Page 29 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
Stretching out with a groan, he had curledup on one side, back against the cushions, when the front dooropened. A dark figure came inside, pausing much as he had whilethey closed the door behind them.
“Bane?”
“Yeah, man. Sorry to wake you.”
“Just resting my eyes.” That earned him asnort, and he grinned. “Thanks again for the couch.”
“There’s a bedroom, but it’s next toMarian’s.”
“Say no more. I get it from hearing Horseand Gunny talk. It’s a good thing to want to keep yoursister-in-law safe, man. No worries.” He was surprised to find hiswords were the truth. If he’d found out another way that there wasa regular bed not offered, he’d probably be offended, but knowingit was next door to a woman who’d suffered so much—it was ano-brainer to avoid upsetting her more. “Night, man.”
“Yeah. G’night.” The dark figure moved outof view, the creaking stairs identifying where he’d gone.
Einstein followed his progress through muchof the house by the sound of footsteps, loud in the stillness.Water pipes groaned, then more creaking, moving away until it waslost in the distance.
“Good man.”
Adjusting against the pillows, he closed hiseyes and relaxed. Sleep wasn’t too far behind.
***
Marian
Old habits die hard.Marian shook herhead at the thought.I need to remember that it’s been a matterof days, not months. Of course I’m still waking early and making myway to the kitchen.Didn’t matter it was a different kitchen;since she was here, might as well get the coffee started and thensee what was in the refrigerator to use for breakfast.
Pausing, she bent to look through the windowtowards Vanna’s house.No lights.That would probably meanthey wouldn’t be doing a big feed this morning for those who’dstayed another night. Yesterday the adults had flocked to Vanna andTruck’s place, and the kids all wound up here. It had been funstaying with the kids, listening to them play, and watching as theyfolded Thad and Luke into their group.
Grinning, Marian dumped the water she’ddrawn into the coffeemaker and finished prepping for coffee, thenpulled out the flour, milk, and eggs for the second day in a row.Turning on the range, she positioned a heavy skillet in place.Pan-a-cakes, as Luke called them, cooked quickly and kept well witha covered pan on them, staying warm in the stove without dryingout. Also, if whatever kids were still here found out she’d madepancakes again, they’d probably come to eat, which would give Thadand Luke someone closer to their age to talk to.
The smell of brewing coffee had herbreathing deep with a sigh. “Few things smell better than freshcoffee first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll second that thought.”
She whirled, the two eggs in her hand flyingfree to smash against the lower cabinets. One hand clutched at theneck of her shirt, the other held out between them, she faced theman who’d spoken. He took a step backwards, his hands heldharmlessly down at his sides.
“Hey now. Hey.” He took another stepbackwards. “You’re Marian, right? I didn’t mean to scare you.” Theman moved so the kitchen island was between them. “Bane let mesleep on the couch. I didn’t come prepared to camp out, so hebasically saved me from an uncomfortable night. I’m sorry I scaredyou.”
Dressed in just a pair of jeans, which wereunfastened, the man stood with the half-mast zipper the only thingkeeping the garment hanging off his hips. The man’s bare torso,tanned and rippling with muscles, gleamed warmly in the low light.He had lines on his skin, dark tattoos mixed with color until helooked like a walking riotous canvas. Hair on his head shorn nearlyas close as the scruff on his face, he was frowning, a furrowbetween his brows. Marian watched his eyes and his hands, knowingfrom painful experience that the one would telegraph what theothers would be doing next. Instead of being clenched into poundingfists, his fingers flexed and straightened, arms down at hissides.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Thought for aminute you were talking to me and that you knew I was here.” Mouthtwisting to the side, he offered an expression that was as muchgrimace as smile. “Forgive me?”
Pulling in a steadying breath, she loweredher gaze before answering, “I’m…I’m Marian.” Grabbing a couple ofpaper towels from the roll, she dampened them at the sink beforesquatting near the wasted eggs, scooping up what she could in onehand before wiping at the mess with the other.
He murmured something she didn’t catch,focused on cleaning up. A trash can appeared next to her, andMarian dropped the shells and slimy eggs into the container. Waterran in the sink, and another handful of wet paper towels came intoview. She held up the other, and it was plucked from her fingers.Courtesy came to her like second nature, and she murmured, “Thankyou.” Finally happy with the way the cabinet door looked, she roseand dropped the last bit of trash on top of the rest. Still withoutlooking at him, she explained, “I was going to make pancakes.”
“What can I do to help?”
The matter-of-fact way he assumed she’d havea job for him was disarming, making him less terrifying. She wasstill frightened, heart pounding half out of her chest, but itlessened somehow.He’s like Gunny.Bane allowing him tosleep here should have been all the recommendation Marian needed,because he’d proven to be amusingly proactive in his protectivenessof Myrt. Marian had watched from the windows yesterday as he’d comeup behind her sister over and over, wrapping himself around Myrt’sframe as if to safeguard her from the world. He would never placeMyrt in a position where she might be threatened.
“They’re easy, not much to do.” Retrievinganother couple of eggs, she cracked and added them to the bowl.“Thanks, though.” She didn’t want him to think she wasn’t gratefulfor the offer. Marian kept her back to the man as she worked,whisking ingredients together until they blended smoothly, thenflicking droplets of water into the skillet to test for readiness.A dab of oil, and moments later, three pancakes bubbled as theycooked.
“Here, Marian.” Turning, she accepted thecontainer he’d extended. “It’s oven-safe, so I figure will work tokeep breakfast warm for the lag-a-beds.” He’d dressed, a shirt andvest now covering his chest, pants done up and held in place with aleather belt. She noted he wore socks without boots, and glancedtowards the door to see them lined up alongside Bane’s. “I’mEinstein.” He nodded to the skillet. “Those are looking good.”
Turning back to her cooking, Marian flippedthe browning circles, trying not to jump when a tub of butter slidonto the countertop nearby. Attempting to focus on the pancakes,she kept getting distracted listening to the rattle of drawers andsilverware, plates clinking, and the rasping tearing sound of himmaking napkins out of the roll of paper towels. That earned him asmile he didn’t see, aimed at the skillet instead.Nice of himto not expect me to wait on him.
She heated a second skillet before droppingthe first batch of pancakes into the waiting container. Lifting thebowl, she spooned out another set of batter circles.
“Bacon?”
