𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 ♦ 𝐑𝐃𝐑

🇨​🇭​🇦​🇵​🇹​🇪​🇷​ 18

We make it back within the Blackwater area  not too long after allowing Antonio to join us. It was silent all the way there, for I knew he had made us both start thinking the worst of the child Selina was with right at the moment. We had work to do for Archer Fordham and Edger Ross, but we could wait just a tiny bit longer to get to it. We're all riding up the path before we notice Ryan somehow already got here before us. "Damn, that can travel fast." I chuckle as we all jump off our horses. Selina's mom is now exiting the house to greet us. Selina was almost a splitting image of her mother. Both had green eyes, nearly shared the same complexion and body type. She was something alright and I did see where Selina got her good looks from. "Selina! My baby girl!" She shouts as she's coming down the stairs, taking Selina up within and embrace. We hadn't seen the woman before we left. "Oh! Look at that! You're giving me one more grandbaby, how exciting!" She mused happily as her hands rest on her daughters abdomen for the moment before smiling at me. "Really making this girl a happy one. Ain't ya, Asher? She's always glowing when she's carrying your babies." That did seem like enough to arise a smile and a laugh between the two of us. But then, her smile seems to fade when she spots Antonio.

"What the hell is he doing here?"
"What a warm welcome, Rosie. Did ya miss me?"
"I haven't missed you for the last seventeen years, Antonio."
"That's very sad, I can tell you I've missed you."
"It's too late for that, you already know--- I've moved on."

The older male sighs deeply before a shrug rolls through his shoulders. "As you should, Rose. As you should. I won't lie though. I am happy to see you, even if you ain't want nothin' to do with me."
Selina's mother doesn't seem to have much to say either, almost seemed like it did hurt her to sit there and hear the man who she was originally so in love with say things like that. She directs her attention back to her daughter before looking around. "Where are your kids, Sel? Why are you two dressed like that two. Lookin' like some natural born killers." I look over at my wife before she sighs, I knew this was going to be tough to explain and I did want her family to like me. Though, I was well aware that I did this to the girl. "They've been taken from us, we need to find the leader of that gang we both used to run in. We already ran around all of Mexico to find two other members, and Ryan of course who I'm assuming is here?"
Rose doesn't seem too pleased to hear what her daughter has to say regarding our children. Though she nods her head to the door as her son exits the house. "Hey ya'll. Knew I could get back here on my own." He replies with a slight chuckle before he stops in tracks. "Pa... What? How did you? But---" Ryan seems speechless seeing his father before him.
"My son, it's nice to see you again. You look good, very muscular huh?"
Ryan seems to look at himself for the moment before he narrows his brows. "Sure. I suppose. What are you doin' here, pops? It's been ages since I last saw you."
"I know son, I'm just here, wanting to spend some time with my family."
Rose looks her ex-husband over for the moment before she rolls her eyes. Though, she never seems to tell him that he couldn't stay here with them. "Anyways! Ma, we have to get back to it." Selina speaks up over the exchange between her brother and father. Her mother's own green hues direct back over to her daughter before that same look of concern arises upon her features. "Selina, you're carrying some precious cargo, and you wanna risk it all going after some man?"
"Momma, you speak as if I've never done this before. When I was pregnant with Arthur, I did this day in and day out for the most part. I think I can handle it this time around."
"You be careful then Selina. I swear to god. I ain't losin' a grandbaby to your antics."
"You ain't losing anything and I ain't either, ma. Please. Understand."
Selina then ends up rolling her eyes to the other, but before we can leave. Her mother is quick to stop us once more. "Why don't you guys just stay for dinner? There will be time for using guns and killin' folk later. Just have something good for once, Selina, Asher, you two aren't looking like you're eatin' all too well." We weren't. There was never any doubt about that. We had meals here and there, but not too much, only enough and if I had food left, I'd always want Selina to have it. She was eating for two after all. Even if it meant I was damn near starving. My wife looks over at me before I look at her, I can tell in her eyes she wants to leave, but also knows the good eating will do us good. "Sure, Mrs. Rodriguez, why not?" I shrug, which makes her smile, happy her daughter was at least going to stay for a little while longer. "Where is Russell, Ma?" Selina questions as we're making our way back within the house alongside the woman, she even let Antonio come on in too. Selina's step-father was very wealthy, a lawyer. They had all the money in the world it seemed and this large house was something to show for it.
"Him and I... We ain't on good terms right now. He took Grace, chose to head to stay with some of his family in Lemoyne. I'm not sure what that means but he just been a lyin' no good sack of shit the last couple weeks. Caught him down in the bar in Blackwater with another young woman." Antonio seems to perk up at these words, but it wasn't like he saw a shot or anything. Rose and Russell could still work things out. Though, but the tone of her voice and the way she was handling things right now. She didn't seem to care much. "So you've been alone all this time, momma?" Ryan questions before she nods her head. Damn, I'm sure that's why she wanted us to stay as well. So she wouldn't have to be alone for all this time. She didn't even mind her ex-husband being in the house either.

         She had made us a pretty good sized dinner for the night, some lamb soup and chicken along side it, with rice and beans. Quite an interesting combination but it was very good, compared to slivers of meat we'd have over the campfire most nights. Seeing Selina within this family setting for such a short time, well, it was rather heartwarming. I knew she was missing times like this with her mother and everything else. Her and her brother laughing at the dinner table, her father and her mother finally seeming to talk civilly to one another and there be no issue. I guess in many ways, I missed this aspect of family when it came to my own. We weren't spending two Christmas' with her family and then mine, none of that. Shit hurt sometimes. This family though, it seemed perfect enough if I was honest.

Well, once dinner had wrapped up, Selina helped her mother with the dishes, Ryan and Antonio sat on the couch and talked about his travels in Mexico and how he helped out the rebels. Well, I chose to just step outside, sit upon the bench on their porch. Watch as the sun was setting over the nearby mountains, Antonio, he had slipped me a cigarette. I hadn't had one in a couple years. Given raising our daughter, our boys, making sure they was following the ways of becoming some respectable young men. I just hadn't thought on it much. Well, when he handed me one as a 'thank you' for saving him and it being my little prize for it. I guess I just thought there was no better time to see how my lungs were gonna handle it again than right now. I light a match at the bottom of my boot, holding the cigarette between my lips before I inhale. Bad mistake, it made me cough like I had never coughed before. I was beginning to sound like how Arthur was towards the end with his TB and all. "Fuck me... That's horrible." But even then, I never did understand how I was okay with it in the first place. Never once did it hurt me so bad to inhale the smoke as it was right now.

I never understood much anymore about my life. Least, not right now. All I did know was that I wanted to be back on our ranch, with our children. Selina able to go through carrying that baby in peace, but, guess it was all just wishful thinking right about now.