Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Zippy, Baron, and Royal were all asleep. The new kitten was purring on Zippy’s bed. Bandit was still in the boys’ room. They’d have to introduce the two of them tomorrow.
She’d just needed a few minutes of cold air to let go of the remnants of her worry and fear.
“Is the girl okay?”
Betsy let out a small scream as she heard the voice coming from the darkness of the forest.
Ink stepped out. “Betsy, what are you doing out here alone?” he scolded.
Uh-oh.
She knew she should have told him she was coming out here, but he would have insisted on coming with her. And she’d just needed a moment to herself.
“I . . . I needed a moment. There’s someone there.”
“Don’t stress, it’s just me,” the voice said.
Wait. She knew that voice.
“Fox?” Ink asked. “What are you doing here?”
“Besides scaring me half to death,” Betsy muttered, her hand on her heart.
“You should really keep track of your woman, Ink,” the Fox scolded. “I thought you’d be more protective of her. I could be anyone, you know. I could’ve easily hurt or taken her before you came out here.”
“He didn’t know I had come out here,” Betsy defended Ink. “He was busy on the phone.” He’d been updating a few people about what had happened. And she probably shouldn’t have snuck out. But she’d been feeling overheated. Lightheaded.
She’d just needed a moment.
Plus, she’d thought she’d be back inside before he noticed.
“What are you doing here?” Ink asked, sounding tired.
“Brody told me the child went missing.”
“She’s back,” Betsy told him. Had he come to help look? That was kind.
“I know. I saw.”
He saw?
Yikes.
“Why did she leave?” the Fox asked.
She felt Ink stiffen. He was probably wondering why the Fox wanted to know. But she’d learned that the Fox often asked questions for a reason.
“To protect me from her foster father,” Betsy explained. “Because he’s disappeared, she was worried he might be coming for her. She didn’t want me to get hurt if he did.”
“Brave kid. Well, you don’t have to worry about him.”
“Why is that?” Ink asked.
“Because he’s been taken care of,” the Fox replied.
Taken care of? What did that mean?
“Permanently?” Ink asked, seeming to catch onto the Fox’s meaning straight away.
Wait. Permanently taken care of?
“Yes.”
Ink let out a sigh. “I shouldn’t condone that, but thanks. I wish I’d known earlier, though.”
“Ahh, I was busy having a bit of fun. Got to get my kicks somehow. And believe me, taking care of that asshole was pure pleasure. I found the wife, too. She’s trying to make a new life for herself. Left her an anonymous note so she can breathe a bit easier now that the bastard is gone.”
Gone. He was gone. Thank God.
“That’s good,” Betsy said, feeling relieved.
“You two might want to go and play a game of hide the sausage. Burp the gerbil. You seem stressed out. It does wonders for the blood pressure.”
“Thanks for the medical advice,” Ink said dryly.
“Just trying to help,” the Fox replied.
There was a long beat of silence.
“Do you think he’s gone?” Betsy asked.
“I think so,” Ink replied. “He doesn’t usually go this long without talking.”
“I heard that,” the Fox replied, making her jump. “But I’m going now. I don’t need to see the two of you boxing the clown.”
“Boxing the clown?” she whispered.
“Just ignore that,” Ink said dryly, turning her to face him. “Thank fuck we don’t have to worry about Leon getting to Zippy.”
Betsy nodded, thankful that the Fox had taken care of that problem for them.
“Now, let’s talk about what you’re doing out here alone,” he said sternly.
She winced. “Sorry, I just needed a bit of cold air.”
“Understandable. But what should you have done first?”
“Um. Put a jacket on?” she guessed.
“That too,” he grumbled. “What else?”
“Told you where I was going,” she said.
“Yes. Exactly. And when we don’t have a house full of our kids, you’ll be getting the punishment you deserve for that.”
“I didn’t go any further than the porch.”
“Betsy, Leon could have been out here, waiting and watching.”
“Hey! You just heard the Fox! He’s taken care of.”
“But you didn’t know that when you stepped out here,” Ink said.
“Semantics,” she muttered.
“Not semantics,” he said. “It’s the truth.” He lightly smacked her ass. “You’ll be getting yourself a butt warming.”
She sighed. “I’ve had a hard night, Daddy.”
“I know, Button. I know. Me too. But she’s home now and hopefully she understands how much we care about her.”
Betsy nodded and rested her face against his chest. She really hoped so.
“I wish she was ours for good,” she told him.
“I know, Brown eyes. That’s what I wish, too.”
Turning her head, she glanced up into the sky. Wonder filled her as she saw a shooting star. She quickly made a wish.
Then Ink leaned down to whisper in her ear. “So why don’t we see if we can make that happen.”