Badland Bride

"Now, what's going on here?"

"These here two are gonna have a baby," Stephanie said, pointing to her and Skeeter. "And no grandchild of mine is gonna be born a bastard."

The skin on Lila's cheeks prickled with heat, and she wished with all her might she could just disappear. Skeeter started shouting. The rag over his mouth billowed and rough mumbles filled the room. The ropes binding him strained against his trouncing and his chair legs bounced a time or two.

"Is that true, Skeeter?" Kid asked angrily.

Skeeter started to mumble at the same time she jumped to his defense. Fighting the gag, as well as the thick rope wound around her, Lila tried to say none of it was Skeeter's doing, but between the rag and Skeeter's loud sounds, no one could understand her.

Kid held up one hand. "A simple yes or no is all I need."

"It's not his baby," Lila said against the cloth, shaking her head.

The older brother frowned, clearly not understanding what she'd said, and then glanced to Skeeter.

He mumbled beside her, long and loud the whole time gesturing with his head. Tails of the billowing white bow tied against his forehead fluttered and fell over his eyes. He flipped it aside, and Lila grimaced, afraid his wound would start bleeding again at his thrashing.

"Just nod your head," Kid said, staring at Skeeter. "Yes, she's going to have a baby? Or no, she's not?"

Simultaneously, she and Skeeter nodded their heads.