Page 5 of Stone Cold Savage

“Sometimes.” She said quietly, seeming to doze off a bit. “I miss being around people. I’ll let you in on a little secret. When you all decided we all needed to stay here until we figured things out, I wasn’t that upset. It’s been nice being around everyone again.”

“Yeah. Despite all of the chaos, it’s good to be around everyone.”

“Hmm.” She muttered. “Maybe being here is just what you needed.”

Coy watched her drift off to sleep and grinned as his eyes grew heavy and he craved sleep, “Maybe it is.”

2

“Who ate all the strawberries? Was it… you, Mr. Beau Cutler?” Devyn asked while tickling the bellies of Coy’s kids. “Or you, Miss. Dally Lane?”

The children let out deep belly giggles as they sat at the table, being teased by their aunt, who was getting out the ingredients needed for breakfast. The rest of the family and guests trickled into the kitchen just as the sun was warming the sky for another full day of questions and very few answers.

“No, Aunt Devvy.” Dally laughed and pointed to the youngest of Cut’s children, who sat in his highchair, waiting for Nora to feed him. “It was Tuck. Tuck ate all the bewwies.”

“Tucker Benjamin?” Devyn playfully scolded. “Did you eat all the bewwies?”

The toddler grinned and squealed while clapping his hands at the attention.

“Welp, sounds like we know who did it. The one in diapers.” Devyn said, grabbing a large metal bowl from the nearby cabinet. “How are we supposed to have strawberries on our waffles for breakfast if Tuck ate them all?”

“I know. I know.” Beau jumped up and down. “We can pick some from the garden! I know the way!”

“Me too! Me too!” Dally said, dancing around, twirling her little sundress.

“You think we can pick enough for everyone and be back before Auntie Dill finishes making the waffles?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” the two tots said together.

“Looks like I’m on waffle duty.” Dillon snickered, plugging in the waffle maker. “Oh, goodie.”

“Sorry. You snooze, you lose.” Devyn shrugged and grabbed a can of whipped cream. “Unless you want to go berry picking with the four and under club?”

“Not a chance. Too much… energy. I haven’t had my coffee yet, and they’ve clearly had too much of something.” Dillon snorted as the kids were bouncing around. “You’re more their age anyway.”

“Ha ha.” Devyn put the can of whipped cream down, then shielded her hand with the bowl she held and flipped her sister off.

“Please do not do that again with those two within a two-mile radius of you.” Nora warned, waving between Beau and Dally, “Hiding it doesn’t help. They see, hear, and repeat everything.”

“Crap,” Beau said, when he noticed his shoe untied.

“Case and point,” Nora said. “Beau, is that a nice word or a naughty word?”

“I got it.” Cut knelt down and talked with his son as he tied his shoe for him.

“Sowwy, Mama,” Beau said over his shoulder to Nora.

“That wasn’t my fault, was it?” Coy asked while filling everyone’s cups with much-needed coffee.

“Nope.” Nora smiled, “You’re angel of a brother did.”

“Which one?” Coy, Dillon, and Devyn said in unison.

“Probably both of them.” Nora glared at Nash and Cut, who were standing side by side.

“Wasn’t me. I never say that word.” Nash said, grabbing a coffee cup and putting it under the stream of coffee Coy was pouring into Ransom’s cup. “I much prefer, shhh….”

“Nash!” They all said in unison.

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