at.” He smiled at her. “I’m going to tell my son that you’re all right with me staying here. I needed a place I could be in without my son. We’ve been together for such a long time that I’m fearful of missing him terribly. He’s a good boy, my son, but he’s got himself a mate now.”
“Perhaps they’ll have you grandchildren soon.” She had such a hopeful look on her face that he hoped even if Piper and Grant didn’t want children, they’d at least have one for this woman. “I’ve been wanting to ask but wasn’t sure who it would be that I could ask without causing trouble. Are Retha and her husband still on their way here? I hate that they cause so much trouble for everyone.”
“They’re both dead.” He didn’t know if he wanted to ask what had happened, and Molly seemed to understand that. “They were in the area for about three hours, I guess, when Mercy and Piper came upon them. It was quick, much quicker than I think they deserved, but they’re no longer a problem. I think, for the time being, we should just leave it at that.”
“All right. Thank you for letting me know. Now I have enough information that I won’t be making a fool of myself by asking.” He thought about the two people and shivered. Whatever reasons the two women had to kill them, he was glad it was finished. Benson didn’t know why, but he had a feeling it was about Abe, or something close to it. “I’ve been thinking about just keeping to one of the bedrooms down here. There are three of them. Which would you like? I can move into another one if you wish the one I’ve picked. I took the one facing the side and back yards.”
“How very nice of you. No, I’d like the one nearer the kitchen if you’d not mind. That will leave the one between us for you to use as an office should you need to.” He said he’d not thought of that. “The family, they’re going to outfit the basement with medical supplies for you. If you don’t want every little gadget around, I’d try to get them a list.”
“Yes. I’ve noticed they don’t do things halfway. I think I’m going to enjoy living here with you. You’re kind-hearted, and you don’t seem to want much more than I do. A roof over our heads and a full belly.” She said that was her in a nutshell and a garden in the summer. “Fresh things to eat sound wonderful. I’ve never had an opportunity to have even a plant where I was before. I think I’m also going to enjoy the outdoors if we’re not too busy all the time.”
The others joined them as he and Molly were out looking at the herb garden in the back. It was in need of a good weeding, as well as some of the things that would need to be transplanted. Piper said they had a lot of seeds they could plant that would help them. Benson was as excited as he’d ever been.
“I wanted to thank you for taking this on with us.” He told Grant that it was his pleasure. “You might not think so if I have to wake you in the middle of the night too often. But we are going to make a difference here. And with your help, we might even be able to save a few children that would otherwise be dead. Thank you.”
Benson shook hands with the older man. He knew, even though he looked like they were the same age, that Grant was thousands of years older than him. As they parted ways, he saw Molly ask to speak to Grant. He supposed they were going to talk about her moving in here to help. The two of them were old enough to make decisions on their own, he supposed, but he was happy she cleared it with her son before he found out on his own.
Benson went to find his room again. He was going to make that list before, as Molly said, he ended up with more equipment than he had room for.
~*~
The castle was much larger than Duncan’s. Piper did wonder why Duncan and Jude had not moved into it instead of the other one, but she remembered that Duncan would want to be closer to his mom. She could understand that better than most. She missed