18
Ianto was in the store looking at party favours as Mica's little birthday treat grew closer. He had promised her two or three friends for a sleepover and without telling her, he had cleaned out his studio's back area and was going to set it up like a little enchanted house. While the kids were at school Jack and Gray were currently getting some beds set up as they knew she would push it and have maybe four? With David allowed a buddy to stay so he could escape the pink madness they would have at least seven or eight kids in the house if David bucked for two… not counting Jack.
"Why hello there. I do not believe we have met"
Ianto turned to find a huge woman bearing down in him in a Mumu type gown with her ham-like arms pumping. He blinked with confusion as he had no idea who this was, even as she clearly felt he should and as she got closer he suddenly had a thought and took a step back "Mrs Everly?"
"yes!"
"Ah. I met your son the other night, and your grandboys."
"You did?" she shone "lovely little mites, ain't they. Gonna be quite big men when they is finished growing. Just like their pappy."
"Yes. I am Ianto Jones, the one who had the knife to your son's throat." Ianto replied with the same smile in place "You know … the one upset about them poaching on my land and killing one of my pet deer."
The entire store stopped as the woman took in a breath and hissed "How dare you. Do you know who I am?"
"Yes. I believe I did call you by name madam. And now you know who I am. See? Easy. You are the mother of a man who is teaching his sons how to break the law like he does and I am the man who made him squeal like a pig while he ran away."
Someone started to cough, no doubt to hide laughter as she took another step towards him "How fucking dare you speak to me like that. I am a pillar of this community, a good god fearing woman …"
"Oh well. There you go. I am a Pagan. I don't believe in your god I am afraid. I believe in many" Ianto smiled as he patted the bundle hidden in Jack's Great Coat "I don't believe in hell, lucky for your son. I do not forgive that easily either. Please let your son know that the Sheriff has his rifle and will be returning it along with the citations."
She snarled and took another step towards him as he said loudly "One more step and I shall be forced to defend myself madam. You have me backed against the chiller with no way to get around you. If you threaten my child in any way I will put you on your fucking great arse!"
"That's enough Sue-Anne!" someone shouted "He has a baby there!"
"The Wilder Bastard" she spat. Yes, literally spat in Ianto's' face and he was about to respond when a loud slap echoed around the store, Bonnie suddenly there with her hand raised for a second shot if need be.
"Get away from him you bitch!" she roared "Ianto is not the one in the wrong here. We all know that mountain is off limits. Your son and his spawn are lucky Ianto was a fair man or the Wilders might have wound up with them instead of the deer they killed!"
"Sue-Anne!"
Paul was walking along the aisle "Move. Now! I have your boy at the office and he's putting up a wailing to-do for you. Come on, you want to bail him? Or do I get your sister-in-law to come bail you all out. Mildred will LOVE that one for the next church service!"
The woman finally waddled away and Ianto let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, opening the coat to find his son looking up at him with huge eyes. "Hey little mouse. It's OK."
"Oh my lord. Look at him, isn't he adorable!" a woman gasped, moving closer "Awwww…what a little darling!"
Ianto made a choice, one of many he knew he would have to make as a father and he unclipped the baby, handing him to the woman "Raeder. It's Welsh for Waterfall. I call him Rye mostly. Snot, Mouse and in the middle of the night I mostly call him the Shrieker."
"Oh dear lord. He is such a little angel" she clucked, more women appearing and an older man from the butchery came around the side, putting down the knife in his hand and wiping his hands hurriedly, then moving to peer over the woman's shoulder with a soppy face.
"My nephew and niece are mine now, since their mother died. I went from a single man to a father of three practically overnight. They are wonderful though" Ianto sighed.
"Oh, the little girl who skips and dances. Mica. Such a pretty name."
"Her Mama and me … Welsh. Our parents ….went…. when were just kids and we went through the foster system … badly. Finally she got wed and he wanted to come to America. She got him to bring me too, I finished my schooling here … but … we never forgot out roots. Mind you … I do love it here. This little piece of paradise is it's own small world, don't you think?"
"Oh yes. We agree" a woman with bright pink hair laughed, her hand on the baby's back "come on aunty, let me have a hold now."
And that was how Rye got fans.