There All Along (6 page)

S
he was pulled from sleep by the repeated beep of the blip receiver.

She sat up, pushing her hair from her face. She smelled like him. On her hands, on her skin, between her thighs. She smiled as she got from bed as easily as she could, not wanting to wake him.

His eyes snapped open though, as her feet hit the floor.

“What is it?” Totally alert.

“How do you do that?” She pulled her clothes on quickly.

He shrugged, his gaze on her as she moved.

“Something important is coming over the blip. I’ll be back. I need to go attend to it.”

“I’ll come with you. You don’t need to be out so late, not all alone.”

“How do you think I do it when you’re not here?” She headed from the room, slipping her feet into her house shoes and grabbing a robe for the warmth.

“Ah, but I
am
here.”

She didn’t fail to notice the way he grabbed his weapon, sliding it into the belt he strapped on after he got his pants up. Dangerous.

She hustled down the stairs and out into the cool stillness of the pre-dawn hours outside. She unlocked the door to the mail office quickly, heading back, knowing the way, even through the darkness.

Three blips? She picked up the two that had fallen from the collection arm to the floor, handing them to him. Anything being sent at this time using the emergency channel would be something he’d need to see.

He turned on the light and read them quickly, his mouth drawing into a tight, disapproving line. “I need to go to the garrison office with these.” He took the one that had just come in when she handed it over. “This one too. You go right back upstairs. If you hear the alarm I want you to go into lockdown, do you understand me?”

“What’s happening?”

“Brigands hit Northern Tip. They’ve been seen just a bit up the road. They attacked an official transport as well.”

She shivered. That was all so very close to Silver Cliffs. “All right.” She handed him her keys. “You know which one unlocks everything. I’ll be waiting for you.”

He watched her carefully for long moments, before his gaze went back to the blip receiver.

“I’ll run over to the garrison if any more come. Go.”

He moved to the door with her but just before she opened up, he pulled her close, his mouth coming down on hers hard and fast. She pushed herself to his body, already getting used to it. Knowing she shouldn’t and choosing to ignore that voice.

“I’ll be back when I can.”

She headed back upstairs, straight for her gun closet. Best to be prepared if things went the direction she feared they might.

•   •   •

H
e pounded on the door of the garrison and it opened up rather quickly, the gun pointed at his face lowered once he was recognized.

“Blips.” He stalked through the door. “Jackson here?”

“He’s a’home.”

Loyal gave the man a look. “Well go on then and get him. I’m going to rouse my people and we’ll all meet back here as soon as possible.”

The guard scampered off as Loyal headed down the hill to get the rest of his crew together.

Haldeman took the blips from Loyal’s hand, reading them quickly. Loyal gave him credit for the way he simply took it in and formatted a plan.

“We need scouts down by the Highway.”

Loyal looked to Trinity where she stood at the ready, near the door. “You go with one of Haldeman’s people. Get down there and let me know what you see.” He turned back to Jackson. “None better than Trinity.”

Jackson nodded. “Good to know. Harmon, you go with Trinity. Take the trails. Stay off the road.”

Trinity and Harmon disappeared out the door after Marcus squeezed her hand quickly. The two had been a couple since before they came onto Loyal’s team. Some commanders didn’t approve of partners on the same road crew. Loyal didn’t care one way or the other as long as no personal shit spilled into official business. And it hadn’t, so he had no call going and having feelings one way or the other about it.

“At this stage, we don’t know enough to get everyone worked up.” Loyal eased back, leaning against the corner of a desk.

“Verity knows about this?” Jackson held up the papers.

“Aye.”

But he didn’t need to defend her, Jackson merely nodded. “She’ll keep it to herself. She takes that seriously. I’m going to raise the watch level in town. We don’t need to call a full alert, but people need to be sure they’ve got plenty of ammunition and some stores set by in case we get ourselves under siege.”

Loyal nodded. “We’ll postpone the leaving until we know for sure you’re safe.”

“Glad to have you in town should this happen.”

He thought of Verity. He was too.

They stayed, going over the garrison’s basic emergency plan, Loyal approving most of it, making suggestions where he saw they might be needed. Jackson Haldeman was a smart man. He’d have made a good lawman if he’d wanted to be.

“You know where I am when you hear back from the scouts. I’m going to send a few blips back to Shelter City.”

“I’ll be up in a bit.”

He headed back up to Verity’s place. Noting the lights burned in her windows. He went around back and into the blip office, sending back his official response, filling them in with what he knew for sure. Which at that point wasn’t a whole lot.

When he’d gotten back upstairs, she’d made a big breakfast.

“I figured you might be hungry. I’m baking too. May as well lay in some supplies just in case.”

He noted she’d lined rifles up at the various windows.

“The shutters are in good shape.” Verity waved a hand toward the windows, meaning the siege shutters they’d draw should the garrison be overrun. They had slots for a rifle cut into them. “I just had them checked last harvest. Jackson had the whole garrison do a drill.”

“Haldeman is setting the garrison on alert.” He poured himself some black tea and she shooed him to the table, filling a plate for him and setting it in front of him.

“He’ll be up soon I wager. To check the blips and give me the broadsheets to post.”

Her store would be the nerve center for the town’s citizens. The garrison was the law enforcement hub, but he knew the townsfolk would come to the mercantile for the news before they’d gather at the garrison offices. She’d post the broadsheets with the instructions for everyone to follow on the boards out front.

“You ever gone through this before?”

“An attack?”

He nodded.

“Once when I was eight or nine we were overrun. It was back before they built the wall to reach the mountains behind us. My parents hid us in the root cellar. They got pretty far into Silver Cliffs. Set fire to buildings near the gates. We’ve had alerts here and there since.”

He stood and went to her, brushing the backs of his fingers against her cheek. “I’m going to protect you.”

She nodded. “I know.” Utter faith in him shone through her gaze.

“Come sit and eat with me. I’m sure it’s going to be a busy day for everyone. You’ll need to eat too.”

She did, but before he could talk with her about what had happened between them the night before, Jackson came in and sat with them, eating as he and Loyal went over next steps.

By the time they’d finished, she’d gone down to post the broadsheets and open the mercantile for business.

And then Trinity had come back with news that sent everyone scrambling.

Brigands had been seen gathering on the Highway near the turnoff for Silver Cliffs.

•   •   •

V
erity continued to work, trying to think on this as just another drill. Trying not to be afraid or to panic. There was no reason to jump into being afraid just yet. They were fairly well prepared. And they had something a lot of garrisons didn’t when they were attacked, five lawmen working with the garrison defense.

Her sister came into the mercantile. “We want you to come stay with us until this is over.”

Verity shook her head. “I need to be here to monitor the blips and to keep people informed. Do you have enough food and ammunition? Enough fuel?”

They were all advised to keep at least a moon’s worth of supplies in case of a prolonged siege but people oftentimes put such things off.

“Jackson can put someone here to monitor the blips after you close. This is silliness. You’re not a man. You’re not a soldier. You should be protected.”

“I’m also not helpless. I’m a better shot than many men in Silver Cliffs. My home is well fortified. I’ve got a lawman staying in my spare room. I’ll be fine. I appreciate the concern, but I’m all right.”

“He’s not moving to the garrison barracks?” One of Constance’s brows slid up and Verity braced herself for the lecture she feared would come.

“They’ve all decided to keep the lawmen scattered through town as they are now. They have personal communicators so they know if there’s a problem. He can run and be down at the barracks in a flash. They all can. No use sleeping on a cot when he can stay here.” She shrugged.

“You have anything you want to tell me?”

It wasn’t a crime, or even a sin for her to take solace in Loyal’s arms if she wanted to. As a widow, she had more freedom than she would have if she’d never married. But some people, maybe even her sister, might look askance.

She had no intention of confessing to her sister as if it was something to be ashamed of.

“Jackson is sweet on you. Is he all right with the lawman staying at your house?”

“I’ve been owned by a man. Owing him news and explanations of every moment of my day, aye? I will not, ever, owe that to another human being again. Jackson can feel however he wants about where Loyal is staying and it means no nevermind to me, understand?”

Constance sighed, nodding. “They’re not all like James. Jackson would be good for you. I’m just saying maybe take how he feels into account.”

“I know what you’re saying.” Verity closed the discussion firmly.

“All right then. Please come to our house if things get scary. I’ll feel much better if you do.”

“Thank you. I will.”

“And Tobin says you’ve given him the week off until this blows over?”

“Yes. He should be home where he can protect you and the house.”

Her sister rolled her eyes. “I want him here in the daytime. He gets under my feet at home. He’s disagreeable because he’d rather be here where he can see everything. I know you’ll send him home if things change.”

“You sure?”

Her sister nodded.

“All right then. The windows need a good cleaning. I’ll put him on that so at least he’ll be too tired to argue with his daddy when he gets home at night.”

Constance laughed. “Thank you.” She hugged Verity, kissing her cheek. “You think on what I said.” And left before Verity could argue.

P
eople had taken to congregating there on her large porch, watching the street leading down the hill. Watching the gates and whatever they could beyond them.

She’d done a brisk business over the last two days. A few enterprising souls showed up several times a day with baskets of sandwiches and wrapped bundles of meat and rice or grains, selling them for snacks and luncheon. People found a way, she thought with a smile. Even in the darkest of times, people found a way.

There was a curfew in effect at sunset. She sent people home as she and Tobin pulled the shutters over the windows on the first floor, locking them into place.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Go on home and take that bundle to your mother. I made her some of the tea she likes. It’ll settle her system.”

Her sister tended to be violently ill in the early months of her pregnancies. Luckily, the combination of herbs and flowers Verity dried for her tea seemed to aid and ease her sister’s discomfort. It was nice to be needed. Nice to be able to help.

Tobin nodded, kissing her cheek and running off home, the bundle under his arm.

Loyal hadn’t been around the night before as he’d done whatever they did down the garrison offices. But he came in as she stood in her kitchen wondering if she should take some dinner down to them all.

He held up a basket. “Went fishing today since we were out scouting anyway. I even cleaned them for you.”

“This is a division of labor I’m quite happy with.” She smiled with a wink, taking the basket.

“Have I actually found something you aren’t good at?”

“Gutting fish and scraping off the skin and scales?” She wrinkled her nose. “One does what one must. But if I can avoid such tasks, I’m pleased to do so.”

He shrugged, a smile on his lips. “What’ll you give me then if I do all the fish gutting and scaling?”

She put the basket on the counter and moved to him. “Whatever you want.”

He licked his lips and she let the power roll through her. The ability to turn his head and keep his attention. The ability to make his cock swell and his mouth turn up into a rather wicked grin.

“Why don’t you get on your knees. To get started.”

She did, obeying immediately, looking up his body into his face.

“Let me check the door.”

She grabbed the waist of his trousers, opening them quickly, pulling his cock out, hot and hard in her grip. She licked over the head, tasting the spice of his seed.

“You worried someone might come up and see me here, on my knees, your cock in my mouth?”

She had no idea where the words had come from. She’d thought such filthy things before, but never had she said them aloud.

He shivered, rooted to the spot. “Go on then.” He rolled his hips as she put her mouth around the head, pressing in deeper and pulling back.

He undid her hair, his fingers sifting through it over and over as she fell under that rhythmic touch. Until he wrapped it around his fist and held her exactly where he wanted her.

At first he’d tried to tell himself he wouldn’t do this again. But he’d been a liar because he’d been dreaming of this since he’d pulled out of her cunt the night before last.

The reality of this woman on her knees before him, that sweet mouth wrapped around his cock, her hair around his fist as he fucked her face was better than anything he’d ever dreamed.

“Breathe through your nose. Slow and steady.” He nearly crooned the words, sliding his free hand over her head, down to caress her cheek even as he kept thrusting into that mouth.

“Can you take more? Hm?”

She whimpered, but not in fear. He had to close his eyes a moment at the way the sound affected him.

“I think you can. For me.” He thrust harder, she hummed her pleasure and the sound vibrated up his cock, into his gut.

“I’m going to come in your mouth. And every time I look at you I’m going to know that. And you will too.”

She dragged her nails lightly over his balls and he groaned, unable to tear his gaze from her, from the sight of his cock sliding into her mouth and coming back out, wet and dark.

He heard her breathe through her nose, deeply like he’d told her. Orgasm began to dig its nails into him as he watched her swallow his cock again and again.

He fought the urge to close his eyes when it hit, instead he watched as her lids closed, as she flushed a pretty pink when he came. She didn’t let go either. Not until
she
was ready to be done.

And then when she let him pull back, she looked up and licked her lips.

He’d given life to this more carnal Verity. He saw glimpses of it here and there since that first night. Knowing no one else had noticed. No one but him. She seemed to ooze sensuality now.

And he let himself be fascinated by it. Later he’d have to deal with it, but for the time he was there, he’d soak it in.

He helped her up, kissing her hard.

“After dinner I’m going to feast on your cunt until you have to scream into the pillow. And then I’m going to fuck you so hard your breasts bounce.”

She licked her lips again and swallowed, nodding.

“Yes. Please.”

•   •   •

S
he moved around the kitchen on shaky legs as she put a meal together. He sat at the table, reading, making notes and watching her with covetous eyes. He made her knees wobble.

“So any new sightings?”

He looked up. “Nothing new. They’re good at blending in. Not always so dependent on vehicles, which means they don’t need the roads.”

“Are you still leaving tomorrow?”

She hoped not.

“Most likely no. One of the blips today advised us to stay in place.”

“You should take me then. When you leave I mean.” Now that she’d blurted it out she felt better. Lighter.

She turned the fish in the pan, tipping it to get the oils so she could spoon them over the sweet flesh a few times.

“We’ve talked about this.”

“No we haven’t. You’d said I was better off here than traveling out there. I want to see the world. I want to know what it’s like outside these walls. I’ve lived here my entire life. I’ve never been further than half a day’s walk from Silver Cliffs. You’ve been up and down the Highway. You’ve seen how people live, you’ve eaten what they eat. You’ve seen how they dress. I know enough to know it’s not all how we are here. I know people do things differently in other places. I want that. I want to see it.”

“You want to leave here where the walls keep you safe from the brigands?” His gaze seemed to burn through her as she stirred the rice, fluffing it and putting it into a bowl she placed on the table.

“You’re alive. The people you travel with are alive. The people who drive the transports are alive. Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not patronizing you. I’m telling you it’s safe here. You’re better off here. The world outside will change you. I don’t want that. Can’t you see?”

“Why is it about what you want anyway? What about what I want?”

“And then what? Hm? You leave here to do what? Go where? With who?”

She rolled her eyes and put the bread, still warm from the oven, on the table. “Please pour us some juice.”

He sighed, getting up to do so.

“With you, of course. Trinity and Marcus drive together.”

“They’re lawmen. You’re a shopkeeper.”

That hurt. He was right, of course, which didn’t really negate the hurt.

“If you don’t want me along, just say so.”

He started to speak but a knock on the door interrupted them both. “Don’t think I can’t see the relief on your face. This isn’t over.”

He walked past her, pausing to give her a hard, quick kiss before he moved to the door, letting Jackson in.

“Trackers just came back. Brigands are about two miles down. They’re sticking close to the river. But they’re headed this way.”

“I’ll make this portable.” She moved to sandwich the fish in the center of the crusty roll along with some of the pickle. “Jackson, would you like one?” She held up the bread after she’d wrapped it and placed it on Loyal’s empty plate.

“Aye, that would be mighty fine, Verity. Much appreciated.”

His eyes took her in, pausing at her mouth and then shifting over to Loyal briefly.

Loyal disappeared into his room and came back out with a leather roll, which he unfurled on the tabletop. He slid into an overvest, one she knew would repel bullets and blades. His gaze had gone flat and hard, his mouth set in a line.

She handed a sandwich to Jackson and he ate it as he watched Loyal take the weapons in the roll and strap them on.

Blades, guns, he tucked a few magazines for his weapons in a pocket of his trousers.

“I need to get to my people. Take the town up from general alert to full alert. I want everything locked down.”

Jackson nodded as he ate. “Done. I’ll send runners out.” He turned to Verity. “Thank you for the dinner. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.” He smiled, reaching out to brush some crumbs from her skirt. “You lock down too. Are you going to head to your sister’s?”

She shook her head. “No. James let you all use the house the last time we had an incursion. He sure told the story often enough. You can see plenty from the attic and the roof.” She took a key from a nearby drawer. “This unlocks the store and the stairs. Consider this my permission to use the roof and attic for your men as well.”

“Don’t go doing anything stupid, you hear me, Verity?” He took her hands. “You see them coming and you get yourself locked in your cellar. I know you have an exit from there to the pasture out back. You get gone if you need to.”

She nodded. “I have supplies hidden out there. I’ll be fine.” He paused as if he were going to speak, but Loyal cleared his throat as he kept arming himself, though he kept his gaze down on what he was doing.

“I’ll check in on you later.” Jackson headed to the door and looked to Loyal before leaving. “I’ll see you at the garrison shortly.”

And was gone.

She moved to Loyal, bending to tie the laces on his boots. He hauled her to her feet when she’d finished. His gaze severe, hard. “You
will
remain here in this house, do you understand me? Green flare if you need to evacuate. You see two greens and you get that pretty little ass downstairs and into that cellar. Use the full locks and the big heavy door. You get yourself gone. I’ll find you when it’s safe.”

“I’m not stupid. I won’t stay if we get overrun.”

“Nay, not stupid. But passionate.” He sighed. “They will . . . they will savage every female in this garrison if they catch them. I don’t want that to happen to you. Or to anyone here.” He amended, but it was late enough that she knew he cared about her in a way he wasn’t sure how to process. Which was good as she felt quite the same.

“I have no desire to be savaged. Though, should a certain lawman want to pillage?” She raised her brow and smiled. He shook his head.

“You’re a handful, Verity Coleman.”

“I am. Don’t forget it.”

He hauled her against him, the blades, though sheathed, pressing into her flesh through her clothes. A reminder of what else he was. It thrilled her though she knew it was dangerous.

His kiss wasn’t safe. It was hard and fast, a gnash of teeth, the nip of her bottom lip. He branded her with that kiss. “Your lips are still swollen from my cock,” he spoke against her mouth at last. “Haldeman noticed that.”

“Yes.” She tried not to pant, but it was difficult.

“Mine.”
He kissed her hard one last time and stepped back. “Watch out the window. Keep the lights off. Lock this place down and do not come out unless you get the signal or are escorted by one of us or Haldeman’s men. Promise.”

She nodded.

He grabbed two rifles and headed out. She went down, checked the locks on the windows and pulled the heavy plates down, covering the doors and windows. She slid the bolts and locks into place and headed back upstairs, doing the same on the main door from the back stairs. She’d keep the exit down the back stairs, up to the attic, down to the cellar and her tunnel to escape locked, but accessible. The lights went off all over town as the runners spread out. Shutters clanked shut, locks clicked out through the night.

She only hoped they were ready to repel the assault she knew in her bones was coming.

•   •   •

H
e gathered his team, who’d already been on alert and were all ready.

“They had a group of about twenty that I could see.” Indigo indicated a map on the table nearby and they moved over. Haldeman and several of his men were there as well, watching, ready for orders. In a situation like this one, Loyal would be the commanding officer.

“They were here.” Indigo pointed.

“There’s a trail just ahead.” Haldeman drew a line from the river toward the garrison. “It would take them around the bridge, but they’d still have to cross the river. Right now it’s swollen with melting snowpack. Several feet above the normal levels. And brutally cold. Too cold to swim across and live.”

“Other than the main bridge, where else can they cross safely?”

“Nearer the pass.” Haldeman pointed miles east of the garrison, higher up in the mountains. “There’s a bridge up that way. They can cross there. Even if they ran it would take them an extra day, day and a half. The climb is brutal. Maybe it’ll discourage them.”

“Depends on the why of this attack.” Stace looked over the map. “I can get to the bridge up on the pass. Blow it so they can’t cross.”

“What do you mean depends on the why?” One of Haldeman’s men stood forward.

Trinity shrugged. “You can’t count on the brigands to do things how you might. They don’t think like we do. If they’re hungry or angry at having to walk extra they may not give up like you or I might. Go pick an easier target. No, they might figure the extra work is worth whatever you got in these walls. Or they may be so mad that they see this as revenge for making them work so hard. Or maybe they’re starving and they’ll come no matter what. They don’t think like regular folk is what I’m saying. They’re brigands. Closer to animal than people at times, ’specially times like these when they’re on a hunt.”

Trinity knew them well. Her family had been taken by them. She’d been raised as a camp slave for several years until she’d escaped. Just ten years old, she’d leapt off a moving brigand vehicle and into the road in the path of a lawman’s escort. It was lucky they hadn’t shot her but stopped to help. Against regulations to do such things, but it had saved her life and she’d been with the lawmen ever since.