Page 29 of Undefeated

I turned and looked at Shane, surprised.

“I’ll give you this water if you tell us what happened, and where that piece of shit is,” he said.

“She already did,” Shane said.

Ripp stood up, set down the plate, and handed me the water. He licked the barbeque sauce from his fingers and popped his neck.

“Let’s go,” he said as he wiped his hands on his shorts.

“Sit down, Ripp,” Shane shook his head, “let her finish.”

Ripp turned and walked back into the house.

“He’s kind of a hot-head when he gets mad. Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s a great guy. He’s a lot like me. He hates it when men mistreat women. He’s not mad at you, okay?”

I nodded slowly.

“So,” he leaned forward and looked at my mouth, “You have the tooth?” he asked.

I nodded and patted my pants pocket.

Ripp walked back onto the deck with something in his hand. He leaned over and handed the object to me.

“It’s an icepack. Put it on your lips. Probably too late, but it won’t hurt. It’ll make them feel better,” he smiled.

“Thanks Ripp,” Shane said.

Ripton sat back down and grabbed his plate of chicken. I watched him as he devoured half a chicken in a matter of seconds. Being around two men that were caring, kind, and treated me with respect was different. I have never had this type of care before. Not since I was sixteen, anyway. I continued to watch in amazement as Ripp ate chicken like an animal.

“Kace, you okay?” Shane asked as he patted my knee with his hand.

“Oh, yeah. Thorry. He eath a lot,” I said as I nodded toward Ripp.

Shane turned and looked at Ripp. He shook his head and laughed, “Yeah. He has to feed the machine.”

Ripp nodded, “We had a deal little girl. Tell your story.”

I moved the icepack from my face and set it in my lap.

“Joth and I have been together for ten yearths. He threatenth me, thlapth me, and chokth me all the time. He beat me today for the lath time. I hit him in the head with a thillet. Heeth uncontheeouth,” I said toward Ripp.

I wiped my palms on my jeans and smiled at Shane. I wanted him to be proud of me.

Ripp licked the barbeque sauce from his hands and stood up from his chair. He looked at Shane and shook his head slowly.

“I think I understood her, but with her lips and missing tooth, it’s tough. What’d she say, Dekk?” he asked as he wiped his hands on his shorts.

“She said he beats her, chokes her, threatens her, and slaps her as a matter of normal occurrence. They’ve been together ten years. He kicked her teeth out today and it’ll, according to her, be the last time,” Shane paused, turned, and looked at me.

I nodded.

“She say she hit him with something?” He asked as he walked closer to me.

“Oh, yeah. She hit him in the head with a skillet. Hard. Split his head open and he was unconscious when she left,” Shane responded.

As I sat beside Shane, Ripp walked up to the chair we were sitting on and leaned over. Slowly, he reached toward my face and placed his cupped hand under my chin. Using his hand, he raised my chin up to look at my face. I moved the ice pack away from my mouth.

He squinted his eyes and gazed at Shane. He looked back at me and moved his hand away from my chin.