Page 59 of Smart@ss Cyborg

Laughing, Becky steps back from me and allows me to position us precisely this way.

To my intense pleasure, as I hold my women in my arms, I’m comforted too.

EPILOGUE

3 Months later…

I’m holding our daughter—Mattie Joel Cody—in one arm, and have Becky tucked into the crook of my other as we join the throng milling about in the auction house.

“Remember, folks, this lot is all of them. Don’t know when we’ll get them again, so if you want them, you gotta bid on them. And bid fast!” the hawker calls out.

The auctioneer sitting at the high table beside him starts off the bidding, speaking so fast his words at first only register as gibberish. With far more concentration than I care to exert, I finally make out what he’s saying.“Can I get two, it’s two, anybody two—THREE HUNDRED!Anybody three-fifty—FOUR!” he’s shouting.

I sense C’vest before I see the other Yonderin. His mate is beside him, her arm hooked with his. He’s holding their son, Kaspian.

I have surprisingly fond feelings for these people. They graciously hosted us for three days in their home while Becky recovered enough from childbirth to endure the wagon ride back to our homestead.

They offered to host us for longer. It was a heartfelt offer, and much appreciated.

But Becky and I were ready to return home.

Besides, Paco was wreaking havoc on their ranch and we could not in good conscience allow him to continue banging the screen door.

“Seven-fifty, seven-fifty, can I get—EIGHT!” the auctioneer’s voice boomsobnoxiously.

I raise my hand to wave at the other couple, more for Stella’s benefit, as C’vest is already meeting my gaze across the mass of peoples gathered in this auction barn. He’s nodding his head in my direction to help his wife pinpoint our location. My wave helps catch her eye with more accuracy.

“ONE THOUSAND!” the auctioneer shouts.

Becky gasps and yanks my arm down.

“One thousand five, can I get one thousand five,”the auctioneer is asking.

No one raises their bidding card to up the bid.

Becky shoots me an anxious look.

“SOLD!” the auctioneer bellows.

“Did I just buy something?” I ask. “I don’t have a bidding card. I waved myhand.I couldn’t have made a bid.”

Becky, still clutching my arm, peers up at me in worry. “You did.”

I stare down at her. “Forone thousandcredits?” I say incredulously.

“I’m afraid so,” C’vest says ruefully, joining us.

Sparing him a glance, I look back at my wife before panning my gaze to the bidding floor. “What did I buy us?”

My mouth drops open.

I hear a snicker beside me.

I turn a disbelieving look on my wife.

She bites her lips. When that doesn’t restrain her grin, she tries to hide her face against my arm. “It’s kind of funny,” she snickers again.

“IS IT?” I ask her. “We just bought aherdof donkeys.”

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