Chapter 15

Mia opened her basket and in it were sandwiches for them to eat.

She smiled and said cheerfully, "I figured you guys might be hungry about now and seeing as how you hadn't taken a lunch and the girls wanted to see their daddy..."

Phillip grinned at his oldest daughter and remarked, "As always, your timing is excellent and my grandkids are most welcome!"

Mia handed out the sandwiches and they all ate ravenously, they hadn't realized just how hungry they were.

Afterwards, George, Roger and Phillip picked up their tools and were making ready to leave when George paused a moment and said, "You two go on ahead, I'm gonna stay here for a bit."

Roger glanced at Freya and asked, "Are you coming?"

Freya smiled at him and replied, "Ah wull in a bit, Ah want tae set haur a spell an' think aboot things."

Phillip started up the big truck then he and Roger rode in it back down to the ranch house.

While he drove, Phillip commented, "Freya is quite the force of nature isn't she?"

Roger chuckled then replied, "She can be when she has something she really wants to do. She insisted on putting up the one we built in our back yard, claimed it would make her feel more at home, just having one nearby."

Phillip chuckled and commented, "Just keep her happy is all I can suggest my friend." Roger laughed and replied, "Fortunately, she is not a complicated young woman and doesn't ask for very much. I am grateful for that...It's funny how I get along with her better than I did with my two ex-wives who were the demanding types."

Phillip merely smiled at Roger's comment.

"So, when do you guys have to leave?" asked Phillip.

"Tomorrow afternoon I'm afraid, we'll take an afternoon flight back to Portland. She'll have a few days for her sunburn to heal up some more before she goes back to school next week."

Phillip grinned at him and said, "You'll have to come down when you have more time, I can teach her how to drive this truck!"

Roger laughed and remarked, "She'll love that! Then she'll start bugging me about a truck for her to drive."

That evening's meal was a simple affair. George grilled up a bunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. Mia made an excellent potato salad and everybody dug in.

Afterwards, the patio lights were dimmed and binoculars were brought out for star gazing while enjoying the balmy evening breezes.

Roger as usual, found himself with a lap full of baby lamias who curled up with him and dozed.

They knew that they were perfectly safe with their 'Unca Roger'.

Mia seeing his plight, came to his rescue and retrieved her tiny twins.

Suddenly freed, Roger took the opportunity to totter off to bed himself, leaving Freya to hang out with her new friends as late as she wanted to.

When Roger woke up the next morning, Freya was already up and out of the house. She had gone off with Natalie and Zenobia, as he was informed by Mia when he finally tottered into the kitchen to get himself a breakfast.

Mia smiled as he poured himself a coffee and made room om his lap for a baby lamia, she chuckled softly and said, "Those two are going to miss you after you leave, they really took to you."

Roger sipped at his coffee and made a silly face at his tiny lap occupant who broke into the giggles.

He sat sideways as he ate, to leave room for his python sized visitor so she wouldn't be disturbed.

Roger glanced up at the clock and asked, "Did they say when they would be back? We do have a flight to catch this afternoon."

Mia looked thoughtful and replied, "I think they said about noon?"

She set down her own plate of food and coiled up at the kitchen table while deftly reaching over the table with the tip of her powerful tail, coiling the end of it around her child and lifting her from Roger's lap.

The girl protested only until she found Mia's milky nipple and began nursing contentedly.

George came in from the back patio and after washing his hands, he began making himself a breakfast.

Over the sizzling of the eggs and sausages he commented, "I saw a bunch of new gopher tortoise burrows this morning, I think the population is recovering nicely since we chased off the ravens."

Roger grinned and remarked, "Freya got quite the introduction to those tortoises when we first got here."

George laughed and replied, "Yes, I think old Mr. Tortoise is still deeply offended at her temerity!"

Roger had nearly finished his breakfast when he felt another small presence making itself known by slithering into his lap and coiling up to snuggle against him.

He smiled at his tiny visitor and caressed her little head as she snuggled, her face, a study in contentment.

After he ate, Roger sorted through his luggage and packed his bags with his ever present, tiny serpentine watchers coiling together on his bed.

Freya came back from her last morning outing with her new friends, her pale skin glistening from the perspiration of recent strenuous exercise, an impromptu round of basketball between three friends.

As usual, she didn't hesitate to strip down in front of Roger and jump into the shower.

A few minutes later, she reemerged and towelled off vigorously while Roger discreetly slipped out of their bedroom followed by his tiny, wriggling observers.

They all had a nice lunch together out on the patio and afterwards, there was a lingering round of hugs and fare-thee-wells before George, Roger and Freya climbed into the large van and waved goodbye to everybody.

The drive back to the airport went smoothly and when George pulled the van up to the passenger loading area, he and Roger exchanged a manly embrace before he hugged Freya and said, "It was very nice meeting you and we hope to see you again real soon!"

Freya smiled at him and replied, "It was verra nice meetin' all ay ye too. Ah loched roamin' aboot th' desert wi' me noo friends!"

They waved goodbye as George hastily climbed back into his van and sped off towards home again.

Roger and Freya checked in their baggage and went through the security checkpoint.

It was there that they encountered a minor snag, an overly zealous security guard looked closely at Freya's boarding pass and commented, "Aren't you a little big to be calling yourself a child? You're taller than I am and you're claiming to be only eleven? What gives?"

Freya stood there blinking, not sure of how to reply.

"Speak up, answer my question!" he demanded.

"Ah am oanly eleven summers auld, wa woods Ah lie tae ye?"

He squinted at her and demanded harshly, "Where are you from? You talk funny!"

Freya had opened her mouth to reply when Roger stepped in, "Okay tiger, you've made your point, we get it, you're a dick. The girl is eleven years old, she's from Canada and she lives with me as my foster child. Now, are you going to let us board the flight, or do I have to talk to your superiors about you overstepping your authority?"

The security guard taken aback, sullenly handed Freya her boarding pass and called out "Next!"

They hastened to board the plane and settled in for the flight back to Portland, Oregon.