Page 30 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
“Can we put on our jammies?”
The cacophony threatened to send Brooks running. There was no way—no way this was reasonable or sustainable.
The worst part was that neither Coop nor Kase seemed to be the slightest bit worried about all this noise.
Kase gave hugs and offered Coop another grateful grin. “I owe you.”
“Nonsense. Go on, it’ll be a good day. We’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
Kase hurried out, and suddenly there were four pairs oflittle girl eyes on him. There were two new little girls there. One was a husky little thing with blonde braids and a flannel shirt and Ropers. She stared right at him, focused as a laser.
“Hi. I’m Naomi.”
“This is Uncle Brooks.” Mina launched into his arms for a hug. “He’s my dead daddy’s brother.”
“My mom is dead. She burned up in a fire.” Naomi held out her hand to shake and then held up her other arm, the place where a hand ought to attach nothing but smooth skin and scars. “I don’t have a hand on this arm. Momma took it with her in the fire, but it doesn’t hurt and it shouldn’t freak you out, okay?”
Brooks was fixin’ to die. “Fair enough. I’m glad it doesn’t hurt.”
He glanced at Coop, who was obviously unconcerned, little Nell in his arms.
“Me too.”
“Have you, have we had breakfast yet?” That was another little girl he’d never met, but she looked just like little Nell. He assumed they were sisters.
“I don’t know, Dani, have you had breakfast yet?” Coop asked.
It was little Nell who answered and nodded. “We did, but it wasn’t very good breakfast. It was only cereal.”
“Can we have pancakes?” Dani asked.
“I like pancakes!” Mina piped up, and, boom, there was Johnny.
“I like pancakes. Did you know we were having a party tonight? My friend is coming, Mike. We’re gonna do Legos.” Johnny bounced a little before plopping into a chair.
“I’ll start bacon.” Coop grinned at him. “Welcome to the main event, man. You know how to make pancakes? Because I guess we’re making pancakes.”
Brooks nodded. He could do this. He’d said he was goingto help, and be a part of this family, dammit. “I know how to make pancakes.”
“Excellent, let’s do it.”
Lucy came in out of the front yard where she’d been playing with the dogs. “Pancakes? Mason, there’s gonna be pancakes!”
For a quiet little girl, that teenager could beller.
“Coming! Is there gonna be bacon?” Mason called.
Brooks tilted his head. “I notice you didn’t call Ricky.”
Lucy rolled her big dark eyes. “He doesn’t care about pancakes. He’s got a date tonight. He has to be skinny.”
“Well, maybe he’d eat a little,” Coop said. “Why don’t you run see?”
She sighed but nodded. “Be right back.”
Brooks pulled down a bowl. “You got mix, or do I need to make some up?”
“I think I got some Bisquick. Don’t know how old it is. We usually go out for pancakes.”
