“Scoo-pah.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Still grinning, he dug into the flour and poured it into the sack. The little bit’s face scrunched again.
“No scoo-pah?”
“I am.” Repeating the motion, he kept watch on her face. She pressed right up to the barrel.
“Oh.” Disappointment turned her mouth down and she sighed.
“It’s flour, soft.” It hit him. She’d giggled at the dried beans because they rattled. “Hold out your hand.”
The trusting little thing stretched her fingers toward him. He pinched off some flour and put it on her palm. She closed the tiny fist around it and began to rub the powder into her palm. Her attention captured, he resumed filling the bag.
He’d never been around anyone who couldn’t see and didn’t know what it meant or why she couldn’t. It bothered him a little.
“Jason, you got those bags?” Sam called out.
“Almost.” He answered and winced when the little bit jerked. He lowered his voice immediately. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I’s not skert.” Determination filled the syllables. “More scoo-pah?”
“I need sugar.” Grimacing, he sealed up the flour bag and hoisted it over to rest on the beans, careful of the tiny figure latching onto his pant leg and trailing after him. At the sugar barrel, he repeated the action of putting a pinch on her palm. Glancing around to make sure no one was close, he squatted down so he could be on eye level even if she couldn’t see him. “Taste it.”
No hesitation marked her reaction, she held her palm straight to her mouth and licked the sugar. Her face filled with delight and then she stuck the hand back at him. “More.”
Chuckling, he gave her another pinch and then filled the bag, aware of her forlorn expression as she leaned on the barrel. What else could he scoop that would make noise for her? He looked at the stock barrels. They didn’t need as much sugar as the others, so he sealed up the bag and when he walked down to the barrel of nails, he placed both of her palms on it.
“Ready?”
She nodded. “Scoo-pah.”
It made a fearful racket as he rooted through container, but her laughter spiraled upward and he kept at it until Sam thumped him. “We don’t need nails!”
Rubbing the back of his head, Jason glared at his older brother. The little bit grabbed ahold of Jason’s leg and pressed up to him. “Ow.”
“What are you doing?” Micah appeared along with the store keep and the man frowned until he spotted the little girl.
“Olivia!” Parental disapproval cracked through his voice and the little bit fisted her hands against Jason. Instantly disliking the man for yelling at her, he glared. “Millicent!” The shopkeeper shouted over his shoulder. “Sorry, boys. Olivia’s supposed to be upstairs with her Ma.” He snapped his fingers, the action irritated Jason further, but Olivia lurched away from him and followed the sound, with Sam and Micah getting out of her way. Dammit, she’s not supposed to be in the shop. She could get hurt.
The store keep swept her up into his arms and she hugged him. “Sorry, Papa.”
“It’s okay, Mr. Stark,” Jason defended her. “She liked the noise.”
“Yes, she does.” He smiled, but carried the little bit away. “But we don’t play in the store…” He wasn’t talking to them anymore.
Micah bumped his shoulder. “Grab the bags. We need to leave.”
Annoyed, Jason shoved him. “Stop hitting me.”
Blinking, Micah backed up a step. “Hey, sorry. We’re late leaving and you took too long getting the bags.” What’s wrong with you?
Uncaring of the reason, Jason grabbed up his stack of bags and struggled with the weight. Sam reached for one, but he avoided them. It was his job, he’d get it done. Hauling his load up to the counter, he was sweating by the time he stacked them.
The store keep returned—sans the little bit—and eyed the three of them. “All right boys, let me tally this up and tell your Pa, I’ll put it on his account.”
“Thank you, sir.” Sam answered. “Our apologies if Jason bothered your daughter.” Wonder why she talks funny?
He hadn’t been bothering her. Pain twitched behind his right eye.
Don’t know what we’re going to do with that girl, can’t take our eyes off her for a minute.
Want to see about the horses.
Maybe Pa will let me pick out the gun I want on my next birthday.
The thoughts collided and added to the pain drilling into the side of his brain. Seizing the heavy bags, Jason elbowed Sam to get him out of the way and then set off across the store.
“Jason!”
He had no idea which one called him, the voices were damn near dizzying. He had to get out of the store. The street wasn’t much better, but he made it halfway to the livery before Sam jerked the heaviest bag off of him. Micah took the others, they could both shoulder the burdens. Digging a knuckle against the corner of his eye, he almost sighed as the noise rose as they weaved in and out of folks. Too much noise seemed to be as much of a relief as none.
Stopping dead in the middle of the street, Jason jerked around to look back at the store. He hadn’t heard the little bit in his head. He’d not heard any of them when she’d latched onto him.
Torn between wonder and tears, he didn’t see Sam until his brother jerked his ear.
“Stop dawdling.”
The twist hurt and he gave Sam a shove, but he walked backward, staring at the shop. How come he couldn’t hear Olivia?
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
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Also by Heather Long
Always a Marine Series
Once Her Man, Always Her Man
Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here
Tell It to the Marine
Proud to Serve Her
Her Marine
No Regrets, No Surrender
The Marine Cowboy
The Two and the Proud
A Marine and a Gentleman
Combat Barbie
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
What Part of Marine Don’t You Understand?
A Marine Affair
Marine Ever After
Marine in the Wind
Marine with Benefits
A Marine of Plenty
A Candle for a Marine
Marine under the Mistletoe
Have Yourself a Marine Christmas
Lest Old Marines Be Forgot
Her Marine Bodyguard
Bravo Team Wolf
When Danger Bites
Chance Monroe
Earth Witches Aren’t Easy
Plan Witch from Out of Town
Bad Witch Rising
Elite Metal
Pure Copper (Elite Metal)
Target: Tungsten (Elite Ghosts)
Asset: Arsenic (Elite Elements)
Fevered Hearts
Marshal of Hel Dorado
Brave are the Lonely
Micah & Mrs. Miller
A Fistful of Dreams
Raising Kane
Wanted: Fevered or Alive
Wild and Fevered
The Quick & The Fevered
Going Royal
Some Like It Royal
Some Like It Scandalous
Some Like It Deadly
Some Like it Secret
Some Like it Easy
Her Marine Prince
* * *
Blocked (Hot on Ice)
* * *
Lone Star Leathernecks
Semper Fi Cowboy
As You Were, Cowboy
* * *
Magic & Mayhem
Bridget’s Witch’s Diary
Mongrels
Mongrels, Mischief & Mayhem
* * *
Space Cowboy
Space Cowboy Survival Guide
Showdown at the Omega Kilo Space Station
Wolves of Willow Bend
Wolf at Law
Wolf Bite
Caged Wolf
Wolf Claim
Wolf Next Door
Rogue Wolf
Bayou Wolf
Untamed Wolf
Wolf with Benefits
River Wolf
Single Wicked Wolf
Desert Wolf
Snow Wolf
Wolf on Board
Holly Jolly Wolf
Shadow Wolf
Thunder Wolf
Ghost Wolf
* * *
Standalone
Haunt Me