“When’s he coming?” Anne asked. She was waiting for Luke, her older brother.

“Who knows with that…” Stetson couldn’t finish. Anne shot him the worst look. “Ouch. If looks could kill, I’d be 100 feet under.” he said.

“It’s six-feet under, you moron!” Anne said. Her fiancée was supposed to be SMART for heaven’s sake!

“With the look your giving me? Yeah right. That look would burn me to ashes.” Stet joked.

“Ha, ha, ha. Funny Stetson Joseph. Very funny. You are…” Luke limped out.

“Thanks, Doc.” the lanky cowboy called. “Annie! You’ve gotten… Stetson?!” His surprise made the question an accusation. Luke wasn’t Stetson’s biggest fan, although obviously his lil’ sis was. “Well, if it ain’t the hat that got trampled into the ground.” Luke drawled. He didn’t like any guy who could ruin his sis’s happiness. He hadn’t even seen Anne in two years. Stetson Joseph Johnson wouldn’t let her. That had hurt worse than the bull that shattered his leg. Luke had more scars than a beat dog, while Stetson had not a single one. You ask anyone of the girls falling over Luke, they’ll say scars prove that you’re a cowboy. Stetson had smooth hands, Luke’s hands were calloused and rough. Stetson never worked fields. In rodeos he got the calm ones. Luke always got the bad ones. The ones with plenty blood on their hooves, enough deaths that when you get on, people pray for you. Luke had worked his father’s fields for more than ten years. And Stetson says Luke was weak. Luke would love to hit him… but Anne would hear nothing of it.

“Last I heard, you were the one who’s leg got broke in six places. I‘ll break it in three more, huh?” Stetson threatened.

“Yeah, well, you know what hats get thrown off and trampled the most? Stetsons.” Luke jeered. It was bad enough that Stetson stole his sister, but he had to tear at a man who’s been broken more than once.

“Lucas Mark Kinner! Shut UP!” Anne screamed.

“He threatened me, Annika! Dad taught me to… Anne? What’s wrong?” Luke got worried. He thought Anne was over their father’s death.

“Why, Luke? Why? I came to tell you great news…and you bring…Dad up.” Anne cried.

“Good going, Luke! She comes to tell you we’re getting married, and you make her cry!” Stetson spit. “It’s O.K baby. Shhh, honey. It’s alright.” Stetson was trying to calm her.

“Married?” Luke’s vision blurred. He was the last Kinner. The last. Anne was a Johnson now. His mind reeled. Alone. “Well,” he choked out. “I’ll leave for Houston. Treat her right dirt-bag, or else I’ll kill you myself.” He couldn’t let Stetson see him cry.

“No Luke! Don’t go I…” Anne’s voice faded into the distance as Lucas Mark Kinner walked away from his sister for the last time… Or so he thought.

Four years later…

“Do I really have to do this, Shane? I haven’t seen her in four years. If she has one bruise on her, I’m going to jail for murder.” Luke told his friend. Four years since he walked out on his crying and pleading little sister. He wasn’t 25 anymore. He’d had, and he’d dealt, his fair share of heartbreak. “Stetson’s probably fat, stupid, and soft.”

“And how exactly do you know that? As you said, four years is a long time. And as I said, you’ll be surprised. Anne looks pretty good.” Shane said.

“You’ve seen her? How…” Luke’s phone rang. “Hey, honey…Really?…He did?…I wish I was there…Love you too, Dakota…Tell Dallas Daddy loves him…Take of yourself…Love you…’Bye.” Luke hung up. Dakota was the only one who got what being Luke Kinner’s girlfriend, fiancée, and finally, wife, was all about. Luke had found the girl who he’d fell head over heels in love with. “How do you think she’s going to take to Married Luke?” he asked Shane.

“Who knows. You’ll have to pick up Dakota on the way.”

“Okay. We’ll try.” They didn’t talk from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Fort Worth. There they picked up Dakota and Dallas, Luke’s wife and 2 year old son. Then they left for El Paso.

Strange, seeing Luke again. Who was this woman by him? Shane’s wife? But that didn’t explain Luke’s eyes on the kid. Unless… Impossible, Luke couldn’t commit to marriage. He was a rodeo man, never staying in one place.

“Luke?” she said, her wariness made the statement into a question. “Who is this?”

“Anne, err, Mrs. Johnson, this is my wife, Dakota, and our son Dallas.” Luke said, wondering what he should call her.

“Hello, Mrs. Johnson. Luke said he knew you. I’m starting to wonder if I should be worried. Are you an ex?” Dakota asked. This woman was beautiful. “Luke, are trying to make me jealous? If so, I’m taking Dallas home. I have an appointment at…” She didn’t get to finish. Luke kissed her.

Anne cleared her throat.

“Excuse me. I’m not his ex. I’m his sister. He walked out on me four years ago when he found out I was marrying Stet. I can’t believe you came back! You traitor! Four years! FOUR years! Then you show up with a wife and a kid! Why?! I’m gonna get Stetson! Yeah, I will!…” Stetson walked up. Luke was wrong. Dead wrong. He was thin and ragged.

“Luke, I don’t want to deal with you right now.” he turned to Anne. “Honey, don’t stress yourself. You are just now able to stand. Go back and lie down.” he turned back to Luke as Anne walked away. “Why Luke. Why now? Do you know when it will hurt if you show up? If she gets stressed…” he trailed off, fighting tears. He lost, and they streamed.

“What do you mean, Stetson? I didn’t know… I just wanted to see her. I wanted her to meet my son…” Stetson cut him off.

“It hurts her to see that YOU have a son, and ours is dead.” Stetson cried. Luke had never seen Stetson cry.

“Dead? What do you mean?” Luke asked stunned. No one told him.

“Yes, you stupid idiot. Dead. D-E-A-D. Not even born to be specific. If she gets stressed, we’ll lose this one too. You probably don’t even know what I’m talking about. You have a son.” Stetson said.

“Kota, give Dallas to Shane. We need to tell Stetson about…Dustin” Luke’s voice broke on his son’s name. After Dallas and Shane left, Luke and Dakota started their story.

“It was about a year after we were married. We found out Dakota was having twins. Two boys. We were so happy. When they were born, the first was blue. He was the one we named Dustin. He was dead about three minutes later. Everyone got scared. Was the other going to be dead, too? But no. Dallas was fine. Tinted blue, but alive. The next year we found out she was having a little girl. Abilene. She died when she was born, too. We’re gambling with luck for this one to at least be as healthy as Dallas was. So don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. Stetson, let’s leave the past in the past. I want to make up for the animosity four years ago. Please Stetson.”

“I can help Mrs. Anne…” Dakota said.

“Kota, you don’t have to call her that. You’re my family, as is Anne. Stetson, can I talk to Annie?” Luke wanted to apologize.

“I heard that, Luke. You really are sorry?” Anne walked in. “I’m sorry. Seeing you with a son. It hurt.” She twisted her head and kissed Stetson. “I hope we can be in each other’s life. We’ll take care of Dakota while your gone. You finally found someone who knows what to do with a cowboy.”

“Ha! Only because my dad and brother were cowboys. I was a rodeo girl, I know how demanding that life is. Sometimes, I even miss it. But I have kids now.” Dakota said.

“I have a rodeo in Little Rock, and then Huston. I’ll send you guys the money. I should be home in time for the baby. And I’m hoping I’ll be home for yours, Anne.” he leaned over and kissed her. “It will make it. I know. I’m sending Dallas back, then me and Shane gotta shoot. I got two special women, and hopefully three soon. I’ve got a deadline if I want to be home in time.” Luke shot a strange look at Dakota. Dakota stood up and kissed Luke, and she whispered in his ear, Anne couldn’t hear it, but Luke could, “Be home soon, baby.” And he walked out, knowing he would see his sister again. Knowing he would always have her. He didn’t know how close he came to being wrong.

Two weeks later…

Luke was on his way home. He was hoping no cops were on the freeway. He had no time to get pulled over for speeding. It was the day he and Shane had been waiting for. He would be an uncle. He just hoped the baby didn’t have it’s father’s steel eyes.

Shane said a very un-Shane-like word, and Luke turned around. He cussed under his breath. “What else could go wrong?”

It was a cop. He walked up and asked where the fire was.

“My sister is having her baby! We have to get there! I want to be there incase it doesn’t make it!” Luke said, almost screaming.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step out and take a breathalyzer.” The officer said.

“Officer, I’m not drunk. I’ve stayed sober for almost a week because I needed to be ready to leave as soon as my sister called.” Luke said.

“Surprisingly.” muttered Shane when Luke said how long he’d been sober.

“Sir, I’ve seen your type too many times. Get out of the truck, and take a breathalyzer.”

“MY type? You can come with me to the hospital for proof! Just let me go! If she dies, I am SUEING you!” Luke was yelling now. “Man, you are lucky I’m not drunk! You would be dead by now! Please! I have to go!” then Shane laid his hand on Luke and started talking to the cop.

“Officer, you know me. My brother works for you. Officer Neil. My friend is very stressed. Please, Officer Crowley. Let us go. His sister very ill, and she could die with this baby. Justin, please!” Shane exclaimed when Officer Crowley shook his head. “ You can come with us.” Shane was talking with Justin. He knew Luke was dangerous. Luke was worse when he was stressed and worried.

“Okay. But only because I know Buck’s brother would never lie to an officer. Especially to me. Come on, hotshot.” Justin went back to his car. Luke was really racing now.

When they pulled into the hospital, Luke was running. You could barely see his limp.

“Annika Johnson.” He said at the counter. The nurse rushed him back. He must have looked like a mad man. His ocean blue eyes were wild with panic. They went into the room, and he wished he was blind. She looked so…still. Luke was scared. “Is she…”

“No, she’s not dead yet, but she’s slipping away.” the nurse said. Luke walked out. His eyes were black holes of despair. He had been wrong. He was losing her. For good. Shane was surprised. Luke had never cried. In all the years Shane had known Luke, he had never cried. Shane tried to help, but Luke just stared without seeing. This is going to break him. Luke’s been broke for the last time. Shane thought. It hurt to think it, but Luke won’t live if she dies. Either it’ll kill him, or he’ll kill Stetson. Luke was finally broke. The last snap. He called Billy Jo.

“Honey…It’s Luke…No, it‘s not looking too good…Yeah…Baby, go to Luke’s place. The key is in my top drawer. Take all of the guns, belts, knives, and anything else he could seriously hurt himself with…Honey, do you remember Jill when she found out John died in Iraq? Her eyes? And then a week later she killed herself? Luke looks just like that. He looks like a burning man. This is the last time Luke’s gonna break… Love you too…Bye.” He hung up. Shane was scared. He walked up to the doctor.

“Doc, is there any way she could make it through this?” he asked.

“No, sir. Only a miracle could get her through.” the doctor said. “That man there, can you ask him to leave? I’ll call the nurse so she can bring him back to the physic ward.”

“Doctor, that’s his sister. I’m not gonna ask him to leave just ‘cause you want him to. He ain’t seen Annika in four years, now he’s gonna lose her. I got my wife going through his house, getting all the dangerous stuff out.”

“Why? That’s illegal. Even your type should know that breaking and entering is wrong.”

“What is it with the “your type” crap? I might be in the rodeo biz, but I know what’s right and what’s wrong! He gave me a key and unless you want one more attempted suicide or body in the morgue, you won’t object. Ma’am, I understand that you rich hoity-toity doctors think your better than me, but I do believe that I know the law. Do you know Buck Neil?” when the nurse nodded and said something about how he was an amazing officer, Shane continued. “You won’t believe this, but your best officer is my big brother. Justin Crowley back there, he’ll tell ya.”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Neil. My name is Athena.” she held her hand out. Shane just looked at her.

“Oh now you tell me your name. Would you tell me your name if I wasn’t Bucks brother? No. You would think that I would…”

“Shane! She’s… She’s waking up! Anne? Annie? Sis, please! Stet, get over here she’s waking up! Shane Cody Neil get over here! Call Billy Jo! Call Kota! Tell’em she’s coming to!” Luke was ecstatic.

“Lu-Lu? Bubby is that you? What’s wrong Bubby? I didn’t leave. Is the baby O.K?” Anne was feeling drowsy. Stetson was standing there, right beside Luke. No, that wasn’t right. Stetson hated Luke.

Luke thought that was weird, Anne hadn’t called him Lu-Lu since Mom died. He kissed her cheek. As he walked out he said a silent prayer.

God, thank you for sparing her and the baby. I would be lost without her to keep me on the ground. Thank you. Amen.

Luke hadn’t prayed in years. Ring Ring. He answered it. “Hello…What?…Now?!… Shane we have to go! Kota is having the baby! C’mon Shane. Officer…” Luke looked back, wondering if it was too much to ask.

“On it. Anything for Hotshot’s bud. Let’s go.” Justin took off for the car.

Seven Hours Later…

“Congrats, Luke! It’s a girl!” “Go, Luke!” That girl’s gonna be tough-stuff, y’heah!”

Out of all the voices, one stood out: the crying of his daughter in his arms. She was beautiful.

“You did it, Luke. You kept both promises.” a weak voice that silenced all others. Anne was here.

“Anne! Why are you here?” Luke said.

“Well, I couldn’t miss my niece being born. You didn’t miss my boys being born, I wouldn’t miss your girl.”

“Okay.” he leaned in and kissed Dakota. “We did it baby. We did it.”

As he and Dakota drove home, he thought about his blessings. Dakota, no, they, had a beautiful little girl named Dusty, Anne had two little boys, Jesse and Cooper, all three survived. And He and Stetson were friends. He got out of the car and walked to the door. When he opened it and saw his destroyed house, missing guns, and missing knives, he added a blessing that was also a curse , a friend who cared a little too much.