TRIBES

by Mia Frances

  Wolf didn't let them run around the neighborhood or hang out on the corner with their friends. They had chores to do, did their homework, had bedtimes, and went to church every Sunday. He gave them the stability he never had, yet it was obvious from the outset, that no matter how hard he worked, he'd never win the boys over. When he laid down the law, when he punished them, it was for their own good. He wanted a better life for them than he had: a good education, a good job, maybe even college, but they couldn't understand that. They did as they were told, mostly out of fear, but felt little love or affection for him, only hostility. They never talked to or confided in him, always keeping him at arms length, treating him like he was their enemy. Jessie and David had been upset when he joined the county sheriff's department as a deputy. It seemed his new job freaked out their middle school buddies. Made them wary of hanging out with them, thinking the boys would snitch to their dad "the deputy" if they partied behind the school, got rowdy, or even rode their bikes on the wrong side of the road.

  With Katie though, he hoped to have a chance to be a real dad. Unfortunately, his dreams were never realized. She was an imp and naturally rambunctious, but tended to be skittish and guarded around him. Never sharing her secrets or crawling up on his lap when she needed a hug. He'd reached out his arms to her a hundred times, but she always shied away, his attempts at fatherhood rebuffed! He'd failed with Katie, just as he had with her brothers. His only consolation had been the hope that when the children grew up they'd understand what he tried to do for them; how much he really cared. There was no chance of that now. They'd probably died hating him, never knowing how much he loved them.

  He turned his attention to Alex. She looked like such a little slip of a thing lying there, so thin and frail. Alex was nothing like his late wife, Lynn. She'd been tall and curvy, with full breasts, wide hips, and long blond hair. It wasn't just the difference in size either. Alex was a fighter, a survivor. His wife, on the other hand, had been dependent, docile, and compliant; but he'd liked that about her. He liked women who behaved like women! Lynn's life had been hard. Born poor, she didn't have the education or advantages other, more affluent, women take for granted. She hadn't been spoiled or doted on like Alex had.

  He knew from the moment he'd first seen Alex in the clearing that she was used to getting her own way. Lynn had suffered from nervousness, depression, and low self-esteem. She felt overwhelmed most days, preferring to yield complete control of her life over to her husband. He sensed the same wasn't true of Alex. She was strong-willed, independent, a real ballbuster! For the life of him, he couldn't imagine Alex taking orders from anyone. At least not without putting up a fight first. Lynn had been sweetly submissive, always doing what he asked of her. She'd been a soft-spoken, dutiful, obedient wife. There'd been no doubt in anyone's mind who the head of the house was; who was in charge. Alex, however, didn't appear to share his wife's traditional values and attitudes, her willing acceptance of male authority.

  The woman was smart, too smart for her own damn good; but he had to admit to a grudging admiration of her: her mile-wide stubborn streak, her dogged determination. Against all odds, she'd managed to keep her family together and alive. Lynn would have fallen apart, but not Alex. She was the kind of woman he could never hope to have before. College educated, classy, successful! Career women like Alex never looked at men like him. Blue collar types who had dirt under their fingernails. Who busted their backs to make a dollar. They wanted men with money and educations, who wore three-piece suits and drove fancy cars, who could buy them mini-manses in the suburbs, take them on exotic vacations, and treat them like pampered princesses. A man like him? A soldier? A deputy? He wouldn't have even been on her radar!

  But all that was over now; there were no more classes, no haves and have-nots! If he wanted her, she was his for the taking. It wouldn't be easy; he'd have to tame her some. She wasn't going to like it, but in the end she'd come around. She had no choice in the matter! He'd never raised a hand to Lynn, Never had to. A dirty look or frown from him was all it took to keep her on the straight and narrow. But Alex was different. She needed a firm hand. Needed someone to spank her ass every now and again, to teach her the error of her ways.

  Alex felt uncomfortable. Why was he staring at her like that? Her knuckles turned white as she clutched the blanket to her breast; he was coming toward her.

  "Don't interfere again," he warned as he moved closer. "I won't have you arguing or contradicting me when I talk to the kids!" He pulled a chair over.

  She stiffened as he raised his hand, tightening her hold on the blanket. Wolf gently brushed the hair back from her eyes and felt her forehead. "You're a little warm, but nothing too serious. You had me worried for a while. I wasn't sure you were going to make it." He reached for the blanket, but she wouldn't let loose of it. "What are you so afraid of woman? I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to cover you is all."

  Alex eyed him with mistrust, his every action, every movement suspect.

  "What do you think I'm going to do? Crawl in there with you?" he said angrily, grabbing the blanket and pulling it free of her hold. She winced, hands moving protectively to her breasts as he drew the cover down. "You've got no reason to be shy," he reminded her." I know what's under that nightgown, remember?" She turned her head away, feeling dirty and ashamed. He sighed, pulling the blanket up around her neck then sat down. "I'm no brute Alex, no matter what you think. You're sick and need to heal; but when you're better, you and I will get reacquainted! It's a long life Alex. I can wait."

  She turned her head slowly toward him, her look one of contempt.

  "'What's the matter Alex, doesn't the idea appeal to you? Well, no matter, you'll get used to it."

  "I want you out of my house," she ordered, her teeth clenched in anger.

  "You do, do you?" he taunted, chuckling. "Well, I might have expected as much. That's gratitude for you."

  "I want you out," she demanded, her tone growing shriller.

  "And just how are you going to do that? Kick me out the door? Throw my ass out in snow?" he laughed.

  She glared at him.

  "No Alexandra. I don't think so! I like it here! It's warm and cozy. There are ponds and creeks to fish close by. Plenty of game to hunt in the area. And a whole forest of timber we can cut for firewood. What's not to like? I plan on staying," he gave her a crooked smile. "You can pout all you want, but that's the way things are! The ancient Chinese believed that when you save someone's life, their life belongs to you. You become responsible for them from that day on! Caring for them. Making sure no harm ever comes to them. I saved your life, so you belong to me now. I'm your protector, your benefactor. Get used to it! You're stuck with me!"

  Alex looked ready to spit nails.

  "I can see you don't think much of the Chinese way of doing things, but then I suspected as much. Strange, but I don't remember hearing any protests from you when I saved your ass. You were grateful to have me around then."

  She didn't respond.

  "You know what your problem is woman? You don't recognize a Good Samaritan when you see one. I could do what you want, walk out the door, slamming it shut behind me, but I wouldn't be much of a man if I did. It's a brutal world out there Alex. Filled with black-hearted bastards and thugs who'd just as soon kill you as look at you. I take my obligations and responsibilities seriously. You need protection, someone who'll keep you safe."

  "And who protects me from you?" she spat back. "I'd rather go it alone thank you!"

  "Would you now? They almost killed you. If it hadn't been for me, they would have. You think because they're dead that makes you safe? They're not the only ones out there. The woods are crawling with them. Robbing. Raping. Killing. All of them looking for someone like you: a tender piece of meat who's vulnerable, too weak to fight them off. They mean to hurt you. Hurt you bad. But then you know that now don't you?"

  He paused a moment, studying her face. "The only thing that stands between you and certain di
saster is me. I could leave, but I won't. Because I know what would happen. I'd be throwing you to the wolves, letting them have at you. Oh, it might not be tomorrow, or next week, or next month, but it would happen…sooner or later it would happen. And then where would you be? You came this close to dying," he said, holding up two fingers barely a hair's width apart. "Next time you might not be so lucky. I can't abandon you Alex. It would be like turning my back on a drowning child. Whether you like it or not, my duty's clear: I'm going to take care of you!"

  "I can manage without your generosity," she smirked.

  "Not likely! Without me around you'd be back out in the woods, laying naked with your legs spread apart, while some son of a bitch rips you to pieces. Is that what you want? Well, damn it! Is it?" he demanded, angrily.

  Humiliated, Alex abruptly turned away, her face beet red. She loathed the smug, arrogant prick! She couldn't stomach looking at him one second longer.

  Refusing to be shut out, Wolf grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her onto her back, making her face him. "Don't you turn your back on me," he warned. "If it weren't for me, you'd be dead right now. I put my life on the line to save yours! It was my medicine, my food that kept you alive. So don't you dare get uppity and look at me like I'm some piece of shit," he fumed. "You belong to me Alex. You're mine. Better get used to it. I'm not going anywhere!"

  Afraid to look away for fear of what he'd do, she stared at him, speechless, tears trickling down her cheeks.

  His anger subsided when he saw how frightened she was. Wolf felt bad for upsetting her; what with her so sick and it being Christmas Eve and all. But there were certain things they had to get straight between them. First off, he was the man of the house, not yesterday's garbage. He wouldn't allow her to treat him like dirt. "There's one thing I want to make perfectly clear to you; I'm in charge now. I'll see to it that you're all properly provided for; but in return I expect loyalty, obedience, and respect. I'll accept nothing less. I can fend for myself; you and the kids can't! You're barely surviving on starvation rations now. The food that could have kept you alive is buried under the snow; you can't get to it. What little you've managed to put aside won't take you through to February. Then what? Spring's a long way off Alex. There's no way you'll survive till then without me. I'm not greedy. I'm willing to share my food, whatever I have with you and the kids. But if I'm going to do that, that gives me the right to make the rules and run the show. I won't be treated like an outcast Alex. Not by them! Not by you! You're smart. I've got to give you credit. Not many women could have held on the way you did. But the fact remains, you can't make it on your own. You think that just because you went to college and can throw around some big words, that makes you better than me. Well all your fancy education don't mean squat. It won't do you much good now. You need more than brains. You need muscles and brawn to survive. You need to be able to hunt and kill if necessary. I'm betting you're one of those ballbusting, feminist, Me Too types. Throwing hissy fits and demanding your rights. Not with me you don't. Forget any notion you have of you and I being equals. We're not! I'm the only man here and you…you'll do as you're told! I'll do my job and you do yours and we'll get along just fine!"

  He paused, waiting for her to say something, tell him to go fuck himself, but she was too weak to argue and didn't put up a fight, seemingly resigned to her fate.

  "I know you think I'm an asshole. But I'm not a mean man. If I'd wanted to, I could have carried you off. Left the kids to starve, with no one to take care of them. But I didn't! I brought you home. Do you think any other man who took a fancy to you would have done that? Women are scarce. They get dragged off all the time, their husbands killed, children slaughtered, or left to starve and die in the cold. I want to do right by you Alex. I'm willing to take on the burden of caring for you and the children."

  He reached out his hand and stroked her cheek. At first she recoiled, her body stiffening; but after a moment, though still leery, she seemed subdued.

  "I'll be good to you Alex, as good as I know how; but in return you've got to be good to me too. Meet me halfway. I don't want much from you, just a little comfort and companionship, someone to talk to, to warm my bed at night. That's not too much to ask, is it?

  She remained silent. His eyes searched hers, but Alex nervously shifted her gaze to the tree. She couldn't bear to look at him. The smile, the gentle touch were a masquerade. She knew what he was and wouldn't allow herself to be taken in by his facade, no matter how convincing, or seemingly sincere.

  "Look, I'm sorry about what happened at the museum. I shouldn't have done that to you. It was wrong. I know you won't believe me, but I'm not like those men in the woods who hurt you. I'd never do that to you. Never hurt you like that. I can't take back what I did. I can only work to earn your trust and respect. I hope you'll give me a chance to prove myself."

  He stood up and began walking toward the door. She turned just in time to see him unlatch it and, reaching outside, pull two large, snow-covered garbage bags in through the opening, He brushed them clean, then closed the door, locking it. He carried them to the tree and, laying them on the floor, began untying the ends, revealing their contents. Alex gasped when she saw what they contained.

  "What do you think?" he asked, looking at her shocked expression and grinning.

  She was too surprised to utter a word, just gaped at the presents, dumbstruck. She blinked a few times, trying to decide if she was dreaming, then, certain she wasn't, turned her attention to him. "Where did you get it all?"

  "A little here. A little there. Raquette Lake mostly. You babbled a lot while you were sick. Half dead and delirious with pain and fever, between the moaning and groaning, all you talked about was Christmas, that there'd be nothing under the tree for the kids."

  She contemplated him, puzzled. "And so you just decided to go out and do it?"

  "They way you carried on, it seemed like it was the most important thing in the world to you. I can't say much for your priorities, but since it didn't seem to be all that difficult or dangerous, I couldn't see the harm in it. It's a small price to pay to see you happy."

  There were presents of every description: rubber baby dolls, metal trucks, books and games, plastic guns and crayons, sweatshirts, socks, and a whole host of other things. Alex's eyes glistened with tears. He was an enigma: one moment threatening, the next kind. Her feelings about him were mired in confusion. She was afraid of him! He was a rapist! She was certain she hated him, and yet…

  "I don't know what to say," she whispered. "Thank you."

  He gathered up three small items and brought them to her, laying them on the bed. "There wasn't very much there, but I managed to find these. They smelled nice; I thought you might like to have them."

  She lifted one of the bars of goat milk soap to her nose. It smelled like flowers, like spring. Her hand trembled as she held it. It was a painful reminder of times past.

  "You like them?" he asked.

  She nodded, laying the bar down beside the others, her fingers rubbing over the glossy paper wrapper. A single tear made its way down her cheek.

  "I didn't mean to upset you," he apologized.

  Alex forced a weak smile. "Thank you. I really mean it. Thank you."

  "You know you're pretty when you smile. You should do it more often," he told her. "There are some sweatshirts and socks that may fit you too. I got them from a boy's camp on the other side of the lake. Wasn't much else, but I figured we could put them to good use."

  There was something about the way he said "we" that gave her pause. Though uninvited, he seemed determined to stay. For good or ill, he'd adopted them. The food and gifts, were bribes, attempts to win them over. She couldn't fault him for that. Loneliness, the need for human contact, had driven him to their door.

  "You get some rest. It's late," he said as he cleared the bed.

  She nodded, obediently shutting her eyes.

  He'd already walked away and was crouching beside the tree arranging the gift
s underneath it when he heard her call softly to him, "Good night." There was a long pause and then, "Merry Christmas."

  "Merry Christmas Alex," he replied, his voice strained. Wolf kept his head turned away from her. He was afraid to let her see the tears in his eyes.

  Chapter 18

  Alex sat beside the fireplace, her bare skin shimmering in the pink-orange glow. She bent forward, her damp hair brushing her cheek. It smelled of lavender, her skin of perfume. She looked at the door nervously, then bowed her head, covering her face with her hands. Alex had done what he'd told her. Her body was scrubbed clean, hair washed. Now there was little to do but wait. She wrapped the sheet around her and tried to keep from crying. That's what he wanted: to see her teary-eyed and quaking in fear. He'd stripped her of everything else in the past few weeks, her pride, her self-respect, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower like a whipped dog.

  Her courage had deserted her, her will broken, yet hidden beneath the submissive demeanor she'd been forced to adopt, there remained a spark of defiance. She daydreamed about him dying. Sometimes she killed him or drove him off into the snow to freeze to death. Other times he was murdered by marauders. Her reveries always ended with Wolf dead. As much as she hated him, Alex couldn't bring herself to do anything about it, knowing full well it would spell the end of her little tribe. His prowess as a hunter kept them alive. Snowdrifts reached the window sashes, the ponds and streams were covered with an impenetrable layer of ice. The landscape had become Arctic, the temperature subzero. It seemed hard to believe that anything could still be alive out there. Their food reserves were running low, but she suspected he'd planned it that way, insisting they eat three meals a day instead of one, and larger portions too. The man was cunning. They were dependent on him for their survival. Once their food was gone, without him, there'd be nothing left to eat but the trees; and that wouldn't keep them alive for long if the snow was so deep they couldn't go outside to harvest the bark. Any hope of escaping his iron-fisted rule would vanish as the supply of food dwindled. Wolf had played his hand well. He was all that stood between them and certain starvation.