Cashing In (Luck's Voice Book 2)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “I’ve heard some of them talk, and I’ve seen Daf, but…”

  “I can check on you and your child, if you’d like,” Doc offered.

  “It won’t hurt them, will it?”

  “I wouldn’t do it if there was even the slightest chance of that.”

  “What do I need to do?” Cassia asked slowly.

  “Just give me your hand,” Doc said, putting his right hand, palm up, on the table.

  Cassia’s brow furrowed, but she did as he asked. A moment later, their hands were coated in green glowing energy, and Cassia’s eyes went wide.

  She’s mostly healthy. A little low on iron, though. Definitely needs to eat more meat, Doc thought before he focused on the growing child. Perfectly healthy. No worries there, as long as Cassia brings her iron up.

  The glow faded before Doc said, “The child is perfectly fine, but you’re a little anemic, which could impact them.” Seeing her confusion, he tried to clarify, “You’re low on iron.” Her brow furrowed more and he sighed. “Your blood is low in iron. Eat more red meat, and it’ll give you what you need.”

  “I… okay?” Cassia said with confusion, clearly still lost.

  “The only thing you need to remember is to get more red meat in your diet. You don’t have to go overboard, but increase it a little, at least. I can check you again in a few days to make sure things are improving. If you start feeling fatigued, let me know at once.”

  “I will,” Cassia said.

  “Good. Your child should be strong and healthy as long as you are.”

  “The light?” Cassia asked slowly.

  “A gift from Lady Luck to me,” Doc said. “It’s how I heal others.”

  “Oh. It felt warm,” Cassia said.

  “Sonya said the same thing,” Doc replied. “You okay?”

  “Yes. It just reminded me of Wenn,” Cassia said with a sad smile. “He used to hold me at night, and it reminded me of that.” There was a pause before she asked, “Do you think she’ll look after him for me?”

  “He’s told me he’s had her favor before. I’m sure she’s still got an eye on him,” Doc replied. “Doesn’t mean he’ll be safe from everything, but even a little safer is good.”

  Cassia got to her feet. “Yes. I’ll make sure to thank her later. Thank you, Doc. I’ll work on this.” She held up the papers a little.

  “Thank you, Cassia.”

  ~*~*~

  Stepping into the main room of the Lily, Doc smiled as he heard a familiar song being played by Heather. Moving over to the piano, he watched her work through the song, adding her own personal flair to it.

  “What did you think?” Heather asked when she ended the song on a flourish.

  “That you’re very skilled,” Doc grinned. “I had a favor to ask.”

  “Okay, as long as you teach me a new song,” Heather said.

  “Funnily enough,” Doc chuckled and handed over the sheet music, “I want you to play this when Cassia asks you to. She has the other set, since she’ll be singing. I don’t want you to practice it here, though. I want it to be a surprise for Lia.”

  Heather’s hand paused just short of the sheet music. “For Lia?”

  “Yes. I think she’ll like it, and it was her words that inspired me to do this,” Doc said.

  “I had no idea...” Heather murmured. “Very well, Doc. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow.”

  “Thanks,” Doc smiled. “I’m free if you want to play a duet or two.”

  Heather’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to.”

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Doc lay still as he listened to the light snoring coming from both sides. Need a bigger room and bed, Doc thought as he listened to his two wives sleeping peacefully. Maybe one with metal springs. This thing’s about to collapse with the use it’s getting. If only I had magic that could shape things... man, talk about an easy way to make a difference.

  “Morning, Doc,” Fiala murmured as she pushed her ass against his semi-hard cock.

  “Morning to you, too,” Doc whispered, kissing the tip of her ear. “Don’t do that. We’ll wake Sonya if you do.”

  “I’m awake,” Sonya said, her leg going over his. “This bed isn’t good for multiple partners. I don’t know how you managed it with the others.”

  “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Doc chuckled. “Both feeling better, are you?”

  “That woman is driving us hard,” Fiala sighed and stopped teasing him, “but we’re applying ourselves. You might need to help Ayla this morning. She was as bad as we both were.”

  “I’ll ask at breakfast,” Doc said. “We need to see about a bigger room, or at least a bigger bed. Maybe a fancy one that isn’t just straw or the like shoved into a case?”

  “There are spring mattresses, but they’re expensive,” Sonya said. “I heard a rumor that Elder Becker has one in her home.”

  “I’ll have to talk to her about where to get one, then,” Doc said. “I’m glad you’re both feeling better. Between your thighs and general tiredness, I was concerned.

  “I’m surprised I was as tired as I was,” Sonya said, kissing his neck.

  “Learning how to care for and ride a horse is hard work,” Doc said.

  A soft knock on the door told them that Posy had left their water for them, and Fiala sighed again as she got out of bed. “Wash, breakfast, and back to her…”

  “It’s for Doc and us, so it’s worth it,” Sonya said and climbed over Doc, pausing to kiss him briefly. “Maybe tonight, we won’t be as tired?”

  “Hmm, I think you two might need to skip today. I need Ayla for the bank, as it is.”

  “I won’t complain,” Fiala said. “I don’t want to tell Chruxia, though.”

  “I’ll handle it,” Doc said. “Should be able to before I go.”

  “Just going to lay there while we get ready?” Sonya asked, glancing down at Doc’s rising interest.

  “Well, only one person can wash up at a time and, besides, the view is fantastic,” Doc grinned.

  Fiala laughed as she began to wet the washcloth. “He does this all the time. Why don’t you get a little while I wash, and then I’ll take over while you have your turn?”

  “Deal,” Sonya said. “Lose that blanket, please?”

  Doc didn’t need more encouragement. Pushing the blanket down allowed his standing pride to be seen. “How do you want it?”

  “I think I want to work more on… what did you call it again…? A blowjob?” Sonya asked, then slipped into bed.

  ~*~*~

  The three of them found Lia, Ayla, and Chruxia in the dining room, waiting for them.

  “At least it’s earlier than yesterday,” Chruxia snorted halfway through her breakfast.

  Ayla’s face betrayed a couple of emotions before she looked back down at her food, quickly taking another bite.

  “Actually,” Doc said, “I wanted to see if we could push off their lesson today. I need Ayla for work, and I think it’d be better if they were all on the same page.”

  Chruxia arched an eyebrow as she chewed. Once she swallowed, she gave voice to what was on her mind, “That’s what you want to go with?”

  “I always try the truth,” Doc replied as he took his seat. “Ayla is my finance manager, and I’ll need her when the bank gets the rest of my money in.”

  Chruxia looked to Lia. “I’d charge a quarter, since food was provided.”

  Lia looked at Ayla. “Well?”

  “I’ll make sure it’s paid,” Ayla said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

  Chruxia chuckled. “Don’t take too many days off. It won’t get any easier if you do.” Downing the last of her cup of coffee, she got to her feet. “You all have a good day, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you out, Zava,” Lia said.

  When Lia and Chruxia left, Posy came in with food and drink for the three who hadn’t started breakfast yet. “Sorry the water wasn’t hot today, but you didn’t answer when I knocked the firs
t time,” Posy told Doc when she served him.

  “Didn’t mean to sleep in,” Doc told her. “Thank you for the second knock.”

  Posy beamed and left after collecting the empty plates.

  “Ayla, did you want me to heal the soreness for you?” Doc asked.

  Ayla shifted in her seat. “If it’s not a problem. It made it hard to sleep last night.”

  “Sorry about that,” Doc said. “Just come by and have dinner with us when you have lessons, and I can help if you need it. Oh, I’ll probably have another big expenditure soon. I need to talk with Elder Becker to find out what it might cost, though.”

  “What’s that?” Ayla asked as she finished her meal.

  “A real bed,” Doc replied, “one big enough for all of us.”

  Ayla’s cheeks heated and she looked away from the three of them. “Oh, yes, I can see where that would be necessary. A bed big enough for three. What do you mean by real bed?”

  “Metal springs,” Doc clarified after swallowing a bite.

  “Those are very nice beds. Expensive, but you can more than afford one. It’ll be shipping it here that’s the problem. It’d take a significant time. You can probably get the dwarves to make one faster and cheaper, if not to the same quality.”

  “You’ve slept on one,” Doc said, seeing the knowing in her eyes.

  “I brought one with me when I came here,” Ayla admitted. “It helps me sleep, but not when I have sore thighs, it seems.”

  Doc chuckled around his bite of food, swallowing before he could choke. “You won’t have that problem going forward.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Since we have the day off,” Fiala said, “Sonya and I are going to her old home to gather her things.”

  “And to see the seamstress,” Sonya added. “I need to collect my money, first.”

  “Hmm. Ayla, can we set them up with access to my personal account?” Doc asked.

  “Of course,” Ayla replied.

  “Doc, you don’t need to,” Fiala said. “We both have money.”

  “Okay,” Doc said, “but you’re my wives, and I want to take care of you both.”

  “It’s entirely possible,” Ayla said. “They’d need to come with us to be registered to the account. It might take a little while as the… person… who’d do that is an idiot.”

  Fiala snickered. “Not a fan?”

  “She’s good for only one thing,” Ayla said tightly, “and that’s the least useful part of what Goodman demands from that job.”

  Sonya blushed slightly. “Oh...”

  Ayla cleared her throat, her own cheeks heating again. “Yes.”

  “At least you won’t be in that position again,” Fiala said, watching Ayla closely. “Doc would never coerce you into that type of thing.”

  Ayla smiled, but there was a brief flicker of something else. “Yes. Doc is worth a million Goodmans.”

  “Maybe not financially, but in every other way, probably,” Doc chuckled. “No idea when the money might come in, so we might have time to kill.”

  Posy came rushing into the room. “Doc, Lia sent me to tell you the bank’s wagon is coming into town now.”

  Doc pushed his plate away and got to his feet. “Ladies, go ahead and finish eating. This is going to take a while anyway.”

  Sonya nodded. “As you wish, Doc.”

  Fiala had been about to push her plate away, too, but instead, gave Doc a smile. “Very well, husband. We won’t keep you waiting long.”

  ~*~*~

  Doc made sure he healed Ayla before they left so she could walk normally. “How was it?” he asked her as they walked through the main room.

  “Difficult, but I’m fast to learn,” Ayla said. “It’s just steps and understanding.”

  Doc frowned as they left the Lily. The tables didn’t seem as busy as normal, but his attention was called away by something else. Coming down the street toward the bank was an armored wagon. Two men sat on top of it behind steel walls, looking like lookouts in a crow’s nest, armed with rifles. The driver held the reins to the four mounts, but they weren’t horses. The things pulling the wagon had the shape of horses, but they were mechanical. Each had a glowing gem set behind a wire cage in their forehead.

  “That’s... different,” Doc said, his pace slowing as he stared.

  “Armored wagons are needed for money transport to deter all but the most brazen highwaymen,” Ayla said.

  “No, I meant the horses.”

  “Oh, crafted by the best smiths and powered by soul stones,” Ayla said. “Some of what you produce from the mine will likely be used in the construction of similar mounts.”

  “And on the trains?” Doc asked.

  “With the high-quality stones produced, yes. In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, I believe you can keep a small percentage for yourself. I’m not positive on the laws regarding that, though.”

  “We need a lawyer,” Doc sighed. “Need to find out about collaring Rosa, still, too. She agreed to it.”

  Ayla nearly fell, stumbling a step at his words. “She agreed? Dryads fight tooth and nail to avoid being captured!”

  “Well, Rosa’s special,” Doc said before laughing softly, “or maybe I am. Either way, she agreed. Fiala heard her. I need to make sure she can go with us safely.”

  “I see,” Ayla said. “That does put more emphasis on finding out.”

  Doc finally took his eyes off the wagon as it came to a stop in front of the bank. In doing so, he found something else to draw his eye— the Gold Strike. A group of people were lined up outside the door, obviously waiting to go inside.

  “Any idea what that’s about?” Doc asked, motioning to the line.

  “No. I’m sure we can find out, though.”

  “After the bank,” Doc said as they crossed the street.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  One of the coachmen had made it inside before them and was speaking to the guard standing by the mayor’s door. “Look, I don’t care if it’s him or her, just get me someone who’s authorized to sign off on this.”

  “I already told you— Goodman isn’t here, and the assistant’s busy.”

  “Obviously not with Goodman,” Ayla said acidly as she walked toward the arguing pair.

  “Oh, thank Apoc,” the coachman said, turning to Ayla. “We have the money that the branch requested. We just need you to sign for it.”

  Ayla gave the man a polite smile. “I can’t. I don’t work for that pig anymore. In fact, your delivery is because of my new employer’s mine. I warned Goodman before that he needed to have more than double what he had in holding, but he never did.”

  The coachman grimaced and glanced at Doc. “Couldn’t wait for a normal dispatch?”

  “He upset the head of finance,” Doc shrugged.

  Before more could be said, the secretary came out of Goodman’s office, fixing her skirt, with a man behind her. “Oh! Uh…”

  “Shut it!” Ayla snapped at her. “It’s plainly obvious what was happening. Just sign the paperwork.”

  The mystery man hurried over to the teller cages, looking down at the floor.

  The secretary, Clamet, went red, then white. “Jealous, much?”

  Ayla laughed. “Of what? You whoring yourself out to Goodman, and then to Steinagel? Kenneth isn’t going to say no to a tumble, not when he can say he’s fucking the boss over by fucking you.”

  Kenneth wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes as he ducked behind the counter.

  “Stop!” the coachman snapped. “Save the damned catfight for later. You’re the new assistant bank manager?”

  Clamet straightened her jacket. “I am.”

  “Then fucking sign,” he growled, thrusting the clipboard at her.

  “Behave,” the guard snorted.

  The coachman looked at the bestial and shook his head. “Don’t. You might think your boss is big, but he answers to my boss’ boss. You interfere and you won’t have a job anywhere in this territory.”

&
nbsp; The guard blinked slowly before backing up a step. “Do it,” he told Clamet.

  Clamet took the clipboard and signed the papers without reading them, then thrust it back to the coachman. “There, it’s signed. Just store it and go.”