His Lucky Charm

Fire Place

Chick went back to him and Strips hometown during the off season. He didn't know that Strips bought his childhood home. So when he saw Lynda and him in town, he panicked.

He raced to his car and drove back to his own little home. He parked and sat in his car for awhile. Chick was starting to realize how lonely he was.

He just wanted people around him. He looked at his house and knew he didn't want to be here anymore. All the memories from his childhood just made it harder to be here.

His shitty father, Strips dad coming to rescue him, strip coming over to play, it all made him crazy.

He just reached over to his glove compartment and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and lighting in right afterwards.

He missed those days. Hell... he missed Strip, but he had convinced himself he preferred winning over their friendship somehow. He doesn't even know how he got to this point.

Strip stayed outside a lot during the off season. It was usually on days where he upset he would be out there all day and come back late. Lynda started to pick up on this.

She wrapped herself in a shawl as she walked out to the barn. She carefully pulled the door open. She saw the horses in their stalls.

"Strip?" She said as she looked around for a little bit until she noticed a horse was missing. She then went outside again. As she looked out to the open area, she looked back to the house and saw Tex.

"Hey sunshine." Tex said.

"Hey." She said as she saw a horse out in the pasture. "Ah is he out there again?"

"Again?" She said.

"Yeah. He used to go out there whenever he was in a bad mood and didn't want everyone worrying about him." Tex said.

Tex started walking out to the pasture. Lynda walked with him. "Does he... sleep out here?"

"Sometimes. He might be since his horse isn't moving. He did this a lot after his mother died." Tex said as he adjusted his hat.

"Never wanted to talk about his parents when they died." He said as he lowered his voice when they got to sleeping Strip.

Strip was asleep in a little chair, he looked as if he was drowning in his jacket as his hat covered his eyes. There was a fire in front of him going.

She could tell he looked exhausted. "Why isn't he telling me he's not doing well...?" She said as she knelt by his chair.

"He doesn't want to worry you." Tex says. He motions her to follow him. She gets up and does.

The two walked in silence. "He did that a lot when he was smaller. I would be looking for him, and well.. he'd be asleep somewhere where no one could disturb his peace. He does not think you're a disturbance, he just doesn't want you to worry about him too much."

This was a lot. Lynda crossed her arms a bit. "He's been through a lot..." she said quietly.

"He's been through a lot that's for sure. Lost his father, mother three months later, now he doesn't have chick who was his childhood friend, and well... you're all he's got." Tex said.

Lynda stopped walking. Tex paused and looked at her. "Then, if I'm all he has, I need to be back there with him."

Tex raised a brow.

"He had chick and his parents for moments like this. Then I shouldn't be over here waiting for him to get out of it." Her voice was serious.

Tex just saw a motivation in her. He just chuckled and sighed. "You're his wife. I can't stop you, kid."

She gripped her shawl and walked back over to where Strip was. She saw him still asleep. She carefully lifted his hat up a bit.

He stared to wake up. He opened his eyes a bit. Lynda saw tear stains around his eyes. "Hey cowboy." She said quietly.

"Ah.. yah found me." He said as he sat up a little bit. He realized how dark it was outside.

"You okay?" She asked. He looked at her surprised. He adjusted his hat a bit. "Good question."

She stood there, searching his face looking for an answer. He knew she was worried. He just opened his arms.

Carefully she sat on his lap, leaning against him as her legs hung off the side of the chair. She wrapped her shawl around the two of them.

He wrapped his arms around her. "You know... how sometimes you just miss people?" He stared at the fire a bit.

"Mhm." She said quietly.

"Just missing people."

"And by people you mean, your parents and chick?" The fire crackled as he thought about his answer.

He just nodded. "Yeah..." he looked at her. He moved one of her dreads behind her ear. "I wonder what it would be like seeing my mom just gush about you... or my dad telling you all my embarrassing stories, or both of them being there for my championships... or chick being at our wedding."

He sighed as he looked at her lovingly.

"You and Tex are all I got left." He said tearing up a bit. She just kissed his cheek and kept him close.

"And I ain't going anywhere." She said quietly as the fire continued to crackle in front of them.

"Good..." he said as he leaned his head against her. He started to fall asleep again.

"One day we'll have a family... so neither one of will be alone again." She said as she fiddled with his shirt collar.

He squeezed the hug a little bit tighter. "Thank you, Sunshine."

"You're welcome hun." He fell asleep again as Tex brought out three hot chocolates.

Tex chuckled as he sat down by the fire. He handed one to Lynda. Lynda smirked and lifted the cup to Strips face.

Strip just smirked. "My wife is tempting me with the chocolate."

"Yeah she is. Wake up boy, and come have some hot cocoa with us."

Strip just smiled tiredly as he lifted his hat up. "Alright."