She swallowed hard. He scared her, but when she thought about him, she thought about his brothers, York and C.J. They were just as charismatic, hard, and authoritative. She understood how these ménage relationships got started. That a group of men, brothers or best friends, chose a woman and made some sort of commitment to her. Other than that she knew nothing more. She didn’t want to know more because it made her feel anxious and on edge. Like maybe coming here to hide out wasn’t a smart idea at all.
“So what do you think about our town, Caroline?” Mike asked her as he rested one hand on his holster and smiled. He was very nice, and she could see the love he had for Marlena. It was obvious.
“It’s a beautiful town. It’s clean and well maintained, and the people are very friendly,” she replied as a little girl came up to the table and stared at her with wide eyes.
“Hi, sweetie, are you looking for a book?” she asked the little girl.
“I…uhm…are you a princess?” she asked Caroline, and Mike and Marlena chuckled as the girl’s mother approached and placed her hands on her shoulders.
“I’m sorry, she has a bit of an imagination,” her mother said as she stroked her daughter’s hair.
Caroline walked around the table and squatted down to talk to the little girl.
“Do you like stories about princesses?” she asked the little girl.
“Yes. Ones with beautiful long hair like yours.” Carline smiled and then looked at the little girl’s long blonde hair and big blue eyes.
“Well, you have beautiful long blonde hair just like a princess would, too, and great big blue eyes as well.”
The little girl stepped closer. “And yours are kind of green but a different kind. They’re special.”
“Well thank you. So are you looking for a book about princesses?”
“Maybe. I have a bunch already.”
Caroline looked up at her mom who smiled and nodded.
Caroline reached up and took a book from the table.
“This is a very special story. Have you heard of it before?” She showed her the cover.
“The Secret Princess? I don’t think so. What’s it about?” the little girl asked.
“Mora, the nice young woman has work to do, maybe we can read the back of it and decide,” her mom suggested.
Caroline smiled. “It’s okay, I have help and I love books, so if Mora is interested in this one I would be happy to tell her just a little bit about it.”
“Really?” Mora asked.
“Sure. You see, this is a very special story. It’s about a young woman who has had a really hard life.”
“Like Cinderella?” Mora asked. Her mom chuckled and so did Marlena and Mike.
Caroline smiled. “Kind of, but this is her own special story.”
“Go on,” Mora said with confidence.
“She doesn’t have a lot of money. She doesn’t have a big family, only a grandmother that she lives with and helps out. Despite the hard times, and the hard life she has, she always gives back to the community and is a kind person to everyone she meets. She touches them in ways they can’t explain, but it’s magical.”
“Does she have powers?” Mora asked, taking the book from Caroline’s hand.
“Oh, she has some great powers, but I don’t want to spoil it for you if you’re interested in it,” Caroline said.
Mora smiled wide, hugged the book to her chest, and looked up at her mom. “Can we get it, Mom?”
He mother had already handed over five dollars just as two men joined them. “Daddy, Father, look what I got.” She showed the two men who each placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder from behind her and smiled with love and adoration for the child. Caroline felt the tears fill her eyes and she was shocked by the scene.
“This is.” She looked at Caroline. “What’s your name?” Mora asked.
“Caroline.”
“This is Caroline, and she’s a princess, and she knows lots about princess stories. She chose this one for me. Will you read it to me?” Mora asked and they all chuckled at the fact that Mora truly believed that Caroline was a princess.
“Sure thing, doll. Let’s go grab some lunch and start it,” one of the men said. The mom whispered a thank you as they headed off.
“Princess Caroline. I think I like the sound of that.” Caroline heard the deep voice and turned around to see C.J. standing there next to Mike and Marlena.
She was a bit embarrassed as her cheeks warmed and she walked back around the table. She started fixing the books and then felt C.J. press closer to her. He towered over her, and she sensed the utility belt against her lower back and it reminded her of Cameron, and how he would stop in when he was working and she was home, and he would use the butt of his gun, or another police gadget to intimidate her.