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“Time to go, lover boy,” Hawk declares rising to his feet. He tugs Charlotte’s hand, pulling her up, too. He kisses the hell out of her before he turns to the room again. “Let’s roll, boys. Places to go, people to see.” The men all rise to their feet and begin making their way to the door.
“Tank,” Charlotte calls. Tank stops, knowing he isn’t going to get out of the house without the woman drilling him for information.
“Yeah?” Tank turns to face Charlotte, Elise, and Emma. All three women with expectant looks.
“Is Ruby doing okay?” Charlotte asks. “She seemed all right earlier, but she doesn’t know us that well. Is there anything she needs?” There it is. The reason these women have come to mean so much to him. He’s fooled himself for a long time thinking he hasn’t let anyone close, but these women are just as important to him as his brothers-in-arms. They mean something to his brothers, and therefore they mean something to him, too.
“She’s doing good,” Tank begins. “It may take a while for her to become comfortable with all of us. We are a lot to take in.” The women laugh because they all know they’re a hand full. “She’s been on the streets so long, but she’s ready. She’s tired of running and being afraid. She can’t ever return to her life before. Her father has made sure of that.”
“Weellll,” Charlotte drags out the word. “It’s not like you’d let her go anyway.” She grins a big knowing smile as do the other women.
“Not without me,” Tank replies. Hawk yelling from the front door catches their attention.
“Love, the man’s got to get to work,” Hawk calls. “You can grill him later.” She waves him off as if he isn’t Tank’s boss.
“So, where is she?” Charlotte asks, following Tank through the house and toward the garage.
“She’s taking a nap,” Tank tells her. “Leave her be, until she comes down.” Charlotte gets a contemplative look. “I’m serious, woman. Don’t go bothering her. She needs her rest.” Charlotte’s face explodes.
“I bet she does.” Charlotte laughs. Tank glares at her for a moment, but he isn’t really angry. He shakes his head as he heads into the garage. Straw is waiting in the passenger seat of his truck.
“You know it’s pointless to argue with Charlotte, right?” Straw asks as Tank settles into the driver’s seat. “She’s more than likely already on her way up the stairs. Tank just nods. There’s nothing else to say. Tank puts the truck in reverse and backs out of the drive.
50
RUBY
Ruby didn’t think she’d be able to sleep after Tucker left, but she wakes sometime later to a soft knock on the bedroom door. Ruby throws the covers back and slips out of the bed. Tucker’s shirt is huge on her much smaller frame. It swamps her, hanging down to her knees. She catches a glimpse of herself as she passes the mirror on his dresser. Lord she looks like a hot mess.
Ruby turns the lock and peeks out through a crack in the door. At first, she doesn’t see anyone. She opens the door a little wider and glances down. Ellie is standing in the hallway with several other children.
“Ruby! You’re awake!” Ellie claps her hands together. “These are my friends. Jessie, Josh, Emir, and Derfia.” Ellie points to each child. Ruby smiles and nods at the children. She can tell the twin boys must belong to Hawk and Charlotte. She can see the family resemblance. Poor Charlotte is going to be outnumbered and swamped in testosterone in a few short years when those boys reach puberty. “The babies are downstairs,” Ellie adds.
“Babies?” Ruby asks.
“Yeah, Lilly and Maddox,” Jessie or is it Josh speaks up. “They’re too little to play with us. Mommy says we’re too rough.”
“But Daddy says you got to be tough,” the other boy adds. “You can’t be a pansy.” The boys begin wrestling much to Ruby’s dismay. Footsteps on the stairs draws her attention. She feels like she needs to intervene in the boys wrestling match before they hurt one another, but she doesn’t have a chance. Daisy, Elise, and Abigail appear in the hallway.
“Boys!” Abigail calls out. They stop and turn to look at her while still holding onto one another. “That’s enough. Your mom is looking for you. She’s ready to go.” The hall fills with groans and complaints.
“Momma, can’t they all stay longer?” Ellie begs. “We were going to show Ruby how we play war.”
“Not today, baby,” Abigail tells her. “Ruby can watch you play war another day.” Ellie’s lip is again sticking out.
“But she might not be here,” Ellie argues.
“She’ll be here,” Abigail assures her. “She’s going to be staying with Uncle Tank.” Ellie’s eyes widen.
“Really?” Ellie asks a little breathlessly. “You’re going to live here with us?” Ruby smiles down at the little girl and nods. “Woohoo! I’m getting an…an…what do you call it Momma?”
“An aunt?” Abigail asks. Ellie nods vigorously.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Ellie declares. “Aunt Ruby!” She begins to dance around, too and the other join in singing Aunt Ruby and Uncle Tank sitting in a tree and so on. Abigail and Ruby laugh as the children head off toward the stairs.
“Ellie,” Abigail calls out to her. The child turns to look back at them. “Mrs. Charlotte said you could spend the night with them if you want.”
“Yes!” Ellie gives a fist pump and scurries off to her room, presumably to pack a bag.
