"Dad raised me, but he wasn't a very nurturing father. I was pretty much ignored while growing up, which was just as well because being invisible was a good thing in my house. My father disciplined with a heavy hand."
So Kelly was motherless, just like Sam. And like him, she was no stranger to abuse and neglect. "Didn't you have any aunts or older female cousins to look after you and your brother?"
She wagged her head. "None of them lived close to us."
Sam was beginning to understand why she felt it so important to be her own caretaker and not rely on anyone else to do it for her. The story of her life. "How about friends in school? You must have had gal pals while growing up."
"Not really. I kept mostly to myself." She gave the pillow a punch. Past resentments, probably. "I loved sports, and not many of the girls I knew were into the same things I was. So I had mostly guy buddies. Jake was my best friend. Guess you could say I was a tomboy."
Not anymore, he thought, but didn't say so. "You seem like the athletic type." He smiled to make sure she took it as a compliment.
She blinked. "Yeah?"
He nodded. "You can certainly hold your own in a fight."
Her grin faded and she looked away. "Thanks."
He'd obviously said something wrong. "I meant that in a good way."
She lifted both shoulders and let them drop. "I know you did. It's just that my father always said it was a shame I was a girl because I'd have made a great guy. Doesn't do much for a girl's ego."
"If it matters, I think you make a great girl."
Their eyes met as she said softly, "That's sweet of you to say."
This conversation had become too personal. The gap between them from when they’d first met was rapidly closing, and he couldn't say he was disappointed. Kelly touched him in a way no other woman had. She was sensitive, gutsy and sexy. A lethal combination for a man like him.
He cleared his throat. "I think I've figured out a way to change your brother's mind about staying with Star Mother."
"You have a plan?"
"Sure do." He looked at her sheepishly and added, "But it means getting your father involved."
****
"Lady Valya, have mercy!" begged the man who backed into a corner of an old army surplus tent. A few feet away from him, a coiled snake arched its graceful neck, tongue flicking and tail rattling.
Valya paced outside the tent used for disciplining those who strayed from the true word of Star Mother. She didn't dare go inside. It stank of old sweat and blood, the smell of fear having seeped into the canvas itself. It infuriated her that she was forced to facilitate this archaic method of discipline, but if her followers would behave themselves, such action wouldn't be necessary.
She stopped pacing to peer through the tent's doorway. Her rage barely contained, she managed to keep her voice steady when she said, "If you're innocent, you won't be harmed."
The man whimpered then yelped when the snake moved its head from side to side, preparing to strike. "I was only following Von's orders," he cried, hugging the coarse canvas wall at his back. "He told me to give the snake to The Arrow. I just assumed—"
"Idiot!" she shouted, then checked herself, determined not to have one of her people witness an emotional outburst. She had evolved beyond such petty human indulgences. As Star Mother's doctrine dictated, she must portray the serenity that ruled her heart and mind. That's what made her a superior being. "I apologize. I have no right to judge you, but I have every right to put you on trial. It is Star Mother herself who will pass judgment." She heaved a cleansing breath to vanquish her temper. "You may have received your orders from Von, but you did not receive my permission to assassinate The Arrow."
The snake launched its body forward and embedded its fangs in the man's thigh. He screamed.
"You see?" she said, watching the snake slither a few feet from its victim. "You have been judged guilty of breaking a holy law. Assassinations are ordered by the royal couple, which means both Von and I must agree. I did not agree to have The Arrow killed."
The snake struck again. The man bellowed in fear and pain, clutching the new bite on his calf as he sank to his knees on the tent's sandy floor. The torn fabric of his robe slipped down his shoulder, revealing the ugly red welts from an earlier beating. "I'm sorry, Lady Valya," he sobbed. "I didn't know. Forgive me."
"Only Star Mother can forgive you," Valya said coldly. "She watches from the starship that's coming for us all. And your Essence will be one of her first passengers." As Valya turned away, she heard him scream again.
She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of the dry desert air scented with the day's hundred-degree heat. Baked sand and rock had a unique smell, an earthy smell, and she wondered if their new home on Atria would convey a similar atmosphere. She hoped so. Having grown accustomed to the desert, she enjoyed its desolate beauty and breathtaking landscapes.
She opened her eyes to gaze at the camp's diminished activity as her followers prepared the midday meal. They would dine together in their courtyard, a crude gathering place surrounded by an assortment of tents and trailers they called home. She heard the distant idle from a pair of gas-powered generators and noticed a disturbing, uneven rhythm. Made from discarded auto parts, the old things probably ran low on fuel and needed a tune-up. There was a time when she could have purchased a more modern system, but after buying the satellite equipment for their Internet work, she’d decided to make do with the generator they had. She made a mental note to remind her repair crew the generators must be in excellent working order for their day of departure.
Star Mother's finances were always tight, though far better than they'd been when her great-grandmother had ruled the first congregation. She didn't remember the woman very well, having been only a toddler when the old bat died, but she recalled the stories about her. Cons were pulled back then, flimflams and shell games, before the traveling carnival began. The carnival days would always be her favorite. But Star Mother's church had to change with the evolving American culture, and that had meant investing time, money, and education in new technology.
They still ran cons, but in a far more sophisticated way. Star Mother's church had a reputation for New Age philosophy and spirituality, and prophesying wasn't a stretch for their religion. Valya would have her cyberspace gurus gather information about affluent individuals whom she would manipulate by telling them things she couldn't possibly know without being psychic. These people didn't realize her real talent was snooping, and she knew just where and how to get the information she needed. The wealthy families she contacted were eager to make charitable donations in exchange for a spiritual reading. She always emphasized secrecy and discretion, telling her clients that her gift couldn't be exploited because her extraterrestrial brothers and sisters had given her the information. The people she read for were special, she told them, because they were reincarnated from the original starship crew. Over the past several years, many of those contacts had ended up joining Star Mother's church. Despite the financial compensation she received from converts, it was never enough.
Valya continued her stroll through camp, making note of the time. Though the day was only half over, she needed to prepare her sermon that would precede the evening's ten o'clock meditation. She would spin her message off this morning's service, and her ideas needed jotting down now before she forgot them. Casting a bitter glare at the discipline tent, she mentally chastised the sentry who had compromised her daily routine.
"Enjoying yourself?" asked a voice from behind her.
She spun around to confront her husband. "Of course not. Star Mother's work isn't always pleasant."
Von's pale brows arched in amusement, the corners of his pallid lips turned up in a condescending smile. "Well, I suppose I can't blame you. It was an oversight on my part, I'm afraid. You don't believe I intended for the snake to kill Sam, did you? Darling, the man is an expert with snakes. I taught him myself, remember?"
Liar. He most certainly had wan
ted that snake to kill Sam. She rolled her eyes and stepped around him to head for the royal tent. Did he take her for a fool? He wanted Sam dead, that's all there was to it, and she wasn't about to let that happen. To think she'd have to travel several light years with Von to Atria. The self-important bore! Their disembodied Essences would be at odds the entire trip.
"Valya, dear?" Von called. "Do you have a minute?"
"For what?" she snapped.
"I'd like to show you something."
She sighed and fell into step beside him as he strode toward the second discipline tent. Frowning, she said, "I'd rather not witness any more punishments today."
"This one is different," Von said. "Besides, the punishment is already over."
"Then why do you want me to—?"
"You'll see."
When they arrived at the closed entrance to the tent, Von flung back the canvas flap. He gestured for Valya to come closer.
She offered him a look of confusion then sauntered around him to peer inside. A figure lay slumped on its side, the hands and feet hog-tied with rope, the head covered with a white sheet that twisted tightly around the neck. She gasped and took a step back. Without having to see the man's face, she knew it was the sentry she had sent with Jake to kidnap Kelly Bancroft.
"You dared to have one of my men killed," Von said, his smile replaced by a sneer of contained rage. His voice shook when he added, "I'd say we're even now, wouldn't you?"
Her furious breaths scorched her throat as she contemplated a response, but all she could think to say was, "Bastard!"
His smile returned. "Yes, I am. But so are you. Neither of us knows who our fathers are, though there were plenty of possible candidates to choose from."
"Shut up!"
He chuckled. "Still can't accept your illegitimacy, can you?"
"I am Star Mother's child, and that's all I need to know," she said between clenched teeth. She knew who her mother was, and that was all that counted. As befitted family tradition, her mother had been Star Mother's leader before her, and her father had been one of her mother's many suitors. He might have been a member of their congregation or a stranger her mother had met in one of the many towns the church had passed through. Who he was didn't matter. Gene diversity was vital to their religion. It ensured a strong, healthy family of diverse physical traits and personalities. Valya was proud to follow in her mother's footsteps.
She stared at Von now, wondering why on earth she'd chosen him as her husband. The man couldn't even father a child. But she remembered why he had first attracted her attention. It was his enormous size and his bizarre coloring that was so close to that of their ancestors. A member of Star Mother since birth, he appeared pure-blooded, so pale that his blue veins showed through his skin, and he was so big.... Well, pleasure in bed was, as far as she was concerned, the most important aspect of a successful marriage. Unfortunately, Von's performance hadn't risen to her expectations. Which is why she had invited Sam Reed, among many others, into her bed. She now had ten strong, beautiful children for her efforts.
Von glared at her with a look of superiority.
She grimaced. "Sam is a virile man, Von. It should be obvious to you why he's important to me. It makes sense for him to join us on Atria, doesn't it? As one of the chosen to sire a new population—"
"With your help, of course," Von said ruefully, appearing to enjoy her agitation. "He's already made one contribution to your brood, Valya. What more do you want?"
Valya blinked and glanced inside the tent. Staring at the contorted body that looked as if dressed in a ghost costume for Halloween, she told her husband, "I want Sam."
Chapter Six
"You're kidding, right?" Kelly asked. "You want my abusive, could-care-less-about-his-kids dad involved in Jake's intervention?"
"The man sure sounded like he cared last night." Sam rubbed his shadowed chin with a calloused hand, his eyes squinting as if trying to see through her. "And before you ignore my idea, at least hear me out."
She hopped up from her nest of cushions and headed for the back door. "I need some air."
"Me, too." He followed her through the kitchen. "If you don't mind some company."
She glanced over her shoulder and nodded, pleased that he wanted to join her. She wasn't trying to ditch him. Truth was, the cabin felt stuffy, and she had a sudden need to get outside and smell the fresh scent of all those wonderful pine trees. It would help clear her head.
Once they were outside, Sam strode ahead of her and reached back to grab her hand. "I'll show you my favorite spot. It's where I go when I need time to myself."
She let him lead her to a small clearing a short distance from where the dense woods began. A large boulder sat at the center, a few saplings and smaller rocks surrounding it. It appeared as if someone had purposely cleared this area, maybe to build a shed or a gazebo. It was the perfect spot for one. Muted sunlight filtered through the trees, and dust motes danced in the bright air like flakes of glitter. From this vantage point, they could clearly see the side of the cabin with the driveway, so they would know right away if anyone drove up.
"This is pretty," she said, and sat beside him on the boulder. He still held her hand, which he squeezed before draping his arm around her shoulder.
She smiled, her hand tingling with the warm imprint of his skin.
He cleared his throat. "About this plan I've come up with..."
"I'm listening."
"If Jake realized how serious your father is about wanting him to come home, he might have a change of heart."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't even know if Dad's serious. And I already told Jake that Dad apologized for everything he'd done to us over the years."
Sam's expression turned serious, his Arrow mask in place. "How did he react?"
"Surprised." She compared Jake's reaction to her own when their father had announced his new and improved attitude, and she'd felt more stunned than surprised. She'd been speechless.
"Happy-surprised, or shocked-surprised?"
After a second's thought, she said, "Shocked. No, more like confused, and I can't blame him. He looked puzzled when I told him Dad said that he loved him."
"Did your father really say that?"
She hesitated. "No. But I was taking a gamble."
Sam nodded like he understood. "You have good instincts. Do you think your father would say he loved his son?"
At the end of a long sigh, she said, "I honestly don't know. If you'd asked me a couple of days ago whether or not my father would want Jake to move back home, I'd have laughed in your face."
"Your father's really made an about-face, hasn't he?"
Had he ever. And it was still hard for her to swallow. "Yes, and I want to know why the sudden change. He's been a jerk our entire lives, then suddenly he wants to kiss and make up? What's up with that?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
"Now?"
"Sure. Why not?" He grinned. He acted as if this was personal to him, almost as personal as it was to her. "He's probably still at his hotel. Call him and I'll tape the conversation. We'll play it for Jake when we catch up to him."
"Why a recorded message? Why not have my dad talk to him directly on a cell phone?"
He seemed to consider the possibility then shook his head. "Not a good idea. We can't afford having our plan backfire. We're not sure exactly what your father will say, and I don't want to take a chance of upsetting your brother. Recording the call gives us control over what Jake will hear."
At this point, she thought her dad would say almost anything to get Jake home. But how much had her father really changed? In the past, she'd known him to say things on impulse, his behavior both irratic and irrational whenever he was upset. Sam was right. They couldn't risk Dad blowing it by acting like a jackass.
A recorded message from Dad could work. What she had already tried with Jake wasn't nearly as strong as having it come straight from the horse's mouth.
"You said we," she sai
d, just now grasping his use of the pronoun. "Does that mean I'm coming with you?"
He stared at her blankly for a second, his emotions hidden behind those intense gray eyes. A sudden smile brightened his face. "Looks like it. I can't leave you here to be preyed upon by the cult's goons, can I? You'll be safer with me than by yourself."
That comment rankled but not badly enough for her to argue. Not only would she be involved in Jake's intervention and rescue, she'd be in the company of a man she admired. More than admired. She cared a great deal about Sam.
"Are you willing to give it a try?" he asked.
Inhaling deeply, she felt a stirring of doubt in her stomach. Now she'd have to talk with her father, ask him why his sudden change of heart, and then ask if he loved Jake. Or even if he loved her. This would be tough. "Let's do it."
Sam left her sitting on the giant rock while he ran inside to get his cordless phone and battery-powered recording equipment. He walked toward her, his broad shoulders pulling at the seams of his T-shirt. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him. She shouldn't be thinking this way. She'd hired the man to do a job, not to do her. Besides, a man like Sam had far better prospects than a run-of-the-mill phys ed teacher from Phoenix.
While fastening the microphone to the cordless receiver with a suction device, he said, "Make sure your father knows what we're up to. Recording a conversation without consent is illegal in the state of California."
She nodded, her stomach rolling with apprehension. "What do I say?"
"Whatever you want." He flashed her a crooked smile that made her knees weak. "You're in control, Kelly. You call the shots, understand? Your father has to listen to you this time."
He was right. She had the upper hand now, and she would use it to help Jake. "Thank you." She swung her arm around his neck, pulling him toward her for a hug.
He stiffened at first then relaxed. He seemed reluctant to pull away before handing her the phone. "Better call before he leaves for the airport."
She punched in the number Sam recited and gave the hotel receptionist her father's room number. It rang three long, torturous rings before her father picked up.
Desert Guardian Page 8
