Outcast (13 page)

"Guess you could get Mobray to help out," Vladen suggested when Bonnie reminded him that Sylor was no longer an option. Mobray was Salan's father, a Terran neighbor of Bonnie's who ran the dairy. He'd delivered plenty of cows, and though the basic principles were undoubtedly the same, it didn't leave Bonnie feeling very encouraged.

"We need to get a midwife in the area!" Vladen declared, running a hand through his bristly blond hair. "I can't deliver every baby in the sector — it just isn't feasible!"

This was one aspect of colonial life that hadn't occurred to Bonnie when she'd listened to Sylor's plans for their future. It had probably occurred to Bonnie's mother, though. She had delivered all of her children in an ultramodern birthing facility, and they had drugs there that could make you positively enjoy being in labor! Where Bonnie lived it was hard to find an aspirin, let alone an obstetrician.

Lynx had returned from his reunion with Cat and Leo and was busy stacking the empty crates into the cart. Bonnie watched him carefully, searching for some sign of his earlier excitement, but he seemed once again to be his quiet, stoic self.

"What about him?" Vladen asked with a gesture toward Lynx.

Bonnie's reply to that was something of a snort. "Lynx? I doubt if he'd care much for that."

Actually, she had an idea that when she went into labor, Lynx would probably hide out somewhere until it was all over. If he didn't like the scent of her desire, catching a whiff of newly-delivered placenta would probably make him throw up.

"What about it, Lynx?" Vladen asked him. "Think you could deliver a baby?"

Despite having just found two long-lost friends, Lynx was apparently unchanged — at least, on the outside. "Yes," he replied tonelessly.

"Ever done it before?"

"Yes."

"Well, there you go then!" Vladen said brightly. "He'll be all the help you'll need — and I really don't think there'll be any trouble." Reaching into one of the many pockets on his jacket, he retrieved his scanner and leaned down from his two and a half meter height to peer at Bonnie's rounded belly.

As a result of being constantly on the move and having no real office of any kind, Vladen carried most of his medical equipment on his rather large person and tended to rattle when he walked. She wasn't sure how he managed to keep it all straight, but Bonnie had yet to need anything he hadn't been carrying in his pockets. "Yes, in perfect position and should be dropping any time now," he said heartily. "Then it'll be a walk in the park."

"A walk in the park?" Bonnie echoed. She'd heard plenty of descriptions of labor and delivery, but never had anyone referred to it in that manner. Bonnie felt a strong urge to slap him but knew that it would have hurt her hand like the devil. Being a Levitian, Vladen had bony ridges along the edge of his jaw that looked sharp enough to cut your hand if you were to hit him. Bonnie had often suspected that this trait had developed out of self-defense, because Levitians had a tendency to say things that made you want to slug them, and the bony spikes on the top of their feet would have deterred anyone from stomping on them.

"Yes, yes," Vladen said soothingly. "No trouble at all. A novice could do it, and if he's had some experience, why, that's even better!"

Even though Lynx claimed to have delivered a baby before, Bonnie wasn't sure she wanted his help.

However, if Lynx wasn't lying — and knowing how blatantly honest he could be, she had no reason not to believe him — she knew that he could probably do it again, though it was possible that this might have been what had turned him against women.

"Sure you don't want to know what it is?" Vladen prompted, still eyeing his scanner. "I can see quite clearly."

"No," Bonnie said firmly. "I want it to be a surprise."

Vladen shook his head. "Too many surprises in this life," he said. "I'd want to know myself."

"It doesn't matter to me," said Bonnie. "I'll dress it the same way whether it's male or female — at first, that is — which is all that matters. Zuannis gave me some baby clothes," she added, "and they look like they could go either way. Who knows, they might even fit."

Vladen nodded, but couldn't help feeling thankful that Bonnie wasn't having a boy. "Got any names picked out?" he asked, stowing his scanner in a different pocket, which made Bonnie wonder how he kept track of it all.

"No," she replied. "I want to get to know the baby first. Then I'll decide."

Vladen smiled knowingly, his pale blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Every new mother has her own pet notions," he said with an airy wave of his hand. "I've heard them all." He glanced down at Bonnie's feet. "Now, my pet notion is that women in your condition shouldn't be on their feet all day. It's bad for the veins." Taking her hand, he examined it carefully. "Hmm, no swelling there.

Been taking your vitamins?"

"Yes, I have," Bonnie assured him. She wasn't completely sure they'd been developed for Terran women, but she'd been taking them anyway.

"Well, you be sure to rest with your feet up several times a day," he told her. Turning to Lynx, he added, "And call me if you need any instructions during the delivery. My comlink is always on."

With that parting shot, Vladen shuffled off, and Bonnie was left staring at Lynx, who appeared to be acutely uncomfortable — especially since the look she was giving him should have at least made him break out in hives.

"So," she began. "You've delivered babies before?"

"Yes." Having made his reply, Lynx closed his lips firmly, refusing to elaborate. "How many?" she asked. "I do not know."

"That many, huh? Well, if you ever decide you don't want to work on a farm or in the mines, I'm sure you could get a job as a midwife." Noting his expression of revulsion, she added, "And yes, I know just how much you would dislike it — but it would probably pay very well."

"I have enough pay," he said. Which wasn't entirely true, because if Lynx were ever to be able to buy his own land, he would have to earn a great deal more than Bonnie was paying him. But taking a job as a midwife? He simply couldn't do it. It would have brought back too many painful memories.

"Then I must be paying you too much," Bonnie declared. "Of course, if you never actually spend any of it, I suppose it doesn't matter."

"I will spend it," Lynx said defensively. Unfortunately, since Bonnie was currently providing for all of his needs and he'd never had enough extra money to buy anything beyond the bare necessities, he had no idea just what he would spend it on.

Bonnie didn't either. "On what?" she demanded, giving free rein to her skepticism. "Couldn't be loose women, and I know you don't like new clothes, so that leaves booze, drugs, gambling — or a speeder of your own, perhaps? No, wait! I've got it! You want your own private dining room where you can eat all alone." Then she remembered that she hadn't asked Jack about Cat's eating habits.

"By the way, is that a Zetithian custom or just one of your own little peculiarities?"

Bonnie knew she was skating on thin ice; another crack like that and he'd probably deck her, but she didn't care, because if he decided to quit his job, he'd have to find another one pretty quick, or Drummond would deport him. Then Mobray could deliver the baby, and Bonnie would feed rats to the enocks and live long and well without Lynx. She didn't need to spend the rest of her life trying to love someone who despised her entire gender. Life was too darn short for that.

"You do not understand," Lynx said bitterly.

"You're absolutely right, Lynx," Bonnie said equably. "I don't understand. And do you know why that is?"

"Because I have not told you," he said, knowing full well that he never had and never would.

"No kidding! You haven't told me a thing; you just sit out there in the shed and sulk because you had to work for me instead of going off to dig in the mines. Being kind to you obviously hasn't helped matters any, so from now on, no more Mr. Nice Guy."

"But you are a woman," he reminded her.

"So what?" she said, making a vague attempt at a snarl. "I can be as mean as anyone. You just watch me."

Bonnie almost missed it, but could have sworn she caught a faint glimmer of a smile. Not quite what it should have been, but a smile, nonetheless.

"Ah, so, you can smile," she said. "I was beginning to think it wasn't possible."

Lynx was spared from having to reply to that, because just then Cat came over, followed by his three sons — who actually looked more like his clones than his children. Carrying a large box and flashing a grin that made Lynx's pitiful smile look like a grimace, he said, "We will trade?"

"I dunno," Bonnie said doubtfully. "What've you got there?"

Cat's grin became a full smirk. "I believe you will trade anything for this."

Bonnie peered into the box and nearly fainted. It was full of bags of dark chocolate chips. "You drive a hard bargain, Cat," she sighed. "How many eggs do you want for that?"

"How many do you have?" he asked with a suggestive smile.

"Well, I saved a full crate for you," she said, "but I might have to throw in something else for a treasure like that."

Cat shook his head, and his dark eyes flashed. Bonnie noticed for the first time that Cat's pupils seemed to have a faint blue glow to them. Lynx didn't even have that much color, she thought ruefully. His pupils seemed to be the same color as his yellow eyes. "It is an even trade," Cat said.

"We have many children to feed."

"And they can't live on chocolate, can they?" Bonnie certainly wished that she could. She also wished she could grow it, but hadn't bothered to try because cacao required a more tropical climate.

"No," he admitted. "But I believe they would like to."

All three nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Well, they seem to be thriving," Bonnie observed. "I don't think I've ever seen cuter kids in my life."

Cat seemed very pleased to hear that. "They resemble their mother, do they not?" he said proudly.

"Well, no, Cat," Bonnie said truthfully. "They look just like you."

"But they have their mother's eyes," he protested.

Bonnie shook her head. She had noticed before that Jack's eyes had a slight reddish glow to the pupil, but the kids didn't have even that. "I honestly can't see any resemblance to Jack at all," she said. "You're sure she's their mother?"

Smiling devilishly, Cat assured Bonnie that she was. Then he cocked his head slightly. "Your child will resemble her father, too, I believe."

"Aw, don't tell me that!" Bonnie groaned as the full meaning of his words sunk in. "I wanted it to be a surprise!"

"I may be wrong," Cat said, hedging just a bit. Bonnie had learned from Jack that Zetithians were prone to occasional insights that usually turned out to be true. Cat himself had seen who was responsible for the destruction of their planet in just such a vision, and no one had ever doubted him. Of course, since the culprits had been Nedwuts, no one was too surprised, since they were generally regarded as the premier badasses of the galaxy. There were plenty of other species around who caused just about as much trouble, but the Nedwuts had managed to acquire the reputation for being the worst.

"I doubt it," Bonnie grumbled, knowing that Cat's assessment was probably correct. "Vladen was dying to tell me himself. You're sure it's a girl?"

"I believe it is," Cat said meekly.

"Not that I
wine
having a girl, you understand, but if she looks like Sylor... well, I'm sure she'll turn out okay."

Cat grinned. "She will be beautiful."

"Thanks, Cat," Bonnie said graciously. "But as long as she's healthy, it doesn't matter what she looks like. I'll love her anyway."

Cocking his head to one side, he peered at Bonnie curiously. "Lynxsander's children would be more to your liking?"

Bonnie stared back at him blankly. She had no clue as to where he'd gotten that idea, but it was hitting a little too close to the mark for comfort. "I — I don't think he has any intention of ever having any children," she stammered, hoping that Lynx wasn't overhearing their conversation. "At least, not with me." Glancing over at Lynx, Bonnie noted that he had gone to get the crate of eggs out of the cart where she had hidden them. When he returned, he gave no hint of having heard anything, but with ears like that, she couldn't be sure.

With a skeptical lift of his exotic brow, Cat seemed to disagree but said nothing more on the subject.

Salan came by later on with some cheese to trade — Bonnie had saved some eggs for her too — and she noticed Lynx right away. The dairyman's daughter was a pretty girl with long auburn hair and a knowing smile, and, being half Terran and half Davordian, had the most luminous blue eyes Bonnie had ever seen. If the way she was looking at Lynx with those fabulous eyes was any indication, it was apparent that she'd gotten the scoop on Zetithians from someone.

"So, he's your new hand?" Salan asked, not taking her eyes off Lynx.

"Yes," Bonnie replied. "He's pretty good help, too. Not very chatty, though."

Salan nodded absently, still gazing at him. "I like the quiet type."

"He's quieter than most, Salan, but — who knows? — he might actually talk to you. " Since Lynx had always managed to disappear whenever Salan came to the house, this was doubtful, but he couldn't run away this time — and for all Bonnie knew, the two of them might have been destined to be together forever. "Hey, Lynx," Bonnie called out, "Salan gets those last two eggs."

Lynx got the eggs without a word, then took the box of cheese and stowed it in the cart. He didn't say one word.

"So, Lynx, I hear you're from the same planet as Cat and Leo?" Salan prompted him. Bonnie smiled to herself as she noted the change in the milkmaid's posture — a change that drew attention to her two largest attributes.

Lynx nodded warily.

"I've always thought they were just about the handsomest men I've ever seen," she gushed. "But that was before I met you! I must say, I like the shorter hair — and your black-tipped eyebrows! They're so... exotic. "

Salan was openly flirting with him, and Bonnie held her breath waiting for his response.