On the cusp of becoming a woman in the eyes of their lord, Sage Marlowe had questions no one seemed inclined to answer. Her mother, Alma, had finally granted her wish to accompany her on a trip into Loveland, Colorado to replenish supplies and have work done on the engine of her station wagon. It had been making funny noises for weeks.

It also happened to be the first time Sage had left their compound. She was home schooled like so many other children in the congregation, and she’d never been allowed to venture out.

There were nearly three hundred members that lived in their small village. All of whom followed the Lords will, and the word of the Bishop, her father, Gideon. Lately he’d been preaching about temptation and sin. How we must always fight from giving in.

Hell’s Disciples would come for us in our sleep if we did.

What he doesn’t know is that my oldest brother Porter had been sneaking around with another parishioner. A married woman in an unholy union.

She’d caught them naked in the pond one night when she was sent to cleanse after disobeying her mother and not helping in the gardens, instead choosing to tell stories to some of the younger children, about fairies, and princess’s.

That’s when her father grew so volatile Sage feared him for the first time in her life. She questioned everything after that. What purpose she had on earth if she couldn’t have the freedom to tell a simple story, how was she to follow his rule.

It was nearing a week before the bruising faded, and she was introduced to an older member whose wife had passed from an unexplained illness. Morgan was a nice enough man, but he was older than her seventeen years, nearing almost forty now.

She had a feeling her father intended for her to marry the man soon. No matter that Sage wasn’t nearly ready for it. She wanted to explore the world, fall in love, find out who she really was.

As her mother parked in the lot of what she’d described to Sage as a mechanics shop, Sage saw a man. He immediately caught her eye because of the way he was wiping his face with the edge of his shirt. The skin of his stomach and chest showing off muscles she’d never seen on a man before.

When he lowered the shirt again, his gaze pierced her own, snaring her in a trap only Medusa could succeed in. He looked shocked as she watched him cover himself up. When she stepped out of the car after her mother, he ran away and she found herself disappointed she wouldn’t be able to speak to him.

* * *

Lochlan Hogan heard the sputtering engine stall as he was wiping sweat from his face after being under the body of a car, installing a new exhaust on a 78’ Fairlane. When he’d lowered his shirt a girl with snow white hair, crystal clear blue eyes had been watching him.

At first, he’d been shocked. Then he’d watched as she got out of the car with the woman with her, and had a feeling she was young. It could have been the baggy clothes hiding her figure except he had a feeling the fresh doe eyes look she’d given spoke volumes for her age.

He stayed quiet in the background as his oldest brother Lennox helped her and the woman. Watching as he checked the spark plugs for and moving through any small issues the vehicle may have had. When Loch saw him pull out the filter and the amount of dust crowding it he immediately knew the problem and knew that Nox would have no trouble fixing it so he himself could get on with his day.

She remained at the forefront of his mind though. With everything he did, he worried about the two women getting home. He wondered about the look in the girl’s eyes. Equal parts curiosity and wonder.

The way her gaze never stopped roaming from one object to the next was as if she were seeing it for the first time.

When that same icy stare kept shooting shy glances at him, he’d backed away further. Until he was out of sight and able to observe her without fear of being caught. The mother looked down right cranky anytime the girl was trying to explore everything within her vision.

It was going fine, until Asher caught him, “She’s cute.”

Startled he crashed into a pile of empty jugs of oil. “Crap. Can’t you warn someone when you’re around?” Asher was a good guy, just extremely stealthy.

“Sorry kid,” his smile wasn’t hiding his laughter, “you crushing?” His nod was to the girl.

“What? No. She’s too young.” Walking away before he could further comment or someone else could catch him, Loch was sad to see the girl leave. Knowing he likely wouldn’t see her again was upsetting.