Scorched by Yolanda Olson & Jennifer Bene

Author:Yolanda Olson & Jennifer Bene [Olson, Yolanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-05T23:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

Bryden

Skylar has a beautiful flush on her face, and I recognize the look Casey gives me just before his face goes blank. Just like I’d hoped, Casey has started to show her what it’s like to be loved, truly loved.

Not Luke Greene’s version of love.

Everyone is looking at Richter, and I reach over to rest my hand on his shoulder. A fatherly gesture that he doesn’t immediately shrug off, but I acknowledge that has more to do with his concerns over Casey and Skylar spending time together than his acceptance of me or my family. “Richter was just telling me how he has a computer with the internet, and that he taught himself how to use it to find Cleo.”

“Yeah,” Richter mumbles, finally shifting his shoulder out from under my hand. “I noticed you guys don’t even have a TV.”

“A TV?” Casey repeats, looking at me, and I smile at him.

“Something that other families have to entertain them. From what I understand, it’s the same with a computer.” I smile as I tuck my thumbs into my pockets. “We just don’t need those things.”

“Your kids might disagree,” Richter says, side-eyeing me, and I fight the urge to grab him by the back of the neck and shake him for questioning me. That is what Luke would have done. Instead, I simply shrug my shoulders.

“Maybe.” I lean against the doorframe, smiling at the pretty pair my son makes with Richter’s sister. “Skylar, what do you think of the computer?”

Her eyes widen slightly, looking between me and Richter with a vague sheen of panic. “I… um…”

“Skylar doesn’t use the computer,” Richter answers, and I chuckle.

“Well, then I guess it’s not that necessary.” I turn to face him as I glance back at the kids getting their outside clothes on. “But I am glad you used it to find us.”

“Daddy! Up!” Embry says, running over to me, and I scoop her into my arms, settling her onto my hip as I adjust the puffy coat on her shoulders. “Play in snow?” she asks, pointing outside, and I nod.

“Absolutely! We just need to wait for your brothers and sisters.”

“Nooooo!” she whines, squirming as she reaches for the doorway. “Ou’side!”

“Patience, baby girl,” I say, bouncing her a little as I look at Skylar. She’s curious about the girl in my arms, and I go with my gut as I walk onto the porch and hand her Embry. “Here. Go with Skylar, she’s your sister. She’ll take you outside with Casey.”

“I—” Skylar stumbles over her words as she grabs onto Embry, shifting my daughter to her hip instinctively.

“Will you and Casey take her to play in the snow? The others will be out in just a minute.”

“RACE YOU!” Gavin shouts, charging past us with Owen on his heels.

“Not fair!” Owen whines as Gavin runs full speed and leaps off the porch.

Chuckling, I tilt my chin toward the backyard. “Go on, I think you’ll enjoy having a little fun.”

“Snooow!” Embry whines, leaning toward the backyard while she tugs at Skylar’s shirt.

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