Page 15 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
The driveway was wide and well-maintained.From here, the house looked on the small side. It was a two-storystructure with a broad front porch, but there was a wide groomedyard along the side and back, as far as she could see. Through thetrees beyond rose the outline of a larger house, about a quarter ofa mile farther along the way.
As the van rocked to a stop, a woman burstthrough the front door. She had a child on her hip and was followedby two more, the door scarcely landing in its frame before itopened again and an older woman exited.
Gunny’s reverent, “Shar,” cemented theidentity of the younger woman, as did the childish screams of“Daddy, Daddy.”
Marian and the boys stayed put, stuck totheir seats as Gunny bailed out of the vehicle and swept his wifeinto his arms. One of his hands left Sharon’s back to drift downand find the back of each little head where the girls had encircledone of his thighs with their arms.
This is what love looks like.
Marian swallowed hard and dipped her face,intent on giving the family privacy. The vehicle’s side dooropened, and she looked up to find the woman who’d followed Sharonoutside standing in the gap. “You must be Marian. You’re Thad, nodoubt, got that look about you. Luke, is that you up in the front?Did Gunny keep you amused for the drive down? Come on out. I’m sureyou’re all tired of being cooped up in this van. I’ve got snacks inthe house. Marian, are the boys allergic to anything? Come on,slide out. Luke, can you open the door from in there?”
Luke tumbled out of the seat and latched onto the woman, face buried against her shoulder. “You’re Vanna Mom.Myrtie told me all about you.”
Vanna’s laughter was soft and sweet, andMarian loved her in that moment, at how the woman walked the fineline of finding humor in his words but careful not to laugh atLuke’s reaction. “I am. You can call me that if you like. I’m sohappy you’re here, Luke. You too, Thad. Come on inside. I don’tbite.”
“Don’t let her lie to you, boys.” Gunny’slaughing voice carried from where he was still in a close embracewith his family. “She bites hard when she’s pissed.”
“Well, I’m far from pissed right now, so Ithink everyone’s safe from my chompers.” She clacked her teethtogether, and Luke giggled.
Marian leaned forward and gave Thad a tinyshove against his shoulder. “Out we get. I’ll come back and grabour bags in a bit. Let’s stretch our legs, little brother.” Helooked back at her as he moved, the lack of trust he felt clear inhis expression. “Test the waters. I don’t think Myrtie would steerus wrong. Just test the waters, Thad.”
“Okay.” The word was grudgingly given, butit was thrown out as Thad started moving. Marian followed himthrough the door, unfolding with a groan as her bruises pulled andached.
“Welcome, welcome.” The booming shoutalarmed Marian, and without thinking, she quickly moved both boysbehind her, stepping between them and whoever this new potentialthreat was. She kept one hand on Thad’s shoulder, ready to shovehim to safety.
“Jesus, Truck. Tone it back,brother.” Gunny rushed to a stop in front of Marian, and shefocused on the image sewn to the back of his vest. A skull with akey clenched between its teeth. She startled as she realized it wasdifferent from the one Bane had worn.Huh.Gunny turned andcrouched slightly, his face in line with Marian’s. Earnest concernpulled the features of his face taut. “Shit, Maid Marian. He’sharmless to you and the boys, promise. He’s loud but harmless.Wouldn’t hurt a woman or a child, no matter what.” His gaze dartedpast her, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Thad had donemuch the same as her, putting Luke behind him. “Goddamn, yourfamily fucked you guys up.” The whisper was tortured, and Gunnyshook his head while Marian watched, rocked by his statement.He’s right, though. His family is so different from ours.Louder, he continued, “Thad, I swear you’re safe here. Luke’s safehere.”
“No harm will come to you or yours, Marian.”Marian looked away from Gunny to see a mirroring expression onVanna’s face. “My old man wasn’t thinking, is all. Look at him.”Marian did, easing to the side to see beyond Gunny. The man calledTruck was leaning against the porch railing with both hands, armsstraight, and his head hanging low. “Man’s sorry as anything hestartled you so badly.”
“Okay.”Myrt trusts them.She shiftedto stare into Gunny’s face.Gunny trusts them.If Marianwere being honest, his approval held more weight than her sister’savowal. Myrt had been as sheltered as Marian, but Gunny’s manystories had revealed the breadth and width of his experience in theworld. “If Gunny trusts you, that’s good enough for me.”
“Me too.” Thad moved around Marian, Luke intow, and positioned them both next to Gunny.
Sharon stepped into view, and the wide grinon her face surprised Marian. “That’s my man, makin’ friends andbein’ everyone’s savior. It’s in his DNA, swear.” The words wereteasing, but Sharon’s tone held nothing but love and pride as shetook up a place on Gunny’s other side. “Here, take your hunk ofchild, big guy.”
Gunny’s arm extended and wrapped around theboy Sharon had been holding. He slung the child over his shoulder,locking the little thighs in place with one beefy arm as the boygiggled wildly. “I got him.” He stretched his other arm acrossThad’s shoulders and latched onto Luke’s shirt with his hand. “AndI got you guys, too. Let’s go find food.”
Marian watched them walk through the grassto the steps, Gunny not letting the boys hesitate before makingtheir way up and onto the porch where Truck was waiting. Hecrouched down and extended a hand to Thad, and Marian held herbreath until her brother responded to something the man had said,reaching out to shake solemnly. Luke was bouncing on his toes bythat point and quickly responded to the man when the hand wasextended in his direction. Truck’s laughter at something one of theboys said was quiet but pleased, and he opened the door, steppingback to let Gunny and the boys through first.
Vanna appeared in front of her and, with awide gesture, wrapped her arms around Marian gently. “We’ve gotyou, sister.”
A lump the size of a crab apple developed inher throat, blocking her words but not her sobs as Marian allowedherself to begin believing.
***
Dinner preparation was hectic, the two menand three boys paired with two little girls. All of whom wereunderfoot as they looked for scraps and nibbles. It was a happyoccasion, unlike any meal Marian could ever remember, filled to thebrim with harmless teasing and laughter. Each time Thad or Lukejoined in on the antics caused her heart to hitch painfully in herchest, their hesitating movements and words gradually gainingconfidence throughout the evening. Her brothers began to bloom inways that should have always been part of their lives. Dread and asense of loss filled the space around her like white noise, though,making it hard to hear conversation. She’d missed a dozen directquestions, her inattention forcing the person to ask again, and theidea they would go to the trouble was enough to floor heremotionally.
The food itself was plentiful and good,something Vanna called comfort food. She’d made savory meatloaf andextra-creamy baked macaroni and cheese as the main dishes, andsides of mashed potatoes and brown gravy were paired with mixedvegetables Vanna explained came from her garden. That was followedby a casserole dish filled with peach cobbler, Marian’s soleaddition to the meal. Cheap and easy to make, it was something theboys were familiar with, and it pleased Marian to have the dessertdeclared a winner by even Gunny and Truck.
She’d stayed close to Sharon, watching thewoman to take cues from how she behaved. That had led to someconfusion as Sharon acted more like it was her house than Vanna’s.And then, after dinner, when the kids were all watching some movieon the living room TV, Marian had learned why.
Gunny had shared that Myrt wasn’t the firstperson Vanna had rescued. What he hadn’t mentioned was how Sharonhad lived in this home for years, helping Vanna care for her son,Kitt. The young man now lived on his own in a suburb of Atlanta buthad placed a stamp not only on the house but on Sharon’sinteraction with his mother.
Marian perched on the edge of her chair, andas Sharon related her version of the story, she kept track asVanna’s expression changed. Love was the overriding emotion, butmuch like Sharon was with Gunny, it was mixed liberally withpride.
“And that’s how I came to call her VannaMom.” Sharon scooted her chair closer to Marian, and before shecould wave Sharon off, had leaned in and cinched her arm tightlyaround Marian’s body.
Gunny’s “Sharon, no,” wasn’t in time, andall Marian could do was groan as the tight hold woke the pain. Shewavered, held in place by hands on her shoulders, and tried tostruggle free as her shirt was flipped up, exposing her back.
