Glendar (The Mating Games Book 3) (3 page)

She was close to the mountains and she saw an opening. It was tempting to go inside and hide for the night but she had heard about plants that ate people and huge animals that no one knew much about. Bernie was moving past the cave when her feet went out from under her. This time whatever had tripped her was still wrapped around her ankle. Her flashlight was easy to find and she turned it on. Purple and green leaves covered the vine that was firmly wrapped around her ankle. Reaching in for her knife, she pulled it out and opened it.

“Let me loose right now or suffer the consequences.” She threatened as she brandished the knife. Could the thing see? It quickly unwrapped itself and took off dragging on the ground. Bernie had felt silly talking to the thing but now she didn’t feel as weird. There was no doubt in her mind it had understood her.

A noise echoed against the mountains. Was it her pursuer? If so, how had he gotten this close so quickly? Now she just took off at a dead run. Her heart beat like a train and her breath rasped in her throat. She hung on to her back pack with fingers that ached from her tight grip. Ten minutes later she still felt all that and more. The back of her legs pained her and her feet felt like blisters had begun to develop. Her throat was raw with each breath burning like fire. It wouldn’t be long before she would collapse on the ground and be unable to move. She would lie there like a gift waiting for her pursuer to capture her.

Her brain raced but there was no escape, it was just a matter of time. She felt unworthy to be caught so soon because any moment she expected hands to grab her and pull her backward. Still she raced on wanting to give the best showing she could even if it was a poor one. Now she imagined she could hear the sand shuffled behind her as he ran ever closer. The heat of his breath on her neck made her put out just one last burst of speed so she could make him work for his win. At last, it was all she could do and she collapsed on the ground in an unmoving pile waiting to be picked up and thrown in the back of a wagon.

“Why did you fight me so hard?” A tall handsome male asked.

“How could I know if you would treat me well?”

“I will promise this to you, you will always be cared for as well as I am able.” His eyes stared steadily into hers as he swore it.

“I am Bernice. My family and friends call me Bernie.”

My name is Glendar but you can call me anything you want.” She recognized he was flirting. Never had she wanted to flirt back until now. She hoped this was a good sign and he was the male he appeared to be.

He pulled out some type of communicating device and took her picture before calling someone. “Come, let’s walk back toward home. Someone will pick us up soon.”

They walked along the path back the way they had come. Bernie felt shy and unsure of what she should say. Glendar began to talk telling her about the large house he was building for them and the family he hoped they would someday have. It sounded like paradise and she couldn’t wait to see it.

“How much have you built so far?”

“The outside walls are up and one bathroom is finished. Our bedroom needs finishing but our bed is there ready to sleep in.”

“Where do you cook?”

“I can fix things in the slow cooker if I need to. We also have a Zippy Done which is like a microwave only better.”

Bernie was sure most people knew what a microwave was but she had never seen, much less used, one. She didn’t want him to think she was stupid so she just nodded. It wasn’t long before someone stopped to pick them up. A male and a female sat in the front seats so they got in back.

“This is Bernie. Bernie, this is my brother, Travlr, and his mate, Tammie. Tammie has a company that does building on Oison.”

“That’s wonderful. Your own company and you build things.” Bernie smiled with delight. Back home her pa didn’t like her to meet important people. She still got to meet a few, but most of the business people that came around he took away.

Bernie didn’t know if he didn’t think females should meet with important people or if he feared they would steal his daughters away. Here, it looked like she would get to meet everyone. Maybe she could run a business of her own or do something else important. All she had ever dreamed of was to do something of her own, something important. Travlr’s brother dropped them off then whisked his mate away.

“I think they would hang out but they are still newly mated. It’s an exciting time for them and a lot is happening with her business and he manages the Oison weed factory.”

“Oison weed? Is that what they use in those cigars? My pa loves those.”

“I’ll get you some to send him.”

“That might not be a good idea.” She knew she needed to tell him even though she feared what he might say or do. He might even send her back so he wouldn’t have to deal with the trouble that might come his way. Hesitation shot through her as she stared at him.

“Come on Sweetheart. Just tell me what worries you so.”

“My pa didn’t want me to go.”

“How old are you?”

“I turned twenty one on Earth 2 on the way here.”

“Eighteen is legal here and I believe twenty-one is on your planet. Did he fear being so far away from you?”

“No, Pa planned to sell me to a local man.”

“My English must not be as good as I thought. Can you explain it in a different way?”

“In exchange for money, he was going to give me to a local guy.”

Glendar turned nearly purple. “Is that legal?”

“Yes, they call it brokering a marriage but the girls have no choice in the matter and the father keeps the money.”

“Why have we not heard of it?”

“It’s not publicized. Locals don’t want off-worlders to judge them.”

“I bet they don’t. That’s barbaric. So I guess you ran and now you think he’ll try to get you back?”

“He will if he figures out where I went.”

“That man won’t ever have control of you again. We will mate and our law will protect you.”

“My pa, he’s the leader on my planet. He may threaten not to allow you to set foot on the planet again.”

“Believe me, with what he receives in bride taxes, he won’t do that.”

“I guess he made money off me anyway. That makes me feel sad. I didn’t put up much of a run against you either.”

“Are you kidding Sweetheart? You were the last mate caught this time.”

“I was?” She asked feeling much better.

“I worried that I wouldn’t catch you before you were deeper into the mountains.”

“A vine tripped me. After I walked a little further, it grabbed me and didn’t want to let go until I showed it my blade. It amazed me it could see and hear me. The vine let go and dragged itself back into the cave. That was when I first heard you close behind me.”

“Those vines will have to be corralled before they hurt someone. There are giant pods deep in the caves that the vines drag their prey to. Large animals take a few days, but small animals disappear overnight. The fluids in the pods are highly acidic just like our own digestive juices.”

Bernie shuddered at the thought of the fate she had avoided. It had to hurt to be dissolved alive. That would be slower than being burned but the pain would be similar.
Dear God, how horrific
. “Are you alright?” Glendar asked as he pulled her into his arms. “I shouldn’t speak so graphically. You were frightened and I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Those plants are just something new to me.” Bernie had been around thorny plants and poisonous ones, but never ones that attacked you or tried to eat you. Animals were the danger on her planet and there were many vicious kinds.

“There are some dangerous animals here too.” Oops, she must have spoken out loud.

“Let’s go in and we can clean up before we go to bed.” Glendar grabbed her hand and led her in the huge house.

Bernie was excited about having such a large and new place to live. Maybe they would have kids and family of their own. Deep down she had always wanted that but been afraid to dream of a good man to take her away from her poor existence. Glendar seemed like the best kind of male so far. He led her into a bathroom that dreams were made of. The toilet was in a small room of its own. In the main room was a large walk in tub as large as a pool. The tiles were blue and white with the loveliest patterns of sea dragons and mermaids on them. A shower stood in a corner with multiple sprays all over the wall. In another corner was a vanity where a lady could brush her hair.

“Do you like it?” Glendar ask his eyes hopeful and his mouth in a half smile.

“It’s incredible. Who placed the tiles?”

“Tammie and I did. She said it takes two people and I’ll admit I enjoyed helping.”

“I probably could never make something so beautiful.”

“If that is a challenge, I’ll prove you wrong. Why don’t you get ready and I’ll fix us a snack while you bathe. Can you find everything?”

Bernie looked around at the shelves covered with towels and the containers of soap. “I think I’ll be alright.”

“Just call if you need anything.” He said as he turned and walked from the room.

It would have been easy to be overwhelmed when faced with such luxury had she allowed it. She didn’t, Bernie got right to work stripping out of her clothes and turning on the shower. Luckily the controls were just like those on the ship coming here. Water sprayed out from everywhere and hit her like a relaxing massage. Standing still a few moments calmed her and wet her completely. Now she soaped herself in and rinsed off. Wonderful to be clean, now she dried and she found a robe she could wear.

Bernie moved quietly down the hall not wanting to startle Glendar. He was at the stove cooking something and she had to admit it smelled good. It was clear he was unaware of her presence as he hummed and sung a line from a song once in a while. Bernie was trying to decide should she speak or move where he could see her when he turned a bit farther as he danced in front of the stove and he yelled and threw his spoon up in the air with food on it. The food splattered on the ceiling and the spoon fell back down hitting Glendar on the top of his head. The look on his face was priceless!

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“What? Me? I wasn’t startled at all. I was practicing my spoon throwing.”

“Do you have a spring fair too?”

“A fair?”

“Yes, where you have competitive games?”

“Ah, the spoon throwing? No we just do it for the fun of it.”

“Looks like a lot of fun. I bet it leads to ladder climbing.”

“Ladder climbing?”

“Yes when you climb the ladder to clean the food off the ceiling.”

“We just let it dry and flake off.” They both started laughing at the same time. Bernie hadn’t acted silly with another person, well, ever. Her life had all been about work and caring for her siblings. Siblings she worried about but was in no position to help.

“What happened? You just went all sad a second ago.”

“I’m sorry. My sisters crossed my mind and I worry about them. It was my job to take care of them since I was the oldest. My pa has a new wife so there will be more babies. I don’t know who’ll take care of them.”

“What about his new wife?”

“That woman can’t tie her own shoelaces. She likes shiny and pretty things. His other wives were always hardworking loving types. This one is fluff with no substance. If the little ones get sick, she’ll be no help at all.”

Chapter 4

Pa Only Knows

Glendar didn’t want to believe that Bernie’s pa was that bad but he’d read about Earth 2 and poverty abounded and children were treated as little better than slaves. That she’d told him the girls were sold like slaves to husbands wasn’t stretching his belief. He would have to talk to his brothers so they would be prepared if her father actually showed up. Stevr had met Smith when he’d negotiated the trade for mates with him. His brother had not been impressed with Earth Two’s leader. His only interest had seemed to be how much he could make off the females which they apparently had more of than males. The man didn’t even worry about fair treatment, not that the Mazlans didn’t treat their females fair.

They ate and then since they were tired, they went to bed together. He wrapped himself around her and she was asleep in seconds. His mind whirled over all he had learned until he eventually relaxed and fell asleep too. The way his female felt in his arms was wonderful and his dreams were all about her.

Waking up was a slower process than usual and he knew it was because he wanted to stay where he was. It wasn’t to be because he had to get up and get things done. Pulling back slowly so as not to wake her, he slipped out of bed quietly and prepared for the day. Starting crue first, it made him wish he had bought coffee for his female. None of the others had liked it yet and he didn’t expect her to either. Once the crue was made, he fixed his cup and took it to his computer. A share of his job could be done on the computer viewing the suggestions of others and the reports on the work as it progressed. Two hours later he started breakfast for his mate.

He would give her time to accept him without pushing her, but mates they would be before long. Bernie smelled the food and she came out to the kitchen. She looked embarrassed and he wasn’t sure why until she spoke.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get up and fix breakfast.”

“That’s alright. I can fix you breakfast once in a while. Hopefully it doesn’t taste too bad.” Glendar said with a wry look.

Putting some food on a plate, he handed it to her and motioned for her to sit down. She took a couple of bites and smiled. “This is very good.” He didn’t really believe her, no one had ever called his cooking good. Filling was the best compliment he’d ever gotten.

“That’s sweet of you to say.” He admitted as he fixed his plate and sat next to her. Eating all the food on his plate because he was hungry, he still wouldn’t go so far as to call it good.

“A few days ago, I would have been happy to have a meal like this. Never feel bad that you can help fill a hungry person’s belly.”

Glendar thought about what his mate had said and wondered what kind of life she had lived. As children, he and his brothers had worked hard. It had built their muscles and made them the men they were. While that was true, they had been well fed and even better loved. Not all the work they had done had been asked of them. They had worked extra hard to please their parents because they wanted to. Bernie had mentioned her mother had died when she was young and Glendar had no idea how that might have affected him had he lost his mother.