What had possessed him to tell her the truth? To confess his fear? And he hadn’t even done a thorough job of it. What man wanted a woman who could become his world? To be tied up in knots? She had the potential to really crush him. Shatter him. Walk the hell all over him. Pepper was that kind of woman.
There were some women who were the kind you knew from the moment you set eyes on them that they were going to tear out your heart and keep it in their hot little hands. Wyatt knew he was going to keep her, and the risk to him would be enormous. He might pretend to her that she didn’t matter, but she was always going to matter.
He needed to find his grandmother. She was soothing. She was wise. She wouldn’t say a word unless he opened his mouth and asked her what the hell he was doing. He already knew it didn’t matter whether he knew what he was doing or not – he’d started down the path and the pull toward Pepper was too strong to walk away.
There were the babies. Already he didn’t want to let Ginger out of his sight. She was sweet and easily wrapped them all around her little finger. Everyone wanted to be the one to make her laugh. She was a very sober baby and didn’t know about dancing and music or joking. He wanted to be the one to teach her about family.
Instinctively, he headed for the parlor and wasn’t surprised to find his grandmother there playing with the baby. They were laughing together, Ginger delighting in the swamp pop music Nonny liked to blare every now and then. The little girl turned in circles in the middle of the worn, faded rug, mimicking Nonny’s movements.
He leaned one hip lazily against the doorjamb and watched them, the tension draining out of him. He remembered the music and the joy Nonny brought to the household. There had been plenty of hard work to be done in their home, but there was always more laughter.
He realized, watching the baby as she learned the joys of dancing, that he wanted this for his children – the freedom that came so easily in the bayou. They would learn to survive here and grow up to be loving, giving adults who believed in working hard but playing and loving just as hard.
It suddenly occurred to him that Pepper had never experienced this. She’d grown up a soldier. She didn’t know any more about laughter and love than Ginger. His childhood environment couldn’t have been more different. Still, she loved the children fiercely. He knew she’d walk through fire for them. She fought for them in her own way, and he had to convince her this was what was needed for them. This home. These people. His three little vipers would be at home here. He suddenly wanted to rush off half cocked, just like Grand-mere, and get the other two babies and bring them home.
A tingle of awareness went down his spine. Ezekiel, on the stairs, paused, let out a low warning whistle and instantly Ginger ceased dancing. Wyatt was across the room in one short leap, scooping up the baby.
“No, Nonny, keep the music goin’,” he cautioned when his grandmother reached to turn off her favorite song. “Malichai, get rid of the high chair. Come on, little one, you need to stay quiet and watch over Pepper for me. Can you do that?”
Ginger signed frantically.
“Too fast, baby. Your pere isn’ so good at signin’ yet.”
She slowed her little fingers enough that when he entered Pepper’s room he knew she sought reassurance. “Yes, they’re here, but they won’t take you back. Stay in here.”
Pepper’s eyes were on his face, a mirror of Ginger’s. His heart contracted. He didn’t have time to gather her into his arms and reassure her like he was doing with the baby, but he never wanted to see that look in her eyes again.
He slipped a gun from his boot and a knife, handing both to Pepper. “Stay quiet. We’ll get rid of them. They can get in through the windows, but you’ll know they’re comin’ if they try it. And they won’ be happy. Grand-mere planted stingin’ nettles under all the windows to keep us from slippin’ out at night.”
“Take this out of my arm. I have to be able to move,” she said.
There was no nonsense in her voice, and he knew if he didn’t remove the catheter, she would do so herself. She looked different. He could still feel her pain beating at him, but it didn’t show in her eyes or her body. She was all warrior. After one flash of sheer terror, she was all steel – all business. That was the moment he believed in her.
Good girl. We’ve got this, sugar. Don’ you worry. They aren’ takin’ our baby from us. Not now, not ever.
Pepper didn’t answer him, but while he removed the needle and set the rigging out of the way to give her more freedom of movement, her gaze clung to his. At his reassurance, she nodded, just as determined as he was.
“Stay quiet,” he repeated. “And know who you’re shootin’ before you pull the trigger. Nonny’s with us and she has a tendency to rush into the middle of the fray.”
Pepper nodded. “Just be careful, Wyatt.”
Wyatt turned to go, but caught the baby’s look. Anxiety was there. Fear. The baby was terrified that they would take her back to the laboratory. He leaned down and brushed a kiss across the baby’s forehead, his heart turning over.
“You’re about to learn votre pere is a badass, Ginger.” He kissed her again, avoiding Pepper’s gaze and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
He felt like he had his own family. Stupid really. He’d always had a family. Pepper and Ginger were the ones who didn’t know what that felt like, but he was the one with the lump in his throat and the fire in his veins and belly to protect them.
“Nonny, the guards are approachin’ the house. Get your pipe and your shotgun and sit here in the parlor, right in this chair,” he instructed, patting the one in the corner away from the windows. “Keep the music on. Zeke is on the roof and Malichai is goin’ to be circlin’ around behind them. He’ll take out anyone creepin’ around the back windows.” He kissed the top of his grandmother’s head as she settled in the chair without a murmur. “And, Nonny, thank you for plantin’ those nettles at the window. They’re suddenly mighty handy.”
“Don’ you worry none about me, boy. I can shoot the wings off a fly if I have to. No one’s gonna be takin’ your woman or child from this house.” There was determination in her voice.
Wyatt’s heart contracted painfully. Everything he needed to be happy was in this house. Everything but his two other children. It didn’t have to make sense to him that he was already bonded to them. He was a family man and he’d always secretly longed to have a woman like his sister-in-law. She was loyal and courageous and she loved his brother with every fiber of her soul. He had tried hard to get that from Joy and had failed utterly. Now he knew why. It had taken three little vipers in jeopardy to open his eyes. Three little girls with a mother made of steel and silk.
He went to the door. Pepper, can you hear me?
Yes.
I’m sorry for doubtin’ you. I didn’ want to see what was right under my nose. I don’ trust so easily.