"Okay, little warrior, it is your turn to lead Impavido to the stables. Now, take the reins in your hands, let’s show Mommy you can take control of this big horse."
Shade took his little hands within his and gripped the reins, teaching him how to manipulate the reins to turn the horse. They galloped slowly back to the stables where Kate waited for them, and Shade let Lorenzo have full control of the reins. He knew Impavido would respond appropriately. He could feel Lorenzo's excitement and happiness in having the reins.
Angelo helped Kate dismount and led Bravado away to the water trough, as Kate beamed at Lorenzo leading the huge stallion into the stables. "Good job, my beautiful boy!"
Lorenzo had a smile from ear to ear, as Shade dismounted and lifted Lorenzo down. "Are you tired yet, little warrior?"
Lorenzo was bouncing up and down. "Nope! I need my surprises."
"Ah yes, how many was it again? I think it was fifteen. I owe a lot of surprises."
Lorenzo looked up surprised and then looked to Kate. He knew it wasn’t fifteen, but he’d love to have fifteen surprises. Kate held his gaze and could see the wheels turning before he turned to his father. "It’s only five surprises, Daddy."
"I like your honesty, little warrior. Medici warriors are always honest."
Crouching down, Shade pulled out five small cards from his jeans pocket. "Now these cards are promises for surprises. You need to collect them, save them up. The more good deeds you do, the more cards you earn. I will make you a deal. I will give you five more to go with these five since you were so good tonight. You learned a lot of things, you listened well, and I was very proud of you. If you can save up fifty cards, I will let you get your own pony. Deal, si?"
Lorenzo looked like a bouncing ball as he took the cards. "I can do good deeds! What's a good deed, Daddy? Tell me and I will do it."
"A good deed is helping to keep your room clean. Helping Mommy when she needs it and also behaving, listening when you are told to do something. Rules, we have them for your safety and you must abide by them. But remember one thing, little warrior, if you do not abide and do good deeds, cards will be taken away. So, you need to earn a lot of cards to get that pony. Now come along, let’s get back to the house."
Grabbing bel’s hand, they began to walk back to the main house. He could hear the warriors at the camp, the sound of swords and grunting and he didn’t miss it at all. Being with his son and Kate was time he cherished.
“Is there something else you would like to do with Daddy tonight? This is your night, so you pick what you wish to do next."
Lorenzo picked up his feet, letting his parents carry his weight as he dangled between them. He kicked his feet out and swung forward, before landing on his feet again. "Can we play ball then? You and me and Mommy?"
"That is a good choice, little warrior. Let us see your coordination. I have a feeling it is pretty good."
Lorenzo broke free of their hands and took off running for the house. Shade pulled bel into his arms, kissing her passionately.
"I love you. And I love this night with you and Lorenzo. Grazie for reminding me of all the things I miss."
21
Lorenzo found his ball in the front yard and returned to the back yard to join his parents. He tossed the ball to Shade who tossed it back to him as Kate curled up in a comfy lounge chair on the patio.
Shade called out to her, "Are you bailing on the ball game already?"
Luca and Shannon emerged from the house and Lorenzo came running, grabbing Luca around the knees.
"Uncle Luca! Come play with us."
Luca picked him up, as Lorenzo squealed. "And what are we playing tonight, little warrior?”
Lorenzo held up his hand with the ball. "Mommy and Daddy are playing ball with me. We can all play!"
Kate felt a momentary sadness as she realized her child had never known the joy of playing with other children. His world was populated, and highly protected, by adults. She ran her hand over the small swell of her tummy, glad that soon he’d have a playmate.
Luca turned Lorenzo upside down, holding him by his ankles as Lorenzo squealed with laughter. Shannon looked at Luca with surprise. "That's not how you hold kids."
Luca laughed as he swung Lorenzo, making him laugh even harder. Kate just shook her head, knowing Lorenzo loved the rough-housing play with the warriors. Luca finally set him down, and Lorenzo retrieved the dropped ball, grabbed his father's hand and headed for the open back yard.
"Come on, Mommy. Come on, Uncle Luca and Aunt Shannon. Come play!"
The adults followed him into the yard, lit by spotlights mounted in the trees. They formed a small circle in the grass, standing close enough to allow for Lorenzo to throw to them.
Shade directed him. "Lorenzo, throw the ball to each person in this circle, have them throw it back. Let’s see your skills."
Lorenzo immediately threw the ball to Shade, and he returned it. The child proceeded to throw the ball to each person several times, going around the circle. Shannon missed it the second time and Shade laughed at her.
"Do we need to send you to warrior camp, Shannon?"
She threw the ball hard at Shade. He caught it in one hand and rolled it back to Lorenzo. Finally, after they had done this exercise a while, Shade wanted to test Lorenzo’s strength.
"Little warrior, let’s see how far you can throw this ball. I am going to back up and you throw it as hard as you can at me. Show me what you got!"
Running backwards out in the yard, Shade watched as Lorenzo prepared to throw. Lorenzo scrunched up his face, concentrating hard, as he threw the ball to his father hard, easily reaching the distance. Kate clapped for him. "Good job!"
Shade tossed the ball back under-hand, sending the ball in an arc that was easy for Lorenzo to catch. "Again, little warrior! Daddy wants to see that again."
Lorenzo beamed at him, confident now he could throw the ball hard enough to reach his father. He used a side arm throw his Uncle Luca had taught him, the ball picking up speed. Shade caught the ball and felt the mild sting in his hands from the speed.
Damn, kid has an arm on him. Shade wondered how he learned that technique and rolled his eyes to Luca who just stood there, arms crossed over his chest, grinning. Tossing the ball back to Lorenzo, he caught it easily. Shade held up his hand for him to stop.
"That throw made my hand sting, little warrior, so let’s see if you can throw it even further." Backing up another five yards or so, he squatted down with his hands on his knees. "Put some heat on that ball, warrior!"
Kate watched her child. He was only three, but his mental development was closer to six or seven, and his physical skills were still being discovered. He was stronger than a mortal child, but it wasn’t something they had encouraged him to explore. His face was a study in concentration as he judged his father's distance from him, watching as Shade backed farther away. Kate was wondering if he could throw that far, and from the furrowed eyebrows on Lorenzo, it looked like he might be wondering the same thing.
Luca cheered him on, “Come on, warrior. You've got this!"
Lorenzo focused all his attention on the ball, and stepped into the pitch, throwing hard. As the ball left his hand it seemed to glow slightly, and Kate looked puzzled as the ball burst into flames, hurling at a rapid rate of speed in Shade's direction.