Page 44 of Kodiak's Heart

Emersyn put Malachi on speaker.

“Hey, baby bear.”

“Daddy!” Ruby screamed. “I gots you pwesents. I yike my beawr bestest of ayl.”

“I thought you might. I miss you.”

“I misses you yots and yots. They’s twyin to take me away from Mama. I don’t yikes them,” Ruby babbled, reminding Emersyn of what she hadn’t shared.

“They? What? No one’s taking you away from Mama Em, baby. Em?”

“I handled it, Malachi. A little misunderstanding between your sisters and me,” she assured him.

Silence greeted her.

“Malachi?”

“Daddy?” Ruby asked, peering at the phone.

“I’m here. If anyone says anything to you again that scares you, you tell them your daddy will eat them up like a big, mad, papa bear,” Malachi told Ruby.

“Malachi,” Emersyn warned while Ruby rolled on the bed, hands cupped over her mouth while she giggled.

“I says it,” she agreed, and Emersyn couldn’t help but smile.

“I love you, baby bear.”

“I yove you, Daddy beawr,” Ruby promised.

“Take a chance, Em,” Malachi urged. “You have everything to gain.”

Somehow, she thought he knew about her and Laramie. It made her wonder who he was talking to and getting information from.

“Stay safe,” she ordered.

“Daddy ‘tect Daddy, and Wuby ‘tect Mama,” Ruby declared.

“That’s right,” Malachi agreed. “Now, be good. I’ll be there soon.”

He disconnected before they could say anything else, and Ruby giggled again. “Daddy say you be good.”

“I think that was for you,” Emersyn challenged as she tickled the little girl, bringing more laughter to fill the air.

When she finally stopped, Ruby snuggled close, throwing an arm over Emersyn’s chest.

“I stay with Mama furevew and evew.”

“Forever and ever,” Emersyn agreed. When she glanced down, she realized Ruby had fallen back to sleep. She really hadn’t slept that long in the other room.

Wrapping her arms around Ruby, she closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of her baby girl. Malachi’s words played over and over in her head. She didn’t want to run. She wanted to stay. And she wanted Laramie. The question was whether or not she had the courage to stay?

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she awoke. She knew immediately she and Ruby weren’t alone. She also knew who was in the room.

“How did you get in?” she asked him softly.

“My cabins,” Laramie answered just as softly. “Besides, I’ll always find a way to get to you.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Instead, she eased herself away from Ruby, tugging the pillows in place and motioning Laramie to precede her out of the room before pulling the door closed behind them.

---