Chapter 62 Part 62
Maggie
“I’m home!” Maggie yelled, as she walked into the house with Melody on her hip. The hair at Dakota’s neck rose, and he started growling. Two strange boys were sitting on the couch, almost causing Maggie to scream.
When Dakota charged toward them, both boys scrambled to their feet. He barked, and took a stance between the boys and Maggie. He bared his teeth as he growled threateningly at them.
“Dakota. At ease, boy.”
Dakota stopped growling and sat on his haunches as Asher walked toward him. He rubbed Dakota’s ears, almost chuckling at the fear-stricken look on Joel’s and Oscar’s faces.
Asher stood between the boys, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “Friend.” Dakota got to his feet and padded toward them. Both boys flinched. “Hold out your hand so he can sniff you. This is how he accepts you as a friend.”
“He won’t bite us?” Joel asked.
“No. He’ll see you as safe now. The only time he’ll bite you is if you hurt Melody or Maggie, or try to attack me,” Asher said.
Oscar held his hand out to Dakota, who sniffed it, and gave him a lick. Oscar chuckled, and Dakota wagged his tail. Joel watched their interaction with doubt clouding his eyes, but he held his hand out, as well.
“Can I talk to you in the kitchen?” Maggie asked him.
“Sure,” Asher said, taking Melody from her. She giggled, as he kissed her cheeks, and he followed Maggie into the kitchen.
“Who are those boys? And what happened to your face?”
“I wanted to call you earlier, but I’ve been on the phone with Preston. Those are the two boys that left Bear Claw in the woods,” Asher said. “My face is fine, just a little misunderstanding.”
“And you brought them here?” Maggie’s anger was instantaneous, and Asher sighed.
“Trust me, I had a whole speech prepared when I went to their house.”
Maggie crossed her arms over her chest. “Clearly that didn’t go as planned.”
“Their father’s a drunk, and he’s abusing them. I couldn’t leave them there, Maggie. I just couldn’t.”
“Did you hit him?” Maggie’s eyes had shifted, her anger now directed elsewhere.
“Not hard enough,” Asher admitted.
“And that’s why you were talking to Preston. You’re going to try and keep them here?”
“I was going to discuss that with you first.” The way Asher was looking at her made her heart melt.
“There’ll be rules,” she said.
“Of course. They’re going to work the ranch, too.”
Maggie smiled, and walked closer to him, leaning against him. Asher put his arm around her, kissing the top of her head. “We might need to go grocery shopping again. Those two boys were starving, and they almost emptied the fridge.”
“Then I better call Eden, and tell her we’re coming over for dinner,” Maggie said.
Asher chuckled, and let go of her. “That might be a good idea.”
“Let me get Melody changed, and call Eden. You get those boys sorted out and wash the dishes,” Maggie said.
Asher grinned, but headed back to the living room as she fished out her phone from her handbag. She dialed Eden’s number, and listened with one ear as Asher talked to the boys.
“Hey, Maggie, it seems like you love me a lot because we just saw one another,” Eden said, with a laugh.
“I was wondering if we could eat at the main house tonight? Three starved males, me, and Melody, please?”
“Of course, you know you’re always welcome. Who are the other two starved males?”
“I’ll let Asher tell the story since this was all his doing,” she said.
“Sounds intriguing. I already have a roast in the oven. I’ll just add another side dish.”
“Thanks, you’re a sweetheart, Eden, and I do love you, maybe even more than I love Asher.”
“I heard that,” Asher said, and Eden laughed loudly.
“See you guys later,” Eden said, ending the call.
“In this house, we clean up after ourselves. Maggie works full-time, and most nights, we make dinner together, or eat at the main house. You will make your beds before school in the mornings. You will each get a meal card to use at the cafeteria at school. Lights out will be at a decent time, and I will check on your homework every night before dinner. If your clothes aren’t in the hamper, they won’t be washed. Do you boys understand?”
Even Maggie stood a little straighter. Asher’s voice held a hint of a threat if his instructions weren’t followed, and she could see now what type of soldier he’d been.
“Yes, Asher,” they said, simultaneously.
“We leave for the main house in 40 minutes, and by that time, this kitchen better be clean,” Asher said. He turned on his heel and marched out of the kitchen.
Maggie wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do, until Melody said ‘Dada,’ and she gave the two boys a smile. She left the kitchen quickly, as they stared at her, and she rushed upstairs to change Melody’s diaper.
40 minutes later, they were all in Asher’s truck, Oscar sitting in the middle, with Dakota by Melody’s feet. The boys were still wary of him, but Maggie thought that might not be a bad thing.
“So how come you two aren’t married?” Oscar asked.
“We’re getting married in the spring,” Asher said.
“But you already have a daughter,” he commented.
Maggie smiled, turning her head to look at him. “Melody’s not his biological daughter.”
“She’s my daughter,” Asher said.
“Instant family,” Joel said.
“Thank you for cleaning the kitchen. You passed my inspection,” Asher said.
“Well, you did feed us. It’s been a—”
“Shut up, Oscar,” Joel said.
“Tonight, Eden will feed you, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be getting pie, too,” Maggie said. She knew Oscar had wanted to say that it had been a while since they ate. She couldn’t blame Asher for bringing them home. She wouldn’t have been able to leave them either, no matter what they had done to Bear Claw.
“When I introduce you, you call them ma’am or sir until they tell you otherwise,” Asher said.
“Okay,” they mumbled.