Cowgirls Don't Cry.

Faith crossed her arms, her eyes looking Chris overy critixcally.
"You got fat honey." She nodded, shoving pass Chris and into the home.
"Baby ya need to what what your feedin that man yall got, he is kinda a porker."
Dustin rolled his eyes. "Momma he is pregnant with my kid."
"Oh." It was all she said, prissing over to run her fingers through Quincy's hair.
Wayne, Dustin's father gave a polite smile.
"Howdy Chris, ah'm sorry she is...Her, yall just ignore er and if she gets on yalls nerves too bad ill take er home." He looked so much like Dustin....Same facial structure, same eyes, same color skin and hair...This was Dustin's daddy, there was no denying. But you could also see where Quincy and Quinton gathered their size from and where they got certain traits, but then again, those two had somethings from their mother. "Nice ta see ya..." He pulled Chris into a hug, nodding a moment, "Mah ah come in?"

Chris hugged him back, smiling softly.
"Its alright... nice to see you again. And of course you can, come on in." He nodded

Wayne stepped inside the home, looking around.
"Place looks nice Dustin, where'er mah grand kids?"
Dustin smiled at his father, finally someone who would act normal and not be so depressing.
"Around, Im trying to get them out of here."

"Too bad that ain't gonna happen daddy." Devin sang as he jogged down the stairs, kissing his fathers forehead.

"Howdy there Devin." Wayne threw an arm over his shoulder.
"So Dustin, what yall gonna do with them there horses."
Dustin thought a moment, shaking his head. "Sell em, ya wanna make an offer?"
"Yes ah do." He pulled up a chair, greeting his other kids as he and Dustin spoke of all the horses he had out in the stalls.

Devin sighed, sitting on Chris's lap.
"How ya doin?"
"Fine... shh.." Chris put a finger to his lips, telling him not to depress them all right now.

Dustin and his father were cracking jokes on the rest of the family, drawing many giggles from all places in the home.
Dustin was baled, his skin pasty, Eyes sunken in and he was weak, wheezing but he was smiling...

chris and Devin laughed and joked along with them but they were both wanting to cry...

Kelton came down the stairs, looked at his mother, then Devin and sighed.
He did something he hadnt done since...
Since his father hit him.
He sat with his mother and hugged him tightly.
"Momma..."

Chris blinked at him, immediately hugging back.
"Baby..."

"Im sorry about daddy...."
It was like he was a friend or something...not a boy losing his father...

"I'm sorry about daddy too..." But when Chris said it he meant something different.. he meant sorry for how awful Dustin had treated Kelton all these years...

"Im sure you are momma."
And Chris, had done nothing about it.
Only one who tried was Lance and he was usually to busy with Riley.

"I really am Kelton." He sighed softly, stroking his child's hair.

"You dont know the half of it. And you did nothing...And really...Momma its kinda your fault. Who let Rick tell him I wasnt his? Who went along with it. And then he does this and you say nothing to him. I stopped crying a long time ago, im used to this...You be sorry if you want to but being sorry..changes nothing and if you were going to be sorry, you wouldnt have let him treat me like that. But its over and done with, he is dying so just leave it, love him while you can and im here if you need me I guess..." He sighed, he did love his momma...

Chris sighed heavily and nodded at his son, hanging his head and draagging a hand through his hair.

Kelton sat with his head bowed.
He was not really part of the family...
Kevin was right up there with Dustin, sitting at his feet while Mike worked around the room, fixing things with Faith pestered him about Dustin.

Rick pulled up a chair around the bed, saying nothing to Chris but putting a hand on his shoulder so his brother knew he was there.

Dustin looked up at them, smiling at Rick.
"Hows your kid?"

Rick smiled softly, nodding.
"He's doin good..."

Dustin nodded, getting comfortable and resting his eyes, his father saying nothing and just seeing if he was going to die then.

Chris chewed his lip as he watched is husband, acting as if every second could be his last.

Dustin sighed softly, the whole room silent.
Mike was quiet, watching Dustin closely.
It wouldnt be long...maybe an hour...
Maybe thirty minutes...
Maybe none at all.
Dustin cracked an eye open.
"Chris...kiss me?"

Chris nodded, making his lip stop trembling long enough to lean down and capture Dustin's lips in a passionate kiss.

And in the moment...
Dustin was gone.
Mike knew right away, he put a hand over his mouth and turned away.