Bonded Souls

by Agnes H Hagadus

  Now, Cassandra was grateful she had learned how to make clothing. While Elissa had been spoiling her with store bought dresses, she had forgotten she enjoyed making her own clothing. The tedious part had been because she’d had to make so many at one time.

  This dress was especially one Cassandra was enjoying making. In a way, it was silly. There would be no preacher. There would be no witnesses. There would only be Elissa and herself. And that’s the way she liked it.

  Cassandra hadn’t even thought she would marry. And here she was making her own wedding dress. She was taking her time making certain it was perfect.

  The knock on the door startled Cassandra. She glanced up at the grandfather clock that stood in the middle of the back wall. On either side were built-in bookshelves. They had been empty when they moved in. Between them, they were slowly filling them.

  The door opened without Cassandra answering. Elissa was carrying a tray. “You’ve worked past midday once again.” The vampire placed the tray upon the desk. “You know you have to keep up your strength.”

  “I know.” Cassandra made certain she was at a place she could stop before rising. She stretched her aching muscles. Sitting hunched over the sewing machine for so long wasn’t that much different than sitting over the desk writing, yet her muscles were protesting her movements.

  “We’ll need to make a trip into Salem soon.” Elissa sat in the chair facing the desk. She stretched out. She had been attempting to reinforce the roof on the stables. Yohan had allowed the ranch to deteriorate to such a state it might be better for the outer buildings to be torn down and start over again.

  “Oh?” Cassandra inhaled the scent. It was a simple meal of potatoes, gravy and chicken but it set her stomach to grumbling. She sipped the water before beginning to sample Elissa’s cooking.

  “We’re low on flour, oatmeal and salt.” Elissa could easily live without all those things, but her partner couldn’t. And that’s what was important.

  “Anything else?” Cassandra instantly felt more relaxed when the first offerings hit her stomach. Or was it the fact that Elissa was with her?

  “Now that you mention it, I’m going to need more wood. The roof is nearly irreparable. Plus, we’ll need more grain for the chickens and oats for the horses.” Elissa was making a mental list hoping she wasn’t missing anything.

  “How bout we make the trip in the morning?” Cassandra swallowed the last bite of her midday meal. She washed it down with the rest of the water. “I’ll take further stock of the kitchen and see if I need anything for my dress.”

  Elissa knew better than to ask about the dress. While she was allowed in the room while making it, she was forbidden to actually see it until Cassandra was wearing it. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll take care of the dishes before attempting more repairs.”

  “Thank you.” Before Elissa could retrieve the tray, Cassandra had stood. She placed a hand on both cheeks. “I love you. I just wanted to remind you of that.”

  Before Elissa could respond, she found her arms full of petite blonde. Her mouth was being explored by an insistent tongue. When they separated, she said the first thing that came to her mind. “I’m glad we’re getting married soon. After a kiss like that…”

  Cassandra had an impish smile. She hadn’t meant to be quite so passionate with her kiss. As always, something had overtaken her. “Me too.”

  Another more chaste kiss and Elissa left Cassandra to work on her dress. The mortal took stock of what material and thread she had. For the dress, she would be all right. But it wouldn’t hurt to have some for repairs and other dresses she would make.

  Even though Cassandra was nearly done with the dress, she wanted to finish it before they made their trip into town. She wanted to enjoy the two weeks they had left before they exchanged vows.

  Writing. That was what Cassandra wanted to do. She was already planning on spending at least one day a week writing once the ranch was up and running and she would be needed to help out.

  Elissa was capable of doing nearly everything herself, but it wasn’t fair to her soulmate. They were partners after all. In everything.

  It wouldn’t be long until they were partners in every sense of the word. Cassandra had to force herself to finish her dress. It wasn’t only two hours later she was placing it in her closet in an attempt to hide it.

  Cassandra decided to see what Elissa was up to before beginning her supper. The moment she stepped out of the building, there were five wolves scrambling for her attention.

  “Raven, what have you and your pups been up to?” Cassandra leaned down and kissed the momma wolf. It was a pleasant surprise. When they’d loaded the wagon to travel to Oregon, Raven had picked up each of her pups and placed them in the back of the wagon. She took her turn in it or walked alongside.

  The mortal stopped in her tracks. Elissa was standing on the roof. She appeared as natural high above the ground as she did sprinting across the ground in a blur.

  Cassandra’s heart swelled at the sight of her vampire. The next two weeks couldn’t go by fast enough for the mortal. All she wanted was to hold Elissa. But with no barriers like clothing in between.

  Chapter 34

  Salem was different than Bloomfield or Keosauqua. In fact, the entire Oregon territory was different. It was wilderness. It was green. It wasn’t, in some regards, unlike Elissa’s home country.

  The ride into Salem would take about an hour. They were grateful the ranch was distanced from most, yet were able to be close once they were able to begin selling horses.

  This wasn’t only a trip into town so they could buy supplies. It was also a trip to begin making connections. The first would be so they could obtain a stallion and at least four mares to begin breeding.

  Elissa’s senses were on full alert. Since they’d only been to Salem a handful of times, she was still learning the layout. She was still learning who they could trust and who they couldn’t.

  At one time, Elissa wouldn’t trust anyone. It seemed the more time she spent around Cassandra, the more human she was becoming. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

  The vampire felt the hand upon her thigh. Elissa smiled. These touches were so frequent, they had to be cautious when it came to being in public.

  “I know.” It was a conversation they shared just before every trip into town. Cassandra knew she was the one having trouble restraining herself. “I can’t touch you this way. No matter if you are my aunt or good friend.”

  Elissa chuckled. Aunt wouldn’t be something they would be able to pull off much longer. “If we were similar looking, I’d go with sister. The age difference doesn’t really make me your aunt anymore. Cousin might be best.”

  Cassandra nodded in agreement. She hated lying to people, but with her being considered underage she needed someone who appeared as if she wasn’t.

  Elissa definitely appeared older than Cassandra. But then again, her small stature had always caused people to assume she was younger than she was.

  The wagon bounced over ruts as they finally made the trail that would take them into Salem. This was still new territory where trails were being blazed each day.

  The vampire wondered how Yohan had managed to come by such a large spread. It probably wasn’t a legal way. And that thought now had Elissa on guard even more, if that was possible.

  “How bout we have lunch before we stop at the general store?” Elissa didn’t need to eat, but she knew Cassandra could always eat.

  “What about you?” Cassandra glanced at her vampire. “I know how you hate being in eating establishments since you don’t eat food.”

  Elissa shrugged. They wouldn’t get to town too often. It would be once a month, if lucky. She would do whatever it took to make her charge happy. “I can always pretend to eat. Or say traveling makes my appetite fade.”

  “I don’t think the last one is the best.” Elissa’ dark eyebrow rose. “If these villagers think traveling makes you queasy, they might not believe you can handle bre
aking and training horses.”

  “Point well taken.” Elissa fell in love with her soulmate more each day. The intelligence was attractive. More attractive than her full lips, firm breasts and curvaceous body.

  “I’m good for some things.” Cassandra elbowed Elissa. “Thank you for putting on heirs while we’re in the village. Even if it’s just so I can have a meal neither of us cooked.”

  “Anything for you.” Elissa meant it. More than anything she had ever said. With the exception of how much she loved Cassandra.

  The sentiment sent a rush through Cassandra. She really hoped the next two weeks flew by. She couldn’t wait to make love to Elissa. For the rest of eternity.

  There was a café and a restaurant in the village on opposite ends of main street. Cassandra chose the café. It was smaller, more intimate. Plus they advertised great coffee.

  The older Cassandra grew, the more she enjoyed coffee. She used to have to have cream and/or sugar in it. Now, she enjoyed it the stronger the better.

  Elissa dropped Cassandra off at the café. The vampire was to find a hitching post to leave the wagon with until they were ready to do their shopping.

  Cassandra sat at a table for two. It wasn’t long before a young man sat across from her. He hadn’t even asked if anyone was dining with her.

  “My name is Henry Wilkens.” Henry eyed the young woman. There were very few women in Salem that came close to how good looking this young woman was. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

  Emerald eyes narrowed. Rude was one word that entered her mind to describe the jerk who had sat down without asking. “I’ve not heard of you. But then, my cousin and I are new to the area.”

  “Cousin?” Henry glanced around the café. Everyone there he was more than familiar with. “Is this cousin of yours with you? And who, even family, would be stupid enough to leave a beautiful young woman such as yourself alone?”

  “I’ll save you some trouble, Mr. Wilkens. I’m not interested. With the exception if you have connections to horseflesh. I’d appreciate you leaving me alone.” Cassandra was grateful when the waitress placed the dark brew in front of her. “Thank you.”

  The waitress nodded before disappearing into the back. Henry decided he didn’t like being given the brush off. “If you want some advice, it would be wise to have me as a friend. My family is quite influential in the territory.”

  Before Cassandra could respond, there was a dark shadow looming over the table. She glanced up into frigid eyes. Elissa was the jealous type. That said, her reaction most likely was because she sensed how uncomfortable her soulmate had become.

  Henry looked up into arctic azure eyes. It wasn’t just the coldness he witnessed. It was the fact the woman was so dark. And she was a head taller than he was.

  “I believe my cousin was saving me a place. Now if you were invited, I can retrieve another chair.” Elissa’s glare deepened. “If you weren’t, I suggest you move while you can still walk.”

  The chair was knocked over Henry stood so hastily. Without being told, he righted the chair and held it out for the terrifying woman to sit down.

  A cowboy hat was tipped before Henry practically fell out of the café. Elissa shook her head. “Either all villages are made up of men who don’t know how to treat women or you just attract a certain kind.”

  The last part was an ongoing joke between vampire and mortal. “I definitely attract a certain kind.” Cassandra winked at Elissa before taking a sip of her coffee. When the waitress returned, she ordered a roast beef sandwich.

  “So what did the young man want.” Elissa eyed her soulmate. “Beside the obvious that is.”

  Cassandra was instantly bright red. “I don’t know. I told him I wasn’t interested unless he had connections with horseflesh. That’s when he proceeded to tell me his family was one of the most powerful in the territory.”

  “One of those men.” Elissa hated men who attempted to throw their power around. So far, Yohan, Joseph and the Jones brothers had attempted to do so with Cassandra. Now there was this potential new threat.

  “It’s a man’s world.” Cassandra waited until after the sandwich was placed in front of her and her coffee refilled. “But only because we let it.”

  The waitress smiled sadly. If it were only that simple. Her bottom wouldn’t be bruised and sore to sit on when she went home for the night if it truly was as simple as not allowing men to rule the world.

  “I’m afraid it’s been a man’s world since the beginning of time.” Elissa hated relying on men for anything. That’s why independence was so important to her.

  “Perhaps we can change that.” Cassandra already had eaten half her sandwich. She took a moment to sip her coffee. “When we hire on at the ranch, we look into hiring mostly women. I know they’ll be hard to come by, but we should try.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Elissa watched Cassandra drain the last bit of coffee from her mug. “How bout we start our shopping. Then we can see if there are any contacts that could lead to purchasing a stallion and some mares.”

  “Perhaps you should mingle in one of the saloons?” Cassandra didn’t like the thought of Elissa in a bar, but it’s where a lot businessmen spent their downtime. Would that be during the day?

  “That’s a thought. But not for this trip. I’d rather see what we can find out, make our purchases and return home. There’s a lot to do to make the barn and stables ready for the snow we’ll get over the winter.” Elissa hoped it didn’t sound like she was dismissing Cassandra’s suggestion.

  “Sounds good to me. I don’t like being around this many people.” Cassandra rose from her seat. Elissa was at the door opening it for her instantly.

  Instead of making their way to the general store, there was the sounds of growling. Elissa held back but was still practically a blur. Cassandra ran as fast as her dress would allow her to go.

  When Elissa made it to their wagon, a familiar young man was at the back of it. He had a shotgun in his hand, aiming at Raven’s head. The momma wolf had placed herself between her pups and the mortal threatening them.

  There was no warning. Elissa merely grabbed the young man’s wrist that was holding the shotgun and squeezed with such force his wrist broke.

  The shotgun fell to the ground with a clatter, both barrels discharging. Luckily the only thing in front of the spray was a wooden fence.

  “Are you insane?” Henry yelled at the vampire. He held his wrist in his left hand. Tears were threatening the corners of his eyes.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” Cassandra had witnessed her soulmate’s reaction. “Why would you kill helpless animals?”

  “Helpless?” Henry sparingly glanced at the snarling momma wolf. “She was trying to use me to sharpen her teeth. Wolves have no place in polite society.”

  “Polite society?” Cassandra pushed past Elissa who was giving Henry her predatory glare. “You sit down without being invited. You insinuate it would be best if I make myself available to you because you and your family are very powerful in the territory. And us having wolves for pets is considered not polite society?”

  “Pets?” Henry could not believe what he was hearing. “My father will hear how you treated me.” The young man stormed off.

  Cassandra shook her head as she turned toward the pups in the back of the wagon. Raven was looking up at her with unconditional love. Her tail was wagging just like a pup. “I’m sorry there are people like that. Next time, I hate to say it, but you five will have to remain at the ranch.”

  Elissa placed a hand on either shoulder. “I should have thought others wouldn’t accept wolves. They have a bad reputation for going after livestock.”

  “I know. And in a way, I understand being upset.” Cassandra placed a hand over the one on her left shoulder. “But to just shoot wolves that are in the back of someone’s wagon?”

  “People judge without thought.” Elissa knew that was a trait mortals and immortals shared. When compared, they were more similar than the
y were different. It all depended on the soul what kind of being they were.

  The gun cocking at her head caused Elissa to turn. She easily knocked the gun from the hand having taken aim. The man had dark hair, dark eyes and dark clothes. He was also wearing a tin star. “What can I do for you, sheriff?”

  The sheriff shook his hand. It stung from the force of Elissa’s blow. “Henry Wilkens was brought into the docs office with a broken wrist. Said a woman in dark leathers was the one who done did it.”

  Cassandra placed herself between the sheriff and Elissa. “Did Henry tell you he was going to shoot our wolves. Tame wolves. That yes are protective but still are not dangerous.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” The handcuffs were in his hand. “Human life means more than animal. I’m going to have to arrest your friend for assault.”

  Chapter 35

  Cassandra couldn’t believe she was sitting in the waiting area of the town jail. All they had wanted to do was have a nice day in town, get some supplies and make some contacts.

  They had made contacts all right. “Sheriff, is this really necessary?” Cassandra had been playing lawyer for Elissa for the last hour. She’d taken a break to tell Raven to take her pups back to the ranch. Hopefully the wolf listened.

  “This is a town full of laws.” The sheriff was polishing his pistol. The one that Elissa had knocked from his hand with ease. Cassandra wondered if that was the real reason her soulmate was in jail. “Plus, there are those taxpayers that pay a little more.”

  The last statement caused Cassandra a sharp intake of breath. Now they were getting down to the real reason Elissa was behind bars.

  “Is that so.” Cassandra rose from her chair. She stood in front of the man, only the desk separating them. “So you’re telling me that someone with money is entitled to more protection than someone who is poor.”

  The sheriff shrugged. “I don’t make the rules, I just follow them.” He placed the gun on the desk. It was aimed at Cassandra’s stomach.