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Starlight Cowboy
Copyright © 2014 by Stephanie Beck
ISBN: 978-1-61333-743-1
Cover art by Syneca Featherstone
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
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Decadent Publishing Beyond Fairytales
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Starlight Cowboy
by
Stephanie Beck
A Beyond Fairytales Adaptation of
The Sun Brings it to Light
~Dedication~
For my fantasy story-loving mother.
The Storyteller
Nicodemus opened the book, marveling at the creak and moan of the heavy pages.
So many stories started thusly, but the truth always came to light. Did lessons always need to be so difficult to start—requiring such groaning and hesitance?
A map of the stars for the first page.
At one time, all the stories began with a look to the stars, a hope for something just beyond reach.
The next page held light, iridescent, and glowing with power from within.
What did it mean, this light? What would come of it?
The next page, darkness.
Not even the twinkle of stars to alleviate the deepest vestiges of the soul. Could anything find its way out of such darkness? Was there any relief from the black when it had you by the heart?
One more page, ah, the start.
Two faces—one bright with hope, the other guarded with caution. Would the light set them free? Or would the darkness forever drag them apart?
Once Upon a Time…
Chapter One
Candlelight flickered all around, illuminating the otherwise dark, warm room. Annalina needed this, the comfortable quiet combined with human touch, though the human toucher could hurry her ass up.
The clinic door slid open and closed. Annalina relaxed into the massage table pillow. “About time you sauntered in, Missy.”
Best friends since grade school, Annalina and Missy had long since perfected their banter. Since they were both married to their jobs, Annalina as an air-ship captain, Missy as a doctor, they saw each other when Missy needed to travel or when Annalina needed a checkup or massage.
“Sorry, princess. You’re not the only one on my schedule. With three flights going out to the Jupiter moon, I have to sign a lot of paperwork. But I’m done now.”
Annalina didn’t have to watch to know Missy glided through her usual routine. Hand wash, lotion, warm blankets, hot stones, and oil all set up to make the ninety-minute massage everything it could be. This would be the last one Annalina would have for two years. The Jupiter moon mission—even in their stellar airships—would take months to get there. Then, depending on what they found, they might have another chunk of time on the moderately habitable space before making the long trek home. This massage would be enjoyed.
“So, what does your mother say about this mission?” Missy lit another row of candles. This time, Annalina watched, the increasing glow inviting her mind to focus on the tiny flickers. Fire, once so vital to life, had become an obsolete technology. But no hologram compared to the real, calming nature of candlelight, which was why Missy still used it.
“Well, you know my mother. She neglected to mention having Devon’s four kids for the day when she invited me for lunch. We ended up taking care of them more than talking. I told her I was leaving for a few years. She gave me the standard ‘you’ll never find a man’ line, and little Maurice threw up on the couch. Then I left.”
“Give her another chance,” Missy said. “I think she’s overwhelmed by getting exactly what she always said she wanted.”
“Well, we’ll talk about it again when I return.” Annalina closed her eyes. “By then, maybe she’ll have forgotten about me. She’ll treat me like she does all the random strangers she meets. We’ll be besties.”
“Oh Anna, be patient with her. You know she’s not that bad. Now, are we doing this medically necessary massage or are you going to continue your pity party? If it is the second, I need to get some booze.”
“Pity party over.” Annalina ran her pinched finger and thumb across her lips. “I’ve zipped these suckers. Now rub.”
Missy laughed. Annalina would have continued being sassy but the warm oil hit her skin, and all she could do was moan. The military paid for one medicinal massage per year. Annalina preferred one every few months, but hadn’t made the time. When she and Anderson had broken up, she should have scheduled with Missy. Instead, she’d thrown herself into work. The upside—she’d gotten the notice of the higher ups to go to on the Jup moon mission. The downsides were too many to count.
“How are you since Anderson proved to be an asshole?” Missy asked as she smoothed oil across Annalina’s shoulders.
“Busy. Working a lot. I don’t see him often. Which is good.” The twit shouldn’t have captured so much of her heart, and, in retrospect, he hadn’t. But, for two months, she’d had someone to talk to, someone to touch. Once he was gone again, she’d missed the way she felt having someone special. But it wasn’t meant to be.
“You know he’s going to Jupiter, right?”
“Of course I know. I have a meeting after this for the express intent of not being paired with that jerk. Or Shields.”
Missy set hot stones down the line of Annalina’s spine. “Which leaves Ellen and Aaron. The odds are pretty high you’ll get Shields or Anderson. The higher ups always pair a male and female to balance things out and, you know, for reproductive reasons.”
“So stupid.” Annalina rolled her eyes. “Just because it worked out on the Mars mission, does not mean all airships need to be paired for reproduction. Aren’t we all given the repro shots anyway? That ensures five years of breeding impossibility.”
“Except you.” Missy patted her butt. “My darling allergic friend. I do agree with you, though. There’s no science behind the pairings these days, just sentiment from way back when. But you have to admit, it’s pretty romantic.”
“I admit nothing and counter with—it’s stupid.”
“Okay, quiet. We’re on to the soothing massage part of this adventure. No more talking shop or thinking about stupid things.”
Annalina wished they could talk like they had in their teens. A long conve
rsation over ice cream and bad movies would relax Annalina, but the massage would have to do. One last indulgence before heading off to space for a few years with a stranger.
Quiet wave sounds started as Missy repositioned the stones. This was the life, or at least an escape from life. Was it better than meeting a lover in the hot tub with a bottle of wine after a long day? Nope, but hadn’t she gotten adept in making substitutions?
The door slid open allowing rays of light from the hallway. “Oh sorry, Doc. I need my paperwork.”
The male voice, deep and mellow, should have jarred her from the session, but instead her lady parts went on meltdown.
“Hello, Shields. I’ve already sent your paperwork to your superiors. You passed everything. Inoculations were good. All is well. Now, you’re interrupting a session.”
“So I see. Hey, Annalina.”
Loose, limber, and more turned on than she cared to admit, Annalina raised her hand, middle finger extended.
“Cute. All right, see you later at the briefing. Nice ass, by the way.” The door closed, shutting the light out once more.
“Good grief, he’s a jerk. But whenever he’s around, I want to lick him.” Missy sighed. “He’s finally stationed where I work, and the furthest I’ve gotten with him is a military physical.”
“How are the goods?” Annalina wished the question back as soon as it was out. She did not need to know.
“As a medical professional, I can’t say.” Missy’s voice drifted toward the door. “But I can say, you know how I like my men. Not small, but not so large that it’s like, ‘What the hell am I going to do with that?’ The kind where you look and find…inspiration. Licking inspiration.”
That’s what Annalina was afraid of. The rugged captain had transferred to the Florida base after she and Anderson had broken up. Annalina had considered attempting a hook up— something to screw the remnants of her relationship out of her mind—but Shields’ constant line of woman made it impossible. She couldn’t blame the guy. If she were in his position, would she tell the ladies no?
“And now he’s leaving, on a jet plane.” Missy sighed again. “I swear, all the good ones are taken or being sent away on missions. It’s enough to make a girl want to give up and switch teams. Are you sure we can’t be lesbians, Anna? I think we’d be good at it.”
How many times had they had this discussion? Annalina wished she found women as attractive as men, but it wasn’t the case.
“Alas, as rocking as your knockers and ass are, you don’t get my motor running,” Missy continued.
“Same here, lady. I guess we’ll have to stay friends without benefits.”
“Fair enough. Now, back to quiet mode. You leave in two days—you need the full effects of this.”
Two days and she’d be away from her life for much, much longer than ever before. She’d done six-month exploration tours, but only two in her decade-long career. Most of her experience was in technical support and repairs. The navigation part of her title was based on textbook knowledge rather than experience. That would change in a very big way in the coming months.
“Breathe,” Missy whispered. “I can hear you thinking.”
She probably could. Annalina closed her eyes. This was the last massage she’d have for years. She was damn well going to enjoy it.
Chapter Two
The panel should have retired as a whole years ago, but Shields understood the personalities at play couldn’t walk away. The four in front of him—two men and two women—liked control and enjoyed power. The second they stepped away there would be dozens of people clawing their way to power. They were like his father. That old bastard had held onto his positions until his heart gave in to the booze and cigars.
“Tell us, Shields. Who do you think would be your best partner?” Admiral Bennings asked. The older man had seen better days and looked heavier now than ever.
“You already understand I prefer to work alone, but since that isn’t an option, I feel I’d work best with Anderson or Williams.” He’d heard bits and pieces of Annalina’s dialog with the doctor. He’d also heard rumors around base. Anderson had led the other captain on and then dropped her like a hot potato. Relationship crap had no place on ship, and in the off chance the old admirals put Anderson and Williams together, Shields didn’t want to spend the next two years hearing about it via the intercommunication system.
“Really?” Admiral Sephin asked, her pen stopping its movement for the first time. “Those choices surprise me.”
“Because you all know me so well.” Shields fought the urge to roll his eyes. He was already approved for the mission, and he wasn’t going to lose the position, but there was no sense in being a complete ass. Yet. “Listen, Anderson and Williams are close to my age. Each has a more technical background than I do. I’m more experienced in navigation, where they are both only schooled in the subject. We’d be able to learn from each other. I have no real interest in working with any of the others.”
“Because they all have similar experience to you.” The third admiral, and the one who’d brought Shields on board the project nodded. “Wise. All right, we will take this into consideration. Of course, we cannot guarantee you’ll get your choice. You will be on Ship Three, so go ahead and transfer your necessities.”
“Yes, sir.” Shields shot to his feet and saluted, as he had learned when he was little more than a toddler. His father hadn’t been around much. But when he had been, Timothy Albright demanded respect—even from babies.
Shields strode from the room, his gear already packed and waiting in the briefing room. He hadn’t settled into the base. Knowing he’d be flying soon, there hadn’t been much to unpack. In the small briefing area, the rest of the crews waited in full uniform. Annalina sat in the corner, isolated and flipping through a magazine. Anderson, the tiny boned, frail looking dick sat between the two other woman who would go on the missions—one older and one painfully young. One other man, much older and with chemist experience rounded the group.
Shields took the open seat next to Annalina. “Hey, Captain. How are you? Massage go all right? I was thinking of scheduling one.”
She didn’t glance away from her magazine. “You should. They’re wonderful, and Missy is a pro—who books out six month in advance.”
He leaned closer, loving her tough-nut exterior. “Well, damn. Maybe you could give me the lay version. You look like a woman who knows what to do with hot oil, candles, and sheets.”
“If you mean I look like I know how to cover a man in oil, set him on fire, and use a sheet to dispose of the body—you’re right.” She set down her magazine, but he didn’t miss the smirk on her face. “How’d it go in there?”
“How it always goes. I told them who I wanted to work with; they told me they’d put me with whoever the hell they want, and then I left. I’m heading to ship.”
“You got assigned a ship?” She sat straighter. “So you’re going to captain a ship.”
“Makes sense, doesn’t it? I’ve done these long stretches before, and everyone else in here,” he motioned to the rest of the room, not caring who listened, “has limited experience. I’ve been there before, too. So that helped. I’m guessing Aaron and maybe you will get a plane.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up then cooled to disinterest. She was a smart one. If she didn’t get her own plane this time, she would after this adventure.
“Yep. Amy is too young, and Anderson is too much of a dick.”
“Hey,” Anderson protested. “That’s uncalled for.”
Shields winked at Annalina and stood up. “Whatever. I’m outa here. I’ll be on Ship Three. Good luck.”
He flipped off Anderson. The older man was red in the face, but Shields didn’t give a rat’s ass. If they ended up on the same ship, they’d make the time work. Probably through regular ass kickings, but that was nothing new for Shields. Little Amy, bright eyed, with equally bright blonde hair, would be hell. She’d been one of the first women to make eyes at
him. When he’d seen the blind hero worship there, he’d run like hell. He preferred women like Annalina—a little older, wiser, and down to fuck. They knew what they wanted—a one nighter, a relationship, a commitment. Whatever it was, they could say it, and he could make decisions based on facts. The younger women had a way of saying what they thought the other wanted to hear with plans of changing the other person…and then all hell would break loose.
Shields hefted his pack and headed to his ship. Going into the military hadn’t been his initial plan. He’d wanted to fly charter and commercial planes, but getting hired by the intergalactic services had been impossible. Sinking every dime he had into a company of his own hadn’t made sense, and he’d wimped out. Now, he had the experience to get hired, but was committed to Earth’s science and research program for another few years. One thing Shields couldn’t do was break a promise, even if he wanted to. Years of being disappointed by his father drummed in the real value of a man’s word.
Five guards, all in black, carrying huge firearms, guarded the flight deck. Shields heard of no threats. But the possibility of stowaways was always high. People wanted to go to the stars. Earth continued to recover, not the best it had ever been, but the air quality improved every year, population numbers steady since the universalization of birth control, and farmers were growing more food in less space—easing world hunger. It wasn’t a bad place to be, yet the Mars colony and the possibility of a Jupiter moon colony brought out the crazy in people.
“Sir.” The guard closest to the door held out his palm. “Your pass, please.”
Shields handed it over, along with the new paperwork assigning him to the ship.
“Thank you and congratulations.” The guard returned the papers and opened the door.
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