(Author Note: As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my story and hope you enjoy it. I know I am not the perfect writer, but if you find something that will help me improve or have good or bad comments, please, let me know. Thanks!)
Keni pushed the cart along the grocery aisle, but her mind really wasn't on shopping. It had been a week since her sister's last doctor's appointment, and in that time her mind had been in overdrive. Harley had asked her more then once if she was thinking about what Waylon had said, but she wasn't. He wasn't worth her time thinking about. And what he had said about her hadn't bothered half as much as what he had said about Harley.
No, her mind was more on her sister and what Kate was going through. God, she was scared, her sister was looking worse every day, and just yesterday the doctor said if she didn't get better soon, she might have to go in the hospital full time. Dean was beside himself, feeling as if his desire for a child was the reason she kept putting herself through this. Keni had tried to tell him that Kate wanted a baby just as bad as he did, and it wasn't his fault. Despite not having much personal use for religion, Keni had found herself praying to what ever deity there was to help Kate through this.
"Well, we meet again."
The female voice made her look up and she saw Maggie Wilson smiling at her. The medium sized redhead had a smile that made a person feel better just seeing it. She didn't mind admitting to herself that at first she had been a little jealous of Maggie and the close relationship Harley seemed to have had with her in school, but she knew now that Maggie had never seen Harley that way, she had been in love with Scooter Wilson since first grade.
"Hey, how you feeing Maggie," Keni noticed that today Scooter and their two children were with her. Scooter was a tall, round man with a constant smile on his face as well. When they had gone to visit them a couple days ago, Scooter had been more involved in the car he was working on then visitors, but had come in for a beer and some man chat with Harley. The girl and boy were a well done combination of their parents and she had seen that they were surprisingly well behaved too. "I see you got Scooter out from under the hood of a car."
Scooter chuckled. "It was that or we starve, she isn't fitting so well behind a steering wheel right now." He gave Maggie an adoring look. "Where's Harley? I hear he doesn't let you out of sight if possible."
Keni blushed slightly. "He's at home helping Dean and their dad. I was surprised he let me drive his precious truck to town, but like you, he likes to eat." She didn't add that he had given her all kinds of instructions about how to drive the truck and all. "I might be jealous of it, if I didn't know how much work he's put into it over the years. I got a couple cousins back home who are the same way."
Maggie nodded in an understanding way. "So, how is your sister doing?"
That made Keni remember what could happen. "Not good, she might have to be put in the hospital if things don't get better. Our mom is coming out next week to help take care of her. She went through this a lot too."
"Well, you need anything, you give me a call and I'll waddle my way over. I miscarried a couple times myself, and I know that once you do that, it isn't always easy to have one. It's good you're here for her, and for Harley. I got to admit he is looking better and happier then I ever remember seeing him before. Scooter was telling me the other day that we shouldn't be surprised if we see you two up and married..."
She was fishing and Keni knew it. "We've talked about it...and I know I could never find a better man then him anywhere, even if I wanted to, which I don't, but right now..."
"Right now you got your sister to worry about. That's understandable. Well, think good thoughts and hang in, and remember, you ever need someone, even if it's just to talk, I'm around."
Keni appreciated that. Doing the rest of her shopping, she was asked by others who knew Kate how she was doing. Her sister was well liked in the community and all were worried about her. Even the preacher, who Keni had met only briefly at Sunday dinner once, said he would say a prayer and for her to call if she needed any help. Since it was also a know fact that she and Harley were openly living in sin so to speak, she had been a little surprised that he was so nice to her.
Taking her groceries out to the truck, she thought how funny that sounded. It was true from a lot of point of views that she and Harley were living in sin, but she didn't feel like it. If anything, she loved to feel him beside her in the early morning hours when she woke, to see him lying beside her, so restful and at peace. It was the one time of the day that she was able to fully relax, to not fear for her sister or think about Waylon. He had apologized for his outburst, but that still didn't make her feel any less uncomfortable around him or cringe when he looked at her. There was something in his eyes that sent shivers of fear all through her.
Keni knew she had never been a coward; she hadn't been raised to be on. Things like rats, snakes, none of the things that girls were supposed to be afraid of bothered her at all. But Waylon bluntly terrified her. She couldn't stand the idea of being alone with him, which thankfully she didn't have to be. Harley, Dean and their parents made sure of that.
Going to the driver's side door, she was just about to open it when an all too familiar voice stopped her. "Well, well, what you up to Keni...? I'm surprised to see Harley let you out without your leash."