Page 104 of Nightingale

“Yeah, Sweetie,” he replied brushing away the mess of hair that had fallen in her eyes when she buried herself in his chest as Red realigned her dislocated wrist.

“You think Mommy would let me stay in your room tonight?”

“I’m pretty sure your mommy would let you do anything you want, but why my room?”

“Spot.” She gave a half-hearted smile. “Maybe Red could let Creature come too. Did you know that snuggling with pets makes broken arms heal faster?”

“Does it now?” Mountain held in his smirk.

“Yeah, I learned that at school.”

“Did you now?”

Maisie nodded, and began petting his beard with her good hand. “Or maybe you could come to our house.”

“Because I’m like a pet?” he questioned.

She giggled. “I’m sorry,” she said glancing down to her lap. “I didn’t mean to. Why didn’t you tell Mommy or make me get up?”

Halfway through Red popping her wrist in place, Mountain’s leg became very warm and very wet. Maisie had pressed her face deeper into his chest when it happened and the last thing he wanted to do was embarrass an eight-year-old girl in front of a room of people, telling her how brave she was. “That was you?” he teased. “I thought it was me.”

“No you didn’t. I’m scared to move.”

“Don’t be, we can clean it all up,” he said. “And only your mom needs to know because she’s gonna have to get you clean clothes.”

Maisie’s arms wrapped around his neck and he wondered what Kevin would have done. Would he have howled? Probably, and Mountain wasn’t exactly thrilled to have been pissed on, but there were worse things in the world and clothes could be washed.

“Come on I’ll drive.It’s not too far away. It’s over on Second Street.” Freaky held up a set of keys.

The rattle of the metal brought him from the memory. “I suppose riding would be frowned upon,” Mountain groaned.

“Yeah, pretty sure between the pain meds and the fact Red has you put together with duct tape, twine and prayers, he’d kick my ass.”

“Okay, I’ll come. Don’t have anything to do around here anyways, but heal up. Red wants me to try moving around every few hours and I’m probably an hour past that.” Mountain called for a prospect to run Spot back to his room and then steadied himself enough to get out of the recliner. It took a moment, a few stabbing jabs through his gut, but eventually he was able to get up from the chair.

Making his way outside, Freaky was sitting behind the wheel of Lil’ Bit’s truck and the passenger door was already open.

“Lil’ Bit know you stole this?” Mountain asked a bit relieved at being put in what might be the largest cage among the Steels.

“Yeah, her idea, thought it would be easier for you to get into it,” Freaky said from the driver’s side as he messed with his phone.

Mountain was able to sit and turn without bending at all. With a sigh of relief, he closed the door, buckled up and messed with the buttons on the side of the seat to make sure it was back as far as it could go.

They drove over to the house and pulled into a driveway.

Mountain followed Freaky inside the house. It was beautiful. They had started doing a remodel, but the bones were that of an older, farm style home that must have been one of the original homes in the town. While Mountain knew Amber would love the house, he still wanted to build her one, out on that stretch of property by the ranch. Only, the home there was supposed to be for his start to a family, one where, like the rancher selling it, could be for the long haul. A forever place and while this place was a family home, it wasn’t the home he wanted for his family.

Walking in the living room had a nice front window and a swinging door for the kitchen. He wasn’t sure if Amber would want the blocked off view. Although, the kids were older and not toddlers so they didn’t need constant supervision.

Hearing a car pull up, Mountain glanced out the window and Dreamer was pulling up alongside the curb.

His heart started beating and his mouth went dry when he saw Amber getting out of the passenger seat. Was she really here? “Did you plan this?”

“Dreamer’s idea. Guess Amber was talking to her about putting the kids in school over here after the holidays.”

“Really?” Mountain wasn’t sure he heard right because of the rushing in his ears.

“Yeah, she came back to the clinic and is thinking about what she wants to do.”

“And she’s staying in Turnabout Creek?” Mountain asked.

“Maybe, if you can convince her. Look we had to do something you two were avoiding each other like the plague. Amber just got scared and you are still healing, so we thought if you two had a chance to see each other, everything would be okay.”

“You parent trapped us?” Mountain laughed.

“Dreamer and I aren’t busting out inLet’s Get to Togetherif that’s what you’re looking for, but we’re gonna make ourselves scarce.”

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