“What about me, then?” she quietly asked. “With Tamsin? How do we handle that?”
He sighed. “I’ll talk to Peyton. He has to know this. He might order ye to reveal it to her and get it over with so we can plan the next steps. But don’t fash yerself. Ye can’t live in limbo. It’s not healthy.”
“I don’t want to live in limbo, either,” she said. “I just want an…ethical way of decidin’ this. Without Tamsin feelin’ like she’s obligated to me. This wouldn’t be a problem for me if she weren’t recently widowed, mind ye. And honestly, Maisie’s dyin’ words to me were to tell Tamsin she wanted her to go on and be happy. But…” She shrugged. “The last thing I ever want is Tamsin feelin’ like she owes me somethin’.”
“I know.” She forced herself not to flinch when Badger laid his hands on her shoulders, but she didn’t sense him using his Prime on her. “Again, stop worryin’ about it. Deal with the immediate concern—teachin’ the bairns.”
She stood there watching as he drove off, her conversations with Peyton in the UK rolling through her mind.
Depending on how events played out, this gig might be the lowest stress she’d experience for…a while.
I guess I really should try to enjoy it. Goddess only knows what unholy hell might await us in the near future.
Turning, she headed back into the house.
Chapter Twelve
Ken
After saying hello to everyone, once Dewi finished nursing the baby, Ken took Lyssa out to their guest cottage to bathe and change her and put her down for a nap. Gillian had stocked everything the various new parents would need, like portable cribs, baby monitors, diapers, and other supplies, so they didn’t need to haul those things with them on the plane.
And then Ken took himself a desperately needed nap because this wasn’t his first rodeo with this family. While he hoped the birth of Asia’s baby would be the most exciting event to happen before they returned home, life was seldom that simple.
Rather, life with the Targhee Pack was seldom that simple.
At some point, he startled awake and arose to find Dewi nursing the baby out on the couch in the cabin’s living room.
She smiled up at him. “Sorry we woke you. I was hoping to let you sleep.”
“That’s okay. How long was I out?”
“Couple of hours. And she’s almost done.”
“Wow. I was really out of it.” Ken settled next to her on the couch.
“Yeah. Sorry about the rushed travel plans. Good news, though—Asia’s in labor. She started having contractions, but her water hasn’t broke yet. That’s why I ducked out. I’ll head back when this one’s full, if that’s okay? Just text me if I need to come nurse her.”
“Sure.” His stomach rumbled. “What about dinner?”
“I don’t think anyone’s thought that far ahead. We can put out a call for people to bring stuff.”
“No, don’t do that. I’ll cook.”
Dewi’s right eyebrow gracefully arched. “For wolves?”
“Hey, you have to admit my carnivore culinary skills have come a long way. Plus, I’m sure Tamsin and Nami will help. Let me do this for the family. It’s not like I’m doing anything else right now, except taking care of Lyssa. This way I’ll feel productive.”
“Okay. If you’re sure?”
“Yeah, absolutely. I already know my way around their kitchen. So do Nami and Tamsin. We’ve got this.”
“Well, Nami’s taking a nap, I think. But I’ll check when I leave and pass the word to her and Tam for you.”
“Cool.” He kissed her. “I’ll grab a wake-up shower while you’re still here.”
Thirty minutes later, a freshly showered Ken headed to the main house with Lyssa, who was once again asleep and tucked into her carrier. He set her carrier on a chair in the kitchen, where he could keep an eye on her, but she was safely out of the way. As for meat, there were plenty of fresh steaks in one of the two fridges, so that would be the primary protein. He was in the process of putting together three different casseroles for side dishes when Tamsin joined him in the kitchen, a portable baby monitor in hand, one with a video screen. She was staying in the main house, in the room she’d occupied during her earlier stay.
“Oh, would you like me to put Lyssa in my room?” she asked. “We can keep an eye on them with the monitor. There’s plenty of room for both of them in the crib.”
