it a
second time and still nothing. The engine was not starting.
“The
battery’s dead.” She hit her hand against the steering wheel. “Did you notice
anything when you got the phone Wil?”
“The
door was open a bit.” Wil was in the rear seat.
Kimi
exhaled. “The door light drained the battery.”
Niail
sensed her frustration. “How far to Browning?”
“ It’s several miles away.” Kimi looked over at him. “You
can’t walk there.”
“I
am used to walking distances.” Niail opened the truck door.
“Not
after the injuries you sustained.”
“I
have had worse.”
Niail
stepped out of the truck and started down the drive. He had to reach the other
Hunters before they gave him up for dead. He might never be able to mind
connect again. It was imperative that he find them.
“Wait.”
Kimi ran up behind him. “You don’t have to walk. Someone usually stops by to
check on me during the weekend.”
Niail
hesitated. He could see that Kimi was worried. He had been trained to obey
women. Since crashing on earth, they had learned that women on this planet
often made decisions based on emotions. This wasn’t logical. Uncertainty about
whether Kimi was ordering him to stay or making a suggestion made him question
her further.
“I
can reach the town. Just tell me which direction.”
“It’s
too dangerous.” Kimi clasped his arm. “You’re injured. Bobby was insistent you
stay hidden here.”
“That
was when I was unconscious.” He turned toward Kimi and put his hands on her
shoulders. “I will not be captured again.”
“It’s
getting late. The sun will be down soon. I would feel better if you stayed.”
Niail’s
eyes roamed over Kimi’s face. Her brow was creased and she was biting her lips.
She was sincere in her concern. His response was immediate. His body jolted
with purpose. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. He would honor her
wishes.
“Then
I will remain here until tomorrow.”
Kimi
smiled. “Great. We could even try to use one of the batteries I have for the
solar system.”
“No.”
Niail started back to the house. “Tomorrow is soon enough for me to leave.”
His
fellow Hunters might not understand, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do to
keep Kimi happy. Her desires were the only thing that he cared about. His pair
bonding was growing stronger. He would contact the others when he could. Until then,
he would stay.
The
rest of the day was spent outside. The kids played and Niail stayed near Kimi.
She worked on the gardens. She weeded the flowerbeds while Niail turned the
earth in the vegetable patch at the rear of the house.
“Is
this how your people would have lived traditionally?” Niail wiped the sweat
from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Kimi
laughed. “They followed the buffalo. They didn’t stay in one place long enough
to grow food.”
“So
why are you doing it?”
Kimi
shrugged. “With this much space, it would be silly not to live off the land a
bit. I don’t have any animals, but in the summer, it isn’t a problem to tend
the garden.”
“I
would have preferred to move around like your ancestors.”
“You
have itchy feet like my ex-husband.” Kimi shrugged. “I always wanted a stable
home. My parents died when I was young and my grandfather raised Jake and me.”
“So
that means living in one place?” Niail frowned. “I can understand, but if you
are bonded to each other, does it matter if one of you moves around?”
Kimi
stood. “I don’t think Sam and I considered how long we would be together. We
were young and foolish.”
“You
and Sam are no longer mates.” Niail didn’t miss the flicker of pain in Kimi’s
eyes.
Kimi
took off her gardening gloves. “Sam has a new wife and son now.”
“And
this is why Jake was upset the first morning?”
Kimi
turned back to the house. “Jake is angry at everything.”
Niail
followed her into the house. The longer he spent with Kimi the more he was able
to sense her
second time and still nothing. The engine was not starting.
“The
battery’s dead.” She hit her hand against the steering wheel. “Did you notice
anything when you got the phone Wil?”
“The
door was open a bit.” Wil was in the rear seat.
Kimi
exhaled. “The door light drained the battery.”
Niail
sensed her frustration. “How far to Browning?”
“ It’s several miles away.” Kimi looked over at him. “You
can’t walk there.”
“I
am used to walking distances.” Niail opened the truck door.
“Not
after the injuries you sustained.”
“I
have had worse.”
Niail
stepped out of the truck and started down the drive. He had to reach the other
Hunters before they gave him up for dead. He might never be able to mind
connect again. It was imperative that he find them.
“Wait.”
Kimi ran up behind him. “You don’t have to walk. Someone usually stops by to
check on me during the weekend.”
Niail
hesitated. He could see that Kimi was worried. He had been trained to obey
women. Since crashing on earth, they had learned that women on this planet
often made decisions based on emotions. This wasn’t logical. Uncertainty about
whether Kimi was ordering him to stay or making a suggestion made him question
her further.
“I
can reach the town. Just tell me which direction.”
“It’s
too dangerous.” Kimi clasped his arm. “You’re injured. Bobby was insistent you
stay hidden here.”
“That
was when I was unconscious.” He turned toward Kimi and put his hands on her
shoulders. “I will not be captured again.”
“It’s
getting late. The sun will be down soon. I would feel better if you stayed.”
Niail’s
eyes roamed over Kimi’s face. Her brow was creased and she was biting her lips.
She was sincere in her concern. His response was immediate. His body jolted
with purpose. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. He would honor her
wishes.
“Then
I will remain here until tomorrow.”
Kimi
smiled. “Great. We could even try to use one of the batteries I have for the
solar system.”
“No.”
Niail started back to the house. “Tomorrow is soon enough for me to leave.”
His
fellow Hunters might not understand, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do to
keep Kimi happy. Her desires were the only thing that he cared about. His pair
bonding was growing stronger. He would contact the others when he could. Until then,
he would stay.
The
rest of the day was spent outside. The kids played and Niail stayed near Kimi.
She worked on the gardens. She weeded the flowerbeds while Niail turned the
earth in the vegetable patch at the rear of the house.
“Is
this how your people would have lived traditionally?” Niail wiped the sweat
from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Kimi
laughed. “They followed the buffalo. They didn’t stay in one place long enough
to grow food.”
“So
why are you doing it?”
Kimi
shrugged. “With this much space, it would be silly not to live off the land a
bit. I don’t have any animals, but in the summer, it isn’t a problem to tend
the garden.”
“I
would have preferred to move around like your ancestors.”
“You
have itchy feet like my ex-husband.” Kimi shrugged. “I always wanted a stable
home. My parents died when I was young and my grandfather raised Jake and me.”
“So
that means living in one place?” Niail frowned. “I can understand, but if you
are bonded to each other, does it matter if one of you moves around?”
Kimi
stood. “I don’t think Sam and I considered how long we would be together. We
were young and foolish.”
“You
and Sam are no longer mates.” Niail didn’t miss the flicker of pain in Kimi’s
eyes.
Kimi
took off her gardening gloves. “Sam has a new wife and son now.”
“And
this is why Jake was upset the first morning?”
Kimi
turned back to the house. “Jake is angry at everything.”
Niail
followed her into the house. The longer he spent with Kimi the more he was able
to sense her
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