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A knock at the door is followed by the squeals of small children.
“That’s her. Would you mind?” Ruby readjusts her nipple against the baby’s mouth.
I stand from the bed and nod my head, making my way toward the door. On the other side is a woman in her early thirties. Short, with dark hair, deep brown eyes, and a seemingly permanent scowl. On her hip is a female toddler, and beside her is a slightly older boy. The kids are dressed to the nines, their mother not so much. Her hair is tied in a loose bun on top of her head and her sweatpants are stained with both red and blue. This is the same woman I saw Atlas talking to in town. I don’t remember her looking quite so exhausted.
“You must be the Alaskan.” She holds out her hand. “Everyone is talking about you guys. I’m Peyton. Thanks for helping my sister. I’ve got it from here.”
Okay, so Peyton is the bossy type.
I smile, biting back the urge to inform her that I’m not leaving. Instead, I wander toward the kitchen and pull down three mugs. “I was just making tea. You like some?”
She rolls her eyes. “Y’all catch that bear yet, because I think that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.Hunting bears,not playing midwife.”
“Good thing I wasplaying midwife,or your sister would’ve been delivering alone.”
“Or… she’d have called me sooner, and we’d have figured things out. Do I need to show you the door, or can you find it on your own?” Her tone bites as the kids toddle toward the television where she’s changing the station to cartoons.
“You’re here!” Ruby holds the baby close to her chest as she greets her sister.
Peyton stares at the baby for a second. “My Lord, how did I not know you were pregnant? Look at my nephew! He looks just like you, Ruby!”
It’s true. He does have Ruby’s ginger hair and button nose.
“I was just telling Mr. Laskin he can leave. I’ve got it from here.” Peyton’s tone is biting.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I straighten. “Ruby needs me.” My tone is low, rough, and more aggressive than it should be given that Peyton is her sister, but I’m not getting pushed out.
Ruby glances toward me, her head low before her gaze meets mine. “It’s okay, Hudson. We’ve got it covered.” She walks toward me, tips up onto her toes, and reaches up for a hug. “You’re not what people think you are, and there’s no way I can repay you for doing what you did last night. But right now, you should go.”
I stand in the kitchen staring down at her for a long while. The softness in her eyes, the wisp of hair that scatters in front of her face, the slight pink that shades her lips. She’s perfection. Even twelve hours after birth, the woman is glowing. “What happens when Dave comes back? You know he will. What then? You two little girls going to fight him off?”
Peyton looks toward Ruby. “Dave?” She gasps. “Is Dave the father?”
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… it slipped out.”
Ruby glances toward me then back toward Peyton. “He doesn’t want anyone to know. So, we’re keeping things on the low.”
“If he doesn’t want anyone to know, why would you worry about him coming back?”
“He wants the baby to go to another family. I know he’s got someone picked out. They’re going to give him a lot of money.” Ruby blows out a heavy breath. “I wouldn’t put it past him to take Koda if the opportunity presented itself.”
“If he did, you’d call the cops.”
“We live in a small town, Peyton. He could take the baby and go. Then what? How would we ever find him?”
Peyton reaches out in comfort. “You’re okay. We’re not going to let him take him.”
“See,” Ruby shrugs her shoulders, “we’ll be fine. You should get back to your father. I heard your phone blowing up when I was nursing. Have you called him back yet?”
“I haven’t, but that’s not my priority right now.”
“Call him.” She lands her hand on my shoulder. “Go home and check on everyone. We’ll be fine here. I’ll call you if anything comes up.” She tips up onto her toes and kisses my cheek. “Thank you.”
I glance toward her, then Peyton. I don’t want to leave, but I can’t force her to let me stay. If she needs space with her sister, I need to respect that… but I won’t be gone for long.
Chapter Seven
