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My cousin gives a grunt of approval.
“Mica isn’t here to be the cook for the barracks,” I agree. “That’s Newl’s job. She’s here to cook for me at the big house and if she has extra time she can cook for you too, if you’re nice to her.”
There’s lots of eager nods. I can see the gleam in their eyes and the wheels turning in many of their minds. I’ve just ensured that all of them will treat her well to remain on her good side for extra human treats. In fact, some of them will try for more than food from this female, but I will ensure none of them will lay a claw on her. Not even the young, unmated males who might think they stand a chance at her choosing them as temporary pleasure mates or even a permanent mate. Not happening.
“That’s enough,” I announce. “Everyone back to work.”
Chapter 4
Mica
Burl and the other Hyrrokin men I met out front leave and return to work. And I’m alone with the intimidating Thorn Flagstone, owner of Flagstone Fire ranch.
He’s so very tall. The top of my head barely reaches his massive shoulders. And his two sharp, black horns glint in the sunshine, making him appear even taller.
I’m surprised I feel so comfortable and safe around him. Well, he did save my life. And the other Hyrrokin on the ranch I’ve met so far have been nothing but nice. I liked how they all took the time to meet me with a proper introduction. It was both sweet and completely unexpected.
This is probably why I’ve so quickly acclimated to these surroundings. I never felt safe at the mansion, always watching around corners, checking what was said for double meaning. I ended up programming a cleaning bot to remain stationed in front of my bedroom to alert me to intruders. Which worked like a charm because Akin was caught, twice, trying to sneak into my room at night. He always thought it was a mistake that the bot was there and raged at the housekeeper, but it was me. He always underestimated me.
At this ranch I’ve met nothing but sincere males who want nothing more than to offer protection and friendship. It’s pretty wonderful.
I didn’t want to tell Thorn, or anyone else about where I came from because I was worried that Thorn could be the same as the male I’d hired to take me to town—a secret mole, or someone paid for by Rokena or her network of mafia. But now I’m certain that none of these males have anything to do with the mafia. But I still need to keep where I originated secret, because now I need to protect these males from being drawn into the violence of my situation. I want to stay, but I also don’t want anyone to get hurt because I’m staying.
Now that everyone has left, I finally turn in a half circle and get a look at the ranch I’ve decided to make my temporary home. My mouth drops open at the gorgeous setting. The med lab is behind me, to my left is a larger building that I assume is the barracks, where the men live and eat. Across a large space are other barns and pens. The men are on riding beasts and working other cattle that Thorn called pyrotaurs.
Off to the right, farther away on a rise, is a large building that looks like someone’s fancy home. And in the distant background is a series of green, glorious mountain peaks.
I take a deep breath of the clean, fresh air. The rains have all gone and the skies are a shocking bright blue. Tarvos is a gorgeous paradise planet. The weather is perfect all the time, except for the rainy season which lasts for one month each year. Now that the storms have passed, the weather is reverting to its normal state of utter perfection. Everything is sparkly and clear.
Suddenly I feel nothing but pure joy and gratitude for having gotten through the trauma of the last two months and out the other side. I made it out alive and I’m on the right track. It’s not over, not by a long shot. Enforcers and assassins are still on the lookout for me. And I still need to get my knowledge of theQueen’s assassination attempt to the proper authorities, but for now it’s enough that I made it out of the wildlands in one piece and found a perfect hideout. And I’m going to be living amongst beings who seem normal to me, considering I was raised on a family farm. “It’s so beautiful here,” I tell the male who saved my life.
Thorn grins down at me, obviously pleased that I like the place that must mean so much to him. “Thank you,” he responds. “My family has worked this land for countless generations. We’ve sectioned the ranch into thirds. My younger brother, Sten, has the original ranch house we all grew up in. But Rake and I built new domiciles on our new property. As Burl explained earlier, we raise pyrotaurs for the market that enjoys fresh meat, raised in planetary conditions and slaughtered responsibly in the ways of old. We are conservators of this land and do not use modern methods with chemicals. Our family has been tending to this part of the wildlands for millennia and I consider myself a good caretaker. I was born and raised out here, as were my ancestors. My parents are recently retired and moved nearer to town and enjoy traveling. At this very moment they are both on an extended space cruise of the Nebula.” And then he takes a deep breath and pauses. “Sorry, I can talk about the ranch all day and night, even on holidays. Don’t get me started.”
I chuckle. “No, don’t worry, it’s wonderful how passionate you are about this place. And I’m happy to be thinking of and talking about something other than my own worries. It’s a nice break. In fact this whole place feels…calming.” I point toward the large house on the right. “This ranch house is yours? That’s where you live?”
“Yes.” He starts walking in that direction. We walk side by side across a field toward the house and he tells me stories of how he decided to build his “domicile.” How long it took andall the trials and tribulations. “When I first came to the ranch I was living in the barracks with the other males, because that’s all that was built. Then I moved into Burl’s cabin with him while I was waiting for my home to be built. It was recently finished just prior to the rainy season.”
The closer we get to the house, the more I’m impressed. It’s truly the house of my dreams. Two stories tall and built out of dark logs and smooth stones, with large windows and an expansive front porch. In the background is gorgeous, lush wilderness with mountains in the distance that look like ancient, dormant volcanoes. I can’t help but feel spoiled that this is where I’m going to have the opportunity to visit while I hide from the mafia and figure out what to do next. How did I get so lucky? One moment I was bleeding and crying in the mud and now I’m going to stay in this luxurious, brand new home?
We both stop in the front yard.
Thorn watches me closely while I examine his beautiful lodge home.
“It’s a big house,” I comment, trying to act cool, as if I’m offered accommodations like this every day. The mansion I left was enormous and palatial, but it was also dangerous and cold-hearted. I can tell already that Thorn’s house is going to feel homey and inviting. The thought literally brings tears to my eyes.
He shrugs. “I wanted a house for a large family someday.”
“Oh. I thought you said you lived alone. Did you build this because you are engaged? Do you have a fiancée?” And why am I being so nosey and continuing to ask him questions like this? None of this should matter to me. I’ll probably be living here, at the most, for a few months. Maybe even a few weeks. This is only temporary. I’m in the midst of something dangerous. I don’t have the time or inclination for anything else between me and this Hyrrokin rancher. Also, I very emphatically stated thatthere was going to be nothing between us but an employer and employee relationship. I need to stick to what I said. Right?
“No,” he admits. “There’s no one yet. But I decided if I was going to build a place for myself, I had to plan ahead. It didn’t seem smart to build something small, only to have to add on or tear it down and start over later when I do eventually start a family line.”
“Oh, smart thinking,” I answer, secretly relieved to confirm he is indeed single. “The outside is so nice. I’m sure that whoever you mate with in the future will love this place. It was nice of you to build it thinking of family filling it up later.” And I mean it when I say that. It’s precious that he built all of this not for just himself but for a future family. And for some reason I can envision him holding a baby in his arms and being a good dad. Which gives me warm fuzzies.
Jeez, what’s wrong with me?
I flash a smile at Thorn Flagstone and step up with him onto the sweeping front porch. He opens an enormous, wooden front door.
I can already scent new house smell. “Oh, when you mean it’s new, it’s really new.”
