“…how you protect yourself. I understand.” More than she knew. “Secrecy is safe.”
“Yes.”
“I will protect you and your secrets. You’ll only be telling me, as Shane can’t understand you. Can you trust me, Blue? Can you trust me to do everything I can to keep you safe?” He had to know. No, he needed to know.
Her lips compressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. She had the perfect poker face, yet he understood the cause. He and his had been brought up the same way. No one shared about the family, never revealed what they could do. Protect each other—keep themselves secret, keep them safe.
The shamans had been hiding a great deal and likely for the exact same reason.
“Among the People, we know all shamans are the direct descendants of the spirits…”
Chapter 15
Sam, Flying K Ranch
The McKennas were due within the hour. Convinced the McKennas hid more than their names, but also abilities based on their interaction with Julianna McKenna, Jason and Kid invited them to supper. Finding no fault in their assessment, Sam and Micah had issued separate invitations to her brothers. None of them would actually escort them over the barrier, if they couldn’t cross onto the land it would give them the telltale signal of Fevered.
If they did? They needed to know what abilities they masked. After climbing the stairs to the second floor, he checked the nursery. Cobb and Molly were downstairs with Miss Annabeth for their supper. The younglings would all eat early before the main supper. After, Lena would take the children to one of the guest cabins away from the house with Cody and Mariska. The wolves would keep all three safe.
The other children were in Haven under the watchful eye of Noah and Sage. The young girl who’d struggled to control her enhancement ability had come a long way in the last year. While watching over the kids was work, it was also a reward.
All of the Kanes had to be present at the dinner, Micah and Jo would be in attendance as would Kid and his wife Evelyn, Jason and his wife Olivia. Jed didn’t care for the plan put two of his pregnant daughters-in-law at the front of the line, however Sam wouldn’t leave Scarlett out and Jo possessed a unique perspective.
If they faced a real problem with the McKennas, the Kanes would face them as a family. Leaving the nursery, he continued to the rooms he shared with his wife. She’d been circumspect for the last two days ever since Kid and Jason notified them of Buck and Delilah’s disappearance. If not for sensing Quanto’s arrival prior to their departure, they’d have shown more concern.
In their rooms, he found Scarlett sitting in front of the mirror. She held his mother’s silver brush in her hand. Jed had gifted her the set when she and Sam married. Taking advantage of her distraction, he studied his wife. The long spill of her gorgeous, flame red hair stood out like a candle in the dark. Her face had a fuller look to it, one matching the gentle rounding of her body.
Pregnancy looked good on her. From the moment he’d met her, she’d turned his life upside down. He’d damn near lost her—three times. Once to her running away, the second to her brothers’ rescue, and the third to a mad bunch of vigilantes wanting to hang her. The day he admitted how much he loved her had been the best and worst in his life. Throwing away everything he’d invested in Dorado would have been difficult, leaving his family near impossible, and yet he would have done both if needed to be with her.
Not once had he ever regretted his decision. Scarlett was his heartbeat. Where she was would always be his home. The sadness and worry on her face cut him. Crossing the room, he dropped to one knee and slid an arm around her.
“No word on them yet, Minx?”
Jimmy’s departure had been difficult enough for Scarlett and her siblings. Though they all acted calm, he’d seen the shared looks of worry and concern. Cody had been riding the knife edge of temper. If not for his mate and her pregnancy, Sam knew damn good and well Cody would have been after his brother. Buck and Delilah’s disappearance had them all on edge.
“No, and it’s not like him or Quanto to be this quiet. I don’t understand why they didn’t tell us they were going or Father was coming…” The little girl lost note in her voice threatened to break him. The two rock steady foundations in his life were his family and the law. He’d break the latter to help the former.
“Perhaps it was something they needed to do for Delilah.” It was only a guess. The siren seemed to have mastered her gift, but then they’d all been preoccupied with the children and new arrivals. Every day dawned with a new set of challenges.
“What could be so bad they couldn’t at least tell us they were all right?” Anger flamed in her eyes, the orange glow kindling in the beautiful green of her gaze. She covered his hand on her belly with hers. Though he could feel the radiant warmth of her ability, his skin remained unscorched. Scarlett burned him once, a blister on his finger when she’d been battling a fever, and not once since then. He’d walked through the fire to get to her and the flames hadn’t even singed his clothing.
“Might not be bad at all,” he said, rubbing the gentle swell of her stomach.
“But we don’t know.” The rising anxiety coupled with what they didn’t know had her concerned.
“Don’t borrow trouble, Minx. If something were really wrong, Quanto would protect you.” Fathers would. From the moment he’d held Molly in his arms and then again with Cobb, Sam recognized the gut-wrenching sensation of protectiveness. He’d kill anyone who hurt their kids. He was already in love with the one she carried and he hadn’t met them yet. “Your brother would tell you.” Or Cody at the very least, but the wolf’s continued irritation suggested he was as in the dark as the rest of them. Not even Noah could explain the absence.
“Would he?” Scarlett set the brush down and shifted to face him. “My brothers have always been protective. They didn’t want me to know Cody had run off when he left. You didn’t grow up with them…you don’t know how much they keep to themselves if they don’t want me to know something.”
“No, I didn’t grow up with them.” He tapped her nose lightly. “I have three baby brothers, I know a little something about wanting to protect them. And how it feels when they keep secrets in the name of protecting me.” Jason had kept a lot of secrets, let himself be used and twisted as a weapon to protect all of them. In his own way, Kid had done the same thing and he’d hidden his abilities to his own great cost. Sam had tasted nearly losing his brothers—if he could turn time around…yet the impossibility did not exist. “We have to trust Buck. Trust Quanto. Have they ever done anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary?”
“No, but they don’t have to scare us like this either.”
Though he agreed with her, he concentrated on bolstering her flagging spirits. “Worrying about them isn’t helping. Tearing yourself up because you’re wondering if you missed something isn’t helping. Do you know what will help?”
“Setting something on fire?” The snappy response tugged a grin from him. His Scarlett may be feeling her pregnancy and worried about her family, but she was still his little firestarter.
“Preferably not over dinner.”
The moment he brought the subject up, however, she grimaced. “The McKennas are coming.”
“Yes, they’re due here within the hour. Kid said they crossed the barrier without incident, but repeated something was different about them.”
“There’s something different about all of us.” Nose wrinkled, she glanced down at their joined hands. “Ike and Rudy have been in Mexico for months, Jimmy’s been gone for months, now Buck and Delilah…Cody left once, what if he decides to leave again? Or Noah?”
Sliding an arm beneath her legs, Sam lifted his wife and carried her over to the bed. Settling on the edge, he cradled her in his lap. “Scarlett, families grow up and sometimes they leave. They will still love you, and they will be back. Those brothers of yours—we’ve had our moments, but they adore you. Y’all are all a part of our family, family sticks together. And
you have me, I gave you my word a long time ago I wouldn’t go anywhere without you.”
With one finger beneath her chin, he nudged her face up so he could meet her gaze.
“I love you Scarlett Morning Star Kane, Molly and Cobb love you, Pa loves you—so do my brothers. You’re not alone Minx. We’ll never leave you alone.”
Tears shimmered over the twin flames in her eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I know you are.” He would give anything to erase the fear. “We’ll make it through this, just like we have everything else since the day I put you in the jail cell.”
Laughter burst through her sadness and a tear escaped to glide down her cheek. Brushing it away, he cupped her face.
“Trust me?”
“Always.” A flutter of movement between them jerked her gaze downward and Sam felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Lowering his hand to her belly, he waited. Another flutter of movement. Their child was restless and letting them know he or she was there. Scarlett met his gaze and the twin flames vanished from her eyes. Joy pushed the shadows of worry away. The promise of new life helped ease his concern.
“We hear you little Kane,” he told her belly solemnly. “I’ll take care of your ma, you just keep growing. Little boys need to mind their ma and not give her too much trouble.”
“Boy?” Scarlett challenged. “What if it’s a little girl?”
“Then I’ll be helpless,” he admitted, earning another laugh. “Molly already taught me that lesson.”
“You’re terrible, Sam,” she whispered before kissing him lightly.
“You still love me.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Every day I love you more.”
As much as he wanted to stay in their room and enjoy the affection, he sighed. “We need to finish dressing for supper.”
Scarlett made a face, but she let him set her on her feet. “Are we sure we need to confront the McKennas? They haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Not yet,” Sam agreed. “But they’re hiding something or from something, and whatever it is could be hunting them. If trouble is coming back for our town, we need to know.” He’d seen Dorado burn once.
Never again.
Olivia, Dinner with the McKennas
The whole family had been in a state of high anticipation awaiting the arrival of their guests. Confronting them over a meal was a bit of an ambush, but the family had debated and discussed it for days. The consensus they’d reached was they needed to know before anything dark surprised them. The brothers Mitchell and Royce escorted their sister to the door, and throughout their introductions, one remained with her at all time.
Protective had been Jason’s assessment. Of course he would think that, he hadn’t dislodged from her side since their arrival. Even the seating arrangement had amended in light of their guests. Kid and Jason bracketed the McKennas while she was seated on Jason’s other side, with Scarlett and Jo at the opposite end of the table. Jed maintained his position at the head of the table while Micah and Sam took up the other positions. The McKennas appeared perfectly pleasant, though her understanding of body language remained limited.
They’re relaxed, if wary. Jason’s cool voice breezed through her and she had to fight the urge to smile. Always connected, she never doubted having his attention. He was only ever a half-formed thought away as it were. Sometimes that’s too far. His amusement trickled through and she hid a smile behind a napkin.
Conversation at the table remained on neutral topics—the weather, the horses, town business—and when it threatened to dip into politics, Jed tapped the table. Eyeing Kid, then Jason he said, “We do not discuss politics at this table and if you two start again, you’ll be outside mucking the barn for the rest of the meal.”
Kid snorted, and Jason merely inclined his head, but amusement circled the table. Neither her husband nor Kid could let some topics go, and while she enjoyed their debates, not everyone did. Evelyn changed the subject so smoothly, Olivia found herself envious for the ease at which she could do so. Jo joined her and they soon pulled Jenny into a conversation about fashions from back east.
Olivia didn’t know much about clothing beyond its functionality. Scarlett preferred bright colors and trousers though she’d been in skirts more often since her pregnancy had begun to show. Evelyn dressed very smartly and always looked so put together, in she was like Jo, but Jo preferred more sedate colors and tended to be proper. Olivia didn’t really know what she liked, though Jason had helped her choose one or two new outfits at the dressmaker’s when she’d been at a loss.
His hand covered hers on the table, and she glanced at him. I’m all right. I just don’t have much to contribute to a conversation on bodice styles or skirt length.
The corner of his mouth curved. Your bodice is my favorite and your skirt is long enough for public. What else do you need to know?
She giggled, and Royce McKenna gave her an inquiring look.
“My apologies,” she said. “I was simply recalling something amusing.” You’re going to get me in trouble.
Absolutely unrepentant, Jason stroked the side of her hand. I’ll get you out of it, too. He would, of she was certain.
“Would you like to share?” Royce inquired. “Or would that be too forward?”
“It might be,” Jason interrupted, giving him a cool look. “Have you been able to hire someone to build the new hack you were considering?”
So neatly did he turn aside the focus on her. Grateful for the choice, she took a sip of water.
“You have such a lovely home,” Jenny was saying. “Thank you again for inviting us.”
Quiet since they’d taken their seats, Scarlett joined the conversation. “Thank you for accepting the invitation. We’ve heard so much about you and I do apologize I haven’t made it into town to give you a proper welcome.”
“It’s been a long time since we had a proper sit down meal such as this, and I feel I should apologize we didn’t dress more formally.” She wore a simple muslin blouse, long dark colored skirt and a buttoned down vest to complete her outfit. Though Olivia thought she looked comfortable, she supposed it was a little more informal.
“We always dress for dinner.” Jo smiled. “You look lovely, doesn’t she Micah?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Micah answered immediately, but he barely glanced at Jenny. His attention was on Jo.
He’s still worried about her. No one had to explain Micah’s protectiveness.
She’s doing fine. Jason released her hand and folded his napkin. He’s not keen on having her here during the next part of dinner.
Perhaps I can excuse us?
Her husband seemed to consider the idea, then gave a quiet shake of his head. I want your opinion. You see things others don’t. Pleasure suffused her at Jason’s compliment. Across the table, Kid gave her a little nod as though agreeing with his brother.
Not seeing anything for most of my life may have some impact on what I see now.
Agreed. Jason’s smooth voice washed over her. At a lull in the conversation, she glanced at Evelyn. They’d agreed to do the serving and clearing for supper, in part so they could move freely about while their husbands were distracted and also because they’d wanted Miss Annabeth to be safely away along with Lena.
“Shall we?” Evelyn raised her brows and Olivia nodded. The men at the table rose before she’d moved her chair back and Jason helped her to stand. Even the McKennas were on their feet. With a smile, she began to collect the dishes. Evelyn didn’t cook much, though Olivia found she enjoyed the activity and Miss Annabeth had been teaching her to bake.
“We have a lovely apple crumb cake for dessert,” she announced as she continued to gather the stacked plates. Royce passed her his plate and his hand grazed hers. Sensation zinged along her arm and Jason’s presence rushed through her and she could almost feel him gazing out of her eyes as he stared at Royce.
The man’s eyes widened and he switched his attention to Jason then to
her and back again. With almost exaggerated care, he faced his palm to her and then dropped his hand to his lap. “This wasn’t just a dinner invitation.”
The words ignited a reaction and Olivia retreated a pace. Iron will flexed around her mind and she knew Jason was strengthening what he called his shields with near lethal intent. Whatever Royce had done, she’d somehow tipped their hand.
You did nothing wrong, sweetheart. Put the plates down and come around to me. He never took his gaze off Royce. Hurrying, Olivia carried the plates into the kitchen and set them near the washtub. Evelyn was right behind her.
“What happened?” She murmured.
“I don’t know,” Olivia answered. “He touched my hand and—then he said we hadn’t just invited them to dinner.”
Suppressing a shiver, she returned and left the dessert. The discussion didn’t bode adding more silverware or plates. Jed stood with his knuckles down on the table. Mitchell had moved to stand behind his sister’s chair and the stare down between Jason and Royce continued.
“Perhaps we should ask the ladies to excuse us,” Jed said, but his attempt to defuse the situation escalated.
“My sister stays with us,” Mitchell’s tone hardened. “Royce, that’s enough.”
The other man glanced away from Jason with a scowl and glared at his brother. “The invitation was a deception. They want to talk to us.”
“We do,” Kid said, the warm honey of his voice seeming to smooth away the jagged edges of the conversation. “Talk. Not harm. You tried to read my sister-in-law, and my brother objected. As I’m sure you would if we tried to read your sister.”
So we’re taking the direct approach. Jason told her, he took her hand and tugged her slightly behind him. The moment he threaded their fingers, the odd tingling sensation from earlier erased entirely. His presence in her mind remained stern and foreboding, very much akin to the strength she experienced when he wound his arms around her. Nothing would touch her again without going through him.
The Quick and the Fevered Page 23
