by Bella Knight
“You can take the plane over, have dinner together, and then split up. You can spend a day in Rome together, see the Colosseum and stuff like that, then split up, her to the sculptor’s vacay, and you to romantic Venice and Tuscany,” said Bella. She turned to look at Inola.
Inola held up her hands. “No urge. Send me off to hike the Painted Desert, or ride a horse to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to hang out with our Hopi and Dine cousins.”
“Dine? Oh, Navajo,” said Bao, realizing it herself.
“We need to check out their weavers anyway,” said Inola.
Bella shook her head. “I want a place with water, coconuts, and a guy named Juan that brings me strawberry drinks.” All the women laughed.
“Split up,” said Callie. “Or, take turns.” She grunted. “My wife’s version of a good time is to go somewhere she can dance for days. New Orleans, Rio, LA, New York.” She grinned. “We’ve never been to the Big Apple.”
“Done,” said Bao. “I’ll pay for you to go.”
“I would say you don’t have to,” said Callie, “But, we need a vacay, and that will make my wife dance with joy.” She laughed. “Her happy dance is something to see.”
They watched as Ivy finished, laughing, and then slid into the ocean. “My wife is the hottest woman on Earth,” said Callie. “And probably the next inhabited planet, too.”
“Hey,” said Bella. “Inola is gorgeous.” They kissed until they lost their breath.
“My man is yummy,” said Bao. “He moves like a panther and is the most attentive, loving man on Earth.”
“He is fine,” said Lily. She came up, moved over a chair, moved their feet to get a lime water, and sat. They all put their feet back up. “But, Bao, Ace is the finest man ever. He can run and jump. He goes up to see his little brother Kieran and Ivan, and plays basketball with them.”
“How are the dogs?” asked Bella. “Keiran is Ace’s little brother. Kieran and his best friend Ivan make a living raising dogs to help with seizures and PTSD, and other things like that,” Bella explained to Bao.
“Whole new set,” said Lily. “Breaks their hearts to send them on, but then they can go get more shelter dogs to save.” She grinned. “I just got an idea. Toys for dogs, then donate a second toy to shelter dogs. For the Montana Wolfpack.”
“They can adopt some dogs and try the toys out on them,” said Callie.
“Dog slobber,” said Inola. “The worst thing about dog toys is dog slobber.” Everyone laughed.
Nico and Ace came jogging over, their faces slick with water and sweat. “You ladies need anything?” said Nico.
“We’re going to New York!” Callie blissfully told Ace. “Bao is sending us later.”
“I’ll cover the bar,” Ace said, handing Nico a sports drink and taking one for himself.
“My wife is the kindest, sweetest, most generous one in the world,” said Nico. He kissed her gently, lovingly, while Ace went over and planted one on Lily. Bella grinned, and kissed Inola.
“I feel so left out,” said Callie. Ace kissed one cheek, and Nico the other, making her scream with laughter.
Ivy jogged over. “Hey! Get your lips off my wife!” She pushed the men aside, and deeply kissed Callie.
Once she got her breath back, Callie said, “We’re going to New York. Bao is paying for it, and Ace will cover the bar.”
Ivy did a happy dance, grinning and twirling, her hands out, the twists in her hair flying. The dance made Callie groan and tense her belly muscles, and made the men stare because she was so good.
Callie stood, grabbed Ivy’s hand, and said, “Tent. Now.” They ran across the sand, giggling, and zipped themselves up in the tent.
Ace stood and said, “I’ll distract the girls from bothering them.” He finished his drink, and tossed it into the recycling bag. “Cover me. I’m going in.”
“I’ve got your back, bro,” said Nico. He threw his bottle into the recycling bag. They jogged over to the kids. Bao and Lily watched their asses as they ran. Inola and Bella kissed again.
Callie dragged her wife into the tent, and Ivy zipped it up. Callie had Ivy’s pink bikini top off in a single moment, and held her breasts in her hands. Ivy reached around Callie, and popped off her teal top. They kissed, pressing their breasts together, and then stood back. Ivy caught the back of Callie’s neck and pulled on her heel with her foot, making her topple to the sleeping bag on the sand. Ivy followed her down, and nuzzled her breasts as Callie whooped with laughter.
Callie drew aside her wife’s hair, and kissed her neck, and pulled on Ivy’s earlobe with her teeth. She giggled, then gasped as Ivy used the tips of her white teeth on Callie’s right breast. Ivy made Callie come, once per breast, with teeth and lips and delicate fingers. Callie pulled down her own bikini bottom, and then got Ivy’s bikini bottom off. She grasped Ivy’s buttocks, and slid her fingers up and down, making Ivy gasp.
Ivy slid down, right over Callie’s stomach. She kissed and sucked her way down to her wife’s thighs. She made Callie come again and again, and Callie put a fist into her own mouth to keep from screaming. She bucked and moaned. Finally, she was satisfied, and Ivy flipped around. Callie used her fingers on her wife, sliding into her slick wetness, and made her come again and again, enjoying watching her body move as she did it. Finally, after more kissing, they found the bikini parts, put them back on, and fell asleep.
Homeward Bound
Wraith took Sigrun with her, up north to Pahrump. They rode early, wind in their hair, twirling their braids. Wraith had wanted to go up during the fall, but Saber had taken off for another deep dive into the heart of darkness, and Thandie was nearly as good as her at running High Desert (when she wasn’t out on protection duty). Besides, she needed time with Sigrun, so she stole her away from printing entire boxes worth of 3D printed hands and arms. They were figuring out if they could print blade legs next, the type that could take the whole weight of the human body.
They hit up their favorite coffee shop in town. Kema took their order, and Tallee, her mother, cooked up their bacon, home fries, and eggs. Kema heated up their biscuits and served them with butter and honey.
Dee (Kema’s little girl), peered over into their booth. “You two Valkyries?” she asked.
“Yes, we are,” said Wraith. “I’m Wraith, and this is Sigrun.”
“Herja and Sheriff Xenia and Freya are all Valkyries,” she said. “Like Wonder Woman.”
“Minus the lasso,” Sigrun agreed. “What are you doing?”
Kema grinned. “Waiting for Chance and Rhodes. They’re gonna walk me over, then help me with my homework after school.”
Chance strode in, black hair frosted, violet on the tips, her hair in the Valkyrie side braid. “You ready, Dee?” she asked. She strode over to Sigrun. “I know you. Sigrun. And you must be Wraith. You’re the only Valkyrie with white-blonde hair that I’ve heard of.”
“We are,” said Sigrun. “Where is your sister?”
Rhodes entered, weighed down by a backpack that was obviously full of huge books. “Got the latest edition of Jane’s,” she said. “And Marcus Aurelius in Latin.” She saw Sigrun and Wraith. “Cool,” she said, and walked up. “I’m fucking Rhodes, and this is Chance.”
“With your shield,” said Wraith, to Rhodes, and grasped her behind the neck, bending her knees to be on eye level with the girl.
“Or on it,” said Rhodes. Then, they bumped fists.
Wraith did the same thing with Chance. They bumped fists, then Rhodes went to the front door, and held the door open for Chance and Dee.
“When do I get to be a Valkyrie?” asked Dee. “I wanna do that.”
“Are you eleven yet?” asked Chance, as the door swung shut behind them.
“They are a handful,” said Kema, coming over with a carafe of orange juice. “But smart as tacks. They’re teaching Dee Latin, if you can believe it. Girl’s done better in English this year, and she’s learning Spanish, too.”
“School in the summer?
” asked Wraith. “A year-round school?”
“Home school co-op,” said Kema. “I teach math on Thursdays. Mama teaches science on Tuesdays. We’re both in community college at the same time, too. Mama’s getting her accounting degree, and I’m taking finance. Already trading cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, on my phone. Paid for all the summer clothes for Dee, and some for me, too,” she said.
“That rocks,” said Sigrun. “My fine arts degree is turning into a 3D printing direction.”
“She makes hands,” said Wraith. “For those without them.”
“That’s great,” said Kema. “Well, gotta fill up some coffees. Call me if you all need anything.” She whirled off, ready to serve the farmers, truck drivers, cops, and store owners coming in for breakfast.
Xenia came in, eyes half-lidded from lack of sleep. She slid into the booth next to Sigrun. “I will bless Odin every day when Diana makes it through the night,” said Xenia. Kema rushed over with coffee and a muffin piled with egg, cheese, and bacon.
Wraith grinned. “We’ll be dealing with that sometime,” she said. “Hoped I was pregnant, but didn’t work out. It’s up to Sigrun, who is so busy some days she forgets to eat. Or adoption, since men suck at getting pregnant.”
Xenia let out a belly laugh. “That they do.” She thought a minute. “I’ve got two I’m thinking of. Wharton is six, and a handful. He drives his foster mother nuts. He’s half Mongolian. His dad had a job, then went home, and mama didn’t know she was pregnant until sometime later. Mama died, no relatives, been trying to find the dad for years. Put Daisy Chain on it, and found out he died in a car accident. No living relatives. No one will adopt him here because he’s half Asian.”
“That’s just stupid,” opined Wraith. “And the other one?”
“That one’s the saddest of all. A friend’s mother was driving Dina and her own daughter to ballet practice. Got T-boned by a truck. The mama died, the other girl lived. The dad took the friend and moved to upstate New York, so she lost her friend, too. The girl’s own mother couldn’t handle her special needs, and turned to drugs. Dina had a shattered pelvis, pins all over the damn place. Kid can’t sit through a class without wriggling in pain. Had to set her teachers straight twice so far, getting on her for wriggling. Got her special pillows, but they don’t help much on those hard chairs. Foster mother’s a twit, doesn’t get that chronic pain is real. Thinks the kid is trying to get out of doing chores, or why the kid sometimes can’t get out of bed.”
Sigrun’s eyes narrowed. “That… I have no words.”
“Tried setting that woman straight,” said Xenia. “Bob and I have both talked to her, but she’s just a twit. Dumb as a box of rocks, and thinks she’s right about everything.”
“How old is Dina?” asked Wraith.
“She was seven at the time of the accident, eleven when her mother died just six months ago, drugs.”
“Fuck,” said Sigrun. “Sorry, forgot we were in a family place. But; just, no.”
“Your classes done?” asked Xenia. She finished her breakfast sandwich, and guzzled coffee as if it was going out of style.
“Yes,” said Wraith. “That’s not the problem. We’ve been looking at bigger townhomes, but four bedrooms are hard to find, and they’re super-expensive. So, we need to move and do a home study.” She sent a text. “We’ll have three to look at in no time,” she said. “Our realtor is street-smart. Plus, we’ve got friends in construction.” She sent out another text to Tito.
“Okay,” said Xenia. “Let’s get Wraith in to work, straightening out our offices. Consultant pay is shit, but it does look good on your home study documents. I get you first, and then my husband will steal you. A week?”
“Good,” said Wraith. “More if needed. We can always zip back to buy a house. Bannon is paying me disgusting amounts of money. We can float a loan with no problem.”
“The hiccup,” said Sigrun, making a grimace, “is that I’m a student living with them, cleaning for room and board.”
“They’re good with gay,” said Wraith. “Not so good with poly.”
“My lips are sealed. I’ll try to get you in to see the kids, but Wraith will probably have to be there, and I’m going to run her ragged.”
Wraith grinned. “Bring it on.” She took her last sip of orange juice.
“What will you be doing, Sigrun?” asked Xenia, as she slid out of the booth.
“Herja is here,” said Sigrun. “We’ll fix bikes and fight.”
“Sounds good,” said Xenia. They all washed up; then went to start their day.
Wraith rode with Xenia in her company car, and Sigrun went off to fight. Tito called at five minutes to lunch. They were already on their way back to the cafe, wisps of hair sticking to their necks and faces with the heat.
“Got a ranch style. I know, we all hate them, but that may be best for the girl. Congratulations on that, too. A southwestern design and a courtyard in the middle. With a kiva to grill outdoors, and windows so you can see the kids playing in the courtyard. Four bedrooms, one office wired for everything, three and a half baths. On a quiet street. The best thing is; it’s only about ten blocks away from Desert Security.”
“Price?” asked Wraith.
“Before your work for Desert, would have thought it out of your price range. Way out. But Bannon is willing to front the down payment, as you may have used up some savings with your being hospitalized. A lot. And all.”
“We’ll match what Bannon is willing to pay,” said Wraith. “He can take it out of my bonuses.”
“You sell your kidney?” asked Tito.
“Nope,” said Wraith. “When you’re undercover, you don’t spend much, and we’ve greatly cut down our expenses by living together.”
“Okey dokey,” said Tito. “We’re almost done with the remodel. The guy wants to sell fast, because he owes us a fortune. I’ll try to get him to knock off the price. A huge down means a faster sale.”
“We want a fast close,” said Wraith. “Talk to Lily, and have her call Gregory. Wait, I will. Busy morning.”
“I’ll make a quick video, show you what we did. If you want us to do more things, let us know, but I think you’ll love it.”
“Good,” said Wraith. “Be waiting for it.”
She called Bannon first, and kept from whistling at the number he agreed to put on for a down payment. “I want you forever and ever,” he said. “I know Xenia and Bob both want you. I’m willing to pay to make that happen.”
Wraith found words in her suddenly sticky throat. “You… thank you very much,” she said. “We hope to adopt two kids.”
“Excellent!” boomed Bannon. “When?”
“As soon as the home study clears. Maybe a week or two.”
Bannon whistled. “You work fast, woman. I like that about you. Talk to you soon.” He hung up.
Wraith called Lily and filled her in. “Can’t match that,” said Lily. “Can get close. I suggest you don’t match it completely, anyway. Keep a little aside.”
“I’m not touching Saber’s money,” said Wraith, her voice flinty. “He earned it with his blood.”
“So did you,” said Lily, gently. “Alright. And how will you pay Bannon back?”
“Bonuses,” said Wraith. “My first one should be in the five figures. Easily.”
“Good move,” said Lily. “I’ll handle the inspection and the closing. Are you coming back up to see the house?”
Wraith shrugged, then she remembered that Lily couldn’t see her because she was working for Xenia and Bob. “Why? Tito says it’s good. I believe him.”
“Trusting woman,” said Lily.
“He’s sending a video,” said Wraith.
Lily snorted. “Talk to you later,” she said, and hung up.
They entered the diner, and Kema grinned and put out two large glasses of iced tea. They sat at the counter, and Wraith ordered a BLT on wheat and wedge potatoes. Xenia ordered mesquite chicken with bacon on wheat with the wedge potatoes. They
sat, and drank quietly.
Wraith’s phone pinged, and she pulled up the video. The floors were done in Spanish tiles, the colors in azure and brick red, with yellow and little hints of green here and there. The bedrooms were not large, except the master, which had a bathroom and a jacuzzi tub, and two sinks and glass tiles in gold and blue. She loved it. There were built-in shelves in the family room for a wide-screen television and all its paraphernalia. The second bedroom wasn’t too small, good enough for a queen bed. The other two bedrooms were in the middle of the back hallway. The office was opposite the den, wired for everything. The courtyard was lovely, with its very own mesquite tree on one end, and a kiva to keep the place warm in winter on the other.
“Can put padding down on the courtyard,” observed Wraith.
“Good for the sore one,” said Xenia. “Get that girl under your medical care, and I really think she’d improve fast.”
“Hope so,” said Wraith. “When can we meet them?”
“Provided your wife isn’t a bloody mess from fighting, we can see them on my drive-through this afternoon,” said Xenia. “Oh, no blood,” said Xenia.
“They wear padding, so it should be good, unless she barked her knuckles up on the bikes. She’s more likely to paint them. Do a custom job that will make the customer pay through the nose.”
“I look forward to seeing that,” said Xenia. Their food arrived and they dug in.
Wraith finished her little program to fix the file numbering system, and ran it. Xenia stuck her head out of the office. “Ride-along time,” she said. “You good?”
“Excellent,” said Wraith. “Made significant progress.”
“Let’s pick up some iced coffees in the car,” she said. “And Sonic for dinner.”
“I love you,” said Wraith, as she slipped on her glasses and headed out into the heat, which hit her like a fist to her skull and eyes. The wind was desiccating and laced through with fine grit.
Xenia snorted. “Wharton first. He’s in karate class. You should like that.”
“I’d teach him the Yang Short Form first,” said Wraith. “Teach him that slow movement won’t kill him, and will help him to maintain his balance.”
