“Do not worry, Mademoiselle Hope. It is not heavy for me. I am of sturdy stock.”
Yesterday, Hope would have said the same thing. Now she wasn’t so sure. This woman was made of very sturdy stock if she could lift that end and carry it. Maybe it had something to do with the hard life they must lead here doing everything the hard way, the way they used to in the old days.
“I feel useless.”
“Never feel that way, Hope,” Joran said as he moved to help Amelie by picking up the other end of the trunk. “You are many things, but useless is not one of them.” He winked at her before she looked away.
She couldn’t even pack the thing. When they set it down and opened it up, Hope had no idea that certain items of clothing went in certain areas. Apparently, everything had a specific compartment in the bottom, except the dresses which Amelie attached to one end by the hanger so if someone stood it on end, the dresses would hang instead of falling into a heap at the bottom.
“How can you tell which end goes up?”
“Do you see the name across the top of the trunk?” Amelie pointed to what must have been the name of the manufacturer. At Hope’s nod, she continued. “When the writing is upright, the trunk is set as it should be.”
“Oh! That makes sense, but I don’t see how you could make baggage handlers care what end is supposed to go up. In my experience, they jerk the bags up and throw them around like sacks of rubbish.” At least that was what had happened to her suitcase the last time she had gone on a trip. The airline baggage handlers had ruined her new suitcase and she’d had to buy a new one. Lugging a large suitcase through an airport was a difficult task with no handle and the wheels ripped off it.
Amelie’s eyes rounded. “Treat my trunks as though they were the rubbish? They wouldn’t dare!” She packed the last dress inside, closed the lid then looked up with a smile. “You see? It is easy. We are fini.”
Easy wasn’t the word Hope would have used. She would never remember which compartment the pantaloons or those long shirts that Amelie called shifts went into. The stockings had another compartment as did her shoes, nightgowns, and dressing robes. Why these people insisted on wearing so many layers of clothing in this heat baffled her. Hope was sure she would expire from heat exhaustion in no time if they forced her to wear more than her dress and her own serviceable bra and underwear.
Hope’s face grew warm at the thought of the state of her panties. Damn! Like it or not, she was going to have to wear those stupid, old-fashioned pairs of underwear. Thanks to Braxton and their incredibly hot ride into town, her previously serviceable underwear could no longer be considered anything but trash.
With a sigh, Hope resigned herself to the fact that she would have to wear the ugly, oversized underwear as long as they held her here. What other choice did she have?
Chapter Fourteen
“Are we ready to go? We’re burning daylight. I don’t want to have to spend more than one night on the trail,” Braxton said as he made his way to his mate’s side. “We’ll have to get Hope and the other ladies bedrolls. I don’t want anyone getting cold.”
“Oh, no way.” Hope held up her hand and backed away. “I am not sleeping on the ground. If you think I am, you’re out of your mind.”
“You won’t have to sleep on the ground, Hope,” Braxton said with a grin. “We have two large wagons you ladies can share. It will keep you up off the ground, and we have canvas to shelter you.”
“I know you’re not talking about a covered wagon.” Hope held up her hand and backed away. “I have gone my entire life with neither seeing, nor riding, in something so antiquated. I don’t plan to start now.”
“Antiquated? Our wagons are almost new. We bought them just before we came here from back east, a few months ago.”
Hope looked around at the inside of the store, no doubt taking note of the workmanship and the way Amelie had stocked it so well. “Like I’m supposed to believe that you all built this and stocked it in only a few months?” She waved her arm toward the front door. “Did you think I didn’t see the building when we came in? It’s weathered far too much to only be a few months old. Come on, people. If you’re going to play like this town is new, it should look new, shouldn’t it?”
“I know you think we are playing some sort of game with you, Hope, but I can assure you, that is the farthest thing from our minds. The town has been here for a while. It was built at the height of the gold rush, and when no one found the gold they were certain was in the area, they abandoned it. Our people found it and purchased it from the government. We want to make a life here.”
“Uh, yeah, right. Okay. Let’s say I believe that.” She glared at them through narrowed eyes. “When do I get to go home?”
“We only ask that you allow us to woo you, Hope. If you still want to go home after we have done all that we can to convince you to stay, we will find a way to get you home.”
She didn’t look convinced, but at least she wasn’t demanding they take her home immediately.
“If you don’t mind, we must go now. There are others we must collect along the way. We do not wish to lose any more of our people.”
He didn’t add that finding people to join them and keep their secret was a difficult task. Not only did they live their lives outside the norm for these people and this time, they couldn’t afford to let anyone go who would tell others their secret, especially the one about their not being human.
Of the fifteen women they collected from Philadelphia, there were only five left. The others took their money and left or married drifters they fell in love with and moved away. The women didn’t know what they were, only that they wished to mate as triads or sometimes have even three or four men to a union. Some of them just couldn’t stay after all they had been through. Once they agreed to mate with one of their kind, Braxton knew they must tell them. They hadn’t planned to tell Hope, but she’d seen them and was terrified. The only way to keep her from falling into hysterics was to tell her the truth.
Braxton hoped that they could trust Hope to keep all of this to herself if she refused them. They couldn’t keep their promise to return her home if she couldn’t swear to keep this to herself.
“Are we ready then?” he asked as Joe entered the store, picked up Hope’s trunk with a grunt, and carried it out to the wagons.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” Hope replied. She didn’t sound too happy, but she wasn’t fighting them every step of the way. That was something at least. With a sigh, she followed Joe through the door and out into the sunlight.
I’m glad we didn’t have to force her. You know we couldn’t take her back now if we wanted to. We have to get the others to safety first.
I know. Braxton agreed with a slight nod. She would never forgive us for forcing her hand. This may seem like a small thing, but to her I’m sure it’s huge. We should remember this when she reacts to something unknown to her.
You’re right. She isn’t from this time, nor is she from this area of her world. There are many things that could frighten her. Perhaps we should remain close to help her should she need us. Joran pressed his lips together and winked. Maybe she will be grateful for our presence. It could go a long way to helping her make up her mind to stay.
Yes, it could go a long way, especially if they found out who killed Robio and Dradon and ended the run of terror the culprits planned for their little town.
There was no doubt in Braxton’s mind who or what was behind the attack. It was elitists. His only question was, how had they gotten here on Earth without Carella seeing another ship approach? Either they had developed some sort of cloaking device for their vessels, or they were included in the men who petitioned to come to Earth in search of their mates.
How they got here wasn’t nearly as important as finding them before they left Serenity Falls and made their way to other towns and began to slaughter innocent humans.
One thing was certain, the council needed to screen those who petitioned
for the right to search better. Perhaps they should require a background check that went back more than five years. Who knew how long those bloodthirsty idiots have been in deep cover?
Braxton helped a few of the women into one of the wagons, tied Diablo to the back and climbed to the seat to drive. Joran did the same on the other and Joe drove the empty buckboard. They had a few stops to make on their way to the alpha’s, and they needed all the room they could get. With luck, they would reach Lorcan’s home in one piece and the women would be safe.
Until then, he knew that they must all be vigilant. Like Joran and the human, Joe, Braxton was prepared to lay down his life to protect the women, but he didn’t plan to go down without a fight.
Chapter Fifteen
Hope sat next to Joran on the hard seat of the buckboard. Her back hurt and her rear was blessedly numb after what seemed like hours in the seat. Still sore from the ride in, she hadn’t been prepared to sit for a long period when they got to town. She had hoped they would agree that there was safety in numbers and stay in town. Apparently, the numbers were higher at the alpha’s home, wherever that was.
Cupping her hand over her eyes, Hope looked out at the horizon. She couldn’t see anything but mountains in the distance and what seemed like an endless ocean of tall grass waving in the breeze between.
Looking down at the horses, Hope couldn’t believe she was actually riding in an honest-to-God covered wagon. Who still had these things in the twenty-first century? She shivered at the thought as they bounced over another rut that caused her to bump into Joran yet again.
She looked up at his chiseled profile, his straight nose and his square jaw. The cowboy hat he wore gave him a rakish look, along with the five-o’clock shadow that covered the lower half of his face.
It didn’t take much to imagine what they would be doing right now if they were on his horse. She bit her lip, her cheeks burning as she thought of how his experienced fingers had managed to wring a screaming orgasm from her earlier.
How would he feel when he finally slid his cock inside her? Was he as big as his friend or bigger? Was he not quite as wide or was he wider? The questions swirled around inside her head every time they made contact.
Her right breast bumped against his forearm every time they hit a bump in the two-track trail they used to make their way across the land to the place they called the alpha’s.
Something in the distance caught her eye, and she peered off into the distance, her hand shielding her face from the late-afternoon sun.
A small wooden house set a distance from a barn with a fenced-in area grew closer as they moved. It was difficult to see, since the sun was almost at eye level in the sky. As they grew closer, they could see a few people moving out from the house to stare at them as they approached. One looked like a man holding a rifle pointed in their direction.
“William is back,” Joran muttered almost under his breath. “What the hell is he doing here?”
They pulled the wagons to a stop next to the barn and Braxton got down.
“You might as well get right back up on your wagon and get the hell out of here, wolf.” The man Joran called William pointed the gun straight at Braxton’s chest. “I’ll shoot your sorry ass. Don’t think I won’t.”
Hope gasped. She lifted her hands to cover her mouth. The last thing she wanted was to set the man off and have him shoot Braxton because she’d distracted him.
“And don’t have the mistaken impression that I won’t survive it, Will.” Braxton walked up to the man and pushed the barrel just in time for the shot to go over his head.
“Why don’t you let me shoot you and prove it?”
“Because it hurts, you ass.” Braxton practically growled. “What is it that you have against us, exactly? We saved your life. This is a wonderful way to say thank you.”
“You may have saved my life, but you made me one of you to do it.” William spat the words. “I don’t want to be one of you, damn it!”
“How many times do we have to tell you that you aren’t one of us? We couldn’t make you one of us without you having a mate, it would drive you mad, you ungrateful shit.”
“Then explain how you brought me back from the brink of death. How did you heal a gut wound with no scar in less than a day?” William kept his rifle pressed against his shoulder and leveled at Braxton’s chest.
“We didn’t save your life. Carella, our ship saved your life. For some reason, she transported you aboard and healed you. I have no idea why. Maybe she thought you were worth saving. God knows, had it been left up to me, you would have died and rotted right where that idiot shot you.”
“Now, now, gentlemen,” Amelie interjected. “There are ladies present and you are using such language.” She clucked her tongue. “What would your mothers say to your using such language in the presence of the ladies?”
Amelie gave them all a look that should have had them backing down. Instead, Braxton grinned.
“I haven’t said anything my mother wouldn’t have said, Amelie. You forget. She is a warrior herself. In fact”—Braxton paused to make a face—“she would have my posterior in a sling for even letting this…man get a drop on me like this.”
“Just because your mother uses common language where you are from is no excuse for you to do the same in front of ladies here.” Amelie thinned her lips, crossing her arms in front of her. “We are ladies.” She stomped her foot. “I insist that you cease using such vulgar language in our presence.”
“You go, girl.” Hope pumped her fist in the air. “Don’t let these jerks get away with the crap they’re trying to pull.”
Amelie turned to face Hope, a crease between her eyes. “You speak the English, but I find your speech difficult to understand.” She waved her hand in the air when Hope would have said something. “It is of no matter. You are not from here. It is excused.” She turned to the men. “You men, however, are not excused. Please see that the women here are packed and ready to go posthaste. There is danger, or have you forgotten with your posturing?”
That brought the men up short. It seemed they had forgotten their mission at the appearance of William and his gun.
“Truce, Will?” Braxton asked, holding his hand out to the man who still held the gun pointed at his chest.
With a sigh, William lowered the gun. “Truce. But I still don’t believe you.”
“Listen, Will, if you were one of us you would have changed by now, whether you willed it or not,” Joran said as he moved up to make himself a target as well.
Hope rolled her eyes. Were men crazy or just stupid? Why were they constantly putting themselves in danger and giving the women with them heart attacks?
Well, alpha men did that it seemed. She didn’t know from any other experience than this one, but she did notice that Braxton and Joran made a habit of putting themselves in danger quite often. Just the fact that they took it upon themselves to get the women in the surrounding area to safety told her that they had more guts than brains.
“Well, hell, you two. What was I supposed to think? I was gut shot. I should have died.” He paled a bit before he admitted, “I should have suffered a lot then died. What was I supposed to think when I passed out only to wake up in a bed in a hotel in Dodge with a floozy in my bed?” He looked at Amelie, who gasped, then lowered his voice. “You know I never had myself a painted lady. I don’t believe in it.” He looked down at his hand. “It’s this or nothing for me until I find the woman I plan to marry. You know that.”
“I am going inside to get the ladies, gentlemen,” Amelie said as she grabbed Fleur with one hand and Hope with the other and proceeded to drag them away. “When you have stopped your references about each other in the common English you are welcome to join us.”
“Really. They should not speak so in front of the ladies,” Amelie complained as they headed for the small wooden structure. “Usually the monsieurs are not so vulgar.” She shook her head with a sigh. “However, the William always seems to bring
out the worst in them.”
Amelie stopped just outside the open front door, dropped their arms and patted her hair before she knocked. “Bonsoir, my friends! ’Tis Amelie and Fleur Babineau. May we come in?”
“Yes, please,” a woman called from the dark interior. “I could use your help. William wanted us to pack. He says we must leave this place.”
A pretty young woman with long, dark hair stepped from another room that Hope assumed was the bedroom. The main room of the small home held a stove, a table and four chairs. A cot set in the corner held a thin rolled mattress, three bedrolls, and a large carpeted bag.
The two tiny windows devoid of curtains stood open, allowing what little breeze there was to pass through the small room.
“He said there are monsters here.” She bit her lip and looked around before adding in a lowered voice. “Do you think he’s gone mad or are there really men here like those the natives speak of?” The woman held her hand to her neck, her large, green eyes wide and her lips trembling.
“Bah! Do not be silly, Margaret. There is no one living here in this area who would see you come to harm.” Amelie reached out and took the woman’s hands. “Don’t you see? That is why we are here. The men say there is danger and we have come to take you to see Lorcan, Dana and Tarin. They say they can protect us better there.”
It was as though a large weight fell from the woman’s shoulders and she smiled. “I’m so glad.” Her brow furrowed. “But that means William…” She let her words trail off as her face fell.
“It means your brother was mistaken.” Amelie smiled. “Now where is your sister?” Amelie leaned forward to peer into the small room beyond. We must finish packing your things so we may all continue on to safety.”
“Sara is in the other room taking a nap. She doesn’t feel well.” Margaret looked back over her shoulder. “I hope it’s nothing serious.” Margaret led them into the next room.
Where There is Hope [Taos Wolven Mates 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 7
