His Lullaby Baby

by Airicka Phoenix

  With a wave, she was gone. Toby watched the sway of her hips and the shimmer of sunlight weaving through all that hair before she rounded a corner and was gone.

  “That was painful,” Mark decided with a slow, contemplative nod. “But hilarious.”

  Toby shoved him. “Shut up.”

  “You know what we need?” He didn’t wait for Toby to tell him he didn’t care. “Ice … for your balls!”

  The asshole burst into a riot of laughter that turned heads. Toby ignored him and made his way onward in the direction they’d been headed before he’d been mowed down by a door. He glanced back once in the direction Addy had taken and wondered if they really would see each other again.

  Toby loved his niece and nephews. At least, that was what he told himself on repeat the whole way out of town in the direction of Willow Creek’s only bed and breakfast, but between their various ages and genders, having the four crammed into the back of Willa’s minivan was like putting a pack of hungry mountain lions in a small cage and then throwing in a steak. It was a nightmare and he was relieved he was rarely asked to chauffeur them anywhere.

  The eldest at sixteen, Rosie, seemed to be the only one watching the scenery pass by with the anticipation of a child on her way to Disneyland. One seat forward, Willa’s two kids, Kari and Owen were screaming at each other for all they were worth over who was in who’s space more. At the very back, Colten sat in a teenage pout, glowering at the world outside the window like it had peed in his breakfast that morning. Yet despite their differences, all four had one thing in common and that was the family history.

  The McClain’s had a long standing tradition of never doing anything the traditional way. It started with his dad and his Aunt Lily, back before she married his Uncle Sloan. The two made a mistake that landed them with Toby’s sister Calla. Lily went on to marry Sloan, who was Toby’s father’s brother and together, they had Willa. His dad went on to marry Toby’s mom and had Toby. They also adopted Damon, who wound up marrying and having two babies with Willa. Calla married Damon’s best friend Jared and had Colten. Then a few years back, Damon learned he had a half-sister and Rosie was brought into the family.

  In the scheme of things, it all made perfect sense to him. He just hated having to explain to people that no, Willa wasn’t his sister, but his cousin. Yes, Damon was his brother, but not by blood. No, Calla wasn’t his full sister. Yes, Rosie was family. It was just easier to walk away or go along with it. Most of the people from Willow Creek knew the story. The McClain’s were practically celebrities and not just because of the scandalous stuff, but because they had made a big name for themselves throughout the years. Calla had her fashion boutiques. The one in Willow Creek and the new one she’d opened up in Newburry the year before. Willa had her photography studio that she shared with their mom and printed small, freelance articles in the Willow Creek Gazette. Also, the entire family had chipped in to open Willa’s bistro. Plus there was his Uncle Sloan’s moving company that was mostly run by Damon and Jared, and Toby’s dad had his computer repair business. In all, the McClain’s were a household name, except for Toby. Aside from his ten year long service in the military and his charity work around town, he didn’t own a business. He didn’t have a family. He didn’t even have a home. His last real girlfriend had been back in high school and she’d left him the moment he’d told her he’d enrolled. Apparently, she was too young to wait for a guy going overseas to fight someone else’s war. He’d been fine with that. Truth be told, he’d been kind of relieved. He hadn’t been sure he liked the idea of someone waiting for him at home, putting their lives on hold and worrying about whether or not he’d come back. He saw Lindsey occasionally around town. She was married with two boys.

  The dirt road curved off the main highway leading out of town and veered deep into miles of wilderness. If it weren’t for the giant sign hammered down on the edge of the split off, no one would ever know the inn existed.

  “Macy’s Bed and Breakfast,” he muttered under his breath as he turned the wheels onto the path.

  Macy’s Bed and Breakfast was no longer owned by Macy Boyd. After fifty years, the original Macy had packed her things and gone off to explore the world before her time was up. She’d bought an RV and left her pride and joy to some niece Toby had never heard about or met. Frankly, it had never bothered him. He’d never had any reason to stay at the place. His very last memory of it was being eight and getting lifted onto the tractor for the Halloween hayride. Then he’d gotten older and refused to go.

  The charming little cottage, painted a faded slate gray with white trim, sat in the hollow of endless wilderness. Rolling hills stretched to the base of towering trees way back in the distance. It brought back memories of him, Calla, Willa and Damon running crazy through the place. He’d been younger and slower, and ridiculed for both. Had it not been for Calla, he was sure no one would have ever noticed him. It was why Calla was his favorite sibling to this day.

  “We’re here!” Rosie’s shriek of joy nearly sent Toby off the road in fright.

  He’d barely pulled to a full stop when she leaped out of the car and sprinted around the side of the house. The others followed at a far less enthusiastic manner, except Kari, who was forced to wait for Toby to help her with the seatbelt her four year old little fingers weren’t strong enough to disengage. It was a fact Owen teased her about mercilessly. Today was no exception.

  “Aw, can’t Mommy’s baby get out of her seat?”

  “Owen!” Toby’s warning went ignored as Kari broke into tears.

  “I’m telling Mommy!” she wailed.

  Swearing under his breath, Toby threw open his door and rolled out, cane first, just as Owen hopped out, snickering and pointing a finger at his sister in mocking torture.

  “Stop it!” Kari shrieked, legs kicking.

  “Owen, dude, seriously?” Placing a hand on the top of the boy’s head, Toby maneuvered him away from the van. “Not cool.”

  Moving around him, Toby leaned into the car with some difficulties and unsnapped the belt. He scooped Kari up and set her gently down on the dirt path.

  The moment her tiny feet hit the ground, she was off running with Owen chasing after her. Toby let them go. He turned to the only other person remaining.

  “Hey, you ready?” he asked Colten.

  “This is stupid,” the boy grumbled.

  “It’s horseback riding,” Toby said. “What’s stupid about that?”

  “It’s for girls,” Colten replied tartly. “It’s stupid, but Mom won’t let me drop it. Apparently, I made a commitment.” Toby almost smirked at the air quotes around commitment. “But I didn’t ask to be here. She signed me up for it.”

  “Okay, but…” He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “If you’re the only guy surrounded by girls…”

  The look on the boy’s face of sheer disgust said it all before Toby could even finish. It took him a moment to remember that twelve year old boys didn’t care about girls and if they did, it was all still too awkward to talk about.

  He decided to change tactics. “Owen’s there.”

  The sneer deepened. “Owen’s a wimp.”

  “Ooookay, how about this? We will find you the most fierce and dangerous horse they have and we will make you look badass riding it, even if I have to go out and buy you a cape.”

  Eyes that were the same blue as his mother’s narrowed. “Who wears a cape horseback riding?”

  Toby hesitated. “Zorro? Look.” He put a hand up when the boy recoiled. “My job is to drop you guys off. I am not prepared for motivational pep talking. They’re horses. They’re big and smelly. That is basically all I can tell you about them, but I do know that your mom wants you here so this is where you will be.”

  Colten’s mouth pursed. “This is stupid.”

  “Yes, but imagine how much stupider it would have been if you’d agreed to the cape.” He set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “So, how do you normally do this? Do I have to sign you in or some
thing?”

  “I don’t know,” Colten muttered grudgingly.

  “Signing in it is.”

  Boy in tow, Toby made his way to the house and stepped through the squeaky screen door. Immediately, he was assaulted by the change. All the lacy dollies and creepy cat figurines were gone. The faded lattice wallpaper had been removed and the walls were painted a very dark grayish blue that complimented the oak counter taking up the foyer and the stairs leading up further down a narrow, sunbathed hallway. On either side of him were doorways, one leading into the dining area and the other to a parlor of sorts. But the whole placed smelled like hot, gooey, delicious cookies. The chocolate chip kind. His favorite. His stomach whimpered.

  “Are you here for a room?”

  The disembodied voice startled the crap out of Toby before he found the source of it.

  A boy of ten sat behind the desk, peering back at him with big, brown eyes narrowed in suspicion through a mess of unruly brown hair. The high counter completely hid him unless one were to peer over the top and down. He sat rigid on the stool, reminding Toby of a stern teacher lecturing students about tardiness.

  “Uh…” Toby stole another glance around the place. “Is there a—”

  “We don’t do by the hour,” the boy stated flatly. “All charges must be made by cash or credit. There is a deposit of—”

  “I’m not here for a room,” Toby cut in. “And why would you think I’d need it for the hour?”

  “Willow Creek is about eight miles east.” The boy seamlessly changed gears, tactfully ignoring Toby’s insulted question. “Just turn around and head—”

  “Horses!” Toby blurted before he could be given anymore rates or directions. “Dear God, we’re here for the horses.”

  The boy never blinked. “Out those doors and around the house. Someone will meet you.”

  Eyeing the kid a moment, Toby reached for Colten who stood staring a little too intensely at a stack of brochures lining the counter. The boy followed his hand. His head tilted to one side to get a better view and his eyes widened.

  “Colten?”

  Colten barely glanced up. “Hey Sean.”

  Sean glanced at Toby again. Then at Colten. His expression stating very clearly that he didn’t understand why Toby was there with Colten, but he didn’t trust the situation not to be something weird.

  “I’m just the uncle,” Toby told him quickly before the situation could get any more awkward. “Thanks for your help.”

  The boy said nothing as Toby led a stiff Colten out the door.

  “You guys friends?” he asked as the screen door shut behind them.

  “We go to school together,” Colten mumbled. “He’s in Owen’s class.”

  Toby nodded slowly. “That must be nice.”

  Colten shrugged. “Guess.”

  But there was a distinct flush in the boy’s face as they made their way around the side of the house. Toby wondered about it, then just as quickly dismissed it and focused on locating the rest of his crew.

  The barn came into view almost immediately. It was tucked away at the bottom of an incline, right up against a clump of trees. The scream of children laughing filled the air, growing louder the closer Toby drew.

  There were at least ten of them, Toby realized with some surprise. Children of various sizes and ages all ran crazy over the fields. He spotted Kari and Owen, but his attention prickled when he couldn’t find Rosie.

  “Where’s Rosie?”

  “She’s probably inside with Nightmare,” Colten supplied shortly.

  “Nightmare?” Because that wasn’t concerning at all.

  “Her horse,” Colten said. “Rosie’s the only one she’ll let ride her.”

  “Interesting.”

  They moved further in to join the others. He was the only adult present, he noticed with some suspicion.

  “So, how does this work? You all just rush the barn and grab a horse?”

  Colten eyed him like he was crazy. “We’re assigned horses, but we’re not allowed to go near them until Ms.—”

  Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by an uproar of delight as every child in the vicinity lost their ever loving minds. Toby whirled around, initially looking for Justin Bieber and finding something even better.

  Addy walked out of the barn, leading a beautiful chestnut brown mare by the harness. She’d changed her clothes. The skirt and blouse had been replaced by tight, body molding jeans and a loose t-shirt tucked into the waistband. Her feet were encased in soft, leather boots and her hair had been tied back at the base of her skull. She smiled wide as she took in the children. She waved at a couple who were bouncing up and down wildly for her attention. Behind her, Rosie followed, guiding her own mount, a beautiful white steed with spots of black and brown. There was nothing nightmarish about it, but Rosie looked on top of the world standing next to it.

  The pair came to a stop at the edge of the clearing and the crowd calmed gradually, but a few continued to bounce like the excitement was just too much for them to handle standing still.

  “Hey guys!” Addy beamed at each of them in turn. “You ready to start our class?”

  Like she needed to ask. The group shrieked with an enthusiasm that would have made Kiss fans proud.

  Addy laughed. “Okay, you guys know what to do, right? Rosie is going to help you so please wait for her or me.”

  They really did rush the barn then. But without the noise. Colten grumbled obscenities under his breath, but followed at a much less graceful stumble down the incline.

  Toby debated between walking over and leaving. Thankfully, his legs made the decision for him and he found himself ambling up to the woman and her horse.

  “Hey.”

  Brown eyes made even lighter by the glow of the sun shot up to him and widened. Her smile, he noted, grew into one of actual delight.

  “Hey!” She transferred the rains from one hand to the other. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was in the neighborhood and I realized we never exchanged information for that … incident.”

  Addy chuckled uncertainly. “Really?”

  Toby grinned. “No, I’m dropping people off.”

  “Oh!” Her eyes went even rounder and bounced off the little heads running around. “You have children? Which—”

  “Yeah, no, I am not a card carrying member of the parental society.” He motioned to where Kari stood with two other little girls. “I’m on uncle duty.”

  “McClain!” she blurted and smacked herself lightly on the forehead. “Why didn’t…” She squeezed her eyes shut tight and shook her head. “It didn’t even dawn on me. I should have realized who you were.”

  Toby arched a brow. “Like from what you’ve heard about me, because I can promise only the majority of the rumors are true?”

  Her laugh filled the space around them. “I meant I should have recognized the name. I guess I was more worried about you … being hurt,” she added quickly and with a slow, steady climb of warmth darkening her cheeks.

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Ms. Nixon, Libby took my horse and she says it’s hers!” a girl with giant glasses and pigtails whined.

  Addy shot him an apologetic smile. “Duty calls.”

  Toby nodded. “No problem. I should let you get back to having fun with … all this.”

  With another laugh, she waved and led her horse and the girl towards the barn. Toby shamelessly studied her ass as she sauntered away.

  Perfect, he thought with a low groan. Absolutely fucking perfect. She had the kind of ass that could easily fill a man’s greedy hands as she rode him…

  “Excuse me?”

  Startled out of his dirty thoughts, Toby actually jumped. He would have yelped if his pride would have allowed it. Guilt and mortification made his face hot, but he turned to the voice.

  Cartoon eyes blinked up at him. Each one could have passed for saucers, big and round and an intense gold that reminded him of cat eyes. They sat cen
ter on a small, pixie face littered with freckles and framed with an unruly mess of frizzy brown hair that had escaped the thin elastic struggling to contain the fine strands. She peered up at him, way up. Her neck was twisted as far back as it could possibly go and she was watching him with a seriousness no one that small should ever possess.

  “Hello,” Toby said.

  “That’s my horse,” she stated briskly, jabbing a finger towards the pony several yards away. “Her name is Pink Fairy Glitter.”

  Toby bit the inside of his cheek … hard, to keep from letting his grin take over. He gave the girl his best business face.

  “She is a very fine horse.”

  “Yes,” the girl agreed with a definite bob of her head. “But I’m small and I need help getting up. You’re an adult and I know I’m not allowed to talk to you, but I need to get on my horse.”

  “I see,” Toby mused. “Well, I can definitely try and help.”

  “Mommy says that I should tell you that I can scream very loudly.”

  Yup, this kid totally rocked.

  “I’ve been properly warned.”

  She led him to the horse and handed Toby the reins.

  “You hold the rain.”

  Toby arched a brow. “Do you mean reins?”

  The girl frowned at him. “That’s what I said.”

  He held the horse steady as the girl grabbed the horn on the saddle and hoisted herself pretty expertly on the pony’s back. He passed the leather straps over and made sure she was properly positioned before taking a step back.

  “There you go,” he said.

  She offered him a wide smile that showed off the two rows of white baby teeth. “Thank you, Stranger.”

  He watched her trot away before making his way back to the house. It took a bit more time thanks to the incline, but he limped his way to the van and paused. He dug out his phone and called Willa.

  “Hello?” She sounded breathless and a bit distracted.

  “Hey, it’s me.”

  “Toby, hi. Everything okay?”

  Toby glanced at the house. “Why don’t you let me pick the kids up after the lesson?”