Dela's Hunters (The Harem House Book 1)

by Charissa Dufour

  The men hadn’t said anything, letting her process her attack on her own. You’re stronger than this, she told herself repeatedly. He didn’t get what he wanted. You survived.

  “Dela?”

  She looked up to find Gareth standing on the other side of the fire.

  “I know you probably really don't want to… do anything right now, but I need your help. The women are pretty freaked out now that they’ve had time to think. We’re having trouble getting through to them. I think maybe another woman talking to them might help.”

  Dela nodded, took a deep breath, and got up. “The world didn’t end, did it?”

  A look crossed Gareth’s face that she couldn’t translate. He cupped her cheek and said, “It did not, but it’s okay to feel like it did.”

  Dela felt fresh tears press against her eyes. She was so tired, even a small moment of kindness could send her into hysterics. She bit down on her tongue and willed the tears away. There was work to be done. The sun was starting to set, and they needed some level of organization before it did.

  She nodded. “Let’s see what I can do for those women.”

  They approached the scene, where three middle-aged women were all shouting at once. Leroy and Greg looked nearly as tired as she felt. Almost.

  This will be good, she told herself. Focus on something other than myself.

  Gareth stayed back while she approached.

  “Hi there,” she said eloquently. “Greg, Leroy, why don’t you go get some chow and give us girls a chance to talk.”

  They hesitated a moment before scurrying away.

  Dela let out a long sigh, letting her weariness show through. “Whew. What a day? I bet your heads are spinning.”

  The women stared at her as though she was a gnat.

  “I see you’ve built a fire. Would it be okay if I came and sat with you for a bit?”

  Slowly, they nodded and took their own seats. Dela followed them, every ache and bruise in her body choosing that moment to make itself known. She didn’t know if she really had the energy to negotiate with the women, but it needed to be done. So she would do it. After all, she was the one who started them down their current path.

  She sat down between the women and accepted the offered bowl of thin soup, greedily eating it before talking. When she finished, she set her bowl down and sighed again.

  “You’re probably all wondering why we came to free you and what will happen to you next.”

  The numerous women nodded their heads, some looking at her as though she was an idiot.

  “First, know that I was in those huts, too, however briefly.” Dela went on to explain how she had been in there, how she had escaped, and the deal she had struck. By the time she finished the story, the women had noticeably softened. “But that’s not what really matters. What matters is what happens now.

  “Know this, none of you will be forced into anything you don’t want or made to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “You mean we won’t be sent to the whore houses?” asked a rather young girl with an infant at her breast.

  “No. No whore houses. Also, you will not be separated from any of your young unless you agree to it.”

  The women mumbled amongst themselves, one of them finally raising a hand. “What about our boys what run away.”

  Dela nodded slowly. “I’m not sure. They’ve been on their own for a long time. Some might struggle with coming under a woman’s care again. But we’ll figure it out, and we’ll do it in a fair way. Just know, you are free and you are safe.”

  Again, the women mumbled to each other, too softly for her to hear. She noticed a few stray tears in the light of the fire, quickly dashed away. These women were strong, and none of them wanted the others to see their own relief. Dela knew how they felt.

  “Now, here’s the tough part. I’m guessing none of you are much interested in staying up here in the Dead Zone.”

  The women all shook their heads, the older ones explaining to the younger ones what Dela meant by the Dead Zone.

  “Two families, and the gang of your sons that ran away, and four hunters, all came together to help free you.”

  “And they want payment?” demanded a haughty woman sitting on the other side of the fire.

  “They want wives… willing wives… for their sons.”

  The women just stared at her. She had been expecting outrage or disgust, not silence. Finally, the young girl with the child spoke.

  “Wives? Like honest to goodness wives?”

  “Yes. As you well know, women are scarce. A family with ten or more sons might get one of them married off if that.”

  “And they wouldn’t mind that we’re… um…”

  “No,” Dela said before the woman was forced to verbalize it. “They would just be happy with your companionship.”

  “And our pussies,” grumbled the haughty one.

  Dela cleared her throat. “Ye-es, I suspect they will want to produce children. But they have agreed they will never force themselves on any of you.”

  “Didn’t one o’ them try to do just that to you?”

  Dela bit her lip, flashes of the memory clouding her mind.

  “Shit, Bila, what a thing to say,” said the girl with the babe.

  “I’m fine,” Dela lied. “Yes, and he is currently tied up. Rumor has it he will receive twenty lashes from his own father. And he has lost the right to a wife. Ever.”

  Some of the women nodded, liking the outcome. Others looked at Dela, seeing through her lie.

  “Now, you don’t have to decide now, but tomorrow at first light, we’d like to head south toward the nearest ranch. Both families have large stakes, so getting a place of your own won’t be difficult if you agree to marry two of the sons—one from each family. Anyway, we’d like to leave tomorrow morning. We just don’t have the supplies to keep a camp this large going, especially the water.”

  “Noon,” replied the haughty woman. “We want time to mourn our dead and pack our few belongings.”

  Dela nodded. “Agreed. We’ll leave at noon. Please, though, consider the proposition.”

  “What if we say no?” asked one of the other women.

  “Then the families will do their best to get you to a town….but know this, you won’t be safe without a husband. Or, I guess you could stay up here in the Dead Zone and try not to get caught by Hunters.”

  “You’re not married,” one countered.

  “From here, I go to the Harem House. Should we ever meet again, you will find me a married woman.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Dela wasn’t surprised to find Leroy and Greg did not like the deal she had struck with the women, but she didn’t much care. She was barely able to keep her eyes open when Lath finally called an end to the debate. Leaning against Lath, Dela went right to sleep. When she woke, she was wrapped in Mason’s arms. And when morning came, her head rested on Gareth’s chest. It seemed they had rotated her through the ranks as they each took a turn at watch—not just watching the camp but watching over her.

  For a brief moment, Dela imagined a life with husbands like her Hunters, men who would deny themselves to keep her safe and happy, but she doubted she would be so lucky with the men who chose her from the Harem House. Dela banished the thoughts from her mind. Dreaming of the impossible wouldn’t help her in any way.

  When noon finally came, all seventeen women along with their fifty-one children—not including the gang of kids living in the Dead Zone—agreed to come with the men to their ranches, indicating they would likely be open to a union. The gang of children who had helped them fight opted to stay in the city until things had settled down. They also offered to hunt extra game and bring them down to the ranches whenever they could. Dela was happy to see a trade route arranged between them and the ranchers, in the hopes that it would lessen the burden on the two families as they took on sixty-eight new mouths to feed. Dela wondered how they would handle it and if they would have enough to survive th
e coming winter.

  As she walked between Mason and Lath—the children riding the horses three or four to an animal—she wondered about her Hunters. Would they return to the ranches to help out? Or simply go after another catch. The idea of another woman sharing their campfire… or other things…brought an angry blush to her cheeks. She was angry. The very idea built a rage inside of her.

  “What’re you thinking ‘bout?” Lath asked, his tone suggesting he thought she was remembering her attack.

  “Nothing.”

  “You know, we haven’t forgotten how you disobeyed us,” Lath said, his voice back to its usual teasing tones.

  Dela glared up at him. Even after a night of sleep, her body screamed at her to lie down and just give up. “I am not your daughter, nor am I your wife. I’m your captive. I don’t believe obedience is part of this relationship.”

  “Someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”

  “What bed?”

  Lath grinned down at her. “Sleep with me tonight and I’ll give you a reason to be tired.”

  Despite her general grumpiness, Dela’s blood pulsed through her body until certain parts of her body throbbed. She wanted to reach out and touch Lath, even if it was just his roughened hand, but she denied herself the pleasure. If she was just another catch to them than she needed to put some distance between them.

  “I saw that blush,” he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

  “I blush when I’m angry, too.”

  “Are you angry now?” His hand snaked around her shoulders, dragging her up against his side.

  Dela knew she needed to pull away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it as pleasure sparked from each touch of his fingers. In the end, she decided she wouldn’t initiate anything, but if they started it… well, what was she to do?

  “Maybe,” she hedged.

  “Maybe?” His lips brushed against her cheek. “What about now?”

  Dela didn’t reply, secretly hoping she would get more attention. His lips trailed down her cheek towards her lips. She wanted to turn and return the affection, but she forced herself to remain facing forward—partly to hold to her new plan, but also to keep from tripping over the uneven ground.

  “Hey, you two,” someone called from behind.

  A twig flew through the air, hitting Lath in the cheek before he could pull away. Dela looked back to see Gareth and Mason glaring at them. “Hands to yourselves.”

  Lath took an obedient step to the side, dropping his arm, and Dela breathed a sigh of relief. And disappointment.

  Dela turned her eyes onto the masses surrounding them. The sons were sidling up to various women, losing no time to make friends. After all, it was the woman’s choice. Other men tried to get to know the children, assuming the children were the way to the mother’s heart. As the day wore on, more men took their places beside one woman or another. Some gave up their efforts on one girl and tried another. Dela felt herself smiling as she watched the dancers shift from partner to partner. Even the Hunters were milling about as they worked their way toward Josie’s ranch.

  That night, they stopped beside a muddy little pond, or what was left of it. It didn’t look appetizing, but the horses didn’t care, making it possible for them to save their clear water for the humans. As their large group worked to pull the children off the horses and settled the women, Dela spotted Gareth helping a woman round with pregnancy from one of the smaller mares. She couldn’t help but notice the rare smile pulling on Gareth’s sensual lips, causing her chest to tighten.

  Annoyingly, Mason caught her staring. “Is that jealousy I see on your face, Cap?”

  Dela gave a little shrug. “What’s there to be jealous about?”

  “Gareth helping a pregnant lady?” said Mason, though it sounded more like a question. “If I’m not mistaken, he’s always had a… err… soft spot for the gravid woman.”

  “Why’s that?” Dela asked, frowning up at Mason.

  He gave her a serious look hiding his usual playfulness. “Oh, that’s not my story to tell.”

  And with that, he walked off to help the men hobble the mass of horses. Dela glanced around, wondering if anyone had overheard their strange conversation. No matter how much she replayed Mason’s words, she couldn’t fathom why he would hint at something without telling her the rest. Did he think she ought to get pregnant? Dela shook her head. No, that didn’t make any sense. They were determined to sell her at the Harem House.

  Dela shook her head again, determined to ignore Mason’s hinting. Instead, she went to where the women seemed to be setting up their own camp and offered to be of assistance. Before she knew it, she was sitting by a fire, cradling an infant as if it might shatter in her hands. The other women laughed at her, correcting her grip and giving her a cup of goat milk to feed the child by dipping a cloth in it. The whole endeavor felt awkward, and she was certain she looked foolish trying to get a baby to suck on a little piece of cloth. Glancing up, she found Mason standing over her.

  “Of all the things I never expected to see.”

  Dela glared up at him. “What! I can be mothering.” Just as she spoke, she accidentally dribbled the milk all over the child’s face, bringing forth a loud wail.

  “Here, let me have her.” Mason reaching for the red-faced infant and expertly tucked it into the crook of his arm before taking the cup of goat milk. He rested the cup on the child’s stomach and carefully dipped his pinky into the milk before deftly inserting into the infant’s mouth.

  Dela stared up at him in wonder. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

  “I had a family once, too,” he said; if it hadn’t been for the sadness hidden deep within the smile, Dela might have thought he meant when he was a child.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, though she didn’t know exactly what she was apologizing for.

  “What do you have to apologize for? You have not done me any harm.”

  “May I ask what happened?”

  Mason took a deep breath. “That is the past. It is over and done with. There is no reason to dwell on it now.”

  Dela nodded, not willing to push the issue, though her curiosity burned within her. “I guess you aren’t all simple men like Lath.”

  “You think Lath is a simple man?” asked Mason, sounding genuinely surprised.

  “He seems to be. He seems just… content.”

  “Oh, sweet Dela, what little you know of men.”

  She couldn’t argue his statement, considering he was the one getting the baby to eat. She would never have considered any of them domestic, and yet ever since they stopped, she had seen them working toward the comfort of the women.

  Mason continued. “Each man has deep hurts… and deep hopes. Just because they appear content or happy does not mean their hearts do not stir for more.”

  Dela considered his words for a long moment before speaking again. “What is your ‘deep hope’?”

  “I guess I walked into that one. It is nothing I can have. What about you?”

  Dela looked down at her sticky fingers. “Same.”

  “I guess I can’t argue with that answer since I haven’t spilled all. Here, I think you can handle her now,” he said as he placed a complacent little angel into her arms—a stark contrast to the demon she had given him moments ago.

  The sadness lingered around his eyes as he gave the baby a little caress on her plump cheek before climbing to his feet. Dela stared down at the child, her little eyes fighting to stay open. Dela tried rocking her as she had seen Mason do after feeding her. She swayed to-and-fro. The child’s eyes went wide, and Dela realized she was swaying too far. She softened her attempt and the child settled back down. Before she knew it, the baby was fast asleep, one little fist pressed against her cheek.

  Dela stared down at the child, amazed at the wonder before her. The union of two people—however violent and cruel—had created this wonder. And even more amazing, it was a little girl, a precious light in their dark world. But what w
orld would this little girl grow up in? She pulled her a little tighter to her chest until the infant made a little murmur of discomfort.

  “I see she won you over,” a woman’s voice said from above her.

  Dela looked up to find the baby’s mother standing over her. With care, the woman lowered herself to the ground as though every bit of her ached. Dela prepared to hand the girl over.

  “No, no. Heaven forbid we wake her.”

  Dela smiled, feeling a little piece of what the tired mother must feel every time she gets her daughter to sleep.

  “How do you do this?” Dela asked before she could clamp her mouth shut.

  The mother gave a little laugh. “I don’t really know. They always took them away when we weened them. All we had to do was take care them for about a year. It was tiring, but it was my only responsibility. It’ll be a big change to live with my children… and husbands.”

  “Is that something you want?”

  She shrugged. “It’s a lot better than what I had… and I’ve met some of the young men. They seem nice enough… then again a gunslinger is nice compared to Angel’s men.”

  Dela grinned. “Yeah, no shit.”

  They both laughed.

  “What about you? Are you getting husbands from this mob?”

  Dela cleared her throat. “No. I’m destined for the Harem House.”

  “Then before you know it, you’ll be holding your own little bundle of joy.”

  “Yeah.” Dela didn't know what else to say.

  Dela looked up to see Gareth helping the pregnant woman down onto a pile of blankets. She had never seen Gareth so solicitous of someone’s comforts. She found herself glaring at the woman without meaning to. She looked down at the sleeping infant, forcing her features back into a complacent look, or what she thought was a complacent look. Instead of complacency coming to her face, she felt pressure begin to build behind her eyes.

  Just tired.

  Chapter Twenty-Two