The Illegitimate Claim (4 page)

pitcher to refill it.

“Why didn’t she come with you when you left Semore?” Meah moved out of Rog’s

arms to give her children each a small mug of water. She reached up to one of the

shelves in the small kitchen and pulled down some crackers then offered them to the

twins.

Rog leaned against the counter and watched her limber body move inside her

almost see-through, loose-fitting outfit. “Sharay is a fair bit younger than I am, more

around your age.”

“You’re not that much older than I am.” Meah looked up at her friend, but her

smile faded when she saw his expression.

“Dorn never approved of my seeing his daughter. Sharay doesn’t plan on telling

him that she’s coming to me. We’ll let him know we’ve been mated after the ceremony.”

There was a scowl on his face showing his dislike of the plan.

He helped her carry the twins into their room for their nap and stood behind her as

she stroked their curls and wished them pleasant dreams. When she’d finished cleaning

the kitchen, she poured more cold water for them and then followed Rog into her dark

living room. He took the two mugs from her hand, set them down on the long, narrow

table in the middle of the room then pulled her into his arms. “Will you seek out the

papa of your children?”

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Lorie O’Clare

“He doesn’t even know they exist.” And I’m afraid all hell will break loose when he finds

out I’ve kept them from him. She kept that thought to herself.

Rog saw concern on her face but misread her thoughts. “I feel like I’m their papa

sometimes. I remember helping you deliver them.”

She smiled and drew invisible pictures on his broad chest. “I may not have lived

through their birth if it weren’t for you.”

“You’re a tiny woman…beautiful, but small. I still remember how hard it was for

you to birth two babies. You were so worn out after Tory that there was hardly any

energy left in you to push out Tia.” He spoke softly, sharing the memory with her as

both their expressions grew solemn.

Their minds traveled back those several winters to that terrible day when she’d

gone into labor, almost a cycle before she should have. Tory had been very big and he

tore her as he passed through her. Rog had wondered if she’d live after Tia came out.

Meah spent over a week in bed before she was able to stand and walk.

And of course, it was obvious from the first moment that Tia was mute. Her face

scrunched up just like her brother’s, but her screams were silent. It was as if she let her

brother make the sounds for her.

“I’m going to miss you.” He pulled her into an affectionate hug and she hugged

him back.

“If it’s all right,” Meah began, and then hesitated as she pulled free of Rog’s grasp.

“I’d like to take a copy of those books that were found at one of the ruins up the coast. I

want to compare them to the writings of Crator that I already have.”

“Do you think they’re more of Crator’s writings?” His face lit up, and she knew he

was as fascinated by the topic as she was.

“I do. I really do.” She grinned. “It will take a while before I run into anyone once

we head out. I’m sure we’ll set up camp for at least two nights before we chance

running into a clan or any Freelanders. Once the children are asleep in the evenings, I’ll

have plenty of time to sit and study the writings.”

“I’m going to worry about you.” Rog reached for her hand and she let him take it.

“You’ve got two little ones to protect. I just wish you weren’t leaving by yourself.”

“I’ve traveled alone with them before. I moved down the coast with them teaching

about Crater for almost a winter before we met again and helped establish this village.

You know that.” She squeezed his hand and smiled up into his dark eyes. “We’ll be

fine.”

Rog pulled her to him then and folded her petite body into his larger one. Leaning

down he kissed her gently on the lips. Her lips were warm and moist and he craved

more. Loosening his grip on her, he moved his lips to her ear and kissed her earlobe

tenderly before whispering in her ear.

“Come to me tonight.” He pulled away from her then and smiled down at her

swimming blue-green eyes.

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The Illegitimate Claim

“No, Rog. We have a wonderful friendship but you have a mate on the way. It

wouldn’t be right.” She smiled up into his black eyes and felt the heat emanating from

his body. She took her hands off his chest and backed away from him, yet unable to

take her eyes from his. She needed the space, though. Rog could be mighty persuasive.

“When are you leaving?” He crossed his arms across his chest and she held her

breath as his arm muscles flexed.

“First thing in the morning. I thought I’d spend time arranging our bags while the

twins slept.” To prove her point she walked over to several bags that already sat in the

corner of the room. She’d lived out of those bags for so long that she never got around

to finding a place to put them in the hut.

* * * * *

It was almost midmorning the next day when she said her final goodbyes. Meah

woke up before the sun rose and quickly packed last-minute food items then secured

them to her glider before waking the children. They weren’t even out of the hut when

she heard voices and footsteps on their front porch. Two of the older women in the

village were there. Each carrying bags of fruit for her journey.

“Oh, this will be nice to add to our meals.” Meah smiled as she wondered where

she’d put the fruit on her glider.

“We’ve been sent to fetch you and the children, and take you over to the temple,”

one of the older Neurian women said. “Rog wants to send you off with a blessing from

the village.”

“Oh my, that is so nice of everyone.” Meah was overwhelmed. “I can’t believe you

want to do this for me.”

“Well, we do.” The other lady grinned, seeing the awe and humility glowing in the

young woman’s light blue-green eyes.

Meah watched her children run around and hug the other children and she realized

Tia had tears in her eyes when Rog walked them to her glider after the brief but moving

ceremony. All fifty of the villagers turned out to pray jointly to Crator to guide her on

her travels. Meah sat quietly with her hands folded on her lap, a twin sitting on either

side of her, and listened as Rog told the community everything Meah had done to help

them become a village. Her sweat and blood went into building their temple and she

had spent endless hours teaching the children, and as many adults who could get away

from their daily chores, about the teachings of Crator.

Meah received several more gifts of food and jewelry made from seashells. She

carried them in her arms as she walked to her glider with Rog.

“Here are the writings you asked for,” he said, after lifting the twins onto the glider.

“I should be able to transmit to you for the next several days at least.” Meah

accepted the round disc and kneeled down to slide it into a side pocket of one of her

bags.

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Lorie O’Clare

“I won’t ever forget you.” Rog’s voice cracked as he wrapped her in his arms for a

hug.

“I’ll tell of you in my stories.” Meah pulled away quickly, hating goodbyes, and

climbed on her glider behind her children.

Rog stood there in the middle of their desert village and watched Meah fly away

until she was nothing more than a black speck against the rich blue sky.

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The Illegitimate Claim

Chapter Three

Ana smiled as her oldest son walked toward her with the casual stride that matched

his uncle’s. Darien helped her prepare a bag with diapers and bottles and then insisted

on carrying it over his shoulder. They walked the short distance down the gravel road

into Bryton and then headed for downtown.

Although her Runner outfit felt tighter this time than it did after she’d had Darien,

Ana still felt more agile than she had in cycles. Darien talked endlessly as they

approached the downtown stores.

“Well, I daresay the three of you are quite the handsome picture.” Beel sauntered

lazily toward them with his hands stuffed into his pants pockets. “What are you doing

out this morning?”

“Well, I could ask the same of you.” Ana looked up with a smile. “I thought I’d get

the children out for a walk.”

“Mama wanted to take the walk. She made us come with her,” Darien said,

correcting his mama.

“Good job at keeping your mama on her toes.” Beel laughed and mussed Darien’s

blond curls that were several shades lighter than his own. “I have some errands to tend

to. I’d be honored if the three of you joined me.”

Beel didn’t wait for his older half-sister to answer, but took the handle of the stroller

from her and began idly pushing it down the street while Ana fell into stride next to

him.

“Is there something in particular that you wanted to buy?” Beel asked, and looked

down at the beautiful woman walking next to him.

“No, not really. I’m just staying busy. I’ll spend this morning with the children and

after lunch I’ll go to the clan site.” Ana focused on several birds singing in a tree as she

spoke.

It was early and there weren’t that many people downtown. When the downtown

stores grew busier later in the day, the sidewalks would be full of women and children.

Not many men visited the Gothman stores unless they didn’t have claims.

Aware that he was watching her, Ana finally looked up into Beel’s smoky gray

eyes. She smiled into the face that made her long even more for her brother. She didn’t

like being so far away from Andru. Her insides felt empty without him. Ana’s feelings

obviously stirred up to her eyes because Beel smiled and then rubbed her chin with his

rough thumb.

“You really miss your men, don’t you?”

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Lorie O’Clare

Ana laughed, somewhat bitterly, and looked away from him quickly, blinking back

tears. “I’m an open book, aren’t I?”

“Only in some matters,” he reassured her. “And only to those who know what’s in