Chapter 16 #2
“Thanks, Dad. I was actually going to talk to you about that, but you beat me to it.” Tanner didn’t always see eye to eye with his old man, but there was no question that when it came to their family’s safety, they were always in agreement.
“No problem. Safety first. Always,” Peter said, getting back in his truck.
As he drove away, Pam straightened, pulling her shoulders back and placing her hands on her hips.
It always made Tanner smile when she took that stance because he imagined her turning into the ‘captain of her ship’ mode.
“Alright, Faith, go ahead and take the girls to see the baby chicks. It will give April some time to settle in. Then we’ll sit down to dinner, and maybe the girls will get to play a little in the new playroom before bedtime. ”
Tanner loved the idea of Violet spending time with Sienna in the second-floor loft that he and Peter had turned into a playroom after Faith moved back home with Sienna.
It had a swing, a treehouse, a trampoline, and even a small obstacle course built into it, not to mention all the toys, dolls and electronics that any little girl could want.
In a way, Tanner was jealous his parents hadn’t thought to make something like that for him and Faith, and the twins, when they were growing up, but he knew it was just his parents' way of trying to make it up to Sienna after her father all but abandoned her.
They might be overcompensating, but Sienna was more than worth it.
Faith took off after the girls as Sienna took Violet by the hand and led her out to the barn. April watched after them, a mix of relief and sorrow churning in her belly. “I should’ve gotten her out of there so much sooner.”
“You did the best you could with the information you had. I’m just glad you’re here now,” Tanner assured her.
“April, have you decided if you and Violet would like to stay in the main house with us, or if you’d be more comfortable with Tanner?” Pam asked.
“They’re staying with me, Mom.” Tanner hadn’t meant to sound possessive, but having them here only made him want to keep them closer. He trusted the security company his dad hired, but he felt better knowing he’d be close by, at least for now.
Pam gave him an understanding nod. “Alright. That’s what I thought, but I just wanted to make sure.
Let’s meet back at the main house at five.
Dinner should be ready by then. Oh, and I sent Martha and Dana over to your house to get it ready for company.
Just to spruce up the guest rooms and change out the linens, that sort of thing.
” Martha and Dana had worked for his family since Tanner was in grade school.
They were like fun aunts who made a space feel warm and magical after they were done with it.
“Thanks, Mom,” Tanner said, kissing her cheek. “Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the property.” He started to lead April back to his truck, but she stopped, her gaze moving to the barn.
“I don’t want to just leave her. Whenever she gets taken from me, I’m always right where she left me. She always knows where to find me.”
Tanner’s heart broke at her words. “I understand. Let’s go see if she wants to join us for the grand tour.
” Sliding his hand into hers, they headed for the freshly painted red barn.
The scent of grass, hay, and manure filled his nostrils, but Tanner was used to it.
This was home to him, and he hoped one day soon, April felt the same way.
“Your home is so beautiful,” she breathed. “I can’t believe I’m walking past a field of cows.”
Tanner smiled. “A pasture. And it is pretty idyllic. It’s why I chose to build my house on the property.
I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” He stopped then, turning to face April.
Her green eyes sparkled with flecks of gold in the bright sunshine, and the smile she gifted him reminded him of all the times they’d gone running together in the mornings.
“Have I mentioned how happy I am that you’re here? ”
April’s smile widened. “I’m just hoping I don’t wake up and realize this was all a dream. Oh, what about my apartment, and all my things? I know we can’t go back and get Violet’s stuff, but -”
“Caden is going to stop by your place tonight and pick up some of your things to bring for you tomorrow. In the meantime, I think you can borrow a few of Faith’s things, and Violet looks to be about Sienna’s size.
It’s not a permanent solution, but it should work, at least until we can get her some new clothes. ”
“Ned will never give her up,” April said, almost hauntingly.
Tanner gave April’s hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
He was seeing a side of her she’d kept hidden from him all this time, and while he was grateful to finally be getting all of her, he hated that she’d been living in this kind of constant fear.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe here, April. You and Violet. ”
Violet emerged from the barn then, a huge grin on her face. “I got to pet Boo, their barn cat. He doesn’t usually like anyone, but I think he liked me. And I got to hold a baby chick, Aunt April. It was so soft and fuzzy. Can I keep one?” The excitement and joy pouring out of her was contagious.
Both Tanner and April laughed like neither one of them had a care in the world. This was exactly the kind of life he wanted for them. “We can keep them all,” Tanner assured her. “They’re ours.”
Violet’s eyes grew big as her smile widened all the way to her ears. “You mean I can come see them again? And play with them?”
“Sure,” Tanner said. “And when they grow up, the chickens will have more babies. Off Rhodes Ranch is full of baby animals all the time. We have a mare who’s due to give birth any day, and we’ve got a few cows just about ready to calve in the next month or two.
Not to mention, Aster had puppies who are just about three weeks old now. ”
“Puppies,” Violet mouthed with eyes as big as saucers, as if her little body was completely overwhelmed by the joy of it all. But then her shoulders sank and her smile faded just as quickly as it had come. “I don’t think we’ll be here that long,” she said, sadly.
“Why not?” Tanner asked.
“Ned will find us.” The heartbreak in her tone was enough to bring Tanner to his knees.
“No, he won’t. And you know what? Even if he does, I’m not letting you go with him,” Tanner assured her.
“Ever?” Violet asked, almost in disbelief.
“Ever,” he said, his tone hardening as his glance moved from the little girl to her beautiful aunt. “You’re both staying here as long as you want to, and I’m hoping that’s going to be a very long time.”
April offered him a tentative nod, but he knew she was feeling just as uncertain about their situation as Violet.
The six-year-old simply had less filters, and spoke her mind freely.
“Tanner was going to show me around,” April told Violet.
“Did you want to stay here with Faith and Sienna, or come with us?”
“With you,” Violet immediately answered, taking April by the hand, almost as if to make sure the woman didn’t vanish right before her very eyes.
Well, shit. Neither one of them was going anywhere if he had anything to say about it.