Jesse

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“WE’RE GOING TO TAKE groups of ten out at a time,” Clark said once everyone had settled into their lodgings at town.

Jesse looked around, but she didn’t see Bethany or Lucas anywhere. It was a good thing they weren’t in the first group. She watched as the collection of Shifters and hunters prepared the boat for sailing.

“We’ll be back in four days’ time. Two days out, two days back. Shift change. Those of you who remain behind will be responsible for guarding the salvage and keeping the base camp stocked. I expect you’ll use any means necessary to do that.”

Clark scanned the crowd and locked his gaze on her before moving on.

Reaching for Lem’s hand, she tried to ignore the tight thrill of desire at the need in his eyes. She didn’t want to want such a bad man, but gods he made her panties wet.

“Well supper’s not going to cook itself,” Lem said. “Let’s go.”

Jesse spared a longing glance over her shoulder for the boat and the adventure she was missing out on—not to mention the loot. All in favor of chopping onions and roasting root vegetables in the fire.

“What do you think they’ll find out there?” she asked Lem as he fired up the kiln to prepare for the dough he had rising.

“Nothing too earth-shattering. All the electronics are salted down with sea water, and any paper has to be waterlogged. I’m sure it won’t be a wasted trip, but I don’t think we’re going to find anything that will bring back technology. Not with just one Tech anyway.”

“Where is Bethany anyway?”

“She’s probably with Lucas makin’ up for lost time.”

Jesse finished the onions and started peeling potatoes. Lem spread flour out on a board and started to abuse the large dough balls by slamming and punching them down. Jesse couldn’t resist a little flinch.

“Something wrong?” she asked.  He was hitting the dough with more force than was needed.

“I just think Maya is going to be upset by what we bring back.”

“So maybe we don’t go back,” Jesse said.

Lem raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you mean? I promised to get Bethany here and back, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

“What if she doesn’t want to go back?”

“Of course she does.” Lem dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand.

“What if I don’t?” Jesse put down the knife. She might be tempted to use it on him if he gave the wrong answer.

Lem’s mouth gaped open. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“I like it here.”

“We just got here.”

“I mean I like it away from the East. The Colorado camp was much more modern.”

Shaking his head, Lem went back to his dough. “They don’t have the trading power of the Eastern tribes.”

“Not yet. But if Lewis and Clark can get that railway going, and the nomads back off...”

“The nomads won’t ever back off. You saw what they did. How they were. They’re killers. Animals.” Lem shook his head. “It ain’t safe out here. We belong back East.”

“Do we?” Jesse said, picking up the knife again and carving through the potatoes in record time.

“Sure.”

Lisa staggered into the kitchen. “You guys come quick.” She was drenched and shaking, holding a leather blanket to cover her nakedness. “You have to help. They’ve got Lucas.”

“Who’s got Lucas?” Jesse said, scrambling to keep Lisa upright.

“We went to take a look at the tugboat. The one that’s going to Alcatraz. But they dropped nets and caught us. I jumped overboard. He’s still on there. They’re going to bring him back to the prison.”

“Was Bethany with you?”

“Not really. I mean her body wasn’t. That’s still in Karen’s wagon. She did that Tech thing, and I don’t know where she is now. She said she was going to the island. I can’t wake her up.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Jesse said. She read the journal that Lisa had bartered for. The prison was now a research facility, one that experimented on Shifters. It was no wonder why Lisa was panicked. “We’ll rescue him. They ain’t going to get to that island.”

“We need a boat,” Lem said. “Maybe we can flag down Lewis and Clark.”

Jesse ran outside, dodging people to make it down to the dock. The last lines were being hauled up. Waving her hands frantically, she tried to get their attention. No good. They were either ignoring her, or they didn’t see her.

“Hey,” she yelled. “Wait!”

The boat drifted from the dock.

Jesse’s hands went to the whistle she wore around her neck. Shaking, she blew into it tentatively. Then when nothing happened, she blew into it with all her might.

“What are you doing?” Lem said, whirling her around by the shoulder.

“We need that boat,” she cried.

“At what cost?”

“Don’t talk to me about cost,” Jesse said. “When we’re back at your tribe and that bitch chief of yours asks you to go down on her what are you going to say?”

“I can’t say no to the chief,” Lem stuttered.

“We’re a couple,” Jesse screamed.

“She knows that. She wouldn’t ask.” Lem trailed off, not sounding so sure of himself.

“Then there’s making love, and then there’s bartering sex. Can you distinguish between the two?”

“I don’t want to,” he said.

“Then we stay here.” Jesse pointed to the ground. “Or if we go, I’m paying for that boat any way Clark wants.”

Lem clenched his fists. “If you fuck him, we’re through.”

“Just him?” Jesse said, sweetly. “How about if I fuck the whole damn dock?”

“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. I’m going to check on Bethany.”

Jesse tried to get her breathing under control while she watched the ship sail away. So much for if you ever need me, whistle. She snapped the chain holding the whistle around her neck and threw the useless thing in the ocean as hard as she could.

Glaring at the boat gliding away, Jesse saw another boat on the horizon. It was moving at a fast pace, jerky and weaving on the water, as if it were powered by some unknown force. The motor revved, coughed up billowing smoke. The boat plowed straight into floating debris. Jesse saw men jump overboard, heard their screams. Lights flared on the boat, and the radio squawked static.

Lisa darted naked by her and dived into the water. A shark fin pierced the waters and took off toward the men in an angry, purposeful line. And then the boat was coming right toward the dock. Scrambling up the rocks to get to higher ground, Jesse heard the whistle blow a warning before the boat crashed the dock into splinters.

“Lem,” she screamed, and he was there, lifting her up to safety. They held each other as the boat powered down and went still.