~ ~ ~
Ty looked around for Shayna when he came back outside after making sure that the kitchen was all taken care of. He was glad now that she’d wanted to spend the afternoon here at the big house with everyone rather than going off by themselves. He loved hanging out with his family like this – and if they hadn’t come, they would have missed Cash and Trav’s flying visit.
Cash was standing just outside the kitchen door. When he handed Ty a beer, he took it with a nod of thanks and started toward the steps that led down from the deck.
Cash caught his shoulder and spun him around, making him laugh.
“Where are you off to, squirt? I got you a beer and I want a minute.”
“Okay. Be right with you. I’m on my way to check on Shay first.”
Cash chuckled. “Right, I should have known. Looks like she’s settled right in. Everyone loves her.”
Ty grinned. “Why wouldn’t they? She’s awesome.”
“She is, I’m glad you found her.”
Ty met his gaze. “You okay?”
“Me?” Cash laughed. “When am I not okay?”
“I dunno, I just thought …”
“Yeah, well don’t. I’m good. Go check on your girl and then come find me. I won’t keep you long.”
It didn’t take Ty long to make sure that Shayna was okay. She and Callie were playing with Mateo and Maya. She only stopped briefly to kiss him in passing before running off squealing when Mateo came after her.
He grinned at Mateo, who stopped when he saw him. “You having fun with Shay?”
Mateo nodded solemnly. “She’s good to us. I like her.”
Ty gave him a puzzled look. Everyone was good to Mateo and Maya – it seemed like a strange thing to say.
Mateo’s eyebrows drew together, as if he’d realized that too. After a few moments, he smiled. “She’s the same as us,” he explained.
“How’s that?”
“Her family died, and she found a new family who loves her and makes her feel happy again.”
Ty grinned, glad that Shay must have told him that. “She sure has.”
Mateo nodded and then looked around for her before chasing after her again.
Ty took a swig of his beer as he headed back to where he’d left Cash. It only hit him then that the family that Shay had told Mateo about might be Davin and Alexis, rather than his own.
“What’s up?” Cash asked when he reached him.
“Nothing, it’s all good. What do you need me for?”
“Ask not what you can do for you brother, but what your brother can do for you.”
Ty had to laugh. “Don’t you have that a bit messed up?”
Cash shrugged. “Nope. I’ve been working my magic behind the scenes and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“Fire away – I’m all ears.”
“Trav should be here soon – he’s gone looking at some property with Trip.”