“You sense danger?” Riley asked.
“No, not that. It’s like when you’re in the woods, and you feel like you’re not alone, ya know?” Lucas answered.
“I understand,” Riley said, inhaling deeply as he faced off in the direction Lucas kept looking.
“Only it’s different,” Lucas said frustratedly.
“Is it like feeling like you’re not alone, or not?” Riley said, starting to get frustrated.
“Kinda, and kinda not. Probably just me. Ignore it. I don’t sense danger anyway,” Lucas said.
“May be something out there, wolf or something passing through but attracted by all the activity,” Riley said.
“Most likely,” Lucas agreed.
“This one!” Cristie cried, dancing around a nine foot Scotch pine, perfectly shaped tree. “I want this one!”
Riley looked at Maia who was clapping and dancing, but beside the stroller. “Is that yours?” Riley asked.
“It is! She’s got excellent taste,” Maia said, nodding to affirm her own opinion.
“That’s it, then. Cut her down, Lucas!” Riley said.
Five minutes later Lucas had cut the tree down, and was trimming away the low hanging branches. Once he was done, he hoisted it on his shoulder and followed Riley and his family back toward the front, but not before turning back again to throw a glance over his shoulder into the darkness.
Once back at the front, Lucas stopped at the netting station, slipped the tree through the netter, and then tagged it with the price. “Is that it?” Lucas said, fully expecting Maia to choose as many trees as Riley would let her get away with.
“We need one for the diner, too, but it needs to be more slender so it won’t take up much room,” Maia said, taking a sleeping Sebastian out of the stroller and cuddling him to her chest.
“I know exactly where some more slender trees are. You want me to show you?” Lucas asked.
“No, I trust you. Can you get us one of them, though?” Maia asked.
“Absolutely, Reigna. Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be right back,” Lucas answered.
“I wanna go!” Cristie announced. “I want to pick it out. Mama says I have good taste,” she informed Lucas.
“Well, come on, then,” Lucas said, picking her up and putting her on his shoulders. “We’ll be right back,” Lucas said as he and Cristie walked off into the trees again.
“He’s getting to be himself again,” Maia remarked.
“He is. I think the key is not to leave him too much time to think. Gotta keep him busy,” Riley agreed. “Let me get this tree over to Travis, then I’ll come back here and wait for the one for the diner.”
“Okay,” Maia said, following Riley as he hoisted the tree and carried it like it weighed nothing.
“Found one?” Travis asked as he handed a gentleman his change, and focused on Riley and Maia.
“Yep. A big one. And Lucas has gone back for the one for the diner,” Riley said.
“Well, good. We’ll wait ‘til he gets back and ring them up together,” Travis said.
“I’m gonna run get the stroller. I’ll be back,” Riley said to Maia.
“Okay. We’ll wait right here,” Maia answered.
Soon as Riley was out of earshot, Maia turned to Travis. “Congratulations, Travis. I’m thrilled for you and Libby.”
“Thanks, Maia. We’re very happy,” Travis said.
“I’m glad. But, I wouldn’t be a true friend or her Reigna, if I didn’t warn you that if you hurt her again, like you’ve been in the habit of doing, I’ll castrate you,” Maia said in an even tone, smiling sweetly and batting her eyes at him.
Travis barked out a laugh. “I’m sure you would, but it won’t come to that. If anyone is left hurting over this ever, it will be me. I’ll never let her go. She makes me whole, Maia. Haven’t felt like a man in a long time. But all I have to do is look at her, and I’m whole again.”
“Glad to hear it,” Maia said sincerely.
“Besides, you’d have to stand in line anyway,” Travis said, laughing.
“What?” Maia asked, obviously confused.
Travis took his phone out of his pocket and after opening it to a particular message, held it out for Maia to read.
Maia started laughing so hard she had to pat Sebastian's back to keep him asleep. “Yeah, I think even I’d defer to Delilah.”
Travis turned his phone toward himself and read Delilah’s text again. “I am happy for you, Tiger. Do not screw it up, else you may be referred to as Tigress ever after. I expect an invitation to the celebration as I helped you fix it. Be happy, Tiger.”
“I’m back,” Riley said, walking up to Maia, pushing the stroller in front of himself.
“You know… looking at your phone, reminds me of Roman’s phone. I’ve been trying to call him all day. He’s here, isn’t he?” Maia asked Travis.
“Yeah, he is. He’s off helping customers with their trees. Ya’ll must have missed each other coming and going. You need him?” Travis asked.
“No, I wanted to talk to him since I haven’t in a few days,” Maia answered. “Is he doing okay? Do you know if he’s spoken to Talie?”
“I’m not sure about Talie, other than a text asking him to give her a little time because she had to take care of something. But he seems like he’s adjusting. He shows up here and offers to help with whatever we need every single day,” Travis explained.
“I hate to see him hurting. He’s so kind hearted, so good. He deserves to be happy,” Maia said.
“I agree,” Travis said.
“Here we are!” Lucas called out from the netting station.
“I picked out this one, too, Doddy!” Cristie said, running from the netting station where Lucas worked on placing the plastic netting around the tree, to where Maia and Riley stood talking with Travis.
“Then it must be the absolute best one left out there,” Riley said.
Lucas walked over with the tree for the diner and held out the tag so Travis could add the trees up.
“Sixty, even,” Travis said.
“That’s it?” Riley asked, hesitating to peel off the bills until he was sure he didn’t owe more.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Travis said.
“But we painted and everything,” Riley said.
“It’s all paid for. Only thing you owe is for the trees,” Travis said.
“Okay, if you say so,” Riley answered, handing Travis three twenties. Then he turned to Lucas and handed him a twenty.
“What’s this?” Lucas asked.
“A tip, for carrying the trees and helping us find them,” Riley said.
“You don’t have to do…” Lucas said.
“Just keep it. Besides, Maia expects you to get a tree before you leave here. Use it for that if nothing else,” Riley said.
“Alright,” Lucas said.
“That’s right, I want everyone to have a tree,” Maia announced.
“Here,” Riley said, counting off more money and handing it to Travis. “A tree for everybody in the Pride. Richie, Lucas, Roman, and Lazarus. One for Constance, too.”