***Note*** This story is part of my Trouble Texas Style series that includes Night Walker's Woman (complete), Tight Fittin' Jeans, Ready To Run, and Goodbye Earl. These are interwoven stories and are being posted sequentially. It will make more sense when reading in conjunction with those.
***
The van had hardly pulled to a full stop before the back double doors were thrown up. It was not that late, but it was already dark. Nonetheless, the greeting party was out in force, and they were all talking at once.
The little girl that Ryan barely recognized bounced into the cabin, "Can I see the baby, please?"
"Angel, let them get out. They've been on the road for hours, and I'm sure that they need to stretch their legs, get something to eat and drink, and wash up." His cousin did his best to curtail his step-daughter's enthusiasm. "They're gonna be here for a while. You'll have plenty of time to see the baby."
But Laura had already pulled the blanket back from their daughter, who was fast asleep once again. "Her name is Chloe."
"She's a pretty bird baby," Angel reached out and gently ran her finger down his daughter's cheek. Chloe woke instantly and turned her head without a cry. The girls stared at one another as if sizing one another up. As if silently communicating the secrets of the universe to one another. Secrets too deep or profound for mere adults to comprehend.
Jaycee stepped forward and drew her daughter out of the van, "Like your Daddy says, Ryan and his family will be staying with us for a while. And I am sure that they won't mind you helping out with Chloe now and again."
Ryan could sense a new peace and acceptance that had not been in the woman, the last time he had seen her, almost ten months ago. She held out her hand to Laura, "I'm Jaycee Ranger, Rex's wife."
"I'm Laura." Ryan was surprised at the uncertainty and insecurity that he heard in Laura's voice as she took the other woman's hand. Although he supposed this situation was a bit overwhelming. It brought out his protective instincts as he stepped closer to his woman.
Angel giggled and tugged at Grandfather's arthritic hand as he stepped closer to the van. "His bear growled at Mommy."
The old man smiled and nodded, "Welcome to our home. I am Raymond Greywolf, but most people just call me Grandfather. I would be pleased if you would too, my daughter."
Ryan saw the tears that gathered in the corner of Laura's eyes. He could barely remember his maternal grandfather, and of course, since he never knew who his father was, he never had a paternal one. In many ways, this man had filled that roll in his life, even though they shared no blood bond.
Grandfather gripped his shoulder and squeezed surprisingly hard, "I am glad you realize that now, my son."
He saw the shocked expression on Laura's face. He could only imagine what she must be thinking of their seemingly one-sided conversations. Maybe he should have spent some time on the trip explaining it all to her.
"That might have been a good idea, son. She would not be questioning our sanity or hers, if you had," Ray smiled reassuringly at his mate, who looked back and forth between them all as if she were trying to come up with an escape plan.
"You are perfectly safe here, my daughter. But I do think it would be best if those explanations waited until we were inside. These hills can get cold at night, especially for a new baby. May I take her while Ryan helps you into the house?" He smiled reassuringly.
Laura's eyes sought his for assurance. Ryan nodded his head as he reached for his baby girl. Grandfather was one person that he would trust with her little life. That was why they came here. He kissed Chloe's head and passed her to Grandfather. The man accepted his daughter, and he felt some energy, something unexplainable course through them.
The man closed his eyes for a moment, "Yes, a guardian, like her father. But in another spirit form. Prophesy. New beginnings. And adventure. You are falcon child, Chloe Ranger."
He opened his eyes and smiled at first Ryan and then Laura, "You have done well, my children." Then he turned and, with Angel skipping beside him, walked towards the house.
Ryan did not need to be able to read the thoughts of others to know what was inside Laura's beautifully brilliant head as he scooped her into his arms and followed the man. "I'm sorry. I should have prepared you for all this. We'll talk just as soon as I get you inside."
Jaycee and Rex caught up with them. The other woman reached out her hand and took Laura's with a smile, "I understand. It takes some getting used to, but I promise Raymond Greywolf is the best man I have ever met."
His cousin nuzzled his wife's neck and pouted, "I thought I was, Nʉ Sʉmʉ."
Jaycee chuckled, "Well, Grandfather has a headstart on you. Something to be said for age and experience."
Rex laughed and rubbed his wife's pregnant belly. "I'm not arguing the experience, darlin.' But don't forget the value of more youthful stamina."
"Be good, or you'll scare the poor woman, even more, Rex." Jaycee smiled an apology or perhaps a look of understanding to Laura as she swatted her husband's hand away.
Jealousy streaked through Ryan. How much he had missed - her whole pregnancy, the first nine months of Chloe's life really. He sighed as he pushed open the front door and carried Laura inside. But now was not the time to dwell on that. Right now, they had more pressing matters to attend to. Like keeping his family safe...and straightening a few things out.
Which might be a top priority considering how incredibly quiet Laura had gotten in his arms.
***
Overwhelmed. That was the only word to describe it. Outside of her family, the only places where Laura had ever managed to get by, in terms of peopling, were school and corporate offices. And there, she had succeeded mostly by barreling ahead of everyone else. Overwhelming them before they could her.
That did not seem right here, with these people, in this situation. They were opening their home to her and her daughter. Putting their lives and families at risk. Yes, for Ryan's sake, sure, but also for theirs. Having grown up the little bastard girls in Sebida, it was not something she was either familiar or comfortable with.
Except for Injun Joe. He had always been kind to them. Not just giving her that first job, looking after Jack, or feeding her and her sisters after school at the casino, but the way he treated them like they were equals, people of value too.
She looked at the older man from beneath her lashes, trying not to stare. He looked different than Joe, but she could see pieces of his brother in him too. But still, things were weird here. With him. Like he was carrying on one-sided conversations or even reading Ryan's mind. Joe had not been like that or Jack, either for that matter.
And Ryan's cousin? Rex, that was his name. She could see the family resemblance between him and Ryan much more than between Rex and this old man or Joe or Jack.
The woman seemed nice enough. About her age, maybe a bit older. She had to admit it would be good having another woman around, especially one who was an experienced mother, especially if they were staying here for a while.
But her little girl seemed as strange as the old man. Maybe she just imagined it all? She had just given birth a little more than twenty-four hours ago. Her hormones were everywhere. She was already sleep-deprived. Add in the whole McBride mix, was it any surprise that she was overreacting? Reading things into people or situations that were not there.
She clung tighter to Ryan, even as he lowered her to the couch. She looked around; the house was rustic but comfortable. A log cabin but not one of the pre-fab kind or those pseudo-modern designers showcase monstrosities. No, this place felt genuine as if it might have been built by loving hands.
"That is because it was, my daughter."
Laura could not stifle the gasp of shock to have the man answer her as if she had spoken the words aloud. She shook her head, maybe she had.
"No, child, it is just a bit of the old magic, the old ways that are left in me," his smile was kind and reassuring, even if the idea of this man or anyone running around in her thoughts was not.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand," she scrunched closer to Ryan and held tighter to his hand, and the old man held her baby in his arms as he rocked back and forth in a chair that looked older than he was.
"I'll take her now. Thanks," she said as she held out her arms. She would feel better if her daughter was with her or Ryan.
Ryan's cousin and his wife, she was still having trouble remembering names, sat on the larger couch across from them with the strange little girl. The stone fireplace cast a soft glow on the whole scene. She looked around, where was Jack?
"My nephew is on the phone with his friend. He will come in when they are finished. He has updates."
Laura felt her throat tighten, her muscles tense. She turned to Ryan. She wished this mind-reading crap were real. Then she could plead with him to get them out of there, but all she could do was try with her eyes to convey her fears.
Those were not helped at all by the older man laughing. "You should have spoken with your woman before you arrived, my son."
The whole thing got more surreal as the front door opened, and Jack walked inside. The look on his face told Laura that things were about to get worse. Maybe it was a good thing that someone else was holding Chloe. "What is it, Jack?"
But Jack was looking back and forth between Ryan, Rex, and the old man. "Hey, over here, Andrew Jackson Greywolf. Whatever you have to say, you fucking say it to me. That's my family, my Mama and sisters. And I'm the one you need to deal with."
She raised her hand to cover her mouth as she looked at the other woman, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have cussed around your daughter."
Ryan's cousin just laughed, "It's alright. You can't raise kids in this world without them hearing that shit."
Even as upset as she was, Laura had to smile at the way the man's wife elbowed his ribs hard enough to make him humph. "I'm sorry, truly, I am. It's just that..."
