by Maddy Barone
This afternoon, when Cole and his dad introduced her with a brief explanation of who she was to Todd and asked that she be allowed to attend the meeting, he nodded calmly. She couldn’t imagine it, but maybe strange young women often demanded to be included in crucial city affairs in Omaha.
“You are welcome,” he said. “You might give Omaha an advantage in these negotiations. But please do not speak on Omaha’s behalf.” He chuckled, sounding amazingly relaxed. “I get that pleasure. If there is something you think I need to know, write a note and send it down the table to me.”
She remembered his little chuckle from the days when she had made frothy coffee drinks. She recalled he took his coffee black.
Memories of her old job made her hands clenched in her lap beneath the table. Whatever happened, her stepfather must never know about Lachlan and Ceara. If she hadn’t known that already, what happened to the Clarksons was a brutal reminder.
Cole must have felt her tension, because he leaned his shoulder against her. His father was a strong presence on her right. Sandwiched between the two of them, with a line of strong men behind her, she felt safe.
That feeling of safety diminished slightly when Major Ellis entered the room, flanked by four burly men in the uniform Omaha’s City Guard, and followed by two other men in Kansas-Missouri gray. The Guardsmen peeled away to stand behind the mayor. One of the Kansas-Missourians was Lieutenant Mott. The Lieutenant’s cool gaze passed over her without a flicker of interest, checked for half a second when he saw Cole, and passed on to Mayor McGrath. Major Ellis gave her one brief cold stare before turning his attention to the head of the table.
“Sir, I am Major Ellis, personal aide to President Gerald Todd of Kansas-Missouri. This is Lieutenant Mott and Lieutenant Booker.”
The mayor took his time getting to his feet. He nodded impassively to the Kansas-Missourians. “Ryan McGrath, Mayor of Omaha.” He indicated the men on his left and right. “Captain Peterson, commander of the Omaha City Guard. Judge John Case, chief judicial officer of Omaha. Please be seated, gentlemen.”
The major put a hand on the back of the chair indicated but didn’t sit. He nodded at the Wolfe men against the wall. “We met the requirements. Only three of us entered Omaha.” His voice was stiff and cold. “You are overstaffed.”
McGrath smiled blandly. “Not at all.”
“We came under a flag of truce,” Mott began.
McGrath cut him off smoothly. “We will honor the truce. You will leave unharmed.” His teeth showed in a smile that was a thinly veiled threat. “Unless you break the truce or do something to hurt one of my people, that is.”
Major Ellis pulled out the chair and sat. “We are not here to cause trouble, but to end it.” He sent an icy stare at Lt. Mott. “Sit.”
Like an unruly but reluctantly obedient dog, Mott took his chair. Beside Gina, Cole let out an almost subvocal growl. She felt an urge to pat his hand soothingly. He obviously recognized Mott as the man who had been in command when he’d been shot on the train. She wanted to tell him that when her stepfather learned that Mott had spoken out of turn at this meeting, Mott would be punished.
Mayor McGrath waited politely until everyone was seated. “The point of this meeting is to come to an agreement between Omaha and Kansas-Missouri, one which will allow both sides to walk away with something they want, if not everything. I see no point in beating around the bush. To be perfectly plain, gentlemen, all Omaha wants is to live in peace. We have no interest waging war, but we will, because neither do we wish to become a vassal state to Kansas-Missouri. Tell me, Major, how can Omaha best avoid war and remain independent?”
Major Ellis smiled his most charming smile, handsome and calm, and absolutely terrifying. He looked down the table at Gina, and then back to the mayor. “That is very easily obtained, sir. President Todd is entirely willing to sign a non-aggression pact with Omaha, providing one small stipulation is met. Simply return his daughter to him and our army will immediately depart for Kansas City.”
Her heart forgot to beat. For a few seconds, Gina floundered in a yawning abyss of horror before anger rushed in to fill the void. She opened her mouth, but Cole squeezed her knee and shook his head. Outage joined anger. Cole was going to let them trade her?
His face was carved stone, and his eyes, fixed on Ellis, even harder. If he were a sculpture, he would be titled Wolf Eying Prey. Gina released a breath. No, of course Cole wouldn’t let them trade her. She could trust him to protect her. A cold finger of worry wiggled back in. But did he have any choice? Mayor McGrath was smiling.
“That seems simple enough,” the mayor said. “A reasonable price to pay for the safety of my city.”
Gina stiffened, the finger of worry now a fist ready to smash her. Ellis smiled too, like a cat who’d just swallowed a canary. “Excellent,” he said.
McGrath spoke over him. “There are just a couple of teensy flies in that ointment, though. One, the lady isn’t my slave to be disposed of however I please. In fact, she’s not even citizen of Omaha. She’s a member of the Lakota Wolf Clan and I doubt her chief would be willing to give her up.”
On her other side, Taye Wolfe’s lips pulled back in a snarl.
The mayor nodded respectfully at Taye and went on. “Two, how do I know you will in fact march away? And even if you do, how long will you stay away before you come back?”
“I will sign any document you write up, swearing that from this day forward Kansas-Missouri will never make war against Omaha.”
The mayor’s eyebrow hooked up. He glanced at one of the men standing behind them. “Stone?”
The man addressed stepped around the table to stand close to Major Ellis. He wore jeans and a blue button up shirt, and his black braids reached his butt. The major cast him an arrogant glare.
“So,” said McGrath, still smiling pleasantly. “Omaha will never have to be concerned about an attack from Kansas-Missouri? We’ll live in peace with you?”
“If Miss Todd returns with us, yes. President Todd will leave you unmolested. You will enjoy a special status in the President’s lands.”
Gina eyed the paper and pen on the table. She should write a note to Mayor McGrath, warning him that the major wasn’t being truthful. Her stepfather would never let Omaha live in peace no matter what promises Ellis made or signed.
The mayor glanced inquiringly at the long-haired man.
“He’s lying,” the man called Stone said.
The tone was so casual that Gina almost missed the meaning of the words. Apparently so did Major Ellis, because he remained unmoving in his chair for a long moment before an angry flush flooded his cheeks.
“Thanks, Stone. That’s what I thought.” McGrath chuckled without mirth as Stone went back to his place against the wall. “Let’s try this again, Major.”
Major Ellis took a sharp breath. “You cannot possibly believe him.” He gave Stone a sneering once over. “The man is a savage.”
Gina heard nothing from the men behind her, and neither Cole nor his dad changed their impassive expressions. The insult rolled right off them.
“I do believe him, yes.” McGrath kept his smile, and it seemed to Gina to be just a little too pleasant. If a dog could smile right before it attacked, it would look just like that. “And as for savages, I think the actions you took at Bolivar qualify you for that title.”
Gina knew that the town of Bolivar in Missouri had held out against her stepfather and caused him significant trouble a few years ago. No one would tell her exactly what had happened. She’d heard only whispers of his retaliation, which meant it must have been heinous. All three of the Kansas-Missourians were red in the face. Even Lieutenant Booker, who had always struck Gina as unemotional, was visibly grinding his teeth. Ellis leaned forward with both hands planted on the table.
“You will find out just how savage we can be if you don’t comply with the President’s request.”
The threat didn’t appear to disturb the mayor. He stifled a yawn a
nd turned to Cole’s dad. “You heard the man. He wants to take Miss Gina away. What do you say?”
Gina put her hand around Cole’s and squeezed. He squeezed back.
“No.” Taye leaned back in his chair, but his gaze bored into Ellis. “Any man who tries to take my daughter away will die.”
My daughter. An odd warmth touched Gina’s heart. It was stupid, but she loved that he called her that. She didn’t know the Wolfe family well, but everything she knew about them told her they would protect her in ways Gerald Todd never would. Being called daughter by the powerful President of Kansas Missouri made her angry and sick. Being called daughter by Taye Wolfe made her feel cherished and loved.
McGrath spread his arms. “Well, there you have it. Miss Gina isn’t under my control and Taye Wolfe declines to allow her to go with you. Pity. You’ll have to go back to your master with the bad news.”
Ellis got control of his emotion. His eyes were cool. “You said Omaha does not want war. The only way to avoid war is to give us Gina Todd.” Gina opened her mouth to snap that her name was Gina Summer, but she managed to swallow the words. McGrath turned to her.
“Miss Gina, are you over eighteen years of age?”
“Yes.” She managed to keep her voice quiet and calm.
“Do you wish to return to President Todd?”
“No!” Maybe that was a little too loud. She cleared her throat. “No, I do not.”
The mayor of Omaha settled back in his seat and looked at Major Ellis. “I have no authority to force a woman to go where she does not wish to go, even to avoid war. Does Kansas-Missouri not respect the wishes of their mothers, sisters, and daughters?”
“Miss Todd belongs with her family.”
“The lady is an adult and can make her own choices.”
Ellis flicked a hand as if brushing away this notion. “Miss Todd is young and confused. Her father knows what is best for her.” He looked across the table at her, suddenly warm and understanding. “Your mother is heartbroken that you were stolen away by an animal masquerading as a man.”
Regret stung Gina. The regret wasn’t so much about hurting her mom as the knowledge that Gina would always come second to her stepfather in her mother’s love. She ignored this ham-handed attempt to guilt her into going back and focused on the second part of Ellis’ words. “Cole Wolfe has more humanity as a wolf than you do as a man.”
Ellis oozed the oily charm she hated. “The President has rescinded your engagement to the Allersens and has offered you to me once again.”
Gina laughed disbelievingly. “You can’t honestly think that would entice me to leave Cole.”
Beside her Cole let out a soft breath. Ellis shot him a sneer. “You would choose that over me?”
“Him,” she corrected. “I would choose him over you any day. But that is none of your business.”
Ellis might have said something more, but Mayor McGrath coughed. “I cannot give you what you want. Mr. Wolfe has refused to send Miss Gina with you. Miss Gina herself has declined to return to President Todd. Is there any other way for Omaha to avoid war?”
“No,” snapped Ellis.
Mayor McGrath rose to his feet. “Then there is nothing more to discuss. Captain Peterson, will you escort the representatives from President Todd to the city gates?”
“Yes, sir.” The severely handsome blond man stood and herded the Kansas-Missourians out.
*
Cole barely waited for the interlopers to leave before he snatched Gina out of her chair and clasped her tightly to his chest. His mate had claimed him in front of witnesses. The joy of it banished the hate that flared in his wolf at the sight of Lieutenant Mott. Cole couldn’t remember ever meeting the man, so he must be part of those blood smeared lost memories from the train.
“Cole,” Gina squeaked in protest.
“Sorry.” He loosened his arms and allowed her feet to touch the floor but kept her in the gentle cage of his embrace. He leaned down to touch her cheek with his, needing to feel her warmth. “Did I hurt you?”
She squirmed to step back. Reluctantly, he dropped his arms. “No, I’m alright.” She turned to his father. “Thank you,” she said fervently.
His dad lifted one brow with a smile. “For what?”
“Not letting them take me back.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “And calling me your daughter.”
The smile faded from his dad’s face. “You don’t need to thank me for that. Whether you ever accept my son’s mate claim or not, you are part of our Clan now. We will never let harm come to our women.”
Cole blinked. “She did accept me. You heard her.”
“Did she?” His dad’s eyebrow went up again. He looked inquiringly at Gina. “Did you accept my son’s mate claim?”
Gina’s face closed. A hint of uncertainty clouded her eyes as she looked from his father to him. What did she see on his face? She was going to deny him. Cole’s heart seized in his chest. The moment stretched until he was sure he would break.
She took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly clear and sharp. “Yes. Yes, I did just accept Cole.”
Chapter Nine
Gina closed her mouth, cold rushing through her. What had she just said? One look at Cole’s face showed her pure joy. His dad was smiling too, a quieter smile of pride and happiness. She stared, frozen, for the second it took her heart to beat once before Cole grabbed her and squeezed her hard against him.
“Gina,” he muttered into her hair. “Darling.”
Gina clutched his shoulders, not sure if she wanted to pull him closer or push him away. Why did you agree to accept him? she silently screamed at herself. It was too soon for her to make a decision that would change her entire life. She hadn’t known him very long. But … Gina caught her breath and let it out in a long sigh. It felt right. She loved the way he held her. She loved his joy. No one had ever looked at her like that.
“Do you want to get married?” Cole asked eagerly, pulling away a few inches to look down into her face. “I mean, do you want a church wedding by a priest or would you like Mayor McGrath to perform the ceremony? Or would you rather skip any ceremony and just be my mate?”
There was a half-hidden note of dismay in his voice when he said the last bit. Gina looked up at him with the sudden realization that he wanted a formal ceremony. A formal wedding meant they were tied together for life. She couldn’t just leave him to be with another man if she found someone she wanted more. The wariness in his face melted her.
“I want a ceremony,” she said firmly. “But not, er, maybe not right now.” She glanced at Mayor McGrath helplessly.
The mayor gave her a boyish smile. “I’d be happy to do the honors. However,” he added, looking at Cole’s dad, “I do have a few pressing matters on my plate at the moment.”
Her stepfather. Gina’s shoulders sagged. Cole nudged her chin up to look into her eyes. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “We’ll take care of it.”
Could they? Gina wanted to believe it.
“I’ll send you back to the den by Kearney where you’ll be safe,” he continued. “Dad, we need to send mom, Patia, and Gina home on the next train and call for reinforcements from the Clan.”
Gina laid her hand over his mouth. By the way his eyes flared wide, she must have shocked him. “No,” she said clearly. “Remember what happened last time we tried that?”
His eyebrows dove down, and he briefly touched his head where he’d been shot, so she thought he got her point. He removed her hand from his mouth with a gentle grip on her wrist. “It will be safe this time,” he insisted.
“No, it won’t,” she told him. “By now my stepfather already has people out watching every road, the rails, the river, and everywhere else.”
Cole’s dad laid a warm hand on her shoulder. “She’s right, son. For better or worse, we are in Omaha until this is over. Our women are safer behind the walls of Omaha.”
McGrath cleared his voice. “Reinforcements would be welcome.�
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Taye nodded. “I’ll send a couple of men out in wolf form. They’ll have a better chance of getting through that way.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the other men of his Pack and they nodded. Without a word, three of them slipped out, leaving the man called Stone to come stand next to Taye.
“I’m sorry to intrude on this happy moment.” Mayor McGrath ran a hand over his short hair before meeting her eyes. “Can you give us any information about President Todd and his forces?”
Gina shrugged helplessly. “I’d be happy to, but I don’t know how much help I can be.”
“Anything at all could be useful. Please sit down here.”
Gina accepted the chair vacated by the Captain of the City Guard. Cole, still holding her hand, sat on her left. His father was on her right, and Stone stood behind her chair. The mayor was opposite her with the elderly judge beside him. The judge held a pen poised over a tablet of paper.
“Go ahead, young lady,” he said encouragingly. “Just tell us anything you can think of. How many men does the President have with him now? How many in his army can he call here? How long would it take for those to arrive here? Go ahead. I’ll write it all down.”
Gina blessed her rebellious nature. Because she knew her stepfather didn’t think women needed to know anything about armies or wars, she had paid special attention to those topics on the infrequent occasions they came up at the dinner table. She was able to give numbers with some assurance and name the various branches of the Kansas-Missouri army and who commanded which branch. When she mentioned the motorized forward scouts, Cole nodded grimly.
