Studs, page 4
Glenda’s departure from the trailer was very much like her sister’s. However, this time Travis wasn’t taking any chances. Waving at a young boy, he fished in his pocket and brought out a wad of green paper. “Hey, boy! You want to make some quick cash? If so, you guard this trailer and holler if you see any women headed for it.”
Confusion dipped the boy’s eyebrows, but he took the paper and nodded. “Okay, mister. I’ll holler.”
“You holler loud. You got that?”
“I got it.”
How am I going to get back to Rici without being seen? Charissa motioned to Rici hoping he’d catch her unspoken message for help. Still hiding behind the building, he acted as if he didn’t have a clue, ignoring the silent calls she sent him. At least he did until she shot him an angry face. Then he grinned and nodded.
Rici waited until the boy reached to get a ringing object from a pocket in the back of his pants—jeans—and flicked his hand at the boy. In an instant, the boy dropped the noisy box he held and whipped his head around to look at a man several yards away. “Pop? Did you call me?” Worry etched the young face as he darted his gaze between the trailer and the man. “I’m working, Pop.” Rici flicked his hand again and the boy shuddered. Worry morphed into fear as the boy raced toward the man. Travis, who’d stepped out of the trailer, hollered at the boy, but to no avail.
Charissa, realizing Rici had pushed the boy with the emotions of Worry and then Fear, made her escape and dashed over to her brother. Throwing her body against the wall, she tried to catch her breath between each pant. “Whew. I thought I’d get caught any minute.”
Rici’s humorous attitude vanished, replaced by lines marring his handsome face as he studied his sister. “What did you think you’d accomplish by watching him with those women? If you want a little voyeurism, then let’s get a couple of humans, push them into sex and watch. Why go to such great lengths with this man?”
“Because I love him, Rici.”
Chapter Two
Rici stared at his sister and let her words sink in. As he stared at her, she met his stare with one of her own.
“Oh!” Laughter boiled up from the pit of his stomach, knocking him over to fall against the side of the building. “I get it. Oh, shat, Charissa, you almost tricked me, didn’t you?”
Her perfect eyebrows dipped in irritation. “What are you talking about? Trick you how?”
His sister, the jokester, the comedian, the prankster. “Pff. Come on, you know what I mean. There’s no use in trying to take the joke any further. You’re in love with him? That is so, so funny.”
“Rici, I’m not kidding. I love him.”
With her renewed declaration of affection, he slid to the ground, careless of dirtying his pants. “Stop! You’re killing me.” Great sobs of laughter doubled him up as the pain from his mirth hit him in the stomach. “You and a mortal. Love him, you say? Of course you do. And I’m in love with a dirt faery. In fact, I want to marry my little dirt faery and have lots of little dirt faeries together.”
Smiling her deadliest “You are such an idiot and I hate you smile” all rolled into one, she bent over to get her face as close to Rici’s as she could. “Rici? Have you noticed something?”
He clamped a hand over his mouth, but couldn’t stop giggling. “W-what’s that, Charissa? That your new boyfriend plays with animals? Do you think he’ll let you play with animals, too? Or play with his animal? Wink, wink.”
An unusual spark glittered in her eyes that he noted but didn’t take time to wonder about. But her smile never wavered.
“No, you idiot. We’re having very strong emotions. Shat, you’re on the ground laughing. Yet where is the Council of Elders? Why aren’t they here to stick us back in the Chamber? Why haven’t they whisked us away?”
He hadn’t thought of that. Experiencing strong emotions in public was expressly forbidden under Matlantian law. In fact, Matlantians tried their best not to even feel the emotion. But to let it out, to show an intense emotion was simply not done.
In an instant, his humor vanished and he pushed against the wall to stand up. “You’re right.” He scanned the flat land around him and checked for any sign of the Elders. “What do you think’s going on?”
“I don’t know. In the past, they would have been on us faster than white on rice.”
“White on rice? What’s that mean?”
“I haven’t got a clue. I heard one of the humans say it earlier.”
Rici filed the expression away for later discussion. “Nonetheless, something’s going on. I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. I felt the humor and I laughed. But then where are they? Where’s the Elders?”
Together, they looked around them and above them. And found nothing.
“Rici?”
“Yeah?” He turned to his sister and saw a mix of new emotions playing on her face. And yet, with all the emotions changing her usually calm exterior, she looked even more beautiful.
“Do you think they’re alive?”
“Who? The Elders?” He gawked at her then as if she’d grown a third head. “Of course they’re alive. Elders don’t die. We don’t die.”
“Then where are they?”
She met his gaze again and he saw a drop of moisture at the corners. Tenderly, he reached out his finger and touched the drop as it fell from her eye. Amazed, he studied the wetness on the tip of his finger. “Charissa, what are you doing? What is this?”
“I don’t know.” She used her own finger to press to the side of her other eye. “Is this…? Am I crying?” After examining the end of her finger and the lingering water there, she licked the end of it and gazed back at him. “I’ve seen humans do this, but I didn’t think we could.”
He didn’t know how his sister could cry, but he didn’t like all the changes going on within her. Or in him. “Charissa, stop it right this minute. I don’t mind a little joke now and then or sending emotions into the humans, but I won’t tolerate full-blown emotions in you. Not to mention, crying.” He backed away from her and wondered if she’d somehow changed during all the years in the Chamber. “Crying! Imagine! First you joke around about loving this, this man and now you’re experiencing strong emotions. And making me experience them, too.”
The wetness at her eyes left almost as quickly as it had appeared. “I’m not joking, Rici. I love him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t. You can’t.” His sister had gone crazy. That had to be the answer. But where could he find her help if the Elders weren’t watching?
“Why not? Why can’t I?”
This farce had to end. Now. “Okay, you want to play this stupid game? Okay, then we will. First of all, you don’t even know him. You just met the man.” He blustered at her, letting the emotion of Irritation flood through him.
“I don’t care. I loved him the first moment I laid eyes on him.”
Rici blew out an exasperated puff of air. “Oh, please. What do you call that? Love at first sight? Yeah, like such a thing exists. Like even humans do that. Please.”
Charissa stepped closer to him, Anger flaming in her eyes much as they’d ignited in so many humans they’d pushed Anger into. “Rici, I’m warning you.”
As she closed the distance between them, he shuffled back a step; never having seen such passion in his sister before. “And-and you can’t possibly love the man because he’s human. He’s not Matlantian.”
“I don’t care.”
His shocked gasp brought her chin up in defiance. “Charissa, you don’t mean it. Take everything back. Take it back before you regret everything you’ve said. And especially, everything you’ve felt.”
“I won’t.”
He ran his hand over the back of his neck and tried to think. But nothing, no solution, no way out came to him. “I think we’d better try to go home and get you some help.”
She tossed her glossy, black mane then and spun on her heel. “I’m not going anywhere. Except with Travis.”
As Rici watched on, Charissa shifted. Her long, lean body grew blurry as the form changed, shortening and spreading wider. Before Rici could react, Charissa’s glorious hair was gone; replaced by meager strands of dull, gray hair. Where once her flawless skin had glowed, now withered skin and age spots left her skin dry and pale. Gone was his beautiful sister.
“Why did you change into an old male?” She was up to something. But what?
As Charissa twisted around to look at him, her silky gown transformed into the jeans and the odd-shaped footwear and shirt similar to those worn by the other human males. “I told you. I’m going with Travis. He turned down those other females.” The old man winked at him. “Not that he would’ve turned me down.”
“Of course not.”
“But to play it safe, I’m going to approach him in this non-threatening form.”
Rici started to go after her, but she held up a hand and hissed at him. “No, Rici. You can’t come. I want to do this alone. If the Elders are watching, I don’t want you involved.”
Before he could think of a suitable answer, she pivoted and headed toward the trailer—and Travis.
****
“Travis.”
Travis spun on his heel, half expecting to find Joe’s daughter’s standing behind him. Thankfully, he found an old man, his thumbs hooked in his pockets, standing behind him and tapping at the ground with the toe of his boot. “Yeah, that’s me. Can I help you?”
A wide grin spread over the old man’s features, opening his mouth to show ragged, yellowed teeth. “I wish you would.”
Travis did a double-take. Had the old man’s voice sounded high pitched? Almost like a woman’s? “How?”
“How what, Sugar?”
Travis cocked his head at the strange, little cowboy, unsure that he’d heard him correctly? “What’d you call me?” At least, this time his voice had sounded lower. More masculine. Although it still held a kind of lilt to it not normally found in a man’s voice. A lilt along with an unknown accent. A clipped speech pattern he’d heard just once before.
In a flash of memory, her recalled the woman from earlier today. The gorgeous, sexually-charged beauty at the arena. For a moment, Travis allowed his mind to wander, imagining the woman standing in front of him. Shit, Travis. Get hold on yourself. No involvements. No entanglements. I have a fledgling business to run and no time for anything except business-related problems. Which means no women. Even stunning, alluring, exotic women.
The old man opened his mouth to speak, glanced at the ground, and then raised his head again. “Sonny. I called you Sonny.”
No, he hadn’t. Travis studied the old guy a bit longer and decided not to push the issue. “Did you want something? Were you looking for me?”
The old man’s face lit up as if he’d just won the trifecta on the last race at the track. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
Something in the way the man phrased the sentence made Travis uncomfortable. “You have?”
As if sensing Travis’ discomfort, the old man’s grin faded and he frowned, furrowing his brow like that of an old hound dog. “Yeah. Uh, I heard you needed some help.”
“You heard wrong.” What was it about this guy that had him wondering what was under the surface? “Who are you?”
“Who am I?”
A worried flash flew over the man’s face and Travis chuckled. “Yeah, you know. Your name. Your handle. What do folks call you?” Relief flooded the man’s features as he drew closer to Travis, his eyes darting around them as if searching for an answer. The old buzzard stepped closer; putting him a little too close for comfort.
“Oh, yeah. Sure. My name. Uh, folks call me Justin.”
“Glad to meet you, Justin.” Travis stuck out his hand and waited as the old man stared at it for a second before sticking out his own—without taking hold of Travis’ hand. Strange way to shake hands. Travis grasped Justin’s hand and shook it. Not a very strong handshake. Especially since these old guys like the hard, firm handshakes.
After a really-too-long time for a shake to last, Travis pried his hand out of the Justin’s and took a step away from him. A tingly sensation ripped up his spine, making him shiver. “So, Justin, why are you looking for me?”
“I think you’re going to need some help with the horse.”
Beautiful, black eyes caught Travis and held him in their grip. If only those eyes belonged to a woman… They did. The mysterious woman. Shake it off, man. “You mean Adonis? Nah, I’ll do fine with him. Who told you that, anyway?”
Justin’s thin lips twitched upward as if enjoying a private joke. “I can’t remember for sure. But I think Joe’s daughters might have mentioned it.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake! When will those b—” Travis caught his slip before he went too far. “I mean, uh, when will those girls get it through their head to stop messing with me? I’m afraid they led you down the wrong path. I’m not looking to hire anyone. I can handle Adonis on my own.”
“Are you sure? I have a special way with animals.”
“Yeah, I’m—”
The old man let out a loud whistle, interrupting Travis, and turning heads. Nodding, Justin pointed toward the horse in the trailer. Unnerved by the unexpected reaction, Travis followed Justin’s lead and turned to watch Adonis. The horse pawed its hooves into the floor of the trailer and tried to twist his head around to see Justin. Justin whistled a second time, and the horse calmed down in a second.
Travis glanced from the horse to Justin and back to Adonis. “Okay, that’s an interesting little trick. I’ve never seen anyone get such a reaction from that horse.” Except the beautiful woman earlier today. Now why can’t he stop thinking about her? He’d had a hard time blocking her out of his mind since he’d first laid eyes on her.
“Like I said. I have a way with animals.”
“I’d say you do.”
“Then let me go with you.”
Travis whipped his gaze from Adonis back to the old man. “Go with me?” The old cowboy sure had an odd way of phrasing things.
“You know. To your home.”
Travis sensed the uneasiness creeping along his neck. Did the old guy have to say things that way? Almost like the way a woman would put it. A woman who wanted to stay awhile once she got to his home. “To my home?”
Justin, whose eyes never seemed to blink, opened his eyes wide as if he’d only then realized his own words. “Uh, like the other guys with you.”
Understanding, relief washed over Travis. “Oh, you mean my hired hands. You’re wanting some kind of a job? Is that it, old timer?”
Justin narrowed his eyes as a frown furrowed his brow. “Old timer?” With a slight nod, he added, “I guess I could be considered an old timer. I’ve lived a long time although I don’t think I look as old as I am, do I?”
Was this old coot fishing for compliments? Again, acting like a girl? Travis raised his hands in defense. “Hey, no offense, Justin. I’m sure you look great for your age.”
“You bet I do.”
Did he just wink at me? Travis ran an instant replay through his mind and came up with the unwanted answer. Yep, he just winked at me. Maybe he’s gay? Nah, more than likely he’s just pulling my leg. Either that or he’s been kicked in the head too much. “Uh, well.” This old guy left him unnerved and out of words.
“So when do I go with you?”
“What?”
“For the whatever you called it.”
“A job?” Maybe the old man was senile. Travis latched onto the idea and held fast. Senile was a whole lot safer than strange. Probably.
“Right. A job.” Justin grinned at him again.
The uneasiness working up Travis’ spine morphed into a full-fledged warning signal. “I don’t think so. Sorry, but I don’t have any use for—”
The smile on Justin’s face was gone before Travis could finish his sentence. Instead, the old man gave a curt nod of his head, narrowed his eyes and shot him a hard, cold look. For a moment, the world grew blurry and Travis reached out to steady himself by grasping the trailer. “What the hell?”
But the odd impression disappeared almost before Travis had time to wonder what had happened. Instead, a warm, caring feeling swept through him and he knew, without a doubt, he wanted to help the old man. He stared at Justin and smiled. “Yeah. Of course. A job.”
Without understanding why, Travis slipped an arm around Justin’ shoulders and pulled him close. “You’re hired Justin. I know you’ll be invaluable to my ranch, Tall Oaks. Be ready to leave as soon as I get the second horse loaded.”
“Terrific. I knew you had a kind heart.” Justin leaned against Travis and tracked his arm around his waist. “You need me, Travis. Just like I need you.”
A couple of cowboys sauntering by stopped and gawked at Travis and Justin before coughing out a laugh and hurrying on. Justin waved at them as if they were old friends.
With a squeal Justin pulled Travis to him, placing them chest to chest, and hugged him. “Goodie! We’re going to have such great fun.” Justin let go of him and spun on his heels. Moving faster than any elderly person Travis had ever seen, Justin dashed up to the pickup, pulled open the passenger side door and hopped inside. “I’m ready anytime you are.”
Travis returned Justin’s quick wave before turning to walk toward the corral. Again, the fuzziness hit him, stopping him dead in his tracks until his view of the world focused. “What the hell? What’s going on?”
“Hey, Travis, you just hire that old guy?”
One of his best men stood next to him and he hadn’t even seen him walk up. Something was definitely not right. “Old guy?”
Carl nodded and Travis followed his gaze to the pickup where Justin sat waiting. “That guy.”
“Uh, yeah, I think I did.” He had, hadn’t he? But why? He didn’t need any more workers. “I did.”
Carl checked him out, scrutinizing him enough to make Travis shift his weight from one foot to the other. “What for? I mean, what’s his job?”
Good question. Travis bought some time to think. “Why do you ask?”
