Braxton's Run: Cattle, Whiskey and Women

Chapter Eleven

"I can't make the sun keep shining or blow away the clouds. There are some things in this old world I can't do nothing about. But I can love you. Like I've always done. And when the hard times come a knocking, honey, you won't ever see me running. And I won't leave you, when you need a friend. I can't make the bad days that much better, baby, then they've ever been, but I can love you." Gary Allen 'I can love you'

"What the hell are you doing here and Laura why are you with him after what he did to you?" Bradley demanded when Braxton and Laura rode into the ranch.

"He didn't do anything to me, Bradley… My father was lying." Laura replied as she jumped down from her small gray mare.

"Where are ma and pa at?" Braxton asked as he too jumped from his horse and handed the reins of both horses to a hand nearby.

"In the house. Mama has been crying all morning thanks to you and all the hell you've put everybody through since you came back. You should have just stayed gone." Braxton took a deep breath to get a hold of his temper. It wouldn't do a bit of good to lose it right now.

"Don't worry Bradley, I plan on leaving one day real soon and you'll never have to see me again." Braxton promised. He started toward the house trying to ignore the anxiousness and fear in his gut. What would his parents say? Would they feel the same as Bradley? And what would Laura think about the man she had chosen when she saw what his family truly thought about him?

Braxton nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt her small hand wrap firmly around his. He looked down at her but she was looking straight toward the house. Her stubborn jaw was set and there was an angry flush on her full cheeks. The sunlight was dancing off her hair and he let himself believe it was the gold of her halo and she was his avenging angel, come to save him from judgment.

"Laura, I l…." he was cut off before he could finish speaking by his father and mother coming out onto the porch.

"You are not welcome around here anymore!" Edmund McAvery shouted at his son. "You are dead to us." Braxton swallowed the hurt that pierced his heart and did his best to keep his face blank.

"Pa I didn't do nothing to Laura." he replied.

"It's true sir. My pa was angry that he saw us kissing and well you have to understand how controlling and completely insane he apparently is to understand what he did next but he…."

"That's enough. What did you do, Braxton? Scare the poor girl so badly that she's lying for you now?"

"What?" Braxton demanded. "That's just ridiculous. Ma tell him he's being ridiculous." Maryanne shook her head and dabbed at her tear filled eyes.

"I don't even know who you are anymore Braxton… I haven't known you in a long time… I certainly didn't raise you to act the way you do now." she said sadly.

"Ma…"

"Don't' speak to her. You are a stain on our family Braxton. You always have been! You nearly killed your mama coming into this world…."

"That's hardly his fault!" Laura exclaimed as she squeezed Braxton's hand tighter. Edmund didn't even spare her a glance before continuing.

"And that was just the start of it. Fights at school. Shoplifting…"

"That was one time and it was candy and he did it for me because I was sick and you all refused to…"

"Shut-up, this is a family matter and you as the daughter of Maynard Greene, will never be a part of this family and shouldn't even be here now!" Edmund exclaimed angrily, his voice strained and his breathing ragged. Braxton took a step forward and pointed his finger up the porch steps at his father.