Escaping Love (5 page)

As soon as Clint put the
Jeep in park, she jumped out and took care of business. She found Clint purchasing an inhuman amount of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and a few waters for good measure.

How a man that looked like him could eat that and still
be so mouthwatering? She didn’t know. Just looking at the candy, Alex gained five pounds only burning it of by shifting and running nonstop for hours. She strolled back to the Jeep and hopped in. Kane slept soundly in the back. Truly amazing, as the fact he blew up Clint’s home seemed completely lost on him.

She nudged his foot
, waking him with a start.

“You could at least act like blowing up his home bothers you.”

Kane blinked and rose to a stiff-backed seated position. “Why? His
home
, as you call it, was nothing but wood and metal. It didn’t matter to him.”

“How could you say that? Of course it mattered.”

He leaned forward, “Look, someone like you may not understand what I’m trying to say. So just ask him yourself.”

She turned to the front and crossed her arms over her chest
. He didn’t know her.

Cars and trucks came and went. Finally, Clint returned triumphant from his candy purchases. He tossed Kane water and handed a bottle to her. She was going to ask him.
Really. But what if she totally misjudged the situation? She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Heck, she didn’t even know the guy apart from the fact he swore to keep her safe and set her blood on fire. She didn’t even know his last name.

For some reason, the words just wouldn’t come, and conveniently, the unique pattern of bugs splattered across the windshield became the most fascinating thing in the world.

~***
*~

He risked a glance at the Little Cat currently staring absently out the front windshield. She seemed to be milling something over. Focusing on the driving, he couldn’t help the feeling of excitement coming over him. His childhood home drew closer and closer. He could almost smell the sage brush and leather from horse’s tackle.

Memories cascaded through his mind making his lips draw into a slow smile. It’d been a while since he been there for a visit and Clara would box his ears for sure. He couldn’t feel too guilty because Jessie helped out on the weekends and summer when college took a break. The fiery redhead to
rmented him like an annoying but loved little sister. None of them were blood, but family, true family, hung around like time.

Alex shifted in her seat
, probably trying to get comfortable. A purely frustrated sigh passed her lips, making his mind alter his direction of thinking. Hell, if he honestly thought about it, everything about her made him strung tight.

Mercenaries
and her father’s men trailed behind them. The only place he thought about taking her had been to the Circle Bar T. Who hired the Mercs? The question plagued his mind. Doubtful her father would risk the lowlifes around his little girl. He sure as dawn wouldn’t.  He needed to get in touch with Santos right after he and Kane had a little heart-to-heart.

I-25 dragged on for hours, but that always seemed to be the case when you wanted to get somewhere. He hoped she’d be safe there.
Clint glanced at her again. The Little Cat was an utter mystery to him. Yeah, he knew her name but she hadn’t shown him who she really was. Spoiled came to mind first thing and grumpy held a close second. The one thing about where they were going —it always seemed to bring out one’s true self. Whether you liked it or not.

Hours passed
, and the roads finally led to the one place in the world he truly considered to be home. The Circle Bar T brand hung below the pine-crested gate. His Jeep vibrated over the cattle guard, jarring everyone from sleep. The tiredness left his body as the familiar sights filled his vision. Brown speckled sage hens scattered, and the mated eagles on the bluff called a welcome. His whole body seemed to become weightless, the events of the last few days gone.

“Wow, look at this place. I’ve never seen such wide open space.” Alex gaped and sucked in her breath as the male eagle swooped in for a closer look.

His lips twitched. “We should be safe here until I can get in touch with Gryph and Jenny.”

“Fantastic. Hell
, I hath arrived,” Kane gritted.

“You could leave
, you know. Listen, there’s something about this place you should know. There are some humans here. They are usually only seasonal, except for Jesse. She’s usually here on the weekend, but it being summer and all, she should be here. She’s human and has no idea what we are. You know the law.”

Both nodded as the
Jeep took another left. Only two more miles till the cabin came into view. His foot pushed a little harder on the gas than normal. It’d been too long since he’d been back. Memories of his childhood played like a movie projector in his mind. Clara found him while she checked her fences. The best she could figure, he was around two years of age and in his pup form. She knew right away he was a shifter from scent and from the way he bounded into her arms.

He took quite a few tumbles on his gangly legs and hoped Clara didn’t pull out the photo album to show off his less than manly teenage physique.

“What kind of trees are those?”

“Pinion.”

“They smell divine.”

“That may be the sage
. It bothers some shifters.”

“Not me. It’s nice.”

“This place looks like death,” Kane added. “Why would anyone want to live here? Those aren’t trees. They’re dried out husks. Doesn’t it ever rain here or is water just as eager to escape this place?”

“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 l
ong 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 s
et 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.”

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 cl
ear. 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.”

Risk
ing 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.