"What do you mean she's mine?" He stood and glared threateningly at the tiny girl clinging to Heathers side.
"She was born seven months after the incident in town...and six months after I left you"
"So you knew you were pregnant when you left! Geez Heather" He was mad he turned away from her a second before turning around.
"I found out a few days before the attack. I'm so sorry"
"So why are you coming here now?" He glanced at the little girl she did look like Heather he tried to keep his voice calm since the tiny girl was right there.
"Gracie had been asking questions about her daddy and...she needs to know you"
"How do I know that she's even mine? Look how tiny she is and my family always had sons"
"Oh come on now I know you don't think she got the gun thing from me" Heather referred to her hot pursuit of the tumbleweed.
Gracie watched him carefully holding onto Heathers leg the entire time. Finally Heather pushed her forward slightly.
"Say hi. Sweetheart" She looked up at Burt who was so much bigger then little thing barely passed his waist. He knelt down so he was on her level.
"Hello. I'm Gracie" She had a soft voice.
"I know"
"Is that a real gun?" She asked suddenly brightening when she saw the gun strapped to his hip. Heather rolled her eyes.
"Yes it is"
"I have a gun too. Want to see it?" She smiled presenting the hot orange cap gun.
"Yeah that's nice"
"Mama bought it for me last year" He nodded not able to think of anything to say and stood Heather shook her head.
"She plays and plays with that thing. She's more like you then a person would think"
"She's beautiful" He looked at the little freckled face and bright blue eyes. Spitting image of her mother.
"She's something"
"Heather..."An insistent tug on his pant leg drew his attention back to Gracie.
"I can shoot two soda cans over and only use two shots...mama says that makes me special" She beamed and his heart melted. He leaned over to her.
"That makes you the most special girl in the whole county" She smiled wider. Heather smiled at him.
"I knew you would love her"
"She's mine of course I do" He tried to brush off his softer side.
"Where are you two staying?" He asked and she shrugged.
"Is there a hotel nearby?"
"You can stay with me...both of you I don't know what game you're playing but I'd like to get to know my little girl" Heather nodded.
"I'm not playing a game"
"We'll see" He went in and got their luggage and then they loaded up in his truck.
He loved that truck but now it seemed horribly inconvieniant that Gracie had to ride on Heathers lap. He wanted her to be safe in the back seat if possible.
When they reached the place and got out Gracie bounded into the fenced in yard. Still worroed Heather caught her arm.
"You can play outside but stay in the fence"
"I will Mama" Gracie whipped a slingshot out of her back pocket and was off at a run.
They went inside and the uncomfortable silence set in she followed him while he passed their old room to take her into what would be hers and gracies room.
"If you need anything...let me know" He started to leave and she stopped him.
"Burt...don't you want to know why I left?" He shook his head.
"No, I don't" He didn't really care all that mattered to him was she was back.
"I never meant to hrut you" He spun around he was mad and like it or not he was yelling because Gracie couldn't hear him.
"WELL YOU DID. I WAITED FOR YEARS FOR THIS FOR YOU TO COME BACK!"
she backed up slightly she wasn't afraid of him but she knew it was best to let him vent.
"I planned...and I plotted exaclty what I was going to say and do when you came back" He shook his head.
"What were you going to say and do?" she knew he wouldn't hurt her. He never laid a hand on her.
"I don't know. Now you're here and this close I can only think of one thing" He looked at her and she shrugged.
"Go ahead" She braced herself for more yelling or even a slap. Maybe he was a hitter after all.
He grabbed her and kissed her. His lips crushing down onto hers his hands gripping her waist so firmly she knew her pale skin would bruise. She didn't care she missed him and she wanted him now as badly as ever. What was that saying about the heart growing fonder?
His heart leapt at the fact she didn't slap him. Heather wasn't a pushover if she wanted him to stop she would probably kill him. She didn't her hands wound around his neck and she kissed him back.
She backed up slightly he followed and the next thing either of them knew their legs were entwined and they fall backwards onto the bed he landed mostly ontop of her but he braced his arms slightly to keep his weight off her she pulled at his shirt pulling him down closer for another searing kiss.
He kissed her deeply then move to her neck. Her ears it was funny he still knew every freckle on her body. Like a map committed to memory. She pulled his vest off and his hands wandered across her hips pulling her closer.
An ear peircing scream erupted. Ruining what was a perfect reunion up until it happened. They both froze and stared at each other a second unable to believe what was about to happen.
"MAMA!" Another scream. Heather pushed him off onto the floor and leapt to her feet running out the open door her jumped up and followed.
"Gracie" Heather ran out the front door across the patch of dessert that served as a lawn he was right behind her.
Gracie was sitting on her butt in a cloud of dust facing the fence. Tears rolling down her tiny cheeks. Her little pink shoe was gone on her right foot and her pant leg was ripped a scratch marring her ankle.
"Gracie" Heather reached her and scooped her up she burrowed into her mothers neck sobbing.
"what happened?" He asked when he got there.
"The monster...the monster ate my shoe..."She cried harder and Burt glanced at Heather she held Gracie close.
"I don't see anything baby"
"No Mama...it's...under the dirt..."Heather froze and looked at him he grabbed her shoulder and spun her towards the house.
"Get Gracie inside" He told her and she rushed into the house he followed shutting the door.
Heather sat Gracie on the counter and Burt grabbed a first aid kit rolling up what was left of the little girls pant leg. He quickly cleaned and bandaged the decent cut on her leg.
"Gracie...what happened?" Heather asked once she had some juice and calmed down.
"I'm sorry Mama. I saw one of those big balls rolling by like the one I killed at the train station...I wanted to get it so...I went outside the fence...is that why the monster came after me? because I was bad?" She looked ready to cry again and Heather was speechless.
"No. Gracie...you're a very good girl that's not why" Burt told her and she wiped her nose on the sleeve of her shirt. Heather stood and picked her up holding her close.
"How did you get loose?" Burt asked.
"I threw my gun at it and it let go" She looked really distraught over the loss of her toy.
She yawned and Heather kissed the top of her head before standing and lifting her again.
"I think I'll see if she can take a nap...if that's alright?" He nodded and she went back the hall.
He stood this wasn't his day. First his ex comes rolling in with a little girl who he is instantly attached too. Then he almost takes his ex right back into his bed when she's been there less than an hour and his daughter nearly got eaten in his own yard.
It was about ten minutes before Heather came out of the room. One look and he knew she'd been crying.
"What's wrong?" He moved towards her and she shook her head.
"I almost lost her...just like that...I shouldn't have let her outside I should have been watching her...Not in here...with you" She cried harder and he pulled her into his arms.
"You didn't lose her...I promise you I won't let anything happen...to our little girl"
"I know you won't ...you'll protect her...like you did me" He held her a little tighter.
"I'll protect you both...I promise.