Riley's Pride

by Sandra R Neeley

  Riley barked out a loud laugh, realizing Cristie had decided the stuffed, silver-furred dog looked like Maverik and even named it after him.

  “Oh, so you have a wife,” the woman said to Riley, “Sorry, I didn’t mean any offense.”

  “None taken,” Riley responded.

  Then the woman turned her attention to Richie, “Are you married?”

  “Nope. I’m not married. Never had the time or the right opportunity,” Richie answered.

  Riley used his hip to shove the shopping cart toward Richie. The handle bumped into Richie and he shot a look at Riley, mouthing, “What?”

  Riley tilted his head toward the cashier, who was finishing up bagging their food.

  Richie looked at her, then at Riley.

  Riley shrugged his shoulder and raised his eyebrows as though to say, “What do you think?”

  Just then the girl finished bagging and handed the last two to Riley. “Well, that’s it. All ready to go.”

  “Thank you. You have a good day now…” Riley told her, pausing for her to insert her name.

  “Libby, I’m Libby.”

  “Have a good day, Libby,” he said, as he pulled the shopping cart toward him. When she turned her huge dark eyes on Richie to flutter her lashes at him, Riley put their gallon of milk back on the counter near the register, so Richie would have to stop to take it from her and pushed the shopping cart toward the door.

  Richie smiled at the girl and started to walk past, but she called out, “Wait! You forgot your milk.”

  Richie had to turn back to get the milk from her. His fingers brushed hers as he took it from her, which had him looking more closely at her — really looking at her. She had dark eyes and dark hair, much like his. She was a pretty girl, but she wasn’t his girl. His girl was safely hidden away with his mother.

  “So, how about it, can I show you around some? You know, since you’re new and all.”

  “Maybe some other time,” he said, kindly, “we have a lot to do to get our home in order first. But thanks for the offer.”

  She looked disappointed, “Sure thing.”

  Moments later Richie followed Riley out of the store to find him in a stare down with a male on the other side of the parking lot.

  Richie hurried over to the truck, took Cristie from Riley’s arms, and said so quietly no human could hear him, “Alpha?”

  “Just get her in the truck, stay with her,” he said, handing him the keys without looking.

  Richie strapped Cristie in her car seat, then hurriedly started putting the bags on the floor of the backseat of the truck under her feet.

  Richie got back in the truck with Cristie, but kept his eyes on Riley.

  Slowly the other male approached. Riley didn’t move, he was still as a statue, eyes focused on the new male. He was a young male, just barely sixteen or seventeen. He had the frame of a big male, but was scrawny, hadn’t quite filled it in yet. The new male paused a few cars away and held his ground.

  Riley started walking toward him. Head held high, shoulders squared.

  Richie went on alert. His Panther wanting out to help protect their new Alpha, but Richie knew he’d been trusted with Cristie’s protection, so he stayed put.

  As Riley approached, the male said, “Heard we had a new neighbor in town. Thought I’d come see for myself.”

  Riley didn’t answer, just stopped right in front of the male and watched him.

  After a few tense moments, Riley finally said, “You’ve seen. I’m here. Now what?”

  “What you planning to do here?” the male asked.

  “Live my life. Raise my daughter. Basically, whatever I feel like doing,” Riley answered.

  The male inhaled, nodding his head. “I know what you are.”

  “And I know what you are,” Riley countered, nostrils flaring.

  “What do you expect me to do?” the male asked.

  “Why the hell should I care what you do?”

  The male smiled a half smile nervously, “Well, you know, there can be only one.”

  Riley barked out a laugh; he was so over being one of many. “Then let me tell you, I am that one. You can join me, you can not. You can walk away. I really don’t care, as long as you stay out of my way, out of my business, you’ll be just fine.”

  “So, you’re not thinking to organize this territory? Take it under your control? Think you can take it away from us?”

  Riley laughed, “If it’s you I have to take it from, there will be no problem. Is that what this is? Your idea of a challenge?”

  “Oh, no. I’m not challenging you. But there will be others. They will. This is free territory, nobody rules anyone else.”

  “Then let me make it perfectly clear, for you and whoever sent you, I am making my life here. I’m not leaving. I have no desire to drive anyone else out as long as they leave me alone. You threaten me or mine, we got a problem.”

  “Think you can handle the,” he paused, “people,” he said, with special inflection on the word people, “around here. We been without a leader for a long time. Not sure any of us needs one now.”

  “It’s my understanding that the lot of you ran and hid when the time to stand up to the last danger that called this place home was a threat,” Riley taunted.

  “Nobody could have stood up to that. We just kept our heads down and waited for it to pass. As you’d have done. Just like you’ll do if it returns.”

  “He’s not coming back. He’s been handled.”

  “You killed him?!” the male asked, incredulously, excitement and respect lighting his features.

  “No. My family did. He will not be returning.”

  “So that’s why you came, to take his place?”

  Riley shook his head, finally relaxing enough to put his hands on his hips, “No, man. Don’t you listen? I just want to live my life.”

  The male watched him curiously for a moment before saying, “Your friend called you Alpha.”

  “And?”

  “You gonna start a new Pride? Not everybody’s gonna be happy about that. Some are really wild.” He looked Riley up and down, “I’m not sure your strong enough.”

  “See, that’s the part you don’t get. I’m not interested in anyone who isn’t interested in family. That’s what I’m making. A family. A place for anyone who has no place else to be. You don’t want to be a part of it, then don’t. You do. Then prove your worth. And respect the rules.”

  “What rules?”

  “Any I happen to make up as I go along,” Riley shouted, causing the male to take a step back. Riley was tiring quickly of the conversation. He turned his back on the male, effectively dismissing him, and walked toward his truck.

  The male took a step or two after him and called out, “I’m Scott.”

  “Bye, Scott,” Riley called without looking back.

  “Bye, uh, what is your name?”

  Riley turned as he pulled open the drivers’ side door of his truck and pinned the male with a hard look, “Riley Colter. Alpha Riley Colter. And I’m done here. I have business to tend to.” Then he got in the truck, fired it up and drove away.

  Scott stayed there a moment longer, watching Riley drive away. He grinned, Travis was going to reward him for finding out all he could about this new Alpha. He hurried away from the store, but soon wore a scowl on his face. He was thinking he liked this new Alpha. He liked the idea of having a place to belong like this Alpha talked about. Travis wasn’t going to like the idea though. Travis had always been part of his life, but he was different since he’d come back from the war. He was angry now. Travis was always irritable, always yelling at him. But this would surely make him happy. He’d done the investigating for him without him even having to ask. There was nothing to worry about; Alpha Riley was a good guy. Travis would be happy there was no threat.

  Chapter 4

  Libby watched the new men in town talking with Scotty in the parking lot. She craned her neck looking through the window, even left her r
egister momentarily to get a better view, but still, Travis wasn’t out there with Scotty. Every time she saw Scotty around town, she’d look for Travis. He’d been home for almost a year, but always managed to avoid her. If she was able to arrange an ‘accidental’ face-to-face, he would mumble something about being busy or late and rush away from her. Her heart hurt. She missed him. It was obvious to her that he didn’t feel the same. But Scotty kept telling her to be patient because Travis asked about her all the time. She looked at Scotty through the window again before returning to her register. Travis was the only reason she’d tried to flirt with the two new men when they’d been in the store. She’d tried everything to make Travis speak to her, but with no result. She was getting desperate, running out of ideas, and making him jealous had seemed like a good plan at the time. But in retrospect, maybe it was a good thing they’d both turned her down. She was already taken. Her heart and soul belonged to Travis, and it wouldn’t have been fair to lead them on if she truly wasn’t interested.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “You did what?!” Travis yelled, throwing his leather work gloves on the ground.

  “I did! Can you believe it? Walked right up to him like I was an Alpha and asked what did he plan to do? Told him we didn’t need no leader. But he’s a nice male. Said all he wants is to live his life and make a place for anybody that don’t have one,” Scott explained. “Ain’t that good?”

  “No, it’s not good! You fool! What did you think you were doing confronting a new Alpha? Do you even know what kind of shifter he is? How do you know he didn’t take it as a challenge? You may as well have painted a target on your back and said, ‘Here I am, come fuck with my family ‘cause I’m a dumb ass and want to make sure we’re the first ones you fuck with!’”

  “Naw, it wasn’t like that. He’s some kind of big cat, like a Panther or a Cougar or something. Like us. And I already told you, he’s nice.”

  “We are not a Panther or a Cougar!” Travis shouted.

  “Well, no, I’m not, but you are.”

  “Doesn’t matter anymore, Scotty. I’m not what I used to be,” Travis said, sighing.

  “You’re strong, and you’re a good fighter. You can protect us if you have to. And I can help.”

  Travis’ unexpected snarl had Scott stepping back in case he really lost his temper; then, Scott said softly, “I was just trying to find out what he was doing around here. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I thought you’d be glad I’d found out what was going on, so we wouldn’t have to be worried. I’ll fix it — I’ll go back and apologize for insulting him.”

  “No! Do not go back and irritate the male. I’ll take care of it, just like everything else,” Travis snapped, while carefully balancing, so he could lean over and pick up his discarded gloves. “Soon as I finish fixing this damned fence.”

  “Well, can I at least help with the fence?”

  “No, you’ve already been to work today. Go see to your studies. You need to pass this year.”

  Scott nodded, “I could do it later after I help with the fence.”

  “Do it now!” Travis yelled.

  Scott turned and walked away, “Fine. But I could help with the fence, too. I’m not useless,” he murmured as he walked away toward their house at the front of the pasture.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  The afternoon found Riley up on the roof of the old quick stop store, quite aptly named, “The Only Stop,” as it was the only stop after you left town until you reached the next one, about 30 miles up. Richie was up there with him, and Cristie was sitting in an infant’s playpen, playing with her toys. She was too old to be in one, but with no one to watch her, he’d had no choice but to break out her old playpen and set it up where he could see it to keep her contained, while he and Richie inspected the roof of the old place. The house it seemed was in good order, but the store had water spots on the ceiling and water damage on some of the shelves, which was why he and Richie were up on the roof looking for the leaks.

  A battered, faded, old, green pickup truck could be seen slowly making its way toward them down the highway. As it got closer, Riley expected it to drive past, but instead it turned in. Richie immediately walked to the back of the roof where he’d be out of sight and dropped to the ground. He walked over to Cristie and placed himself between whoever was in the truck and her playpen.

  The door squeaked opened, and a very tall male got out. His hair was shoulder length with deep auburn streaks running through it. He moved slowly, taking the time to stretch and shake out his leg, turning it this way and that. Then he took a deep breath, let it out, and slammed the truck door. He started over toward them and raised his hand in greeting, “Beg your pardon for the interruption, but would either of you happen to be Alpha Riley?”

  Richie asked, “Who are you?”

  “I’m Travis. I understand my brother rather passive-aggressively non-challenged you for position of Alpha of this territory this morning.”

  Richie didn’t reply or move, but Riley snorted a short laugh, “That’d be Scott, right?”

  “Yep. That’d be Scott, or Scotty, as I call him.”

  “Hold on, I’ll be right down,” Riley called.

  Minutes later Riley was standing in front of Travis. His sense of smell told him all he needed to know about the shifter. He was big, strong. Had an old injury, chronically in pain. A lot of anger simmering just below the surface of his calm demeanor. And he was a Tiger shifter — a Siberian Tiger shifter. They were rare. They were loners, and they didn’t take kindly to people trying to tell them or their people what they should or shouldn’t do or infringing on their territory. And he was not the least little bit intimidated by Riley.

  “Travis, you said?” Riley asked, extending his hand for a shake.

  Travis nodded, “Yeah. And you’re Riley?” he asked, grasping Riley’s hand and exerting an equal amount of pressure to the shake that Riley did.

  “I am. What brings you out this afternoon?” Riley asked.

  “Came to apologize for my brother and his mouthiness. He is at that age, and doesn’t only have problems controlling his mouth, he’s not real sure of his place in this world, either. I assure you, he meant no harm.”

  “No harm done,” Riley told him. “And don’t worry, he’ll figure it all out, we all did at one point or another.”

  “So, you fixing the old place up, huh?” Travis asked, looking over at the old store behind Riley.

  “Yeah, decided we’d make a go of something or other. Just bought it and the house, too.”

  “It’s a nice place. Used to be the go to after hours, before most people left town. Of course, we got the regular grocery store now, but it’ll be nice to see it up and running again.”

  “Not quite sure what we’ll do with it, store, gas station, both or something else entirely. But it’ll be something,” Riley answered.

  “Just the two of you?” Travis asked.

  “For now. Hoping to grow our numbers, but in no rush to do so.”

  “Scotty says you don’t plan to rule the whole territory, just making a place for those that have nowhere else to be.”

  “True. I have no desire to run everybody else out of the area. Just want my own space for my people.”

  Travis nodded, looking behind them at the store again, before inclining his head to Richie, then to Riley, “Well, good luck to you then. Thanks for understanding about Scotty. He means well.”

  “Thank you. And it’s no problem — don’t give it another thought.”

  Travis walked slowly, painfully, back to his truck, climbed in and pulled the squeaking door closed. Seemed for once, Scotty was right. This male would not cause trouble for them or any of the other shifters just beginning to return to the area. He may even end up being a good thing for them. Maybe offer them an organized Pride to join, to draw strength from, to learn respect in — the others anyway, not himself. He was far beyond needing a Pride or from being able to be an asset to one. He just needed to manage to
raise Scotty to adulthood; then, all bets were off. He couldn’t guarantee that he’d be around much after that point.

  His Tiger whispered in his head and flashed him an image of Libby. His Libby. He closed his eyes, shaking his head to dispel her image. Not his Libby anymore. No woman should be saddled with the likes of him. Especially not Libby, she deserved so much better.

  He reached for the ignition key, turned it and the engine cranked, once, twice, then finally caught and fired to life. He put the truck in gear and drove away. He saw Riley watching him go in the rear-view mirror. Riley lifted one arm and waved a single time. Travis lifted his arm where it rested on the window and returned the wave.

  “That male has a whole lot of back-story, I’d be willing to bet,” Richie said.

  “I’m sure he does. And now that you bring up stories, I don’t know all of yours,” Riley said, turning to pin Richie with a determined look.

  “There’s not much to tell, really.”

  Riley looked at him for a moment before realizing the subject made Richie nervous. “Let’s finish this, get back up there and figure out what all we need. We can go back to town for it in the morning, then get this place finished.”

  Richie nodded, “Let’s get to it.”

  Later that evening, Riley was bathing Cristie while Richie was downstairs cooking dinner. He could smell the scent of the food wafting up the stairs and thought of how appreciative he was to have a friend to start this journey with him. He got Cristie dried and into her pajamas, then started down the stairs toward the kitchen. He’d just set foot on the bottom one when he heard Richie’s voice.

  “Oh, yeah, Mother! He’s a good Alpha, a male of honor.” Then a pause, before, “I know, I know. I just couldn’t take it anymore. And since I know you and Yvette are safe, there was no reason for me to stay any longer. Doesn’t matter that he’s my father, he’s a dick, and he’s cruel. I’m not living like that anymore. I did what I had to until I knew you were both safe and hidden away. But now, it’s about me. I’m in a good spot. I have a chance to make something of myself.” Another pause before, “No, this is his phone. I don’t have one yet. But I’ll get one as soon I can get a little money together. I’ll give you the number as soon as I have one. I love you, Mother. I’ll talk to you again, soon.”