Frostbite & bruises

Quickly she glanced at the clock above the dining table... nine o’clock... Although it was far too early to go to sleep, Morgan had no desire to be overheard and lectured by Steve. As sweet as his concern was, it was starting to become suffocating. She was a grown woman and had already had to make some tough decisions in her life, and as nice as it had been to have someone looking out for her, Steve’s concern was starting to go too far. Morgan knew she had to talk to him about it, but not tonight, tonight she needed time to give what had happened between her and Nox a place.

“Hey girl! Where have you been?” Mads’ whispering voice startled her and she looked back at the bed in surprise.

“I’m sorry if I woke you up, I was trying to be as quiet as possible, but um... I had just gone downstairs to talk to Nox...” Technically, it wasn’t a lie, she had talked to Nox. That something more than just talking had happened, she didn’t necessarily need to share... ....

“Morgan?”

With a trapped look in her eyes, Morgan looked at the older woman. “Sorry Mads, my mind wandered a bit...”

Mads grinned. “I noticed that... Would you mind closing the door for a moment, please? There’s something I’d like to know.”

With a soft sigh, Morgan did as the older woman had asked her to. She had an idea of what Mads was going to ask, and she had so hoped she wouldn’t get a lecture tonight, she wasn’t in the mood....

Before sitting down next to Mads, she glanced sideways at Reah, but her daughter was already back in her own bed, buried deep under the covers.

“Don’t worry about Reah, girl, she’s been asleep for a while now.” Mads gave her a broad smile. “But tell me... what’s going on between you and that big boy? All I hear is grumbling from Steve and he’s not very reliable...”

Surprised, Morgan looked at her.

“Listen dear. When our daughter was still living at home, there was no boy who was good enough for her. His... well... boorish behaviour once even caused her to leave home the week after her eighteenth birthday...” Mads sighed deeply at the memory. “Ohh, things eventually worked out between the two of them, but she never told us when she met a nice boy, just because she was afraid of her father’s reaction. What I’m trying to say is... don’t worry too much about Steve’s grumbling. I’d like to put him in his place, but he won’t listen to me anyway. The old woman shrugged her shoulders apologetically.

“But I did get a bit curious... so... tell me!”

A broad grin appeared around Morgan’s mouth at the sight of the older woman’s pleading look. “There’s not so much to tell yet...”

“‘Not that much’ yet...? Ooh! That sounds promising!”

Morgan began to chuckle at the sight of the amused gleam in Mad’s eyes. “Nox is... um, let’s say a man with instructions... I don’t quite know what to make of him... .... He’s gruff, sometimes bordering on loutish, but he can also be caring in his own strange way. I’m pretty sure that when this room was decorated, no one noticed that he put two extra blankets under your sleeping area...”

Mads’ eyebrows shot up and she carefully leaned over to lift the blanket underneath her. Lo and behold, at the very bottom were two old, thick quilts.

Stunned, the old woman sat up straight again. “I’ve had a lot of strange birds in my life, but Nox is by far the strangest...”

Morgan grinned, but before she could reply she heard the living room door open and close and turned her head towards the bedroom door. Nox had come upstairs...

An oppressive feeling crept up on her and Morgan waited nervously for Steve to open his mouth. Suddenly she felt a warm hand clasping hers and turned her head towards Mads. “Don’t worry, Steve will keep his mouth shut... Shane and the kids are in there too, so he won’t say anything yet...”

Hearing Mads’ words, Morgan’s queasy feeling subsided a little.

“But I think you should have a word with him tomorrow... Steve, I mean, not Nox. After all, I have nothing to do with your private affairs...”

Morgan felt her cheeks and ears start to glow at Matt’s double entendre. “There is nothing between Nox and me, Mads!”

The old woman patted her hand gently. “I was vaguely aware of the agreement you made, girl. But you are a grown woman with a good mind, your heart in the right place, and you know when to open your mouth. And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done...” She quickly put her hand up to silence Morgan. “Wait, I wasn’t done! And I know I should have said something, but... and I’m certainly not proud of it, but your sacrifice made sure we had a roof over our heads... .... .... I was going to ask Nox to join me today or tomorrow to ask him to cancel his agreement with you, but when you just walked in, with a blush on your cheeks and that ‘special’ twinkle in your eyes.... I don’t think it’s necessary any more. Or do you?”

As soon as Nox stepped into the living quarters, he felt the old man’s cold gaze on him and rolled his eyes. Why couldn’t the old man just mind his own business?

Without so much as a glance at Steve, he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a large mug of home-brewed moonshine.

“Anyone else want a drink?”

“Yaeh! I’d like to try some!” Nox involuntarily burst out laughing at the sound of the boy’s voice.

“I think your mother would hang me by my balls if I gave you this kid, I can make you a cup of tea though...” The boy’s low muttering was not lost on him and he grinned widely.

“Pour us a cup as well...” Shane was already up and walking towards the cupboard where the rest of the cups were. That afternoon, he and Morgan had changed the layout of the kitchen to suit the number of people who were there now, so the cups and plates were now in a cupboard near the dining table instead of in a kitchen cupboard.

To Nox’s surprise, the old man still did not say anything, something that surprised him, but also brought him some relief. Steve was probably keeping quiet now that there were others around, but he was willing to bet anything that the old man would call him to account once they were alone.

He had been a little surprised to find Morgan absent from the living room, but from the angry look on the old man’s face, he guessed that Morgan was in no mood for a lecture either and had retreated to the bedroom.

After filling the cups, he wished the two men and the children a good night and went to the bedroom he shared with Shane, but instead of going to sleep he lay staring into the dark, slowly sipping his moonshine and thinking back to the unexpected event of the night.

When Shane entered the bedroom a little later, Nox was fast asleep, and had Shane been able to see, he would have noticed the broad grin on his brother’s lips.