“  ’Cept Wyatt,” Nonny proclaimed.

Wyatt, busy playing with Thym’s hand, swung his head around to look at his grandmother. He knew he should never have taken the rocker in between the two women. It was a dangerous spot.

“I don’ think I want to know why even Trap is considered a good boy and I’m not. I’m not curious and I’m not askin’,” he declared.

“You’re goin’ to find out. You got you a good woman, boy. And three beautiful daughters. If I’m readin’ the tea leaves correctly, you’re wastin’ no time at all tryin’ for a fourth. I don’ see a ring on that girl’s finger. I don’ see her name is Fontenot. That’s not right, Wyatt. I raised you better than that.”

There was a stunned silence. Ezekiel was the first to break it. His snicker was loud in the stillness of the night. Malichai followed with a belly laugh. Draden broke into a coughing fit.

“Did I say somethin’ funny, boys?” Nonny’s voice cut like a lash. “Because I don’ recall sayin’ anythin’ funny at all.”

The men shut up instantly. Wyatt looked at Pepper for help. He didn’t know why, but seriously, one didn’t mess with Nonny when she spoke in that voice.

“Wyatt did mention getting married, Grand-mere,” Pepper said softly. Instantly. Helping him out. Mon Dieu, but he loved his woman. “We thought it best to keep a low profile until we’re certain the girls are out of danger. Marriage requires paperwork.”

Wyatt thought her answer perfect. He sent her his warmest smile.

“These boys are mighty creative with paperwork,” Nonny said. “I don’ think that’s any excuse. He puts another baby in your belly, girl, without marryin’ you proper, I’m goin’ to have to light candles for his soul at the church every day until I die. Since I’m hopin’ to live a very long time, that’s a lot of trips to the church just to save his soul.”

Every one of the “boys” caught Draden’s coughing fit. Pepper ducked her head and nuzzled Elle’s thick pelt of dark, wavy hair.

“Well, then, Nonny, I expect you best start plannin’ a weddin’ because I’m goin’ to make certain my woman is carryin’ another little one as soon as possible,” Wyatt announced.

Pepper’s breath hissed out of her. Are you crazy? Four children? I don’t know what I’m doing yet.

Babe. He grinned at her, his lazy, charming grin, the one he knew she liked. Think of it as an experiment. I’ll have to go sooner or later and I’ll need to know you can get through the weeks without me. I don’ want to come home and find out I have to kill some man because that fire burnin’ between your legs was too much to bear without me.

He saw her hand drop to her boot. He should have been warned, but the knife cut close to his shoulder – the one away from the baby – and lodged in the rocking chair.

There was a small silence.

“Wyatt, I expect you’d better apologize for whatever you jist did,” Nonny said.

He laughed. He couldn’t help it. “Woman, you know that just turns me on. Is that an invitation?”

“You’re impossible,” Pepper said. “It’s time to put the girls to bed.”

The rhythm of the bayou changed subtly. There was no way to explain it to anyone else, but Wyatt had grown up there, had sat on this very porch, hundreds of nights, listening to the music of the world around him. One moment it was natural. Perfect. The next there was a very small, but subtle difference. A new note had entered.

His smile faded, and he turned toward the water, scanning with his night vision. Everything in him went still. “They’re comin’,” he announced softly. “Right now. They’re comin’. Get Trap. Put the others on alert. We need to be ready.”

Nonny gasped. Made a single sound of distress. Wyatt frowned at her. She always kept her shotgun handy, always handled any crisis.

“We knew they’d come,” Ezekiel said. “We’re ready, Nonny.”

“Not the safe room. It’s not finished. If they get inside…” Nonny started.

“I’ll kill them,” Pepper said. “No one is going to get to the babies. I’ll be in front of the door and you’ll be inside with your shotgun with the girls. Let’s put them to bed and do this, Grand-mere. I’m sick of waiting for them anyway.”

There was steel in her voice. Absolute steel. Wyatt grinned at her. First the knife and now this, sugar. You’re makin’ me hard all over again. He jerked the knife from his rocking chair and shoved it down into the sheath in her boot. “Keep that handy, Pepper.”

Wyatt stood up and reached out one hand for Pepper, drawing her up out of the rocker while holding Thym cradled against him with the other. He was getting very good at using one hand while cuddling a baby to him with the other. It felt natural and right.

Ezekiel was already helping Nonny from her chair. Ezekiel, Mordichai and Malichai hadn’t known a family. They’d raised themselves in the streets. Nonny had taken them in, just like she’d taken Wyatt and his brothers in, and she’d turned her special brand of love on them. Wyatt suspected she was doing the same with Trap and Draden. In the meantime, Ezekiel was ever watchful with her. Looking out. Trying without saying a word to make her life better. Wyatt loved his grandmother all the more for her big heart and Ezekiel for his.

“Let’s get you inside, Grand-mere,” Ezekiel said, and then when she frowned at him, he added, “where you can stand in front of the girls with that shotgun of yours. We’ll need to make certain you have plenty of ammo.”