Three years earlier.
"Come on, Mel. It's not that big a deal." Joe grumbled, his voice tinged with annoyance as toddler-Oddie fussed in my arms, screaming in my other ear and clawing at me like he was being chased by demons.
I'd been tending to the cows when I'd heard Oddie scream, running to find him flailing and kicking in Joey's arms.
I'd grabbed him as quickly -but as humanly - as I could until I'd seen the injury and started screaming at Joe, demanding to know what happened.
He had a cut on his forehead, the metallic scent setting off something in me that I didn't understand - it was a fierce protectiveness.
I needed to get Obadiah away from Joseph.
I couldn't explain it.
I glared at Joey, turning away with Oddie and stalking back to the house. "You took him on a horse!
