Free Saving Simon (Tarnished Saints Series Book 5) by Elizabeth Rose Page B

inside. He really wanted her to meet more of his family, but didn’t want to come out and say it.
    He opened the door to Thomas’s house and to his surprise, everyone was sitting there looking at him, from the kids, to his brothers and their wives, and even his eccentric Aunt Cappy. And no one was saying a word. Suddenly, he wondered if it was such a good idea bringing her here after all.
    “There you are, Simon,” said Thomas walking over to greet them. “When you didn’t call for a ride and Gus told me a blond woman named Pippi Longstockings was in town looking for you, I figured you’d show up here with her eventually. After all, it’s happened with most your other brothers, so why should you be any different?”
    “I wasn’t looking for him,” Piper protested, “and that’s not my name.”
    “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Pippa. I met her on the cruise,” Simon told them.
    “Piper?” asked Cat, rushing over to see her. “What are you doing here?”
     
    Piper felt very uncomfortable with everyone staring at her, and was glad when the woman named Cat she’d met on the cruise broke the ice and came over to greet her.
    “I’m in town for awhile,” she explained. “I’m here to –”
    “Zeb, you and Thad remember Pippa from the cruise, don’t you?” asked Simon, seeming to purposely interrupt her.
    “Pippa?” asked Thad lounging back on the couch with a little boy standing next to him hanging onto his leg and a little girl who looked like she could be the boy’s twin sitting on his lap. “I thought your name was Piper.”
    “Well, it is. That’s just Simon’s little  . .  . nickname for me.”
    “Come on in, Ms. Longstockings,” said Thomas. “Have you two had anything to eat?”
    “That isn’t my name,” she said, feeling her face starting to flush. “My name is -”
    “We’re starved,” said Simon, walking into the room and instantly being surrounded by a bunch of kids.
    “Uncle Simon, can I have a piggyback ride?” asked a little boy with curly blond hair and big eyes that looked to be about six years old.
    “Sure, Eli. Just as long as you guys don’t start that pig-piling stuff again.” He reached down and with one hand scooped the little boy up onto his back and headed for the kitchen.
    “Can you take us for a sailboat ride tomorrow?” asked another young boy with red hair and freckles.
    “Zeke, I’m sure Simon’s had a long day,” said a woman with blond hair. “Now you kids head on up to bed, as it’s already past time. You have school tomorrow,” she reminded them.
    “Aw, Angel, Pa said we could stay up late and talk about fishing with Simon,” said a boy who looked to be a teenager and the oldest of all the kids.
    “Listen to your mother, boys, now get going,” was all Thomas said and all of a sudden the room cleared as the kids hurried from the room and ran up the stairs.
    “Nice to meet you, Ms. Longstockings,” said a boy who limped over, obviously having some sort of problem with his leg.
    “Just call me Piper,” she said as the boy headed away.
    “We’ve got to get going too,” said another woman with red hair. “Come on kids, I don’t want you cranky for school tomorrow.” She headed off to the kitchen after her twins who decided to run and hide rather than to have to leave just then.
    Before Piper knew it, everyone just up and disappeared, leaving her standing there with Cat.
    “What just happened?” asked Piper, not understanding any of this.
    “Sorry about that,” said Cat. “The kids were waiting up to see Simon, but it’s kind of late so they’ll have to visit with him tomorrow.”
    “That’s a shame. I didn’t even get to meet any of them. Nor the adults,” said Piper disappointedly.
    Simon turned around and came back to get her, having heard what she said. “Come on, Pippa, I’ll introduce you to whoever’s left and you can meet the rest of them tomorrow.”
     
    * * *
     
    By the time eleven o’clock rolled