Shorn: Chapter 30

Shorn and Melda were sitting at the table drinking tea and talking softly when the door to the kids’ bedroom opened and Lysa came out. She saw Shorn, and her eyes lit up.

“Shorn!”

Melda was up in an instant, shushing her. “Be quiet. Moll is sleeping.”

Lysa ran to Shorn. “You saved her.”

“Yes.”

She climbed onto his lap and put her arms around his neck. “I knew you would. I knew it all along. You can do anything.”

The boys came shuffling out then, rubbing their eyes sleepily. Melda shushed them before they could speak. They saw Shorn, ran to him and climbed into his lap.

Rascal waddled out last, looking around with his bright, curious eyes. He gave a happy trill when he spied Shorn and scurried over. He climbed up over the mass of children and settled in on his spot on Shorn’s shoulder. Shorn turned to look at him. Rascal put his paws on either side of Shorn’s face and looked him in the eye. The young raccoon chirred seriously at Shorn.

“He’s mad because you left without saying goodbye,” Lysa said.

“Is that true?” Shorn asked Rascal. Rascal chirred again, then rubbed his cheek against Shorn’s.

“Look, he forgives you,” Pol said.

“He wasn’t the same while you were gone,” Melda said. “He was very naughty. Weren’t you, Rascal?”

“He broke the honey pot,” Kit said. “There was honey everywhere.”

Rascal seemed to know they were talking about him because he made a soft, sad sound and put his paws over his eyes.

“Act as cute as you want,” Melda said. “You’re still in trouble for breaking the pot. Making sad little sounds doesn’t change that.”

Rascal buried his face in the crook of Shorn’s neck in response. Melda shook her head.

“Did you rescue the slaves?” Kit asked.

“Lower your voice,” Melda said. “Moll is sleeping in Shorn’s room.”

“That’s—” Kit started, but was cut off by his mother.

“Shh.”

“Where are the others?” Kit asked.

“They chose to go their own ways,” Shorn said.

“Oh.” Kit frowned. “But Moll is here.”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad you’re back. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Shorn pulled them all close. “I missed all of you.”

 

They sat down to breakfast. Ren toddled out, holding her doll. She squealed when she saw Shorn and then insisted on sitting on his lap while they ate.

After saying she thought he was looking a little thin after his journey, Melda piled food in front of Shorn: eggs, bacon, biscuits with gravy, fried potatoes, fresh tomatoes, berries with cream.

“Enough,” Shorn said finally. “I can’t eat any more. I’ll be too full to work.”

Melda put her hands on her hips. “You’re not working today, mister. You’re going to eat and go right to sleep.”

“But I noticed that the beanfield needs—”

“The children and I can handle it.”

Groans arose from the children, silenced when Melda gave them a look.

“Don’t worry,” Shorn said. “I won’t sleep all day. I’ll come out and help later.”

“No, you won’t,” Melda said firmly. “You are going to rest today.”

“But you said Moll is sleeping in Shorn’s room,” Kit said.

“I will go back out to the barn,” Shorn said. “I think Patience misses me.”

“I miss you,” Ren said.

“Is Moll going to live with us now?” Lysa asked.

Melda and Shorn exchanged looks. “We don’t know yet,” Melda said. “But she is welcome to.”

Lysa smiled. “I hope so. I never had a big sister before. I’d like that very much.”

(If you're interested in reading more of Shorn's story from the time before this current one, go check out Wreckers Gate. It's book one of Immortality and Chaos, the series where we first meet Shorn. I will warn you that he doesn't appear until book 2, though!)

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