Bayou Bishops Box Set: Books 1-12

CHAPTER 2

Sahvrin wanted to vomit for His Petite. He couldn’t imagine what she was feeling other than the trembling he felt as he allowed her to strangle his forearm while walking toward Maggie’s cottage at the edge of the hospital grounds. And hospital? Looked like the grounds of a royal family.

“Sahvrin, I’m scared,” Beth gasped, like she’d been holding it in and couldn’t anymore.

“If it helps, I’m nervous enough for both of us.”

“Oh God, thank you,” she barely whispered.

Uncle Wigs was surprisingly fit. They had to try to keep up as he’d ordered them. He suddenly stopped and turned. “Wait here. I’ll go let her know you’re out here with your friend, waiting.”

Sahvrin had suggested he stay behind but the Uncle insisted she meet them together. And that whatever they did, not to coddle her. “She’ll never respect you if you do. I learned that the hard way and it took me a decade to undo it,” he’d said.

Sahvrin couldn’t say he’d have done different with a traumatized seven-year-old.

Beth shook herself as she paced next to him, glancing toward the small white stone home the doctor briskly headed toward. His urgent pace since they’d gotten there had him nervous. Was he sensing danger? There was no time to talk and doing it there wasn’t something he even hinted at doing, indicating the situation had been hidden from all eyes there.

“I’m so glad she’s been living here,” Beth said, nervously pacing and half admiring the area.”

“It’s beautiful,” he agreed, eyeing the various mature trees scattered around giving an even amount of shade and sun.

A long scream erupted, and they spun to see a woman running full blast toward them.

“Sahvrin?”

“Uhhh, she looks happy,” he hurried.

“Oh God,” she whispered, standing there immobile while he stood a couple feet away in case she tackled her.

She was definitely happy. The look of sheer joy was unmistakable.

Sahvrin’s chest tightened at hearing His Petite’s sob as her arms opened, waiting.

The screaming never stopped even as the woman spun her in a hug.

Uncle Wigs was hurrying to catch up, tears running down his face as he did, the sight further crippling Sahvrin.

Then the girls were both sobbing and hugging, Maggie petting His Petite all over her head and face with every audible sound you’d make with ecstatic words, minus the words.

“You’re so beautiful,” Beth gasped, and laughed, hugging her tight again.

Beautiful was putting it mildly. Not even the strange multi-length hairdo, or haircut could hide that. Just like his Petite, she had that ethereal, otherworldly beauty. Damn. Spook was going to be pissed, maybe. Hope his celibacy was strong cuz…this was gonna test it.

She finally acknowledged him. “This is Sahvrin,” His Petite said as Maggie eyed him with a thousand degrees of you’re guilty.

“Hey Maggie,” he said, remembering to treat her normal.

A slight smile tugged at her lips, and she turned to Uncle Wigs and did sign language.

The look of surprise on his face made him nervous. “She says thank you for bringing her sister.”

She signed some more, and the Uncle’s happy face crumpled as he shook his head. “No, no, Maggie, he’s…he’s not leaving, I told you he’s staying. You”re leaving with them.”

“Sahvrin is my fiancé,” Beth said. “I love him with all my heart, and I hope you will too.”

She adamantly shook her head with no-no-no sounds in her throat as she signed again to the Uncle, her movements harder, hands smacking each other.

“We talked about this, Maggie,” Uncle Wigs said firmly. “You agreed to give him a chance?”

More hand jiving with tones that resembled cursing. The symphony of growling hums was a little fascinating, like her own language of wordless sounds.

Now Uncle Wigs shook his head steadfastly. “Then they came all this way for nothing. I guess they can leave if you’re not willing to go with both of them.”

She stomped her foot with a loud growl, casting a pissed look over her shoulder at Sahvrin. She signaled again then crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well that’s fine,” Uncle Wigs said. “You can not like him all you want, and he can not like you too, isn’t that right Sahvrin?”

Well, shit. He went with the doctor’s orders. “I don’t mind at all if you don’t like me,” he said right to her. “Your sister didn’t like me either at first.”

She cast a half curious look at Beth who nodded. “It’s true. But then he saved my life and I fell in love with him.”

She eyed Sahvrin straight on, head cocked at an angle. She signed to him, and he eyed the doctor.

“She wants to know how you saved her life.”

Sahvrin looked at Beth and she nodded for him to tell. “Some bad people had taken her, and I found her in the swamp and nursed her back to health.”

She erupted in hand movements and angry sounds.

“Maggie!” Uncle Wigs snapped, looking flustered while she pointed at Sahvrin.

“What did she say?” he asked.

“She says you took advantage of a broken woman.”

“He never touched me inappropriately ever or did anything like that,” Beth assured.

She gestured something that seemed to say then explain how you’re together.

“Maggie, Mr. Bishop—”

The sudden pop of her eyes and hand signals got Uncle Wigs shaking his head. ”No, no, he’s not an actual Bishop,” he said, half eyeing Sahvrin as if to make sure. “That’s his last name. Now, you’re behaving like a child and we both know you’re nothing of the sort.”

“Maggie,” Beth called, getting the woman’s undivided attention. “Can you please…please try to like him? For me?”

The woman stared for many seconds at Beth whose tears rolled down her cheeks. Maggie wrapped her in her arms and began making soothing noises then turned briefly for hand signals to Uncle Wigs.

“Very good, thank you Maggie.” He eyed Sahvrin. “She’ll give you a chance to prove yourself because her baby sister asked her to.”

He nodded, silently thanking God. “I appreciate that. Are you ready to go meet the Swamps of Louisiana?”

The response she gave was a shocking surprise. Back to jumping up and down with all sorts of excited sounds. She even walked over and pushed his shoulder with a huge grin that made him laugh.

“Maggie is insanely thrilled to see the Swamps. She’s done nothing but look at pictures since I told her about it.”

She signed and nodded like Sahvrin knew sign language. He sure wished he did.

“She wants to know if there are alligators where you live.”

He nodded. “Yep. And I have a sister who wrestles them.”

Her eyes and mouth got huge as she turned to Uncle Wigs who laughed boisterously.

“I’m sure she doesn”t literally—” he paused at Sahvrin’s nodding. “She truly wrestles alligators?” he asked, the horror on his face making him laugh.

“She really does. You should Google it later, it’s pretty fascinating stuff.”

This had Maggie jumping up and down and clapping like she’d won the lottery. Damn that was priceless.

He’d have to thank Juliette later for saving the day unaware.

Beth suddenly hugged him, bringing his arms tight around her along with a lot of annoyed racket from big sis. He hugged her tighter and kissed her on the forehead, letting Maggie know he’d not be intimidated out of loving His Petite how he wanted and how she deserved.

“Well, you have a plane to catch, now don’t you?”

Everybody turned to Uncle Wigs, wiping tears from his cheeks. Judging by the shock from Maggie and concerned doting, she’d never seen him display such a thing. She turned sad, worried eyes at them with pitiful sounds and Beth went to him and gave him a hug.

“We’ll take care of each other now, Uncle Wigs. Thank you for protecting my sister and family all these years.”

He nodded while choking out sobs and Sahvrin had to look away, needing to stay out of the emotional departure.

Maggie was signing to him now.

“I don’t know sign language, sorry,” he said.

The angry look she gave came with more signing.

“Maggie,” Uncle Wigs said, wiping his eyes. “Nobody needs to learn sign language, you need to speak, you know you’re capable.”

She eyed Sahvrin and then Uncle Wigs and said more things with her hands before crossing her arms.

“Well, that’s entirely up to him if he wants to bargain.” Sahvrin eyed him. “She says she’ll speak words when you learn sign language.”

“She has a deal.”

The sudden look of panic said she wasn’t expecting that.

“Too late now,” Uncle Wigs said, hands up. “A deal is a deal. You just said it and he agreed.”

She suddenly turned to Beth and hugged her like it never happened and Uncle Wigs stepped closer to him and barely muttered, “See that you hold her to that.”

“Oh I will.” And he’d also pass that to Spook since he’d definitely be the one handling her.

****

Spook glanced at all they’d accomplished, his mind returning to the last text his Eveque sent. Hope your celibacy vows are cemented in place. The hell was that supposed to mean? Had he ever given the impression they weren’t? Never, that he knew of, and he knew of everything regarding that.

He opened Eveque’s box. Small army showed up to help out. Got the house cleaned and painted. Lights all installed. Furniture in. Plumbing and electric checked and fixed. Curtains, bedding, dishes, and anything else a person could need is all here. Sending pics.

He opened his camera and selected all the best angles and sent it.

He’d even managed to get the shed pretty much converted. Was about as big as his bedroom at his parent’s house. He found an old pot-bellied stove and set it up minus the piping. With winter coming, it would be plenty of heat.

His phone rang and he looked, swiping the screen. “Eveque.”

“Beth insisted I call to tell you how amazed and excited her and her sister are about what you’ve done.”

The strange squeals he heard sounded like a tortured pig or a child that had too much sugar. “Glad they like it. I had a lot of help.”

“I figured Mah-Mah would see to it.”

“It’s amazing, Spook!” he heard a woman say.

“Beth says it’s amazing.”

“I heard but it wasn’t me, really. Your mother’s crew did the impressive stuff.”

“Maggie loves it,” she called out.

“We’re driving back now,” he said.

“You made good time, it’s not even 8:00.”

“We’ll be about thirty minutes still. I’ll see you at the main house and we can bring Beth and Maggie to see your genius.”

“Well that wasn’t me,” he tried again.

“Yeah, I hear you. I’m sure you’re ready for a shower. I’ll let you go.”

After he hung up, Eveque texted him. Sending you a pic of Maggie.

Why? He waited and when the image came through, he got his answer. He stared, wondering if she was even real. She looked like something an artist might paint out of his dreams. So that’s why he mentioned the celibacy thing. Because of this.

He closed the box and slid the phone in his pocket and headed to the shed, gathering what he needed for a shower. He surely wasn’t a stranger to temptation. The moment he’d declared that celibacy vow, the devil had thrown every manner of compulsion at him. There still wasn’t a day that went by that the devil didn’t offer him something he couldn’t resist and yet he did in that department. Like a test of stubborn wills. He knew you had to let the devil know you meant business before he gave up. But he was a worthy adversary and his Tempter decided to wage that war nearly every day. No problem, he’d meet him on that field.

****

Beth had never smiled so much watching Maggie in the boat on the way to the main house. Both arms spread wide, like a child outside for the first time. And she never let go of Beth’s hand. In a way it was a first for her. At least outside her world.

“I’m thinking we need to bypass the crowd and head straight to the Birdhouse,” Sahvrin said over the motor in the small boat. “What do you think?”

She looked at Maggie and pulled her hand to hers, getting her smiling attention. “Would you like to go straight to your new house or stop and meet the family?”

She shook her head, suddenly worried.

“So just straight to the new house?”

Her nods came quick.

“To the new house then.”

She got back to her big smiles while Beth got back to several problems she hadn’t thought of. Sign language. She didn’t know it and wished she’d known she used it. Not that it would’ve helped but she could’ve been thinking of how to work around it. Uncle Wigs said she could write, so if she needed to understand something she would have to use that. And they hadn’t mentioned Spook to her. How were they supposed to communicate about that and how she felt? What if she didn’t want a babysitter? Did she really need to be told that? Maybe he could just…happen to be around, like a ground’s keeper. She was used to having those. But they’d need to let Spook know. She’d need to let Sahvrin know in order to let him know. But they hadn’t had a chance to talk about anything since they’d picked up Maggie.

“I think we shouldn’t meet anybody until I have a chance to talk to Maggie at the Birdhouse,” Beth said to Sahvrin, hoping he knew she meant Spook. “You can talk to whoever you need to while I talk to Maggie? Whoever may be around there?”

He nodded. “I got it. We don’t won’t to spook anybody.”

She nodded with a slight smile at him, relieved. God, she missed him while he was two feet away. Maggie wasn’t a doting mother, but she was very clingy, physically. She loved that she remembered her, even if Beth didn’t, but she hoped the clingy was temporary. She kind of felt like her human doll. She needed to figure out how to tell her she didn’t like the physical part of that feeling. What if she offended her? What if she got angry and had one of her fits? God, she hoped that never happened.

She was a broken woman who needed help, she remembered. Her sister. She’d be patient but firm. Like Uncle Wigs said. He surely knew by now. And she could always call him if she had questions, which she did. She would start writing them down.

The boat stopped next to a small pier and Sahvrin tied it off and hopped out. He helped Maggie out first then Beth, kissing her when she was on the pier. Thankfully Maggie was too fixated by her surroundings to notice and make a fuss about it. “Where’s Spook?”

“He should be at the main house by now. I’ll text.”

She went over to Maggie. “You love it?”

She gave happy hmmm’s while nodding and smiling. She pointed up with a light sound of surprise.

“The moon.” Did she think it only existed in her world?

She drew a big circle with her hands.

“It is big tonight.”

“Ma Petite?”

She turned and went back to Sahvrin, and he showed her his phone. Decided to wait here till you called.

“Crap,” she mouthed then remembered. “So the grounds keeper will be there?” she asked Sahvrin. “I’m so glad, I wanted to talk to him about the lights and everything else. Make sure things are in working order.”

“Right, exactly what I was thinking,” he said, smiling back at her with a wink before speaking something in French.

Maggie gasped with the sound of curiosity and hurried over, looking at him.

He spoke more French that sounded like a question and she looked at Beth then back at him with open awe and happy hums.

She suddenly slapped her own face with a yelp and glanced around, grabbing Beth.

“What’s wrong? Did something bite you?”

“Mahdigwan,” Sahvrin said.

“Ohhh, mosquitos!” Beth said right as one bit her.

“Follow me, ladies. Stay close. Spook and I will return to get her things.”

****

Shit. They were there already. He texted back. Thought you were going to call when you got to the main house.

His Eveque’s return text almost amused him. Your role here is the grounds keeper.

Okay. Whatever he needed. He decided to stay in his little house since all the lights were on at the main one. He turned his own off and waited in the open doorway. The first thing he heard was that squealing sound he’d heard on the phone. Excitement? He hoped. She’d been in a hospital for all those years. Had to be something seeing a new place, especially a swamp.

I’m in the shed next to the house. Lights off, he texted.

They finally came into view, taking the pier leading to the small house. He watched both women, amazed at the similarity in looks. No wonder his Eveque fell hard. But he hadn’t had celibacy vows to protect like he did. The trick was always being aware of the temptation that was damn sure to come. He eyed his newest foe looking high and low all around with a child-like awe. If that trait went through and through, then there was nothing to fight. But he highly doubted it did, even with her unusual background.

He tossed a wave at Eveque while listening to the many sounds she made without words. Like she’d created her own language out of it. Amazing.

“You made it,” Spook muttered when he was close enough to hear.

“We did,” he said, glancing back as he stopped next to the shack door.

“She speaks at all?” he asked.

“She does, according to her Uncle or she can. She just doesn’t. Not with words. Yet.”

“She”s got an impressive hum vocabulary.”

Eveque laughed. “You haven’t heard or seen the half of it.”

“Beautiful people,” he said, not wanting to pretend otherwise. “I see why you fell off your high horse.”

“You see that, huh?”

Spook barely shook his head with a grin, watching the women move around in the house. “I ain’t no stranger to temptation, Eveque.”

“No?” he said, sounding both surprised and relieved.

“Ever since I made the vow, you know how it goes. Devil hears your commitments and comes runnin’ to see what he can do to help.”

Eveque laughed lowly, nodding. “I know just what you mean. Think I shed more blood than ever right about the time I vowed to cool it.”

Spook eyed him, maybe surprised to hear that he”d had such a struggle. “Tell me about her,” he said, needing to know. “Don’t wanna be surprised. What kind of girl is she?”

“I honestly don’t know, Spook. She’s got a lot of spirit, I know that. You’ll have to deal with the unknowns on this one as much as you love that.”

He chuckled, back to watching the girl now squealing on the porch swing. “Unknowns are my very favorite thing. Be bored to death if I didn’t have shit to fidget over.”

“Meant to say I’ll have Mah-Mah find somebody to look after your parents.”

He nodded. “Just so it’s not Lou-Lou Chen. Mah might poison her coffee.”

“She still mad at her?”

“Oh yeah. An endless loop,” he said, circling his finger.

“You can call me if you run into any problems with Maggie. In fact, I’ll give you her Uncle’s number, he’s also her doctor. He knows you’ll be looking after her and would expect your call or text.”

“Text it to me later. Your woman staying here with her? There’s room for two in here if you need a spot.”

“I may,” he said. “Don’t want to leave Ma Petite with Little Miss Bossy Maggie.”

“Bossy huh?”

“Oh yeah. And moody. But I have a deal with her.”

“With Maggie?”

“Yep. She said she’d learn words when I learned sign language. Good thing I’m real good at remembering things. I may have her using words by next week.”

“Wouldn’t that be something,” he said. “What’s up with that gun’s shipment? When’s that going down?”

“I’ll be calling One-Armed-Remy tomorrow and settling it. I’ll let everybody know when I know.”

He nodded. “Sooner the better for me.”

“Sahvrin?” his woman called from the porch.

“I’m over here,” he said, waving.

She stood and put her hand over her eyes, peering toward them. “Maggie wants to meet the grounds keeper?”

“Uh-oh,” Eveque said.

“It’s fine. Let’s get it done.”

Eveque eyed him and slapped his back. “There’s my soldier.”

Spook made his way over with Eveque, mildly amused with the way Maggie half hid behind Beth, watching him. He wasn’t sure what she looked at because making eye-contact was one thing he knew not to do.

“Beth and Maggie, this is Spook,” Eveque introduced as they climbed the four steps.

“Nice to meet you both,” Spook said, letting his gaze pass over them before looking around at the house, nodding. “Everything to your satisfaction Miss Maggie?”

She gave a startled Oh sound and he turned to find her peeking at him over Beth’s shoulder.

“You like it?” Beth asked, turning a little toward her.

She gave a quick nod.

Up close, that unreal beauty made everything tricky for his logical brain. It needed to find the flaw he knew had to be there. Nobody was that perfect. All he ended up finding was that her eyes had a magnetic pull in them, demanding he look. He surely didn’t. He turned instead toward the swamp. “Forgot how peaceful it was out here.”

He heard Maggie talking behind his back in hushed hums and Eveque’s woman whispering questions. Then she was sneaking up on his right, getting a look at him. He let her, not paying her any mind. She drew closer while Eveque and his woman took a seat on the swing, and he decided to wait and see far she’d get in her curiosity.

Was funny. As long as he didn’t look, she felt safe to visually explore. Then she got braver and reached slowly with a finger and barely poked his shoulder as if to see if he was real. Did she do that to all strangers? Had she done it to Eveque?

She went behind him and he remained still and began to whistle a tune. She hurried back around with a light gasp followed by curious hum sounds. As he continued, he saw her smiling and it took all his will power not to look and see what that looked like when doing that. She began humming his song while dancing gracefully around on the porch. He barely angled his head, watching, amazed at how she anticipated the sounds and hummed along like she’d already learned it.

He realized after a bit, he’d become a lead performer in her private concert and felt no need to stop the show, whistling out the whole thing. Then, as he ended it, her hums and dancing slowed, as if she intuitively knew. He’d never seen that done before. She’d probably learn things quickly. The first thing she would need to know was how not to get lost in the swamps and what to do if she ever did. And to know what was safe and not safe. He’d talk to Eveque about teaching her. The best defenses a person could develop were ones that required nobody else.

Clapping erupted from Eveque’s woman and he watched Maggie run to her and give a big hug. He let himself watch the pure exchange for a few seconds before walking down the steps.

Then Maggie was suddenly before him, hand on his chest. His heart hammered with adrenalin at how fast she was. He’d not heard her till she was before him. Definitely had inherent skills. Her hum was polite, and he looked down at her hand, then at her as he shook his head slowly, letting her know that wasn’t allowed.

She snatched it off, understanding him more perfect than he’d expected. Good. Boundaries needed to be set early. No touching. “I like the way you hum,” he said as he passed her and headed back to his shed. He caught the barest hum in her throat, but it was enough to tell she understood the boundary he’d just set. She didn’t sound angry about it, thankfully. More like surprised. But still curious.

Made him wonder if she’d had any experience whatsoever with the opposite sex? He’d need to ask. It would definitely dictate what and how to do things around her.

“Text you later, Spook,” Eveque called.

He tossed a wave over his head, ready to get a nap in before the meeting. What a fucking long day.

****

“Did you see that?” Beth whispered. “She was… respectful to him!” She looked at Sahvrin and found his eyes on her. The hunger in his gaze sent her pulse racing. “What?

His eyes lowered to her mouth. “You fucking know what,” he muttered, giving her clit a heartbeat.

He pulled out his phone.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Getting the grounds keeper to babysit while we go get clothes to stay here.”

“Here?”

“Spook has room for me, and you can stay with your sister?”

“Yes,” she said, breathless. “What about your meeting?”

“I’ll have the rest of The Twelve sleep at the Basilique. We’ll meet in the morning.”

Her heart fluttered as she watched him text. “I keep forgetting you’re the boss.”

He put his phone in his pocket and glanced at Maggie now sitting on the pier, staring in the direction of Spook’s little house, like a lost puppy. He turned back to her and leaned in, kissing her. His lips were soft and eager, but his darting hot tongue defined his mood. So nasty. Dear God, she needed him.

He pulled back and looked at his phone then stood, holding his hand out to her. “Let her know?”

“Okay,” she whispered, making her way to Maggie.

“Maggie?” She sat next to her and was a little surprised to find her so calm looking. “You like it here?”

She gave a huge warm smile clear to her eyes and nodded big and slow while rubbing circles over her head. Seemed like a good signal and Beth gasped in relief. “I’m so happy. I was worried you might not like it.”

She gave her a slight head shake with a look that said Nah. You didn’t need to worry. Beth stared at her, amazed with how normal she suddenly seemed.

“You…like Spook?”

She looked down and shrugged her shoulders with a tiny m.

“I mean…you feel safe with him?”

She made hand gestures and Beth tried to understand what they might mean, shaking her head. “Hold on,” she said, getting up. “Stay there, I’m coming right back.”

“Looking for something to write on,” Beth said to a curious Sahvrin as she went into the house to the cute little writing desk she’d seen. “Yes,” she whispered, locating a notepad and pen, and hurrying back. She sat and handed it to Maggie. “Do you feel safe with Spook? Sahvrin trusts him and would never have anybody around you that he didn’t know was completely safe. Plus he’s celibate,” she whispered, getting narrowed brows from Maggie. She wrote on the paper, thank God.

Who is?

“Spook. They take a vow to be in the group he’s in with Sahvrin. No women.”

It was hard to know what this news did for her. She wrote and showed her the paper. I’m not afraid of him. He’s good.

She looked at her, or her profile now. “You’re sure?”

She nodded with that same assurance, making Beth wonder. “I’m glad you like him but…what …why do you think he’s safe, what are you seeing that makes you know that?”

She wrote again for a bit longer then handed her the paper. He is very dark on the outside, but I can still see his light. He hides it. She smiled with a little nod, like when explaining something to a child.

“Okay, that’s…good.”

She took the pen and paper again and wrote then handed it back.

I don’t need a babysitter. I am a big girl. You can go and come right back?

“Yes, I…we wanted to just go to the big house and get clothes and come back here to sleep. I was thinking you and I could sleep together and Sahvrin would—” Beth gushed a laugh at her sudden hug. “And Sahvrin would sleep with Spook.”

She gave a little giggle at that then took the paper again, writing.

Beth looked at it. Sahvrin is also very good. I am happy you have him.

Beth’s tears gushed and she wiped them, nodding and hugging her again. “I thought you hated him.”

She shook her head, petting Beth’s hair. She pulled away and wrote again. I don’t hate him. I just don’t like him.

Beth regarded her, wiping her eyes. “Why?”

She gave a shocked look and shrug like it was an unsolvable mystery she had no real interest in.

“You’ll learn to like him, I think?”

Another indifferent shrug as if none of it mattered.

Well, it did. But she’d drop it for now. “We won’t be long. Maybe you can unpack and relax, get to know your new adorable house!”

Maggie’s face beamed and she wrote, then showed her. I want to use the tub and all the pretty things!

Beth laughed. “Sahvrin’s Mah-Mah makes those! Do you know they have a whole house where they make soaps and shampoos and everything else you can dream of?”

Beth laughed at the joyous shock on her face. She quickly wrote again and shoved the tablet at her. I will do my evening exercises while you are gone. Maybe I will cook something!!!

Beth gave her wide eyes. “You should cook us pancakes if they have it! We can eat together when I get back! Or you can eat half and we’ll eat the other half when I get back.”

She hurried and stood, hugging her so tight and petting her hair with those soft soothing hums that touched something so deep in Beth. “Did you hum to me when I was little?”

Maggie nodded a lot, still holding her and stroking her.

“I think I remember.”

Maggie’s arms tightened more around her, and she let out a sob, bringing Beth’s too and more petting and hugging.

“I’ll go tell Sahvrin you’re okay by yourself. He wanted me to make sure,” she whispered, nodding and wiping her eyes. “You’ll be okay,” she said, another sob taking her as she hugged her again. “Why does it feel like I’m leaving you?” She gasped a laugh. “I am but not for long, not long at all,” she assured, maybe herself more than Maggie who continued with those comforting hmmms and petting.

Maggie suddenly stepped back and waved then hurried around her, running back to the house with a squeal of excitement. Sahvrin was on the steps, and she paused long enough to shove his shoulder before racing inside.

Beth covered her laugh at the way he raised both hands with a clueless look on his face before heading her way.