Page 35 of Kiss of Wrath

“The thing I fear most is that he will harm the children,” Miranda said with a wobbly voice.

That raised the hackles on him like nothing else could. “Why would he harm his own children?”

“Some men do,” Darla pointed out. “You read about them in the news all the time.”

And it revolted Mordr every time he heard about it.

“Roger was a wife beater and he wasn’t a model father, even before he went to prison.” Miranda grimaced with revulsion. “Verbal abuse of the kids, certainly. And occasional physical abuse, like the beating he gave Maggie. His rages were escalating, and I think Cassie, my cousin and the kids’ mother, realized that. Cassie didn’t have to be a psychologist to know that Roger would be physically abusing all of them in time. That’s why Cassie turned him in.”

“A nithing,” Mordr said.

“A what?” Darla asked.

“A man who is less than nothing, below contempt.”

“That’s for sure,” Darla concurred.

“I’ve done research on his personality type, and I believe he will overreact when faced with rejection from the children,” Miranda expounded. “Assuming the courts even allowed him visitation, the first time one of them whined about not wanting to go with him, or wet the bed, or failed to do something he ordered quick enough, it would likely trigger one of his rages.”

Mordr had his own triggers, but she didn’t need to know that, and his certainly didn’t involve children. “I understand. You are wise to be concerned,” Mordr said.

Miranda nodded, then got down to business. “If I hire you, it has to be as my home manager. If you’re here as a guard, it would alert Roger. Like waving a red flag in front of a bull.”

“You mean nanny. Speak plainly, wench.”

Miranda would clearly relish knocking him aside the head with a hard object, but she was probably desperate for his help, or becoming so. Thus she held her sharp tongue. “Well, they’re the same thing, except a home manager does more than care for the children. There wouldn’t be many cleaning chores, though, because I have a housekeeper come in for two hours five days a week.”

That is good because I would not have a clue how to run a vacuum, and I don’t want to learn.

“There are two more weeks of school and they get the bus in front of the house.”

“How safe are they at school?”

“I’ve given orders to the administration and teachers that they are not to release the children, under any circumstances, to anyone but me or Darla, and definitely not to Roger. I’ve filled them in on the safety concerns.”

He nodded, but was unsure if that was enough.

“They need supervision while at home, and they’re all involved in after-school activities for which they will need to be transported. Karate, soccer, swim team, ballet, chorus.”

Modern parents spoiled their children overmuch, in his opinion. Why did they need all these extra activities? What was wrong with mere play? But he would not speak of that, for now.

“You would have to prepare some meals. Plus, the kids like to take bag lunches to school.”

His eyes widened with surprise. “You want me to cook?”

“Yes. Can you cook?”

Not even a boar’s leg over an open fire. “Of course.”

“They don’t need anything fancy.”

Good. I will have to call Alex and get some tips, or Lizzie Borden. No, Alex would be best. Lizzie never did like me much, always holding on to that cleaver when I am about. Says I eat too much. I am a big man. What does she expect? And what is a bag lunch, anyhow?

“Listen, you two iron out all those details,” Darla said. “I have to be off to work.” She stood and gave him what she must consider a menacing look, “If you do anything to hurt Mir and the kids, I’ll be after you like your worst enemy.”

Lady, I know more than you could ever guess about enemies. He quelled his irritation and assured her, “They will be safe with me.”

With that, Darla departed, and he was left alone with Miranda.