The Marine's Queen (8 page)

“
Nearly six months, Earth time. There are two more marines and their unit doctor at the main camp. We’re waiting here for them. Didn’t Joe tell you any of this? I saw you get up and speak with him last night.”

“
We talked of other things.”

“
Other things?”

Callie didn’t want to mention her momentary fear of Joe when she’d sensed his anger. Having the marines cook dinner and prepare tea easily misled one into forgetting they were bred and trained to be killers.

“
We don’t seem to communicate as well as you and Vin. Did Vin mention how long until the others arrive?”

“
They’ll be here tomorrow before the hot time,” Joe said from behind them. “Tar left this morning to carry my message.”

Yalo cursed, and Callie yelped in surprise.

“
Don’t sneak up on us like that.”

Joe frowned at Callie. “I wasn’t sneaking.”

Callie sighed. “Why do we have to wait for them?”

“
They’ll bring more supplies and enough mounts for everyone.”

Surprised at the ease of drawing answers from him, Callie tried another question. “And someone will go back for our things?”

“
Yes.”

“
Please sit with us.” Callie gestured at a boulder facing her and Yalo.

Joe stared at the rock as if flesh-eating beetles covered it. He sat slowly, looking as if he might jump up and run away at any moment.

Yalo’s lips twitched, and Callie struggled to hold in her smile. “How did you find this refuge so far from your crash site?”

“
We spotted it before our sensors went dead. We had the general direction.”

“
Are there buildings at the main camp?” Callie was content to wait and see but she wanted to keep Joe talking.

“
You’ll see for yourself soon.” Joe stood up. “We’ll make the necessary additions when you tell us what you need. I must help Vin before the hot time arrives.”

Yalo waited until Joe moved away before laughing. “I swear, my queen, he’s afraid of you.”

“
I don’t think he’s afraid as much as confused.”

“
That’s the best condition to have a man in.”

“
If you want to have him at all.”

“
Do you?”

Callie watched Joe throw a line into the water. Lab invention or not, Joe intrigued her. Did she want him as a woman wants a man? Did her body not react to his male allure? She sighed. “You know wanting has little to do with the Queen of Giroux’s choices with men.”

Chapter Five

Sleep eluded Callie for some reason. She sat up and noticed the others already slept except for Vin standing watch near the entrance. The coal fire kept the cave comfortable if not quite warm. Glory sprawled half on Roz’s chest. She’d insisted on having her mother on one side of her and the marine on the other.

Across the fire, Joe dozed on his back with one hand behind his head and one flung toward the fire. He’d occupied himself out of her sight for most of the day. She’d slept poorly after their brief confrontation the previous night and now something prevented her rest again.

Ignoring the warnings of her instincts, Callie climbed over Yalo to Joe’s side. She eased down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. The muscles of his chest tightened, and his breath hitched.

Callie froze, holding her own breath. Joe’s outstretched arm slowly folded around her shoulders. She relaxed and settled closer to his warm body. He shifted and took his arm from beneath his head. He lifted the edge of the cover he laid on and pulled it over her.

The heat of the fire warmed her back and Joe heated her front. Heaviness filled her limbs and eyes. Not even her overstuffed bed at her castle had given her such comfort. Sleep would no longer be denied even though she longed to stay awake.

* * * *

Joe walked to meet Kam, Mak and Webb. Tar rode well to the rear, leading three extra boarks.

Since the first bitter cold hint of daylight, Joe had found things to do outside the cave. A dozen game birds roasted over a low fire inside the cave, almost ready for the mid day meal. Waking with Callie curled around him had left him with loads of frustrated energy to work off. Why had she come to him last night and how did a man ask a lady such a question?

“
Sir.” Kam jumped lightly from his boark despite his massively muscled body. He was the tallest and heaviest of the marines but still as agile as any of them.

“
Anything left of their cruisers?” Mak asked in way of greeting. Joe expected no less from his science mechanic.

“
Maybe. You can check it after we settle the civilians.”

Webb dismounted with less grace. “Any of them need my help?”

“
Don’t think so.” Joe helped unsaddle the boarks and carry their packs into the cave. Vin and Tar took care of the extra mounts.

“
Greetings, ladies,” Webb said with a large grin as they entered the cave. “You must be the queen Tar told me about.”

Hot emotion flared in Joe’s chest when Webb took Callie’s hand between both of his. The feeling expanded when she smiled back at the doctor.

“
You’re not a marine,” Callie said.

Webb laughed. “Not even close. I’m Doctor Lon Webb, at your service.”

Sally gurgled and drew everyone’s attention to her and Riba. Joe wondered if he’d looked as shocked as Kam and Mak when he saw the infant for the first time.

Glory wiggled from behind her mother and confronted the new arrivals. “She’s just a baby and can’t say a word.”

“
Unon bless me,” Kam murmured. “I didn’t believe Tar.”

“
Kam, show the civilians what you brought for them.” Joe’s order shook the newly arrived marines out of their stunned immobility.

Kam pulled clothing and gloves out of a bulky pack and held them up for inspection.

“
What are they?” Riba took one of the large shirts from him.

Kam’s brow wrinkled. “They’re our newest uniforms. You can wear them until we retrieve the rest of your things.”

Riba smiled. “It’s perfect. I can’t wait to try it on. Hold Sally.”

Kam stuck his hands out instinctively when she shoved the baby towards him. Sally fit neatly into his large hands. He cradled her like he held live explosives. With slow care he pulled her close so she rested against his chest.

Joe held his breath as he watched. Though he’d been close to the baby he’d never touched it. Kam’s bravery impressed him.

“
Kam, why don’t you sit down,” Callie suggested, her voice strained and her lips curving up.

Webb laughed, either at her words or at Kam. Joe didn’t like the doctor’s ease among the women.

Kam sat, his wide-eyed stare locked on the baby. Sweat beaded on his brow and slid down the sides of his face.

“
You’re here less than an Earth minute, Kam, and already you’re in trouble,” Vin said. Kam’s magnetism for accidents was well known to all the marines.

The women and men quickly devoured the meal of tender game birds and the added treat of dried fruit though the marines ate quietly while the women and children somehow combined eating, talking and laughter into a noisy chaos.

As they finished Webb repeated his earlier question. “Is anyone in need of medical attention?”

“
Lady Callie took some thorns from a cactus vine,” Joe said when she didn’t volunteer the information herself.

“
I’m fine. Joe pulled out all the barbs. It hasn’t hurt since the first night.”

“
Still, I should check it. A piece could have broken off and become infected later. Let’s go outside in the sunlight where I can see.”

Joe followed them out, signaling Vin to see to guard duties. Webb urged Callie to sit on a flat-topped boulder. The doctor knelt in front of her and lifted her foot onto his lap. He pulled off her boot and pushed her loose pant leg up to her knee.

Anger pulsed in Joe’s chest as the doctor ran his hand along Callie’s calf. Joe clenched his fists and fought against the irrational emotion. Such illogical feelings wasted energy.

“
Looks like you did a good job here, Joe. I’ll….” Webb’s words trailed off when he glanced up at Joe.

Joe turned his back on them, taking a few deep breaths.

Webb cleared his throat. “You’re fine, just as you said, Lady Callie. I think I’ll check on the children to see if they weathered the crossing as well as you have.”

Webb whistled a cheery tune as was his habit when the marines amused him. He’d swallow his tongue if he knew how much Joe wanted to knock his teeth down his throat.

“
You’re lucky to have a doctor with you,” Callie said.

Joe turned in time to see her rolling her pant leg down. He remembered the feel of her soft skin beneath his rough fingers and her brave tolerance of the pain both from the thorns and the cure.

“
We’re an expensive product. The Galactic Military Council wanted to get as much use from their investment as possible.” Joe surprised himself with the disrespectful tone in his voice.

Callie frowned and bent down to tug on her boot. “I deserved that, I suppose. Of all people, I should understand what it’s like to be judged on rumor and ignorance.”

Joe remained silent.

“
My father was one of the leaders who pushed for prosecution of the scientists who created you.”

“
He succeeded.” Joe knew from overheard conversations of his superiors that the men who had chosen the donors and manipulated the genes to develop the marines had been imprisoned and banned from any kind of research.

“
Yes, he did.” Callie held his gaze. “He also fought those who wanted to destroy the results of those scientists. He believed just as it was wrong to artificially create life it would be as wrong to take the life from those innocent creations.”

“
You remember this?”

“
I was only a child during the trials, but the controversy over what to do with you raged on into my teen years.”

“
Did your father agree with the final solution?” Joe wanted to know if she agreed, but he feared her answer.

“
He thought it best if you were all killed serving the Galactic Military. He pushed to have you sterilized so you couldn’t reproduce more unnatural beings.”

“
Unnatural?” Joe turned the cruel word over his mind, wondering at its exact meaning.

“
Not created by nature is what he meant. He believed only the Spirit Father should give life.”

Joe stared at the boarks gallivanting in the shallows of the pool. Vicious beasts, but more natural than he was. Soon the animals would burrow in the sand to shelter from the frigid night temperatures.

Callie rose and put her hand on his chest. He met her gaze, seeing the warm emotions in her eyes. Was it sadness or pity? She lifted her hand to touch his cheek. “Those were my father’s views, Joe, not mine.”

“
What are your views, Lady Callie?” Joe stood frozen, afraid to even breathe for fear she would stop touching him. Touching him and connecting him to something real and good.

“
I’m reserving the right to make up my own mind. My father never met you, but he feared your existence. He warned them to beware of their creation.”

“
Do you fear me?” He dreaded the answer but had to know.

“
You startle me at times,” she answered after a moment. “I can’t say it’s always comfortable being near you, but my heart doesn’t pound in fear either.”

Joe moved a step closer, noticing the pulse at the base of her throat speed up. “What does make your heart pound?”

Callie stared up at him with her mouth open slightly in surprise. He covered it with his own.