Page 15 of Little Fury

“Now now Bethy, that is not how we ask our nice friends for favours!”he tells her in a fake scolding tone.

“Harry, please don't make me hit you in front of Ava. She doesn’t need to see you get your ass beat by a lady this early into her first day here.”She says, her words dripping in fake sincerity.

The big man chuckles and points to the table by the door. She walks over, grabs the keys, turns to wave goodbye to me, and heads out the door.

We sit at his kitchen table facing each other. “Want something to drink?” Harry asks me.

“Got a beer?”I ask just as he takes a sip of his coffee that he promptly spits all over the table.

“I’m sorry?”

“Don't be sorry. My dad always said that to my mom when she asked if he was thirsty. Water please.” Harry is just staring at me now, and I start to think my joke was not funny and that maybe I’m in trouble. I’m just about to apologize when he lets out another of his big laughs. I can't help but smile at that sound. I like this man; I feel like I shouldn't like it’s too soon after losing my parents, but I can’t help it. Mymom would like him, I think. My mom liked to laugh, and I think Harry would have made her laugh.

He gets up to fetch me a glass of water, sets it in front of me and goes back to his chair. Placing his hands on the table, palms down, arms straight out in front of him."So, Ava, how did you sleep?”

“Good,”I tell him.

“Good, good,”he repeats back to me.

I give him a small smile, hoping to make him feel better. He seems scared, and I don't want to make anyone feel scared. He sees my smile and returns it, shaking his head slightly.

“I know this whole situation is messed up, and you have no idea what’s going on. You know you were adopted, yes?”

“I do.”

“Well, your birth mother had a very unique type of job. It is not the type of job that would allow her to raise you. Does that make sense?”

“I guess.”

He nods at me,“So before you were born, she set up some rules and safety-type things when it came to how you were raised. She picked your parents very carefully. She wanted to make sure you had the best life possible.”

I don't say anything, I look at him, and I don't know what to say.

“When your parents died, it triggered one of the safety nets she had put in place. That safety net was me, this ranch and a unique education.”

“So, my mother knows I’m here?”

“She does.”

“And she doesn’t want to see me?”

“She does, Ava, she just cannot. It’s not something she can do safely.”

“Oh.”The word is quiet as my brain keeps working, trying to figure out this puzzle.

“Ava, I need you to trust me. I know that is a lot to ask, but I promise you that as you get older, I will tell you more and more. I also think you are a brilliantly smart young lady who will figure things out for yourself long before I need to explain anything.

“Another thing I want to tell you is that there is a boy the same age as you, who will also be coming to live here. To learn alongside you,”he says.

“Did his parents die as well? I ask him.

He sighs and shakes his head.“Unfortunately, no. His father is just a really crappy one and decided that Marcus should come here.”Harry says very tightly. I’m happy there will be another kid here with me, I wonder if we will be friends.

“Ava,”he says, drawing my attention back to him.“There are a few more things I need to explain to you. When people come here, they come here to learn certain things. None of those things are things I'm willing to teach someone your age. But there is no way I'll be able to keep it away from you 100% of the time, So for the next few years at least, you and Marcus will attend regular school and learn some things here on the ranch. I know you’ll see stuff, that can't be helped. What happens here, what you learn is never to be used or spoken of in the world outside this place. Do you understand?”

“I do. The Ranch is private.”

“Yes, that’ll do.”

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