Victoria's Cat (Daughters of the Wolf Clan Book 2)

by Maddy Barone

  “It’s time to get up. You need to pack.”

  “What?” she said again. Her mind swam through black layers of sleep, struggling to find reality. This was the little bedroom at the top of the Limit, right? She was naked. Memories hit her with a joyous thud. “Marty?”

  “Yes. Lights coming on.”

  All but blinded, Victoria squinted. “You’re already dressed,” she said, disappointed. “What time is it?”

  “Quarter to six. We have only half an hour before we have to leave for the train station.”

  “Half an hour!” She threw the covers back and, seeing Marty’s smile, remembered that she was naked. She stood up and stretched, finishing with a sly smile in his direction.

  His smile was almost wolfish. Or was that cat-ish? His hands cupped her face to hold her for his kiss. It was a long, lingering kiss. Victoria melted into it.

  “If only we had a little more time,” he said with regret.

  She played with the lapels of his suit coat. It was the same one he’d worn to the mayor’s house yesterday. He must have fished it off the floor where it had been discarded last night. “Don’t we have time?”

  “No.” He pushed her gently but firmly away from him. “Pack. Take only one bag with necessities. We’ll store the rest here and retrieve it later. Take a shower. A quick shower, and come downstairs for breakfast.”

  His hair was damp, so he must have already showered. She wished he’d woken her earlier. He must have seen her disappointment.

  “There’s no rush, love.” He kissed her again. “We have a lifetime together to look forward to. Lots of nights—and days—ahead of us.”

  “So, tonight?” she suggested.

  “Absolutely tonight.”

  “Where will we be tonight?”

  He looked startled. “I guess Eddie’s.”

  “We’ll be going out to visit the Clan, right?”

  “Right. They need to know what is going on here. But we won’t head out tonight.”

  She pulled him down for one more kiss. “Good. I’m looking forward to making love with you again as soon as possible.”

  “Tonight.” He returned her kiss and stepped back, shaking himself. “I’ve got to go get my stuff packed up. Meet you downstairs.”

  Victoria had grown up moving camp every few weeks. She knew how to pack for travel, so it took her only five minutes to get her stuff together. Her shower was just as quick, and she was downstairs in the kitchen with her satchel less than fifteen minutes after Marty left. He wasn’t there yet, but several women were already preparing breakfast. Aunt Renee, of course, was directing the women in her usual brisk manner. Kim Mitzell, face stony, obeyed the directions given. The Limit’s usual cook would probably be glad to see Renee go. Victoria felt a flash of pity for the woman. Renee was a wonderful cook who took pride in her work, but she did tend to take over.

  Renee noticed Victoria and waved her in. Surprisingly, she didn’t put Victoria to work. “Sit down. Eggs will be ready in two minutes.” She lowered her voice. “No one else knows anything about you know what.” She glanced around the busy kitchen. “Us leaving.”

  Hawk came in then, so Victoria didn’t have to respond. He meekly obeyed his mate’s pointing finger and took a chair across Victoria. “Sleep well?” he asked blandly.

  “Like a baby,” she replied in the exact same tone.

  He chuckled. “Babies don’t always sleep very well. You’ll probably find that out soon.”

  Don’t blush, she told herself. Marty came in, wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater instead of yesterday’s suit. He looked around the room with a slight frown. As he slid into the chair beside Victoria, he spoke quietly to Hawk.

  “Ray wasn’t in our room, and neither were the Allersen boys. Have you seen them?”

  Hawk shook his head.

  “What about Miss Summer? Is she here?”

  Hawk leaned back when Renee put a heaping plate in front of him. The smile he gave her was full of love, the comfortable kind of love that developed over years, steady and strong. “Thank you, love. Sit down and eat with us.”

  “I believe I will.”

  Marty waited until the four of them were sitting at the table before he returned to his original question. “Did Colby and Ray come back last night?”

  Hawk paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. He lowered it slowly, frowning. “I don’t know. Rock went with them to find Colby’s mate. If they found her, they were supposed to bring her here. Is she upstairs in the room across from yours, Victoria?”

  Victoria shrugged. “I didn’t see her.”

  “I didn’t hear her,” said Marty. “Do you think they’re still out there, looking for her? Or trying to convince her to come with them?”

  Hawk stood up. “It shouldn’t have taken that long. I’m going upstairs to check on her.” When Marty stood up, he waved him back. “No, you need to eat before the train comes. I can get a bite later if I need to. I’ll be right back.”

  Marty’s unease spread to Victoria, and she found herself not enjoying the ham and scrambled eggs as much as she usually did. “Where are the other delegates? Aren’t they going on the train too?”

  Renee had the answer to that. “Most of them have already left for the train station. Hawk decided it was better if we didn’t all go in one big group. If two or three people leave at a time it doesn’t look quite so obvious that there’s an exodus out of Omaha this morning.”

  “Good idea. Uncle Hawk is pretty smart.” Victoria inwardly squirmed. They were leaving Omaha in time to avoid whatever trouble President Todd had for the city. Was it right to run away?

  Marty noticed her discomfort. “What’s wrong, Vic?”

  She lowered her voice to a tiny whisper. “Sneaking out of town and leaving everyone else here to face him doesn’t feel right.”

  He took her fingers and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I know what you mean. But we have a responsibility to our friends and families back home.”

  Uncle Hawk came in and took his place at the table again. He glanced over at Marty and shook his head. “No, there’s no sign the girl has been here. I checked your room, and Ray’s scent isn’t fresh. The only fresh scent is yours, so I don’t think he was there last night.”

  Marty stabbed a chunk of ham with a little bit too much force. “Dammit,” he muttered. “Ray had better not miss the train. McGrath said it won’t wait.”

  “Maybe he’s already waiting for us there,” Victoria said, trying to sound encouraging.

  But when they got to the train station, there was no sign of Ray, or Colby, or Rock in the long, dimly lit room. Miss Summer wasn’t there either. Two dozen of the delegates and their companions sat inside the station, talking quietly tired.

  Renee scanned the room, probably for an open spot on a bench, but they all had at least one occupant. The nearest bench was occupied by Brother Saul. Hawk stepped over to him and growled almost politely, “Get up, and let the ladies sit.”

  Brother Saul raised a pugnacious chin, but stood up and moved a few steps away. Renee gave him a brusque nod and sat down where he had been. Victoria joined her. She didn’t see Jon or Tanner in the station. Maybe they, like her brother and cousins, were staying in Omaha to help if it came to a fight.

  Marty alternated between keeping anxious watch on the door and pretending to stroll casually around the station, too obviously not looking for his nephew. Victoria found herself glancing around the room as if Ray and the others might crawl out from under a bench at any moment. With the sun not yet up, the bare lightbulbs couldn’t quite illuminate the entire room, so maybe the boys would materialize out of a dark corner.

  A sluggish, muted rumble came from outside, followed by the low hiss of machinery. The train was firing up its engines. According to the large clock on the wall, departure was only ten minutes away.

  “The train is already here.” Renee nodded to the dark window, where the dark outline of the train could be seen. “Maybe Colby and Rock ar
e already on it.”

  “Maybe.” Hawk didn’t sound convinced, but his smile was encouraging. “It’s probably been here for a little while, so they might have gotten on already.”

  Marty returned from one of his rounds of the train station. “They’re here with Anna McGrath.”

  The door opened and the mayor’s daughter came into the station escorted by Ray on one side and Rock on the other. Behind them came Colby and Georgina Summer. Victoria could practically see the tension seep away from her husband. He pushed through a knot of men standing by the door and took the two suitcases Rock carried.

  “I’m glad to see you, Miss Anna,” he said gently. He gave his nephew a nod. “You too.”

  Colby gestured with the backpack he held. “Sit down, Miss Gina.”

  Georgina Summer snatched the backpack away from him and held her back very straight as she strode past him to the bench. Many of the delegates nodded to her as she passed them, but luckily no one tried to touch her. By the set of Colby’s jaw, he was irritated by something. A stranger touching his mate would undoubtedly have set him off. Victoria made room on the bench for the younger woman, who sat with her denim-clad knees primly together, backpack on her lap, looking straight ahead without speaking. It looked like Colby wasn’t the only one irritated by something. Or someone. Victoria cast another sidelong glance at her cousin and saw a shadow of misery on Colby’s face before he hid it.

  A man in a blue uniform opened the door to the platform. “We’re boarding now,” he called. “Ladies first.”

  Hawk took Renee by the shoulders and gave her a light kiss. “I’ll see you soon, love.”

  Victoria was fervently glad that Marty wasn’t staying behind. She hugged Rock and Hawk good bye, but when she hugged Colby he murmured, “I’m going on the train too. I’m not leaving my mate’s side.”

  Victoria arched a pale brow. Colby, passing up a fight? Of course, he’d give up even more for a mate. The only women in the station were Victoria, Renee, Georgina Summer, and Anna McGrath. The men in the station held back while they went out to the platform and boarded the train. Victoria chose a seat in the middle of the first passenger car and slid her suitcase under it. It seated two. She and Marty could at least hold hands for the four or five hours of the journey to Kearney.

  Renee and Anna took the seat across the aisle from her. Georgina Summer tossed a quick glance over her shoulder, and squeezed past Victoria to sit beside her.

  “Hey!” said Victoria. “I’m saving that seat for—”

  Miss Summer seized her arm and cut her off. “Please!” she hissed. “I don’t want him to sit next to me.”

  “Him? Who, Colby?”

  “I don’t like him. He scares me.”

  Ouch. Victoria glanced toward the front of the train and saw Colby’s face contract with hurt and grief. He’d heard every whispered word just fine. Poor Cole. She turned back to the younger woman. “Has he hurt you?”

  Georgina opened her mouth, scowled, and closed it. “No,” she admitted reluctantly.

  The girl was honest. Victoria approved. She leaned close. “He won’t. He’s pushy and bossy, but he won’t hurt you.”

  “Maybe not me, but he almost killed Lachlan last night.”

  Victoria looked up and her gaze followed Colby and Marty as they walked past and settled in the seats right behind where she and Georgina sat. Colby’s face was carefully neutral except for his black eyebrows which were a straight line over his eyes. Victoria arched a brow at her cousin before turning back to Georgina.

  “Did Lachlan try to touch you?” Victoria inquired. “Or stop you from coming?”

  Miss Summer watched Ray slide into a seat behind Anna and Renee on the other side of the aisle. Other men walked passed them and took seats. Victoria thought she wouldn’t answer and wished Marty was beside her instead of behind her. After a few moments, the other woman spoke in a low voice.

  “Lachlan thought I’d be safer if I hid in Omaha.”

  A quiet sound came from the seat behind them, not quite a growl, not quite a sigh. “You’ll be safer with the Pack,” said Colby.

  Georgina half-turned her head. “I’ve known Lachlan for months. He and Ceara have taken care of me like I was their sister. I’ve known you for what? Two days?” The words might have been sarcastic, but her tone was calmly reasonable. “Think about it. Why would I believe you over them?”

  “Because you’re my mate.”

  Victoria waited for her to explode, but she didn’t. She merely turned her head and sat quietly with her hands folded over the backpack in her lap. Victoria raised a brow.

  “So,” she asked conversationally. “Why did you come?”

  Georgina didn’t look at her. “Because I didn’t want Lachlan to die.”

  “I wouldn’t have killed him!”

  Colby sounded more beseeching than angry. Miss Summer didn’t turn. “I’ll stay with your mom and your sister for a little while, and I’ll say thank you for the hospitality, but I am not looking for a husband.”

  Colby muttered, “You don’t have to look. I’m right here.”

  His mate sniffed and ignored him. The train started off with a jerk and a hiss. A tiny niggle of worry that Victoria hadn’t even been aware of seeped out of her. The train moved sluggishly at first but then built up speed. Victoria leaned over Miss Summer to look out the window. Yes, they were leaving the station now. She began to sit back when she saw two figures running along the platform. They leaped onto the train.

  A moment later the door at the head of the car opened and two men rushed in, panting. Jon and Tanner Allersen. So they weren’t staying to defend Omaha after all. The two young men started toward the back of the car. Beside her, Colby’s mate turned her face sharply away. She probably didn’t like the Allersen boys either. If they had done something to annoy her, Colby wouldn’t be happy. Or maybe he would be, since it would give him an excuse to fight.

  Brother Saul boomed over the noise of the train. “Sit down, you rascals.” He lowered his voice to what he probably thought was a quiet tone but even human ears could hear him just fine. “Did you get it done?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  After a long minute, Miss Summer turned to Victoria. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I am Georgina Summer.”

  Victoria shook her hand and felt callouses on it. “Victoria Wo… I mean, Victoria Madison.” Her smile bloomed with wonder and pride. “I just got married last night.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. My friends call me Vic.”

  “My friends call me Gina. Are you friends with, um.” Her voice trailed off as she appeared to search for a name. “Cody?”

  “Colby,” he growled.

  Gina’s face was completely sober except for a tremble at the corner of her mouth. “Right. Colby.”

  Victoria looked at her with surprise and some approval. That was a smile hiding on Gina’s face. She was teasing him. “Yeah, we’re cousins. Our dads are cousins, so that makes us second cousins.” Victoria took pity on Colby. “He’s a good guy. I mean, yeah, he’s pushy like I said, but he’s a good guy. You should try to get to know him while you’re staying at the den. Aunt Carla won’t let him bother you.”

  “I didn’t get much sleep last night,” Gina said, obviously deciding to ignore the topic of Colby. “I guess I’ll try to get a little rest.”

  She shifted her backpack against the window and laid her head on it. Victoria lifted a shoulder and looked over it at Colby, trying to convey that she had tried to sway his mate’s opinion in his favor. He nodded to her.

  With all the bodies on the train it was becoming warm. Victoria took off her coat, rolled it up and tucked her behind her head. With no one to talk to and nothing to do, Victoria closed her eyes and let her head drop back. The rocking of the train lulled her into a doze.

  She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she woke to the scream of brakes. She and Gina were thrown forward into the seats in front of th
em as the train shrieked to a halt. Some of the passengers tumbled into the aisle, others stumbled to their feet. Marty reached over the back of her seat for her shoulders.

  “Are you okay?”

  Victoria rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, sure. What’s going on? An accident?”

  Before he could answer, a dozen men in gray-green uniforms poured into the train, all grim-faced, marching in perfectly synchronized, pounding steps. They lined the center aisle, every other man facing the opposite direction, rifles pointed at the passengers. One man with a thin line of red down his sleeve stood at the head of the car and spoke in the ringing tones of authority.

  “Everyone will remain in his seat,” he barked. “In the name of President Gerald Todd, this train is now the property of Kansas-Missouri. You are our prisoners. Anyone who attempts to resist will be shot.”

  Chapter Ten

  Victoria felt Gina slump beside her. Had she fainted? She turned quickly to help her and found that Gina had buried her face in her backpack. The man in charge pointed behind her. “Sir, release the lady and sit down.”

  Marty’s hand clenched painfully on her shoulder before opening. She cast an anxious glance over her shoulder and saw Marty sit back. The turquoise of his eyes seemed to be overlaid by a yellow sheen. She looked quickly at Colby. His face was hard and set. Across the aisle, Ray looked only mildly interested, but his eyes glowed with that same odd yellow sheen. Victoria swallowed and turned back to the front.

  The man in charge walked down the center aisle to where she sat. He gave Gina a bland smile. “Miss Todd. Your father has been worried about you.”

  Gina raised a pale face. “My father is dead,” she said flatly.

  He paid no attention to her words. “Your mother is anxious to see you. Please accompany Corporal Lundgren to our vehicle.”

  “Lieutenant Mott,” Gina began, but trailed off when his face didn’t change expression. With a sigh, she stood up.

  Behind them, Colby growled. Gina shook her head at him. “It’s okay,” she said dully. “I should have known they would catch up with me eventually.” Her gaze returned to the man in charge, and her mouth curved in a bitter imitation of amusement. “No need to chain me up. I’ll come peacefully.”