How do I begin? "She's angry because of something I said."
Both of the old tinker's brows arched in a beautiful ballet.
Could that mean he's going to chew me a new one too? That I'd gone too far in annoying her? Well, I'd already started this discussion. "Buck said she's his territory."
A low rumbling chuckle worked its way up from deep inside Thomas' chest to burst free from his jovial mask.
And make me feel rather young and awkward.
"You mean you told her that?" Thomas managed to inhale the last of his laughter, his eyes still glistening with tears noting his amusement.
Do I have to answer the redundant question? I'd already said I did it.
"I would have loved to have seen that!" Thomas guffawed.
Why am I not surprised?
Thomas leaned close with a hint of a grin pulling his lips. "I can't believe you haven't noticed how she stares at nothing but you when you're around."
No. Not Buck's girl. I couldn't help but look upward into the dark shadows cast by the window's limiting the sunlight access to the rooms interiors. Unfortunately, the action was one of those partial eye rolls that nobody could miss.
"Since you have noticed, Colt, I should warn you that I think she's more than smitten with you. And your brother had no right staking a claim on her without marking her. She's not about to throw all of this homestead away. It's hers when I'm gone. And she won't just toss it aside to let anyone step into run it. Mind you, Raven is a woman who asks for nothing but always winds up with the best of the lot."
What does that mean? I'm unworthy? Maybe he's a racist after all. I flicked my gaze back to find him studying my face. "Are you saying I'm not good enough for Raven?"
"No, son. I'm thinking it's best for both parties if you go out there right now and have your way with her. But hopefully you have enough sense to give her some time and let her come to you."
He didn't just say that. He didn't just tell me to go take the farm…
Mark, Wolf whispered.
Chapter 6
Those men can feed themselves, sit around and laugh about how they chased me off, and wallow in the fact nobody is washing their clothes because I'm moving into the cellar. And if the aliens return to exterminate the rat's nest, so be it. I'll be safe inside my cubby hole with wine, cheese, vegetables, and cured meat. Seeds! There's even enough seeds to grow the garden from scratch next year. I carefully cradled another four bottles of wine in my arms and headed downstairs to the floor-to-ceiling shelves encircling the cellar.
It's not so bad camping out down here. Alone. Boxes with everything a few people need to survive filled the shelves on one wall. And food stores filled the others. We even put together a box of activities to tie us over in case something drove us underground. You just never know how long you could be living in a retreat. Thomas' main reason to stock up the cellar was to have a place to hide if the homestead was overrun. This same cellar had a concealed doorway in his still too. Thomas' thinking was that we could duck inside either opening, depending upon which building we were working inside when trouble developed. My entry of choice has always been in the barn. I could carry anything into the barn and never look suspicious. People would wonder about certain things going into the still if observing our activities though. I spotted a high empty shelf, laid the dark green wine bottles on their sides on the flat wood, and searched through the surrounding boxes' labels.
My personal box held two changes of clothing and extra socks. You could never have enough socks out here. Another box listed soaps, brushes, and combs. A first aid box sat next to that one. And finally, the activities collection. Yes. I'll be fine out here. There's even cold-weather gear in case I never return to that den of snakes.
Snakes. That's exactly what men are.
"Raven?" Ebony called.
Thomas probably sent her. "Yes?" I turned to the stairs.
Her black leather-clad thin form slowly stepped down the stone steps.
Something tells me I need to get rid of her.
"What are you doing? Can I help?" Ebony asked.
Quite genuinely. But I'm no fool. "I just found what I was searching for. I need to get back to processing the vegetables. So, it's back to the garden. Thanks for asking though." I plowed right for her, hoping I'd steer her back around and out of my little private place.
She halted halfway down the steps and watched me, her mouth gaping like she intended to say something.
Well, she needs to vacate my space. "You can help in the garden." Even if I have to deal with someone else meddling in my affairs.
"Alright," Ebony chimed and pivoted to face the doorway, back the way she'd come.
Oh well. Another pair of hands working to store food for the winter is a good thing. I led her back out into the sunlight and pointed toward the garden where Colt had been collecting the squash. But she probably doesn't remember much about gardening. "Why don't I show you how to work down there. Then we'll split up to finish two jobs."
"Alright."
Ebony followed in my footsteps.
I caught movement in my periphery.
Colt. He'd come outside and marched over to the dehydrator where he began adding vegetables to the mix. Hopefully he knows what he's doing and cuts the different vegetables correctly. It'll be a cold day in Hell as Thomas always said before I go over and inspect that bully's work. I reached the first squash plant where Colt had been working, before I changed everything enough to see what was really happening around me. "Here we go. Now, do you remember what kind of vegetable this is?" I grabbed the first long yellow summer squash's crooked neck and turned the bulbous end Ebony's direction.
An hour passed before I felt comfortable enough to leave and tend to the livestock. But Ebony was doing fine among the green beans. Seriously, how could anyone have issues picking green beans? And Colt was lost in food processing. So, I headed for the hen house. Anything to escape this heat. The way the sunlight bore down upon me and made sweat trickle between my breasts was itchy torture. And with all the issues about male possession these days, on the homestead, and Ebony's mention of rites of possession, I'd rather not scratch in public. Perfect male steadfastly tending to my chores, or not.
The barn's cool shadows welcomed me with a sense of serenity that the Parkers dispelled yesterday. A day that seems like a month ago. It's amazing how time seems to tick on at a snail's pace when there's so much to be done to regain a sense of normalcy. I just need some time to rid myself of the chaos. Time to take a nap. Maybe listen to some music. Anything to relax for an hour. To return to where I was before Thomas became a horse's ass. That's when there was a cycle to the chores and that selfish hour of peace…
Thor, the giant Rhode Island Red rooster, shoved the swinging Plexiglas door wide and marched through the swinging chicken doorway next to the big door we used to clean the chicken coop.
That tiny doorway was a portal that Thomas claimed existed as a pet door before he absconded the thing from a vacated house twenty years ago. Thomas had installed it low in the wall shared by the barn and the chicken coop. And Thor used the door to keep a watch out for whoever brought his family's supper and invaders. Fortunately, I was just family. He could nail someone who'd come to trade without making a sound. The wounds his spurs left were nasty, dirty punctures. I'm glad I'm family. "Hello, sir," I called as I always do. "How have the ladies been today?"
He eyed me with one round eye, then turned his head to use the other one.
Probably to be certain I brought supper. "Don't worry. I've got plenty of cornbread crumbs." And scraps. But the chickens usually tend to the garden's insect population and don't fuss about what I bring after eating all day.
One by one, the hens hit the pet door.
The door swung wide.
Each of the ten hens appeared from the doorway or from behind me.
Unusually fast today. Colt must not have fed them this morning. Add that to asinine and he's got two imperfections.
/> The shadows fluttered on the barn's wooden walls and dirt floor.
Can't they leave me alone? Just who is back to start with the nagging again? I turned a pinched warning glare to the doorway.
With all those muscles, Colt couldn't be confused with the others where he stood in the doorframe. Glinting golden muscles like he was fashioned from bronze…He's sauntering in here like he owns my barn. My barn! "Can I help you?"
He practically swaggered toward me, pulling off his bush hat, wiping his brow with one palm, then tugging his hat back into place. Finally, he locked one of those breath-stealing gazes of his upon me.
He looks even more perfect in the shadows. All freshly polished from a day in the sunlight. And he knows when he walks up to me that he's just enough of a distraction for me to forget he's slithered out from the snake pit. But he can't trick me today. "Yes, Colt?"
"I wanted to apologize for insulting you earlier. That wasn't my intention."
Those softly-spoken words were carefully phrased. And he's apologizing. My uncles couldn't. Although Thomas has a reason now after losing his mind. But I'm not backing down or into some corner where I have to play along with these foolish men's games. "Thank you." I was careful not to even slightly soften my disgruntled mask.
He nodded. "As soon as my sire arrives with enough Shifters to see you and your uncle aren't bothered by Parkers, I'll be on my way." He pivoted and sauntered back out the door.
Leave?
My heart fell into my stomach.
Something down there inside me kicked up a rocking wave of discomfort that made me feel like my future was going to be nothing but empty. But we can't change the fact Shifters mate for life. And he's taken. Where's the wine that'll numb the sensation or fill the void?
****
Thomas squirmed on his side of the table and kept glancing at the door and kitchen window. "Where is Raven? It'll be nightfall soon. She needs to eat."
True. I hadn't seen Raven again since I apologized. Wolf wasn't too happy about the result of my declaration to ride out of here either. But I'm not about to lurk after Buck returns. I'm just moving on before I cause more trouble.
"I don't like her angry like this," Thomas mumbled. "She's not the type to stew over something. I'd rather her be here happy with me than upset."
"Is she mad because of the Normals's attack here?" Ebony asked, sitting next to Thomas.
The old tinker took a fork and scraped the bottom of his plate of beans. "Yes. It's the Parkers' fault. They're always scouring the countryside, harvesting females capable of breeding. But, it's my fault too. I shouldn't have tried to send her back East." Thomas' gaze rolled up to meet mine. "I need you to go look for her, Colt. What if she ran off?"
I hadn't heard the gate open. "Wolf would have heard."
Thomas' lips pursed thoughtfully.
He's going to insist.
Protect, Wolf growled.
There's nothing worse than having a Gods-be-damned inner twin who bitches about every fucking thing every second of the day. It's like I'm harboring some split personality. What was the story we read in school? Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Better still, every werewolf story I've heard or read has to do with the same thing--good verses evil. And you, Wolf, continuously rank up there with evil.
Play, Wolf whispered.
"She might respond better to a woman. Will you go, Ebony?" Thomas persisted.
Hitting below the belt now. I can't sit here and allow a woman to risk her safety outside with Bounders in the mix after dusk when a Shifter should be doing the job. I planted both palms on the table's hard wood and shoved upward. "Alright. If you must annoy the last breath out of Raven, I'll go. But she's not going to be happy to see me. She's made that perfectly clear."
Thomas winked at me and chuckled. "Don't let her fool you."
Ebony rolled her eyes and turned back to her beans and biscuits.
Well, at least I'm not the only person in the room who thinks Thomas has lost his mind. There's no sense in saying anything. I strode out beneath the moonlight.
Another clear sky tonight. Good. Clouds would give the perfect cover to a lurking spacecraft. And all the light should expose the thorn in my side.
Alright, Wolf. Get your Gods-be-damned mangy tail up here and find Raven.
Wolf moved in like one of father's ancient sayings--a bat out of Hell. I could hear everything for half a mile. Especially the discussion coming from the dinner table. One that didn't help the issue.
"You shouldn't push them together," Ebony scolded the old man.
"I'm not pushing. It's obvious they're attracted to each other."
"They are?"
"You weren't here yesterday."
"That looks like a good thing."
A Wolf's heightened hearing wasn't always the best perk in life. I leapt from the porch to the ground and kept scanning the warm glowing heat still lighting up the homestead's darkness. The plants hadn't burned off the sun's gift of energy yet.
I should have been a plant. That would have made life easier. But it's time to muck the stalls with my hands and lick them clean. Maybe I should really do that. They'd send me away like a rabid Wolf if I was caught doing something that insane.
The still's door creaked open and one orange human-shaped form stepped out the dark doorway.
Raven.
She must not have noticed me or didn't look. She hurried to the barn door, kicked it open with a toe, and disappeared like a flash of light inside the large hulking building.
What is she sneaking around doing under the cover of night? I hurried to the barn's double doorway, listened, and curled a fingertip beneath the straight solid edge of one door.
Wedging it open an inch allowed me to see nothing. Infrared vision is good. But it won't show you what it can't detect. Either Raven vanished or descended below.
Play, Wolf chuckled.
We'll find out. But we aren't here to play. So, sit. I carefully opened the door with minimal squeaking and slipped into the dark building.
She couldn't be in here. She's underground. That's not a bad place to be with the possibility of aliens arriving.
The cellar's metal doorway screeched a wicked sound and flew open. She climbed into the barn holding a lantern.
Lots of light to make out things with human vision and decide what's really going through her mind. Okay, Wolf, out of my eyes for a minute or two. I gulped him down just enough to see the features of her face etched in shadow.
She stood there beyond the open door's dark rectangular mass leaning where it was propped against the support beam, wearing anything but a friendly expression. "Is that you, Colt? I don't feel like dining tonight. Go away."
Perfect. I am going to sound like Buck. "Thomas sent me, or I would have left you alone. Please, don't miss supper because of me. I'll stay outside while you are comfortable inside your home." It's true. That would be the best of all options.
Her straight-lipped frown curled into a scowl before the light vanished beneath the gently slapping cellar door.
Well, I've done everything I can to make amends. At least Thomas knows where she is. I returned to my seat at the table and scooped up a forkful of beans.
Butter beans. My favorite. With lots of chopped green onion.
"Well? Did you find her? She is coming to eat, isn't she?"
I'd feel better about all of this if I could eat my damned meal instead of being harangued by the old tinker. I rolled my gaze across the pile of glistening savory beans poised atop my fork to Thomas' questioning mask. "No. She's not joining us. She's in the root cellar. And after she slammed the door on me, I don't think she wants company. Now, we have serious issues at hand. It would be best if you left Raven where she is because she's in a safe spot--"
"Safe?" Thomas blurted. "What concerns you tonight?" He glanced sideways at Ebony who chewed her food while watching our discussion.
I suppose it's time to face reality. "A spacecraft flew over last night. Ebony showed up today,
warning us she was being chased by extraterrestrials. And you don't think there's anything to worry about?"
Thomas scanned the room with exasperation. "We go underground. That's what we do."
Finally, the man isn't talking nonsense. "That's right. You sleep down there tonight. I'm going to play lookout on the porch. If anything happens, I can move faster than a cheetah. Besides, Bounders should be crawling out of the woodwork with those festering bodies not far from here. The blood trail alone will lure them."
"Yes. It was odd we didn't see one last night," Thomas noted.
He stared beyond my shoulder like something really interesting unfolded that I couldn't see.
"There wouldn't be any Bounders," Ebony said flatly.
What?
My gut flip-flopped.
Her brown gaze flicked back and forth between the old tinker and me with a rejuvenated sense of urgency. "The aliens control the Bounders," she bolted to her feet. "They call them away when they plan to work on the planet's surface."
Chapter 7
Who is knocking on my door? And they aren't going to like discovering I locked the cellar's entrance.
Someone pulled on the ring.
Oh, I need to laugh. It's about time I get to laugh. My uncle lost his hand and his ability to think, I meet the most amazing man who respects women but is already mated and proves he's like all other men, I learn Buck thinks I'm his, and now I have to live in the cellar to grasp at the last fleeting bit of normalcy in my life--my ability to make a choice for myself.
Come on and laugh, body.
The red light on the wall flared and blinked four feet above where the old computer monitor sat with a clear plastic cover protecting it and the keyboard from being buried in dust.
So, I won't answer the door. Therefore, Thomas thinks I'll answer the computer? Right. Maybe tomorrow, after I get some sleep. But I'll have to drink myself asleep again to make it all night on the unforgiving stone floor's hardness with only a blanket and rolled up clothes for a pillow. That damned computer better be off. I don't feel like discussing anything right now. I strode over to yank the cool translucent plastic from its duty of keeping dust from killing our little relic, then I studied the monitor.
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