Page 81 of No Strings

“Well Molly is talking to her, so, okay I guess.” He looks uncertain, turning his attention to Rhys, “So why did Beau smack you up the side of the head?”

“Oh, because I agreed with what he said.” I answer for him.

Brent then smacks Rhys up the side of the head.

Rhys rubs his head asking, “What the fuck?”

“Hey if she agreed with you, you fucked up.”

“Is that the general census?” Rhys asks, still rubbing at his head.

They all nod. I suck on my bottom lip, trying to hold my smile back.

“I named it, and thought we’d keep it, but Rhys reminded me I’ll be leaving soon, so I should probably stop pushing for things that are against the norm here.”

Rhys cops another smack up the side of the head. “You’re always welcome to stay.”

“Thank you, and I appreciate it, but I’m not cut out for this life. I need more civilisation,” I chuckle, trying to break the tension. “So, I will eventually be going back.”

Our conversation is thankfully interrupted. “Daddy, we have the milk.” Molly freezes, squeals, and darts over when she sees Beau lower the calf to the grassy patch of ground. She looks at me, knowing full well I would have a name for it, “What’s its name?”

“No name.” I get to her level, “We can’t keep it, it’ll have to go back to the herd when it’s better.”

“Dad….” She draws out the word, while dropping her bottom lip working her, please face.

“You know the way it is Molly.”

She drops her bottom lip. “But she has no mummy.” Damn the kid is good. “I don’t have a mummy, does that mean you’ll get rid of me?” Really good.

Brent bends down to be at her level, holding her hands. “Molly, no. It’s different. And you have everyone here that loves you, they are your family.”

“We can make her a part of our family, so she is always loved. Like me.” Like really, really, good.

Brent lets go of her hand and rubs his over his face with a groan. “Fuck. Morgan, what did you call it?”

“Buttons.” All the men stare at me in disbelief.

But Molly’s approval is the only one we need. “I love it.”

“Buttons?”

“I don’t know, just Buttons.” I shrug.

Molly gets down to the calf’s level and starts feeding it. “Hello, Buttons.” She says with a giggle.

Chapter Twenty-Four

RHYS

And we are keeping the poddy. Buttons. Where does she come up with these names?

Walking back into my house, I hear her phone going off, and I shouldn’t, but I answer it. There’s just a random number flashing on the screen. “Hello?”

Then dial tone.

Morgan is close behind me. “Why did you answer my phone?” I shrug, because I don’t know why either. “So, I’ve been thinking.”

Oh, this ought to be good.