Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Joel watched the people as they made their way into the larger-than-life tent. But it was the children that he loved watching the most. The excitement on their little faces. The way they held onto their program. Even the few with balloons, shaped into odd shapes of animals, were going to be treasured items for a long time. And even though he was taking tickets right now, he still felt like he was a part of the expectations of every person. A real live clown taking tickets from them.

"Hello, my dear." He didn't kiss Caitlynn even though he really wanted to. His excitement for this evening was too high for him to curb. He looked at her and saw that she was going to be the crystal ball reader again tonight. He knew that she loved that job as much as he did his. She could help people without them even being aware. One of the children in line didn't have a ticket but held a scrap of paper that someone must have handed him. He said that he'd forgotten to take it from his mom. "Let Caitlynn the magnificent have that young sir."

After fixing his ticket, turning it from just a piece of paper to a real ticket, he handed the stub back to him when Caitlynn moved on. Christ, this was the most fun he'd had in decades.

Jeremiah and Lexy ran the circus full-time now. Peabody had passed away, much to the heartbreak of everyone who knew her, one night after having a hard fall when she tripped over a goat. She'd gone out the way that she wanted, enjoying life all the way to the end. He thought that Jeremiah had been the most heartbroken when it was announced, and he didn't want to go on anymore now that she was gone.

For two weeks out of every four months, one of them, with their entire family, would come and work the circus with his little brother. It was a good way to see him, as he was seldom home now, and a way for the rest of them to blow off steam. Right now was his third day here, and he thought that he was already sleeping better and knew that his appetite was better too. Something about the fresh, clean air is what each of them needed. He also got to spend time with his lovely wife and their three children and eight grandchildren. There were more grandchildren than he could remember right off the top of his head, but it was wonderful to see them all having so much fun. Especially since there was no pressure for them to be working all the time. He'd seen one of his many granddaughters just this morning feeding the goats. Her parents couldn't get her to feed their dog at home, so her doing this was a huge treat for him.

When the line began to slow down, and he could see the end of patrons, Joel put out the sign that they were filled up and enter at their own risk. He wanted to be there for the opening act. It was his favorite. Watching Jeremiah and Lexy getting the crowd ready, him as his wolf and Lexy as her elephant could wow crowds like no other. He was always amazed and wowed by it, even though he'd seen it dozens of times.

His clown was next. Joel and four of his brothers were to appear on the center stage to help with the netting under the trapeze artists. As he was terrified of heights, Joel still had fun when the artist flipped and turned just in time to capture the attention of the people. Their bright costumes were the perfect backdrop for the swinging ropes. Joel was also happy that he'd been cleared of having to help hang the ropes because as soon as he was at the highest point, he would have to be brought to the ground in magic. Hanna and his brother would tease him for days on end before he convinced Jeremiah that he couldn't do it anymore without throwing up on everyone below him. He was glad when his son was able to take over for him in climbing ropes on this trip, too. This was indeed a family-run business in that every one that came to help out in their two weeks did more than their fair share and enjoyed every moment of it. At least he did.

When the circus closed down, he sat with his brother and his wife while they talked about the issues that had come up during the performances. Joel, of course, had thought it was perfect, but some things happened that he wouldn't have noticed. Not because he didn't care but because he didn't have as much experience as the others. Plus, he thought that Jeremiah and Lexy ran a tight circus and ran it so smoothly that when there was a glitch, it had been taken care of so well that very few would have noticed. Joel figured that was the point of practicing all the time.

~*~

Layton was glad that he had a bit of an overlap to see Joel and Caitlynn. Not that he didn't see them at home all the time, but being able to see them in the circus setting was much more relaxed and fun.

Usually, they were all either coming or going. However, with this trip, they'd been asked to come a couple of days early so that they could see how Joel and his wife performed with the cars and tricycles. Mentally rubbing his hands together, he couldn't wait to try something new for his time here. He thought that his baby brother was doing a bang-up job in running the circus. He thought that he ran it much like he did the school. Keeping on time and making sure that everyone was safe while having fun.

He also wanted to hand over the book he'd been putting together for them. Layton daily scoured the internet for pictures and information about the Peanut. It had surprised him that the trip to Paris had been such a success. In fact, everywhere they went, people had nothing but good things to say about the time they spent at the Peanut Circus. And Layton truly did love the name of it. It was owned by Peanut Gallery Productions. A name that he came up with when his brother wanted to branch out into different things.

"The stuffies that we sell now are a huge hit. You had a great idea in coming out with one seasonal one each year." Jeremiah was quick to thank you for your help and made sure that no matter how shitty the show went, he, like most of the people that sat in the audience, knew nothing of the issues, which were very few that went on. "Lexy and I were talking about the employees, and she thinks that we should make trading cards for them. The profits would go to them, of course and it could be written up in any style they wanted. I guess there are several styles to choose from. Anyway, we were thinking that you could take the pictures. Peanut will pay you for them and—"

"Yes, I'll do it." Jeremiah laughed and said that he didn't know how much it paid. "I don't care. A chance to be in on the ground floor of this is great. Of course, I'll take them. I'll even figure out how to make them into cards, too. This is going to be fun. Thank you, little brother, for thinking of me. The others will be so jealous."

The rest of his time there was taking pictures. They had a show tonight. All the actors were in costume early enough that he'd been able to get a lot of them today. Also, while he was snapping pictures, he managed to get a really good shot of Jeremiah and Lexy. The two of them exuded love from everywhere, and while he did love his mate with all that he was, Jeremiah and Lexy seemed to have the perfect relationship. They were friends and lovers. And they didn't care a fig who knew it.

Catching up with Joel before he left and giving him a hug, the two of them talked about how much it meant to them to come to the circus. It wasn't anything that he would have thought that he'd like to do. Joel said the same thing. It was just being here, with all their families, and making memories that would last them several lifetimes. He knew that his kids loved it and knew too that since they'd been children, they'd been collecting and saving things that they picked up around the world to this day. It was his best part of all this, being able to, in a few weeks, pull out something that he picked up while out and put it in his Peanut Circus box. One that he'd gotten longer ago than he could remember.

"We should do something for them." He asked Cody what she meant. "Have you ever once asked them what they needed? I don't mean for us to help them with but what could you do for the two of them? I know that they miss their daughter and granddaughter, but they'll be joining them soon. I think Lexy said in a few weeks. We need to do something just for the two of them so that they know just how much we appreciate everything they've done for us as a family to make it so that we could have this downtime as a family. I don't know what it would be, but we need to do something."

"I'll ask around. These people here would more than likely know better than we would. And I can about tell you right now that they're going to tell everyone that they have all they need right here. And honestly, I believe them. I was just thinking about how much they love each other. It's almost like they…well, I think that they love one another about as much as the rest of us do all together. Our five families can't even compare to what those two have." She leaned against his chest and told him that she loved him. "Not that I don't love you too, but what did I do? I want to have that in reserve the next time I'm in hot water."

"You are a true romantic." After saying that, she walked away. While he was standing there, trying to remember what he'd said, she turned and blew kisses at him. Smiling, he thought that she'd given him a reason to smile every day since he'd met her. He did love his mate. Maybe he'd go and find her so that they could have some hanky panky in the woods before going to bed. Yes, he loved that idea, too.

~*~

Cliff laughed every time he thought of his brothers climbing out of that little car while dressed as clowns last night. He didn't particularly care for clowns on the whole. They creeped him out more than snakes…shivering and looking around, he smiled again about Joel falling on his ass and Layton and Jeremiah trying to pick him up.

The things that they did to get laughter directed right at them were astounding. Back at home, he would have died of embarrassment if someone had caught him falling down and them laughing at him. Even Joel, who is straight-up bad assed, would have knocked him on his ass if he'd only let a little of his humor show through. But there they were, vying for laughs from each and every person in the seats. Cliff thought about this morning's trip to the hospital that they all, dressed as clowns, had gone to.

It was Shade, his own mate, who had asked if Jeremiah could send a few clowns to the children's hospital in Columbus when they'd been in the area a few years ago. Her dear friend's little boy was dying, and it had been on his list to see a real clown.

His brother had pulled out all the stops to make the children, all over the hospital laugh and have a good time. They'd even had a very good time with some of the staff, giving the nurses a good long laugh, too. It was right then and there that he knew the saying that laughter was the best medicine. And his respect for his brother had gone up so high then that Cliff was humbled when he was near him.

This morning, they were with about twenty-five ill children. Most of them were very sick. Just looking at them broke your heart. But not only did the clowns have something for each and every one of them but they received some magic to make whatever they were going through just a bit easier. The parents received much-needed gift cards to enjoy with the rest of their family. Special treats magically appeared under the trees that year for every person they touched.

And it wasn't just the physical touch either. There were hugs that lasted a bit longer than they'd had. Coloring books and readers appeared in toy boxes that hadn't been there before. Anything and everything that could be given away, the children and a good many adults received something. Every day, Cliff thought, his brother and sister-in-law helped ease someone passing over with a gentle touch and a big one.

Wiping at the tears he was shedding, he thought of all the times he'd been standing with his brother at the funeral that he'd been notified about. The words that people shared with them about the youngest member of their family made him feel like he was only beginning to scratch the surface of what they did while no one was around. Then he thought of their mom.

Jeremiah was only a child when their mother passed away. But he would bet his last nickel that she'd be more proud of her little boy than they were. She'd be handing out flyers that had his picture on it that told people—No, he thought, she'd just have in her heart, not bragging about the good works that they were doing simply because it would embarrass Jeremiah. But boy, oh boy, when she got them in a quiet place, she'd be raining kisses all over the two of them like she wasn't going to miss an inch of them. Right now, he thought that he missed his mom more than he ever had. Simply so that Jeremiah could have her helping like they were.

"Cliff? You all right?" Turning, he pulled Jeremiah into his arms and hugged him as tightly as he'd allow him to. "Are you all right? That was a powerful hug."

"Yes. Never better. I love you, Jeremiah." He laughed when he said that he loved him too, but he couldn't breathe. Letting him go enough to allow him to take in a breath, he held his brother tight again and echoed how much he loved him, too.

"Thank you. Sometimes, I forget that I'm not alone in the world. That I have you guys to lean on." Cliff touched beyond anything like this before, only nodded. "You do know that if one of the others sees you, you're going to be dog meat. They'll never let you live down being all mushy and stuff."

"I don't care. I really don't." Hugging him again, he asked him if he had any plans. "I thought we could go into town and grab some dinner before I have to get back. I know you guys normally eat together with the others but I want some time with just you. All right?"

"Sure, I'd love that. I have some things I have to pick up in town anyway." The two of them went into town together. That was when Cliff noticed that his brother had some white paint on his face. When he went to rub it off, he found that it was gray hairs. For some reason, that made him laugh again. His baby brother wasn't much of a baby anymore.

They talked about everything that they had going on. He found out that Lexy was teaching online classes about animals across the world. That Jeremiah still kept in contact with the school back home. And he wasn't at all surprised to find out that Jeremiah and Lexy put money into banks everywhere they went so that if something ever happened, there would be funds to use. Tornadoes or the like. Yes, his brother was brilliant.

~*~

Loren enjoyed his time with his brother more than the others, he thought. They still teased him for being a king and made crowns for him that they were expected to wear around. For all their teasing of him, it was difficult work to be the king of anything. Still, he loved them and would do anything in the world for any of them.

It had taken him four months to get things set up so that he could enjoy his time with Jeremiah. The fact that he'd asked him for a month to visit had made him work extra hard on getting coverage. Joel was extremely helpful by doing some of the duties that he could but it was the queen of all the earth that made things especially easy for him to spend time with Peanut.

"I've been wanting to ask you about getting more shifters here. Not to work, not really, but I think that it would be a good time while we're resting this time to get some new acts for the coming season." Loren asked him if he was thinking of expanding. "No. Gosh no. I have more work now than I can usually get to. No, what I'm wanting to do is to make a second circus that would travel to the places that we can't. Bring in animals that wouldn't normally be in a circus setting. I'm talking about magical animals that would be able to help the faeries and kings and queens of other lands like it does you guys when you come here." He sat down hard. "What did you think I was going to do?"

"Fire me." He enjoyed Jeremiah's laughter. "I don't know what it is you'd fire me from. All I do is send you help when you need it. Though I have to tell you, it's a great deal of fun trying to get one up on you when you ask for more workers. Were you surprised when the last bunch showed up? How long did that take you to figure out that you had the president shifting into a large cat for shows."

"To be honest, if not for one of the others telling me, I wouldn't have known. I don't get out much, as you know." Hugging Jeremiah, he told him how green the president was when he got shit on by one of the elephants on his first day. "I thought for sure he was going to go home. Christ, I still laugh about it. He was literally covered from head to boots in elephant poop. But he was a real trooper. Just stalked over to the hoses that are forever lying about and had them scrub him off with one of the many brooms. Then he went right back to work."

"You know, he never told me that part when I asked him if he had fun." I don't suppose you got any pictures, did you?" He handed him one picture, and it was perfect. "I'm going to have to tease him about this. His wife must have known, now that I think about it. She kept telling me that he certainly got his pores cleaned out. Now I understand."

They both laughed, and he told his brother that he loved him. Laughing he told Loren that there was a lot of love being spread around here this time. That all of them had made a point to tell him and Lexy that.

"Because we do love you. And love that you're making this work for us, too. And I have to tell you, I love that you're going to be doing something like this for the others in the other realms. I know a couple of people who could use a good, hard laugh. You're a good man, Jeremiah. A very good man." His brother was embarrassed, and it took him a while to get his own emotions under control. Just as he was going out of the camper that they all shared, his wife came in. Hanna hugged his brother harder than she did him. Then he showed her what she'd gotten. It was a pretty sash that proclaimed her to be the head nursery mother.

"I get to play with the baby animals, Loren. They have about twenty-five of them from little…I get to play with the babies and help the kids understand how to be gentle—" Hanna hugged Jeremiah again. "You've done me a solid, Jer. I hope you know that. I will remember this trip more than any other because you let me play with the babies."

"It was Lexy's idea. She said that you, of all people, would know what the animals were about and interesting facts that you could share." Hanna said she was going to go and find her. "I believe she'd in the nursery tent."

When Hanna left, nearly dancing her way to find Lexy, Loren couldn't help it. He asked her if Lexy really had thought of it. At his nod, then the shaking of his head had him laughing. He had no doubt that in less time than it took his mate to race to the nursery tent, Lexy would be telling him he was in trouble. Or maybe not. Loren decided to find Hanna and play with the babies, too. He hoped they had a baby porcupine. Those were his favorite baby animals.

Loren looked around as he was walking toward the other tent. It startled him that things were so clean. Trash cans lined up the entrance that the public used and there were that many or more all over the grounds. Even the animals looked clean to him. Looking at the bottom of one of the larger tents, he couldn't believe how white it was compared to anything else that he'd seen in other places. The trucks seemed to be in good working order. The flyers that were around town, too, he remembered were bright and eye-catching. There were several people in town handing out tickets that could be used for some of the games of chance. One of them was his dad.

"Good to see you, Dad. Are you having a good time?" He only laughed. Dad was in his element of being able to talk to people without being told he was talking too much. Dad handed him a string of tickets and told him to help. Loren was having a great time until Dad came and told him it was time to get back. Whatever he did at the Peanut tonight, it wouldn't compare to hanging out with his brother and dad like he had today.

~*~

Saul had had a rough morning and he didn't want to be hanging around anyone that was in a chipper mood. That included children who were coming to this thing, too. Stretching his neck, he was avoiding his family most of all. After talking to Jeremiah, Saul was going to take the night off so that he could get his shit together. Those were his words, not his brothers. He hated people right now.

Making his way as far away from the crowds as he could, he flopped himself down on the ground and growled. Whoever came up on him had better have their will made out. He was going to start something that was going to be more than anyone could chew. Smiling just a little, he decided that his anger wasn't to be tempered by a smile. He was mad.

"Mister." He told the little girl to go away. "I'm lost, and I can't find my mommy." He glared at her, and she put her hand on her hip and glared back. "You're not a nice person. I just wanted you to help me."

"Go away, kid. I'm in a terrible mood, and I don't want to say something to you that will have you bawling all over me. Go find one of the clowns. They'll help you find your mom. Why are you talking to me anyway? Didn't anyone ever teach you to stay away from strangers?" The little girl huffed at him and then sat down next to him with her back to the tree. "Kid? Didn't you hear what I said to you? I'm in a terrible mood, and you're not helping."

"Well, I don't care. I'm in a terrible mood, too." She looked at him and then turned her face to the crowd. "I don't even know why I'm in a terrible mood. It's your fault. How could I be in a terrible mood when I'm at the circus, I ask you."

He nearly laughed. But when she looked at him, her brow cocked like his own wife was good at doing, he covered his mouth with his hands. She leaned back on the tree and crossed his arms over her chest as he'd done.

"I'm supposed to be meeting my grandda today. Are you a grandda?" He said that he had too many grandchildren to keep track of. "Well, that's a mean thing to say. I bet that they don't like to hang out with you, either. You're an old sour pussy, aren't you?"

"I'm having a bad day." She asked him why he was taking it out on her. "Because you're bothering me." That was when he noticed that she had a long scar along her leg. It was still pink it was so fresh. "How did you do that? Tangling with something bigger than you? See, you're too trusting, and it will get you into trouble all the time."

"It was how my daddy saved me. He didn't want to do it, but he stuck a long knife in my dress I had on and cut me too. If he'd not done that, I'd not be here." She looked up at him again. "I don't guess you care either, do you?"

"I do too care. What are you…when did this happen? I can smell that you're a wolf. Why didn't you shift? That would have taken care of it." She said that she was waiting to meet her grandda so that he and her could run in the woods. "Huh. Well, that sounds like a stupid plan. He'll probably be more concerned that you're hurt than running with you. I would be, anyway. Do you know how to even shift?"

"No. Dad was going to tell me but he's been too busy of late. That's what he says all the time. My momma died when I was—you'd probably blame that on me too, won't you?" He looked at the little girl and watched her face. Then he asked her how her momma had died. "She and her brother were trying to save a little boy from drowning. My uncle Sam was all right, but my momma, she died."

"Your mother, was she Lynn Tate Brown?" She looked at him again and just stared at him. "You're Lynn Brown's little girl, aren't you? Your name is Sara."

"How did you know?" Saul looked away and then back at the child. Telling her that Lynn had been his daughter. That he'd only heard about her passing this morning. "She was too hurt, so my daddy had to let her go. Grandpa Tate doesn't know yet. Daddy said that it was a conversation that you had face to face."

"Yes, it would be." He picked the little girl up and sat her on his lap. "I didn't know that she'd passed until today. I didn't hear that there was a child involved in the drowning."

"Daddy said that it was better if no one heard about it before he told her mommy and daddy. You, I guess." He nodded, his heart breaking once again at the knowledge.

"We lost touch after she got married. Your daddy had to travel a great deal, and that sort of pissed me off. So, I pushed both of them away. Seth, your daddy called me today to let me know. He'd been trying to find me for a few weeks, he told me." She laid her head on his chest and listened to him quietly. The pain in his heart was so bad right then that he could hardly breathe around it.

"Mommy was really sick when they pulled her from the water. Daddy tried to save her, but she just wanted to make sure that I was all right. I wasn't. the lady of the realm, she came to save me so that my daddy wouldn't lose all the women in his life that day." She played with his tie, and that was when he decided that he had been a cruel man to a lot of people, especially his own wife, who had lost her daughter, too.

"We need to go and find them, Sara. Don't you think?" She said that she was really tired. "I am, too, honey. But the two of us will be all right now."

As soon as he saw his mate, he knew that she'd been crying. Going to her, holding his granddaughter in his arms, he handed her off to her and held her. It wasn't long before he felt strong arms around him from behind. It was Seth, the son-in-law that he'd pushed away.

"I'm so sorry." Turning, he held the younger man tightly in his grip. I'm so sorry, Saul. You were right. I should have left her behind when I traveled."

"She would have gone anyway." He laughed a little and then said that was right. "Have you told my dad yet? He's always loved Lynn. Is that why you came here today?"

"It is. I didn't want him to find out by reading in the newspaper. And no, I've not told him. I got sidetracked when this one decided to go find you." He looked at Sara and then at his mate. "We'll be heading out soon, a couple of days. We have things that need to be—"

"Stay with us. You'll stay with us so that you can get to know the family better. And whatever you have to square away, we'll be right here for you. I was going to beg my brother to let me hang out a while longer. How would you feel about that?" Seth asked him if he was sure. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Yes, stay with us. Even if we have to go home, I'd like for you to stay with us."

As they made arrangements for them to get another camper to live in, he spoke to his little brother. Jeremiah had matured well beyond anyone else that he knew, including himself. Loving his entire family for what they had done for them all, he knew that he would be spending the rest of his life right here with his brother and the animals that he loved. Yes, he thought, he was right where he wanted to be.