Page 5 of Rowdy Hearts

Rain glared at me with a smile sharp enough to slice off my face. So I stuck my tongue out at her. Her expression softened into an actual grin, even as she rolled her eyes. She never could stay mad at me. I was still her hero. At least, I liked to think so.

“Just ignore old grumpface,” My sister waived a hand in my direction. “I’m Rain.”

“I’m Krista.”

“Well, Krista,” Rain smiled. “Welcome to St. David. We’re happy to have you here.”

Krista looked around the room, bright green eyes taking in everything before looking back at Rain.

“Do all these people live here?”

“Not here in this building, no, but we all live in town.”

The little girl’s head turned to the side, like she was trying to figure something out. “What’s town?”

Rain’s smile deepened. “The place where we live. Where do you live?”

“In the city.”

She said that as if there was no other place in the world. And maybe to a five- or six-year-old there wasn’t.

“How old are you, Krista?” Rain asked.

“A lady never reveals her age.”

This little baby said it with so much prim old-maid energy, I had to choke back a laugh. Rain’s smile widened until her eyes nearly closed.

“Well, however old you are, you seem pretty smart for your age.”

A yawn interrupted Krista’s smile, reminding me that she and her mom had been through an ordeal tonight. And didn’t need a cross examination.

“My mommy says I’m too smart for my own good.”

She said it with so much pride, I could tell she’d heard it more than a few times.

Rain leaned closer, as if to share a secret. “My mom tells me that too. And it’s a good thing. Never let anyone tell you you’re not. If they do, they’re just jealous. Or stupid.”

“I like you.”

Rain nodded. “I like you too. Now, this big hairy guy is Rowdy.”

Her little face screwed up in a frown as she looked up at me. “Why do you have so much hair?”

“Because he’s too lazy to cut it.”

“Hey, not true.” I leaned in close to Krista’s ear, making her giggle when my hair brushed her cheek. “She’s just jealous because she doesn’t have curls like ours.”

Rain’s hair was stick straight, like our dad’s. My brothers and I took after our mom, with her wavy brown hair, courtesy of her Italian parents.

“Your curls are gorgeous, Krista. Rowdy’s are just messy.” Before I could get another word in, Rain continued. “I bet you’re cold, aren’t you? Why don’t we get you a blanket? Would you like that?”

Damn, I’d forgotten the second part of Mitzi’s marching orders.

“Mitzi told me to get the girls to round up blankets.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. They already know.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw the St. David Angels already doing what they did best. Working as a team.

---