Page 52 of Unclaimed Bonds
I grimace and look back at the twins.
“Don’t worry. Between Sixes and I, we’ll have you looking so good, the boys will have to lock you up. Do you talk? No? Not much? That’s okay. Elijah doesn’t talk much either, and everyone knows I can talk enough for every?—”
Ean clamps a hand over Emily’s mouth. “He doesn’t talk because you don’t let him. Geez, calm down. You’re going to… Ouch! Did you just bite me?”
Everyone in the room laughs, and I cover my own to stifle my raspy wheeze.
Emily winks and whispers, “You and I are going to be the best of friends.” She gives me another hug, and just as she releases me, I’m dragged over toward Chris.
“My turn,” he claims with a smile. “Little One, this is my beautiful mate, Tater.” Chris’s mate is not as tall as Faith or Emily, but she is just as beautiful, with dark blonde hair and big hazel eyes.
“I’m also the head of the household staff. If you need anything, you can usually find me in the kitchen.”
I smile and nod. She also hugs me. So many hugs!
“This is my daughter, Sixes. She also works here, and I personally assigned her to you. If you need absolutely anything, don’t hesitate to let us know.”
“Yes, Emily is right. We need to do something about your style. Not to worry. You’re in good hands,” she declares with a wide smile.
I glance down at my baggy outfit. This is as good as it gets.
“Give it a rest, you two. She’s not a doll,” Charlie teases, winking at me. “She looks perfectly fine, just the way she is.”
Chris clears his throat, giving Charlie a sideways look. “You’ve already met Charlie. Tater and I have four more girls. Two of them are away at school. And the other two had prior commitments, but you’ll see them around.”
I smile and nod. I guess I will be smiling and nodding a lot as my words are so limited.
“This old man is my father, Duck. He’s also the main ranch hand and manages the dairy.” I look up at an elderly man with dull gray hair and kind green eyes. His skin is deeply tanned and slightly leathery, likely from working out in the sun, his smile reaches his eyes.
“Hello, Little One. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He reaches out to shake my hand.
Instead of clasping his, though, I turn his over. They are large, weathered, and callused. I rub my palm over his fingers.
“I hear you’re learning how to play the guitar?”
I nod enthusiastically.
“If Charlie gets too busy to work with you, I don’t mind stepping in. Some of the dairy hands and I put together what we call a garage band. We would love to have you come around and maybe one day join us.”
I lunge forward to give him a hug. Chuckling, he pats my back.
“Dad, maybe you can take her to visit the ladies when she’s settled,” Chris suggests.
Ladies? I look to the twins, and they laugh.
“He means the cows,” Jeremy explains.
I blush.Please tell him I would love that. Justin interprets for me.
Scanning the room, I find Shakti next to a regal man of at least six foot five. My eyebrows raise. He looks exactly like Chris. Are they twins?
Justin chuckles. “You’ve already met our mother. This is our father. No, he and Chris are not twins—they’re cousins. Duck and our grandfather were twin brothers.”
I peruse the room. I don’t see another elderly man anywhere.
Where’s your grandfather? I ask Justin through our link.
He passed away before we were born.
