by Kristie Cook
Eli. He must have thrown something in front of Jonathan’s face to test the blindfold.
River took the reins from Jonathan’s hands. “Hang on to Saucy’s mane and tell me if you get dizzy.”
“I have ninja skills. I won’t get dizzy.”
Gabriel and River spoke at the same time. “What’s ninja?”
Eli snorted. “He’s lying. A ninja is a Japanese warrior and he’s not Japanese.”
“I didn’t say I was a ninja. I said I have ninja skills. I used some of them when I disarmed you, remember?” Jonathan knew it was stupid to goad Eli, especially blindfolded, but he couldn’t let the guy get away with calling him a liar.
Gabriel’s voice held more than a hint of reverence. “You disarmed Eli? What happened?”
Eli’s voice was full of spite. “He caught me off guard.”
Jonathan was ready to set the record straight, but Saucy jerked forward. It took all of his concentration to stay on the horse. River’s leg bumped his. Her breath tickled his ear. “It’s a serious crime for a recruit to threaten the life of an enforcer and you had a knife pressed against Eli’s throat. The only thing protecting us is his vanity.”
“Sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“See that you do.”
***
Jonathan didn’t get dizzy, but he did get disoriented. He tried to keep track of the turns … two rights, left, right, two lefts, three rights … but there was no way to hold that much information in his mind. He just hoped they were on some sort of trail that would lead him home. The way Saucy lurched and stumbled challenged that hope. The frequent sound of rocks pinging off the mountainside kept Jonathan’s shoulders hunched up by his ears. River gave him a steady stream of verbal instructions: ‘lean back’ when they slid down a rocky slope … ‘lean forward’ when they entered a forest with low-hanging branches that clawed at his face … and ‘hang on!’ for everything else.
The warnings were never in time to prepare for whatever lurching, sliding or hopping maneuver Saucy had to perform. At one point, River had Jonathan dismount so she could jump Saucy over a fallen tree. Gabriel helped him climb over it and remount—all without removing his blindfold.
“Halt. Who goes there?” A stranger’s voice tensed every muscle in Jonathan’s body.
“Eli, son of Zebulon’s daughter.”
“Gabriel, son of Reuben.”
“River, daughter of Asher and Issachar’s daughter.”
“Jonathan, son of—”
“No one!” River jerked the reins. “He’s my untrained recruit.”
“You need to teach him some manners.”
“I need to teach him everything. Like I said, he’s new.”
“I need to see everyone’s Certificate of Clean Health.”
Eli said, “We are completing our quarantine at Alpha Reuben’s ranch.”
There’s that whole alpha thing again.
“On whose authority?”
“Mine.” Eli spit the word out with a growl.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I need to see some documentation.” The stranger’s voice trembled.
The sound of rustling clothing accompanied Eli’s litany of swear words. His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Does this meet your standards?”
The guard heaved an obvious sigh of relief. “Yes, sir. You may pass.”
River patted Jonathan’s knee. “Lean over Saucy’s neck and keep your head down. We’re going into a tunnel.”
“What? No!” Jonathan’s heart leapt into his throat. “I don’t like enclosed spaces.”
He didn’t even like driving through Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 to get to Denver. He’d gotten trapped inside the old McKnight Mine with Franklin when they were in high school. It’d taken twenty-four hours for rescuers to dig them out, but it’d felt more like twenty-four days.
River gave Jonathan’s knee a comforting squeeze. “I don’t like enclosed spaces either, but the blizzard closed the pass. Until the snow melts, the tunnel is the only way in or out of New Eden.”
He lifted his hand to remove the bandanna, without realizing that’s what he was doing until it was too late. Pain exploded through the back of his head.
When Jonathan regained consciousness, he was lying prone on Saucy’s back, his face buried in the horse’s mane. The bandanna was tied even tighter, or maybe it only felt that way against his throbbing head. Even with his sinuses full of the smell of horse, Jonathan recognized the mineral scent of damp rock. The sound of the horses’ feet echoed like stones dropped into an empty well. They were underground. “River?”
“I’m right here.” She placed her hand on his back. “Keep your head down.”
“How much longer?” Between the pain pounding his skull and the impending panic attack, Jonathan barely got the words out.
“About five more minutes.” She kept her hand on his back, giving him comfort and strength.
A fresh breeze caressed Jonathan’s face. The clean scent of pine and snow loosened the bands of anxiety from his chest. He took a deep breath and counted to eight as he exhaled.
River patted Jonathan’s back three times. “We’re out.”
Jonathan’s head throbbed harder when he sat up. “Can I take off this damn blindfold?”
“No!”
“Okay.” He moved slowly to keep from freaking anyone out as he reached behind his head and felt the lump through the hood of his sheepskin parka. “What happened?”
“Someone threw a rock at you to keep you from removing the blindfold.”
“Someone?”
“If you’d gotten the blindfold off, Eli would have killed you on the spot.” River’s voice was full of remorse, so Jonathan assumed she was the rock-thrower.
“Well then, I guess I owe someone a ‘thank you’ for saving my life. Although a simple ‘don’t do that’ would have hurt less.”
Gabriel said, “You’re welcome.”
No wonder his head hurt. The kid was built like a wrestler.
They rode for another hour then stopped. River said, “You may remove the blindfold.”
Jonathan ripped the hateful thing off and squinted against the glare of sunlight on snow. He’d expected to find more rough-hewn structures, like the cleansing huts and quarantine cabin, when they arrived; so the sprawling ranch house, two-story stable and massive hay barn nestled in the valley took him by surprise. All the buildings were made of logs, but there was nothing “rough-hewn” about any of them.
Jonathan wadded the bandanna up, but before he could throw it on the ground, Gabriel rode up beside him and extended his hand. “I’ll take that for you. It wouldn’t be a good idea to treat anything of Eli’s with disrespect.”
“Are you afraid of that arrogant jackass?” Jonathan smiled when he realized he’d used River’s favorite insult and handed Gabriel the bandanna. “I’m pretty sure you could take him in a fight.”
Gabriel grabbed Jonathan’s wrist and lowered his voice. “Eli’s very … political. He can cause all sorts of trouble; especially when winter’s over and they open …” He stopped mid-sentence and pressed his lips together.
“What happens when winter’s over? And who opens what?” Jonathan planned to be long gone before spring, but the more intel he could gather, the better his chances of getting himself and River out of there alive.
Gabriel glanced at Eli before locking gazes with Jonathan. “Please don’t ask me any more questions. River will tell you everything you need to know.”
“She hasn’t told me a damn thing.”
“She will. When you’re ready.”
River
By the time they arrived at the ranch, River’s stomach was tied in knots. She’d spent most of the ride home silently rehearsing what she was going to say to Reuben but she still felt unprepared. At least Jonathan hadn’t confronted her about the lie she’d told to keep him from leaving. He was probably waiting until he could speak to her privately.
Jonathan stumbled when he slid off Saucy’s b
ack.
River resisted the urge to scramble to his side and help him. She doubted he’d appreciate it.
He grabbed a fistful of mane and looked down at his bowed legs. “I hope this isn’t permanent.”
River and Gabriel laughed.
Eli rolled his eyes. “How stupid can you be? None of us are bowlegged and we’ve been riding since we could walk.”
River pressed her lips together. She wished Eli would leave Jonathan alone. She didn’t expect him to be nice, but he didn’t need to antagonize him. “Why are you still here? It’s another half-hour to your mother’s cabin.”
Eli glared at River for a second then dug his heels into Red’s sides and galloped away.
Calling attention to the fact that Eli lived with his mother was a cheap shot but at least it had gotten rid of him.
Gabriel dismounted and unbarred the stable doors. They creaked when he opened them. “Am I the only one around here that knows how to grease a hinge?”
River led Sugar to her stall, next to Stormy’s. The filly was weaned, but still liked to be near her momma. They greeted each other with steamy breaths and quiet nickers.
“This is Sugar’s filly, Stormy, sired by Thunder.” River nodded towards Thunder’s box stall in the corner then leaned over Stormy’s stall door and scratched behind her ears.
Jonathan looked like he was in pain as he hobbled towards River. He put his hand on her far shoulder, draping his arm across her back. She tried not to read anything into his possessive behavior, but it made her thighs quiver. She squeezed her knees together and hoped no one noticed.
River closed her eyes and inhaled, hoping the familiar smells of horse, hay and grain would dilute Jonathan’s scent. The brief encounter with her wolf had enhanced all her senses. Everything was more intense—including her physical attraction to Jonathan. What would it be like after she merged?
“She’s really cute.”
Just the sound of his voice felt like a caress. River slipped out from under Jonathan’s arm. She needed to get some distance before she embarrassed herself.
“May I pet her?”
“If she’ll let you. She’s skittish around strangers.” Jonathan’s interest in Stormy only added to his appeal.
To River’s amazement, Stormy sniffed Jonathan’s hand then walked closer and lifted her head. Jonathan scratched under her chin. “That feels good, huh, baby?”
River could stand there all night and watch Jonathan play with Stormy, but Sugar and Saucy needed to be rubbed down. She looked over her shoulder at Gabriel. He was already working on Lightning’s right side. “Hey, Gabriel, I need to talk to Reuben about recruiting Jonathan. Do you mind taking care of Sugar for me?”
“Of course not.” He smiled, crinkling the skin around his eyes. “Good luck with Pa.”
When River got to the porch, she unlaced her boots so she could slip out of them before going inside. It was late and she didn’t want to wake Paul and get him all riled up. There’d be plenty of time for happy reunions after a good night’s sleep.
She tiptoed across the kitchen and leaned into the hall. A bar of light seeped out from under Reuben’s office door. Good. At least she wouldn’t have to wake him. He was grumpier than a grizzly if anything interrupted his sleep.
River froze when she heard Shula’s voice. She snatched her hand away from the doorknob and leaned in closer.
“The ranch is already under quarantine. I can fake Jonathan’s death with drugs. Once we show his body to River and Gabriel, Eli can take him to Red Cliff. From there, he can make his way home.”
River’s fingernails dug into her palms as she fisted her hands. That conniving, evil bitch! Why did Shula care whether or not Jonathan joined Reuben’s household? It was no food out of her mouth. Jonathan was River’s recruit. Her responsibility. She’d feed him out of her own rations all winter if she had to. And she’d be damned if she’d let anyone take him away from her. He’s mine!
Reuben sighed. “Have you considered that he might be the one? He is a McKnight.”
“And that’s exactly why he can’t stay here. The McKnights have become a powerful, wealthy family. They’ll never stop looking for him.”
“Then maybe they need to find his body.”
Chapter Seven
Friends and Enemies
By the time he finished wiping down Saucy, Jonathan felt like he could fall asleep on his feet. It was amazing how much energy it took to sit on a horse. His legs were still trembling. He was gonna feel it in the morning, that’s for sure.
The stallion in the box stall kicked the side of the stable again. He’d been doing that at least every five minutes since they arrived but Jonathan still jumped out of his skin every time he did it. “Jeeze! I wish he’d quit that shit.”
Gabriel folded his arms across the top of Lightning's stall door and frowned. “Um … just so you know, Pa doesn’t like foul language.”
More evidence that this was some sort of cult. Might as well cut to the chase. “Are you guys super religious, or something?”
“Pa’s just old-fashioned.” Gabriel grinned at Jonathan. “When he was a kid, he wasn’t even allowed to say ‘darn.’”
Moonlight glinted off Gabriel’s straight, white teeth. His canine’s were a little long and slightly pushed forward, but he still had a great smile. Now that he thought about it, River’s and Eli’s teeth were also straighter and whiter than they should be for people that had no access to an orthodontist. They must have good genes. “How much longer do you think we need to wait out here? I’m exhausted.”
“However long it takes for River to get back. The last thing you want to do is surprise Pa.”
“I’m surprised River didn’t mention that she’d recruited me when she ran into you and your dad yesterday.”
“She knows better than to spring something like that on him out of the blue.”
That confirmed Jonathan’s suspicions. River had definitely lied to him. He was still inappropriately pleased that she wanted him to stay, but he wished she’d just said so. He knew he was being hypocritical—he’d lied to her about agreeing to become a recruit—but that was different. Wasn’t it? He was too tired for ethical arguments so he let it go.
Saucy finished his ration of grain and snorted into the feed box. Dust motes floated in the moonlight like flecks of silver. “What’s involved in being a recruit?”
“River will tell you everything you need to know.” Gabriel gave Lightning a pat on the shoulder then stepped out of his stall. “You’ll make things much easier on everyone if you don’t ask too many questions.”
“That’s not going to be easy for me. I’m a pretty curious guy.”
Gabriel grinned at him. “I can tell.”
It was too bad Eli wasn’t as friendly as this kid. “Can I ask you one more question?”
Gabriel sighed and crossed his arms. “Go ahead.”
“River said that she’s responsible for everything I do. If I screw up, she’ll be punished.”
“The law of extended accountability.” He nodded.
“That hardly seems fair.”
“It keeps people in line. If you know you aren’t the only one that will be hurt by something you do, you’re a lot less likely to do it.”
“Is that a problem? Keeping people in line?”
“It used to be. Years ago, before I was born. That’s why they have the law.”
“How many people live here?” That sounded a little obvious, but Jonathan needed to know what he was up against.
“Usually, we have four ranch hands and two servant girls, but Shula sent everyone away except for the family because of the quarantine.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have one living brother, Paul. He’s adopted but doesn’t know it, so don’t talk about it in front of him.”
When anyone mentioned a ‘living’ relative, it meant they had others that weren’t. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We all love
Paul as if he were born into the family.”
“No. I meant, I’m sorry that you only have one ‘living’ brother. I think it’s great your family adopted him.”
Gabriel sighed then curved the corners of his mouth into a sad smile. “My mother had over a hundred miscarriages before I was born.”
That had to be an exaggeration. Even if the poor woman miscarried four times a year, she’d have been pregnant for twenty-five years. But Jonathan wasn’t going to argue the point.
“It was a miracle when my baby sister was born alive.” Gabriel’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “But she’s probably dead.”
“Probably?” How could he not know whether or not his sister was dead? Had she been sick when he left?
Gabriel’s face flushed crimson then faded to a chalky gray. “She was born too early. She and Ma both died”
“Oh, man. I’m so sorry.” Something didn’t add up. If the baby had died, Gabriel wouldn’t have said she was probably dead.
“My brother died nine months ago, but I still have a hard time believing he’s really gone.” Jonathan couldn’t believe he’d brought up Franklin’s death. But now that he had, sharing his pain with Gabriel made the ache a little less sharp.
“How old was he?”
“Twenty when he died. Same age as me. We were identical twins. At first everyone thought that I’d died instead of Franklin. When my mother learned the truth, she couldn’t handle it. Frankie was her favorite.”
Gabriel nodded, but didn’t say a word.
The weight of their combined pain should have crushed Jonathan. But for some reason, standing in a stable made of logs, miles from home, baring his soul to a kid he hardly knew, gave Jonathan more comfort than months of psychotherapy. He still grieved. He still missed Frankie more than words could express, but for the first time since his death, Jonathan felt at peace.
That peace shattered when River burst into the stable. Her breasts rose and fell as she panted. “Gabriel, tack up Thunder. I have to get Jonathan out of here.”
“But … we just got here.” The last thing Jonathan wanted to do was get back on a horse—especially not the monster in the corner stall.
“Reuben’s going to kill you.”
