Pixie silently joined them.
Beside her, Marlow gave a quiet “Ha.” She frowned up at Brogan. “From what I saw, that woman would dare anything.”
“She would,” Pixie agreed.
Cort held out his hand and Marlow went to him. “If that happens, you need a witness.”
“Brilliant,” Marlow agreed. “I would make an excellent witness, but so would Cort.”
“Me too,” Pixie said.
They all three stared at her.
Brogan shook his head. “I don’t want you anywhere near her, Pixie.”
Propping her hands on her hips, she glared at him. “I dealt with her in the store and handled myself just fine.”
“That’s not the point.” He didn’t remind her how shaken she’d been by the confrontation. As Cort had said, Pixie was strong, at least in spirit. But in other ways, she was incredibly soft and delicate. The idea of Ruth badgering her, or God forbid, putting hands on her, was more than he could take. “I agree with Cort that my first consideration has to be Shayna. The same is true for you with Andy.”
Pixie gave him a brilliant smile. “Perfect. Then you won’t even consider running from her—”
His back stiffened again.
“—and you’ll stay put so that, if necessary, Cort can be your backup.”
“And I can be a witness to anything that happens.” Marlow nodded. “Done and done.”
Locking his hands behind his neck, Brogan paced away from them, but that wouldn’t do. Confused as he was, he knewhe had to face them. “I don’t understand this.” He dropped his arms. “I don’t understand any of you.”
Marlow stepped away from Cort and hooked her arm through Pixie’s. “I trust Pixie, and she said you’re a very nice person.”
Cort said, “And the little one is now family—of a sort.”
Brogan shook his head, not in denial, but in disbelief.
“See,” Pixie said. “Told you they were wonderful.”
“So, what’s it to be?” Cort stood behind the women, waiting.
Brogan swallowed heavily. “Pixie, could I talk to you a moment?”
She practically launched herself away from Marlow, her head held high and her shoulders back as if ready to challenge him. “We’ll go to the porch.”
Things were suddenly happening, good things, she thought, but would Brogan agree? He looked tortured at the moment. She wanted to hug him; she wanted to promise him that everything would be okay.
Thinking back to how wary she’d been when she’d first come to Bramble, lost and afraid and so uncertain, she knew her assurances wouldn’t mean anything—yet.
Telling someone something was far different from showing them.
Her first month in Bramble, she’d discovered a lot about herself. She’d found her heart and her dreams. Her sense of self-respect. A core of emotional strength.
She doubted Brogan suffered any of her weaknesses, but he had a store of his own. With any luck, he’d stay long enough to find his inner strengths, too.
Quietly, she went past Shayna so she wouldn’t wake her, pausing only long enough to smile down at the sleeping infant. That sweet little face was extra precious to her, now that Pixie knew just how unfeeling and harsh Ruthie could be. She knewBrogan would safeguard the baby, but now Pixie felt driven to offer her own protection.
She could just imagine what a big, badass, heroic Navy SEAL would think of that.
Smiling to herself, she went out to the porch, striding to the far end so they wouldn’t be heard. Windows bracketed the corner and gave a view of fireflies twinkling off and on over the lawn and down the slight slope to the lake.
