"I ended what marriage we did have when I came home from assignment and found she'd buggared off with some bloke and left my kids on their own. My kids, at the time, were 4, 4, 1, and 6 months. They were cold and dirty and hungry when I came home. No idea how long they'd been alone. I took them, and we went to my parents. Now they stay with Mum and Dad when I'm working, and Evelyn is...well, she's a harpy. A red haired screeching harpy. Thank God I don't have to contend with her often. My kids want nothing to do with her, and I'm not going to make them see her.
"I don't think you'll have that problem with Jess. She seems to be the maternal type. Healers often are, though. I think she'll be a good mother when the time comes for it."
"Let's check these other cabins and get back to the house. The night air is starting to get damp, and it's getting really cloudy. Might be heading for rain. I'd like to not be out in it if I don't have to be. I think we can do these pretty quickly, don't you?"
It didn't take long for them to take care of tightening security on the cabins. When they arrived at the barn, Marcus was a bit confused when he saw one of the grooms moving some cuts of meat from a freezer in the barn to a refrigerator.
"Now, why are you here this time of night, and why are you storing meat in the barn?" Marcus asked.
"Not for people, Mate," the groom laughed. "Robert has a hippogriff. He's a big one at that. We keep a back up freezer here in case something goes sideways with the one at Robert's farm. Have you ever had to deal with a snarky hippogriff?"
"Can't say as I have," Marcus said. "What's he got a hippogriff for?"
"Dunno. Wanted one, I suppose. Ask him. Anyway, he's a big one, and the freezer is out over there, so I'm thawing him some rations for morning. What you two doing out here this time of night?"
"Tightening security on the buildings," Marcus said.
"After them killin's in town, huh? Can't say as I blame you. There are a lot of blonde women here. We don't need anything happening to them. Did you see there's been a run at Slugs and Jiggers for magical hair dye--any color but blonde."
"You don't say," Marcus said.
"Gonna get some meself," he nodded. "Well, I'm off to bed, then. Gotta go to Robert's at daybreak. Goodnight, then."
"Night," Marcus said. He looked at Jack as the groom left. "They're spooked. That's for sure."