The Marine's Queen (19 page)

“
Did you want to talk about something?” Callie sank onto the bench Kam had made along the bank.

“
You say this planet feels like home. Not long ago, you said something about making this a colony of Giroux. You can make it official.”

“
I can’t stay here.”

“
I know.” Joe sat beside her and gestured at the small scattering of buildings. “We’ve created a settlement, catalogued native flora and fauna. I believe intergalactic law counts that as colonization. You can claim this entire planet for Giroux.”

“
You’re right. You’re thinking like a diplomat already. There may not be much of value on this world, but territory is always worth something.”

Joe pondered whether she made sport of him with diplomat remark. Was it an insult? “This planet isn’t worthless. We found deposits of crystallized iron.”

“
Crystallized iron? I’ve only seen one small piece of it in my whole life.”

The rare element was used to fuel ships and power energy systems for entire cities. One nugget might heat homes for thousands of people for a year. “My queen, you have a fortune to load in your ship.”

* * * *

“
We’ll be fine,” Callie assured Joe again. “You’re only a day away. Roz and Kam can hold anyone off for that long.”

Joe swept his gaze around the compound. She wondered what his blue eyes saw when he looked at it. Even though she slept in his arms every night, she often felt she knew him as little as she had the first time he’d climbed into her ship.

“
I could leave Mak here too.”

“
Joe, we’ve discussed this. You can work faster with three people.”

Joe didn’t look happy but he didn’t argue. “Roz.”

“
Sir?”

“
Full rotation.”

“
Yes, sir.”

“
We’ll be back in three days.”

“
Don’t worry.” Callie was warmed by Joe’s concern. She didn’t doubt his desire to keep her safe and his endless lust for her or her for him. “Go collect our wealth, Captain.”

Joe tapped a fist to his heart and signaled the others. He didn’t look back as they rode the boarks out of the valley.

Yalo joined Callie, staring after the departing men. “We have everything loaded except the elixir and whatever the marines bring back.”

“
Yalo, when you return to Giroux, do you intend to make official vows as Vin’s wife?” Callie wished she and Joe had completed their own words even if they had no meaning in the outer world. She wanted him tied to her.

“
We’ll see,” Yalo answered. “If we clear their names, the Galactic Ministry might force them back into service. The marines might want to go.”

“
Has Vin said that? I can’t believe they would want to go back.”

Yalo shrugged, her expression troubled. “It’s what they know. Do you think they’ll be content as body guards after spending their lives traveling around the universe and fighting the nastiest fiends known to man?”

“
They don’t seem bored,” Riba said as she joined them. Sally sat on her hip, her chubby fist stuffed in her mouth.

“
I’m sure there are many women who will try to draw their interest when we get home. They’re a captive audience for us here.” Yalo looked down at herself. “I probably look like a goddess to Vin on this desert world, but how will I measure up next to the fine ladies of the council?”

Callie considered her own appearance. Her hair that Joe discreetly played with after they made love was a common light brown, not the red or golden locks many men preferred. Her height turned away many men, and her form tended toward hardy rather than slim and petite. Not even Joe’s large hands could span her waist. She had reached thirty-three years on her last birthday, no longer a graceful youth. Her features, though even, were considered plain.

Riba spoke as Yalo walked away. “I’m afraid to go back. I’m glad we’re staying.”

“
What?” Callie stared at her cousin, surprised by the tears hanging in the corner of the brown eyes so like her own. Riba always seemed so calm and strong.

“
I’m afraid for you and Joe. If Yalo is right about the attack on us, Hadrason will come after you again. Who knows what he’ll try next.”

“
Joe won’t let him try anything.”

“
That’s if Joe isn’t taken away to serve his sentence in the mines. You could be taking him back to hell, Callie. I don’t think I could bear knowing Kam is dying a bit at a time on the Nye moon.”

“
I won’t let it happen. They’re my marines now, and no one can take them away. We’ll have wealth and the power of the elixir to hold over the council. I’ll buy their freedom if I have to.”

“
You might have to,” Webb said as he joined them. “Can you ladies help me pack the elixir so we don’t lose any to breakage? You going to need all the leverage you can get if you’re taking on the Galactic Ministry and Hadrason Mining.”

Callie lagged behind. She would get vindication for Joe and the others somehow. She owed them that. But then what? How would she keep them on Giroux afterward? Have them swear allegiance? Would that hold them?

She only knew she couldn’t let Joe go. He was born to lead, and she needed someone like him at her side. The king’s throne had sat empty since her father’s death. Perhaps it was time to fill it. Unlike Yalo, Callie didn’t intend to give her man a choice.

* * * *

The crystallized iron deposit hid beneath a less valuable jumble of pink marble. Not many people knew the rare mineral often formed beneath the weight of marble. Some ancient natural phenomenon had lifted the wealth to the surface.

Joe and his men took turns using the laser saw to cut the iron into convenient sizes one man could carry. Even the high-powered laser needed a long time to slice its way through the hard substance.

Being away from Callie made Joe nervous. Pirates, vicious rodents, and deadly storms were only the dangers they knew about. Any number of other deadly things might lurk in the desert. He could tell Vin and Mak shared his unease, seeing it in the haste of their work.

“
Do you think that’s enough?” Vin wiped his brow. Hefting the heavy ore was hard work even as the day cooled with the setting sun.

“
It will have to do. We’ll start back before first light.”

They set up their sleeping sacks, hurrying as the temperature dropped rapidly. The boarks grunted as they dug their sleeping holes.

Joe looked around their camp before settling in for the night. The night sky of Crevan sparkled like a flawless diamond held under a light. The stars alone provided more illumination than some moons did for their parent planets. The twinkling lights reminded him of Callie’s eyes when she spoke of going back to Giroux.

He zipped his sleep sack closed, the warmth enveloping him almost at once. It was a lonely bed without Callie beside him. That alone was enough to assure his presence by her side when she made her return.

It might cost him his life, either in defending her or in a renewal of his sentence to the prison moon. Would he even get to spend his last nights in her arms? Another fear nagged at him. Going with Callie would immerse him in the world of civilian society. He’d be surrounded.

* * * *

They packed the crystallized iron in the hold along with most of the elixir. All the useable weapons they’d captured had been cleaned and prepared for firing. Most would remain on the planet with those they were leaving behind.

“
Don’t worry, sir,” Roz said. “We have enough firepower to hold out against anything less than a regiment.”

Joe didn’t like it. “Vin and Yalo will return in six days.”

“
At the most,” Vin added.

Joe reminded the men of all their emergency strategies, knowing Roz could handle it. But being responsible for women and children added worries.

“
We’re ready to go,” Callie said as she and Yalo came up behind them. The women and children exchanged hugs and teary smiles.

“
If I don’t return,” Joe began, but Kam shook his head.

“
You’ll be back, sir. Queen Callie will protect you.”

“
I’m going to protect her.”

“
From the men who want to capture her, but she’ll protect you from the damned politicians,” Kam insisted.

“
They might be the same people,” Mak mumbled.

Joe added that to things he must worry about. How could he tell enemy from friend? “Make sure you’re ready to flee if you must. Hoard enough crystallized iron to fund your way and keep one of the ships at your hand. If I end up on the Nye mood, I don’t expect to see any of the rest of you end up there with me. Take care of the women and children.”

“
Yes, sir,” the men answered together.

Joe looked back once as he and Vin walked to the ship’s open cargo door. So few left. A rare bitter emotion rose within him. How many of his men had been lost by the carelessness and callous disregard of their superiors? So many lives wasted before they had a chance to live.

“
Joe,” little Glory called. She trotted to him, her perfect face puckered into a frown. “Are you and Vin coming back?”

Joe hunkered down to her level. What if he’d never had the chance to meet this little wonder? “Vin will be back before you know it.”

“
What about you?”

“
If I can, I’ll be back before you learn your numbers.”

Glory smiled. “I already know some of them. When you get back, will you find me some more applenuts? They were the best ever.”

“
I promise.”

She flung her thin arms around his neck and squeezed with all her little girl strength. Unon! What had he done to deserve such a blessing?

Joe caught up with Vin. He looked back one more time, fixing the image in his mind. Just in case he never saw any of them again.

* * * *

Despite all their attempts, the pirate ship still stank of slovenly men. Callie avoided the sleeping area and even the food service room. She’d never suffered from space sickness, but a few more hours in this flying garbage barge and she might have a first bout.

She made her way forward to the bridge. Yalo sat in the navigator’s seat while Joe piloted the vessel. Vin sat in the co-pilot’s chair watching the security scanners.

“
Four hours until we reach Zulu Station,” Yalo said when she saw Callie. “They’re always open for business.”

“
I don’t like this,” Joe said. “We should have purchased a less obvious vessel before coming here.”

“
It will be easier to do business if we have Galactic Credit Markers before we try to buy anything.” Callie had already explained this. “I can access my accounts at any Galactic Bank. Zulu has one.”

The marines exchanged a look, but they didn’t argue further as the ship hurdled forward. Few words were exchanged except for discussions on other ships and the best way to avoid them.

An hour out from the station, Callie went to the lone private cabin to change her clothing. The small room reeked less than the rest of the ship.

She shed her familiar loose leggings and short tunic she’d worn every day on Crevan. She pulled on a longer formal tunic and skin-hugging shimmery silk tights. Heeled knee boots completed the outfit. Next she unwound her braid and began to brush out her long hair. She wished for a mirror. Lately, she’d felt her body was a stranger to her.

She ran her hand down her side, wondering when the curve of her hips had become attractive. When had her bountiful bosom become a thing of great desire? She thought if she looked in a mirror, she might see a lady of great beauty, not the plain, large-boned woman she’d been.

And the change was only because of the way Joe looked at her. Because of the way he touched her. Because of the way he kissed her.

Now she was taking him to her world and putting him in danger. To protect herself from her enemies or to prolong her self-delusions?