Page 59 of Snow Blind

“No, silly. The Bushmaster put a tracker on my car since I hadn’t been implanted yet, you know to keep watch, since I am under his protection,” she said scowling.

He was shaking his head. “And what did you do to earn such loyalty?”

“I cooked him some neck bones, collard greens and cornbread with the little corn nibbles in the bread,” she told him. “I also made his Daddy breakfast and we had a chat.”

A pain shot through his temple and he thought for one moment his head was about to explode. This is what she meant about him not being able to handle the truth. She was telling him the truth and he was about to lose his shit. His Helen, and the Fer de Lance, having breakfast, like they were old friends. His stomach roiled. His right eye twitched. He thought he was having a stroke and was unable to voice the words.

“And his gift,” he asked, as he found his words.

“Well, he showed up at Passion Fruit’s place trying to be all intimidating and shit,” she said. “That man was trying to interact with me before coffee when just the day before was already trying on my soul with me having to undress Bryan and watching Passion Fruit put in a catheter in that man against my will. I mean I turned around and she had that little pink turtle's head in her hand, and I was like ugh.”

“Dear God, save me,” Mustang said, wiping at his eyes.

“Anyway, he stepped out of the shadows trying to be all creepy and shit, and I was like, oh,” she said. “He was shocked that I wasn’t scared, asking, do you know who I am, and I was like yeah, you’re the Bushmaster’s Daddy, the Lancelot. He, of course, corrected me on his title, which gave me the idea for the gift.”

“Helen, be merciful on my soul, what was the gift?”

“The Bushmaster travels with his own coffee beans, so I figured if he did, it was learned from his father,” she said. “So, I made him a travel coffee bean bag holder.”

“Yeah, but he said it was some bullshit,” Mustang commented.

The smile on Helen’s face was the very reason he should have asked her to stop talking, but again, he was invested in the nonsense and encouraged her to continue.

“I sent him an embroidered coffee bean bag carrier,” she said smiling. “The bag has a little viper on the front of it baring its fangs that is sitting on a few loose coffee beans. It is embroidered with the wordsLancelot’s Bag o’ Beans.”

Helen burst into laughter. Mustang laughed as well. “He’s right, that is some bullshit. You are bat shit crazy and I’m here for it.”

“I hope so, because I’m inviting them to the wedding,” she said.

Mustang had reached the end limits of his surprise well loaded with liquid drops of Helen’s fairy tonic. “Sure, why the hell not?”

“Good, you will like him. He’s not so bad, and that son of his, Lawd, plus his little assassin body guard, she is a tough cookie,” Helen said smiling. “Let get ready for the rest of the day.”

****

THE SMILE REMAINEDall week, even upon their departure with Cherry pouting and Naomi crying. Michael appeared a little sad, but Mustang came through.

"We have two guest rooms, and I have crafted a portable toddler bed for Naomi. I am two hours away. If you start driving at 8 a.m., you will be at my front door by 10:15. That's not even a bathroom stop," he said. "Call first to make sure it is a good time for a visit; the door is always open for you guys."

"Thank you," Michael said, waving at them as they left.

Mustang in return, shot his brother a bird.

It had been a good week celebrating the holidays with the Neary’s, but the following Monday, Helen needed to be on the road. The down time was helpful, but she had skills to build, men to kill, and scales to balance. The break was nice, and, in the vehicle, she didn't talk of work; instead, she talked of weekend getaways, the potential trip to Missouri, and a potential vacation on a sunny beach.

"Honeymoon?"

She asked, "Island or mountains?"

"I like the mountains, but sometime in Costa Rica sounds pretty neat," he said. "Do you have a passport?"

"I can call the Archangel and get one," she said, laughing. "Heck, I don't want to call that dude for anything."

Mustang held his tongue. He didn't want Helen to go back to training. Having her home was wonderful. Spending time with the family was amazing, and he'd been saved from worrying about whether his wife would get along with his mother. He was saved from mean girl actions between his sister and wife. It was an ideal situation, and overall, he was happy.

"I don't want you to leave, but I know this is what you have to see to completion," he said to her on that Monday. "If shit gets sticky, all you have to do is call. I shall come for you."

"And if Janis at the office gets touchy, all you have to do is call, and I will come for her," she chuckled. "Listen, I love you. I shall finish up with Passion Fruit and be back by the end of the month. My time with her will be over."

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