Publisher's Synopsis
The family were busy pleading with Clyde and Bonnie to depart Texas to Mexico or some other country, "go anywhere would be safer than here, they'd pleaded," our father told us. Words fell on deaf ears as far as the couple were concerned. "No," they both exclaimed. They didn't want to go anywhere they couldn't see the family. The family was all they had left and Clyde exclaimed, "Be damned if they'll take that away from us. But, I do wish you hon, would stay. Go home with your mother and try to live as much life free as you can." "Hush, Clyde," Bonnie snapped. "I told you to shut that ranting up. I will stay with you for the time we have." She then handed her mother her rabbit. "Here Mama, take my white rabbit. Keep him away from the cops for they may want to send him to prison," she said with a giggle. "Bonnie," Mama Parker scolded. She was not amused as tears formed in her eyes. "Don't worry none now Mama, Clyde and I done went into an Oklahoma Church when they had no service. We both knelt and said our prayers for forgiveness. We honestly believe he has forgiven us. So, if anything goes down rest assured we have made our peace." "My word," Ma Parker, scoffed as her voice faded away. Nell lowered her head saying later, "There was no earthly help toward which they might turn, so they prayed. It wasn't funny to her, it was tragic. It was this time that Bonnie informed us she was six weeks pregnant and the baby was expected sometime around December one. Tears did begin to flow then. Many misgivings and glee were forthcoming, but mostly we all looked at each other in dread. What was the future of a child being born to Bonnie Parker going to be? Emma, Bonnie's mama just turned and walked down the path with tears flooding her eyes. She stopped several feet from the group and turned to face Bonnie." "Bonnie Parker, you know this should never be. But if you are pregnant then so be it. If you do manage to have the child, you know you must plan arrangements where Cumie and I can come to you to take the baby. You can't raise a child on the run. If the law ever knows you had it. The baby will be taken away from us. So, let's get our heads together right now to be prepared for one of these older girls to claim the baby. You make the choice, but I must have all the time I can have with your child. You promise me that," she cried out. "Bonnie and I put our heads together and decided that Bonnie's sister, Billie Jean would be the one to take the child." "We saw our family one more time after the Mount Pleasant reunion. We placed a coke bottle in front of the station with a note inside telling our parents where to meet us," Clyde said. "We all set on the ground under the stars and talked a long time that night. "Mama, when they kill us, don't let them take us to an undertaking parlor, will you?" Bonnie said, in that peculiar calm that she and Clyde always talked in when speaking of death. "Bring me home." There she was, Bonnie at twenty-three with the May moonlight glistening though her yellow hair and making shadows on her cheeks. There she sat talking of death calmly as if she was discussing going to the grocery store. She looked at her Mama and smiled. It was a funny smile-as if she were a million years older, as if she knew things that we would never learn if we lived for centuries. "Now don't be upset Mama, why shouldn't we talk it over? It's coming-we all know it. So, don't let them take me to the funeral parlor when you can bring me home. Promise me you'll do that. It's been so long since I've been home. I want to have a long peaceful night alone with you and family. That will be nice-and restful. Now when they kill us, don't ever say anything-ugly-about Clyde. Please, promise me that, too." Clyde had made up his mind. It was to be death for the Methvins. Clyde was certain now that the two Ivy and Henry Methvin were conspiring against them since Henry made up the lie about the Grapevine killings.