Page 42 of Scarlett's Mountain Man
“Never,” Daddy growls. “You two mean the world to me. I would do it a thousand times over. You two are mine, and you aren’t going anywhere.”
“Daddy hasto go out for a little while.” He kneels in front of me.
I am sitting at the table, coloring as Juniper giggles in her baby bouncer. I don’t know where Daddy got it or whether it wasexpensive, but he brought it out this morning and told me she was going to sit with me while I got to color. I wanted to hold her, but Daddy told me to enjoy myself for a while before holding her.
Though I don’t have to listen to a word Daddy says. She is my baby, and if I want to hold her, I can. But I can’t deny that coloring right now is everything I wanted. Juniper is happy staring at me or the ceiling, and I am enjoying coloring and looking at her when she giggles and coos.
“How long will you be?” I ask.
“A couple of hours. I’ll be in the main cabin doing some work that they need me for. But ifyouneed anything, call me and I’ll be right over,” Daddy gently says, cupping my cheek.
“Are you sure I can’t come with you? That we can’t come and sit in the office or even explore the main cabin?” I ask.
Daddy, Juniper, and I haven’t been apart since I came here. I don’t want Daddy to leave me here alone with her. Not that I don’t think I can take care of her, but I have this weird feeling in my tummy, and I don’t like it.
“You are going to be really bored if you come with,” Daddy tells me. “I think if you stay here, then you’ll have coloring, all of Juniper’s toys, and yours to play with. I can have Aiden come and sit with you if you want.”
Sighing, I look at Daddy and pout.
“Don’t give me that look,” he tells me.
“I have this weird feeling in my tummy,” I whisper, not liking the icky feeling.
Daddy grabs my hands and holds them. “What type of feeling? Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
I shake my head. “It’s an icky feeling. I just don’t like it, and I want us to go with you.”
“Baby, I can’t be distracted when I get there. You won’t be able to talk to me,” Daddy gently says.
“B-but,” I stutter.
“No, buts. I can have Aiden come over to watch if you want. He’s a doctor, so if your stomach feels off, he can call me if you need me,” Daddy explains.
“It’s not an icky feeling like that. It’s like something bad is going to happen that I don’t have any control over,” I tell him.
“Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise you. Everything is going to be fine.” Daddy cups my face. “I’m going to call Aiden and have him come over. When he’s here, I’m going to leave for a couple of hours.”
I sigh and nod. There is no way I’m going to convince him to let me come with him or for him to stay here. What if something happens while he’s gone?
“Aiden is here. I love you, and I’ll be back soon.” Daddy kisses my forehead before kissing Juniper’s and walking toward the front door.
Daddy and Aiden talk for several minutes before the front door shuts. Now we are alone with Aiden, the yucky feeling in my stomach hasn’t gone away. What could possibly be?
“I heard from your Daddy that your stomach feels icky. Do you want to talk about it?” Aiden asks.
I shake my head. “It’s just a feeling like something bad is going to happen. Not that I’m actually sick.”
Aiden sits across from me and tilts his head to the side. “And why do you feel like something bad is going to happen?”
I shrug, but I know why.
“Scarlett.” His voice holds warning. “Tell me. It’s not good for your health to hold it in.”
“What if Harold comes after you guys and harms one of you? I just have a bad feeling he’s close. I have a bad feeling that something is going to happen and we aren’t going to be prepared and people are going to get hurt.” My voice goes from calm to panicky.
“Shhh, you’re okay. Just take a nice deep breath for me,” Aiden soothes. “Good girl. A couple more and slowly let them out.”
“I’m not going crazy,” I tell him once my breathing is under control. “Every thought is rational and logical. Harold could be here, and you guys may not know about it!”
