Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  Jonathan paused at the door when he heard River’s voice. She sounded much better.

  “It was amazing. I’ve never felt anything quite like it. I just wish I’d been able to finish.”

  Finish what?

  “Was this your first time?”

  “Yes.”

  Jonathan peeked in through the two inch gap. Eli was in River’s bed with her naked back pressed against his bare chest. What the hell?

  Jonathan jerked the door open then closed the distance to River’s bed in three strides. “What’s going on!”

  River leaned forward and smiled at him. “I’m much better now.”

  “I can see that.” He could also see that Eli had his pants on even though River was completely naked.

  Eli jerked the quilt up to her chin and glared at Jonathan.

  Jonathan wanted to knock him into next week, but River didn’t look the least bit upset. If this were a mutual thing he had no right to interfere. “Are you okay?”

  Her smile widened into a grin. “I’m a little sore, but Eli said I’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Jonathan clenched his teeth so hard, his jaw ached. “Next time you two want to get busy, lock the door.”

  Jonathan took Red to the barn, rubbed him down and gave him some oats. He didn’t want to go back to the cabin so he went to the cleansing pool. The hot water soothed his aching body, but not his heart. Why should he care if Eli and River hooked up? He barely knew the girl. Sure, he fantasized about her a little—okay, a lot—but after seeing her naked, who wouldn’t? That didn’t mean he was in love with her.

  Jonathan closed his eyes and slid lower into the water, resting the back of his head on the pillow-shaped rock behind him.

  He’d just drifted off when Eli’s shout startled him awake. “I forbid it!”

  “I don’t need your permission to use the cleansing pool!”

  Jonathan sat up and stretched his neck to see what was going on.

  River’s hair flowed behind her as she ran down the path—completely nude—as usual. But this time, her nakedness had no effect on him.

  Eli stood on the porch and yelled obscenities at River, then stripped out of his pants and followed her.

  Jonathan glanced at his clothes folded neatly on a rock beside the pool. He didn’t want to sit there and listen to a lover’s spat, but he wouldn’t be able to get his pants on before River arrived. Besides, he was there first.

  River muttered under her breath as she descended the stone steps into the pool.

  “Is everything okay?” Jonathan wanted to stab a knife through his traitorous heart for caring.

  Eli plunged into the hot spring and sat down next to Jonathan; as far from River as he could get. Oh yeah, cleansing pool rules … no touching.

  River leaned forward and pointed at Eli. It was easy to tell she was royally pissed. “Tell him.”

  Eli glared back at her, but didn’t say anything.

  “Tell me what?”

  River huffed then shifted her gaze to Jonathan’s face. “I did not mate with Eli. He was only helping me recover from my fever.”

  “Whatever.” Eli’s pants were on when Jonathan caught them in bed together; but there was that comment about it being her first time. “It’s none of my business.”

  “I’m not a whore.” River’s eyes glistened.

  “Hooking up with Eli makes you an idiot, not a whore.”

  Eli laughed; a single-syllable bark. “I suppose you think you’d make a better mate.”

  “Anyone would make a better mate.”

  Jonathan was up to his neck in hot water but still had time to dodge Eli’s right cross.

  The son of a bitch grazed his fist on the rock Jonathan had been using as a pillow. He stared at his bleeding knuckles then pointed at River, as if it were her fault. “Discipline your recruit.”

  River shook her head. “For what? Not letting you hit him?”

  Talk of discipline sent a chill down Jonathan’s spine. Just because Eli couldn’t take him in a fair fight, didn’t mean he wouldn’t stick a knife in his back as soon as he fell asleep. He needed to stop antagonizing the guy. He also needed to get away from River before her tear-filled, big, brown eyes tore through his resolve to protect his heart. “It’s a little too crowded in here. See you guys back at the cabin.” Jonathan turned around and vaulted out of the pool.

  “Jonathan, wait! Let me explain.”

  He swooped his clothes up off the rock and jogged back to the cabin, ignoring the urge to glance over his shoulder to see if River was checking him out.

  ***

  Jonathan swiped the remaining water off his body as best he could, but his skin was still damp, making it extra hard to pull his pants up over his thighs. When he leaned over to pull on his socks, he spotted Eli’s knife under the bed. He’d sleep a lot better with a weapon under his pillow, but the penalty for theft was probably as brutal as it was in Afghanistan. If he got caught stealing anything, River would be punished for his crimes. He couldn’t take that chance. He swore and kicked Eli’s knife even further under the bed, then crawled into his own to grab whatever sleep he could get before Eli and River returned. It was going to be a very long night.

  Jonathan woke to whispered voices. River sounded pissed. “You knew he was out there and you knew what he’d think when you asked me if it was my first time.”

  “Why do you care what he thinks? He’s just a recruit.”

  “He’s not like most recruits. I like him.”

  Jonathan’s heart leapt in his chest. He wanted to punch it.

  Eli made a growling noise that raised the hair on the back of Jonathan’s neck. “You don’t want to be bound to a man that won’t live a quarter as long as you do.”

  “I don’t want to be bound to a man that’ll be absent nine months out of the year.”

  “Reuben claims there’s a way for you to avoid being bound to anyone.”

  “Do you know how that works?”

  “I don’t care how many men you mate with. All I’m asking is that you be discreet about it.”

  What the hell?

  “I’m not a whore.”

  “I’m not trying to insult you. I’m just trying to explain that you can live your life anyway you want. You can stay with Reuben during the winters. I know you enjoy working with the horses.” There was a long pause before Eli continued. “You don’t have to decide tonight, just think about it, alright?”

  Was Eli trying to talk River into an open marriage? What a scumbag. Jonathan’s breath came faster as his anger increased. He stretched and yawned, letting them know he was awake.

  River and Eli were both sitting at the table by the stove. She smiled at Jonathan. “Enjoy your nap?”

  “How long was I out?” He yawned again, only this time, he didn’t have to fake it.

  “About two hours.”

  Jonathan shifted his gaze to Eli. “I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight.”

  He wanted Eli to know that he couldn’t take him by surprise, but didn’t want to challenge him. Time to change the subject. “Will your illness extend our time in quarantine?”

  River frowned, puckering her brow. “It shouldn’t have. I’m not contagious.”

  A slow smile spread across Eli’s face. “As a precaution, Mother is putting anyone River came into contact with under quarantine. She’s evacuating everyone except Reuben’s immediate family from his ranch. His son, Gabriel, is bringing us extra horses tomorrow so we can join them there.”

  Jonathan’s heart sank. He didn’t want to go deeper into the wilderness. His chances of escaping successfully were diminishing by the hour. He had to leave tonight. Could he take out Eli and subdue River without seriously injuring either of them? Probably not. He needed to come up with an excuse to get her alone—preferably in the barn—where he could bind and gag her and get away before Eli realized they were gone. “Hey, River, you seem to know a lot about horses. I think Red might have a loos
e shoe, he seemed to be favoring his left rear leg while I was rubbing him down.”

  “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?” River put on her coat and grabbed her gloves.

  Eli didn’t budge. He just sat on his lazy ass, sipping his tea. “If you find anything, let me know.”

  River nodded.

  Jonathan took a slow, deep breath to quiet his nerves. “I’ll go with you.”

  Eli shot him a dirty look, but made no move to join them.

  Jonathan’s pulse jumped with every step. He felt like he was on a runaway train headed for a cliff. Should he try to explain things to River? Clamp his hand over her mouth and give her the option of going quietly? Or just knock her out? The thought of hitting her sickened him.

  They were only halfway to the barn when a tall, broad-shouldered kid ran out.

  “Gabriel!” River laughed and ran towards him. “We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

  Jonathan’s heart fell. Even if he managed to override his conscience and knock the kid out, he wouldn’t be able to do it without River sounding the alarm. Eli would, no doubt, enjoy filling him full of arrows from the safety of the front porch.

  Gabriel picked River up and swung her around once, then set her down. “Aunt Shula sent everyone away that hadn’t come into contact with me or Pa and put the rest of us under quarantine. She said what you had wasn’t serious, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Pa’s furious.” He frowned and cocked his head to the side. “You don’t look sick.”

  River mumbled something too quietly for Jonathan to hear.

  The boy’s eyes widened then narrowed as he furrowed his brow. “But … merge fever’s not contagious.”

  She gave him a ‘shut-up we’re being watched’ look.

  He sucked both lips into his mouth but his remorse didn’t last long. He smiled at Jonathan as he extended his hand.

  “Hi, I’m Gabriel.” The kid had an infectious grin and a bone-crushing grip. “I haven’t seen you around. I didn’t know Eli had a new recruit.”

  Jonathan shot River a look. According to her, she’d already told the boy and his father that she’d recruited him when she met them on patrol. Was that whole ‘they already know about you so if you leave, I’ll be punished’ thing nothing more than a manipulative plot to keep him from going home?

  Jonathan swallowed his anger and shook Gabriel’s hand. “I’m Jonathan. River’s recruit.”

  “River’s?” The boy’s eyebrows arched over wide eyes.

  River took a deep breath and exhaled, shooting a cloud of steam into the frigid air. “It’s a long story.”

  “Pa’s not going to be happy about this.”

  Yeah, she was guilty alright. He should be furious with her. She’d lied to keep him from leaving; because she liked him. That shouldn’t matter, but it did. It shouldn’t make him smile either.

  River flicked a sideways glance at him then hooked her arm through Gabriel’s and turned him towards the barn. “Jonathan thinks Red’s got a loose shoe. We were just heading out to check on him.”

  Maybe she’d lied about the whole accountability thing too. But how the hell was he supposed to know? He couldn’t leave River behind if there was even a shred of doubt that she might be punished for his crimes. He didn’t want to leave her behind.

  Gabriel looked over his shoulder and frowned at Jonathan. “I reshod Red myself three weeks ago. His hooves and feet were in excellent condition.”

  “It’s probably nothing. I haven’t been around horses in years.”

  Four horses greeted them when Gabriel opened the barn door. River grabbed Jonathan’s hand and led him to the middle stall holding a sorrel mare. She rubbed the mare’s forehead then kissed her nose. “This is my horse, Sugar.”

  She nibbled River’s shoulder.

  River gave the mare a pat on the neck and moved to the next stall. “And this is Hot Sauce; everyone calls him ‘Saucy.’ He’s Gabriel’s horse, but he hardly gets ridden anymore now that Gabriel’s got Lightning.”

  She rubbed behind Saucy’s ears and nodded at the corner stall where a large gelding pawed the ground. Old Red, Sugar and Saucy all had curly, red coats and dreadlocked manes. Lightning looked like a cross between a Quarter Horse and a Thoroughbred. His grey coat was long and shaggy, but straight, and he stood about two hands taller than the other horses.

  Gabriel leaned over the door of Red’s stall. “Everything looks good to me. Which foot did you say he was favoring?”

  Jonathan hadn’t planned on anyone actually checking. “The left rear?”

  “He was probably just resting. Horses shift their weight around to relieve pressure on their feet.”

  “Sorry about the false alarm.”

  “Don’t be.” Gabriel grinned at him. “I’m glad there was nothing wrong. Anytime you think there’s a possibility of a problem with any of the horses, it’s best to check it out.”

  ***

  Jonathan tossed and turned all night. Dad had to be frantic, but worrying about him wasn’t going to get Jonathan home any quicker. And getting himself and River killed by running off without a decent plan wasn’t going to get him home at all. He needed to give up on escaping before getting hauled off to Reuben’s ranch and focus on coming up with a strategy that had a good chance of success. But every plan he came up with had at least one fatal flaw—River.

  If he kidnapped her, would it be because he honestly believed it was the only way to protect her life or because he wanted her with him? Did it even matter? He’d take her with him; at least as far as Red Cliff. If she wanted to go back to her stupid cult once she was safely out, he wouldn’t stop her.

  Jonathan gave up on sleep and decided to avoid the whole naked-in-front-of-River awkwardness and snuck off to the cleansing pool alone. A morning soak in the hot spring was mandatory; as was changing into clean clothes before heading to the ranch. He checked to make sure River was still asleep, then stripped. He stuffed his coat, clothes and boots through the hole in the box for contaminated clothing as per the instructions carved on the front door. According to River, the ‘omegas’ would take care of it after they left. Jonathan had yet to see any of these mysterious beings, but they were under quarantine. Maybe he’d meet some at Reuben’s ranch, once quarantine was lifted.

  He rushed through the cleansing ritual, peeked inside to be sure River wasn’t awake, then wiggled into the clean clothes she’d given him the night before without waiting for his body to dry off. Everyone else woke up at sunrise. Jonathan kept his gaze averted while River undressed—for the most part.

  On the way to the barn, Gabriel handed out leather wrapped packets of food—two pieces of jerky, one hard-as-a-rock biscuit and a sliver of dried apple.

  After living off broth and herb tea, Jonathan wanted to inhale everything, but he had no way of knowing when he’d get more. Everyone else was nibbling on their rations like mice. He’d better make his last.

  Gabriel’s horse, Lightning, was a handful. He obviously wanted to be in the lead, but Gabriel kept him in the rear “to show him who was the boss.” Eli rode so far ahead, he was out of sight most of the time, giving Jonathan a chance to pump River for information.

  “So, what kind of ranch does Reuben own? It doesn’t seem like there’d be enough pasture for cattle.”

  River laughed. “There isn’t. We breed a few horses and mountain goats but it’s the things Reuben makes in his smithy that supports the family. I was trying to find the goat herd so I could bring them to the ranch for the winter when I met you.”

  “You obviously didn’t find them. What’ll happen to them? Will they starve?”

  She arched her eyebrows then smirked at him. “They’re mountain goats. We bring them to the ranch during the winter for our benefit, not theirs.”

  “You eat goat meat?”

  “We also milk them.”

  Jonathan’s mouth watered. “Do you guys make goat cheese?”

  “Cheese, yogurt, butter …” River twisted around a
nd called to Gabriel. “Hey, did anyone find the goat herd?”

  “Not yet. The snow’s still too deep in the pass.”

  She frowned, creasing the skin between her eyebrows. “If we don’t find those goats, it’s going to be a long, cold winter.”

  “What about the buffalo hides?”

  “New Eden has alliances with other groups that share our … philosophies of life.”

  “Which are?”

  River laughed. “Did anyone ever tell you that you ask too many questions?”

  “All the time.”

  They’d been riding due west for about two hours, climbing steadily, when they crested a summit and found Eli waiting for them. “This is as far as you go without a blindfold, outsider.”

  Jonathan looked at River, but she refused to meet his gaze. “River?”

  She slumped forward and sighed. “I’m sorry, but it’s the law. No outsider is allowed to see this entrance to New Eden.”

  “You’re kidding. What is it? A secret passageway?”

  “Yes.”

  Okay, not expecting that. “How about if I close my eyes?”

  “You need to let me blindfold you. It’s also a test, to prove you trust me. I’ll guide your horse, or if you’d feel safer, you may ride double with me on Sugar.”

  Jonathan wouldn’t mind snuggling up against River’s back—making Eli jealous was a bonus—but he sensed that choosing to ride double would make him appear weak. “I’ll stay on my own horse, thanks.”

  River’s smile validated his choice. She turned Sugar around and rode up next to Saucy, nose to tail. Her thigh pressed against Jonathan’s. He leaned over so she could tie the folded bandanna over his eyes.

  “Can you see anything?”

  Jonathan shook his head. “No.”

  A rush of air brushed his face. “What was that?”

  “Nothing you need to worry about, outsider.”