Tacoma Falls: Homeland

The Fuller temper

Hank

The following day, Morgan and I headed to Pa and Ma's house to witness the fireworks between Mary and them. We entered to find Pa and Ma talking to Mary.

"You can't be serious!" Mary exclaimed.

"Lambchop, I approve of what you did to Beau's truck. Too bad he wasn't in the way," Pa said with a shrug.

Morgan's brows lifted.

"Dalton!" Ma exclaimed. "You can't root for Mary to harm Beau."

"Darlin, that boy had it coming for messing with the wrong damn girl," Pa said.

"It doesn't mean Mary can destroy someone's property."

Pa looked at Ma and shook his head.

I cleared my throat. Everyone finally noticed Morgan and I standing in the kitchen.

"Well, don't just stand around. Join us," Pa said.

Ma grabbed the ingredients for breakfast as we joined Pa and Mary at the kitchen island.

"So, are you making Mary pay for the damages to Beau's truck?" I asked Pa.

"Yes. Your ma won't let Mary's actions slide," Pa said.

"Mary needs to take responsibility for her actions. We can't let her run half-cocked," Ma said, starting breakfast.

Grayson strode into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. He leaned his back against the kitchen counter and drank his coffee.

"I heard Rusty threatened to press charges against you for assault," I told Grayson.

"It doesn't mean that piece of shit will stop me from looking out for Amber." Grayson shrugged. "I would do the same for Mary and Morgan."

"Are you sure you don't have other reasons for looking out for Amber?"

"Some dogs need to be put down when they become rabid. Rusty is as rabid as any dog. If I have to put his ass down, I will."

"You stay away from the Miller boy. We don't want you to provoke him and give him a reason for hiding Amber," Pa said.

"I make no promises." Grayson drank his coffee before pouring another cup. He needed a reason to put Rusty down. It would take one incident to give Grayson his reason.

While Ma cooked breakfast, Mary, Grayson, and I set the table. Pa wouldn't let us sit on our laurels while Ma cooked. We had to contribute to the house.

******
Morgan

I sat on the kitchen stool and watched Hank and his family interact. Hank and his siblings didn't act better than the others and worked together. Dalton was gentle with Harper. Even when they argued, Dalton never raised his voice or hand to Harper.

"Are you okay?" Dalton asked me.

Everyone glanced at me.

"Yeah, it's nice to see a family interact with each other. I only have Aunt Jessap now," I said.

"Only until Hank makes you his wife. Then, you get the Fuller clan." Dalton gave me a reassuring smile.

"It's bittersweet. I had to lose Momma to gain a family." I brushed the tears away.

Dalton stood up, pulled me into a hug, and rubbed my back. "Your momma would be so proud of you, Morgan."

I wrapped my arms around Dalton's mid-drift and hugged him. I needed that comfort that only a parent can offer. Dalton released me after a few minutes and took over for Harper so Harper could hug me. I've always had a fondness for Mary's folks.