by Kit Tunstall
“I don’t know. Well, I’m sure they do, but I don’t think Blaney does much about them. The one time I witnessed a bit of a punishment day, the predominant crime was tax evasion.”
Tiernan snorted. “I can’t imagine it’s a huge problem in Yakima-Grace.”
She shrugged. “Apparently it is if you don’t pay all his taxes.” Mustering her courage to say something that could cause trouble, though she was certain Tiernan didn’t like or support Blaney, she said, “Papa says there are the official taxes we all pay, and then there are Blaney’s extras. If you don’t pay, you or your family will suffer.”
Tiernan’s expression tightened. “Is this common knowledge in your province?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ve heard the other men talking about it with my father. One of our neighbors used to live in Idaho-Johns and said it was worse there. The governor of that region squeezes people even more than Blaney.” Madison bit her tongue before she could utter the rest of what her neighbor had speculated—that the politicians leading the various regions in the Northwest Federation had Tiernan’s implicit permission, if not outright consent, to gouge the citizens.
He looked troubled. “It appears a full-scale investigation is in order. My grandfather had brutally dealt with the governors of the regions who tried to cheat him out of his cut, but my mother had stamped out most of the corruption. Or so I thought. She always believed in applying the rules equitably to all citizens, including a fair distribution of taxes.” Tiernan ran a hand through his curls, disheveling them further. “Perhaps I haven’t been clear about my stance on corruption.”
She shivered slightly, not liking the cold look in his eyes. At least she felt confident that her neighbor had been wrong about Tiernan turning a blind eye to corruption. “What will you do?”
His mouth firmed. “One good example is usually all that’s needed. Since Blaney is such a fan of public lashings, I think that will be a just punishment, even if it does deviate from the Federation’s code of law.”
She found it impossible to summon sympathy for Blaney any more than she could for the rapist when contemplating his harsh sentence tomorrow. Still, she wouldn’t want to be on Tiernan’s bad side and at the receiving end of one of his punishments.
*****
After the clinic reopened, Madison returned to the clinic and her apprenticeship as nurse, assistant, and receptionist. Much to her guard’s dismay, she had recruited Corporal Vincent to be at Lucy’s beck and call. She didn’t think Vinny minded helping out with the clinic—or following around the slightly older Lucy, who had a butt he couldn’t seem to stop admiring. Rather, his apprehension seemed to stem from the fact that she was out of his sight a good part of the day.
She couldn’t fathom what danger might befall her in the clinic. Honestly, why would she be a target in any form, except in general? She appreciated having a soldier to walk her to and from the clinic, for safety’s sake, but didn’t see a need just because she was Tiernan’s companion. He’d have to have some kind of strong feelings for her before she could ever be a weapon used to hurt him.
Not that he didn’t care. He’d been sweet to her the past week, bringing her a gift almost every night. Nothing elaborate, and she had appreciated the flowers and chocolates more than she would have expensive, useless tokens. And when he held her, their bodies joined together in perfect unity, the tenderness in his eyes sometimes made her want to cry. He had returned to his previous routine of coming to her for dinner every evening and shared her bed every night. Well, his bed, and he’d made no mention of moving her out of his suite into a room of her own like the other girls. She was sure he cared, but she didn’t know how much.
She had no intention of asking either. Things were good as they were. There was no reason to upset the equilibrium they’d found. Madison was trying to be happy in the moment and not question anything too deeply.
She’d found it fairly easy to be happy this week. The clinic gave her a purpose, Tiernan’s affection gave her warmth, and she’d even gotten to talk to her father and sister on the designated meeting day this week. Neither had acted as if they were angry at her decision to leave. In fact, Rosie had expressed a strong amount of envy at her “escape from Graceport and its fascist army.” Eric had chuckled in the background at that comment.
When the clinic closed for the day, she parted from Lucy and Susan with a warm goodbye, wishing they staffed the clinic over the weekends, just to have something to do besides drinking tea and indulging in conversation with her fellow bedmates. Still, she would be back early Monday morning, and perhaps there would be some kind of event to enliven the dullness of being the commander’s companion. Not that the nights left anything to complain about, she thought with a quiet chuckle. It was just the days that could be monotonous.
There was a little chill in the air as they progressed back to the capitol building, and she shivered slightly. “I guess it’s the beginning of the end of summer, Vinny.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “Call me Madison.”
“Of course, ma’am,” he said with a grin.
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“No, ma’am. I just don’t want to break protocol.”
She started to reassure him that no one would care if he used her first name, but she hesitated, suddenly recalling how Tiernan had reacted when he’d learned she and Eric were on a first-name basis. Then again, his anger had been because of a somewhat cryptic message, or so he had claimed. Maybe to be on the safe side, they should stick with the current form of address.
As they neared the building, she said, “Lucy’s nice.”
His cheeks tinged pink. “Yes, ma’am. Hair’s wild though.”
She laughed again. “You wouldn’t hold that against her?”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
“When are you going to make your move, Vinny?”
He started to answer, but froze before assuming a straight-backed stance. After snapping off a smart salute, he said, “Good evening, Commander Archer.”
A smile curved across her lips of its own accord, and she turned to her lover. “Hi, Tiernan. What’re you doing out here?”
“Waiting for you.”
The cold way he clipped the words made the smile melt from her face. “Oh, okay.” Sensing she didn’t want to have the confrontation in front of everyone, she waved to Vinny and threaded her arm through Tiernan’s. “Will you walk me inside?”
He nodded, but didn’t speak. She struggled to maintain a pleasant expression and natural walk, but it was difficult. He moved stiffly, as though barely holding himself in check. It was a relief to let the pretense lapse when he led her into an office on the first floor, but the click of the door behind them filled her with dread. For just a second, she was tempted to make a flip remark about what she’d done now, but his angry expression indicated he wouldn’t find that amusing.
“Were you inviting Corporal Vincent to make a move on you, Madison?” he asked with precise diction that chilled her.
Her eyes widened. “Good lord, no. Why would you think that?”
Palms flat on the desk, he leaned across it to face her. Even the wooden slab between them didn’t seem to offer much of a buffer. “You specifically request Vincent be your escort daily. You take him out for hours with no explanation of what you’ve done. When I overhear flirty talk, what other conclusion should I draw?”
She exhaled raggedly. “I don’t know, but maybe you could try trusting me. I stayed a virgin for twenty years before meeting you. I’m not out looking for other people to screw constantly.”
“Explain what you’ve been doing with the corporal.”
Madison narrowed her eyes. “No.”
He arched a brow. “No?”
She shook her head, determined not to give in to his cold command. “I’ve done nothing wrong. That’s all you need to know.” Turning away from him, she headed to the door. His hand on
her shoulder stopped her flight, and he spun her around to face him. “Stop grabbing me.”
“Stop lying.” He wrapped his hands around her arms and shook her lightly. “Tell me what you’re doing. Are you fucking him?”
“Jealous?” she threw out, still struggling to free herself from his hold.
“Yes.” His hazel eyes burned darkly as he made the loud declaration.
“Oh,” she said softly, losing the will to continue resisting. Madison sagged against him, putting up her hand to touch his cheek. “I see.”
His anger was still visible. “I won’t stand for you cuckolding me.”
It took a lot not to let her lips twitch. “Of course not,” she said solemnly. “However, I’m not the one with a harem.”
Tiernan frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means…” She stroked his face with her fingertips. “It means I’m the one who has the right to be jealous. I have to share you with five other women, plus who knows how many on your trips.”
“I haven’t slept with anyone since taking you as a companion.” He made the admission gruffly, as though he didn’t like giving her that information.
Madison sighed. “Except for one night.” Firming her mouth, she said, “It doesn’t matter who you were with. You owe me nothing.”
Tiernan’s brows drew together, and he loosened his hold on her arms. “I spent that night you’re talking about right here in this office, a bottle of cognac my only company for the evening.”
She couldn’t hold back her happy smile at his words. “I see.”
“Now, what about you and the corporal?”
Since he asked so nicely, how could she refuse to answer? Keeping her voice soft, she said, “Vinny is my friend, and I request him because I like him, but that’s all there is to it. Friendship.”
He looked indecisive for a moment before nodding. “Okay, I believe you.”
“Thanks,” she said sardonically.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re doing all day. I assumed shopping, but you haven’t used many trading credits.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Who could shop every day all week?” One would go right through the wares the merchants offered in just a couple of days, even in a larger population center like Seattle-Archer.
“I’ve had companions who managed it.”
Madison shrugged. “Not me. I’ve been volunteering at a clinic.”
Tiernan frowned. “Volunteering? Why?”
It was difficult not to roll her eyes. “Because Susan needs help, and I have nothing else to do all day.”
He shook his head. “I don’t like this. It could be dangerous.”
Biting back a sigh, she struggled to keep her tone reasonable. “It’s safe. Vinny is with me, and it’s just a clinic full of sick people.” Sensing an opportunity, she stroked his chest. “They could use some supplies though, and maybe another nurse.” Her other hand wandered lower, to stroke the forming erection between his thighs.
Tiernan groaned. “Are you trying to seduce me to give you clinical supplies?”
She tilted her head. “Well, when you put it like that…yes.” Giving him a big grin, she unbuttoned the first brass button on his uniform jacket. “Do you think it might work?”
With a groan, he cupped her buttocks and lifted her into his arms to carry her back to the desk. “I think we can come to some sort of arrangement.”
Chuckling deep in her throat, she focused all her attention on negotiations with the commander, determined to get what she wanted, but certainly willing to be generous and fair in meeting his needs too.
Chapter Ten
Another three weeks flew by before she knew it. Tiernan had honored his promise and resupplied the clinic, including securing their power source and providing a new centrifuge. A burly nurse retired from the military also came with the gift. Edward was a reticent man in his late fifties, but he approached his job with dedication and skill. In no time, the clinic seemed transformed, and patients were receiving better care than ever.
It was a good thing they didn’t need her so much right now, she told herself, as she found Susan and Edward in the lab, heads bent over lab samples. She was glad not to be leaving them shorthanded for the next week. Of course, she was going to miss her work, but Tiernan had requested—actually asked, not demanded—she clear her calendar for the next eight days to help him keep the daughters from the Republic of Texas entertained. He had also recruited Cleo.
“Susan?”
The woman looked up, and there was a hint of color in her cheeks. Madison speculated they might have been discussing something other than medical results and bit back a giggle. “I wanted to let you know I won’t be in next week.” She pulled a face. “Tiernan has some diplomatic thing with Texas dignitaries and has asked me to be available.”
“Oh, that sounds fun.”
Madison laughed. “No, not really, but maybe it won’t be so bad. I’m supposed to keep the Germaine daughters entertained, so it’s mostly socializing and niceties.” She grimaced. “Not my favorite things.”
“Perhaps one of them will need an emergency tourniquet,” said Edward in his deep voice, clearly making an attempt at a joke. “You’re getting quite good with those.”
Chuckling, she shook her head. “One can hope.” It would be nice if keeping the girls amused weren’t too awful or boring. Not that she wanted anyone to start bleeding. That was more excitement than she needed.
*****
The Germaines had arrived by the time she got home, but she wasn’t due to meet them until dinner, so Madison focused on making herself presentable. She selected a full-length royal blue gown that swept the floor. With Cleo’s help, she pinned up her hair and managed to apply a light mask of cosmetics, a skill that still eluded her with any level of competency.
Cleo wore a striking white dress with a slit to mid-thigh that Madison eyed dubiously. “You told me to dress demurely tonight.”
Patting her shoulder as they walked across the sitting room to make their way downstairs, she said, “Of course I did.”
Madison nibbled on her lip, grimacing at the taste of lipstick, as she searched for a tactful way to express her doubts. “It’s just…um, your dress…”
Cleo grinned. “Not at all demure, is it?”
Madison sighed with relief since her friend already knew. “Not really.”
Chuckling, Cleo said, “I told you to dress demurely because you’re young and will remind Tex of his daughters. They will also feel more at ease with you wearing their attire.” Smoothing a dark hand down the white dress, she said, “Me, I’m sexing it up, simply because Tex is a dirty old man and likes to stare at my legs and breasts. It will be a useful distraction for Tiernan, if the old man starts leading the conversation where he doesn’t want it to go.”
“Oh.” She shuddered. “Won’t it be gross having him ogling you?”
Cleo shrugged. “Maybe if he was touching, but it’s just looking.”
They entered the sitting room off the dining room to find Tiernan already present, along with a chubby older man with florid cheeks. Another man in his mid- to late-forties was also present, along with Aidan. Two women sat in chairs sipping amber liquid from delicate crystal glasses. The third stood near the man in his forties, her eyes full of adoration. It was also present in his when he occasionally glanced at her and smiled.
“Ah, welcome, ladies,” said Tiernan, walking over to meet them. He put his arm through Madison’s and cupped a hand under Cleo’s elbow to lead them across the room. “Colonel Germaine, this is Madison Cole, and you remember Cleo?”
The old man cast a salivating look at Cleo, but his expression was respectful when he looked over Madison. “How do you do, Miss Cole? I’m the president of the Republic of Texas. My days as a colonel are long over.” He patted his paunch for emphasis.
She summoned a smile. “Nonsense. I’m sure you could still lead an army.”
He chuckled. “Straight t
o the dinner table, Miss Cole.”
Madison laughed, enjoying the sparkle in his eyes. She’d been expecting a disgusting old man, but he was charming. “Call me Madison, please.”
He tipped his head, as though accustomed to a hat that wasn’t there this evening. “And you must call me Tex.” He turned to greet Cleo with a little leer, but it was obvious he was harmless.
Tiernan led her over to the others, followed by Cleo arm-in-arm with Tex. “This is Cody Warren, the president’s top advisor, and his wife, Pru Warren—also Tex’s daughter.” After she shook their hands and traded greetings, he took her to the seated girls. “These lovely ladies are May and Bea Germaine, more of the president’s daughters.”