Catch a Falling Star (19 page)

Without knowing she
hadn’t actually agreed, Miguel felt a jump in his chest and a
rather silly grin cocked one side of his mouth up.
Wait ‘til
Rabbit gets a load of her
.

Kicking his bike
around, the pilot led the way back into open air and sped
towards the sheer sides, taking the least vertical of them which
still meant they had to stand and lean over the bars to avoid
toppling out of the saddles. Once they’d cleared the ridge, they
could see the dark reflective metal of a 12-man shuttle sitting
alone in a field of cereal grains. The shapes spreading out
around it were harder to make out but Miguel could read their
bio-signatures, each one a name he knew. And there was Rabbit.

Pushing the throttle
back down, the Spaniard sped straight for them, knowing his
signature would come up with an unknown biological entity riding
shotgun. He had to reach them before there were any
misunderstandings.

So intent on
reassuring his rescuers about her presence, he didn't notice the
distance between them was growing. Lyrianne’s heart was in her
throat as she slowed down though she didn't turn to leave just
yet. She was afraid he'd do something dumb like follow after her
again. She had to see him on the ground. Off the bike. Then
she'd go. She hung back, waiting and watching Miguel as he
reached his shipmates.

Miguel was quickly on
them and bringing the bike down, the first words out of his
mouth, “She’s with me!”; the deep greens and grays of the camo
armor began to coalesce into five well-geared Fed men. And
Rabbit.

“Miguel, you sorry
sack, are you a sight for sore eyes!” The other pilot stripped
off his headgear and met Miguel half way, the two embracing in a
bro-hug. The other men kept their helmets on and were guarding
the small perimeter they had established. One of them was facing
Lyrianne as she slowly advanced on the hoverbike.

She drifted to a stop
and removed the goggles, pulling the ponytail loose in the
process. Her hair blew across her eyes and she reached up to
hold the long strands to one side so she could watch Miguel
greet the other man. It was obvious there was joy in the
reunion. He was back with his own people and was probably
already putting her forsaken planet behind him. Though she felt
a painful sense of loss, she smiled. He would be fine.

She turned her head
to get one good look at his ship and his people. Her fingers
began to close around the bike's controls then her intention to
leave fled from her mind, her grip on the bike's throttle
loosening. The breeze that played with her hair was a typically
warm summer gust but she felt her skin prickle with goose bumps.

She stared back at
the hidden visage of the one who was watching her. Maybe it was
his posture combined with the way he held his weapon at the
ready or possibly that his anonymity changed him into the
embodiment of all she had come to believe about the nature of
the military, whichever side they came from. She didn't know but
it made no difference.

Her sudden fear of
the spaceman was overwhelming and kept her from moving. Slowly
she raised the hand that wasn't holding her hair in place, palm
out to show she was unarmed. She then turned on the bike's
saddle, revealing as much of herself as she could while
remaining seated, hoping the form hugging tank top and light
weight pants she wore would reassure him she had no place to
conceal weapons of any sort.

“You have your pilot
back. I'm going to leave now.”

Miguel broke off the
contact with his best friend and turned sharply, his eyes
finding Lyrianne. There was confusion there, but something else,
very close to the surface. He crossed in front of the man
spooking her, disrupting her sight of him, and strode quickly to
her.

Closing his hand over
hers served two purposes. It connected them – and it prevented
her from using the handbar controls to put the bike in gear.

“You are not staying
here.” He searched her face, uneasy. They didn't have time for
this. “We must go now before more tinmen come.”

“Miguel.” She shook
her head. “Think about it. If I went with you, what would become
of me? I am from an Alliance world, a colony world at that. In
the Federation I would have nowhere to go and no skills that
would give me any value. How is that any better than what I have
waiting for me here?”

She fought back the
desire to put her arms around him one last time. “You have to
listen to me. I helped you because I wanted to. You don't owe me
anything.” She turned her hand in his until she could grasp his
fingers tightly. Her voice was barely a whisper as she looked
into the fascinating depths of his eyes. “You have to go.
Please.”

His throat moved
painfully as he tried to swallow. Why did he care if she didn't
want to come? What had he really been thinking? Was he going to
register her as his companion and stow her in his quarters? This
was a woman used to the freedom of so much land. It would be
cruel to take her from it, akin to locking her up in a cage with
nowhere to go. It would kill her spirit.

Raising his hand, he
slid it gently up her jaw to cup her cheek. “I will never forget
you either,
querida
.” Brushing his thumb over her
slender brow, he watched the even stroke before meeting her
eyes. His smile was sad and full of longing. “Thank you for
saving my life.”

Leaning close, he
slanted his mouth over hers in a soft, lingering kiss.

She let him kiss her
but didn't return it, sudden fear over who would be waiting for
her at the farm crowding out any joy she might have found in the
farewell. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she smiled at
him then touched his cheek and mouth, her hand then sliding over
the still visible bruise on his jaw. “I think you did that
yourself. In spite of me.”

Heaving a big sigh,
she looked beyond him to his friend then to the others. “Is
there a proper way to surrender? Some way to make sure they
don't shoot first and ask questions later?”

She tried to make it
sound like a teasing thought inspired by her embarrassing fear
of his companions. She wanted him to think it was said to
lighten the mood for him, and her, before they parted. It was,
however, probably the most practical thought she had in her head
right then. She was thinking of those who would be looking for
her when she got back. Farley had had plenty of time by now to
report her aiding the enemy and she was trying to be strong as
her father's daughter should be. She would not run or hide or
beg but that didn't mean she wasn't afraid of how she might be
treated if she seemed a threat to her captors in any way.

Miguel looked
uncertain as he tried to smile at her jest, misunderstanding
whom 'they' were that she was referring. “They are good boys,
querida
,
though I have no doubt one or two would enjoy your surrender.”
His brows rose and he leaned back though he did not release her
face that he now held in both of his hands. “You will come with
me then?”

Thinking she had
changed her mind, he grinned broadly and reached across her to
power down the bike. “Come. We have taken too long.”

“Don't keep saying
that!” She choked the protest out on a sob, fighting the tears
which only served to make her angry at their persistence.
“Don't.” She grasped the anger as if it would anchor her crazily
spinning emotions. “You are so stubborn!”

She tried to get the
bike started again but was having trouble with it. Her exit
spoiled, she turned her eyes back to his. “I know you think you
should rescue me or something, because of a debt you think you
owe me – which you don't - I would even let you do it, but,
forgive me, I don't think I could stand it when... It would hurt
too much and I... Miguel, please. I'm giving you an out. Just
take it and stop trying to be noble. Go.”

His brows climbed his
forehead and he almost stepped back, his hands falling away. “Is
that what you think?”

“Madrid, man, we got
to go!” Rabbit, tall, lanky and ebony skinned, was pulling his
helmet back on and heading towards them. The flashes of an
approaching vehicle had registered on the LED lenses of Miguel's
eyes but he had ignored them until now.

“Lee-ree-anne,” he
said, his voice firm and filling with urgency. “I am not leaving
you on this mudball planet, do you hear? It is not because I am
trying to be noble because I promise you, I am not.” Catching
her face in his hands, he forced her to look at him. His eyes
were unfathomably dark and trying to get through to her.

“I want you to come
with me because I do not want to say goodbye. Because I hate the
thought of not seeing you again. Because I want to make love to
you with the stars at our backs-”

“Gah. You're gonna
make me puke, man...”

A muscle tensed in
the pilot's jaw, but he didn't look away. “I cannot leave you
here to be arrested. I will not. Now get off this bike and come
with me before we are all killed.”

Her awareness was so
focused on Miguel, she jumped when his friend spoke, but she
didn't turn away from those meltingly intense brown eyes. He
still had not said any more than he had before but she thought
of it all a little differently. He wanted her with him. He'd
never promised how long that would be. So be it. She would go.
Her reason was simple. This time she really believed he was
risking his life and his friends' lives because of her refusal
to come with him.

“Fine.” She threw
herself at him before she could talk herself out of it, her arms
encircling his neck tightly. “I certainly didn't go to all the
trouble I did only to see you killed because you're more
stubborn than an old mule.”

Her glance slid to
the other man and she nodded at him, but her attention quickly
switched back to the man who had stolen her heart. She whispered
into Miguel's ear. “But I'm going to hold you to the promise of
making love to me with the stars at our back.”

Miguel grinned
broadly and kissed her soundly, then scooped her legs up and
started purposefully for the waiting shuttle. Rabbit and then
the other men filed in towards them, keeping their backs safe as
the rumble of an approaching Alliance cruiser shook the ground.

Climbing the ramp,
Miguel swept Lyrianne into the open maw of the shuttle's back
hatch, only setting her down once he'd positioned her in front
of a seat along the side of the vehicle. Working quickly, he had
her fastened into the harness as the other men made it inside
and the hatch folded up, sealing them in.

Grinning at her as if
their lives weren't in any danger, the Earth-born pilot stole a
kiss and squeezed colonial woman's hand before taking the seat
beside her. He was barely clipped in when the shuttle roared to
life and lifted, the whole vessel shuddering, and colored light
filled the forward viewport. The shuttle heaved, Rabbit crossed
himself, and then they were rising up, gaining speed.

Miguel's hand closed
over Lyrianne's and held tight.

She needed the
contact. Things were happening too fast. She nervously gripped
Miguel's hand back with both of hers, her eyes wide as she
looked at him, seeking reassurance.

Watching him calmed
her and gradually she relaxed and sighed, releasing his hand.
She brought her wrapped foot up to gently massage the area on
either side of the ankle while she continued to look at him.

“I think you're a
little daft, you know?” She was smiling, not seeing anyone but
him and therefore not trying to keep quiet. “I practically break
your jaw, bite your tongue, sic a crazed charging bull named
Farley on you, interfere so you wind up with your back side
practically singed off, and then my driving gets your poor head
broken, and
still
you tell me you won't leave me
behind.” She touched the dried blood caked on his ear and
frowned, her tone no longer teasing. “You really should have
gone without me, Miguel.”

He turned his head
and eyed her quite seriously, the rumble of the shuttle soon
quieting as they left the planet's atmosphere. A soft orange
light above his head cast a glow on his face, most of the
interior lights switched off in favor of the less obtrusive
essential bulbs above each seat and marking the floor under
their boots.

A quiet hum
encapsulated the vessel, its gentle rocking almost soothing. And
through the port was the star filled canopy and the distant
spacefarer that blotted its shape among them.

Miguel smiled,
thinking how he’d had to fall out of the sky to find her.

“I am not going
anywhere without you ever again.” And he bloody well meant it.