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“I think so. Ella and Dora have asked, as well as some of our new friends. I think it might be nice.”
Just then, baby Grace yelled out the word ’ord! and opened her arms wide. Lois gasped as Ford came up behind her and pressed against her, hugging her against the counter.
Lois tightened up. The tears filled her eyes and Valentina saw her face. Ford must have, too, but then he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her back, and snuggled next to her neck.
“It’s me, baby. It’s me.” He kissed her skin and she closed her eyes and let herself breathe. She didn’t know why she’d instantly panicked and had that scared sensation. A flashback of Caden pressing against her from behind—his heavy body, the muscles pushing against her smaller frame, and the feeling of being unable to escape.
“I’ll head outside with Grace. Dinner is just about ready,” Val said and as she passed, Ford touched Grace’s hand and gave her a wink.
“See you outside, sweet pea,” he said and Grace smiled.
Lois leaned back against Ford and he continued to hold her. He whispered against her neck and kissed her jaw.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I didn’t mean to get scared.”
He turned her around and cupped her cheeks with his hands. “I missed you so much today.”
“I missed you, too, Ford.” He kissed her deeply until the sound of kids running inside to wash up for dinner had them pulling apart and then standing there smiling.
He took her hand and led her outside once all the kids had washed up.
* * * *
Ford had gone inside to shower and change before the others got the fire started. The kids had just finished making s’mores and looked about ready to pass out. Kenny was falling asleep in Lois’s arms.
“Want me to carry him inside?” Ford asked as he joined them by the fire.
She smiled up at him and he bent down and lifted the little boy into his arms. Kenny mumbled something and then snuggled against Ford’s chest and shoulder. Lois got up with him. He gave a nod to his brothers, who looked content knowing that Kenny was trusting each of them more and more each day. Their cousins were all heading inside the cottage to help put Tye, Lena, and Grace to bed, too.
“We can keep an eye on Kenny so you and the guys can enjoy the fire,” he heard Valentina say to Lois.
“Okay. I won’t be out late, though,” she said and Ford looked at her, holding her gaze and thinking that she would be out real late and, if he had his way, she would be joining them in their bed. The fact that she’d felt tense earlier as he’d pressed up against her made him realize she was still scared. There had to be a way to help ease her mind.
He set Kenny down onto the bed and helped Lois remove his sneakers and his socks—he’d already had his pajamas on—as they tucked him under the covers. He stepped back so Lois could kiss him good night.
“We just need to keep this light on,” she told Ford. He was surprised—it was such a bright light. It practically illuminated the entire room.
“Why one so bright?” he asked and she placed her finger over her lips for him to be quiet. Whe
n they got into the hallway, she pulled her sweater tight and looked up into his eyes.
“He gets scared in the dark. He sleeps with that light on to help him not be afraid.”
His gut clenched as she continued to walk down the hallway, and he followed her off the back porch and to the fire. Before she could sit, he took her hand and brought her to the bigger chair with the cushions on it. “Sit with me,” he said and pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled up close to him as his brothers gathered around, too.
“How is the therapy going for him? He seems to be making progress,” Ford asked as he caressed her thigh and she pulled her sweater tighter. She was shivering despite the heat of the fire and the warm night.
“He’s coming along good. School has really made a difference, as well as your cousins and you guys being around, too. He feels safer knowing that you’re the sheriff and your brothers are all good soldiers like your cousins,” she said to him.
He placed his palm against her cheek and held her gaze.
“How about you? Do you feel safer being around us, too?”
She held his gaze and she nodded her head.
He stared at her lips and squeezed her waist so she was snug against him.
