His Lucky Charm

Family Time

1983

Strip was outside working in the barn with Lynda. She was feeding the horses as he cleaned out some of the stalls.

Lynda yawned as she plopped onto a pile of hay. "I'm so tired." She sipped on water as strip finally finished cleaning the stall he was working on.

"You can go relax inside." He said as he walked over and put his hat on her.

"Nah. Imma stay out here with you." She said as she stood up. She stretched a bit.

"Alrighty." He pulled his gloves off and started to open the barn door. Lynda walked over to him and pulled him towards her.

He looked surprised a bit my the gesture but just smiled a bit as she kissed him.

He pulled her close as he did. Oh they loved the off season. They got to be together without worrying about him having to run off to another race.

He broke the kiss a bit. "You keep kissing me, we never gonna get this work done." He said as she put his hat back on him.

"Ah... you're right." She said quietly.

The two stayed there. They both realized that they've been living life together for the past 11 ish years. They were now both in their 30s, and happier than ever.

"Love you, Sunshine." He said just loud enough for her to hear.

"Love you, Rookie." She said with a smile.

He just kissed her again, when he heard some squeals and then practically got tackled by two tiny humans. He fell onto the hay pile.

"Woah!? Who are these adorable little girls tackling me!?" He said as he wrapped his arms around his girls and kissed their heads

Giggles filled the barn. Lynda looked at them. "Girls your father is getting old, don't hurt him too much!" She said with a laugh.

"We aren't hurting him! He's strong he'll be okay!" Lily said with a toothy smile. Lynda said it always reminded her of Strip when he was younger.

Tex walked over with his hands in his pockets. "I ran out of things to entertain them with."

Lynda stood with Tex watching Strip pick them both up and show them the horses.

"He's so much like his father." Tex said as strip brought a horse out. He put the saddle on and got on. He lifted both the girls up onto the horse with him. "girls, ask your mama for permission to go riding." He said with a smile that Lynda could ever say no to.

"Can we mama?!" Sarah asked.

Lynda just chuckled and nodded. "Go have fun."

Strip rushed out of the barn with the girls.

Lynda and Tex walked behind slowly. "What was his father like?" She asked.

Tex chuckled. "Just like him. Down to the mannerisms, they were carbon copies of each other. The only difference is his sweet side is 100% his mother."

Tex said as he looked at Lynda. "I see some of my family in the girls."

"Which part?" He said with a chuckle.

"Their stubbornness... they get that from my father and well... me." She says with a laugh. She watched strip stop the horse by the pond that was on their property.

"Then they're going to be powerful little girls." Tex said.

"Agreed."

Strip later tucked the girls in. He kissed their heads before heading out of the room. He dodged toys, crayons, and some rocks that should be outside.

He went to him and Lynda's bedroom. He pulled his jacket off. He just tossed it onto the dresser, and put his hat on top of it.

Lynda was reading. He went into the bathroom to take a shower (one that was definitely needed).

He appeared shortly afterwards with shorts on as he dried his hair. He sat on his side of the bed.

He sat there and looked at the wall. Lynda looked at him. "You okay hun?" She asked as she lowered her book.

"Do you think... I should keep racing?" He asked. Lynda was taken back by this question.

"Of course. Why... why do you ask?" She said sitting up. He shrugged a bit. "I mean... already have 3 titles. That's more than a lot of people could ask for."

Lynda moved across the bed and sat next to him. "Do you want to quit?"

"No."

"Then why are you asking me if you should?"

"Cause... I feel as if I'm asking so much of you. You'll have to watch the girls, while I'm racing... I can't ask you to do that for 36 weeks..." he was ranting.

Lynda turned his head towards her. He immediately stopped talking.

"Strip. We had this same conversation 5 years ago when the girls were born. I'm okay. I want you to keep pushing to race. Don't back down because of me. I am a tough lady, I got this. Plus, I was thinking about bringing the girls to the races this coming season."  She said with conviction.

Strip sighed and chuckled a bit. "I thought you'd tell me to retire."

"Strip, that is all on you. But... I don't want to see you back down just cause you're worried about me. You understand me?" She was a stubborn lady. And he knew this.

He's just nodded.

"Good. Now, come lay here with me, I'll read to you." She crawled back over to her spot in the bed, getting under the covers.

He just got under the blankets, and leaned his head on her shoulder. She just stared to read. He immediately started to fall asleep as she did.

He had his arm around her waist as she read what he thought was a murder mystery. Eventually Lynda finished reading. She turned the light off, and curled up next to strip.

He kept her close. "Love you." He mumbled in his sleep. She just chuckled at for he always did that without missing a beat.

"Love you too hun."