Rosie escapes Roman’s hold and launches herself at me like some pocket-sized rocket, her tiny hands gripping my wrist. “You’re so pretty! Can you sit next to me!? I never get to sit next to girls. It's always yucky boys.”
I chuckle and let the girl guide me to one of the chairs at the dining table, but Roman gets there before me, pulling out my chair before I can.
“Thanks,” I attempt a smile and lower myself, watching as he does the same for Rosie.
“This one here is Caleb,” Silas tucks his son close, who’s watching me with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
“Hi Caleb,” I give him a small wave, but he tucks his face into his dad’s chest. He looks a lot like both Silas and Roman, with that dark mop of hair and eyes to match his dad’s.
While Silas settles Caleb into the chair beside him, Roman takes the seat beside me and starts lifting the lids off the food waiting in the middle of the table.
“Are you really married to Uncle Rome?” Rosie asks, stealing my attention. She stares right at my face, practically vibrating in her chair.
“I am,” I confirm. “Is that okay?”
“Is it okay!?” She gasps, eyes comically wide. “It’s the bestest! Can you braid hair!?”
“Yes.” I laugh.
“Daddy!” Rosie whips her head to her father. “She can braid hair! She can teach you how to do mine, then Becky won’t make fun of me no more.”
Oh shit. I meet Roman’s eyes over the top of Rosie’s head, but he just shakes his and jerks his chin to the food, silently telling me to eat.
“Come on, Rosie,” Silas urges her, “Let’s get some food, okay?”
“I’ve had food!” Shecrosses her arms.
“Cake isn’t dinner.”
Once the kids have been served, I place some of the food onto a plate and settle back, watching them all interact. This isn’t what I had been expecting at all. This isnormaland amusing. Roman attempts to keep Rosie focused on her food, but it really isn’t working when she keeps firing questions at me. I don’t mind at all, and I answer each one the best I can, looking for permission each time just in case I say something I shouldn’t. Like I said, I haven’t been around many children and don’t really know what’s okay and what’s not.
“How are you finding the ranch, Miss Calloway?” Silas asks while Rosie is focused on getting some peas onto her fork, the question coming out of him so formal it catches me off guard.
“Mrs.” Roman grunts.
Silas smirks. “Of course.Mrs.Calloway.”
I feel like he did that on purpose, but I don’t comment and answer the best I can, “I haven’t been here long enough yet.”
“She hasn’t left the house,” Roman fills in.
I throw a glare at him. “It’s not even been a day.”
“And he’s not offered a tour?” Silas tuts. “Brother, that’s not like you.”
“I’m sure Niamh can find her own way round,” Roman grinds out. “She has a talent for finding things not meant to be found.”
My lips pop open.
“Oh, that’s right, the falls,” Silas chuckles. “So you really swim out there?”
“You told him?” I gasp at Roman, though I’m not sure why I’m so offended; it’s not like it was our little secret.
“Your secret is safe with me, Niamh,” Silas assures me, but he’s grinning like all of this is amusing to him. “But Roman really should take you on a tour.”
“Wait!” Rosie yells. “You swim out at the falls? Can you take me?Pleassseeeee.”
The smile on Silas’s face drops. “Rosie, you can’t swim.”
