Samson

by Barton, Kathi S

  Drinking the bottled water left a sour taste in his mouth. It wasn’t anything that he would normally have drank. Howie had finer tastes now. When he drank water, which wasn’t all that often, he wanted a glass bottle, chilled until it was just cold enough to sweat down the sides. Everything in his life had changed when he’d killed his parents. It was better, more exciting, and much more expensive than living at home.

  By the time the sun was going down, he still lay on his cot. It was too hard and lumpy in places. He also didn’t care to think that someone had been sleeping on it just before he had. Howie thought that people such as him, ones that were going to be let go, should be able to stay in a hotel. A guard would be all right with him, so long as they were cool and would pick him up a pizza or two once in a while.

  “That’s what you get when you get arrested in a little town like this one, I guess.” He didn’t understand why they hadn’t gone to bigger cities and robbed those banks. Serenity said it was because they were better armed and guarded. Howie thought that she was just too scared to do it. “I would have done it in a heartbeat if I’d had the guns.”

  That was something that he hadn’t cared for, the way Heath would make him turn in his guns at the end of every heist. Like they were a movie rental or something. He couldn’t even keep the ammo when Heath collected the guns. What the hell did they think was going to happen if he only had a couple of bullets without a gun? Nothing. Not one thing.

  Howie remembered the morning of the last robbery. Heath hadn’t wanted to hit the bank—he’d had a bad feeling about it. Serenity had asked him several times what the feeling was, and Heath would only tell her it was a bad idea. Maybe, Howie thought, if he’d not egged his sister on about doing this, she might be alive right now. And they’d be having a nice dinner of steak and lobster someplace.

  But he’d not think about that right now. Now he had to think about what his defense was going to be. Poor young boy that was dragged all over the country robbing banks so he could fit in with his sister and brother. Thinking of that did make him laugh out loud. He wondered if he’d have to shed a few tears to make it even more believable. Whatever it took to get him out of here, he’d surely do it. Being in jail sucked big time.

  If he was honest with himself, which he rarely was, Howie had been terrified the first time he’d gone robbing with them. Saying it like that, gone robbing, always brought a smile to his face. It sounded like they were going to the gym to tone up.

  The first time that they’d hit that liquor store, he’d been ready to piss himself then too. It wasn’t having to kill anyone. He had no problem with that. But he had been afraid of being caught. Serenity told him that if he was caught to remember two things—he didn’t know her or Heath, nor was he any relation to them. To this day, he wondered if she would have fed him to the police if he’d fucked up that night. It didn’t bear thinking about now—she was dead, and he wasn’t. But he did often wonder about it.

  As the lights overhead were being switched off, Howie was plunged into total darkness. He loved the dark. It made him have the best dreams. Dreams of killing and hurting things that might go bump in the dark.

  Howie thought about his sister again. He did wonder if she knew how she was playing right into his hands. All she had to do now was get him an attorney, and he’d be home free. Then he’d do what Heath and Serenity had promised each other long ago. Kill her.

  Allie had been the only family member they all three hated. She thought herself so much better than them. That doing things the way she wanted them to go was the only route. When she’d caught up with him once, she’d told him that he’d end up on the wrong end of a gun. That prison wouldn’t be a place for him to grow up in. Playing the sad little misunderstood boy to her had not only been easy, but it had been fun too. Allie was a sap.

  When he killed her, which he was going to do, Howie was going to tell her everything that the other two had said about her. The way they’d all made fun of her for struggling so hard at getting her own place. It was Heath who had laughed the hardest.

  “All she would have had to do was come join us one time when we were out. Once, and she’d have had all the money in the world to open that bar up.” This had been the night before the bank robbery that had gotten them killed, and Howie caught. “I think we should forgo this robbery tomorrow and hit her bar tomorrow night,” he’d told Serenity. “I say we rob it, kill everyone in the place, and then burn it to the ground.”

  But Serenity had to have the bank done. Nothing would make her change her mind. And now, because of her, he was in jail. But he supposed the up part of that was, she was dead. He thought that had been evened out in his mind.

  ~~~

  Allie walked the fields. She wasn’t really looking for anything, just taking a walk in the morning to clear her head. Sleeping in the big house wasn’t her idea of fun, but they had all been nothing but nice to her since she’d gotten there, so she did enjoy that part.

  “Hello.” She looked around for the person talking to her and saw something out of the corner of her eye. The little creature seemed to be hovering above her shoulder like he or she was waiting on something. “If you were to put out your hand, I could rest upon it. I’m Shin.”

  “Shin? Like the part of the leg, shin?” He said that was right. “All right. Am I really seeing you, or have I not been eating well enough, and this is my head telling me to get my shit together? Either way, hi.”

  “You’re the mate to Sampson. I spoke with him earlier today, and he said that it was up to you about your home.” She asked him if he meant they’d find it or build it. “Build. We’re very quick when we have an idea as to what it is you want in a home. You sort of lean toward the old, don’t you?”

  “Old? I suppose. I mean, I’ve been antiquing with my parents before. It’s usually well-made furniture, as well as beautifully done. What sort of home do you suppose Sampson likes? I mean, I’m not even sure this will work out between us.” Shin told her that it would. And that they’d have forever to be together. “I’m human. You know that, right?”

  “You were human, my dear. You’re now immortal. Also, you have a bit of magic. More after you and the young lad there have yourself a night of it.” Allie felt her face heat up. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, my lady. It’s just the way things are. You’re a beautiful young lass, and I know that you and your mate, Sampson, will have a wonderful life together.”

  “I have a brother that is causing me, I guess us, all kinds of trouble right now.” Shin asked her what she wanted to do about it. “I’m not sure. I know that he’s my little brother, but he’s such a monster. I don’t think I could ever forgive him for all that he’s done. All three of them, for that matter.”

  “Then you shouldn’t forgive him at all. Blood does not mean that you have to take what is thrown at you from them. Family can be harder on you than even friends. Because they expect you to be there even when your heart isn’t in it. Don’t let him drag you down, my lady. ‘Tis not worth it.” Allie thanked him. “No reason for that. You and I, we’re going to be good friends, I think. You can bet, too, that I’ll never betray your friendship. Ever.”

  “I wish I could hug you.” He flushed brightly then. But instead of red, he turned a beautiful bright diamond color. “All right. This home you want to build. I think I’d like lots of windows. And a lovely wraparound porch. Something wide enough that we could have people over, and it wouldn’t be crowded. Oh. I saw this house once when I was in New Orleans. It was beautiful the way that it just seemed to say, ‘Come in, kick off your shoes, and have a glass of tea.’ You must think I’m silly.”

  “I don’t. I found it in your memories, and I love it. A house suited for the two of you. Yes, I love it.” Shin flew away, only to return a few seconds later. “The inside will be the same as the house you saw. I have a faerie looking at the inside of it now, and we’ll have it all finished up for you
.”

  She laughed and told him that she could wait. “I’ve only come out here to walk off a little steam. Also, I love to walk.” He smiled at her and shone again. “Tell me when you’re starting, and I’ll come have a look.”

  He was laughing as he flew away. Allie loved the little man already. Just as she was taking a step back toward the house, she felt the earth under her feet rumble and her head spin. Falling back on her butt, she held onto the tree closest to her. Fear had her calling out for Sampson.

  “I’m here.” She looked up at him. “I’m here. I have you. Come on now. Shin said you picked us out a wonderful home, and I’m to come there with you.”

  “What was that? Christ, I thought for sure that there was an earthquake or something.” He pulled her up from the ground and held her. “I like Shin. I hope he wasn’t hurt.”

  “I doubt any of them were hurt. Come on. Our house is finished. And I’m excited to see it.” She stopped moving, and he turned to look at her. “You don’t want to see it?”

  “I only just told him what I thought we’d like.” Sampson nodded. “How can it be finished already? What’s going on?”

  “There are millions upon millions of faeries at any given place at one time. And since we were created by the queen of them all, we have her help in things that we’re only just learning we have. The faeries, they want to please us because of the work we’ve done for Aurora.” She asked him if those faeries were the ones that made the earth move. “I would say that it takes a great deal of power and magic to build a home in just a matter of seconds. They built Bryant’s home in that way, and when Harley found an old abandoned home on the back of the property, they restored it to its original state. Even the furniture. We’ll go see it when you wish.”

  “Why are you so nice to me?” Her face heated up when she realized how angry she sounded. “What I mean is, why are you giving me whatever I ask you for? And being so sweet and generous to me? You don’t know me. For all you know I could be just like the rest of my family.”

  “You’re not.” She asked him how he could possibly know that. “Because I love you. My family does as well, but not the same way I do. Thankfully.”

  He started walking again, his back to her when she heard him laugh. Not sure what he might have found so funny, she caught up with him. When she did, he was staring straight ahead. Whatever was so funny to him, she wanted to enjoy it as well. When he looked at her, she thought that he was upset, but his smile made her warm all over.

  “It’s perfect. I would have been happy with whatever you wanted, but this is exactly what I would have chosen if I was looking for a home. Thank you.”

  Sampson pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It heated her from the top of her head to her curled toes. As he pulled away, he turned her to where he’d been looking, and there was her home. The house that she’d seen when visiting New Orleans for Halloween. All she could do was stare at it. It was beyond what she’d remembered. It was so much brighter with flowers, and there were rocking chairs on the porch to go with the wide deck that did indeed wrap around the lovely home.

  “You want to see the inside?” Allie nodded, then shook her head. “I understand that. I surely do. This is a home for someone like you. And me. I cannot wait for my family to see it.”

  “It’s so large. Too big for just the two of us, don’t you think?” She looked at him when he didn’t say anything. Then he got down on one knee. “What are you doing? Get up from there right now. Do you want to get muddy?”

  “You already sound like a mom. Allison Sheppard, will you do me the greatest honor of marrying me? Making me a home here? Having children with me? Will you love me when you’re ready? Make me into a man that my mother would be proud of?” She started to tell him to get up, but the words died on her tongue when he opened his palm. “This was a gift from the queen. She told me that it was mine, but it wasn’t until I saw the color of your eyes that I knew what she meant. It was only mine until I could find a woman that matched this stone. Your eyes are much more beautiful than this diamond, but it’s the best I could do to show you how much I already love you. Will you marry me, Allison?”

  “I’m not sure what to say.” He told her yes would be fine with him. “I’m sure it would. But you don’t know me.”

  “I know all I need to know about you. You’re kind. Generous. You’ve worked your way up from nothing to get what you want. Even though we haven’t known each other all that long, I can tell that you’re compassionate, hungry for life and that you have the most amazing heart that I’ve ever encountered.”

  “Are you sure about this? I mean, there are no take backs as far as I’m concerned.” He put the ring on her finger and stood up. This time when he pulled her into his arms, she knew that this was going to seal the deal on whatever happened from now on. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  The kiss was more than she could have ever dreamed it would be. Hungry for sure, but also kind and loving. It was soft yet demanding. His mouth moved over her chin to her throat until she shivered from the contact. When Sampson lifted his head from her, she felt his erection. It was there, just where she would like for him to take her. Rolling her hips into his, Allie felt his moan rush over her like a gentle rain in the summer, like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day. When he touched his mouth to her earlobe, Allie moaned too. It was like being touched by a live wire and a lightning bolt at the same time.

  “We’re about to have company.” Groaning, Sampson laughed as he continued. “I can only assume that my family felt the earth move too. Not the one that is moving through us now, but the actual ground, and came to see the house.”

  “Tell them to go away.” He laughed, but it didn’t sound as humorous as she thought it would. “Please? I’m sure that if the faeries built this house, they can bar the doors from intruders.”

  “I’m sure they can, but we’re going to have to deal with them, or they’re never going to leave us alone. They’ll want to know every little detail about the house, so be prepared.” Before she could ask him what that meant, she was pulled from his arms and into another pair. Buck held her like she had saved him from the worst kind of problem.

  “I’m so happy to have you close by us.” She hadn’t realized that they were that close until she could see their home too. “You two are going to love living here together. Oh my, what a house you have. That’s about the biggest pile of bricks I’ve ever seen. And I love that there porch too. Come on, you two. Let’s have a look see.”

  Walking up the steps to their home, she fell in love with the porch all over again. There were planters filled with late blooming flowers. Shutters on the windows that would cover them if need be. And a large front window to have a huge decorated Christmas tree when the time rolled around. Oh, Allie thought, this house was just what she wanted in a home.

  Chapter 4

  The house was beautiful. As he and Allie walked through each of the rooms, he fell more and more in love with her. She looked at each room as if it were the best thing she’d ever seen. And every time she was excited about a new find, she’d hug him tightly and say how much fun this was. His brother Fisher asked him if he was near a window to the back yard.

  I can be. What did you find? For that matter, why aren’t you in here going on about my new digs? Fisher told him to go to the back window. Can I show Allie too? She is having so much fun, so if this is bad news, I don’t want to know it.

  Just look, will you? He and Allie moved to the window that he thought looked over the back yard. He could see his brother down there, and when he waved at him, Allie waved back. What do you think of this? I’m telling you right now, Sampson, I might have to steal this idea from you. This is a really nice way to spend an evening. And a tree right here in the middle of this? Well, hell, I’d have the holidays out here if it wasn’t so fucking cold at Christmas.

  Allie dragged him down to the main level
and out into the yard with Fisher. He’d bet anything that the wings that made the walls for this part of the house had just been added. The windows were new, and the bricks, while a good match, were slightly different. But his brother was right, it would be an amazing place to sit out in the evenings.

  There were paths and flowers all over the place. Herbs, too, if his nose was right. A sizable fir tree was in the middle of a large circle that looked like it was ready for anything a person might want on it. As he looked around, he saw benches that sat in segregated places. An old swing was shaded by wisteria and hung full of the scented flowers.

  The more he looked around, the more he found in the place. At the end of the stones that were surrounded by small tufts of some flowery greens, sat the biggest pool he’d ever seen. Just looking at it made him want to strip down and take a dip in it. With Allie.

  “Look at all the doors that lead out to here from the wings. It’s like a very expensive hotel back here. Can you imagine having someone staying with us and getting to stay here?” He said he’d bet that one of the rooms was their bedroom. “You think so? Oh, wouldn’t that be grand? I’m going to go check them out.”

  While she was going into the rooms from this level, he called for Shin. He told him what he wanted, and the little man smiled. Having this kind of help could be about the best kind of magic. Ask, and you shall receive.

  “I’ve taken care, my lord. The entire wing on the right there is all the master suite. I thought, from what I saw in her mind, that her ladyship loved the outdoors as much as you do. The other rooms are for guests. The children, when you bring them home, will be able to use the rooms as well when they’re older.” Sampson thanked Shin. “No need for that, your lordship. The lady, she wanted flowers and plants to be able to be brought into the house, as well as things to leave for their beauty. You’d almost think that she knew that we needed them to survive.”