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This time Harmony didn’t have to imagine being in her childhood bedroom. She snuggled underneath the covers and drew in a long breath, savoring the scent of clean sheets. They smelled like sunshine and fresh air. It was tempting to stay there all day. She certainly could have used the rest but the aroma of bacon cooking overcame the temptation.
Harmony’s stomach grumbled as she forced herself out of bed and into a new dress her mother had placed there for her. It hurt to think of the pain she had caused her. The new wrinkles around her mother’s eyes and mouth had been clear signs she had fretted and mourned for Harmony the entire time she had been missing. The physical evidence of how busy her mother had kept herself whilst waiting hung in every corner of Harmony’s room. There were new dresses, blouses and pants, all sewn carefully in her mother’s delicate stitching. She always sewed whenever she was worrying over something. Harmony wondered if she had slept at all the entire time she had been missing.
Harmony fingered the soft cloth and then wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. It would be some time before they all got over this scare. It had certainly taught her a lesson – never take her loved ones for granted. She couldn’t wait to see Griffin again. The day Walker found her, he had told her that Griffin was up North searching for her. It might take weeks for someone to track him down and tell him she was safe and sound and now back at the homestead. Even though it was going to be a long time before she saw him again, at least she knew he hadn’t given up on her. That gave her some hope. Maybe there was still a chance for the two of them.
When Harmony finally made her way out to the kitchen, only her mother was there. That wasn’t much of a surprise since she figured everyone else would already be out working in the fields or the other million and one things that needed fixing, building or feeding. Walker and Journey had headed out the day before to find Griffin and tell him the good news.
“Good morning, Mother. I hope the bread is almost done because it smells wonderful.” She hugged her mother and placed a quick peck on her cheek, thinking to move on and grab some bacon before one of her brothers came back in and saw it just sitting there. But before Harmony could move away, her mother wrapped her in an embrace, covering her face with kisses. Harmony usually didn’t enjoy big displays of emotion, but after everything she had put her mother through, she was willing to sacrifice a few moments of not being able to breathe, so her mother could reassure herself that Harmony was really safe and back in one piece.
As soon as her mother loosened her grip, Harmony slipped away and sat in the nearest chair.
Just then the door opened and her father came in. Tech smiled. “Good. You’re up.” He nodded toward the door. “Your friend Rat is quite a character. He’s got the brains of a toad, but he’s eager to learn so Jonah got him out back in his shop, sweeping and straightening up.”
He went over to where her mother was pulling the bread out of the oven and kissed her cheek, but stepped out of her way so she could place the pan on top of the stove. “Mary, do you mind if I take a couple of slices of that out to Rat? The kid looks like he could use some fattening up.”
Mary careful slid the loaf of bread out of its pan and onto the counter. “Sit down for a moment. It needs to cool a bit before I slice it.”
Harmony grabbed a slice of bacon. “You know, if you keep feeding Rat like you have, he’s never going to leave here. Are you certain you want to take on teaching him from the ground up? From what I could gather, the only thing his father ever taught him was how to hunt for rats and not die.”
Tech sat next to Harmony. “I like him.”
“You do remember I told you he tried to steal Airus?” Gobbling down the bacon in three bites, Harmony grabbed two more slices to take their place.
Mary carried a plate of sliced apples and boiled eggs over to the table, sitting it in front of Harmony. She briefly placed her hand on Harmony’s shoulder before heading back over to the oven. “Get started on that and I’ll bring a slice of fresh bread as soon as it’s ready.”
Tech reached across Harmony and grabbed two of the boiled eggs. “I thought I had taught you better than to leave your vessel without a lookout, especially in an area you don’t know.”
Harmony nibbled on another slice of bacon. “I’d flown over the area a couple of times and never saw anyone about. I thought it would be safe enough to fill the water tanks and take care of a few other chores.” She swallowed before adding, “Rat is good at hiding, and he’s sneaky as hell. I’ve had to swat him a time or two for scaring the hell out of me; one minute he’s not there, the next he’s standing right next to you. I suppose he would come in handy if we ever needed to get in and out of somewhere unnoticed.”
“All that’s fine and good but it doesn’t excuse how careless you were with Airus.” Tech lightly tapped the end of her nose, as he always did when he wanted her to take whatever he was telling her seriously. “You have to promise me never to leave Airus unguarded again.” He stood and planted a kiss on top of her head. “That airship is what brings my baby girl home to me. I don’t ever want to go through what we just had to these past few weeks, not knowing if you were alive or dead. The worst thing was knowing we might never again be certain.”
Harmony was saved the rest of her father’s lecture when two twin black-haired little girls rushed in and jumped into her lap. They almost smothered her with kisses. All Harmony could do was hug them back and laugh. She was finally saved when their mother, Shadow, pulled the two of them off her.
“Girls, let Aunt Harmony eat her breakfast. Go outside and play.” Shadow gave the twins a quick hug before walking them over to the door and pushing them out.
She then joined Harmony at the table and wrapped her in a hug of her own. “It’s good to see you, Sister.” Shadow sat in the chair next to Harmony. “Don’t tell your brother I said so, but Walker was just about out of his mind worrying about you.”
Harmony laughed but a part of her regretted the worry she’d given her loved ones. It was hard to imagine her happy-go-lucky brother worried about anything. As a child, Walker had always continually dared the fates and had always won.
“I hate to admit it but there might have been a moment or two when I thought I might never see any of you again.” She looked at her sister-in-laws’ beautiful features. They only made her miss Griffin all the more. Shadow’s eyes were so much like her brothers: large and soulful.
Harmony cleared her throat. “Have you talked to Griffin lately?”
Shadow nodded. “He’s been out of his mind with worry for you.” She reached over and covered Harmony’s hand with her own. “He loves you so very much.”