Bound by love, a heart never free.

A little emergency

Josephine

We arrived at mom and dad's in Oregon.

Charles parents, Gregory and Collette met us there on arrival, as well as a man I did not recognize.

He was tall and fit, grey slacks that clung to his muscular legs. I could see he was like a warrior with shap angles to his face and a square jaw.

His hair was cropped short in military style. His eyes bore into mine.

He was studying me up and down, then back to my frowning eyes. I felt totally violated by his intense assessment of my physique.

He just nodded, crossing his thick arms over his chest.

" Oh, Josephine allow me to introduce you to Johnson. He will be your shadow until all of this is over.

Ortega has given instructions on security for his children, and specifically for you.

Johnson has experience protecting high levels of government, including the president. He will be your personal body guard." Charles dad, Gregory informed me with a smile.

I looked at Arturo.

" No." I said as I turned from them both. "Arturo is my body guard, so...no thanks."

I walked over to Arturo and smiled at him, neither men could see my face.

Arturo just grunted, but I sensed he was pleased at this.

" Actually Jo, Arturo is heading back to Mexico. Ortega wants him at his estate in Costa Maya. So, Johnson is it, sorry."

Charles father gave me no room to argue, the way he sternly said that last part made me feel like I was a truent school girl going into detention.

I looked at Johnson and asked him if that was his full name.

" My full name is not any of your concern young lady, Johnson serves me quite well." He responded, then turned to dismiss me as he spoke to my father about the other men in his detail.

Ooh, I disliked this big brute. I left the room and went to find my kids.

I wanted them to know, even with all these militant type strangers posted all around our home, they had me and the Abuelas. We would all be a family together.

Jaun and Emilio were placing cars in a line on the floor as Elijah clung to his brother Stephen who was tying his shoes for him.

Leo and Eddie were laughing and wrestling on the couch as they threw pillows at eachother.

One pillow flew up and hit me in the head. I turned and began to stalk them now.

"Who threw that?" I put my hands up playfully as I made my feet stomp towards them.

They both screamed and ran to hide from momma monster.

It was a game we all played.

They didn't call me just moma anymore, it was now moma monster.

I actually liked it.

The two boys suddenly straightened and ran in front of me. Stephan joined them.

I pat their heads and smiled down at them," What's this?" I said.

Looking up I saw Johnson standing in the doorway.

My boys were protecting me.

I could see a look on the new security guards face. He approved.

" Who the hell are you?" Stephan shouted, arms crossed over his chest just like Johnson's were.

Elijah got up and joined them, acting just like them now, being protective of me. Emilio and Juan were the last to stand in front of me, throwing their cars aside.

I smiled and nodded. They were so darn cute. All a little bit Ben for sure.

" Boys, good job protecting your mother, I am also here to do that.

Your father sent me to be here with your mother while he's away on business." Johnson said, then leaned back against the wall.

" We protect our moma monster, not you!" cried Elijah, the four year old. The other boys nodded and held firm in front of me.

I thought I saw a hint of a smirk on Johnson's stern face, but then he just nodded and pretended he was invisible.

I looked down at my boys, my heart was so filled with happiness and pride, seeing how they have all grown to love me, and honestly...I loved them as my very own.

Stella arrived to the door, she looked at Johnson standing in her way.

She needed to get by his large imposing frame, but he was ignoring anything below his chest.

Stella pulled on his shirt.

" Sir, excuse me. I have to speak to my mother. Would you please move?" She looked up at him with her long lashes fluttering.

Her long brown hair in waves around her shoulders. She was holding a small animal in her hand.

Johnson nodded and stepped aside.

She nodded at him silently, tears in her eyes now.

I looked at her expression and knew she was upset.

"Mother, this baby bird fell out of the nest. I just found it under the big fir tree out back. Please fix it mother it's so tiny." She placed a small hatchling into my palm.

I looked at all the kids trying to peak at the bird now.

" We have an emergency kids, we need to get the baby back to the nest. Put your shoes on." I instructed them.

Elijah showed me had his on already. I smiled and told him to line up at the door.

He looked at Johnson and shook his head.

I frowned at Johnson, motioning him with my head for him to move.

He didn't even acknowledge me, big jerk.

After all the kids were ready to go outside, I went to the door.

" Well, we are in a huge hurry here, if you can't see. So move your f*****g ass." I whispered to him angrily.

He glared at me. "You will ask me if you can go somewhere."

I looked at the kids and decided it would be better to show them a good example to respect authority. But before I got the words out, the boys were on him, led by Stephan.

They began to kick and stomp on Johnson's feet and legs.

He looked down horrified, not knowing what to do. Elijah bit him in the calf.

Johnson grabbed him by his hair. "You little s**t!" He cried.

I moved to get the boys past him and sent them off to the big fir tree, handing the baby bird to Stella. They all ran off, laughing and hitting eachother in victory.

Elijah was crying, still in Johnson's grip.

I opened my arms to him.

Johnson let him go. I hugged him and kissed his head, whispering to him to catch up with the others.

He nodded and ran off.

" You need to learn to control your spoiled brats!" He chastised me.

" I'm sure they were raised by nannies, but as their mother...you are the disciplinarian. How on earth did you ever give birth to such heathens?" He was rubbing his calf.

I knelt down in front of him and rolled up his pant leg to assess the damage, ignoring his words to me. He didn't need to know these were my step children.

I pulled his pant leg back down and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the toy room.

I took him to the sink and washed his wound for him. It wasn't open, but it would bruise.

He just stared at me, mouth agape. " I'm, uh...I will be fine." He said acting all weird.

Then I realized the way my dress was cut, he could see the lines of my back scars.

I stood up and turned away from him. This was weird.

" Can we just go?" I said, pointing to the door.

He opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, nodding to me.

As we walked through the lawn I kept quiet.

Seeing Juan trying to climb the tree, I yelled at him to get down.

He obeyed me instantly," Sorry moma monster."

I smiled at him." That tree has sap on it, you'll get all sticky, let me show you how."

I looked up, seeing the nest, I put out my hand to Stella. She carefully gave me the baby bird.

Putting my hands carefully on the larger branches, I skillfully avoided the center of the tree, where the pitch was.

I climbed up to the nest effortlessly. I had done this many times as a young girl.

My hand felt for the nest and I dropped the baby gently inside, though I was pretty sure the moma would reject it, with all human scent it had on it now.