A Cowboy's Duty

“Who’s the father?” he asked.

“I’m not ready to say.”

Johnny gaped. “The guy’s got a right to know he’s fathered a child.”

“I’ll tell him.” Eventually. When she was certain she could hold her ground with Gavin. Dixie had plans for the future and wouldn’t allow anyone—including the baby’s father—to interfere with them.

“Why didn’t you tell me the truth this morning when I asked why you weren’t going with us to the rodeo?”

“’Cause I knew you’d be mad.”

Johnny shoved a hand through his hair, leaving the ends sticking up. “I taught you about birth control.”

“We used a condom,” she said.

“Not the one I made you put in your purse when you were sixteen, I hope.”

She dropped her gaze.

“What the heck, Dixie! That condom was seven years old.”

“I know. I know. What does it matter now?”

“Do you plan to keep the baby or do I need to drive you into Yuma to one of those women’s clinics?”

“I’m going to keep the baby.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay then.” Johnny stood. “You’ve got one week to tell me who the father is or I’ll make a big stink.”

“You better not tell anyone I’m pregnant.”

“One week, sis. I’m not letting this guy shirk his responsibility to you and the baby.” As soon as the front door shut behind Johnny, various bedroom doors opened.

“Quit spying!” she shouted, then fled to the barn—her private sanctuary.

Chapter Two

“I’m heading into Yuma. Anyone want to come along?” Dixie asked as she waltzed into the kitchen Wednesday afternoon. Three of her brothers—the unemployed ones—played poker.

“I’ll see your five Lemonheads and raise you two.” Conway pushed the candy to the center of the table.

“Stupid move, bro,” Porter said.

“I’ll see your two, little brother, and raise you five.” Buck grinned.

“Hey, did anyone hear my question?”

Three heads swiveled in Dixie’s direction and her brothers spoke in unison. “What?”

“I’ve got an appointment with the owner of Susie’s Souvenirs in Yuma. Who wants to go with me?”

Conway gaped as if she’d left her brain upstairs in the bedroom. “We’re in the middle of a poker game.”

“Well, excuse me for interrupting.” She grabbed her purse from the counter and stepped onto the wash porch.

“Man, she’s touchy,” Conway said.

“I heard that!” The smack of the screen door punctuated Dixie’s shout.

Halfway to the truck Porter’s voice rang out.

“Hey, Dix, wait for me!”

“If you’re coming along to pry the name of the baby’s father out of me, you might as well stay here,” she said when he skidded to stop in front of her.

Porter’s smile flipped upside down. “How’d you know?”

Dixie hopped into her 1982 red Ford truck, then cranked the engine and turned on the air conditioner. As soon as her brother shut the passenger-side door, she shifted into Reverse and backed away from the barn. Porter wasn’t the brightest member of the Cash clan but Dixie had a soft spot for the brother closest to her age. “They sent you to do their dirty work because you’re the youngest—”

“No, you’re the baby of the family.” He shook his head. “A baby having a baby. That doesn’t sound good when you say it out loud.”

She glanced in the rearview mirror. Buck and Conway stood on the porch arms crossed over their chests, faces sober.

“I’m not saying who the father is, so you might as well finish your poker game.” She stopped the truck.

Porter checked the side mirror. “Nah. I’ll go with you.”

Chicken.

At the end of the dirt drive, Dixie turned onto the county road and drove west. The trip into Yuma took less than a half hour once they reached the interstate. “You could look for a job while we’re in town.”

“No one’s hiring.”

Porter was lazy. She supposed he didn’t know any better. His engaging smile and puppy-dog eyes made people want to take care of him and Porter never snubbed a helping hand. “Wouldn’t hurt to fill out an application,” she said.

“Drop me off at the bowling alley. I’ll ask if they’re hiring.”

And if they weren’t, Porter would bowl a few games. When her brother wouldn’t stop fidgeting, she asked, “What’s the matter with you?”

“How come you didn’t tell us you had a boyfriend?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

His mouth sagged. “You mean, you just…you know…”