Page 77 of Saving Sophia

I reached my hand up to touch his cheek when a blood-curdling scream echoed through the woods.

22

ETHAN

“Stay here,” I commanded, leaping off the bed and taking the stairs two at a time. The scream sounded like it had come from the cabin Callie was staying in.

I was almost to the door when I heard footsteps pounding up the porch. I threw the door open to find Callie, wild-eyed and gasping for breath. Her hair was disheveled and she was tugging at it frantically.

“A fucking … gang …” She panted.

A gang? What the fuck?

“In the … cabin …” She pointed back the way she’d come running.

“Callie?” Sophia came running down the stairs.

“F-fucking gang of BATS,” Callie yelled. “In my hair!” She kept pulling at it so hard she was in danger of ripping it out.

Sophia grabbed her hands before she could do more damage to her hair. “They’re gone. There are no bats in your hair.”

I scrubbed my hands down my face, blowing out a hard breath. Fucking cock-blocking bats. The exterminator must have missed some. I closed the door and grabbed the blankets for the couch while Sophia kept soothing Callie, leading her into the kitchen for a cup of tea.

Good thing I was a patient man.

* * *

The next morning, I convinced Rook to stand bat guard so Callie could return to her cabin and get dressed.

I set a plate of pancakes in front of Sophia. “You look so cute today, baby girl.” She was dressed in black leggings, a long, slouchy lavender sweater, and those bright blue sneakers of hers.

When I brought her a cup of milk, I noticed the pink paw prints winding up one leg.

“Thank you, Daddy.” She wriggled and leaned into me, then turned a worried gaze up. “I don’t have a lot of business-y clothes … like Evie.”

“I’m sure Aunt Carol won’t mind casual.” I caressed her cheek. “Do you want to dress more business-y?”

Her smile was self-conscious, worried. “I want Aunt Carol to know she can count on me to do a good job.”

“Then do your best work and be comfortable.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“Are you done with your breakfast? You didn’t eat much.”

Her eyes turned wary, but with an underlying sparkle. “Am I in trouble?”

I chuckled. “No, I just want your tummy full. You have a big day. Also, considering the circumstances, I don’t feel comfortable with you and Callie going to the café or out shopping alone.”

Not until I knew Tommy Roscoe was safely behind bars.

Her eyes widened.

“Don’t worry. Griff agreed to chaperone you. That way you can get what you need for Caroline’s restoration.” I reached across the island and held her hand. “Thank you for doing that. You have no idea what it will mean to Aunt Carol.”

“I’m happy to do something good for her.” Her fingers curled around mine. “And for Caroline. She doesn’t like being in that box all burned up.”

That innate sweetness radiated out from her, sensitive to a doll’s feelings, and a widow’s.

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