Page 52 of Jorhee

“Okay, change of subject. It’s been four days, and we haven’t heard back about my horses. I’m kind of freaking out that it’s because something went wrong and my dad is trying to fix it, hoping not to upset me any more than they already did.”

“I will send a message to Rishka and ask him if the ambassador’s office has had an update on when we can expect them.”

“Thanks. I know I could do it, but I still feel weird approaching even an aide to somebody as important as an ambassador. And I didn't want to ask Bob to do it, as he’s busy with all the new building work and legal code he’s helping you draft, as well as everything else.”

I looked at the new dirt roads that had been created, laying out the town in a small grid so the building parcels for new businesses and colony infrastructure were clearly defined.

I smiled when I saw a sign had been erected on one parcel, proclaiming it the future location of the hospital we were recruiting medical personnel and support staff for. Another announced the future location of the school, which already had the 3D-printing rails and their laser guides in place so work could begin tomorrow.

The colony was growing, building by building, and the program had become inundated with applicants since our wedding. More colony worlds had opened their doors to take the influx of those we were not ready for yet, preferring to have the necessary infrastructure in place before we accepted many more farmers.

Applications were being thoroughly scrutinized as well, as some applicants insisted they only wished to come to New Haven, wanting to meet us personally with the idea that we would become best friends and make them YouVid famous. One woman had even decided she was destined to become our third mate and had actually put that in her screening application, complete with quite graphic detail about the imaginary mental messages she received from us urging her to go get tested. She was blocked from testing and referred for a psychiatric evaluation.

I turned into the drive leading up to the manse. Saplings of the local ‘walnut’ trees lined the drive, with pasture fencing behind them, as we’d both decided a divided pasture for the horses and kilt-ha was preferable to a lawn. It would serve to drive home the pastoral nature of our world to any visiting dignitaries and help strip away some of the pretensions that came with state occasions.

“Home, sweet home!” Jesse said, beaming at me. “Whatcha reckon Rosie has for our dinner tonight?”

“I’m certainly ready to go in and find out,” I admitted, parking the flitter beside the steps leading to the back door.

“Me too,” he replied, hopping out as soon as we stopped and taking the steps two at a time.

I chuckled at his antics, thinking how much better my life was with him in it. I thought back to that day when my fathers had summoned me to the palace to tell me about my new governorship and my duty to get tested.

One of the most auspicious days of my life, eclipsed only by our bonding day.

32

JESSE

“Good morning, New Haven!”

I groaned, pulling my pillow over my head to muffle the rest of what Bob had to say.

Johree laughed, tugging it away.

“Come on, sleepy. Time to get up.”

“Noooo,” I complained.

“I have your coffee ready,” he cajoled.

I sat up, making gimme hands.

He laughed again, and I pouted, sticking my lower lip out.

“It’s there beside you, on the bedside table.”

“Oh.” I grabbed it, slurping away as soon as the mug reached my lips.

“There’s a message from Rishka for you, Johree,” Bob said. “It came as an attachment to a message for me.”

“For you? Why?” I asked.

“Because he and the ambassador said perhaps Johree should deal with the message privately before reading you in.”

Johree looked pensive.

“Perhaps it is another matter, nothing to do with the horses.”