Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
The Double L Ranch
Sienna
Sienna couldn’t get her legs to move as Crone opened the door. She stared at the ranch house as if it was going to swallow her whole the moment she stepped out of the truck. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of children’s laughter drifting from somewhere behind the house.
Crone offered his hand. His silence was full of understanding and support. She lifted her eyes to his face.
“I’m not ready for this, Crone. I... being social with Master Derek when we went shopping was one thing.
The attention was on the students and their shenanigans.
.. this is different. I’m afraid I don’t know how to interact with an intimate group of friends where everyone knows everything about each other anymore. I have too many dark secrets.”
“As have many of us, love. Jagger is the reason I’m alive today.
He’s my best friend and Moira has become like a sister to me.
It’s a closeness I tried to veer away from at first, but they were tenacious, and today, I’m grateful for that.
I was on the edge of completely going off grid, but they kept yanking me back into their lives.
” He brushed his hand over her hair. “Believe me, Sienna, no one here is going to judge you or ask questions about your past. We are here to relax and if you give it a chance, this might be the biggest step to free yourself from the memories chasing you.” He flashed her that bad boy smile.
“It’s only Jagger, Moira, Derek, and Sadie, kitten.
And of course, me, your big, bad wolf Dom, to protect you.
” His eyes turned dark. “Is it because of Moira’s pregnancy?
Does hers upset you as much as Milly’s did? ”
“No, not at all. Milly… is different. Yes, at that moment it was the sense of loss that got to me, but it was triggered as much by the danger and cruelty that led her to us.”
“Then I’m glad.” He cupped her cheek tenderly. “If you need to leave, just tell me and we’ll go, but please, just give it a try. One step at a time, remember? You’ve been doing wonderfully. One foot in front of the other, that’s all I ask.”
Before she could respond, two high-pitched squeals split the air. “Uncle C! Uncle C!” Small feet pounded across the ground as two small tornados rounded the corner of the ranch house. “You’re here! You came!”
“Here they come,” Crone murmured. “George and Gloria, Jagger’s twins.”
“Watch me fly!” George shot ahead of his sister and with his arms spread wide, he launched himself through the air, clearly unconcerned that he was nowhere near close enough to be caught.
“Shit!” Crone dropped her hand and lunged forward, catching the airborne child seconds before disaster struck. He was still finding his balance when Gloria wrapped herself around him with the energy of a caffeinated squirrel, using him as her personal climbing tower.
“Uncle C said de bad word ’gain!” Gloria stage-whispered with her small hand cupped dramatically around her mouth. “Dat’s a q’ter in de jar!”
“No,” Crone lied with admirable composure as he adjusted his hold on George. “I said shoot.”
“Shoot what?” George wiggled to face him, his eyes wide with concern. “Not de baby birdies! Dey just learn’d to fly. I saw dem! Dey go whoosh!” He spread his arms again, nearly tipping himself backward.
Gloria, now perched on Crone’s hip, peered at Sienna. “Who’s dat?” Her thumb crept to her mouth as she studied her with unabashed curiosity. “She’s pretty,” the little girl declared with a beaming smile.
Sienna’s heart clenched. Her unborn little girl never had the chance to smile, or to experience such uncomplicated joy.
“No, kitten.” Crone’s voice wrapped around her with a warmth he always managed without touching her. Of course he’d read her thoughts again. “Embrace the beauty and abundance of them. Don’t shut them out. Let them be part of your healing.”
She lifted tortured eyes to Crone. “I don’t know how.”
“You don’t need to do anything. Just relax and be yourself, like you are with your students. Trust me, they are like a massive dose of medication no doctor could prescribe.”
Gloria piped up with an excited look on her face. “Look, Georgie, she’s like Princess Anna.”
“Ooh, Frozen! I like Princess Anna!” George clapped his hands.
“This is Aunty Sienna,” Crone said gently. “She is very special to me, so I want you to be nice to her.”
Gloria’s face lit up. “Your hair’s all shiny. Can I touch it?”
“May I,” Crone corrected, but she was oblivious.
“Please? My hands are clean. Look!” She thrust out her palms for inspection, revealing traces of what looked suspiciously like cookie crumbs.
George squirmed down from Crone’s arms. “I’m George!
” He announced, bouncing on his toes. “Dat’s Gloria.
We’re twins!” He pushed out his chest. “I’m de big brother ‘cause I came first, but only by dis much!” He held up his whole hand, then frowned and tucked two fingers down.
“Mommy says we’re both dis many”—he held up three fingers “—and so little bit more!” he clamped a finger around the fourth.
“He tinks he’s de boss,” Gloria informed Sienna solemnly, still examining her hair with fascination. “Mommy says we’re de same size. ’Cept when I stand on my tippy toes.” She flashed a wide grin. “Den I’m bigger!”
Sienna didn’t even try to get a word in edge wise. All she could do was soak in their abundance.
“Not true!” George demonstrated his own tippy-toe stance, wobbling precariously. “Uncle C says I’m de p’tector! Right, Uncle C?”
“You’re both little monsters,” Crone chuckled and caught Sienna’s hand in his as they followed the twins’ zigzagging path around the house.
“Nah-huh. We’re not.” Gloria spun in circles, her dress flaring out. “We’re good! ’Cept when George puts frogs in de kitchen!”
“Shh. Mommy will hear,” George protested, hopping sideways. “Froggie was hun’ry for cookies.”
The backyard opened before them with a sprawling wooden deck overlooking rolling pastures. Sienna’s mouth watered at the scent of grilling meat. The casual tableau of four adults lounging in deck chairs with drinks in hand seemed like a picture from a magazine about perfect country living.
“We found ’hem!” Gloria announced triumphantly, as if she and George had tracked them down through the wilderness. “Dey were hiding, Daddy, but we’re good finders!”
“De bestest ones,” George added as he edged toward the soccer ball near the steps. His eyes darted between it and Crone with clear intent.
“Welcome to our home,” Moira said, coming forward with a warm smile as Jagger raised a hand in his usual reserved way. When she reached Sienna, she gave her a hug, then laughed. “Sorry, this is about the best I can do these days.”
Sienna smiled, glancing down at her hostess’ protruding belly. She knew from chatter at the Ranch that Moira was expecting their third child in just a few more weeks. “Your hug was perfect, thank you again for inviting us.”
“We’re so happy you came.” Sadie said as she skipped closer and hugged her.
Sienna was overwhelmed by the welcoming chorus from the two men as well, but she managed to offer a tentative smile.
She relaxed as Crone’s fingers brushed her arm when he guided her to a chair.
As always the subtle touch centered her.
“George,” Jagger called out, recognizing the look in his son’s eye, “no recruiting until after food.”
“But Daaaad!” George whined as he clutched the soccer ball to his chest. “Uncle C p’mised! He said he’s gonna do de kick dat goes whoosh!” He spun in demonstration, nearly toppling over. “Please? Pretty please with sprinkles?”
“Did I now?” Crone’s eyebrow rose, but Sienna caught the gleam in his eye.
“You did! Last time! Member?” George deployed his best puppy-dog expression. “You gotta be on my team ’cause Daddy runs like a sleepy bear and Uncle Derek smiles at Gloria!”
“My own son,” Jagger groaned, but he was already standing.
“Face it, Jag,” Derek laughed, joining them on the lawn. “We’ve been demoted to backup players.”
Gloria scrambled onto the deck railing. Sienna winced as the little girl wobbled back and forth, kicking her feet. “I’m de cheer… cheer… what’s dat, Mom?” she frowned at Moira.
“Cheerleader, darling.”
“Yeah, dat. Mom says I got goo-lou-lungs!”
What followed was less a soccer game and more organized chaos. George and Crone developed increasingly elaborate victory dances, while Gloria provided running commentary at top volume.
“Go, Uncle C! Go, Georgie! Ugh… run faster, Daaad! You’re slower dan turtle Dobie!”
“Betrayed by my princess,” Jagger clutched his chest dramatically. “My own flesh and blood!”
Gloria’s nose wrinkled. “What’s flesh ’n blood? Does it taste yucky like de green beans Mommy makes?”
“No, like chic’n nuggets,” George said in a serious preacher voice.
The resulting laughter carried Sienna into the kitchen alongside Moira and Sadie with the sounds of the ongoing game drifting through the windows. She smiled as Crone’s deep chuckle mingled with the twins’ constant stream of excited commentary.
“No fair! Daddy’s using his big legs!”
“Uncle C! Do the spinny-kick again!”
“Look! I can do it too—oopsie!”
Moira shook her head as she smiled at Sienna. “The twins adopted Crone the day they met him as babies,” she commented as she handed Sienna a bowl of potatoes to slice. “He didn’t stand a chance against their charm offensive. Now, he’s become their favorite uncle.”
Sienna found herself relaxing in the easy conversation. The simple task of preparing sides was punctuated by the twins’ periodic appearances. Gloria came darting in to “check on de cookies,” despite there being none, and George running in to announce each goal with dramatic reenactments.
A small body suddenly pressed against her legs. Sienna looked down to find Gloria hugging her knees with her dirt-smudged face upturned.
“Come see, Aunty Si.” Small fingers tugged at her hand. “It’s a big secret!”