Isela's Love (12 page)

“Ow,” came a voice.

Isela jumped back with a squeal. Brendan crawled out from behind the stack of cloths.

“What are you doing in here?” Isela demanded.

Brendan smiled. “Waiting for you, of course.”

She gave him a puzzled look.

He shrugged. “I got up early, finished my work, and then checked your board. I knew it was only a matter of time till you showed up here, so I thought I’d wait a bit. Looks like you came here first. Even better.

Isela smiled as he reached for her. The moment his lips grazed hers, the embers inside her ignited. When he wrapped his arm around her waist, the flames flared. He pushed her hair back, placing soft kisses on her neck, his tongue leisurely swirling over her skin. The fire within her burned wildly now. If he didn’t stop, the blaze would be out of control, exactly what she wanted.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he panted.

“I know. I hated being apart from you.”

“I want more time with you than a few stolen moments in a supply closet, Isela.”

“So do I, but what can we do? Guarros...”

He took her face in his hands. “I’ll think of something. If I can’t be with you soon, I think I’ll die.”

He kissed her again, more slowly, more tenderly. His scent tickled her nose pleasantly. Clean and airy mingled with spice. Very masculine.

“Until later,” he said before slipping out the door.

Isela stared at the door. She touched her lips, smiling. The memory of those stolen moments, as he’d called them, would get her through until she saw him again. She went about her tasks in a much better mood than before.

Around lunchtime, the prison became all a-twitter. The hunters were coming with a delivery. Brendan was across the room, patching the wall while Isela was stuck serving food. She couldn’t leave her post so all she could do was admire him from afar.

She had to be careful, though, so nobody noticed her ogling Brendan’s broad shoulders and strong arms as he reached above his head to roll the paint. She had to make sure nobody saw her lick her lips when he raised his arm and his shirt rode up, exposing taut, tight abs. When he turned around and bent over, well, she didn’t care who noticed then because practically every woman in the place stared at his perfect behind. Jealousy poked at her, but she pushed it away, smiling. Nobody was getting their hands on that butt but her.

“What is wrong with me?”

“What?” Mae asked. “Who are you talking to?”

“Oh, ah, no one. Sorry.”

Isela wrinkled her brow when she noticed the golden-haired hunter slide something into Brendan’s pocket. In the same fluid motion, he retrieved something as well. She was about to run over and confront him when the two men made eye contact and slightly nodded.

Isela glanced around at the prisoners and the servants. Nobody else had noticed the exchange. What was that about? What were Brendan and the hunter trading? Isela’s mind raced with the possibilities, none of which were good. No, she’d wait until she talked to Brendan. She trusted him. He’d explain.

After the hunters had left, Guarros’s assistant approached Isela. “He wants to see you,” he said turning on his heel. “Now.”

“Of course now,” Isela muttered, following the thin-lipped, greasy-haired man. Isela had always found him repulsive. He walked hunched, with his palms flat against his thighs, cold and robot-like.

He knocked on Guarros’s door, opening it when he was ordered to enter. Isela hurried by him into the warden’s office. The door closed behind her. The stench of his cigar filled the room.

“Yes, Warden? You summoned?”

“I’d watch the sarcasm, little lady.” He held up an envelope and shook it at her. “Or maybe I won’t give you this.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Oh God, was it from Brendan? Had Guarros somehow intercepted a note from him? Did he know? She willed herself to breathe evenly and maintain eye contact.

“It’s a letter,” he said tauntingly.

Isela held her breath. Guarros smiled.

“It’s from your friend, Jerric. The hunter wisely gave it to me instead of trying to deliver it to you personally. I must say, that surprised me. He seems to have an eye for you.”

Isela shook her head, prepared to deny any kind of correspondence with the hunter. Guarros waved his hand.

“Anyway, he asked me to give it to you. Naturally, I read it first to make sure it didn’t contain material that was inappropriate, but it appears to be of a harmless nature.”

He held it out to her. “Well come get it, Isela. I’m certainly not getting up to present it to you.”

She tiptoed over to his desk, reaching for the letter. Before she could take it, he snatched it away.

“Remember this kindness I’m giving you, Isela. Think of it as a gesture of harmony between us.”

“Yes, sir,” she said.

He handed her the letter, caressing her forearm as she took it. She tried not to shudder with revulsion. She turned and started out of the room when Guarros’s voice stopped her.

“Uh uh, read it here,” he ordered.

“But I wanted to share it with Mae, too.”

“You can tell her about it. I don’t want the other residents thinking I’m giving you special favors. How would that look?”

Isela clenched her jaw, but said nothing. She pulled the letter from the envelope, shaking it open. She read slowly, savoring every word.

Dearest Isela and Mae,

Working here at the farm is the best. I can’t thank Warden Guarros enough for this opportunity.

Isela had to work at keeping a straight face and not snort at Jerric’s obvious sarcasm. She continued reading.

The work is hard, but Mr. Derosa and Mr. Wilson are good men, fair too. They believe in doing the right thing...always. It’s rewarding to know at the end of the day, you’ve done something that will help people you care about. I miss you both very much. Know that you’re in my thoughts.

Yours,

Jerric

Isela read it again, and then four more times, committing every word to memory. There was a hidden message here. She just had to figure out what it was.

Setting the letter on the warden’s desk, Isela looked up. He was staring at her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.

“Thank you, sir, for letting me read that. Am I allowed to write back?”

He smiled, standing up. “Perhaps we can negotiate the terms of that, my dear.”

Before he could maneuver his fat, sweaty body around his desk, Isela thanked him again and dodged out of the room. She didn’t stop running until she was safely behind her door. She ran to her trunk, dropping to her knees in front of it. Throwing the lid open, she searched for her ink, pen, and paper.

While she still remembered them, Isela wrote down the details of Jerric’s letter. As soon as she finished, she slipped out of her room and made her way to Mae’s. Mae opened the door rubbing her eyes. She yawned. Isela burst through the door shaking the paper in her hand.

“We got a letter from Jerric. He’s trying to send us a message.”

Mae snatched the paper from Isela’s hand. She read it then read it again. “I’m not seeing any message,” she said.

“The part about the hunters...doing what’s right and helping those you care about. He’s done something...to help us. Do you think he’s asked the hunters to help us escape?” Isela asked excitedly.

Mae sighed. “Isela, please don’t get yourself all worked up. It’s just a letter. There’s no message. Please, I’m begging you, don’t read more into this than there is. We’re not escaping.”

Isela crumpled the paper in her hand, suddenly angry.

Glaring at Mae, she took a deep breath. “You always give up too easily. I don’t understand why you do that, Mae. We have to fight. If we’re going to survive, we need to fight. I refuse to accept this as my life. And I won’t let you accept it either. We will get out of here. If you won’t help me, Brendan will.”

Mae stared at the floor, shaking her head. “I’m afraid, Isela. This is the only life I’ve ever known. I don’t know how to live any other way.”

Isela hugged her friend. “Oh, Mae, I promise. There’s something better. Please...trust me.”

Mae’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Isela. She nodded and mouthed the word, “Okay.”

Chapter Fourteen

As soon as they got past the Midland-Inland border where they could speak freely, Darrios shook open the letter Brendan had given him. “He says he’s okay,” Darrios said as he skimmed the letter. “Guarros is up to all kinds of no good. Brendan just has to get some hard evidence. He still hasn’t made contact with Bashua, but he’s trying.” Darrios chuckled. “He says not to worry. He got roughed up for defending a woman, of course, but he’s all right. He wants a weapon, though, maybe a knife.”

“I don’t know how we’re gonna pull that off. Guarros’s men search us every time we come,” Evan said as he harnessed the hoodlas.

“I think I can slip something by them. None of them seem to have an overabundance of wits about them.”

Evan snickered. “So true.”

They climbed aboard the wagon and waved goodbye to Burgess. “How long do you think this will take, Ev? Maggie’s getting restless.”

“He’s only been there a few weeks. He’s gotta acclimate, let them get used to him, before he can make a move.”

“Yeah, you’re right...but try telling that to my wife.”

“Nope, that’s all you, buddy.” Evan snapped the reins, urging the hoodlas to trot faster.

****

Isela sat at the tiny table in her room, illuminated only by candlelight, trying to compose a reply to Jerric. She wanted to let him know she got his message, but needed a bit of clarification. The problem was figuring out how to put that into words Guarros wouldn’t catch. She read what she’d written out loud to Mae, sitting on Isela’s bed.

“ ‘Dear Jerric, Thank you for the lovely letter. It was wonderful to hear from you. You can’t imagine how thrilled Mae and I are for you. Knowing you’re working for such good, caring men willing to help others just because it’s the right thing to do sets our minds at ease. I understand how fulfilling that is for you. We can’t wait to see you again. We hope it will be soon.

All the best,

Isela and Mae’ ”

Isela looked up at Mae. “Well what do you think?”

“I think it’s fine.”

“Do you think he’ll understand?”

Mae looked up. “Understand what?”

“That we get it. That we know he’s trying to help us.”

Mae rolled her eyes and stood up. “Yeah, sure, he’ll get it.”

Isela narrowed her eyes. “I don’t appreciate your attitude. I’m doing this for us.”

Mae sighed. “I’m sorry. I know you want me to be excited like you, but I can’t. I’m not you.” She made a sweeping gesture with her arms. “This is all I’ve ever known as far as I can remember. It hasn’t been perfect, but it could’ve been a lot worse.”

“And this is all you want your life to be? This?”

Mae looked down, wringing her hands. “I guess I’m afraid to let myself believe we can do this. Because what if we can’t?”

Isela turned to Mae. “Look at me.” Mae met Isela’s gaze. “I am completely serious right now. I am leaving this place, and I’m never coming back. If you don’t come with me, you’ll be alone here. Have you thought of that? I will try my damndest to kill Guarros before I go, but if I don’t, he’ll be in a rage I don’t even want to think about. And you’ll be here alone, without me.”

Tears swam in Mae’s eyes. She tried blinking them back, but a couple escaped, rolling down her plump cheek. She shook her head

“I don’t wanna be here without you. I’d never make it.”

“Then it’s settled. You’re on board with this and when the time comes...no looking back, right?”

Mae nodded and smiled weakly. “Yeah.”

Isela hugged her friend, hard. “It’s gonna be okay, Mae. I promise.”

Isela released Mae, stood up, and smoothed her clothing. “Now comes the fun part,” she muttered. “I’m taking the letter to Guarros for his approval. Just the thought of being anywhere near his stinky, sweaty ass makes me want to puke.”

“Do you want me to do it?” Mae asked with false bravado.

“Nah, he’ll see right through that and then take it out on me later, somehow. I’ll go. Might as well get it over with.”

****

From his position repairing the parlor wall, Brendan could see the entire room. He watched as Isela marched through toward Guarros’s office. Why would she be going there? She seemed to be in a hurry; so much so, she hadn’t even noticed him as she walked by. What was she up to? He waited until she was a short distance ahead of him.

“Hey Pete, watch my stuff. I gotta take a bathroom break,” he hollered to the man next to him. Pete nodded without looking up.

Isela stood outside the warden’s office, inhaling and exhaling deeply for courage. Finally she straightened her shoulders and knocked. Guarros barked for her to enter. She slowly opened the door.

“I brought the letter for Jerric, sir, for your approval,” Isela said submissively. Strange, Brendan thought. That wasn’t like her, especially where Guarros was concerned. As the office door closed, he crept closer so he could listen.

Jerric, Jerric. Brendan knew that name. Jealousy flared through him as he recalled the young man from the farm. Were he and Isela...no, she’d have told him. Still...Guarros’s voice snapped him back to attention.

“So you wrote a letter to Jerric. May I see it?”

There was a rustling of paper then a pause.

“What do you mean here, this part about seeing him again?” Guarros asked in a gruff tone. “How do plan on managing that?”

In an almost syrupy-sweet voice, Isela said, “I only meant when he comes back. Surely you’ll have him, as well as the others, come back from time to time, won’t you, Warden?”

Calming, he replied, “That hasn’t been negotiated yet. Don’t concern yourself.”

Another pause. Brendan leaned in closer, trying to hear. His hackles went up when Guarros’s tone changed again, into something Brendan supposed, Guarros thought was alluring.

“So, my sweet Isela, what have you come to offer me in exchange for me allowing this letter to be sent?”

Bile rose in Brendan’s throat.
That scumbag.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, Warden. I thought you wanted to approve it. Now that you have, can’t it be sent the next time the hunters come?”