The Fox helped Brody pull up his boxers and jeans. They’d need to have a shower after they checked on Autumn. As they headed out of the room, he heard a high-pitched scream.
The Fox took off toward the sound, his heart pounding.
He never panicked. Except when he thought that Brody or Autumn might be in harm’s way. That they might get hurt.
“Autumn!” he called out. “Where are you?”
His voice sounded far calmer than he felt. He was aware of Brody behind him. There was a thump, and the other man cursed briefly.
The Fox glanced back. “What happened?”
“Go, go!” Brody panted. “I just banged my toe.”
“Shit. I’ll check it soon,” he told Brody without breaking his stride. “Autumn? Where are you?”
“Pantry!” Autumn yelled back.
The Fox burst into the kitchen to find Autumn sprawled on the floor of the large pantry. There was a container lying next to her as well as a stool.
Hmm. Now he had an idea of what had happened.
That container had come from the top shelf. And he could specifically recall telling Autumn to wait for him to get it down for her.
“Where are you hurt?” he demanded as he kneeled down, running his hands over her. “Are you all right?”
“Y-yes, I think so.” She sniffled. “I got a fright.”
“Can you sit?” The Fox asked. “Do you need a doctor?”
“No! No! No doctor!”
“I can contact Hack or the Surgeon,” he suggested. He’d called on the Surgeon before when Hack had been away. It was very inconvenient that people wanted to vacation when he needed them.
“No! Hack is probably getting ready for the barbecue and the Surgeon is . . . terrifying. Besides, I’m fine. I can sit! See!”
Autumn attempted to sit and the Fox quickly helped her up. Hmm. She seemed to be moving all right. But he’d judge whether she needed a doctor. He really didn’t understand why she thought the Surgeon was so scary. Something about him being dead inside.
The Fox was a good example of how a person could be resurrected. His Sunshine had sparked something to life inside him that had been fanned into flames by his babies.
Brody rushed into the room, pausing to take stock. “Uh-oh, seems someone else is going to get her bottom spanked.”
“What?” she cried. “Are you saying that you got your bottom spanked? And I didn’t even get to watch?”
“Well, I can put a mirror in front and behind you if you want to watch your own spanking,” the Fox told her grimly.
“What? I don’t want to watch my own spanking! I like watching Brody’s butt turn pink, then red. What did he do?”
“Well, I can tell you what I didn’t do,” Brody said. “I didn’t get on a stool that I was told not to get on. And I didn’t reach upfor a container that I was told not to get. And I didn’t fall over, and come close to cracking my head open!”
Hmm. The Fox looked up at Brody. He sounded rather grouchy, which wasn’t like him.
“Are you upset with me?” Autumn asked Brody as she stared up at him. Her eyes filled with tears, and her lower lip trembled.
“You could have really hurt yourself, Autumn,” Brody scolded as he crouched next to her. “What if you’d hit your head?”
Autumn sniffled, looking really sad.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, keeping her gaze lowered. “I thought that I could get the container by myself without bothering anyone. But then I started wobbling when I was on the step stool. And my foot kind of slipped. I really don’t understand how it happened; it’s not like I was that far off the ground. Anyway, I’m not hurt, so no one has to be upset with me. Please, Brody-bear.” She raised her head to give Brody a very sad look.
