how I ended up with your old man."

I stepped back and hugged myself, giving him space. I was also kind of freaked out.

"Mama, you've got something I need... I'm sorry to bother you."

He lifted the lid, revealing a beautiful sleeping woman. Her skin was pale, her lashes long. Her hair was curled, blonde yet white as snow. Somehow she still had rosy cheeks and a smile on her lips. She was beautiful.

Rip gently took her wrist and slid the gold ring off her finger.

"I met someone, Ma. Someday you'll meet her. But for now, I need this. Rest easy."

He closed the casket and stood up.

"My brother's buried right over there. I think he would've loved you," Rip said, wiping his face.

"What makes you say that?" I asked as his hand guided me by the back while we walked away.

"I think he would've thought you were the prettiest woman he'd ever seen," he laughed.

I glanced up at him. I could see his tears welling up in the setting sun.

"You two were kind of the same. You're a lot quieter than he was, but smart. He was real smart. Just like you."

He pulled me against him as we walked and kissed the top of my head.

"Come on. Let's get home. You've got a baby to feed."

I gulped. "Huh?!"

Rip furrowed his brows. "That colt back home. Gotta make sure he's latching onto his mama."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh! Yeah! Right! Silly me."

Rip ruffled my hair. "Come on. Let's go."

⸻

The sun had set by the time we arrived home. The bunkhouse lights were on, and so were the lights in the Dutton house.

I got out of his truck, adjusting my roughed-up hair as I walked toward the bunkhouse. I looked back to see Beth on the back porch, staring at me like an owl watching a mouse. I ignored her.

Inside, Travis and his guys had taken over the bunkhouse with their beers and smokes. I did my best to stay invisible. Quiet was key.

Or so I thought.

"Hey! There you are, Scarface! I was just thinking about you!" Travis tipped back in his wooden chair as I walked past.

"You were?" I asked quietly.

Travis grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me closer. I looked at him, confused.

"You really grew up, huh? Last time I saw you, you were what—sixteen?"

"Maybe," I muttered, caught off guard.

He leaned back farther, looking me over. His hand rubbed the back of my jeans like he was polishing an apple.

I yanked away. "What is wrong with you?!"

"Oh, don't be a prude, Willie! You grew up real fuckin' nice," he slurred.

I moved to my bunk as far away from him as possible.

"It's all just for fun, baby," Walker said, leaning against the bunk as he brushed my cheek.

I moved away from him. "I ain't here for you to have fun with," I grumbled, digging through my duffle bag. I was supposed to pack and move back in with my father, but I'd been hesitant.

"Are you gettin' around much these days?" Travis called.

"What?!" I snapped.

"Who are you fuckin' these days? Anyone?"

I clenched my jaw.

"My goddamn man!"

The room went silent.

I turned and saw Beth standing there, a handgun pointed straight at my face.

I dropped everything before standing up with nothing but fear running through my veins.

"Hey, Beth, darlin'. What are you doin'?" Travis asked.

"Shut the fuck up!" Beth snapped as she stepped closer.

"What the fuck were you doing with my man?" she demanded.

"What... what are you talking about?" I asked, hands raised. "I want to know what you've been doing with my man. You spend a lot of time with him."

"I... I don't know what you mean," I stuttered.

"Take your shirt off."

"What?!" I shouted. I was so confused by her words.

"Take your fucking shirt off, or I'll blow your fucking toe off first!"

"Beth, please..."

"NOW!"

I stripped my shirt off, trembling while holding my shirt in my wet hands. "Now your pants."

"Beth, I swear—I didn't do anything!"

"TAKE IT OFF!"

I did. I was living my worst nightmare. My legs were trembling as I was in Mitch matched lacy underwear.  "Beth, what the fuck! Leave her alone!" Walker yelled."When you fuck someone's man, you deal with the consequences," Beth snarled."I never touched him! Whatever you are thinking happened didn't happen!!" My voice shook."This isn't necessary. Put the gun down," Lloyd said calmly from beside her. "Take everything off!" Beth screamed, tears streaming down her face. Her breath reeked of Tito's I could shell out from the 4 feet away she was from me. I needed to stand my ground. I didn't want to be nude in front of so many men "No!" I shouted.. until She fired at the floor near my feet."Holy shit!! Ryan called from the table that held more men than I could count.  Terrified, I stripped the rest off, covering myself as I stood naked in the middle of the room. The men stared at me. Some licking their lips, most politely trying to look away.

"Please! I didn't do anything," I sobbed.

"Look at you! Being the goddamn whore you are!" Beth stepped closer to me "you live this don't you!? This is how the world should always look at you. Willing to get naked anytime a man is around"

"Beth! I didn't!" I cried. "I never touched him!"

Her hand reached out to close around my throat. "Please!" I begged. She hit me with the gun. I collapsed infront of the bunks. My legs crossed closed for no one to see. "BETH! enough is enough! Get off her!!" Walker spoke from feet away from me. She kept the gun on my temple as She straddled my nude body as it laid on the floor.

"Did he moan? Huh?" She asked angrily. My wet eyes stared at her as the gun stared right into my eyes. "Please! Your drunk! Please!" I begged. "Did he bend you over huh? What did he make you do!? Tell me!!?" Her gun them slipped against my lips. She then shoved the gun into my mouth "did you take him like this you whore!? Did you like it like this!?" I gaged as I panicked. I couldn't take this fear anymore. "Where did he cum William? Where did he cum!? Huh!? Tell me!! Tell me you fucking bitch!!" Her hand grasped my face like a doll. The gun pressed against my body "did he cum in you?" "No!!" I shouted after the gun left my throat the gun then sunk... lower, pressing against my occupied womb "did he cum in you!?" She asked again. "No!!" I screamed at her with sobbed leaving my mouth. "Is it his?!" she screamed in my face. "Is it fucking his!?" He hand held around my throat again as she dug the gun deeper in my gut.

"No! Please, stop!" I begged "Beth please!! Stop!!"

"What the FUCK are you doing?!"

Rip stood in the doorway, fury blazing in his eyes. "Ohh!! Look who showed up for his god damn mistress!! You coming black in here to fuck her tiny little body!? Huh!? You gonna knock her up again!?" She slurred harder than before. Lloyd and Travis were quick to disarm her. They grabbed her wrists until she let go. "Get off me you fucking pigs!!"

"What the fuck are you doing to her!? Are you fucking crazy!?" Rip shouted. "Oh I'm fucking crazy!! I can be fucking crazier!"I sat on the floor, curled up enough to hind my vulnerable parts. "We went to get you this!" he shouted, holding up the ring. Beth froze fuck is that!?" She scoffed. "Take a wild fucking guess bethany!" Rip was so angry. He couldn't help but avoid eye contact with me. Walker was swift to wrap me in a blanket, pulling me into his arms.

"I've got you," he whispered against my ear. I sobbed into his chest like a child whom just fell off their bike. Rip dragged Beth out with anger, dragging her across the gravel outside. Walker quickly scooped me up, leading me. In the bathroom, Walker locked the door.

"I hate her," I sobbed. "I hate her!"

"...Is she always like that?" he asked.

"Yes... my entire childhood" I sobbed. I couldn't catch my breath. I hovered over the sink as I felt like throwing up. Walker left and came back with clothes.I stared at my body. At the slight bloat. At the sight of pain. Walker's hand rested there where his child rested. "...There's someone in there?" He whispered against my shoulder. I squeezed my eyes shut as I broke down "I'm so sorry," I sobbed. "I don't want to ruin your life."My lips quivered as I cried to him "If you want me to get rid of it, I'll figure something out," I laid my hands over my eyes as I cried. "...oh.. will.." he whispered before turning me around. "No," he said softly, pulling me close. His hand placed along my blonde scalp. He laid his lips along my head as he mumbled "Enough." He was almost speechless "I'm so sorry walk!!" I blubbered.  "I've got you," he whispered again. I'll take care of you."