“But Thanksgiving is about sharing,” Teddie protested. “Pilgrims and Native Americans sat down together at the harvest.”
“At first,” Katy agreed. “Afterward, when the vicious cold killed their crops and they exhausted the local game, they died in droves.”
Parker pursed his lips. “Some of them were rather helped into the hereafter, I understand, after they attacked people who did have food and tried to take it from them.”
“Gosh, I didn’t know that,” Teddie said.
“History isn’t quite as pleasant as most people think,” Katy said. “It’s brutal and ugly in places, and some people in historical times don’t stand up to modern scrutiny. Of course, historians are also taught that you can’t judge the morality of the past by that of the present when you read history. And they’re quite right. Can you imagine opium dens in today’s world, or children working in mines?”
“We’ve come a long way,” Parker agreed.
“Not quite far enough, it seems sometimes,” Katy replied. She smiled at him. “It was a great movie. Thanks.”
“We’ll do it again in a week or so.” He paused. “When does your eastern Perry Mason show up?” he added.
She burst out laughing. “I’m not sure. He said in about two weeks. He can’t come at Thanksgiving because a rich client invited him to the islands.”
“Nice,” Parker said. “He’ll get a suntan. Then he might look almost as good as I do,” he added, tongue-in-cheek.
“Oh, Parker, you’re funny,” Teddie said. She hugged him. “I think you’re just the right shade of tan.”
He hugged her back. “Thanks, sprout.”
Teddie sighed. It would be so nice if her mother ever hugged her.
“I’m going to play games on the Xbox. Okay?” she asked her mother.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday. Just remember, we’re going to church. Don’t stay up too late.”
“I won’t,” Teddie promised. She looked at Parker. “Do you go to church?”
“Of course,” he said. “But not quite in the way you do.”
“Can you tell us about it?” she asked excitedly.
He chuckled. “Plenty of time for that. What game are you playing?”
“Minecraft,” she said. “It’s awesome!”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s maddening. I like sword and sorcery stuff, like Skyrim.”
“That’s ancient,” she said.
“That’s why I like it,” he returned.
“No, it’s ancient. Old. Out of date!”
“Not my fault,” he said. “Tell Bethesda Softworks to get busy on Elder Scrolls VI and I’ll give up Skyrim.”
“As if,” she said with downturned lips. “I’ll be grown and married before we ever see it.”
“I’m a finicky gamer,” he said. He moved toward her, pulled her into his arms, and bent to kiss her very softly. “I’ll have more chores for a week or two, so we may have to put Teddie’s riding on hold, just for a bit,” he said gently. “But I should be free by the time your attorney gets here, so I can defend my rights.”
She laughed softly. “He’s just going to help us keep Bart. I don’t have any plans to move back to Maryland, whatever the temptation.”
His mouth brushed hers. “You sure about that?”
“I’m becoming addicted to Benton,” she said, and she sounded breathless.
“To Benton?” he asked at her lips. “Or to me?”
“Same . . . thing,” she managed, just before his mouth covered hers and became drugging, deep and slow and arousing. He lifted her up against him and held her hungrily for a long time before he finally drew back and let her go.
“Wow,” she managed unsteadily.
His eyebrows arched and he laughed involuntarily. “You’re bad for my ego,” he teased. “I won’t be able to get my head through doors.”
“You’re bad for my self-restraint,” she returned.
He pursed his sensuous lips. “That’s a sweet admission.”
“Don’t take advantage of a weakness I can’t help,” she said firmly.
He smiled. “Not my style,” he said gently. “I don’t want anything that isn’t freely given.”
“I think I knew that already. But it’s nice to hear.” She lowered her eyes. “I don’t seem to have much willpower when you’re around.”
“That works both ways, honey. Keep your doors locked, okay? We’ve got a pack of wolves roaming nearby. The feds don’t