Chapter 20
Carnage had been chattering non-stop as he led the way through the woods for almost fifteen minutes.
Daniel was chuckling about Carnage trying to keep a very young Lily from peeing outside ‘like the boys’ when Carolena finally came home from settling her father’s estate.
Carnage was guffawing about Carolena being angry that Lily even thought it was an option, but Daniel had met Carolena, and he had no doubt she had no problem holding her own with her mate.
She was a strong lady. She’d have to be to have kept Carnage in line all these years.
“I’m pretty sure you didn’t think it was as funny then as you do now,” Daniel said with a chuckle.
Carnage’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Leenah mad!” he said, throwing a bit of fear into his voice.
Daniel laughed again.
Carnage ducked under a low hanging branch and came to a stop right on the edge of another clearing.
Daniel came to a stop beside him, looking around at the home sitting in the middle of the clearing and the manicured flower beds accenting the land. “This is beautiful.”
“’Es,” Carnage said, starting across the yard.
“Who lives here?” Daniel asked.
“Deemah,” Carnage said. He walked across the yard like it was his own, and a couple of minutes later had set down the fishing poles on the edge of a calm, quiet bayou.
“Shouldn’t we ask if it’s okay if we fish here?”
“Noo.”
“Won’t Dima care?”
“Mine feesh p’ace.”
“But it’s Dima’s yard.”
Carnage shrugged.
“Alright, then,” Daniel said, setting down the picnic basket and two tackle boxes he carried.
Carnage plopped down on the ground and started baiting his hook.
“I’m surprised you don’t use real worms,” Daniel said, watching Carnage expertly thread a rubber worm onto his hook.
“Poh wum,” Carnage said, shaking his head.
“Okay, now you sound like my daughter. She always felt bad for the bait; that’s why we use bologna and cheese for bait back home,” Daniel said.
Carnage snickered. “’Gel nish.”
“She is. Very nice. Too nice, sometimes.”
Carnage gave Daniel a bit of side-eye.
“What’s that look for?”
“Dahdee D’agon. ‘Gel st’ong,” Carnage said.
A corner of Daniel’s mouth turned up as he thought about it. “Yeah, I suppose she can be strong when she wants to be.”
Carnage nodded and handed the baited pole to Daniel. “Feesh!” he said, pointing toward the bayou.
“I thought you might turn up here,” Dima said from right behind them.
Daniel spun around so fast he almost hooked himself with the fishing pole he held. He’d never had someone come up on him without giving at least a hint that they were approaching.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” Dima said, his eyes cast down, not meeting Daniel’s.
Daniel looked at the male; he was tall and wide.
Easily the tallest male he’d ever seen. He was bulky, but not fat.
He was wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans.
His feet were shoved into a pair of white rubber shrimping boots.
He had long, thick dark brown hair that he wore loose around his shoulders and back, and there was hair of the same color extending from his shirt sleeves around his wrists, and curling up and out of the collar of his shirt.
When looking more closely, Daniel realized that some of the hair worn loosely around his shoulders was actually growing from the sides of his neck, rather than growing only from his scalp.
His face, though, was clean shaven as was the front of his neck.
Daniel took in his posture and realized he wasn’t very comfortable with strangers.
He may not be comfortable in any social situation, and that was okay.
One thing Daniel knew was how to put people at ease — he’d had plenty of training while raising Angelle.
Daniel moved his fishing pole from his right hand to his left and extended his hand to the male, while smiling warmly.
“Hello. I’m Daniel. I’m Angelle’s father. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Dima’s arm jerked just a bit, like he was instinctively going to shake Daniel’s hand, but then he stopped himself and looked into Daniel’s eyes.
Daniel smiled again, and continued to hold his hand out toward Dima.
Dima flashed a quick half-smile and shook Daniel’s hand before pulling his hand back and shoving it in his pocket.
Daniel noticed the long, silky hair growing from the back of Dima’s hand and realized the hair wasn’t only peeking out from beneath Dima’s sleeves, it was actually on the backs of his hands as well. “You got the jump on me! Nobody’s ever been able to do that.”
“Sorry about that. It kind of just happens. Can’t help it.”
“Why’re you sorry? Good on you! Bet you can hunt your ass off,” Daniel said.
“I have my moments,” Dima said with a grin.
“Dahn goood,” Carnage said. Then he pointed at Dima while he looked at Daniel. “Deemah goood.”
“You’re Carnage’s best friend,” Daniel said.
Dima smiled brightly. “Yes. I kind of had no choice. He just kind of takes you along wherever he wants you to go. He grew on me.”
Daniel laughed. “I’ve noticed.”
“So, you said you’re Angelle’s father?” Dima asked.
“Yes. She’s Boon’s mate,” Daniel said, feeling a bit queasy as he said so. Daniel’s lip lifted a bit and his nose wrinkled up as his stomach flip-flopped.
Carnage laughed. “Dahn ‘ick,” he said.
“And you’re standing beside him?” Dima asked.
“I’m not sick,” Daniel said.
Carnage nodded.
“He thinks I’m sick because I’m having trouble accepting that my daughter is a mated young lady, instead of my little girl.”
“Oh, I understand. Kind of like when you threatened to skin Tempest’s mate. And I’m pretty sure you considered killing Carrik when he tried to win Lily over, too.”
Carnage shrugged again. “Mahbe stiiill,” he said thoughtfully.
“Oh, so it’s not just me,” Daniel said.
“Oh, no. It’s part of who Carnage is,” Dima said.
“Dima! Dima, love! Would you and your little friends like some lemonade? I can make it fresh in just a few seconds.”
Dima looked over his shoulder at the woman standing on his raised porch and Daniel couldn’t help but smile when Dima’s whole countenance changed. Instead of unsure of himself and standing on unsteady ground, he was suddenly confident, very sure of his place in this world.
“That would be very nice, Zahra. Thank you,” Dima said. He turned back to Daniel, still wearing the smile he’d beamed at his mate. “That’s my Zahra,” he said proudly.
“She seems like a very special woman. The way you look at her, the way she looks at you… that kind of bond right there is what I want for my daughter,” Daniel said.
“Boon ‘Gel goood bohnd,” Carnage said.
“Yes, they do have a good bond,” Daniel said. He sighed and looked at Dima again. “I hope you don’t mind we’re fishing on your property.”
“Not at all,” Dima said. “It was Carnage’s favorite fishing hole before it was my property. He’s always welcome here, and any friend or family of Carnage’s is always welcome here with him.”
“Appreciate that,” Daniel said. The sound of splashing had them both turning toward the bayou.
Carnage was wading out into the water with his fishing pole held high.
“I’m pretty sure you’re scaring the fish,” Daniel said.
“Suuuusshh!” Carnage hissed at him. “Tooo much ta’k. My feesh!”
“Then I guess it’s time to fish,” Daniel said to Dima.
“Deemah feesh,” Carnage said, waving Dima back toward his house with one hand.
Dima nodded. “I could fish,” he said. “I’ll be back with my pole.” He headed off at a slow jog toward his house.
Daniel thought about rolling up his jeans, but instead decided to just walk right into the bayou like Carnage had. Once he’d reached the distance from the shore that Carnage was standing, he moved a few feet down from him and cast his line out into the water. “I like Dima. He’s a good male.”
Carnage nodded firmly. “Bes’ mahl.”
“I like that he has someone who obviously thinks he’s the best male, too,” Daniel said.
Carnage looked back at the house, then shuffled sideways toward Daniel. When Carnage reached him, he leaned closer and lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. “Ta’k, ta’k, ta’k. Noo s’op.”
“Zahra?”
Carnage nodded.
“Maybe she’s just lonely.”
Carnage shook his head. “Jus’ ta’k, ta’k, ta’k.”
“But she’s nice?” Daniel said.
Carnage begrudgingly nodded. “Goood ‘emanaaade.”
~~~
“Hungry?” Angelle asked, as she got up and went into her kitchen.
“Always,” Boon said.
“I think I’ll make a quick sandwich. I noticed some ham in the fridge, and there’s a beautiful tomato sitting in that window, right there,” she said pointing at the kitchen window above the sink. “Would you like one?”
“That sounds delicious. I can make it if you want to rest,” Boon offered.
“No, I can get it. I’m feeling much better now that I’m up and moving.”
“I’ll be more gentle next time.”
“You will not,” she said, bending over to get the plate with the ham on it out of the refrigerator.
She winced as she straighted up, the muscles in her thighs, belly and butt reminding her they’d had a work out the night before.
“Okay, maybe just a little more gentle until I’m not quite so sore anymore. ”
Boon came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her as she placed the plate of ham on the counter top. He kissed her cheek as he held her back against his front.
Angelle giggled and turned in his arms to face him and link her hands behind his neck.
“I do have a question, though,” she said, as she placed a kiss right at the corner of his lips.
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes, what?” she asked.
“Yes. You can have whatever you want.”
Angelle laughed. “No, that’s not it.”
“Oh, well, then, ask away,” he said, pulling her tighter against him as he slouched to better see her face.
“It’s just that I was wondering…”
“Mmhmm.”
“I mean, you’ve never been mated before, right?”
“There is only one mate for me. You. There will not be another, there has not been another.”