Page 36 of Fated Surrender

Connor grinned. Those poor Sentinel boys were the most lethal men on the planet.

“I need to go in. I want the clinic open and prepped for emergencies,” Claybourne added, spreading Ma’s homemade honey butter over the fresh, hot biscuits.

“If you’re going, I’m going, too.” Madison looked at Connor.

“No way in hell,” he said.

She stared at him.

“No.” He grabbed a biscuit.

She continued to stare at him.

“No, Madison.”

“I shift into a tiger, Connor, I’ll be on alert and surrounded by Sentinels. I’ll be okay.” She placed a hand on his forearm, and her warmth seeped into his skin.

“Stay in the diner. Don’t wander off,” he compromised.

“Can I go, too?” Rebecca asked.

“No,” everyone said in unison.

Rebecca pouted for a second before yawning.

“Actually, I think I’ll head back to bed. I’m exhausted this morning,” She stood and stretched.

Aleks looked alarmed. “Are you okay? How’s the baby?” he said, hovering around her.

“We’re fine.” Rebecca yawned again.

“Night, y’all,” she said and walked out of the kitchen.

Aleks turned to Claybourne. “Doc, is she really okay?” he asked.

Claybourne nodded. “She’s fine. It’s understandable that she would be tired with everything that has been going on. Her stress levels are up. Who’s staying at the ranch?” he asked.

“Pa, Finn, and Benedict are staying here,” Aleks said.

“One of you all will need to make sure she gets plenty of water to drink. But otherwise, naps are good for her,” he advised.

“Thanks, Doc.” Aleks sat down looking relieved.

“Claybourne, did you and Felix want to ride with Madison and I?” Connor asked.

“That would be great. My car is still at the clinic.”

Connor looked at Felix and Madison.

“You two about ready?” he asked, downing the rest of his coffee. Both nodded.

“Okay then let’s go.”

Hours later Madison sighed from her barstool. It was too quiet. She hadn’t been in town long, but she knew for a fact that the diner was never this quiet. Or empty. Ma worked quietly in the kitchen creating warm, filling meals for the Sentinels and Arkadion patrols as they popped in to grab a bite to eat.

She sighed. Rebecca would be heading to the diner soon, claiming she was going stir crazy with only Finn and Benedict to keep her company. But Madison had to agree. She was slowly losing her mind in the diner.

“Ma, I’m going to walk down to the clinic and hang out with Felix,” Madison said when she couldn’t take it anymore. She’d return when Rebecca got here. She should be coming soon for lunch.

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