Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(66)

A half-assembled cuckoo clock stared up at me from the kitchen table. Tools were scattered around it, along with a drawing. The little creature that was designed to pop out every hour on the hour was a shaggy billy goat. I just shook my head and carefully put everything into a cabinet housing a fire extinguisher, half a bottle of bubbles, a statue of Bigfoot, and a book on alien abductions.

I sighed and shoved the clock pieces in as carefully as possible.

“What are you doing with all my stuff?” Waylon barked as he sauntered in, Tink on his heels.

“Oh, no,” I said the moment I caught sight of the mini-Highland cow. “Get Tink out of here. I just mopped.”

“I’m sorry,” Maverick called as he followed Tink in, Wylder behind him. “Did you just say you mopped?”

I stiffened, glaring at my brother and the cow next to him. “This place was a disaster. There was crap everywhere and hoofprints on the damn floor.”

Waylon glowered in my direction. “I have an organizational system. Now, I’m not going to be able to find anything.”

I arched a brow. “Oh really? Tell me where the Bigfoot statue is.”

“Which one?” Waylon shot back.

Wylder chuckled. “He does have a point.”

“The one that has BELIEVE carved into its stomach,” I challenged.

Waylon frowned, drumming his fingers over his barrel chest. “I know I just saw it. I need to oil the wood, so I brought it into the kitchen.”

“Because everyone oils their Bigfoot statues in the kitchen,” Mav said, fighting a laugh.

“I’m still trying to get over the shock of Dex cleaning,” Wylder cut in.

My spine snapped straight. “Hey, I can clean.”

Maverick smirked. “Your new house going to get this treatment?”

“I’ll have you know that I just got the site plan from the builder and am close enough to your cabin that I’ll just dump my trash on your front porch,” I shot back.

Mav snorted. “Your nest of snack wrappers and energy drink corpses will probably be petrified before you follow through on that threat.”

“You sound like fucking Kol,” I grumbled.

Mav stiffened and pointed a finger at me. “You take that back.”

Wylder barked out a laugh. “You’ve done it now.”

For our wildest brother, being compared to our most risk-averse one was the highest insult.

I grinned at Maverick. “I’m just callin’ ’em like I see ’em.”

The glare he sent my way should’ve had me taking a step back. But I didn’t.

Mav lunged, but before he could reach me, Tink let out the deepest moo, charging between us as if she wanted to break up the fight. The only problem was, Maverick was moving too quickly to stop himself. He tumbled over the top of Tink and did a sort of flip that landed him on the floor.

Tink let out a surprised grunt as Mav hit the hardwood with an oomph.

Everyone was silent for a moment, and then we burst out laughing—everyone but Maverick.

“I’m gonna get you for this,” he breathed, launching to his feet.

I darted around the kitchen table, keeping it between us as a barrier. “Hey, I didn’t make you flip. That’s all Tink.” I shot a smile her way. “Good cow. I take it back. You can come into the kitchen anytime.”

Mav lunged one way and then the other before making a break for it and running full speed around the table, chasing me.

But he came up short when Kol stepped into the kitchen and caught him by the back of his shirt.

“What the he—heck are you two doing?” Kol clipped.

His last-minute switch of hell to heck told me my niece was near.

“I’m trying to remove Dex’s head from his body,” Mav snarled.

Skylar stepped into the kitchen, her hair in high pigtails with glittery bows. She wore a tutu, combat boots, and a shirt that read I’m just here for the snacks. “Uncle Mav, that’s grounding-worthy for sure.”

Kol sent Maverick a pointed look that silently said, Don’t you dare be a bad example for my kid.

Mav straightened, dusting himself off. “Dex started it. He said something really mean.”

Skylar gaped up at me, her jaw dropping. “Uncle Dex, what did you say?”

I bit back my chuckle. “That Mav sounded like your dad.”

Kol released his hold on Maverick, scowling at him. “Seriously?”

Mav just shrugged. “I’m not the rules-and-regs type. What can I say?”

“Sky, why don’t you take Tink outside?” Kol suggested.

“Aw, man, you always make me miss the good stuff,” she grumbled. “Come on, Tinky.”

The cow immediately moved in her direction. She grabbed Tink’s cheeks, getting right up close until they were nose to nose. “Who’s the prettiest girl in the world? Who’s the bestest cow? You, that’s who.” Then she led the cow out the back door and into the yard without looking back.

“This world does not deserve that tiny human,” Wylder muttered.

“No, it doesn’t,” I agreed. “But she’ll make it a better place.”

Kol watched his daughter for a moment as she called for Pepper, and the three of them took off across the yard, Lucy rising from her spot on the deck to follow.