Page 284 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
“Papa!” the boy shouted before leaping down, nearly tripping on the landing. He tumbled through the wheat and leapt into Kase’s outstretched arms.
“See you’ve been placed on lookout duty, AJ?” Kase said with a laugh as he spun his son around. The boy was only seven, but he was growing like a wildfire. Kase had only been gone a week, and he could’ve sworn his son had grown another foot. The fault of Stowe’s genes, and he’d blame him for it when AJ finally topped him in height.
Just like he could place the blame for AJ’s garden-grubby hands digging into the sack on Kase’s shoulder, going for the books, directly on Hallie’s shoulders. Kase put him down.“Careful! These are for Mama. Besides, what’d we say about dirty hands around the books?”
“But that one has my name on it! And a sword!”
Kase laughed. “If Mama says yes, we can read that one tonight before bed.”
AJ grumbled halfhearted complaints. Kase ruffled his curls. “I’ll even see if Mama will read each character in her funny voices. Deal?”
The boy brightened at that, nodding and taking Kase’s hand, pulling him toward the cottage. “Mama said Lolly’s bringing back Sammy and Jon the day after tomorrow too because Auntie Clara is about to have the baby. Penny says it’s a girl, but I hope it’s another boy like me.”
Penny, or Penelope, was the most opinionated and stubborn of his children. At only six, she was too bright for her own good.
“We won’t know until the baby’s here, but I’d wager Uncle Jove hopes it’s a boy, too.” Kase couldn’t imagine what Jove would do with a girl. Never sleep soundly again, probably. Stars knew Kase hadn’t. He kept a hand on his son’s shoulder as they walked. “What do you think they should name it?”
AJ thought for a moment. “Aragorn.”
Kase laughed. “Ah, Mama started readingLord of the Ringsto you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Aragorn is my favorite, too. Though I think Theoden is my second.”
“Who?”
“Just wait.” Kase squeezed his shoulder.
They’d just reached the gate when the cottage’s front door opened, and two girls spilled out. “Papa!”
The smallest one, Jo, sprinted across the garden and threw herself at Kase’s knees. Black curls flying, she knocked him offhis feet. He fell backward into the wheat, his breath knocked out of himas she squealed, “Papa!You home!”
Her big blue eyes practically took up her entire face. She was only four, but there was no doubt that she was Kase’s daughter…in looks and personality. He was in for it, that was for sure.
“Oof, Jo, I missed you too,” Kase tugged her into his lap and squeezed her, tickling her sides.
She grunted and giggled, pushing against his chest. “Stop, Papa!”
“It’s my turn,” Penny whined, waiting with her arms crossed above them. She had her long brown hair pulled into a sensible, no-nonsense braid, her hazel eyes assessing. Jo turned around and stuck her tongue out at her sister. Penny returned it before also leaping onto Kase’s chest as he tried to get up.
Penny kissed his cheek, then crawled over him to get to the sack of books that had fallen in the initial attack.
Kase groaned as one of the girls kneed him in the stomach. Probably Jo.
Laughter came from the cottage door. Kase shakily stood, brushing the dust and wheat and dirt off his trousers and pilot’s jacket.
“You never stood a chance of making it to the door unscathed.” Hallie stood in the cottage doorway, hand on the frame, a smile on her face. She was even more beautiful than the day he’d stumbled into the bookshop. Ten years hadn’t felt long at all with her by his side. It didn’t matter how many times he’d left for work and returned home; his heart still pounded in his chest every time he saw her, as if they were still newlyweds.
She ambled over, stopping by the sack of books their children had torn into. When she spotted the top book, she gasped and picked upLe Morte d’Arthur. “Where did you find this?”
“Lenara. Paid a pretty sum to get it for you, so you’d better be happy to eat only rice and beans on our trip next week.”
Hallie hugged it to her chest. “Thank you.”
Kase bent over, setting the sack right and handed it to AJ. “Go put them on the shelf. Carefully!”
“And alphabetically!” Hallie added.
