Page 20 of Forever Ink

“Simon is right, lad. And they still need a couple of weeks before I’m ready to send them off to their new homes.” Dad took another puff of his pipe, looking thoughtful. “I’ll tell you what though, you can help me with the pups, give poor Lizzie some rest, and I can teach you all I know about having dogs. Mind you, it’s always been working dogs, and they are a different kettle of fish.”

I sat back, watching Rhys and my dad talk. Rhys paid rapt attention while Dad explained how young he started to teach the pups, and he nodded and explained that his grandad Joe did similar.

“Spoke to your grandad last week, by the way. He’s bringing up a goose for us to have for Christmas dinner.”

Rhys shook his head, blonde curls bouncing as he did it. “It should worry me that the two of you speak, but I love the fact he has someone to talk farm stuff with.”

I zoned out a bit, I admit, just enjoying the warmth and feeling the love and affection in the room. Dad had accepted Rhys with alarming speed, declaring he was Rhys’s dad now, and that the waste–of–space sperm donor who called himself Rhys’s father would never hurt him again while the Johannsens’ were in his life.

I couldn’t wait till the others arrived tonight. Tomorrow night would be full of fun and festivities getting ready for Christmas Eve. Dad and Rhys were already moving on to discussing what they would be cooking, both as animated as the other as they flung ideas at each other.

Looking over at Rhys I caught my breath. He was surrounded by the puppies, the smallest one with the bent ear nestled in his lap while Lizzie looked on indulgently. He fit in so perfectly wherever he went, he stole hearts without even trying.The smallest puppy looked up with adoring mismatched eyes at Rhys, and in that moment I could empathise with that puppy, because I was looking at him with the same lovestruck expression.

Fuck.

Rhys was going to end up with a damn puppy.

Chapter 10

RHYS

Oh my god.

I was going to die, and it was so exciting! My screams were muffled by the full-face helmet Simon had made me wear, and I was now insanely grateful for, as we tore up the muddy track. Calling it a track was being kind. It was more the kind of path sheep made when they wandered back and forth. But Daddy guided the quad with ease while I clung to his broad back. I rested my helmeted head against his back between fits of giggles and screams. Poppa Magnus followed us at a far more sedate pace in the UTV with Lizzie sitting alongside him. I couldn’t really talk to Daddy as we rode, my helmet muffling the sound of my voice. I’d have to scream to be heard, so I kept all the questions I had as we rode inside until we reached the clump of trees that covered the ridge of the property.

We pulled up by a large cluster of trees. Was it a cluster? What did you call a group of trees? Not a herd. Hmm. I’d have to ask daddy.

I slid off the quad carefully. My butt was not my best friend. Between the spanking and the drive up, it was about ready to resign from being on my body. Daddy slid his helmet off and gave me a knowing grin like he knew just how sore I was feeling. He probably didn’t feel bad about it either.

“Keep smirking like that Daddy bear and you are not getting anywhere near this butt for a long time,” I muttered, ignoring Daddy’s soft laugh and following Poppa Magnus and Lizzie into the woods. Daddy walked behind me, still chuckling quietly.

We walked for some time. The dirt was surprisingly clear of snow. Maybe the trees had stopped most of it. I wandered idly until I almost walked into the back of Magnus.

“This is the one.” He sounded proud, and peering around his shoulder I could see why. A tree stood in front of us, smaller than the others but almost perfectly shaped for a Christmas tree. It even had a light dusting of snow on it, making it look like all the Christmas trees I’d ever imagined. All that was missing was tinsel and baubles.

Back living with my father, Christmas was not celebrated in the normal way. There were no gifts or extravagant feasts. More times than not I spent the day hiding in my room. Even when we’d spent Christmas at Grandad’s, Dad would complain about the decorations and Christmas presents Grandad would give. Often he’d take the gifts away from me when we returned home.

Shit. I wasn’t going to let myself get caught up in those memories. I was here on Poppa Magnus’s farm with my Daddy, and I would have all my friends and new family around me. I was going to have new memories, good memories. I thought about the little box hiding in my backpack. I needed to get five minutes alone with Magnus to tell him my plan. I suppose I was also looking for his approval. I did want to marry his son, after all.

“Simon, get the axe. We’ll take this one.” Magnus walked around the tree. “It should fit in the snug perfectly.” He looked over at me, smiling broadly, looking more like a cheeky boy than a sixty-seven-year-old man. “I’ve got new stockings for everyone too. You can help hang them near the fireplace, Rhys.”

Getting swept up in Magnus’s Christmas spirit, I laughed. “Are we going to leave out cookies and milk for Santa too?”

“More like glögg and shortbread for Santa here.”

“What’s glögg?”

“Oh, you’ll find out Christmas Eve,” Was all Magnus offered before Simon came back carrying a large axe and a rope over his shoulders.

“Damn, Daddy. Lumberjack fantasy is now a thing.”

Magnus let out a deep bellowing laugh, and Simon grinned from ear to ear, stalking towards where I sat on the stump. Even sitting on the stump Simon still had to drop down on his knees to kiss me. I blushed, knowing Magnus was watching, but eagerly sank into the kiss.

Simon’s lips brushed against the shell of my ear, whispering so only I could hear. “Be a good boy, baby bear, and maybe I’ll have something for you when we finish.” Simon gave a devilish grin, which I knew only meant good things for me. Getting turned on was probably not the smartest move, but my body of late had its own whims, especially where Simon was concerned.

Daddy pulled a red apple from his jacket pocket. “You eat this and stay out of trouble while Dad and I cut the tree down.” Lizzie came wandering out of the forest, her nose covered in a light dusting of snow. She was probably enjoying her puppy-free time. She came and sat down next to me, resting her head on my lap. I stroked her fur while I sat and ate my apple, enjoying its sweet taste.

The tree stood a foot taller than Simon, and I wondered how we were going to fit it into the snug. The room wasn’t tiny, not like the small snug Grandad had at Thumper Downs, but once the tree was inside it was going to take up a lot of room. I was sure Magnus knew what he was doing though.

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