Excerpt from "That's Just the Way It Is"

This is an excerpt from That's Just the Way It Is -  a real turning point for Becky in her relationship with John...

“What the devil’s wrong with you? Carryin’ on with a scalawag like that? Good thing I came in when I did. In a couple more minutes he’d of had you bare-assed on the table.”

“For heaven’s sake, John. What’s the matter? Calm down. The children will hear you, and I’m sure Jake already did.”

“I’m not the problem. And don’t you ever go against what I say in front of the cowboys, or anybody for that matter.” John was getting red in the face and his lips were starting to protrude. I thought for a moment he was going to spit on me. I stood up, and he suddenly raised his arm and slapped my face with the back of his hand, followed by a harder slap on my other cheek with the front of his hand.

“I won’t have you carryin’ on with him. I’m firin’ him tomorrow,” he shouted.

“John,” I cried. ”Please come to your senses. There’s absolutely nothing going on between me and Mr. Johnson. Stop being so unreasonable. Don’t you dare fire him. That man has children depending on him.”

Emily and the boys had run into the kitchen by now. They stared in silence, four pairs of eyes wide open with fear. Emily hurried over and put her arms around my waist.

“Get away from her, Em. I’m not through yet,” he said angrily while he took off his belt.

I nodded to Emily and she stepped back. “Take your brothers into the parlor,” I told her.

John grabbed me by the arm. I struggled when he began hitting me with the buckle end, leaving deep gashes in the skin on my neck and arms. I tried to cover my face, and my hands became streaked with blood. After I started screaming, Emily came running and tried to pull his arm back. John accidently knocked her down.

“Stop it! Let me go! I’m pregnant,” I shouted angrily.