Escaping Love

by Debra Smith

  “God, Kane, I’d love to see your home and make fun of it,” Alex snapped.

  “I don’t have a home,” he admitted quietly.

  Silence saturated the air, and Alex seemed as though she wanted to apologize, but instead she sat beside him solemnly.

  “There, look.” He pointed to the cabin at the base of the mountain. Large windows faced north, and a wooden barn sat to the left along with, stables, and corrals. Longhorns were encased by a circular metal pen waiting to be released to graze. Their heads turned to view the strangers driving up the road. Cody, a blue healer, ran from the open barn door barking a welcome followed by Clara.

  His heart squeezed at the sight of her long hair blowing in the wind as she removed her leather gloves and threw some hay in the trough for the horses.

  “Who’s that?” Alex asked, sitting upright in her chair.

  “Well, she’s as close to a mother as I’ve ever had. That’s Clara.”

  He couldn’t stop the grin currently taking up half of his face. His adopted mother ran down to the side of the Jeep as he threw the door open and waited for her embrace.

  “Clint! What a surprise. It’s so good to see you.”

  He waited patiently for the kisses and hugs to subside.

  “Hi, Clara.”

  “Get out of the rust-bucket and let me look at you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He crawled out of the Jeep and couldn’t stop smiling. His cheeks ached, but he didn’t care. It’d been too long.

  She looked him up and down then frowned. “Just look at you, covered in dirt. You haven’t shaved.” Her gaze caught the pile of empty candy wrappers. “Clint Chester Montgomery, did you eat all of that candy? Boy, it’s amazing you haven’t got diabetes from all that sugar. Get your stuff, introduce your friends, and let’s get a proper meal in you.”

  He lifted her off the ground for a hug any bear would be proud of and set her gently to her feet.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Well come on, ya’ll. I’ll get the vittles ready.” She beamed.

  “Vittles?” Kane looked confused.

  Alex’s laughter bubbled out of her, doing something altogether different to his stomach as she explained, “Food.”

  “Yeah, it’s official. I’m in hell.” Kane shook his head.

  Clint punched him in the shoulder. “Watch your language around my momma.”

  Chapter Five

  Meat as far as the eye could see, sat before her, ready for her consumption. Her stomach recoiled. She liked meat just as much as the next person but this was overkill, beat to death with a stick of butter, wrapped in bacon.

  The only vegetable was fried potatoes, if you could even consider them a vegetable. What she wouldn’t give for fresh papaya drizzled with lime. Her stomach growled.

  “Are you not hungry, darlin’?” Clint popped another piece of medium rare ribeye in his mouth.

  “I’m just not feeling well is all.”

  She spread her food around on her plate, trying not to draw attention to herself.

  “So little lady, what put a spur in your side, getting you to run away from your family like that? I bet your mother is madder than a wet hen.”

  Shitballs.

  She only understood about half of what the woman said but from her tone, the way her hands rested firmly on her hips while she tapped her foot, Alex knew she was in deep trouble. Part of her wanted to tell the lady to mind her own business. She didn’t owe anyone an explanation except for maybe Clint and that was because he lost his home in the process.

  In the beginning everything was clear. Her reasons for leaving had her thinking she was doing the right thing. But now, facing the question in front of stranger, she couldn’t seem to justify the means. It made her angry at herself but mostly sad. Sitting at the table, she soaked up the sight of the expectant faces surrounding her and just came up short.

  She opened her mouth to say something, anything to make herself seem less of a spoiled brat, but nothing came out. If a hole opened in the floor, leading to the pits of hell, she would have jumped in ready to face the devil rather than the motherly woman in front of her.

  “I don’t really know what to say. When I left I felt like there was nothing I could do. I tried to talk to my parents but they replied by saying my duty was to my Clan. What I wanted didn’t matter, my dreams didn’t matter. I felt helpless, on display in a gilded cage like an animal. If I hadn’t left, I would have been sold to the highest bidder. Well, not sold for money but for influence. And if you ask me it’s the same thing. I’m not a thing no matter how rare or special I’m supposed to be. I wanted a choice, no one gave it to me, so I took it.”

  Risking a glance at the people surrounding the table, she noticed Clint’s white knuckles currently crushing a cup.

  “You don’t really mean sold, do you?” Clara hedged.

  Suppressing a shiver, she relived the conversation with her mother meant to prepare her for the barbaric custom.

  “Yeah, they church it up by saying calling it the Presentation to the Clans, but it’s a meat auction. I have to wear an ancient gold collar as I walk around for their viewing pleasure in my animal form. Then when they are done ogling my rarity, I am ordered to shift. The collar stays with me in both forms. The Clans present my family with offers or bids as I like to call them. When one is accepted, I would have to mate the leader regardless of my feelings. I thought that maybe the queen could help me.”

  “Goodness gracious, they parade you around like a prized mare then send you off with whomever they deem worthy. No wonder you ran. You can stay here as long as you need.”

  Gratefulness lodged in her throat, causing her to choke out, “Thanks,” while she threated her stinging eyes with a sound gouging if they dare shed a single tear. Alex had nowhere else to go. Forcing Clint to protect her by invoking Hospitality seemed like the best choice at the time, but now, facing down the kindness of a stranger, she wasn’t so sure. A huge pile of flaming dung was at the door, and she sat at the top.

  Kane shifted in his seat, seeming uncomfortable, then he cocked his head to the side. “Someone’s coming. Take the women to the back and I’ll greet our uninvited guest.”

  Blood rushed in her ears. She wouldn’t be surprised if Clint could hear it. Clara moved around the table and followed as he ushered them into one of the back bedrooms. Sliding glass doors led to a deck and an alternate escape route.

  She’d done this to them. The danger lurking outside was there for her. She could just give herself up. Even after everything, it would be better than letting these people get hurt. Being someone’s possession couldn’t be that bad. Right?

  Bile rose in the back of her throat, stinging while she forced it back down in her own personal internal hell. She’d almost believed her own lie for a moment. Eyeing the window, she believed she could slip away while Clint focused on the events unfolding in the next room. Her speed would allow her to run again, at least freeing these people.

  Her gaze drifted to Clint’s deadly posture. His muscles bunched under the cotton of his shirt, reminding her of a feline. Even though she would never tell him, so she wouldn’t insult his canine pride. He crouched by the door, waiting for his prey.

  With her shifter hearing she did her best to interpret the sounds coming from the other room. The hinges of the door softly rubbed against each other then the sound of a scuffle had her tempted to peer down the hall to get a peek. What sounded like plates crashed to the floor, and the sound of glass shattering mixed with grunts and curses followed by a female voice.

  “What in the world are you doing in my house?”

  “God damn it, female, get that steak knife away from my throat.”

  “Jesse!” Clara pushed past a grinning Clint and made tracks for the kitchen.

  “Lord, child, I didn’t expect you till tomorrow.”

  Before following the others Alex remembered the photo of the beautiful woman next to Clint in the picture on his dre
sser. Gorgeous didn’t begin to describe the woman. Alex’s eyebrows drew together, and she shrugged away her thoughts. She didn’t have a claim to Clint so why were her claws digging into her palms?

  Despite her confusion, she couldn’t help the grin spilling across her face. Plates that had once been full of uneaten food now decorated the floor in the form of a messed-up puzzle. Several pounds of meat lay at the feet of Jesse and a fuming Kane. She still held his hand in what must be an aching position with a steak knife pressed firmly into his neck directly above the major artery running just beneath the skin. One false move and Kane would meet his maker. Alex briefly wondered who would claim the cursed shifter, God or the Devil?

  The woman stood seeming completely unaffected by the huge male at the tips of her fingers. Alex took in Kane’s face. She guessed he was handsome in his own dark, bad boy sort of way. His face reminded her of a marble sculpture—all hard lines but mostly unmoving. Except for now. He scowled at Clint but made no move to disarm Jesse.

  “Jesse May Jones, let go of the man and give me a hug.”

  She did as he asked and skipped, literally skipped over to Clint, threw herself into his arms and wrapped her entire body around him as he lifted her off the ground and spun her around. Alex was going to puke.

  “Careful, Little Cat, your fangs are showing.”

  “Shut up, Kane. At least I didn’t get caught off guard by a human.”

  He made no excuse but shrugged his shoulder as if it didn’t bother him, but she could tell his demeanor was off a little.

  ~****~

  Clint’s heart warmed as familiar laughter filled his ears. Home. He noticed the Little Cat’s face sharpen in what he hoped was jealousy. He gave Jesse a little twirl to spark a more feeling from the woman invading his senses. Her taste lingered on his lips from the kiss in his cabin even after he tried overwhelming her sweetness with his Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Nothing diluted the way she filled his body. Even now the scent of her anger made him want to take her to the barn and make her purr with the pleasure only he could bring to her.

  Frankly the feelings toward her stuck in his muzzle. If he knew kissing her would do this to him, he would have braved the coming explosion of his cabin. Even that had to be better than the constant ache behind his ribs.

  Focusing on the bouncing girl in his arms he sat her down and looked her up and down. Not sexually but like a big brother would his little sister.

  “Wow, you sure have grown, darlin’.”

  “Well, what do you expect? It has been forever since you’ve been home. You seem to forget I’m not all pigtails and freckles anymore.”

  Clara cut in. “I can’t believe we’re all here. I’m gonna make some campfire chili and some honey’d cornbread for supper.”

  The redhead placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “You know I don’t eat that stuff.”

  “Yeah,” Clara shook her head, “I know you’re a vegetarian, but I keep hopin’ some of the sense God gave ya would change your mind.”

  Everything was the same. Jesse still detested meat, and Clara still tried to get her to eat it.

  “Don’t worry, I stopped at the store in Casper and grabbed what I needed. Lord knows, your definition of a vegetable is different than mine.”

  “Thank goodness.” Alex’s face turned a pretty pink. “I mean that I’ve been craving some fresh fruit and veggies.”

  Clint started to laugh but faked a cough in a pathetic attempt to cover it up.

  “See, Momma, I’m not the only one that likes a little variety.”

  “What? I serve potatoes at every meal. It’s a vegetable.”

  Jesse shook her head and regarded Clint. “Come help me get the groceries out of the car.”

  His shifter hearing picked up a slight rumble in the direction of the little hell cat. She was growling—how fascinating.

  “Sure darlin’, I’d be happy to help.”

  The rumble grew a little louder as he threw his arm around Jesse’s shoulders and led her through the door to the front of the house and her waiting pickup.

  Once out of the view of the kitchen windows, she pushed his arm off her and punched him in the chest.

  “Ow, that hurt.”

  She shook out her hand and glared at him. “You’re just plain mean. She likes you.”

  He lifted his shoulder. “Naw, couldn’t be.”

  “Yeah, okay. Men are idiots. Quit grinning like a baboon and grab the two bags from the back seat.”

  “Man, city life sure has made you bossy.”

  She scowled at him then flashed him her famous grin.” Don’t you forget it.”

  Opening the rear door of the car he pulled out the groceries, manhandling the overfull bags.

  “So, what kind of trouble are you in this time?” She grinned mischievously.

  “Trouble? I’m not in any kind of trouble.”

  She snorted. “Sure, the only time you come home is when you’ve got trouble nipping at your heels like a pack of coyotes.”

  Coyotes no, but jackals? That hit a little closer to home. But he wasn’t about to tell her that. Before he could muster an argument, she continued. “Last time you came home, you had to get away from that clingy brunette…Cindy. Yep, that was her name. Little spitfire, that one. Didn’t she shoot you?”

  “No, she didn’t shoot me. She shot in the general direction of my person.”

  “How do you sleep at night?”

  “Very well, thanks for inquiring?”

  Laughter bubbled out of her. He had a sneaking suspicion it was directed at him, not with him.

  “So since you are not in trouble I can hang around and get to know that fellow you brought with you. What’s his name anyway?”

  “It’s Kane and no, you can’t,” he growled. “He’s bad news.”

  “Can’t be that bad if you brought him here.”

  “I didn’t have choice. I had to get away from—”

  “I thought you said you weren’t in trouble. Sounds like trouble to me. Don’t you growl at me, Clint. You’ve been doing since we were kids, and it isn’t any more appealing now that we’re grown.”

  “Sorry.”

  “So tell me about the pretty little city girl in the house.”

  “Not much to tell.” He hated not being able to share everything with her, but because she was human he had no other choice but to lie. It sat sour in his stomach like rotten meat.

  “I’m looking after her till Gryph and Jenny get home from their honeymoon.”

  She paused for a moment and gave him a slight nod.

  “Let’s get these inside.”

  “Sure, but there’s one thing I need you to do for me. I want you to go stay at your cabin.”

  “W-what cabin?”

  “Don’t play coy with me. I know you have your own place. Why haven’t you told us about it yet?”

  “I didn’t want Momma to get upset. She almost had a heart attack when I left for school. Could you imagine what would happen if I told her I was moving out for good?”

  “She’s stronger than you think.”

  “Yeah, well I don’t want her life in my hands. And if you say anything before I’m ready then I will tell her whose naughty magazines were found in the trash. To this day she still thinks they were from one of the seasonal hands on the ranch.”

  “You wouldn’t break her heart like that, would you?”

  “Try me.”

  “Good Lord, woman, you sure are mean.”

  Chapter Six

  Alex had to admit sitting around a huge fireplace, drinking homemade apple cider, and laughing at baby pictures of a gangly, awkward Clint took first place for one of the best nights of her life.

  Clara’s smile lit up the room as she handed another compromising picture to Alex for her viewing pleasure.

  Clint whined from across the room, “Not that one. I thought I burned the final copy last time I came home. How the heck do they keep showing up?”

  Alex gaz
ed to the innocent-looking redhead and would put money on the fact she had something to do with it. Confirming her suspicion, Jesse gave her a subtle wink. The girl was growing on her. She envied the easy relationship between the two.

  “It must have been fun to grow up on the ranch together.”

  “It was.” Jesse beamed. “Even though we aren’t blood, it didn’t stop us from acting like it.”

  Her full attention fell to the picture. Holy chicken legs, Batman. She covered her mouth to contain the escaping laughter. The photo captured an awkward, skinny, pre-teen Clint with and oversized cowboy hat on his head. That wasn’t the funny part. The Stetson pushed his ears out, rivaling Dumbo in comparison. Then on top of that, he sported a goofy grin with a missing tooth. A sturdy-looking horse stood beside him with bits of hay sticking out of its muzzle.

  She nodded to Jesse. “Do you have any more of these?”

  “I sure do.”

  “Good, I would like to keep this one.”

  “Sure, help yourself.”

  Yep, they were going be great friends. Even if everything with her family went south and the queen couldn’t help her. She would keep in contact with Clint’s family. Maybe she could send them money or something to thank them for letting her stay with them. No, they would never accept it. She needed to help them in a different way, but how?

  “Momma, I’m gonna go stay with some friends this weekend.”

  Clara’s gaze darted to Clint, and he dipped his chin ever so slightly. “Okay, I should be able to do your chores and mine without any problem since Clint’s home.”

  “I don’t know. Old Gus doesn’t like him. He may get trampled again.”

  “She does have a point. I do like my bits right where they are,” Clint hedged.

  “I can do it.” As soon as the words were out, Alex regretted it. They all looked at her with equal amounts of skepticism and surprise.

  Clint ran his hand through his hair, making errant strands stick up in an annoying but charming sort of way.