Chapter 7
Six weeks after the surrender of New Colorado Protectorate
Todd stretched awake and yawned. Out of habit more than anything else, he reached down and ran his hand through Nick’s hair. There was a cool breeze wafting through the windows, and Nick’s breath was warm and soft against Todd’s chest. The air had that definite winter is coming nip to it. With all the people still making their way into Yellowknife, Todd hoped winter would wait another month or two before hitting them full force. Those traveling from the southern portion of New Colorado Protectorate would be especially ill prepared and have trouble adjusting to the colder climate and mounds of snow Elk’s Ridge and the entire region often boasted.
Nick inhaled deeply and shifted a leg between Todd’s thighs. Just then, Todd had other—more personal and pressing—matters to think about besides when the full force of winter might or might not hit. Trickling only the very tips of his fingers up and down Nick’s spine a few times produced the reaction Todd was looking for. Nick quivered and moved in closer, rocking his hips gently against Todd’s thigh.
“Morning,” Nick mumbled and swirled his tongue around one of Todd’s nipples, then sucked lightly.
Todd bent his knee and lifted his thigh, pressing up hard against Nick’s groin. He wrapped both arms around Nick’s shoulders, holding his mate in place with a powerful grip until Nick was squirming and gasping against him. Nick clenched the blankets on either side of Todd. When Todd rolled his leg side to side, Nick gasped out short, shallow breaths and locked his legs around Todd’s thigh, moving faster.
The muscles of Nick’s arms and back tensed to the point Todd thought they might snap. Todd swung his other leg over Nick’s ass, trapping the man and exerting constant pressure against Nick’s cock, but not giving Nick any relief. Heat from every point where Nick’s skin touched his own coursed through Todd, and with it lust-driven power. Todd had long ago discovered how deeply his physical power affected Nick. The more he used it, the more Nick craved it, and the response was always incredibly satisfying for them both.
His cock was seeping and hard to the point of almost being painful, so Todd didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about his next move. He simply acted. Rolling to the side, Todd sat up long enough to flip Nick to his stomach. Todd took a bottle of oil from beside their bed and spread generous amounts on his cock. Then he turned his attentions to Nick’s ass, teasing his mate with slick, oiled fingers.
Putting away the bottle, Todd snagged Nick’s tether from its storage place on the table. Grasping Nick’s wrists, Todd wound the tether around them, then looped the free end through the metal ring on Nick’s slave collar. He shifted to a better position and grabbed Nick around the chest. Leaning back, Todd pulled Nick onto his lap. Gulping in air, Todd eased into Nick and pulled his collar more tightly around his neck at the same time.
Nick was moaning, struggling to inhale deeply as he leaned his full weight back against Todd. His hips jerked and ground against Todd, driving him deeper. When Todd could stand it no longer, he pitched forward so Nick was underneath him. Releasing the collar to let Nick drag in deep, desperate breaths, Todd grabbed his pelvis with both hands. He loved how Nick’s round, firm buttocks felt pressed tightly against his groin.
It didn’t take long before Todd was thrusting his cock into Nick. Sheer pleasure coursed through Todd with each throb. He leaned forward and kissed Nick’s neck, then sucked on his mate’s shoulder. Shivering and panting, Todd rested his forehead against Nick’s head for a few seconds.
Easing out of Nick, Todd moved a hand around and gripped his cock, pumping until Nick was begging for release.
“Okay, Nicky,” Todd whispered. Nick’s entire body seized and jerked, his arms and legs shook, and Todd felt his heart hammering.
After a few minutes, Todd untied Nick’s wrists and chuckled when Nick stretched and murmured, “Need coffee now.”
“Then I guess you volunteer to make coffee and breakfast, and I get first shower,” Todd snickered and ducked away when Nick took a halfhearted swing at him. He leaned closer again, hooked an elbow around Nick’s neck, rubbed the top of his mate’s head, then kissed the same spot before darting away again.
Very soon the aroma of brewing coffee drifted into the shower. Finished, he dried off and pulled on some fresh clothes, then wandered into the kitchen. Nick pulled a pan from the oven.
“We had some of those rolls from the new place Sal’s kids opened up, so I reheated them.” Nick poured Todd some coffee and set a plate of rolls and some butter on the table. “You know, I was thinking. If we play our cards right, I bet we can eat most of our meals at all the diners and hardly need to cook for ourselves.”
Todd sipped his coffee and leaned against the counter. He chuckled. “How do you plan to pay for all those meals?”
“We’re sentries. Remember the city council asked if part of our payment could come in the form of trades?” Nick grinned and shrugged. He straddled one of the chairs and took a roll, slathering butter over it. “Time to negotiate. And set up a schedule. It would be awful to ignore one of our fine eateries in favor of giving another one more business.”
Nodding, Todd picked up a roll, buttered it, and took a bite. “Something we should definitely think about. I like to cook, though.”
“I don’t.”
“Yes, I know, and you’re terrible at it.” Todd looked up when someone knocked on their front door. He heaved a sigh and grumbled.
“You expecting anyone?”
Nick shook his head. “No. But that’s not unusual.”
Todd put down his mug, shoved the last of his roll into his mouth, and answered the front door. “Holy—” He darted forward as soon as the door was open and grabbed the arms of the young man standing there. “What happened?”
The man, who was really no more than a boy of twenty at the most, stood swaying on their front porch. He wore the dark clothes customary to couriers, but they were torn and bloodied, and what Todd could see of his skin was filthy. The boy stumbled forward and would have fallen except for Todd catching his arms and steadying him. A horse stood in the drive, its head down and breathing hard. The horse was just as dirty as the man. Todd could hear the animal huffing from where he stood.
“I-I have correspondence for Todd Ruger from Larry Witze,” the young man said, his voice weak and raspy.
“I’m Todd Ruger. Come on, sit down.” Todd put an arm around the man’s shoulders and guided him to a chair. “Nicky!”
The kid held out a piece of paper in a shaking hand.
“What are you…shit! What happened?” Nick rushed forward and took the kid’s other arm, helping Todd ease him into the chair.
“Larry sent him with a message,” Todd said and opened the paper the man shoved into his hand.
“Sit there.” Nick put both hands on the boy’s shoulders for a few seconds and pushed him back. “You’ll be alright.” He ran back to the kitchen, and Todd heard the clinking of glass and water running. Nick was back almost immediately and kneeling in front of the young man. “Drink this. Are you hurt anywhere?”
The kid pulled his shirt open and revealed a collection of small cuts and scrapes. “I haven’t stopped since leaving the outskirts of New Colorado City.”
When Todd let his hands fall to his sides, Nick stood and faced him. “Todd, what does it say?”
“What medical care does he need?” Todd nodded to the courier.
“Looks like exposure. He needs rest, food, and hydration.” Nick smiled down at the young man. “You should feel a lot better in a few days.”
“My horse…” the young man said and started to stand. Nick shoved him back down.
“Will also be taken care of. There’s a clinic in town. I’ll take you there.” Nick reached out and took the paper from Todd.
“Take care of him. I’m getting some supplies together and heading out as soon as I can,” Todd said. He tried to retrieve the paper from Nick. Jerking his hand back, Nick stuffed the
paper in his pocket. “Nick! Did you read that?”
“Yes, I read it. You can’t go back alone. That’s not an option! I’ll get him to the clinic, and you get our supplies together.” Nick was shouting, and the poor courier looked incredibly uncomfortable. “I’m going to get the carriage out.” He looked down at the young man. “Drink the rest of that water. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Todd stormed out and headed to the barn. Nick was right behind him. He stopped long enough to grab the reins of the courier’s horse. Nick led the animal to an empty stall and pulled his tack off. He shoved the saddle into Todd’s hands.
“Nick, I can hide the fact I’m an owner. You can’t hide the fact you’re a slave. Larry wrote that message, so he might still be alive.” Todd stopped and looked around. He put the courier’s saddle with the others and turned back to face Nick again. His voice cracked and he swallowed, clenched his hands into tight fists, and closed his eyes. A few deep breaths, and he opened his fingers.
Nick dumped grain into a bucket in the stall, threw in a few flakes of hay, and took the water bucket to fill. “We did this once before.”
“And we both almost died!” Todd shouted.
“Yes, I know!” Nick barked. He ran a hand through his hair and continued in a more even tone, “If your father and Jimmy are still alive, getting them out will be safer with us both there to help them.”
Todd shook his head. “They’re not. Larry talks about them in past tense.”
Nick’s face softened. “If you try to leave without me, I’ll simply follow you. Acting as if I don’t know where the prison is or how to get there won’t do you any good. We’ve hidden our identities before.” He stopped and pulled in a deep breath, looking at the ground for a few beats. “Damn, you remember…” Nick bit his lip and strode forward.
He wrapped his arms around Todd and tugged the man close. “We’re in this together, remember?”
“Nick, I can’t ask you—” Todd shuddered and eased away from Nick. He stepped back, turned partially away, and wiped a hand over his face.
“What you can’t ask me to do is stay here. I won’t. Your father sent us information about where the second book is. That book has the current record of all the owners and slaves. Maybe it has their locations, too. If the West Caldera militia find that bit of information, who knows how many people they’ll track down and execute. Don’t let Jimmy and your father have died in vain by not giving yourself every advantage in following through.” Nick led one of their horses to the center aisle and was getting her harnessed.
Todd nodded. He wasn’t thinking straight. “I’ll get everything together. You get the bleeding boy out of our living room and to the clinic.” When he left the barn, Nick was right beside him, leading the horse to their carriage.
“You’d better be here when I get back,” Nick said and pointed at Todd while leading the horse harnessed to the carriage to the house. Todd smiled and nodded.
When Nick returned, Todd could see the relief all over his face and realized Nick fully expected Todd to have left. Nick was courageous, and just how much he was showed when Todd least expected. This was one of those times. Todd wasn’t sure he’d have trusted Nick as much if their positions were reversed.
Nick pulled the carriage to a stop and jumped down. He ran to Todd and threw both arms around Todd’s neck, holding Todd tightly. Todd wrapped his arms around Nick and returned the hug. “We’re in this together,” Nick whispered.
After a few minutes, Nick pulled away and held up his hands. “One of the new doctors had an idea for me.” Nick’s arms were bandaged so the brands on his wrists that were Todd’s initials were nicely covered. “She attached some fake sutures at the bottom, see? I stopped and talked to Stefan. He and Millie will watch the farm again.”
Stefan owned the lumber mill where Todd sometimes worked, and Millie was his grandmother. Their family also owned and operated a large general store and was among the first people they had befriended when they arrived in Elk’s Ridge. For a time, Nick had been the town’s only doctor. Now there were two more. They’d arrived with the first few waves of refugees and set up a clinic, something Elk’s Ridge had never had before. The previous doctor and Nick’s teacher, Phillip Porter, had run his practice from what was now Todd and Nick’s home.
Larry’s message was a simple one. The record book John Ruger had been assigned to search for, he’d found. He, along with Jimmy Cantor and Larry Witze, had been caught by the West Caldera militia, and the three of them had taken up refuge in the prison outside the city. The same prison Todd had been incarcerated in for a short time, and where the pyrahni had mounted an attack on a group of slave owners. The same prison confining that group of pyrahni. How Larry had managed to get a message out to Todd and Nick was a mystery.
The fact was, Todd’s father, who hated the institution of slavery and the fact his son had been forced into becoming an owner, might be responsible for saving hundreds of owners and their slaves.
“What does Larry mean about ‘first home’?” Nick asked. He took a deep breath and removed his collar and held it in both hands, running his thumbs over it a few times. Without saying a word, he hung it on a hook in his horse’s stall. Todd didn’t question Nick’s placement. Obi, Nick’s horse, was cherished by Nick as much as the collar. Todd sometimes joked he wondered who Nick loved more, Todd or Obi. He followed when Nick led Obi outside and swung up and into the saddle.
Todd stuck his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself onto Arenite. “My dad was alive long enough to tell him that. He’s talking about the first apartment we lived in. It’s an old, sturdy building, and I used to play in little passageways between the apartments and under them in the basement. There was one he made into a hidden safe.” Todd sighed and shook his head, nudging Arenite to a canter. It was good to be riding his steady and dependable horse again. “I’d forgotten all about it.”
“Is it close to the prison?”
“No, but it is on that side of the city, which is probably how they ended up in the prison. It’s pretty much a straight shot from the apartment building to the prison.”
Nick nodded but didn’t say anything as they rode out of Elk’s Ridge. There wasn’t much to say.
* * * *
Todd and Nick had made the trip between Elk’s Ridge and New Colorado City so many times in the past few years they knew every back trail and out-of-the-way stopping point. When getting there fast, they had a regular routine. Ride for eight hours; rest the horses and themselves for eight. Much of the terrain dictated they move at a slower pace, so that helped assure their horses didn’t become exhausted. Nick spent several hours of his days at home exercising and working the two horses, keeping them in excellent shape.
“For two guys who are supposed to stay out of this area, we sure do have to come back a lot,” Nick said. They were preparing to travel again after a rest period.
Todd snorted. “Tell me about it. I keep thinking it’ll be the last time.”
“I don’t think that’ll ever happen. But it would be nice if at some point in the future it wasn’t illegal for us. Some people from West Caldera want to hang on to the idea former slaves and their owners need dealing with.” Nick swung onto Obi’s back, adjusted the saddlebags, and followed Todd along the trail. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes they’d leave us alone. They’ll never understand that many slaves, like me, were happy with their lives.”
“Were?” Todd asked.
“You know I’m very happy with my life. Don’t do something stupid when we get to New Colorado City to screw that up.”
When they arrived at the prison, it was nearing sundown. Shadows arched across the street in eerie lines. There was the distinct odor of charred flesh mixed with burnt cloth and wood. The closer they got, the quieter Todd became. His expression was a mixture of somberness, grief, and nausea. Nick nudged Obi in closer until his leg brushed Todd’s and he could rest his hand on Todd’s thigh. After a few beats, Todd reac
hed down, took Nick’s hand and squeezed.
Taking advantage of the encroaching darkness, they rode completely around the outside of the edifice. The prison had always been a large, imposing place. Now it was blatantly ominous, dark gray rising against the black night sky. Nick was reminded of haunted castles he had read about.
“I don’t like this at all. There’s no one here. I don’t even see vermin,” Nick said when they were back at their starting point.
Todd nodded but didn’t say anything. He motioned to the opposite corner of the building, then pointed to Nick before he gestured toward the front gates. Nick nodded that he understood. The last time they had been at this place, they had found a more secretive way inside leading to the prison’s basement. Nick spun Obi around. Picking up the pace, he rode to the far end of the building and stopped, making sure the coast was clear. He turned in his saddle for a few seconds to watch Todd ride to the main entrance.
Moving Obi ahead slowly, Nick leaned down for a better view while he searched along the foundation of the building. He was hoping the section of broken iron grating hadn’t been repaired. When he found it, he silently cheered and kept on riding, turned the corner, then stopped and slipped off Obi.
Dropping the reins, he patted the horse’s neck. “I’ll be back.” He left his horse in a spot where there was more tree cover, making it darker and not easily seen from the main road.
Staying close to the wall, he moved quickly to the unguarded, damaged section of the wall and pried up the window there. It was an uncomfortably tight fit, but he managed to shimmy through without raking his skin across jagged and broken metal, then dropped into the basement of the prison. The place was dark other than the minimal light coming in from the ground-level windows. He tried some of the lights but none worked. Not wanting to waste time with them, he took a small Faraday flashlight from his jacket pocket and cranked it to life.
Ringed Love Page 9
