Cashing In (Luck's Voice Book 2)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Lia shook her head. “When you get back, we’ll have to see about getting you some riding lessons. Not knowing how to ride a horse can get you or those with you killed.”

  “Maybe I should stay, then...” Fiala said softly.

  “This trip should be fine, but she’s right— we’ll have to get you trained before we leave town. That goes for anyone coming with us.”

  “That’ll be at least three people who need to learn,” Lia said. “I’ll talk to an old friend and see if they’ll take on the challenge.”

  “Thanks, Lia,” Doc said. “Okay, they’re probably waiting for us. Let’s go.”

  “Stay safe,” Posy said from near the kitchen.

  Doc gave her a smile. “We will, Posy. Be good while we’re out.”

  “She will,” Daf said from behind her daughter. “Luck watch over you.”

  “I have a feeling she always will be,” Doc grinned.

  Jasmine called out as they came out of the back hall. “Doc… please be safe.”

  “No worries. Luck is with me,” Doc told her.

  Fiala gave Jasmine a knowing smile and mouthed a single word to her before following Doc out the door.

  Walking down the street to the livery, Doc gave Fiala a glance. She was dressed in pants instead of a skirt and wearing a flannel shirt, boots with a very low heel, and a wide-brimmed hat. “You okay, Fiala?”

  “I’m fine… a little nervous, is all. I don’t want to cause you trouble.”

  “It’ll be okay. On the way back, you might end up saddle sore, but I can heal that.”

  “Okay.”

  The livery stable didn’t have a lot of business when they got there, for which Doc was glad. Fiala stayed outside, chatting with the dwarves while Doc went in to get horses. A few minutes later, he was mounted and leading a second horse out of the stables.

  “We’re good to go. Tie this one to the back, please?” He handed the reins off to one of the dwarves.

  “Will do, Boss.”

  “Let’s get going,” Doc said brusquely. “Have to see what’s left out there.”

  Rangvald snapped the reins of the wagon and got it moving without replying.

  ~*~*~

  Once they were out of town by a couple of hours, Doc rode up alongside Rangvald. “How’d it go?”

  Rangvald laughed. “Oh, it was a beauty. Rumor around town is you’ll fire me by next week. Getting word back to the clan so they knew what we were doing without it being noticed was harder, but I managed it.”

  “The Lily was talking about little else after he threw you out,” Fiala giggled.

  “That did add a bit of shine to the whole thing,” Rangvald laughed.

  “I saw it from the outside and was a bit panicked,” one of the dwarves admitted. “Wondered what had happened. If he hadn’t told me it was an act in passing, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

  “Hopefully, it buys us some time,” Doc said. “You’re sure you’ll be fine out at the mine?”

  “We have the people there to keep it secure,” Rangvald said. “You’ll see when we get there. Jesamin’s been working hard just to keep us stocked on meat. The boys have been coming along nicely, too. They’re helping the new cook now instead of doing it all themselves.”

  “Should be interesting,” Doc said.

  Rangvald gave Doc a sideways glance. “If you want anything changed—”

  “You’re my foreman,” Doc cut him off. “I know dick all about mining. It’d be idiotic for me to dictate how the mine works.”

  “True, but that hasn’t stopped others,” Rangvald said. “You were also very convincing last night.”

  Doc chuckled. “You’re fine. Speaking like an overbearing asshole is easy. I just thought, ‘what would Goodman say?’”

  That got laughter from everyone.

  “Well, you nailed that,” Rangvald laughed.

  “Thank you?” Doc said with a questioning lilt to his voice.

  “I heard a rumor when I spoke with the clan,” Rangvald said after a moment. “You passed the Rite of Heriz.”

  “I did.”

  “Ah...”

  “Something on your mind?”

  “It’s just… not many would do the rite and not marry into the clan. You just married Fiala here and... well…” Rangvald trailed off.

  “He’s considering it,” Fiala said. “I’m not opposed to other wives in our marriage, but they have to be right for him.”

  Rangvald’s eyebrows went up. “Well, that’s certainly unexpected.”

  “Why?”

  “Takes a strong woman to let her husband be with another.”

  “Or complete trust in your partner,” Fiala replied. “Doc and I discussed it, and as long as we both agree, then another can join our marriage.”

  “Maybe the second rumor had more merit than I’d considered,” Rangvald said, scratching his chin.

  “Second rumor?” Doc asked.

  “That you’re going to become shaman to the clan,” Rangvald said. “You’d have to marry into the clan for that.”

  “There’s a potential prospect,” Doc said. “Fiala is speaking with her about it. If it works out, then yes, I will probably take up that mantle.”

  “Been a long time since a clan had a shaman,” another dwarf said. “It’ll give us a big boost with the other clans.”

  “We’ll see,” Doc said. “Nothing is certain.”

  “Death,” one of the dwarves said.

  “And taxes!” added another, prompting the others to laugh.

  ~*~*~

  The day was quiet, with only light conversations among the group. Fiala got onto her horse for a while and rode behind Doc, clearly nervous, but doing her best. The dwarves gave her words of encouragement, but none of them gave her any tips, as they didn’t ride horses.

  The spot beside the road that Doc had used to make camp before was starting to look like a well-used campsite. A fire pit was still in place, and some logs had been placed near it. Another area had been cleared and made a good rest stop for the wagon and horses.

  “Makes sense,” Doc chuckled. “Might as well make it easier to get to and from.”

  “That was the thinking,” Rangvald said. “We’ve also made sure that a few unpleasant surprises are placed at likely ambush spots, in case anyone thinks about trying to do that to us.”

  “It’s only paranoia if no one’s out to get you. Otherwise, it’s forward planning,” Doc laughed.

  Rangvald laughed with him. “I’ll remember that.”

  “We’ll have camp set up in a few minutes,” one of the dwarves told Doc.

  “Good. I’ll have time to curry the horses,” Doc said. “Fiala, let me show you how to take care of them.”

  She joined him by the two riding horses, and he walked her through the steps to curry them. Fiala was smiling the whole time as she learned and, by the time they finished, the dwarves were already working on dinner.

  “It’ll just be a quick soup,” Rangvald said as they took seats by the fire. “Doc, we’ll be needing a second wagon starting from the next time we come in.”

  “For supplies?”

  “Yes. We’re setting up some buildings and want to make sure everything is well stocked. Once we’re sure there won’t be much trouble, if it’s alright with you, we’d like to move the wives out. Those that want to come, that is.”

  “I don’t have a problem with that, but you might want to hold off until after we have the town well in hand.”

  “We will, but we weren’t sure if you’d allow it.”

  Doc shook his head. “I’m going to say it only one more time: everything about the mine is in your hands, Rangvald. If it’s for the good of the mine in one form or another, it’s your choice.”

  Rangvald nodded, his face serious. “Very well. Will Ayla go along with that?”

  “Unless she thinks you’re doing something funny,” Doc replied. “I don’t see any problems coming up.”

  “Vegetable soup
is ready,” the dwarf at the pot said. “Line up, boys… and lady.”

  Fiala smiled. “Thank you.”

  ~*~*~

  Dinner was better than the last time Doc had gone out to the mine— the soup had good seasoning to it this time. With the meal done, Doc stretched out his legs and smiled when he saw a glimmer of an emerald eye in the shadow of a tree.

  “Fiala, come with me, please,” Doc said as he got to his feet. “Rangvald, I’m going to go talk to Rosa. Please make sure we’re not disturbed.”

  Rangvald nodded and looked at his men. “Stay in camp, period.”

  “Yes, sir,” the others said, settling in for the night.

  Fiala licked her lips as she followed Doc out of the ring of light cast by the campfire. She exhaled when Doc took her hand in his, and her breathing steadied.

  “It’ll be fine,” Doc said reassuringly.

  “It will be,” Rosa said, stepping out from a tree a dozen yards ahead of them. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Fiala.”

  Fiala’s breath caught in her throat when Rosa stepped into sight. The moonlight illuminated Rosa’s naked body.

  “Thank you. You are very lovely yourself,” Rosa smiled.

  “I… I didn’t…?”

  “She can read minds if she’s close enough,” Doc said. “Isn’t that right?”

  Rosa bowed her head. “Doc is correct. There are no secrets that can be kept from me, unless they have arcane artifacts or are touched by the Darkness.”

  Fiala swallowed as her mind raced. She’d thought about meeting Rosa, but the idea of what the dryad could do to her frightened her. “It’s a pleasure.”

  Doc gave Fiala’s hand a squeeze. “It’s okay, Fiala. Rosa will never hurt you.”

  “You are precious to Doc and, as such, are precious to me,” Rosa smiled.

  “Rosa, I married Fiala. She’s my wife.”

  Rosa’s face flickered through a range of emotions for a moment. “A beautiful wedding. There is likely to be another soon?”

  “Sonya,” Fiala said. “You can see her in our minds?”

  “Stubborn, relentless, yet she does appear earnest in wanting to be beside Doc and help him. She will be your greatest rival, Fiala.”

  “Not you?”

  Rosa shook her head. “No. I’m but a lowly weed, not a flower like yourself.”

  Fiala frowned, and Doc snorted. “It’s part of how Rosa and I interact. Remember how I said things were different between me and her?”

  “Oh...”

  “Yes, I’m not worthy of his gentle touches and love. I’m merely a weed allowed to exist at his whim,” Rosa said, her eyes starting to glow.

  “Not now,” Doc said firmly. “We’ll get to that when we’re leaving the mine.”

  Rosa shuddered and let a small gasp escape. “As the Voice demands.”

  Fiala blinked, not sure what to make of the dryad that was so easily controlled by her husband. “I’m looking forward to speaking with you more, Rosa.”

  “Hopefully more than just talking,” Rosa said, her eyes still showing a hint of glow. “I’ve had so many thoughts on what might happen since he left.”

  “I’m not opposed to the idea,” Fiala admitted. “You can clearly see that.”

  “Yes, and you’re just barely scratching the surface of what I want him to do to me.”

  Eyes widening, Fiala’s face heated. “Oh.”

  “That’s enough,” Doc said gently, but firmly. “I just wanted you two to meet. This way, Fiala can decide how she feels about you. Is everything else okay?”

  “There has been nothing unusual since your last visit,” Rosa replied. “Mother thanks you for freeing her child and giving her back my sister.”

  “Your sister was Lia’s doing, and she’s welcome. How are you on energy?”

  “I have expended very little, but I will always welcome more. I want to keep myself in perfect condition for you. And, as to the thought in the back of your mind— no, I am not pregnant, nor will I be unless you allow it. It would hinder my being able to go with you. I want that very much, Doc, but as your friends have told you, it requires things to be in order.”

  “You want to be chained to me?”

  Rosa shivered again, her lips parting. “Please?”

  “Why did I ask?” Doc snorted. “I’ll see.”

  “As you wish it,” Rosa murmured, her whole body clearly aching with need.

  “The night we leave the camp, find us,” Doc told her.

  “As you command,” Rosa said, stepping back. The moment her back touched the tree, she vanished from view.

  Fiala exhaled. “She’s terrifying, but I don’t feel afraid of her with you beside me.”

  “Are you going to be okay with her coming with us?”

  “Strangely, yes. I think it’d be safer to have her beside us. I’ll have to talk with Sonya about her. I mentioned Rosa before, but I had no idea what she was really like.”

  “Okay. Let’s go get some sleep.”

  Fiala looked over her shoulder. Camp was a bright spot, well removed from them. “Do we have to go back right away?”

  Doc paused, catching her meaning. “Not the most comfortable spot, but we can manage something.”

  “Please, husband?” Fiala asked.

  “As my wife wishes,” Doc murmured, taking her into his arms and kissing her.

  Neither of them spotted the emerald eyes watching them from the darkness, nor did they hear the soft moans coming from behind the tree over their own sounds of pleasure.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Doc whistled softly when they came into view of the mine. “Did some good work.”

  The camp near the waterfall was larger than Doc anticipated. The wooden palisade that had been built around most of it was unexpected, but made sense to him if they were expecting trouble. The high ground above the camp had a palisade, too. The gate was wide open, letting Doc see into the camp itself. Tents took up most of the grounds inside. Near the newly-created tunnel, Doc could see the cut logs that had been set out for seats.

  “It’s still rough and far from done,” Rangvald said. “Once we get some buildings up, it’ll be even better.”

  “What have you been doing about the trees?” Doc asked.

  Rangvald cleared his throat. “Umm, about that... I asked Rosa for help in that regard. She said she’d replant a tree for each we took, but that we’d better use everything we cut down.”

  “Have you been?”

  “I’m not about to anger a dryad,” Rangvald said. “We use everything we can, minus the stumps that we passed on the way in. I plan on getting them out later, but I’m waiting for a few special tools to come with more of the extended clan.”

  “Then it’s fine,” Doc said. “How many are here?”

  “Forty with us back, so forty-two with you and Fiala.”

  Doc’s lips twitched upward at the final number. A line from his favorite book flitted through his mind. “Glad to know we have the answer, at least.”

  “Let’s get the horses settled and you can show me what you’ve done.”

  “The boys can get the horses settled,” Rangvald said. “They need the practice, anyway.”

  “I can stay and help them, too,” Fiala said.

  “Okay,” Doc said as Tony and Joseph came running over. “How have you two been?”

  “Good,” Tony said. “We’ve been learning a lot.”

  “And we make sure our jobs are always done,” Joseph added.

  “Glad to hear it,” Doc said as he climbed out of the saddle. “Take care of the horses. Fiala will be helping since she’s still learning, too.”

  Both boys nodded, but Tony was the one who spoke up, “We will. We’ll show her how it’s done. No worries.”

  The dwarves split away from the wagon once the boys had shown up, each of them going to different spots in camp. Doc waved to Alf and Burk when he spotted them on the high ground, rifles in their hands.

  “Guards?” Doc as
ked Rangvald.

  “Just two right now, but we’ll be adding more. We know that load we brought in will cause trouble.”

  “Show me what you’ve been up to,” Doc said.