Dutch nuzzled his nose along the shell of my ear. “We’ll stay until you’re asleep.”
“Well,” Range grunted as he shifted away from me, “I think this is as good of a time as any to get her up to her room so she can sleep soundly.”
I peeked a tired eye open. “My room?”
Range tilted his head as he slid his arms beneath my naked form. “How do you feel about the room we put you in earlier?”
“Behind the wall?” I asked as a yawn peeled from my lips.
Range lifted me into the air. “Yeah, that room.”
I nuzzled underneath his chin as he cradled me close. “Can we take the paint off that window?”
Troop chuckled. “We can do whatever you want to the room.”
“Let me get the door,” Dutch said as he scrambled to get up from the bed.
“Of course, we can,” Range whispered as he held me in his grasp.
I floated through the air, my body bouncing with the stairs as Range somehow found the strength to carry me all the way up there. I closed my eyes and tried my best to stay awake, but when the comforting sheets of that bed graced my skin, I succumbed to the darkness. It pulled me under, dragging me into a comforting sleep as someone pulled a sheet over my body.
And the last thing I heard was Range’s command before it was light’s out.
“Troop, go get a paint scraper. Let’s get this window ready for her before we leave.”
EPILOGUE
NAOMI
The warm sun pulled me from sleep, and the seagulls chirping outside brought a lopsided smile to my face. My aching body rolled over, and I crooked myself enough to see that the bay window was free to shine light inside of the room whenever possible. It made me smile as I pressed myself up. I dragged my feet over the edge of the plush bed and hung my head, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
But, when I lifted my head, I found something green hanging on the closed closet door.
“Huh?”
I planted my tired feet into the soft carpet and dragged my tired ass over to the closet. I had to get closer before it came into focus since my body apparently wanted to protest being up. But, when it came into view, I found the piece of clothing absolutely sparkling.
“What the--?”
I reached out and fingered the silken fabric. The hunter green color shimmered in the morning sunlight as it poured through the freed bay window, and I realized that it was a silken nightgown with a matching robe to wrap around my shoulders. I smiled as I plucked it off the hanger. I wasted no time getting into it, feeling the cool fabric slosh against my skin.
But, when I grasped the robe, a piece of paper fell to the ground.
“Always full of surprises,” I said with a smile on my face.
I should’ve known the note was from Dutch. That seemed to be a way that he enjoyed communicating. But, the words upon the note brought tears to my eyes.
Tears of happiness, and joy, that reminded me I had chosen correctly for once in my fucking life.
L.G.,
Here’s to starting a wardrobe that belongs to you.
Dutch
“Oh, Dutch,” I whispered.
I set the note right by my bedside before making my way into the bathroom. I needed to clean myself up and get some water splashed into my face before I attempted to take on the day. But, the second I crossed the threshold, the sight of the bathroom woke me up immediately.
