Riley smiled at her younger sister and shook her head. Belle was right, and this would be harder than she’d thought. Getting back on her hands and knees, she asked, “You ready?”
“No.” Belle threw her an uneasy grin and grabbed the end of the blanket. It took all their strength, but slowly, they pulled the alien from the wreckage. “Are we taking him home with us?”
Riley glanced at her sister. “Well, we can’t just leave him here.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
No. No, she was not sure. But how did she explain to her sixteen-year-old sister this overwhelming need to help him? Something deep inside tugged at her. A few times while pulling him out, she caught herself staring at his handsome face. No guy had ever made her drool before, but he could. Not that she actually drooled… but still, she frowned at her actions. A silent promise to help him get better and continue on his way satisfied her need to help. Riley didn’t have time to drool over anyone, much less an alien.
Riley did not worry about others finding her or them. Her family lived in a remote area of North Carolina, well hidden by mountains and trees. It was so secluded, you had to know the location to find it. That was the way her parents had liked things to be. They had a small farm near an apple orchard, and they were mostly self-sufficient.
Riley’s mother had died the year before, after battling breast cancer. Now twenty-three, Riley had moved back home two years ago to help with the house and her younger sisters. Since the death of her dad three years prior, she was the only one left to help her mom. There were no aunts or uncles, no grandparents to speak of, and the newborn twins needed full time care. With the cancer, her mom could not handle the load. Riley often wondered if her mom just gave up. In any event, her parents’ deaths made her grow up quickly.
It left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she loved her sisters dearly. Belle helped a lot, and Riley depended on her immensely. Cassidy, at age ten, would also pitch in and help take care of the barely three-year-old twins. They were a handful most days.
The summers were spent raising a garden and canning vegetables. They kept a few chickens for eggs, along with a cow for milk to drink—everything you’d find on a small farm. Riley hunted and fished to provide protein for the family. Her parents had always said they needed to be self-sufficient. And as they watched the alien invasion on TV before the satellites were knocked out, Riley was grateful that her parents taught them how to live independently.
“I need to stop.” Belle dropped the edge of the blanket and collapsed on the ground.
“Me too.” Riley sprawled out on the ground in an unladylike manner. A sheen of sweat coated her forehead, dripped from her nose. He was heavy, and after today, she vowed to get in better shape.
She lay there staring at the blue sky with wisps of clouds and thought about the alien invasion. Not once in her lifetime had she ever looked at the stars and wondered. Her dream had been to see the wonders of the Earth. There were so many amazing things here. The Grand Canyon. Niagara Falls. The Great Pyramids. Riley threw her forearm over her face and squeezed her eyes shut. It didn’t matter anymore; she had four kids to raise. Dreams for herself disappeared with her mother’s death. She glanced at the alien, and for the first time since finding him, she felt regret. Her life centered around her sisters. She couldn’t afford to indulge her own fantasies. She should have left him on the craft. Maybe his own people would have found him?
It didn’t matter now. They were halfway home and away from the shuttle. Time to finish what she’d started.
She rolled onto her side and looked at Belle. “Ready?”
“I guess.”
It took most of the day, inching the injured alien to the house. Riley’s clothes were caked in dirt and sweat. A hefty BO waft from her and Belle, but they finally made it. As soon as they stood in front of the steps, Cassidy and the twins came rushing outside.
“Wow.” Cassidy’s eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped open. She stared at the alien and then eyed the two steps up to the porch. “How are we going to get him in the house?”
“Hmm… that’s a good question, Cassidy.” Riley rubbed her chin, trying to come up with an idea. “Grab some pillows and cover the steps. Hopefully that won’t be so hard on him.”
Cassidy raced inside and grabbed a couple of pillows. After they were in place, everyone, including the twins, grabbed a corner. The little ones were in the way more than they helped, but they tried. Living life sheltered from the evils of the world, her sisters were not afraid of anything.
When they finally reached the living room, Riley and Belle let go of the old blanket and collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. Belle turned her head and half-smiled at her sister. “I can’t believe we did it.”
“Neither can I.” Riley’s entire body ached from exertion as she lay lifeless on the floor. “I’ve got to get in shape.”
“Are we going to leave him there?” Cassidy eyed the alien with short white hair.
“Unless you have a better idea.” Belle quirked an eyebrow at her younger sister, too tired to move him from the living room floor.
“I guess he’s okay as long as we don’t trip over him.” Riley and Belle chuckled softly. Cassidy looked back at her two older sisters and announced, “I made supper.”
Riley closed her eyes and smiled. Yes, she acted as their mother, but they all did their part. They took up the slack and helped when things needed to be done. All of them got along great and made the most of the situation.
“As soon as I can muster enough energy to eat.” And when I’ve had about ten hours of rest.
Chapter Three
Riley
One day turned into two, then three, and the white-haired alien never woke. Riley worried about him; he was a large man and needed to eat. Maybe she should try to find his people, but then what? Lead them all back to her home? Nope, that wasn’t an option. If he didn’t wake soon, she and Belle could drag him back to the scene and hope his people found him. Nope. It gave her a sick feeling in her gut to even consider such a thing.
Instead, she washed his forehead with a cloth and warm water, talking to him when her sisters were in another room.
“I wish you would wake up. You’re safe here, you know.” She gently took the warm, wet cloth and brushed his hair away from his forehead. “I wish I knew why I have this overwhelming need to help you.” She ran the cloth across his strong, chiseled jaw. “I would always help a stranger, but it’s different with you.”
Riley caught herself staring at his hard, sculpted body and then felt guilty. He was injured, and she shouldn’t be lusting over him.
“Are you washing him… again?”
Riley looked over her shoulder. Belle stood with her hands on her hips, one eyebrow raised with an amused expression.
Riley shook her head. She hadn’t heard Belle slip up behind her. “I just want him to know he’s not alone. It isn’t reasonable to leave him on the floor like an object, constantly stepping over him.” She wrung the washcloth out, then stood to face her sister.
“I guess not.” Her lips twitched. “But every time I come in here, I’m either pulling one of the twins off him, or you’re washing him. I think he has plenty of company.”
Riley just shook her head and grinned before walking past Belle. She carried the pan of water to the kitchen. The attraction she felt toward him didn’t make sense, and she wasn’t ready to discuss it with Belle.
Aydan
His head hurt. What had happened? The stabbing pain in the side of his skull should give him a clue, but it didn’t. His head throbbed, pins and needles pelting it. What happened? He tried to recall events. Everything escaped him, and he couldn’t even remember his name. His mind was a blank slate. A blank, throbbing slate.
The light drew him from sleep. When Aydan opened his eyes, he gasped, the pain temporary forgotten. Almost nose to nose, big blue eyes stared back at him. Soft, curly hair brushed his cheeks.
“Haley,” a female yelled, “g
et off him!” The youngling giggled as she touched his face. The female scooped her up and gasped when she saw his eyes open. She was beautiful. Brown, shoulder-length hair framed her creamy, delicate face. Soft, round, blue eyes full of worry and exhaustion. His eyes were drawn to the brown spots sprinkled across her delicate nose.
“You are finally awake.” Her relieved voice caressed his ears. Who was she? For that matter, who was he?
Another little female ambled over and straddled his body as he lay on a hard floor. Giggling, she pointed at his eyes. “Wook, mama, kiddy.”
“Kaley!” She set the one youngling down and grabbed the other. “He is not a kitty.”
The youngling looked serious when she pointed at him. “Kiddy, Kiddy.”
The female threw her hand over her face, dragging it down in a haggard gesture. Her tired eyes stared at him, and he could smell worry and fear. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’m sorry. They are young and curious.”
He spotted the two identical younglings standing beside the female, one on each side of her. Curly yellow hair bounced as they jumped up and down. He smiled as warmth spread throughout his body. The female spoke, gaining his attention once again. “I promise, you are safe here. I’m Riley.” She pointed to the little females. “The one on the left is Haley, and the other one is Kaley. My other sisters will be back soon. Their names are Cassidy and Belle.”
Riley, he thought as darkness claimed him once again.
How long was he out? Where was he? As one thought after another floated through his mind, he slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a couple of times, trying to clear the fog from his head.
Rays of sunshine cascaded into the room through a window covered by thin, flowered curtains. But the heat that warmed his face came from the opposite direction. Slowly, he rolled his head to see a massive stone fireplace. He closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of the crackling fire. Memories still escaped him as he tried to recall something—anything—about his life. Who was he? How did he get here?
“You ’wake?” He turned to the sound; a youngling stood over him. Only croaking noises came out when he tried to answer. He carefully pushed up to a sitting position, and the youngling plopped down on his lap. “Kiddy ’wake,” she grinned.
Aydan stared in awe. She was missing some teeth, and the ones she had were very tiny. How did she eat?
“Mama, Kiddy ’wake!” An identical youngling yelled from his left.
He whipped his head around and then immediately regretted it. “Aww…” Stabbing pains shot through the side of his head. When he covered the area with his hand, he felt the knot. Why did he have it?
A female rounded the corner and stopped short. “Kaley, get off him,” she ordered in a tight, controlled voice. The little one moved away and stood by…. He couldn’t remember. Sish!
The female squatted until she was at eye level. “I’m really sorry about that.” Her face, soft and warm, held a tight smile. He wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, tell her that it was all right. The little ones were not bothering him. He smiled back and regretted it when her eyes widened in fear. Not knowing the reason, he clamped his lips together and averted his gaze.
“I’m sorry.” When he glanced at her once again, her face held the same warm smile as before. “Can you understand me when I talk?” He nodded. Of course he could understand her. “Okay, good. You’ve been out for a few days, and I know you must be hungry. I’m going to get you something to eat and drink. I’ll be right back.”
Watching her leave, he was startled when the two younglings plopped down on his lap. “Are wou a kiddy?” Not understanding anything she said, Aydan stared at her tiny features in amazement. “I haf a kiddy. An’ dog. An’ cow. An’ bees.”
The youngling held up a finger for each item she had; Aydan stared incredulously and let out a little laugh. The other little female dipped her head, trying to see inside his mouth. She then stuck her finger against his lips, trying to pull them away from his teeth. “Wou got big tees.” Now the other little female joined in, both grabbing at his lips, trying to pull them open. All he could do was turn his head away and wonder why they were so fascinated.
Riley came strolling in, carrying a tray. When she spotted the three of them, she sighed loudly in exasperation. “Girls, what have I told you?” They scrambled away just as she knelt beside him. “I am so sorry. I can’t watch them 24/7. I hope they won’t bother you too much.”
She handed him a cup, which he gladly accepted. He wrapped both hands around the cool plastic. “It’s water.” Good, he needed that. The cold liquid slid down his throat, moistening his dry mouth. When he handed the cup back, she handed him a bowl. Instinctively, he held the bowl to his nose and sniffed. The aroma was different, strange, but deliciously enticing. His stomach rumbled loudly. “See, I knew you were hungry.” She nodded to the bowl. “It’s vegetable beef soup. If you tolerate that, I’ll make you some real food.”
He softened his eyes as he accepted the bowl. Her thoughtfulness and concern for his well-being warmed his heart. Maybe she knew him, but with the way they acted around him, Aydan doubted it.
He lifted the bowl to his lips and swallowed his first bite of the food she called soup. The flavors tasted odd but delicious on his tongue as they mingled together before sliding down his throat.
When he finished the entire bowl, he handed it back to Riley just as the door burst open. Aydan jumped to his feet, ready to defend the females.
Two other females came strolling in, one younger than the other.
“It’s your turn to milk the cow,” the younger one said.
“I did it yesterday, so it’s…” They both spotted him standing there. The older one grinned, although her eyes held a hint of fear. “Glad you’re finally awake, alien man. Did you know that you’re heavy? I’m still sore from that day.”
Aydan frowned. What was she talking about? What day, and why would someone as small as her even attempt to carry him? Nothing she said made sense.
“Belle,” Aydan’s head turned toward Riley as she spoke. “I know it’s my turn to milk the cow, but I’m kind of busy. Be a sweetheart and do it for me while I fix breakfast.”
Belle sighed loudly, gave her an exasperated look, then grabbed a bucket and left the house, the door slamming shut behind her. Riley watched her leave and then smiled at their guest. “That was my sister Belle, and this is Cassidy.”
Cassidy stood wide-eyed, staring at him. Not understanding the reason, he frowned. What was wrong with him?
“Cassidy, quit being rude.”
Cassidy’s eyes reluctantly slid from his to Riley’s. “Sorry, sis.”
“It’s okay. Come on, help me fix breakfast.” As Cassidy left, Riley twisted her hands together. “Just rest. You’ve been through a lot.”
He watched them walk away, still wondering what the sish was going on.
Chapter Four
Aydan
As Aydan watched them walk away, he sat down on the old, sagging couch and closed his eyes. He needed to recall what happened, figure out who he was. He yawned, even though he shouldn’t be tired. Maybe some food would make him feel better, help clear his mind of the lingering fog that blocked his memories.
Two small arms wrapped around his neck, startling him from thought. “It all right, kiddy, wou safe here.”
This tiny female tried to comfort him, and surprisingly, she did. The other one climbed up on his other side and laid her head on his shoulder. They were sweet, curious. Aydan wrapped an arm around each of them and leaned back on the couch. The two younglings snuggled in close as he hugged them tight and closed his eyes once again.
A slight touch to his shoulder startled him awake. His eyes popped open only to see Riley smiling down at him.
“Breakfast is ready. You need to eat, and then you can go back to sleep.” She nodded toward a small corridor. “Come on.”
He pushed up from the soft brown couch and followed her down the corridor. Both h
is shoulders almost touched the walls. He ducked to miss a light fixture that hung from the ceiling. The dwelling was too small for his large frame.
When they entered the dining hall, a small wooden table sat in the middle, surrounded by seven chairs.
Riley nodded to a chair as she set a circular tray of food down in the center. He gently lowered himself down and sniffed. The aroma made his mouth water and his stomach growl as it gnawed at his insides. He was famished.
Riley
Riley flittered around the kitchen as nervous butterflies filled her stomach. What was wrong with her? Never had she felt this out of control. She was the level-headed one, always thinking things through, making rational decisions. Nothing about this situation was rational.
At age eighteen, she’d left home to pursue her dream. She wanted to tour the world, backpack from town to town. She took odd jobs to replenish her money and then moved on. A free spirit. That lasted about two years until she finally settled down in one spot. Taking a job as a waitress at the local diner provided enough income for one person. She rented a garage apartment and enrolled in community college. The owner took pity on her before they became good friends.
Roxy owned the apartment and the diner where she worked—an older lady with bottled, fire-red hair, deep-set wrinkles, and slightly yellowing teeth. She treated Riley as a friend, not acting as a parent. Without Roxy’s help, Riley didn’t know if she could have made ends meet. Her confidence in herself had skyrocketed since leaving home. She was making good decisions, proving to herself she could do it.
Oh, she still had more places to visit, that would never change. But with a college degree, she could vacation more often and see the sights.
Then the dreaded call came. She was working at the diner one evening when Roxy called out, “Riley, phone call.”
It startled her, and worry creased her brow. No one ever called her. She put down the load of dirty dishes and wiped her hands on a towel. She rounded the counter and grabbed the phone. “Thanks, Roxy.” Lifting the phone to her ear, she croaked out, “Hello?”
Aydan (The Azziarin Series Book 6) Page 2