Chapter 27

Ella.

Ella arrived back just as Adam finished putting the top of the bench on top of the four legs. He had made sure to place the bench in the specified position the twins had insisted it needed to be.

“You troublemakers still there?” Ella called up, holding the wheel in the air.

Aaron's and Emme’s heads popped up over the side of the treehouse wall. From behind her back, she produced two pirate hats and matching eye patches. She had picked them up ages ago, thinking they’d be used before now, but they had just sat around. Ela had given them to her dad to see if any pack children could use them. Guess he never got around to seeing.

Ella laughed as both Emme’s and Aaron’s eyes widened and their eyebrows shot up in excitement. They scrambled down the rope ladder, rushing over to their mom. Their hands grabbed at the costumes greedily. Ella lifted them over her head.

“Uh-uh. What do you say?” she scolded with a laugh.

“PLEASE!” Aaron and Emme cried, hands reaching into the air, trying to snag the pirate hats from her grasp.

“That’s better,” Ella said, lowering the costumes within reach.

Aaron tried to grab them both, causing them to fall to the ground. Emme bent over to grab a hat and eyepatch for herself. They placed the items on and smiled up at their mom. Aaron made his pointer finger into a hook.

“Arg!” he cried before racing toward the rope ladder to get Adam.

“Pirates, ho!” Ella called in warning.

“Wha–?” Adam said in surprise as Aaron the Pirate finished climbing the rope and tackled him to the floor of the treehouse.

“Ye must walk the plank!” Aaron commanded Adam from atop his chest.

“How am I to install your ship’s wheel if you throw me overboard, captain?” Adam replied with a shrug.

Aaron placed a hand on his chin as if pondering deeply. “Hmmm. Good point.” After a pause, he pointed back to Adam with his hooked finger. “You shall walk the plank after fixing me ship!”

Ella laughed aloud at his response.

“Aye Aye, captain,” Adam replied. “But you may want to get off me first.”

Aaron rolled off Adam’s chest and pulled his hand to help him up. Adam maneuvered to the exit, peeking over the ledge.

“Would M’lady mind handing up the wheel?”

“Only if M’lord might say the magical word.”

Adam gasped. “Sorcery?!”

Ella snickered. “Dost thou want the wheel or not?”

Adam scowled in mock hatred. After a minute of deliberation, he relented. “You win, witch. Please.”

Ella handed him the wheel. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Thou wilt not get away, witch. I will hunt you down once I am cast from this here ship!”

“Oh, no!” Ella exclaimed in mock horror. “Then I must find somewhere I might be able to hide.”

She looked around in panic and smiled as she thought of the perfect hiding place. Ella glanced back at Adam and saw he had disappeared from the opening. She grinned as she snuck away to hide. It wouldn’t take Adam long to screw the wheel in place.

Ella crouched in her hiding spot just as she heard Aaron command Adam to walk the plank. She heard Adam’s shoes hit the ground with a thud as he jumped from the top rung to the ground. He pretended to tread water as he yelled up to Aaron.

“You will regret the day you threw Trevor the Terrible overboard!”

Ella stifled a laugh.

“Now where is that sea wench?” Adam called.

Ella could hear Adam moving around the yard, trying to find her.

“Where’d Mom go?” she heard Emme ask.

“I’m sure she’s hiding around here somewhere, just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting pirates,” Adam replied with a wink.

His footsteps neared, and Ella got ready to tackle him. But he was ready for her. He must have sensed her there. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him.

“Aha!” he proclaimed in victory.

He stole a quick kiss before turning to Emme and Aaron. “What should we do with the witch?” he asked the twins, holding her fast.

Their eyes lit up with mischief. Ella’s eyes widened. She knew that look. She quickly shook her head, trying to get away.

“Tickle torture!” the twins shouted together before mobbing around Ella’s legs.

Adam grinned. “Sounds fitting,” he replied, shifting his weight to pin her down so the three of them could tickle Ella.

Ella burst out laughing, kicking her legs while hugging her arms to her chest, protecting her belly and underarms. Her eyes welled up with tears as Adam knew just where to tickle her.

“Stop! Stop!” Ella called to them, begging for mercy. “I promise not to be a witch anymore!” She barely got the words out through her laughter.

“What do you think, kids? Has she learned her lesson?”

Aaron and Emme nodded, and Adam got up, lending Ella a hand to help her up. Ella gripped his hand and allowed him to pull her up.

“Let’s see this magnificent ship, shall we?” Ella asked, already walking toward the treehouse.

When they arrived at the top, Ella complimented the twins on their design.

“What do you say to Adam?” Ella prompted.

“Thank you!” the twins said together, jumping up and hugging his legs.

“You’re welcome,” he answered with a chuckle, patting their backs with his hands.

“The next time we go into town, I can check the store to see if they have any decorations that we could bring up here. Maybe a pirate flag?”

“Yeah!” they chorused.

“Are you two getting hungry?” Adam asked.

“Yes!” Aaron shouted.

Adam grinned and looked to Ella, making sure their plan was still okay to do. Ella nodded. It had taken a bit of convincing on Adam’s part, but Ella had eventually agreed it was a good idea.

“Are you two ready for your first hunt?” Adam asked enthusiastically.

He was met with hopeful faces, but the twins held back, looking to see their mother’s reaction first. She nodded at them, and they nodded vigorously.