Page 77 of Swamp Kings 2

Her tiny mouth spread with a big smile, and she waved even bigger at him then showed him her doll.

The rig began to pull away and he breathed on the glass, drawing a heart in the condensation. She drew a heart in the air in return.

He held her gaze as long as he could, curiouswith the strength in them. He faced forward, his mind turning to those wicked men they’d rescued her from, wanting to revisit them.

“You made a friend,” Fathom mused behind him.

Fetch stroked his finger over his lips, not answering or opening himself to his nosy brother.

“What’s her name?” Fin asked.

Fetch’s finger paused on his mouth. He didn’t know.

He shot up from the sofa and opened the door, hopping out.

“Did Fetch just jump out?” he heard Maggie wonder as he made his way back, hearing the brakes engage on the rig.

“Just fetching a name,” he called over his shoulder then stopped in his tracks at seeing his little nameless friend standing in the road, holding her doll toward him.

He ran the short distance and knelt before her. “I forgot to get your name,” he said, taking hold of the doll.

“Lucy. Renee. Bernard.” She said all three with careful articulation. “My mommy called me Lucille and my daddy called me Renee.”

Called. His smile faded. “Is your mommy here?”

She shook her head. “My real mommy went visit Jesus with daddy.” She looked back then eyed him. “I got new ones to take care of me till they come back from their visit. You can have her if you want,” she said about the doll. “I named her Fetch, like you. When you’re sad, she can fetch it and throw it in the trash.”

Fetch stood and turned his back to her as warmth rushed through circuits and sinew alike, overriding the steadiness in his nerves. It almost felt like a malfunction, a soft surge he didn’t expect but wanted to keep.

He faced her and lowered to his knees, stroking her head with his hands. “Lucy,” he said, petting her hair. “I don’t want your doll to be my fetchling. I want you to.”

She angled her head at him. “What you mean?”

“I want…” He paused, angling his head at her, drinking in her pure gaze. “I would love to take care of you till your mommy and daddy come back from their visit.”

Her face scrunched up as she regarded him. “Like a daddy?” she wondered.

The word struck him at the very core of his powers. “Yes. Like a daddy.”

She glanced back for a few seconds then looked right at him. “Does that mean you’ll fetch the sad things for me and throw ‘em in the trash?”

He took her tiny hands in his and looked down at them. “Yes, my little fetchling,” he said, sending the words deep into her mind where she’d know they were true. “I will always fetch the sad things and throw them right in the trash.”

“And will you carry me up high and make me fly like an airplane?” she checked.

“An airplane?” he laughed, lifting her off the ground and soaring her through the air, her squealing joy bringing a million sparks in his blood as he watched her happy face. He held her against his body tightly. In return, she wrapped her legs and arms around him, putting her head on his shoulder.

“Can I tell my other mommas’ bye?”

“Yes, you can,” he said, compelled to press his lips on her forehead. “Then you will be all mine?”

She gave big nods and a loud kiss on his cheek. “Until mommy and daddy come back,” she reminded.

“Yes,” he said, making his way back to the other mothers for her goodbye. “You’ll be all mine until mommy and daddy come back.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Fathom eyed Maggie and Beth both straining to see what his moody brother was up to.

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