Taming an Angel

by Kathleen Lash

  “We’ve been hard at work discovering the nuances of your training, Missus. I’d like to say that what you endured is most uncommon.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she replied, knowing full well the Governance treated throwbacks differently.

  “I’d also like you to know the Governance doesn’t, nor has it ever, sanctioned the abuse bestowed on you and those like you.”

  “All right, Sir.”

  “Are you sure you’re well?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Did you know that Mr. Tiernan’s man Reilly lives?”

  “Bragg didn’t kill him?”

  “No.”

  “Wonderful news, Sir.” She took in a deep breath, stopping the yawn from surfacing.

  “The private however is quite dead, Missus.”

  Too bad for the private.

  “Hence, until we can discern the truth of what happened, I’ll need you to remain confined.”

  “Certainly, Sir.”

  “Jessica?”

  She stood, coming out of her stupor because her name coming from him sounded urgent. “Yes, Sir?”

  He stood as well. “Do you know who murdered the private?”

  “No, Sir. It happened before Bragg came to get me.”

  “Then we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  “Truly, Missus, I’ll ask again. Are you well?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “All right then, to the matter of Bragg. For what was done to you and the other women, Bragg was found guilty of pandering, conduct unbecoming an officer, assault, sedition, disloyalty—the list is endless. Seldom has such a man gone without notice.”

  What can I say to that?

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  “I need to know if you wish to be present at his hanging.”

  “Hanging, Sir?”

  “Yes, Missus. Your crew both wished to attend. It would set a lot right for them to see him get just rewards.”

  “Hanging.” She tried to absorb the word, envision what it meant. When she finally conjured an image, a shudder ran down her spine.

  “Yes, Missus. He’ll be punished in the morn.”

  “Will mine follow, Sir?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Hanging. Will I be hung in the morn too?” She imagined the noose tightening around her neck would be very painful. Maybe she’d sleep through it.

  He stepped closer. “Of course not. We’ll figure out what happened and all will be well.”

  “Bragg. Hung.” She forced her gaze to meet his. Bragg would be killed in the morn?

  Did she get that right? “But who would command us, Sir? We’d have no one.”

  “LeRoy!” he said rather loudly.

  “Yes, General?” The voice came from the overhead speaker.

  “Find Mr. Tiernan.”

  The mention of Shane made the room grow dark.

  When the General next spoke, it was very close. “Have him meet me in medical.

  Tell him his wife has taken ill.”

  “Right away, General.”

  “Missus!”

  She was being bounced and bounced. Soon it felt somewhat good, lulling her back to sleep.

  “Wake up, Jessica!”

  Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir.

  “Give her to me!” Tiernan said a moment later.

  When she felt his arms and took in his scent, she gave up trying to form words. He likely hated her but probably wouldn’t hurt her, at least not until she woke. She felt very relaxed.

  “What the hell happened, Ryker!”

  “She didn’t look right when I went to speak to her and then she collapsed.”

  “Damn it! You know she didn’t kill your man but you kept her locked up.”

  “Protocol,” she mumbled.

  “What, Jess? I didn’t hear you.”

  “Protocol. Good men follow.”

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  “Aye, sweet.”

  He called me sweet.

  “He’s a good man and I’ll tear his head off just the same for keeping me from you.”

  “No. Please.”

  “Easy, Jess, I won’t damage him if you’re not hurt. You’ll do that for me, Jess? Be all right?”

  “Sure.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I…”

  “Jess!”

  “Don’t feel good.”

  “Aye, almost there. They’ll patch you up.”

  Shane laid Jess on the bed in medical and Ryker’s Dr. Nare began an assessment.

  After many moments, he said to Ryker, “Dr. Dillon has experience with her, General.

  I’d like him to consult, if he may.”

  “You’ve spent time with Dillon. Do you find him trustworthy despite his allegiance to Bragg?”

  “I do, General.”

  “Then fetch him.”

  Shane stroked hair away from Jess’ face. She’d fallen unconscious. He glanced at Ryker who studied her with obvious concern. Shane thought to clear up a few matters while they waited for Dillon. “You look to me wife more than a man should, Ryker. If you have an interest in her, best you spit it out now so we can deal with it prior to Jess waking.”

  The General stared at him with great intensity before his gaze swept back to Jess. “I find myself overly concerned with her welfare, Sir. The fascination is for a great many reasons.”

  “You’ll explain what they are. We’re newlywed and it seems I’m dealing with a certain degree of emotion where she’s concerned. Especially since you’ve denied me requests to be with her.” The last of what Shane said came out hostile sounding. He didn’t give a shit. He was a second or two away from pounding the fine slimwitted General to the floor.

  “My fixation with your woman—I find myself worried with her ability to move beyond what’s been done in the name of the Governance. I’m a ranking officer and Bragg’s ability to torture women while serving, is deplorable. I too must bear the shame of what happened to the women of Blue.”

  Shane let him have a moment to collect his thoughts.

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  Ryker continued with, “Her outward appearance is somewhat fragile. To hear the extent of misuse and exploitation bestowed on her and her crew infuriates me. I’ve lost enough beings to such cruelty over the past months. I suppose I’m somewhat devoted to making sure she’ll not be another casualty.”

  “General, she’s not as you fear. She’s strong.” In his gut, he sensed his wife’s courage. He wouldn’t look beyond instinct. It dictated a great deal of what he believed and how he acted.

  “Shane?” Reilly asked.

  “Aye,” he replied, turning to find his man in the next bed over. “You’re awake finally, having missed a high adventure.”

  “I didn’t mean to sleep through it.” He’d remain on a sick bed for a while yet. He damn near died. “I’m sorry I didn’t protect your woman, Shane.”

  “Things turned out and you’d no way of fighting the gas Bragg used on you.”

  “Is that Jess over there?”

  “Aye.”

  “What’s wrong with her? Did Bragg shoot more knives at her?”

  “Nay. We’re waiting for Dillon to give a verdict. She collapsed. She’s been through a lot and maybe just needs to rest.”

  “Who’s with you, Shane? Me eyes don’t work too good yet.”

  “General Ryker.”

  “Is he the slimwit General you went to fetch?”

  Shane turned to see how Ryker took the insult. At first his face looked blank and then a smile crept up. Before long, he started laughing. Shane joined in as Reilly’s face turned red.

  “Shit,” Reilly said, “me brain took a hit, General. I’d not meant to be so free with me tongue.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t, Sir,” Ryker replied, still chuckling. Shane couldn’t believe the General had a sense of humor. The manner in which he handled Bragg’s proceedings showe
d an efficient and unforgiving man. “This slimwitted General is indebted to your Mr. Tiernan. His rescue was greatly appreciated.”

  Dr. Dillon walked into medical accompanied by Dr. Nare. He approached the bed with unease.

  “May I, Sir?” he asked Ryker.

  Ryker replied, “Permission will be granted by her husband.”

  When the doctor glanced over, Shane said, “Aye.”

  Both physicians spoke as the bed gave vitals. Dillon eventually said, “With your permission, I can bring her around soonest.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” Shane asked.

  “A simple stimulant medication will see her right within a day or two.”

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  “Why would she need something like that?”

  “To counter the effects of stress, Sir.”

  “And she’s required this before?”

  “No. Others of her kind have. Although they appear quite resilient, they’re very sensitive.”

  Shane instantly grew angry over the term her kind before realizing the doctor hadn’t meant to insult her. Anyone could see Jess and her crew weren’t like other gals. Dillon had simply stated a fact.

  “Why specifically were the others treated with the drug?”

  “As in all beings, Sir, they’re individuals. Through the years, many of the women from Blue found their circumstances too much to bear. It seems when they reach a point when they feel little hope…” The doctor looked down and cleared his throat. “I don’t know quite how to put this.”

  “Bluntly always works for me, man. Say what you mean straight out.”

  “It appears when they feel no hope, they tend to sleep. Without the medication, most have died within a few weeks from the onset of the drowsiness.”

  “There’s not a damn thing about me wife’s future that’s hopeless! She came past what that bastard Bragg did to her.” His hands balled into fists and he fought the urge to beat the dumbass doctor to a bloody lump.

  “Under Bragg’s command, what happened to her wasn’t exactly personal, Sir. All her kind were treated the same. Your wife has been remarkably strong through great ordeals. But think about her current situation. Because of her, her commander awaits execution. There are those on board who question whether or not she murdered the private. Until you and your men learned of Reilly’s health, how was she treated?”

  “Not one of me men said a cross word to her!”

  “I watched how you and your men behaved toward her prior. You held her and her crew in high esteem. Could you imagine how that felt after years of deplorable treatment? Can you imagine how she’d react to having that suddenly taken away?”

  Shane recalled her expression as he’d helped her from the floor after the guard knocked her down. When he pulled away from her, she’d looked crushed, beaten.

  The doctor said, “She’s had no personal contact other than meal delivery. She probably believes most on board this vessel hate—”

  Shane bellowed in rage and drew his weapon when Ryker stepped toward him. He kept the gun trained on the General while he pushed an arm beneath Jess and brought her up. Holding her close, he pulled her from the bed. Completely limp, she didn’t even twitch.

  “Clear this area immediately,” Ryker said.

  Everyone left with the exception of Ryker and Reilly, who could barely lift his head.

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  “Hand over your weapon, Mr. Tiernan.” Considering the General’s current situation, he didn’t sound overly bothered by the fact Shane was a hairsbreadth from blowing him away.

  The doctor said continued confinement would make Jess feel even lower. She hung lifeless in his arm the way it was. She couldn’t descend another centimeter and Shane sought to rectify the situation in the quickest manner possible. He’d likely be killed for drawing a gun on Ryker.

  The General walked forward until the end of the gun rested against his chest. He casually took the weapon, powered it down and stuck it in the waist of his pants. Shane wasn’t rational at the moment but also knew what would have happened if he’d fired.

  Ryker said, “Regardless of the situation, Sir, she’ll remain confined until I find the private’s murderer.”

  Shane glared at him as he finished pulling Jess into his arms. If she woke, he wanted her to be comfortable. “You heard what’ll happen to her.”

  “You’ll have unlimited access to her cabin. Her crew and your men will be granted access as you see fit.”

  Shane smiled, not believing his luck. “I’m surprised I’ll be able to come and go after what just happened, Sir.”

  “You were protecting your wife. Besides, I didn’t feel particularly threatened.”

  Reilly’s soft chuckling made Shane laugh too. Shane eventually cleared his throat and said, “You’ve balls the size of Efface, General.”

  “Your missus gave me the benefit of the doubt at an unfortunate time in my immediate past. I simply afforded you the same courtesy. See that it doesn’t happen again, Tiernan.”

  “Aye, Sir. As long as Jess is seen to properly, we won’t have another mix-up between us.”

  “I’ll summon the doctor back and have her medicated. She’ll attend Bragg’s punishment and perhaps she’ll begin to understand she has the entire Governance protecting her as well as you and your men.”

  “Thank you, General. Again, I beg your pardon for the earlier demonstration.”

  “It’s forgotten, Sir.” Ryker gazed at Jess before glancing at Shane and leaving medical.

  With the General’s wife barely gone, Shane wondered exactly what type of attachment the man felt toward Jess. What happened between them in the prison?

  Shane couldn’t believe the attraction Ryker displayed to be inappropriate because if he wanted Jess, Shane gave him a perfect opportunity to make it happen. Ryker could’ve had him hung alongside Bragg and kept Jess for himself. He’d need to think on it for a time and see if he couldn’t reckon it out.

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  Chapter Eleven

  Jessica stood between Shane and General Ryker as the procession of soldiers escorted Bragg up the stairs onto the temporary structure. She kept swallowing but couldn’t make the lump in her throat go away. Zoe and Angela stood in front of them, wanting to have an unobstructed view of the hanging. They looked very smart in the dark blue Governance uniforms. They’d been promoted to the rank of Major because of time served and their unusual circumstance. Jessica remained dressed in white. She’d refused the General’s offer of a different color uniform. She wouldn’t bring shame on her crew or the Governance. She’d wear her usual outfit until they believed her innocent of murder.

  Bragg stood facing the large crowd, standing at attention on the platform that’d been constructed in the docking bays. His gaze fell on her as a high-ranking officer detailed his crimes. She wouldn’t be so brave when she faced execution. Her legs would likely tremble. For once, Bragg knew what it felt like to have a number of beings condemn him with their gaze. Her stomach hurt in sympathy. She’d likely lose her morn meal.

  Bragg kept staring.

  He’d been a constant in her life. Him, Zoe and Angela. There’d been others who’d been close. They died. Bragg murdered them. But he remained.

  Constant.

  In all the years, occasionally her performance with a task or training exercise made his eyes brighten when he’d look at her. He’d called her dear twelve times. Twelve. He’d bestowed the endearment only on her. Twelve times he’d told her she’d been special to him in some way. Twelve times she’d pleased him and received the compliment.

  Bragg didn’t flinch, kept gazing at her. He wanted to tell her something. He didn’t fear what would happen. He didn’t regret anything he’d done. He believed he’d done it for her good. On some level, he cared. Before Tiernan, he’d been the only man to care, if only twelve times.

  She jumped when he dropped. She’d blotted everything out unt
il that moment. He swung. He stared. She’d be next.

  “Jess,” Shane said quietly.

  “Missus?” General Ryker asked.

  “Shane?” she asked, watching Bragg swing. His face grew red, his eyes got large.

  Back and forth, to and fro, he swung. Staring.

  “Aye, sweet?” He stroked her hair. Bragg saw him do it. He probably wouldn’t want Tiernan touching her.

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  “You’re not angry with me?”

  “Nay. You know better.”

  Bragg’s shoulders moved because his wrists were bound behind his back. He struggled. His shiny black boots kicked. They’d taken his medals.

  She watched him swing. “The Governance. You did a great service. They owe you a debt.”

  “What of it, Jess? What’s that got to do with—”

  “Please.”

  “Please, what? Tell me what you need. I’ll see to it.”

  “Not like that.” She blinked and tried to swallow. She flinched when Bragg jerked.

  What would finally kill him, the lack of blood or the lack of air? How long would it take!

  “Missus?” General Ryker asked.

  “Firing squad,” she said, unable to look away. Bragg twitched and her body convulsed in a sympathetic spasm. With Ryker and Shane each holding an arm, she didn’t move more than an inch. “Please, make them shoot me. Not that.”

  “Mr. Tiernan!” Ryker said.

  Shane picked her up and she stared over his shoulder watching Bragg. It still wasn’t over. General Ryker walked next to them. They’d been the only ones to leave. Bragg’s eyes followed. He wanted her to stay. She needed to see it through.

  “You won’t be shot, Missus,” the General said.

  She stiffened and Shane hugged tighter. “Easy, Jess. Didn’t you hear what he said?”

  “Not shot.”

  Bragg kicked out and flailed unbecomingly. He’d never lost control. Ever.

  She tried closing her eyes but her lids wouldn’t budge. “Hung.”

  “For the love of Braugh, Ryker, tell me wife she isn’t being hung!”

  “He’ll follow protocol,” she said.

  Bragg’s boots lashed out again. She jerked and tears ran down the back of her throat. They wouldn’t come out of her eyes. Bragg would see.

  How long did it take to die like that!