Page 75 of Rough Cowboy
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THE TOWNSPEOPLE STANDawkwardly along the decorated sidewalk in front of the clinic. They brought the balloons and decorations to cheer for us as we exited the clinic.
Instead, they’ve witnessed Sammy and Silver’s argument unfold just as I have. Now, they stare at the Wilde brothers, unsure what to do or say.
I’m in their boat. I’m not exactly sure what to do or say. My heart breaks for both brothers: Sammy, whose confession is breaking my heart, and Silver, whose heart is breaking by our deceit.
Silver lets him go and takes a step away. “You’re sterile?”
“Yeah. How ironic, the brother who actually wanted kids can’t have any.”
“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t know.”
“No one knew, but now the whole goddam town knows.”
Silver glances over my shoulder and then looks back at Sammy. “That’s no excuse to do what you two did. You lied to me. You plotted to take my child away from me.”
“Boys.” Calvin steps forward and clamps a hand on both of their shoulders. “We should take this somewhere more private.”
Lillian joins him. “We should all sit down as a family and discuss how to move forward.”
Sammy shoves away his father’s hand. “What’s left to discuss? I’m out of the picture. Silver has the woman and the baby, and I’m left with nothing.”
“Son, it’s not black and white,” Calvin grumbles.
“It’s pretty fucking black and white.” Sammy wipes tears away from his eyes. “I ain’t stickin’ around.”
“What about the ranch?” Lillian suggests. “That’s a wonderful project to continue.”
“I don’t want it. I don’t want a damn thing in this town.” Sammy’s eyes meet mine. “Good fucking luck with this one. You’re going to need it.” He turns.
“Sammy?” I skip down the stairs, but he storms off without looking back. “Sammy?!”
Silver’s hurt gaze lands on me. “How could you not tell me?”
“I was going to tell you.”
“You were going to tell me after you realized I’d stick around.”
I bite the inside of my cheeks.
“You didn’t even give me a goddam chance to prove my worth to you or the baby. You handed my baby over to my brother.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Let me help you uncomplicate it.” He steps close to me. “The one thing you were afraid of me doing, you pushed me to do just that.”
Silver walks away, and my heart breaks.
