by Marla Monroe
The other man stared at him for several long seconds before nodding his head and lowering the rifle.
“Come on in. I’m Micah. We can talk inside where it’s warmer.”
Simon nodded and followed the other man inside the house. Another man stood next to the fireplace with a rifle as well. He nodded at Simon and set the weapon down.
“This is Jeremy, my partner. Jeremy, this is Simon from our west. He’s interested in thinning out the wolves and wants to be a part of our hunting party.”
“Good to meet you, Simon.” Jeremy reached out to shake hands.
Simon met him halfway and then took a seat when Micah offered it.
“So you’ve been having trouble with them as well?”
“I’m sure with your group hunting them over here that they are moving our direction now. We would like to keep them moving.”
“Have they attacked you yet?” Jeremy asked.
“No, but they are moving in close. What concerns me is that they are so close to the house and I’ve heard they will attack humans now. Is that true?”
“Yep. They’ve done it several times. There are several groups of us that hunt to keep them thinned out. You’re welcome to participate. We can schedule a hunt on your land to move them off.” Micah stood up. “I’m going to go get some coffee for us. I’ll be right back.”
Simon watched the other man walk toward what he assumed was the kitchen. It was obvious that their woman was in the kitchen by the way they had sat on that side of the room.
“Usually when we hunt, the women are all in one place to make it easier to keep them safe while the men are out. Do you have a cellar large enough for about five or six people?”
“Yes. We can make it comfortable for them. That’s a good idea, but I don’t want them left alone.”
“Don’t worry, they won’t be. We usually leave one or two men with them for safety. We don’t take chances with our women.”
Micah walked back in followed by a pretty woman who was obviously pregnant. He stood up and accepted his cup from Micah and nodded toward the woman. She kept close to Micah as she handed a cup to Jeremy. The smile on the other man’s face made it obvious that he worshiped the ground she walked on.
“This is our wife, Rachael. Rachael, this is Simon, one of our neighbors. I think we will be hunting wolves on his property in a few days.”
She smiled shyly and nodded her head.
“Our woman’s name is Skyler. I know she would be thrilled to have someone to talk to, ma’am.”
“I’d really like that. There are several other women who normally join us when the men go hunting.” She looked up at Micah after he pulled her onto his lap when he was seated.
“These hunting trips allow the women to spend time with each other.”
“I understand you do some bartering and such as well in your group.” Simon was pleased things were going so well, but he was antsy to get back home, too.
“We do. Are you in need of anything in particular?” Micah was running his hand up and down Rachael’s arm.
“Actually, we’re looking for a couple more hens.”
“Hmm,” Micah looked over at Jeremy. “We don’t have any extra, but didn’t Gary say they might start eating some of theirs?”
“He did. Said there were too many to keep up with now.”
“We’ll get in touch with them for you when we alert every one of the need for a hunt on your land.” Micah smiled.
“I would appreciate it. We have extra canned tomatoes and blackberry jam.”
“Have you had any trouble with black market agents?” Jeremy asked.
“No. Not so far.” Simon sat forward, worried that he was about to hear more than he wanted to.
“Luke and his family had a run-in with some not long ago. You need to be on the lookout for them. We don’t usually see as much of them in the winter, but I expect that will change as more people move out here.” Jeremy glanced over at Rachael.
Simon could tell there was something they weren’t sharing, but he figured it was private and didn’t ask. Just the thought of the threat to Skyler sent chill bumps down his spine. Worrying about the wolves was hard enough. Black market agents were the main reason Owen and Skyler had moved out to The Border Lands to live with him in the first place.
“We’ll be watchful for sure. I really appreciate your willingness to include us in your hunting group. Just let me know when you plan to schedule it and we’ll have the basement ready for the women.” He stood up, ready to head home.
Micah carefully switched Rachael to the chair as he stood up. Jeremy joined them as they walked to the door. Simon shook hands with the two men and quickly walked outside to keep from letting the cold air into their warm living room. Micah followed him out, picking up the rifle as he walked through the door.
“Can’t be too careful with the wolves. They are known for being sneaky bastards. Drive safely and we’ll be in touch soon.”
Simon waved his thanks and climbed into the truck. As he backed out of the drive, he realized that he’d enjoyed the brief visit. Maybe becoming friends with some of the other families in the area wouldn’t be so bad. He knew that Skyler would enjoy it immensely. She was starved for female companionship.
He couldn’t wait to get back to tell Owen and Skyler all about their neighbors. She would be thrilled and excited to hear that Rachael, their wife, was pregnant. He hadn’t thought to ask how far along she was. He was no judge on things like that.
The idea hit him that Skyler might end up pregnant. Women had trouble sometimes conceiving after all the diseases had nearly wiped out the female population all those years ago, but it didn’t mean it couldn’t happen. He knew that she and Owen had been lovers for several years now and she hadn’t gotten pregnant. He guessed there was a good possibility that she wouldn’t be able to have children. While he hoped that wasn’t the case, if it was, it wouldn’t change how he felt about her. She was his purpose in life now.
With that thought, Simon drove toward home and his family. He needed to see them, especially Skyler.
* * * *
Skyler hid in the last bedroom upstairs in the closet behind the hanging clothes. This room was full of boxed-up clothes, toys, and other junk from the previous owners. She hoped that it was a false alarm. She was worried about Owen all alone downstairs. Why had they come when Simon was gone? Had they watched and waited until he had left on purpose?
Stuck in the back of the closet, she couldn’t hear anything that was going on. It made waiting so much harder. Time seemed to stand still as she sat trembling in the corner in the dark. Her breathing seemed to echo in the tiny closet. She knew it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but it didn’t slow her pounding heart any.
The seconds slowly slipped by as she fought to remain still. It wouldn’t do to make noise and alert whoever was downstairs with Owen that she was up there. She knew better than to divide Owen’s attention. After what felt like hours, the sound of footsteps in the room outside the door alerted her that someone was close by. She prayed that Owen would soon open the door and tell her that everything was okay.
Wood creaked under someone’s feet as they walked further into the room. They didn’t immediately head for the closet. This frightened Skyler. Owen knew where she was hidden. Fear threatened to squeeze her heart into. What had happened to Owen? Where was Simon?
The footsteps continued into the room. Then they moved closer to the closet and her hiding place. When the door opened, Skyler swallowed down the scream lodged in her throat. When the door closed again, she fought the crazy need to laugh in relief. Tremors took over her body as relief that she hadn’t been found coursed through her blood.
Silence once again filled the closet as she waited for whatever happened next. She knew better than to leave before either Owen or Simon came and got her. Even if it took forever, she wasn’t supposed to leave the closet for any reason.
After what felt like forever, the pounding of foot
steps growing closer alerted her to someone’s return. She hugged herself tighter as she waited.
“Skyler!” Owen’s voice thrilled along her nerve endings as he threw open the closet door.
“Oh, God, Owen! Are you okay?” She launched herself from the closet into his open arms. “I thought something had happened to you.”
“Shh, baby. It’s okay now. They’re gone. Let’s get you downstairs where the fire is. You’re shivering and ice cold.”
“I was so worried about you. I couldn’t hear anything and then the footsteps and it wasn’t you.” She knew she was babbling. She couldn’t help it.
“It’s okay. He half carried her downstairs and wrapped a throw around her as he pulled her onto his lap.
Skyler saw the rifle sitting next to them on the couch. He wasn’t taking any chances that they wouldn’t come back again.
“What happened, Owen?”
“There were three of them so I didn’t have much of a chance to stop them. I was scared to death they would find you. They already knew you were living here. They’ve been watching evidently. I told them you were with Simon. One held a gun on me while two of them searched the house. The first place they searched was the cellar, so we were right to not use it.”
“They’ll come back, won’t they, Owen.”
“Yeah. As soon as Simon returns, we’ve got to figure out what to do.”
“I’m scared, Owen.”
“I know, baby, but Simon and I will keep you safe.”
She snuggled up with Owen, leaving his right hand free to get to the rifle if he needed to. If the men came back, when they came back, her men were in danger because of her. She burrowed into Owen and fought the tears that threatened to spill. She didn’t need to burden Owen any further by being an emotional mess. God knows she had done enough of that when they were on their way to The Border Lands.
The sound of another vehicle pulling up the road had her scrambling for the stairs as Owen jumped up with the rifle.
“It’s okay. I recognize Simon’s truck.” He walked over to the door and peeked through the window next to it.
Skyler blew out a relived breath and walked back down the stairs. She couldn’t wait to see Simon. She realized that she needed to see that he was safe as well. Something had finally clicked inside of her and she knew loving both men was the right thing to do. She needed to tell Simon how she felt but was nervous at the same time. She was sure he didn’t love her, but she knew he cared about her and would protect her. Would her confession make him uncomfortable when he couldn’t reciprocate? She didn’t want to do that to him, but she felt like she needed to tell him.
The sound of the front door opening snapped her attention back. Owen had opened the door for Simon. The other man took one look at the gun and then at her and scowled.
“What happened?”
“Three men showed up not long after you left looking for Skyler. They’ve been watching us evidently. Luckily, they hadn’t noticed that Skyler wasn’t with you when you left. I told them she was.”
“They looked anyway.” Skyler hurried down the stairs and wrapped her arms around Simon.
If he was surprised by her actions, he didn’t show it. He just wrapped his arm around her and continued to look at Owen.
“I can’t believe the audacity of them to think they could just walk in and take her like that.” Simon shook his head. “What did they say?”
“Said that they knew we had a woman, and they planned to take her from us. One of them said that if we weren’t strong enough to keep her, we didn’t deserve to have one.” Owen drew in a deep breath and let it out. “I told them that we owned her and by law they couldn’t have her. One of them laughed and told me that there was no law out here anymore.”
“Fuck! I was afraid of this. With more and more families moving out here, we need some sort of law. The damn agents are working together now. Three at one time. That’s dangerous for all families.”
“What did you find out from your trip?” Owen reached out and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Were there any women?” She couldn’t help asking. She really wanted to meet another woman.
“I could use some coffee. Let’s go into the kitchen to talk.” Simon drew her along with him as he headed for the other room.
“I’ll fix the coffee. I have sandwiches already made up.” She hurried to set up the pot with water to boil.
“I met a family next to us. Their names are Jeremy, Micah, and Rachael. Looks like Rachael is several months pregnant. They’re good with us joining their group to hunt. They may even have someone that has extra hens for us.”
“That’s one problem we have under control.” Owen set plates out on the table. “When do we hunt?”
“They are going to contact the other families and let us know. We’ll have to get the cellar ready for their women. They like to keep them all together in a cellar with one or two men to keep the safe while they are out hunting. It makes sense with these blasted agents in the area.”
“We’ve got plenty of supplies to keep them comfortable.” Skyler stood by the stove listening to them. “I will pull out all the blankets and pillows to take down there. What else do we need?”
“I think you should make up snacks and we’ll haul water down there to drink. We have some extra chairs besides these that we can put down there so no one will be on the cold floor.” Owen sat down across from Simon.
“I can’t wait! I’ll get to talk to the other women and maybe learn some things I need to know. Do you know how many?”
“Not for sure, Sky. He said we needed enough room for five or six people, so I think maybe four women with one or two men to guard you with.” Simon took the cup she handed him.
“What are we going to do about the agents? You know they’ll be back.” Owen sipped his coffee as Skyler sat down.
“We’ll talk to the others about it for one thing. The best we can do is to stay alert and keep all the doors and windows locked. I know they can break in, but we’ll hear them if they do. Don’t go anywhere without your rifle. Skyler, that goes for you, too. I’m going to let you keep that pistol I fixed for you with you all the time. You’re going to have to be careful with it.”
“I will. I know what to do. Aim for the center of their body and slip off the safety before I pull the trigger.”
“Good girl. Unless one of us is with you in the kitchen, I want you to stay upstairs, so if you hear anything you can hide faster.” Simon stared at her.
“She’s going to be cold up there, Simon.” Owen didn’t look happy with the idea.
“It won’t be all the time and she can wear more clothes. It’s better than letting her be vulnerable to the black market agents.”
“You’re right. This is crazy. I don’t want her to have to hide all the time. She had to do that back east.”
“I know, but until we talk to the others and figure something out, we’re going to be safe.” He looked over at Skyler and reached out to her.
Skyler took his hand and pulled it to her lips. She tried to convey through her expression how much she loved him. She just couldn’t push the words past her lips yet. She needed more time. Unfortunately, they might not have a lot of time left.
Chapter Eleven
Owen had just finished checking the herd and was walking in the kitchen door when there was a knock at the front door. He hadn’t heard a truck pull up, but the four inches of snow on the ground from the night before had everything muffled. He hurried into the other room to find Simon standing at the door with his rifle.
“It’s Micah and another man. Skyler went upstairs to hide. I’m going to let them in.” Simon opened the door and greeted the two men.
“Come in. This is Owen. Owen, this is Micah.”
Owen held out his hand to shake Micah’s hand. The other man smiled and held out his hand.
“I’m Luke. Pleased to meet you.”
They walked farther into the room and sat down to
talk. Owen locked the door behind everyone and stood next to the fireplace close to the stairs. He was surprised that he instantly liked the two men. He’d been suspicious of other males for so long that it seemed almost foreign to him to feel that way.
“We’ve set up a hunt for day after tomorrow. We usually hunt around dusk. It’s when the wolves are normally out the most. There will be a total of four families coming to your place around three in the afternoon. Is that fine with you?”
“Sounds good to me.” Simon looked up at Owen. “How about you?”
“I’m fine with it. I’m looking forward to cutting back one of our problems.”
Micah frowned. “One of your problems?”
“When I was at your place the other day, three agents showed up at the house and held Owen at gunpoint while they searched the house for Skyler. Thankfully they didn’t find her and gave up, believing that she had gone with me.” Simon filled them in on the ordeal.
“That’s the first time there have been more than two working together that I know of,” Luke said.
“They weren’t worried at all about there being resistance. We’re worried that they are going to catch us off guard and snatch Skyler.” Simon’s face showed none of his worry to the other men though.
“We all need to be worried about that. Hell. Something’s got to be done about them.” Micah stood up and walked over to the window before turning around again. “Some of the other families out here have joined together and formed a co-op of sorts. I wasn’t for it to begin with because I like my privacy. Maybe I need to rethink it though.”
“What do you mean a co-op?” Owen was interested in anything that might keep Skyler safe.
“Some of the families moved in together with the idea that there is greater safety in numbers. They all work together on a large garden and herd. There are more men to keep the women safe that way.” Luke ran a hand through his hair.