“He’ll sleep for a few hours, then when he wakes, he’ll be hungry.” Mom nodded at Boyd as he put his things back in his bag. “I’d say start with some broth, but I’m thinking he’ll want food…steaks and potatoes. Can you do that for him?”
“Absolutely. I’d enjoy it.” Mom turned and looked at her. “You leave him to me, and I’ll have him up and around in no time.”
“See that you do.” She and Larson left with Boyd and made their way to the second level of the house. Stretching out on the couch, she tuned out the brothers and closed her eyes. Exhaustion was never far from her nowadays, and she usually let it take her. Today was no exception.
Chapter 11
Thanksgiving was in two days, and Larson was looking forward to it more than any of the others they’d had as a family. He had one this time, a wife, a son, and one on the way. Life to him was pretty perfect. And his mom had asked him to have the dinner this year when the house came along much faster than anyone would have thought. She asked simply because his house was big enough to accommodate their growing family.
“I’ve ordered the turkey and it’ll be here in the morning.” Larson thanked Ben, their cook. “Also, there are a few bottles of wine in the cellar that we’ve been able to bring up here that I thought would be a nice touch.”
“Excellent idea. How much of that stuff down there have you been able to catalog? I guess it’s taking you a little longer than you thought.” He said that he’d found yet another room filled with the bottles. “When the ladies were here yesterday, putting in the last of the mulch, they told me they thought there was a grape arbor around here at one time. In the spring, we’re going to have to have a look for it.”
“I believe I might have heard that as well.” He stood there and Larson waited. The man was an excellent cook, but he was a little shy about asking for things he might need. “I was wondering something, sir. If you say no, then I will completely understand. But with all the work going on around here being almost finished, I was wondering if we could see about expanding the cook’s quarters for myself and my wife.”
“There are cook’s quarters?” Larson knew there were. He’d had them worked on too. “Show me. I had no idea that there was a part of the house that I’d not had a look at.”
It had been planned for a few days now that they surprise the man with the living arrangements. His wife was in on the plan, and had told him just that morning that she was going to beg him to ask Larson. So, as they headed up the stairs to the rooms for them, he asked him how he’d found them.
“They were on the plans that you’ve hung in the library. I had a looksee at them when we first arrived. They’re a mess, sir. So, if it’s too expensive to have it fixed up enough so that we can stay over some nights when you’re working late, I fully understand.”
Larson didn’t say anything, but did laugh when he went on about the cost. “Ben, you do know that my wife is a famous author, don’t you? And that she keeps me in money. Not that we need either of us to work, but we’re able to afford to have a room or two spruced up for you.” Ben thanked him. “This is it? Seems a lot of dark halls, don’t you think?”
“Oh, but it only needs a coat or two of paint and a little rug here and there. But the rooms, they’re behind this door.” He nodded to him to open them. “Yes, of course. Just this way.”
As soon as the door was opened, everyone yelled surprise. His family was there, as well as Ben’s wife and two children. They’d been flown in for just this occasion. There were a couple of grandchildren there as well, and Larson was glad that Virginia had thought of having them stay for the holidays too.
“Oh my.” Larson patted the man on the back as he gave him a little push into the rooms. “You knew about this? You knew that I was going to ask you?”
“I did. And it was our pleasure to have it happen for you and your wife.” Virginia joined him and Ben as he continued. “There are some pieces of furniture here that were up in this part of the house when we started on it. So, if there are things that you don’t want or need, let me know and we’ll take them out. Your furniture is here as well. Set up the way your lovely wife wanted it done.”
He was shown around the apartment-like setting after he greeted his family. Ben carried one of his grandsons with him as he went from room to room, telling the little boy that he’d have room for him to stay should he wish it. As they made their way to the living room again, Ben hugged him several times as he thanked him for such a fine gift.
“You’re so very welcome. And your family will be joining us for Thanksgiving, as will you and your wife. My mom has called in some help to make things happen so that you will sit with us and be thankful.” He said he couldn’t do that. “Well, then you have to talk to Lauren.”
“Oh no. No, no, no. I shall have a meal with you. I’m deathly afraid of Ms. Lauren. She is very stern, don’t you think?” He laughed and told him that he was afraid of her as well. And had to tell Lauren that her idea had worked like a charm to get him to have dinner with them.
Leaving Ben’s family to talk, his family came to the kitchen with him and Virginia. He wanted them all to go away, but knew that it would be considered rude to run them off when they were his family. Instead, he pulled out the sandwiches that had been brought for lunch, and they sat around the dining room table being family for a while.
“I’ve been thinking about the office that you have downtown. I want to buy it.” He asked his dad why. “I’ve got me a hankering to have myself a little place I can go and do some stuff. Stuff for myself.”
“I see.” Mom smacked him on the shoulder, and Larson laughed as he continued to query his dad. “And this stuff that you want to do, does it have anything to do with the woodworking equipment that has already been delivered there? Or perhaps the work that is being done to upgrade the electrical circuits that are in there?”
“Dab nabbit boy, can’t a man have anything done without everybody snooping around in it?” He told his dad that he had to sign for it. “Oh. Never thought of that. Anyhoo. I want to buy that building off of you. I do want to figure out if I can make some of the pretty work we have to send out. I got me a lot of time now to learn it, and I want to have a go at it.”
“You can have it, Dad. Anything that you want. You’ve worked really hard on this house, and I love every part of it. I could not have asked for better craftsmanship on any of this.” His dad flustered about how he’d had a lot of help, and that he’d only done a bit of it. Larson knew better. “It’s wonderful, and the building is yours if you want it. I’ve already had it cleared of the things I wanted. You can even have the computer and printer that’s there as well.”
They talked about the upcoming holidays, the fact that there were so many of them now, and Mom was excited. It was like all the times when they’d been children and living at home. A lot of talking, but not much accomplished. And they were loud. He loved every second of it.
When they left, he sat in the living room. This was the only room where they’d had to buy furniture so far. A mattress here and there, and maybe a safer lamp, but in this room they’d had to start from scratch, and he was happy with the results. Virginia joined him a few minutes later and sat near him on the long sofa.
“I went to the barn to get the baby cradle and the rocking chair, and they’re gone. I guess your dad had other uses for them.” Larson didn’t say anything, knowing that his parents were having them both redone for Virginia for Christmas. She laid her head on his chest. “Larson, is it going to be okay with having my mom and her—well, I don’t know what to call him…my step-dad, I guess—living in the basement?”
“Of course. Anything that makes your mom happy, makes us happy. Right?” She nodded and yawned for the second time in as many minutes. “The dinner arrangements are finished, Mom told me. She said that other than the turkey to go in the oven first thing and the other things heated up, we’re finished.”
“Reese is making some pies and cakes too.” Her
yawning had him yawning too. “I’m so tired lately. I haven’t been sleeping well either. I think it’s the deadline that I’m up against. I know that I should go work, but I don’t have the energy. If I take a little nap, maybe I can work later.”
“You do that, love. And I’ll hold you.” He was dozing himself when he heard the front door open. His family didn’t knock unless they were sure you had company. He didn’t either when he went to their homes. And no one ever knocked on his parents’ door. That’s how you knew when there were strangers around.
He looked over his shoulders at the young man standing there. He looked lost. More than that, he looked to be starving. Larson had no idea how he knew he was like Jon, but he nodded to him and quietly asked him to have a seat. He did so without any hesitation. That was when he noticed the blood.
“I’m assuming that’s not yours.” He looked down at his hands as if he’d never seen them before. “My name is Larson McCullough. This is my wife, Virginia.” He woke her up and before she could speak, he nodded to the young man. “He just came in the house.”
“Hello.” He nodded at Virginia. “You must be Jon’s friend. He’s around here somewhere. He told me the other day that someone was coming. Did you talk to him?”
“We can talk, but I don’t much. It’ll get us caught. The blood is mine. I hurt myself getting away this time.” Larson asked him if he was followed. “No. I changed into something they couldn’t trace and came here after a couple of days. They hurt me with something.”
“Larson, please ask Jon to join us. I’m going to get this young man some dinner.” She was being very casual, and he was worried about that. As they left the room, he contacted Jon to let him know what was going on.
I’m on my way. I meant to talk to you about it as well, but I kept getting busy on other things. His name is...well, he doesn’t have one. Much like I didn’t when I came here. He asked him if he was in trouble. Yes, we all are at some point. But he’s smart enough not to get anyone else hurt too. He told me that he was being extra careful not to be followed.
Virginia is feeding him now. He was covered in blood when he arrived. I’m assuming, like you, he heals when he’s full. He said that he thought so. Jon, why my house? Not that I care, but he ended up here.
To divert anyone thinking that we’re the same. If he would have come to my home, with my parents, they might start thinking about the fact that I have shown up. He said he’d never thought of that. We all need to think like criminals. Lauren told me that. It’s scary the way her mind works, isn’t it?
Yes. He asked him where he was. He told him. In the tree behind the house? Why not just come in the house and talk to him?
Because he isn’t there. Larson felt his heartrate triple. Uncle Larson, that man, he’s not T-2. You must get to Aunt Virginia.
He came around the corner to the kitchen area, and was confronted by the young man holding Virginia in front of him. He had a gun to her head and was talking, but nothing that he could understand.
“He wants you to let me go with him. Larson, if you let this bastard hurt you, I’m going to be really upset with you. He’s a liar and a thief. He wants me to give him my wedding bands.” He told her it was better than her getting hurt. “It most certainly is not. I love these. Kick his ass for me.”
“I’m going to, honey, but we need to talk to him first. He has a big gun to your head.” She stomped her foot, and if this wasn’t so serious he might have laughed at her. “Jon is here. He is calling my brothers.”
The little mouse that entered the hallway with them stood on his hind legs and waved at him. Again, the urge to laugh was painful to keep hidden, but he knew that Jon was only telling him it was him and not a random rodent.
“What do you think you’re going to accomplish by coming into my home and taking my wife hostage?” He said he wanted money. “Sadly, so does the rest of the world, and they’re not any closer to getting it than you are. Let her go and I won’t have to hurt you.”
“Where is this Jon kid? Maybe he has some on him.” The little mouse shook his head and looked like he was turning pockets he didn’t have out. “Tell him to come in here now.”
“He’s here already.” The kid looked around, then back at him. Jon was having entirely too much fun, he thought, and Larson was going to tell him about it. As soon as this was finished. “You just let my wife go and you’ll not be hurt.”
“I ain’t going to do that, buddy. I need some cash money, and I’m not going to leave here without something to show for it.”
There was a noise behind the kid, and Larson looked at Jon as he scurried to the door that led to a closet under the stairs and slipped under the door. Behind him was Carl, who looked as fit as anyone.
When the bat that he’d had in his hands came down on the young man, Virginia fell back on the man too. Carl helped her up and then took her to the couch. Before leaving her to check on the man, Larson kissed her on the mouth and told her not to move.
“Are you all right?” Carl said that he was, but that man wasn’t. “No, and you know what? I don’t care about him either. He wanted me to give him money.”
“Well, you should call the police, Larson. Let them take this piece of trash out.” Larson pulled out his cell phone, but for the life of him couldn’t remember what he was supposed to do. Carl took the phone from him. “Here you go, young man. You go on over there by that pretty wife of yours, and I’ll call them.”
~~~
The man was screaming that he was being framed and that he’d been hurt as the police took him away. Carl told them how he’d been taking a nap and heard something upstairs, so he’d come up. Then he told them what he had done, and how he’d only been in the right place at the right time. Joe, the new chief of police, told him that he was glad that he had been. Probably saved some lives. The entire time Carl was talking to the police, her mom held his hand like a lifeline.
After they were gone, Carl sat in the living room with them. He looked a little shaken, but otherwise fine. He did tell them that Jon had called him through a connection he now had, and had him come up as he was unable to make it on time. Virginia knew that to be untrue. Jon had told her several times while the idiot was holding her that he was right behind them and she’d be just fine.
“Well, I’m just glad to have you here. With the baby coming in a while, we’ll need to beef up the security around here more.” She held onto Larson’s hand too while he continued. “What I don’t understand is why he just came in the house. Like he lived here or something.”
“The blood on his hands is from my friend, T-2. We’ve decided that his name is Turner and he is well, but not coming now. It would be better for both of us if he were to move further out from here.” Virginia told him she was sorry. “No need to be. He agrees that we must at all costs keep this family safe. He’s going to find him another person to live with, or live on his own. We have to be careful that not too many of us are around each other. It might cause all of you trouble.”
“Does he need money, or anything?” Jon thanked Larson, and told him that he’d taken care that he’d gotten some. “You playing the horses again, young man?”
“Yes, but it is for a good cause.” He looked at Carl. “You did a very good thing today, Grandpa Carl. And in the future, you will know how to speak to me and to call to me should you need me, yes?”
“Yes. Startled me out of a nice sleep, but it was well worth it, I have to tell you. I feel better than I have in a great many years.” Jon stood up, and so did Carl. “You saved my life. I know that you did it for Flo, and for that, I can’t thank you enough…for either. We’re going to have a nice life. And even though we’ve only just met, I feel like I’ve known her for my entire life. Thank you.”
When they were alone again, Virginia sat straddled over Larson’s lap. He sat there, staring at her and saying nothing, and she asked him if he was all right. Shrugging, Larson told her he wasn’t sure.
“You upset with me or
my mom?” Larson said he wasn’t, but he was at himself. “And why is that? You were there when I needed you.”
“No, Carl was. I was just the man there watching the love of my life having a gun held to her head.” She kissed him with all the passion she could muster and sat back up. “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”
“Jon asked me to tell you, but he did this for Carl.” Larson asked her if the man with the gun was part of his plan. “No, he was just the reason. He said that Carl has been made to feel useless all his life, and when he asked him to simply come up and guard the back door for him, in case the man got away, he said that he’d take care of him. And I was to let him.”
“I see. Are we going to have to have more men coming to our home to make him feel better?” She giggled and told him no, she hoped not. “Good. All I’ve been able to think about all day was you naked. Riding me. Then Carl showed up. And then there was the thing with Ben. Who, by the way, has decided that he’s going to live with us until he kicks up roses. And then this madman tries to make my wife give up her pretty rings.”
“I do love them.” It was the set from one of the many boxes that they’d found full of jewelry. Holding them up to the light of the fire, she let them sparkle around the room. “I have thought about this a long time, and I want to be a cat, with you. I know that it’s painful and all, and that we have to wait until the baby comes, but I want this. Okay?”
“Yes. I’d like that as well. Just to know that you can defend yourself when strange men come into the house and try to make you give them your pretty wedding set.” She leaned down to kiss him and he held her to him. “I love you, Virginia. I don’t know what I was thinking when I had it in my head that I was going to hate having someone around me all the time.”
“I love you as well. And I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for Mom and myself.” He kissed her again, unbuttoning her blouse as he held her. “Are we going to have sex right here? On the couch?”
Larson: McCullough’s Jamboree – Erotic Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance Page 14