There it was.
He knew kids weren’t all fun times and obedience, and Jude was no different. It was almost a relief to finally get it out of the way. “You should try it.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
It was a quick shift. One he’d been anticipating long enough that he had a plan to deal with it. “That’s true.” Craig leaned back against the counter, relaxing into a conversation that would certainly come more than once. “I can only make suggestions.”
Jude stared at him for a second. “I don’t like fish.”
“I get it.” Craig tipped back a sip of the bottle of water he’d been working on. He planned to run tonight. Try to work off some pent up energy that was only going to get worse before it got better. “But you’ve never tried this fish, so who knows? You might like it.”
Danny’s son huffed out a breath that carried the tiniest bit of a growl. “Fine.”
Craig stood perfectly still, trying to decide if he’d heard what he thought he did.
Ten. Ten was too young.
Maybe.
“You wanna go for a hike tomorrow?” Craig forced himself to move, make it seem like nothing happened. Calling attention to what he thought he just heard was a bad idea. “Maybe get some fresh air and exercise?”
Jude scratched his arm, fingertips working the skin for longer than a normal itch would take to relieve. “Okay.”
Craig opened the oven to slide in the Brussels sprouts. Just as the pan was in place a sound slid up his spine.
He and Jude both looked to the front door at the same time.
“That was my mom.” Jude was already running, faster than a ten-year-old should be able to move, and was already a good ten steps ahead of Craig.
He flung the door open and raced down the street, making Craig wish he’d kept up on his daily runs.
Danny’s screech cut through the quiet evening again, but this time she didn’t sound distressed.
She sounded two breaths away from him having to dig a hole.
Craig rounded the corner of the shop and almost came to a stop.
He’d have to dig a big damn hole if Danny had her way.
A bear of a man stood between him and Danny, one giant hand gripped on her shoulder.
But Danny didn’t look scared. Her blue eyes almost glowed as she glared at the man, her chin tipped up. The wind caught her long blonde hair, tossing it around, making her appear one-hundred percent the warrior she was.
And this dick was too stupid to see it. Which was a huge problem.
Because Danny wasn’t the only one ready to fight.
Jude’s legs didn’t slow as he raced toward his mother. A feral sound ripped from him as he jumped at the man, latching onto him, teeth bared, legs and arms climbing the asshole’s wide frame like a raccoon racing up a tree.
“Hell.” Craig ran faster, grabbing Jude as he collided with the son of a bitch threatening two people who were quickly becoming all that mattered. He spun away as the man twisted toward him, fighting Jude’s swinging arms and kicking legs as he put his body between them.
“What the fuck?” The man swung at Jude. “Little bastard.”
Shit. Wrong fucking thing to say.
The sound that crawled from Danny put Jude’s growl to shame. A kitten compared to a lion.
And then she lunged, hands grabbing fistfuls of beard, using the wooly growth as leverage to yank the man’s face down hard and fast as she brought her knee up.
The sound of his nose crunching was almost lost in the wails filling the streets as her sisters came running, their battle cries smothering out the snarls coming from Jude.
Craig tucked him close and ran, rushing the boy away from the scene. His chest burned from the added weight as he pushed harder, wanting only to get Jude hidden.
Safe.
He kicked open the door to Danny’s house and fell in, dropping to the ground with a still-struggling Jude. They hit the floor hard, both of them breathing heavy.
Jude scrambled away, his face in his hands.
“It’s okay, Buddy.” Craig chased after him, knees sliding on the wood floor as he tried to catch the little boy. “Everything is okay.”
“It’s not.” Jude’s hands dropped from his face and he stared at them, eyes going wide at the thin lines of hair that weren’t there before.
His gaze lifted, full of panic and fear. “What’s wrong with me?”
FOURTEEN
“PUSSY!” FRANKIE SCREAMED down the street as the latest unwanted visitor to Shadow Pine ran toward his truck, swinging one hand for balance while the other kept his pants from working their way to his ankles.
Danny circled, sweeping her eyes across the street. “Where’s Jude?” She held still, pressing one hand over Sam’s mouth as she started to speak.
The wind kicked up a little, sending the scents of the mountains scattering in all directions, hiding the sweet smell of her son.
He’d come to defend her. Leapt at the man he saw as a threat without fear or hesitation.
Panic skipped over her skin for the first time since the man decided no didn’t necessarily mean no, and thought the next best step was to risk an appendage. “Where’s Craig?”
The breeze shifted and she pulled the air into her lungs, looking for any sign of the pair. The barest hint of Craig’s clean, masculine scent lingered.
Mixed with something that buried dread deep in Danny’s gut. “I have to go.”
“We’ll come with you.” Frankie tried to fall in step with her, eyes scanning the now-empty end of town. “Make sure it’s safe.”
“It’s safe.” That dick wasn’t coming back.
Unfortunately, he probably wouldn’t keep his mouth shut either, and if there was one thing more alluring than six blonde, beautiful sisters hiding in the mountains, it was six blonde, beautiful, and hard-to-get sisters hiding in the mountains.
Men always thought they were the fucking exception.
So far only one was right, and tonight Craig proved why that was the case.
Danny turned to her sisters. “Go home. I’ll call you later.” She started jogging, glancing back to find her sisters still staring after her. “Go. It’s fine.” She ran a little faster, the need to see her son pushing her on.
She took the steps two at a time and slammed open the front door, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight in the entryway.
Any doubt she tried to hold about Craig was gone, torn away by seeing the gentle way he cradled her son on the floor, holding him close, soothing the sobs wracking his little body with hushed whispers.
“It’s okay, Buddy. I promise.” Craig’s dark eyes lifted to hers.
Questioning.
Danny stepped to them, dropping to her knees. She skimmed her fingers through the fine bits of hair dusting the wood floor.
At best, Danny thought maybe her son would be spared at least one of the burdens she and her sisters carried.
At worst she thought she had time. Years until she had to explain the unexplainable to her gentle, caring child.
Craig’s hand reached for her, sliding over her cheek. “Come here.” He pulled her to him, holding her close.
Danny rested her head against Jude’s back, wrapping her arm around him. There was nothing she could say to make this okay.
She’d failed him. As a mother. As the only one who could explain just how special of a boy he was.
Jude wiped his face across Craig’s chest, leaving a streak of wet, teary snot on the fabric. “I wanted to kill that man.” His watery eyes looked up at her, puffy and red-rimmed. “I wanted him to die for trying to hurt you.”
She smoothed the hair back from his face, resting her head against Craig’s shoulder so she and Jude were eye to eye. “I know.” Danny brushed away the tiny bits of blonde hair clinging to his tear-stained face. “My sweet boy.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry, Ju-Ju. I didn’t think this would happen so soon.”
Jude’s eyes blinked
a little slower. “Why did that man touch you like that?”
“Because he’s not very smart.” She gave him a little smile. “Do you know who else wanted to kill him? Your Aunt Frankie. He interrupted her bubble bath.”
Jude’s blue eyes rolled up toward Craig. “My Aunt Frankie really likes bubble baths. She lets me take them when I spend the night at her house.”
“You’ve got some good aunts, Buddy.” Craig smiled at her son.
Jude smiled back for a second before the line of his mouth shifted. “Something smells bad, Craig.”
“Shit.” Craig’s body went tight as he fought the weight holding him down. “The fish.”
Danny pulled Jude with her as she rolled off Craig, letting him jump up. She pushed up from the floor, lifting Jude at the same time. “You okay?”
Her son nodded, eyes avoiding her.
“Looks like you won’t have to try the fish after all.” Craig walked through the doorway, a sheet pan in one hand. “Unless you want to try fish jerky.”
Danny wrinkled her nose. “I’m going to have to pass on it.”
Jude leaned closer, inspecting the dried-out squares of salmon. “Sorry about your food.”
“Nothing to be sorry for.” Craig lifted his shoulders. His eyes slid her way. “Maybe we can talk your momma into making us cookies for dinner instead.”
“I could probably be convinced.” She smiled at Craig.
This moment could have gone a thousand different ways, ninety-nine percent of them bad.
But it didn’t. Because of the man smiling back at her over a pan of dehydrated fish.
“Ju-Ju, why don’t you go upstairs and take a shower and put on your comfies?” Danny forced her eyes from Craig and to her son. “And I’ll start the cookies.”
Jude managed a tight smile. “Kay.” His steps up the stairs were slow and heavy.
No doubt he was exhausted.
Once he was out of earshot she turned to Craig. “What did you tell him?”
Jude hadn’t asked her a single question. Not one.
That meant he knew enough for now, and there was only one other person who could have given him that information.
“I told him he was special. That it was nothing to be scared of.” Craig stepped in close. “He’s going to be okay, Danny. I promise.”
She sniffed a little. “I know.” Her eyes dropped to the ground between them. “I should have told him earlier. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
Maybe not at all.
“Under normal circumstances you would have probably been right.” Craig wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close. “But you’re his whole world, Danny. He’s not like normal ten-year-olds. He’s wiser and smarter and carries more responsibility than I think you realize.”
She barely managed a nod. “I worked hard trying to make sure he didn’t have that. I never wanted him to live like I did.”
“Kids do what they see, and Jude sees you and your sisters protecting each other and him. It’s only natural he would want to do the same.” Craig smiled. “Your brother is going to be proud as hell of that little boy.”
“What’s he like?” Danny leaned against Craig a little more, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder.
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
“It’s time, Danny.” Craig used the arm holding her tight to pull her to the kitchen where he set the tray of ruined dinner on the counter. “Jude needs to talk to someone who understands.”
Danny tapped the tips of her fingers on the countertop. “Is it just him coming?”
“Lance doesn’t go anywhere without his wife and their girls.” Craig smiled. “Shadow Pine is about to get a whole lot more interesting.”
****
“AND I THOUGHT your camper was big.” Danny stared at the fifth-wheel as it rolled toward them. “I think that’s bigger than my house.”
“It’s definitely bigger than mine.” Frankie crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing on the half-ton pickup gleaming in the late evening sun. “Somebody thinks he’s fancy.”
“Somebody wants his wife and daughters to be as comfortable as he can make them.” Craig lifted one hand as Lance’s smiling face came into view.
Lance nodded.
“That his wife?” Sam stood next to Danny, eyes narrowed on the woman in the seat beside Lance.
“Her name’s Kari.” Craig didn’t bother waving at her. Kari’s eyes were locked on the women around him, never even venturing close to where he stood. He could try to explain what she was like, but it would be wasted breath.
They weren’t listening to him any more than Kari was looking at him.
The truck was barely stopped before the passenger’s door popped open and Kari was out, her booted feet landing on the pavement as she jumped down from the truck. She stood tall, studying the women in front of her.
All were silent.
Each Karlson gaze was locked onto the woman in front of them, cool and calm.
And not at all what Craig was expecting. He didn’t think they would immediately fall all over each other, but becoming fast friends wasn’t too far from what he believed would happen.
This was more like a pack of wild animals deciding whether to accept an unknown member into their clan.
Or eat them.
“Mommy. I need a snack.” Vanessa’s blonde curls bounced as she ran around the front of the truck to where Kari stood, hands held high in the air as she raced to her momma’s waiting arms.
Kari scooped her up and cradled her close, eyes drifting back to the women surrounding him.
Danny’s lips barely lifted at the edges as she started walking toward Kari, her smile widening with each step. She lifted one hand toward Vanessa but stopped, pulling back as she looked to Kari.
Kari smiled back. “This is Vanessa.” She shifted the girl on her hip, putting them face to face. “Little Cub, this is your Aunt Danny.”
Danny fingered the hem of Vanessa’s fluffy dress. “I like your outfit.” Her words were soft.
Hesitant.
“Fanks.” Vanessa’s eyes drifted around the faces staring at her, moving slow and steady until they reached him.
And then they lit up in a way that made his chest squeeze. “Dunkle!” She started wiggling, swinging her arms in the fight for freedom.
Kari laughed, letting Vanessa slide down her front to the ground. “I didn’t tell her you were here. She would have driven us crazy the whole trip.”
Craig dropped to a squat and held his arms out.
Vanessa squealed as she ran at him, nearly knocking him on his ass as they collided. “Dunkle!” She wrapped both arms around his neck, holding tight enough to almost cut off his airway.
“I missed you, Sugar Bear.” He stood with Vanessa in his arms. “Have you grown? You seem bigger.”
“I’m the biggest of all.” Vanessa leaned back, one hand coming out to rub against his stubble-covered cheeks. “What’s wrong with your face?”
“Dunkle has been a little busy.” He scratched at the spot. “Should I shave it off?”
Vanessa wrinkled her nose. “It looks like Magpi’s.”
Craig’s head fell back as he laughed. “Point taken.” He bounced her to one hip and turned toward the four women watching the interaction with focused eyes. “You wanna meet the rest of your aunties?”
He ran down the line of Karlson sisters, each one smiling warmly at Vanessa as he introduced them.
At the end Vanessa looked back at him. “That’s a lot.”
“There’s still one more.” He grinned at the tiny girl he’d become more than a little partial to in the past year. “Have you been good for your momma?”
Vanessa’s gaze shifted to where Kari stood with Danny. “Yu-huh.”
Craig chuckled. “That was convincing.”
“Is she trying to tell you she’s been an angel?” Kari moved in to his side with Danny follo
wing behind.
“She is an angel.” Lance walked around the side of the truck with Brenna in his arms. “Like her momma.” He snagged Kari and pulled her close. It was a possessive move that showed he might not ever fully get over knowing Craig considered pursuing Kari until Lance showed up and it became clear where her interest lied.
Danny’s gaze shifted from Lance to Craig, resting for a second before moving to her sisters. “Kari, these are most of my sisters.” She ran down the line just like Craig had less than a minute ago.
Kari smiled. “I can’t believe there are six of you.” She barely shook her head, blonde waves moving around her shoulders. “I thought I was it.” Her eyes barely shimmered. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“You will have plenty of time, Pet.” Lance passed their sleeping baby to Kari. “Why don’t you girls talk while Craig and I set up camp?”
“I have dinner almost ready at my house.” Danny wiped her palms down the hips of her jeans. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa last night with Jude tucked against her chest, and both of them slept until almost eight this morning. But her feet hit the ground running, and Danny had been working non-stop to get ready for Lance and Kari’s arrival. “I hope you like—”
“I like everything.” Lance tipped Vanessa on the end of her nose. “And this one will eat you out of house and home if you let her.”
“She’s a growing girl.” Danny’s shoulders eased down a little. Hopefully the tension she’d been collecting there all day was beginning to dissipate.
“You wanna go with the girls while your daddy and I get your house ready?” Craig eased Vanessa’s sparkly shoes down to the ground.
“Not a house, Dunkle.” Vanessa pointed to the fifth-wheel. “It’s a camping.”
“My mistake.” He gave her a wink. “Go with your momma and I’ll see you soon.”
Kari reached down to take Vanessa’s hand and the group walked toward Danny’s house, the Karlson women moving in around Kari and her daughters, putting them in the middle of the group.
Vanessa skipped along, stumbling a little and nearly falling. She reached up, grabbing Danny’s hand with her free one so she could bounce without fear.
“How’s it going?” Lance stood at his side, watching the women go.
Danny (Big Northwest Book 1) Page 14