Ewing (A Cross to Bear #6)

Chapter 5

Trinity was having a good time with little Billy. He wasn’t all that responsive about her talking to him, and he slept a great deal, but he was a beautiful child, and when he made a noise, cooing her mother would have called it, he seemed as startled by the noise as she had been. And he had the most beautiful smile that she’d ever seen.

It took her four new diapers before she gave up and asked one of the faeries to show her how to do it. However, they only snapped their fingers, and not only was he cleaned up, but a fresh diaper was on his bottom, and the snaps on his sleeper, which she knew was going to cause her nightmares, were fixed. She thought that a great trick but it didn’t help her in figuring out how to put one on him.

“The instructions are on the box. I know that Lord Ewing had to refer to it several times when he was getting used to changing the little boy. He’s so beautiful, don’t you believe so?” She told Mae, one of the many nursery faeries, that she thought he was the best-looking baby in the world. “I believe you might be right.”

Mae told her that there were all kinds of things in the baby’s room that she didn’t understand. For the next twenty minutes, she showed her, after looking it up, what things were used for all the big and little things that were in the room. Trinity was surprised that Mae didn’t understand the mobile on the crib.

Once she wound it up and the music began to play, the little bees, five of them in bright colors, began their dance around the base. Mae was so in love with it that she said she was going to have one over her bed as well. Trinity was surprised to find out that the faeries that worked in the house lived there as well. Also, those who didn’t live and work there had homes of their own as well.

When Billy woke from his nap, she watched him stretch. It was the most amazing thing to see him crunch up like he did and then stretch out like he was a large cat or something that needed to make his muscles move around. Kissing him after picking him up, she knew that when he got older, he’d not like that as much. But for now, she was going to get anything and everything she could from him.

After he started getting cranky and needed another diaper change, she snuggled him up in his bed and watched as he fell asleep after his bottle. She wondered if he was getting enough to eat when he’d just doze off like he did. She decided to go to the office and look up on the computer about infants and their habits. Trinity thought that she should have done that earlier than after being here for a week.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Sunny showed up. “Don’t move.” She nodded and then asked if the baby was all right. “Yes, the faeries will watch over him. But I want you to stay right here until I tell you to move. To be honest, I don’t know exactly what is going on.”

Barely getting her first nod out, Sunny was gone. Trinity wanted desperately to go and check on Billy, he was all she could think about when Sunny returned. She asked if she could move, and when given the ok, she went to the office where his crib was and picked him up.

“I’d like to be mad at you for not explaining, but I’m afraid of you.” Sunny told her that normally she should be, but not today. “What’s going on?”

“Vance’s mother is out on the warpath. She had some information that she wanted Ewing to clear up for her. It was his name and the fact that he was a park ranger that had her coming here.” She asked why that had anything to do with her. “Nothing. But I didn’t know that when I came to you. She’s coming here because her brother told her that you and your husband, Ewing have been the ones that were blaming all this on her son. She thinks that you have it all wrong and came here to have you change your mind. Or she was going to change it for you. But I told her that she should be talking to her brother. That so far as anyone could tell, he was a person of interest in the murders that Vance seemed to have been involved in.”

“Oh. She couldn’t get in, you told me.” She said that it didn’t matter that she couldn’t get in but that she’d frighten the household, which would include the baby. And that would have caused her to die at her front door. “The faeries, you mean. They’d kill her.”

“Yes. Without a second thought as to what kind of trouble she was causing, they would see her as a threat, and that would be the end of her.” She didn’t see a problem with that if she was a threat, but Sunny would know best. “While I’m here, I would like to get a bit of your blood so that I can trace you if necessary. I have all the children’s, including Billy, but not yours. Not to say that I couldn’t find you if I needed to, but it would be easier if I could just simply go there and get you wherever you are.”

“All right. Is that the popping thing that Ewing was telling me about? He can do that, but I’ve not tried.” She said that she should try it and that it was exactly what she meant. “I don’t mind that at all. I should have a bit of the other’s blood as well. Us being bears, it would be a simple thing for me to be able to locate them as well. Not to mention talk to the others when I need to. As it is right now, because we’re mates, the only person that I can speak to is Ewing.”

“Good.” She put out her hand and with a sweep of Sunny’s hand, it was done. “I don’t really need your blood, but I do need a direct connection to you but most importantly, I needed your permission. We’ve touched before but I’ve never asked you if I can have the connection. It’s all about granting me the usage with my magic and balance. So? What are your plans for the day?”

“I’m going to go and get the kids when they’re out of school if Ewing isn’t back. He told me that the faeries had done a great job with what they were tasked to do, and he’s quite happy.” Sunny told her that they’d be devastated if they had heard otherwise. “I can see that. They seem to have very fragile emotions when it comes to compliments or bad news.”

“Yes. Mother told me once that it’s because they are so competitive. You have to admit that there are a great many of them and it would be hard to be able to find one that does a great job at something. Most of them do, anyway, do a great job, I mean. But they also like to please, so if they’re tasked with a job that has them picking up stones for whatever reason, they’ll pick until they nearly die from not resting or having anything to eat or drink. That’s why when you ask them for something, it’s best to make sure that you give them a limit on whatever it is. Also, a time frame. Measurements are a big help for them as well.” She said that she noticed that the little shed that she wanted wasn’t little. “I’m betting that it had all kinds of magic as well. Like if you need something that’s not in it, you only need to close the door and wish for it and it’ll be there. Yes, measurements are a huge help. Not always, but they do like to please.”

They decided to take Billy outdoors for a bit of sunshine. Trinity was still nervous, but right now, she was enjoying her time with her sister-in-law. She supposed they weren’t really related that way, but she knew that each of them considered the other to be a sister of their hearts because they were all that close.

The warm sun was lovely. Being able to see the other faeries at work, the flower faeries was amazing as well. If you looked hard enough, you could see thousands of them working and getting so much done. The flowers in their yard were beautiful because the little people loved the colors so much. Trinity had a good time just wandering around the yard and having a long conversation with Sunny.

Sunny was the only child of the queen of faeries. Actually, Sunny was the queen because her mother tricked her into taking the job from her. It was good timing, she’d been told that if she’d not taken the magic by then, Dexter and two of his brothers would have died. It was when a couple men, who died as well, blew up a mountain to get to whatever might have been inside of it.

“You remind me so much of Grannie. You’re very calm and don’t seem to have a lot going on in your head at any given moment. I have noticed that instead of thinking through the way a plan that you have for yourself, you think up and toss them out without requiring an answer from anyone. That’s wonderful.” She told Sunny that she wished that she’d had a chance to know the elderly couple. “You can ask anyone that lives around here, including most of the storefront owners, and they’ll have a story to tell you. How she helped them with their homework when they’d gotten behind. Baby sat their children so that a couple could have a few hours to themselves. She was great at steering people into a better place without actually telling them that was what she was about. Grandda was like that, too, but he was much less vocal about it. But boy, oh boy, did they love one another. You could feel it from them by just being in the same room with them.”

“I’ve heard that they had a love of the century. Do you think that you love Dexter the way that they did?” Sunny blushed and said that she loved him more. “That’s so wonderful. I love Ewing.”

It was the first time she’d said it to someone else. That she did indeed love Ewing. He was her first thought in the morning when she opened her eyes and her last thought at bedtime when she closed them. And throughout the day, she’d think of him and get chills from just that. A single thought. His scent that would linger through a room that he only just left. He was her everything. Life, breath, and soul. She truly did love him.

“You’re thinking about him. I can see how surprised you are about something.” She told her that she had never felt like that before. “And you never will again. This kind of love, it’s the forever kind. And I do mean forever, by the way. I’m going to go with you to pick up the girls. Then they’ll be better about coming to my house when they see you and not just me picking them up.”

“You don’t have to do that.” She told her that she and Ewing needed this time alone, and they had to bond, too. “I know that it’ll make me stronger, but right now, all I can think about is it feels like I’m dumping five kids on you so I can get laid.”

Sunny laughed. “Six kids. I’m going to take Billy too. He’ll be no problem if that was what you were going to say. I have ten faeries to your one in my house. Not to mention, I have a great deal of magic, too, that I can use. We’ll take the kids to my house. You go home after that and get yourself in a sexy mood and jump Ewing’s bones as soon as he comes into the door.”

She took her up on her offer. After explaining how she didn’t need an overnight bag from any of the girls, Sunny did take the stuffed animals that were on each of their beds. Billy didn’t need anything either, as Sunny was going to have fun giving him whatever he needed. Trinity was sure that all the kids would come back with much more than the things that they left with. And she found that she didn’t care one bit either. If anyone needed to be spoiled a little, it was her children.

Picking up the girls, they were vocally excited to be going to Aunt Sunny and Uncle Dexter’s home for the night. They asked if they could watch a movie, and Sunny told them that she had the best ideas for them and that she wanted to surprise them with it. Whatever it was, she was sure that the girls would not just tell her all about it but that they’d both her and Ewing hear about it for weeks on end. And again, she didn’t care.

After dropping off the kids with the other couple, she made her way home. She’d been told several times that the house was safe now and that no one could harm her or anyone inside the property. Just as she was getting out of the car, she saw the man standing at her front door. There was a bright white and brown pony near his side.

She’d heard that there were tribes all over the place in the mountains. For the most part they didn’t interact with the tourists nor with the people that lived in the area. To have one so finely dressed and standing tall, she wondered how anyone could ever think that they were a bad sort of people for living like they did. So it surprised her even more that he was at their home.

“My name is Shaking Tree.” She told him her name. “Yes, I have been told about you. No disrespect, but I was looking for your mate, Ewing Cross.” She told him where he was and what he was doing. “Ah, yes. I should have looked there first, but then I’d not met you.”

“Thank you. Is there anything that I can help you with?” He smiled at her, and she smiled back. “I’m sure that there are a great many things that you could help me with, isn’t there?”

“Yes, Red Fall. But you are learning quickly. And you are being a great mother to those lost souls in your household.” She didn’t know why he called her that, but she loved it. She asked him what it meant. “It means that your hair is the color of the red in the forests in the fall. It is a very true color that all trees strive to have. A true redhead that many will envy. The reason that I look for your husband is because I am the one that has found the place where the deaths of so many have occurred.”

It took her a moment to figure that out, and when she did, she asked him if he was all right with being the one. His nod and stance told her that not only was he happy to be doing it, but he was very proud of the fact that he’d been asked.

“The Rangers, they know me and will be glad that the finding the place of so much death is finished. Once they come to the site where the others were murdered needlessly, many families will have closure, and that’s a good thing. Also a great many families will have their family back with them.” He bowed to her and then continued. “There will be great sorrow and celebration when this is a closed chapter in the Park.”

“I agree.” She reached out to Ewing to tell him who was here and what he wanted. “He wants you to be with him as it’s your land.”

“Our land, but I agree. It will keep me from finding out from someone else.” Ewing said that he was on his way back now . “Good. The kids aren’t here. They’re all spending the night with Sunny and Dexter.”

“Does that mean what I think it means?” She asked him if he thought he was getting laid, then yes, that is what it meant. “Hot damn. It’s going to be a good time tonight. But damn it, I have this thing with Shaking Tree now.”

“Well then, you had better hurry it along or ask one of your brothers to run point for you. It’s not like they don’t know as much as you do about what has been going on out there. Not that I guess you’re to tell anyone what you actually know.” He told her that he was going to get with his brothers and tell them to do what is needed. “I like that idea. I doubt very much you’ll be missed with the others there.”

She was still out on the porch when Ewing got home. Shaking Tree didn’t wish to enter their home without the man of the house there. It was very hurtful until he explained to her that it was the way of his people. He was a good person and had a great sense of humor that she had enjoyed. She did not envy the task that he was going to be a part of. When Ewing was explaining that his brothers were going to go with him, Trinity went into the house. She wanted to get ready as quickly as she could for Ewing.

~*~

Ewing found Trinity in the dining room. She looked a little winded, and he asked her what was going on and if she was all right. At her heavy sigh, she explained to him why she was breathless and looked a fright.

“I was going to bring us up a fruit and veggie tray that I got on the way home and I completely forgot it in the car. And since I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation with Shaking Tree, I decided to make one up on my own.” He smiled and leaned against the door jamb while she continued. “When I got to the kitchen, running from our bedroom to here, I realized that I didn’t know where any platters were. So started rummaging through the cabinets in the kitchen when I realized they’d be in here. Finding them still was difficult as the faeries, bless their little hearts, decided to use magic to store things and made the platters small so they could get more things into the cabinets. While a great idea, it didn’t help me any that I have no idea how to make them normal sized.” She stomped her foot. “And now the mood is ruined because I look like a mad woman racing around the house for some platter food that I doubt very much we even eat.”

“Let me show you something.” He kissed the back of her hand and removed the dozen or so tiny platters from her hand. “You have to admit, they really are kind of cute.” The low growl had him laughing. “All right. Here we go.”

They were standing in front of the refrigerator when he opened it up. Just as she said, there were no platter food fixings. Really, there was nothing in the ice box, he called it, but a gallon jug of some brown liquid. He assumed it was tea but didn’t want to take the chance of drinking something that he didn’t know.

“All you need to do is close the door.” He did that. “Then you just say what it is that you’re looking for. Like cheese and fruit platter and meat and crackers platter.”

When he opened the door, there were two platters of food in the space that had been empty before. One of them was filled with a beautiful arrangement of cheese and fruit. The other was filled with different types of crackers with an assortment of meats and sausages. She glared at him.

“You could have told me that before, you know. Also, it would have made me feel a good deal better today knowing that we’re all immortal.” He said, ‘oops’. “Oops? That’s all you have to say is, oops? I’ve been sick with worry all day, and it was all for nothing. I was afraid for you. Not to mention Billy when that crazy woman showed up here.”

“Mae told me that we’d had a visitor. She said that Sunny got her all straightened out.” Trinity growled again, and he laughed. “You have no idea how sexy that sounds to me. Like you’re calling to my bear so that the two of them could mate as well.”

“Maybe later. We can run through the woods and have a good time as our bears. But right now, all I can think about it having you inside of me and touching me. Any way that I can get you.” He told her that she could too. “Ewing, everyone is going to know that Sunny is watching the kids so that we can get into each other…well into each other. Does that bother you just a little bit?”

“No. Because I know that my family will tease me, they never would you. Do they know that we’re going to have copious amounts of sex—we are, right?” She nodded at him with a huge smile. “Good, while they know that, they also know that it’s important that we bond and claim one another before anything happens. And while we are immortals, true immortals, we can still be hurt, and I don’t want that for either of us. Hurting still has pain, and it would take some time to heal, so having you able to survive someone hurting you, they know that in order for us both to be stronger and live a better life, we simply need to bond.”

He moved closer to her, putting the platters back in the fridge. Putting his hands on either side of her cheeks, he gently tugged her next to him as he made love to her mouth with his own. And what an incredible mouth she had, too.

Ewing wanted her badly, but not here in the kitchen. He wanted her in a bed were he could touch her. Inhale her scent and claim her. There was plenty of room in this one, the counter, the butcher block in the middle of the room. Also, there were any number of places that he could take her on the floor or against the walls. Even the fridge, a large one for a household this size, could have held them both in a pinch. However, he didn’t want their first time to be anywhere or on anything but the nice bed in their bedroom.

Pulling away from her, stepping back when she reached for him, he smiled at her and told her to go to their room. Trinity stared at him with her swollen, pouty lips. Her hair was a mussy mess. Slapping her once on her ass, the firmness of her muscles had him wanting to do more, but she got the idea and backed away from him. Everything in him wanted to give chase, to bring her to heel. To make her his.

Hearing her running up the stairs was another hurdle that he had to make himself ignore. The thought of chasing her down again was forefront in his mind. Turning on his heel, thinking about anything else but his mate, he sent the lock home and checked on the other doors in the room.

No one could enter his home with ill will in their heart. But to him, there was no reason for him to be inviting trouble into his home. Locking the door, something that he didn’t think anyone in his family did to this day, seemed like a no-brainer to her. Why have them on the doors if you weren’t going to use them for what they were intended for? He made his way to the patio doors and locked them as well.

As he was headed to the front of the house, he heard from Mark. Being the king of all bears, he would know the precise moment that he and Trinity mated. It was the magic that he had as well as the others would feel it, too, because they were all related. Not every time they had sex, but this first time for sure. Instead of teasing him, something that he was sure he meant to do, he asked him about the land and the barn that the murders had been conducted in.

“It’s going to be a while before you can use the area. I’m not sure when the last time it was that you were out here, it’s pretty dusty, but the Feds are saying that it could be up to a couple of years before anyone would be able to come within a mile of the place. They want to know if that’s all right with you. However, I get the feeling that if it is or not, they’re going to take as much time as they need to.” He told him that’s what he was figuring as well. “All right. They’ll have manpower surrounding the area for the next few months. Just to make sure that no one messes with the crime scene. It’s hitting the papers in the morning. Before I forget, none of us will be mentioned. Not even who owns the land other than the park area where the bodies were dumped. Anyway, people will be coming out here for weeks just to see if there is anything left that they can steal. Humans are odd, don’t you think?”

“I’ve been saying that for decades. Just so you know, I think that there are a few dozen screws loose in some shifters that I can name as well.” They both laughed and he relieved some of the tension that he had racing through his body just then. “Have them do whatever they need to do. To be honest with you, I had no idea there was a barn out there, much less use it. But once this is finished, I’ll have it torn down and just let the land return to what it was before. Mountain tops and trees. How much longer are you guys going to be out there? Did they give you any ideas?”

“Few more hours. We’ll be all right.” Mark told him that he loved him, and Ewing told his brother that he loved him very much. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’re still having a dinner to celebrate Grandda’s and Grannie’s anniversary, right?”

“Yes, I’m glad that you reminded me. I’ll tell Trinity, too. Are there going to be kids there? I’d like to bring mine so they can hear all the memories that people had about them.” He told him he’d better be bringing the kids. The women would have his head if he forgot them. “Trust me, Mark, one cannot forget that he has six children. No matter how hard they might try to forget them. Not even when there is only one with you. They’ll remind you right away if you mess up, too. But I’d never do that. They mean the world to us and I don’t know how I was living day to day without them around. Even Billy makes my day better just because he’s my son. I wonder if it’ll be any different if we have children of our body?”

“It won’t for the two of you. You’ll have those kids thinking that they were born to you two before too much longer. I have to tell you, Ewing, when you do something, you do it up right. I’ve never been more proud of any of my family than I am of you. I’m envious as well as terrified for you as well, just so you know that as well.”

After closing the connection, he turned the lock on the front door. It was solid the two doors that were closed against the night but he liked to think that they were welcoming too. His grannie used to tell him there was no reason for a porch or a swing on it if you were never going to be out there to welcome visitors. And when Grannie was around, there were great warm hugs as well as happiness too. He made his way up the stairs and to his room.