Taking a drink of her soda, Keni watched as Heather and Mike danced around the floor of the grange hall and felt a flow of pride in the couple so obviously in love. They had been through a lot, but they had stuck together through it with little fuss or fury. She found herself hoping that when she and Harley had taken the step it was just as smooth. Not that it was likely, not if the Fed's had their way, she wasn't sure she liked being used as bait, but it had to be done, this had to end, once and for all.
"You look done in Keni." Waylon came and sat by her. Harley and Noreen were dancing as well, leaving them to sit and talk.
"I feel it Way, as Garth Brooks said, "I'm too damn young to feel this damn old..." That's how I feel at times.
He grinned at her. "I think we all forget how young you are kid. I don't know why, we've all watched you grow up, you, Heather, and J.J. The three of you played together as kids, now all three of you are getting ready to step into where our parents were."
She nodded. "I just hope I can be all he wants me to be. That's all I've ever wanted Waylon, just his forever."
"Just be yourself sweetheart, he'll be happy." His voice turned serious. "They're taking me into custody tomorrow morning. Agent Carson and Sheriff Jones told me earlier. I know it has to be, but I worry how Noreen and the girls will handle it."
"Agent Carson is worried too. About the girls especially, asked me if I had any ideas how we could soften the blow without ruining every thing. I told him I didn't think we could. Those little girls, they love you Way, when this is over, I think you better marry their momma and never give them a reason to think back on this again."
"I will, but you won't have such an easy time putting this behind you will you? Harley said you're having nightmares..."
She had hoped he hadn't noticed; that all the stress and events of the past week would relax him to being able to sleep with out disruption. "Yeah, I was glad Aunt April and Uncle Jake came down with mom and dad, they both know about holistic medicine, and they're teaching me about candles and relaxation methods and all that stuff." She was sure she was going to need it, not to mention a couple hundred years of therapy by the time this was over.
There was more on her mind as well, Harley's desire for her to get pregnant. She had no doubt that he wanted it in case one or both of them didn't live through this. She had thought about it too, what if this all went wrong and she died before ever knowing all the happiness and joy she knew could lay ahead for them? She wanted it as much as he did, she was just so afraid it would be like jinxing them, like setting the wedding date and all. God, what if that all came down to nothing?
She couldn't tell Harley her fears though, she couldn't tell anyone. Everyone told her how brave she was, how she had so much this or that. There were times she wanted to scream at them, tell them she was not better than anyone else. It was like when Kate had been pregnant and she had done all she could to help ease her sister's burden; she had done it because she had to. Harley had suspected, but no one had really known until she got so sick and all. Was that what it would take this time, for everyone to know, to realize how this was affecting her?
Lord, just let her go to sleep tonight and not see that girl in Idaho's face. Let her not dream of blood and dead or dying bodies. To not hear a man's laughing voice telling her over and over she was going to die, that he was going to kill Harley and her too.
"Keni, are you okay...?" Waylon looked at her, but she couldn't see him. He sounded far away and she knew even as the room began to spin that she was going to pass out. "Harley!!!!!!!!!"
She woke as the sun was coming up. In a bed she knew was not her and Harley's and she felt him run his hand over her face. "You got to stop doing that to me baby, you take ten years off me every time and I haven't got too many more to spare." He was teasing her.
Keni wasn't too thrilled about it either, "so, stress, tension, or what this time?"
His smile turned into a serious line. "Well, remember what we been talking about. How I want a baby so bad...?"
He didn't need to go on to tell her. "No...you don't mean...?"
"Afraid I do babe, the doctor called this morning, you are definitely, one hundred percent pregnant, about eight weeks worth."
"But the pills, I been taking them faithfully, especially with all that has happened. Harley I want a baby so bad I can taste it, but not now, not until this is over." She began to cry and he pulled her close. "Oh lord Harley, not now, not when it's so close to hopefully being over." A part of her was beyond happy, beyond caring about more then the man holding her close and knowing his baby was growing inside her.
"I know baby, the right thing at the wrong time." He kissed the tip of her finger. "The doctor, he said that we do have an option, it's still early enough." It hurt for him to even bring it up, she could tell, but he was willing to do it if she wanted it.
The meaning of his words made her shake her head. "No, no matter what happens I won't do that. I can't and I won't." She would not abort a baby simply because of a mad killer running loose. Not when it was something they both wanted so badly. "Does anyone else know...mom or Maggie or anyone?"
Harley shook his head. "No, after you passed out and they brought you here to the hospital, I told everyone to go on home and I'd call as soon as I knew something. Doc told me early this morning. That's why you been so tired and worn out at times, and feeling moody."
"I have not been moody..." She smiled as he grinned. "Bitchy yes, but I do not get moody."
He kissed her nose. "No, but you sure get horny as hell. I don't know what you were dreaming about, but you were sure moaning and groaning for a while. I thought you were going to bring Patty in screaming at me again."
That made her laugh, "must have been dreaming of you...you do know how to make me get loud."
Stroking her face, he looked into her eyes, he nodded. "I think it's a good thing that our house isn't close to anyone else. I love hearing you let it all out."
"Hey, hey, none of that..." Patty Sue came in with two trays. "Good morning Keni, how you feeling honey?"