Six Shots Deep

Gunsmoke And Grandchildren

"What do you want to talk about? Just gonna yell at me some more?"

I shook my head, sitting down at the edge of his bed. "Bria is pregnant."

"What?" He sat up, staring at me. "How? What?"

"Yeah," I let out a sigh, "that was my reaction too."

"Since when?"

I shrugged. "Did you know anything about a David she was seeing?"

He shook his head. I raised my eyebrow. He held up his hands. "Honest, Ma. I really didn't know anything, I swear."

I nodded, laying across his bed.

"So, now what?"

"I don't really know. You're father isn't happy. I'm not either, but we can't exactly change things."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know." He leaned on his knees. "I'm sorry, Ma. About disobeying you and Pa. I just wanted to go and hang out with Henry and Thomas."

"I understand, Eugene. But you can't go sneaking out on us like that. We only enforce these rules to protect you and your sister. Me and your Pa know what it's like out there."

"What is it like?"

I sighed, turning towards him and sitting up on my elbows. "Me and your Pa used to run in a gang. And today, we ran into a former gang member. He tried to rob us. Eugene, it's a difficult world out there. And a dangerous one. People kill just for the hell of it. We did. Your father was wanted in three different states. I was on the run for murder. We want to keep you and Bria safe from this crazy mess of a world we live in. Because we love you two. So much." I reached over, patting his knee. "And as much as you two anger us, we'd be lost without you."

He nodded. "I'll try to do better, Momma. I promise."

I smiled. "Just follow the rules we have set for you and you'll do just fine."

He nodded again and leaned into me. I hugged him tightly, kissing his head. "I love you so much, honey."

"I love you too, Momma."

*****

As the long days rolled in, and Bria got further and further into her pregnancy, Arthur and myself became more and more concerned. She was small for her age, and delivering her baby would be an absolute miracle. She got sick most days, and hormones caused her to be an absolute wreck. Eugene on the other hand was probably the most caring for his sister. During the night, if I woke up to use the bathroom, I would check on Bria and most nights I found Eugene on the floor next to her bed, sound asleep.

During the day, he would stay home and help her with her chores. The only chores she had was washing dishes, cleaning her room, and sweeping the dining room. When her sickness got bad, Eugene would do her chores for her while she rested.

Those days turned to weeks, then turned into months. Bria was getting bigger and bigger by the moment. Eugene mostly helped her around the house, and Arthur along with myself would take her in for monthly checkups with the doctor.

"Ma," Bria waddled into the kitchen, where I was making dinner, "I think something's wrong."

I snapped my head over. "What is it?"

"I keep getting cramps, but they're a lot worse."

I shook my head and smiled. "Well, you are thirty six weeks a long, sweetheart." I stepped over to her, turning off the stove. "Has your water broke?"