Free Lost and Found by Breanna Hayse

grumpy with her around.”
    “Oh hush your yap. It’s just weird how natural this is. It’s almost like it’s instinctive.
    I’ve never experienced this before, not even with Keren or Kelly.”
    “You were born for this. Our girl here is the perfect Maid Marion for Sir Lancelot,” Todd teased.
    “Maid Marion was Robin Hood’s squeeze. Lancelot had King Author’s chick, Guinevere. Get your stories straight, dude.”
    “What's frightening is that you know these stories. So, Miss Noelle, I have never met a girl who didn’t like bubble baths. Have you had one before?” Todd asked, hoping to get some more information.
    “They hurt. Not this one, though.”
    “Hurt? How?” Lance asked, turning to her quickly with a worried expression.
    “She said they hurt all over but couldn’t tell me why or what they felt like. She also does not have one bit of hair on her body from the neck down,” Kathy said, walking into the living room and handing both men a glass of wine. “I was going to talk to Todd about this, but didn’t you say she had no shoes on when she was brought in by those truckers?”
    “Yes, what about it?” Lance asked, glancing at the girl. She was completely absorbed in watching Bubble Guppies.
    “Think about it, Dr. Know-it-all. What kind of condition were her feet in?” Lance was silent. He inhaled deeply, and then answered her. “There was no evidence of cuts or scratches noted.”
    “Don’t you think that after walking over 14 miles from the compound that her feet would show something? Even if she had shoes on and lost them, I would think they would be callused or blistered. Nothing. Her feet are as smooth as a baby’s. She also is terribly thin, but her features are fully adult, if you understand my meaning. I would guess her to be in her early twenties. I thought she got shot. I didn’t see a scar on her, and that bump on her head seems to have healed, too.”
    “I underestimated you, Katherine. Good observations. She must have been placed there by someone,” Lance said thoughtfully.
    “That or she teleported herself to the gate.”
    “No more movie references, Todd. I mean it. She’s not an alien,” Lance scolded the grinning man.
    “Ok, before you boys get into a wrestling match, let’s feed you. Come on. Noelle, I made you something special for dessert if you finish your dinner.”

    “Ooo, what?” Todd asked eagerly, tickling her as they walked into the dining room.
    “It’s for Noelle and Lance, not you. Egg custard,” Kathy said smugly, smacking his hand.
    “My favorite! Thanks, Katherine!” Lance noticed his brother-in-law pouting, “No, it’s mine and I’m not sharing it with you either.”
    Noelle tugged on Todd’s sleeve. “Don’t be upset, Uncle Todd. I’ll share mine with you.
    Daddy said I’m supposed to share everything with the family and that it’s the right thing to do if you care about people.”
    “She’s with us for less than 8 hours and has already learned to throw things back in my face,” Lance groaned as Kathy broke into another gale of uncontrolled laughter. “Oh, dear Lord, what have I gotten myself into?”

    *
    *
    *

    Noelle did well with the bottle, drinking from it instantly. She made it clear, though, that she was not pleased with the taste. She tossed it to the floor, wrinkling her nose.
    “This is yucky! Bunny hates it too.”
    “Don’t throw things and use your words. What don’t you like about it?” Lance asked, tasting it. “Never mind, this stuff is terrible. You liked what I made you for lunch, didn’t you?”
    “Better than this,” the girl wrinkled her nose again. Lance got up to make her a protein shake, adding the frozen yogurt and strawberries to the blender.
    His sister watched, elbowing her amused husband, “He used to do that for me too. Aren’t they cute together?”
    “Slow down, lady. She’s a child in an adult’s body. Don’t push it.”
    “I’m telling you, Todd. Lance was right. There is