Even in the prison, he sensed when she’d become nervous or hesitant and put her at ease.
“I’m confused,” she admitted. Everything about him attracted her. In some way, she’d been overly engaged by him since she’d first seen him.
“Let me help. We’ll start with what’s easy. I’ll tell you how I feel, what I want and we’ll see if you might not want something similar.”
“All right.”
“All unions on Braugh come from a love match. No marriages happen for materialistic gain of any nature as they do on other planets. Over time, men of Braugh evolved in such a way that conscious thought really isn’t part of choosing a life 96
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companion. We know when we’ve found a gal to match. It happens on many levels within us. Jess, everything in me tells me you’re my equal.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Not too much about your circumstance or history. My instincts tell me that on a prime level, we’re suited. It’s not common to know such a thing in so short a time. I’d been taught when the feelings surfaced I’d know what they meant. I wondered if I’d ever feel such for a gal. I do, right now, for you.”
“And what does that all really mean? You have feelings for me and—what?”
“I want to take you as me wife.”
“Again, what does that entail?”
“I want to hold you and give you happiness. I want to share simple pleasures as well as the more complex ones.” He smiled and she placed her hand over his heart.
“Simply put, I’d cherish you for all times.”
In truth, she could envision herself liking that sort of relationship. It sounded so easy with many benefits. He knew a great deal of things not familiar to her. He wasn’t a youth and perhaps knew more about love than she ever would.
“Would you take me, Jess?”
She’d never been in the position to take a thing! “What specifically are you asking me?”
“I’ve explained what I feel. I’m yours if you’ll have me. The decision lies with you, hon. If you agree to a union, we’ll be together. If you’re unsure, nothing will change.”
“Nothing?”
His smile grew. “Well maybe. Slightly. I’d have to try harder to convince you to agree. I’m a very determined man in many ways. I’d not give up on you without a big effort first. I’ll not ask you again though. I’ve declared what’s inside me. It’s your right to reject me outright. Or if you make up your mind to have me later, you’d need to tell me.”
She’d never remotely considered being anyone’s wife. She mentally reached out and opened herself to experience all he felt. She found countless things stirring his insides. He wanted to hold her gently, feel her against his skin. He yearned to bring her pleasure. He also wanted something from her in return. He desperately wanted a small portion of what he felt mirrored back to him. She cared for him already, more than any other being she’d known.
“I’ll stay with you,” she said.
His eyes closed and he knelt down. He took her hands into his, bowed his head and said, “May we learn from each other, forgive mistakes, forge a righteous path together and exist in harmony.”
He looked up and smiled. “I know you don’t make promises and I won’t ask one of you now. For the time being, would you try to care for me a bit and trust in me?”
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She could do that and nodded. She greatly admired his ability to commit and his willingness to overlook her inability to do the same thing.
He stood, took her face carefully into his hands and bent forward. Against her lips, he said, “Jess, let me see what a wife tastes like.”
“We’re married?”
“Aye, by Braugh standards, all that’s needed is the commitment. We’ve such between us now, don’t we?”
“I believe we do.”
Opening for him, she discovered the burning passion of a husband. His emotions engulfed her and she felt dual tears slip from her eyes because of the potent sentiment oozing from him. All those lofty feelings for her?
She became still and focused on the sudden darkness surrounding him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Jess?”
She studied him while blinking and trying to make sense of the unexpected vision.
She saw a small boy with dark hair and the most beautiful gray eyes. He couldn’t breathe and lay deathly still. Her blood chilled as a woman’s mournful wails filled her head. Information flooded her mind and the vision made sense.
She said, “Contact Braugh. Speak to your mother.”
“I’ll speak to her and me Da after we make it from Theazia alive.”
“Now. Your mother needs to know you and Finn are safe. She can’t stand not knowing with Devin hurt.”
His hands drifted to her shoulders. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Contact your mother.” The woman’s grief battered Jessica until she wanted to cry herself. She’d never experienced such anguish. His mother feared for three children when she only really needed to worry about her youngest.
“Jess…”
“Contact your mother! Please!” she begged.
He released her and gathered his clothes. The vision faded as Shane walked quickly to the wall console, depressed a button and said, “Finn?”
After a moment, she heard, “Aye, Shane.”
“We need to go to communications. It’s time Braugh knows we’re safely off Doxyn.”
“I thought we weren’t going to tell them until after. You said—”
“I know what I said, but I changed me mind.”
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Chapter Eight
When Shane finished explaining the course of events since the trade with Doxyn to his parents, his Ma wept. His Da said nothing, standing arrow straight, looking proud of his sons. Many fam of the warriors with him stood in the background to hear the transmission. They worried about the other men, just as his Ma and Da worried about him and Finn.
“And what of Devin? How does he fare?” Shane blurted out.
His Ma could be an emotional gal, but the flood of tears wasn’t common. She appeared barely able to hold herself together. He couldn’t stand not knowing if his wee brother was hurt.
Their Da stepped forward. “Why are you asking about Dev, son?”
“A gal told me to ask after him. He’s well?”
“No,” his Ma said, sniffing pitifully as she wiped her eyes. “Med tech’s making him so, but he’s not well just yet.”
“What happened?”
“He was,” she said, before her hand covered her mouth.
“He drown,” his father said, finishing for her.
Shane didn’t react outwardly, but Finn almost doubled up. Thankfully, he pulled himself together.
His father’s chin rose an inch as he placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Charles O’Shea found him and beat the water from his lungs. Got him to breathe before taking him to industry side for medical. He’s coming around now and the doc says he’ll be well in a time.”
Both he and Finn remained silent. Dev just turned five and the wee boy’s intelligence surpassed any of the Tiernans’. He’d been gifted with knowledge beyond his years. Having to transport him to the other side of Braugh for treatment told how badly he’d been damaged. No wonder their Ma couldn’t stop crying.
Shane finally asked, “He’ll come back to us a whole boy?”
“Aye,” his Da replied. Their Da wouldn’t tolerate anything less. “And what of me eldest sons? You plan on coming home to me whole men after fetching yon slimwit General?”
“Aye,” Finn said.
“Good boys!” His Da changed these last years. After almost losing their Ma, he found good things in life and rejoiced openly. “You’ll be good and drunk within the 99
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hour of touching Braugh soil. Then we’ll find you some gals to quench a certai
n thirst you may have.”
“Richard!” their Ma said, slapping his arm. “Fam are present here. Speak naught of such things in front of them.”
“Pardon, Missus.” He looked at the screen and winked.
Shane and Finn laughed outright when their Da rolled his eyes toward their Ma, as if sometimes she acted too proper.
Finn piped up suddenly. “You won’t believe what Shane’s bringing home.”
That comment drew their Ma’s attention. “Tell us, son. I don’t like surprises these days.”
“Dumbass,” Shane said quietly while pretending to clear his throat.
Finn didn’t take the hint to shut his mouth. “He’s bringing home the gal he chose to wed.”
All present on the screen dropped their mouths open. They looked as if he’d suddenly grown a third eye.
“What’s the problem?” Shane demanded.
He didn’t think all the staring in his direction was funny at all. Finn however, laughed his ass off.
His Da stumbled for words. “In all these years, you haven’t found a gal and now…
What I mean to say, son, is you were taken from here in chains. And you’re en route to help Gov. When did you have time to find a gal?”
“She’s a Gov soldier,” Finn answered.
If he said one word about the incident in the prison to the fams back home…
Finn continued with, “She was most brave when she rescued us. She was clever too, sneaking past the bastard Doxyn, tricking them and then standing shoulder to shoulder with Braughmen while fighting our way out.”
“Nay!” their mother said, her eyes rounding in disbelief. “A gal that belongs to Gov? A soldier! For my Shane?”
“Ach, Ma, you haven’t seen Shane’s Jess. For that matter, we’ll bring home her crew as well. Both Zoe and Angela agreed to come back with us.”
“Since when?” Shane asked.
Finn turned to him. “Both gals know Jess is downright set on getting to Blue. If she demands it, they’ll go with her. She looks to their best interests though, and I figure if they wanted to go to Braugh, Jess wouldn’t cause a fuss. Blue doesn’t hold appeal to them like it does for Jess. Maybe I spoke out of turn and Jess isn’t coming. Eh?”
“She’ll go where I go.”
“How can you be so sure? She’s a right spirited gal.”
“She’ll go where I go.”
“Son,” their Da said, “if she’s Gov, they may have different plans for—”
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“If we make it off Theazia, I’ll have Jess with me when I come home.”
“Shane—sweet,” his Ma started to say.
“She’s me wife. She’ll obey me before she does anything for the damn Gov. She’ll go where I go. Get me?”
Again, he witnessed the open mouths and stares. This time, Finn’s mouth hung agape too. Shane placed his hands on his hips, lowered his head and regretted spitting his news out like that. After being taken from the prison, dealing with Bragg and focking Jess every chance he got, he’d simply been too tired to think straight.
“You’re wed?” his Ma asked.
No wonder they all appeared stunned. Once the fact had been verbally repeated, he could hardly believe it himself. He’d also never been more certain about anything in his life. “Aye.”
“Jess agreed?” Finn asked.
“I wouldn’t have a wife if she didn’t.”
Finn slapped his shoulder before laughing. Those watching on Braugh gave a cheer.
When they settled and the congratulations quieted, his Ma asked, “You said she’s from Blue?”
“Aye.”
His Ma looked strange as did some of the other gals present.
Shane asked, “A problem with that, Ma?”
“Nay,” she said, shaking her head.
He worried for a moment she didn’t like the idea of a gal from Blue. What the hell is wrong with Blue?
His Ma smiled. “She’s one lucky gal to have me eldest. Jess Tiernan has a nice ring to it.” Her eyes filled with tears.
With one eve separating his men from Theazia, they needed to make plans. Shane stood quietly for a moment scanning the faces of his fam and those of his tribe. Each of them was precious. He sorely missed home.
“Braugh,” he said, loudly, forcefully, “your sons, brothers, das and tribesman will make you proud. We’ll fight smart and strong for you and earn the watchful eye of Gov so we can live in peace.” Their people bowed heads so he could give a short prayer. “In our absence, watch over the wee ones and those who’ve grown old. Take care of each other and pray for our safe return. On the morrow, drink to our health and let all Braughmen who fetch brave Gov from their suffering, come back to you alive and whole.”
Those on Braugh raised their eyes. Opening his hand and slowly passing his palm in front of his face, he said, “If it takes me blood to keep Braugh safe, so be it.”
Finn mimicked the age-old gesture that relayed conviction and repeated, “Aye, if it takes me blood to keep Braugh safe, so be it.”
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“Go with our hearts and best wishes.” The words came back to them from each of those present on the screen.
He hit the button and ended the transmission. The flicker before the screen blackened signaled they’d been monitored. It mattered not. Shane didn’t really give a shit that Bragg watched and listened. In fact, it’d be best for Bragg to know he no longer had power over Jess. A husband’s claim surpassed any Gov assertion.
Finn said, “Prior to making a plan, I’d like to welcome Jess to the tribe.”
“Nay,” he replied, “give her some time to get used to things. She wasn’t keen on going to Braugh before we got personal.”
“And then she agreed?”
“Not really. She accepted our union. We didn’t speak about much else.”
“Shane?”
They left the room and began walking to quarters. “Aye?”
“Don’t take offense to a question, okay?”
“Dumbass, you asking practically guarantees I’ll take offense.”
“Then remember I’m your brother and have a similar interest in a similar gal. I’m not making reference to the incident at the Doxyn prison either.”
Shane sighed, knowing where the conversation would likely go. “All right, ask.”
“Was it good? You know, getting personal with Jess?”
“Nay.”
“Nay?”
“It’s like nothing I’ve felt before.”
“I get you.”
As they walked he could practically see the wheels turning in his brother’s head. He wondered if Finn tried holding Zoe yet. If he did and Zoe didn’t respond, he pitied the gal. Tiernans weren’t known for backing down and with Finn’s interest, he’d likely try a different tactic. Poor Zoe.
“And one more question,” Finn said. “How did you know to ask about Devin?”
Actually, he planned on finding that out the moment he saw Jess again. Some of the older gals on Braugh possessed the strange ability to see outside of the here-and-now.
Beyond sight wasn’t common. If Jess held such intuition, he’d find a way to cope. The odd ability made his skin crawl a bit, but he’d get over it. He’d have to.
“Jess insisted I check home. She said Ma was upset about Dev.”
“With focking and training, when did you have time to tell her about our fam?”
“I didn’t. I never mentioned Dev by name.”
Finn looked unsettled. “Shat, what the hell does that mean?”
“The word is shit. Jess poked around on the data link to get some history on Braugh.
Could be she found things of a personal nature, but I doubt it.”
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“It was in jest, the comments about her being an angel. I didn’t mean it for real.”
The notion of Jess seeing visions, didn’t seem to sit well with
Finn either.
“She’s flesh and blood like us. She’s no dead spirit floating about. I’ll get to the bottom of it.” And he would when he got two minutes alone with her, which didn’t seem likely when the ship tilted sideways.
“What do you think?” Finn asked.
“I think we’re close to Theazia and they don’t like Gov ships in their district.”
When both of them were thrown toward the wall, he stopped Finn’s head from smashing against it. “Careful, I thought you wanted to come with me in the morn.”
“Do you think Bragg knows to stop a warring ship from getting away? It could cheapen our attempt on the morrow.”
“Aye, he knows.”
“You should be on the bridge.”
“Bragg let me have Jess. He didn’t say much over the knife in his chest either. I doubt he’d let me take control of his ship too.” After a bit, they felt Efface answer by deploying weapons. “Took him long enough!”
“Maybe a tech maneuver Gov teaches. Who knows?”
“And maybe Bragg worked on spit shining his medals before he went to the bridge.”
Crewmen ran past as Shane helped Finn stand. The thought of Jess being tossed about the cabin and getting hurt hastened his blood. It figured he’d find the right gal to marry in the middle of a mess. It didn’t seem like an appropriate time for a man to be new to a wife. He settled his mind and remembered that more often than not, he was sensible. Besides, nothing would happen to her. She’d remain safe while they completed the mission. Also, he believed she’d been through enough. With everything that’d happened to her, she was due for a change in her circumstances. One gal could have only so much bad luck.
* * * * *
After the bandit ships that had attacked Efface were efficiently destroyed, Jessica found herself at odds emotionally. Bragg gathered Braughmen and throwbacks into the large conference room and began detailing all that needed to take place. She, Zoe and Angela stood in a corner listening. It seemed highly unusual that Bragg not only allowed their presence but seemed to speak to them at times. She didn’t like the plan he sketched but no one asked her opinion. Shane shouldn’t be risking Braughmen for this.
Governance soldiers should take care of their own.
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