Blue Summit was an impressive village considering how low their level of technology had fallen since their ancestors had settled on this world. There was a row of shops, a trading store, a couple taverns and an Inn that Lora could see. They had started passing farms and ranches on a dirt road about two hours ago.
Wick and Lora had only been on the trail for four hours when they reached the edge of the village. It was one of four original settlements on Oltarin. Wick had been to them all in his travels. There was a rumor of two others, but neither of them had ever met anyone who had been to those. This was the first time Lora had ever been away from Diamond Bay.
People stopped and stared as Arracon ambled down the center of the street carrying the two riders.
“Hey, look! Wicked McKell is back, and he’s got him a woman!” a male voice called out.
“Hey Wick,” another called, “did you kill Vargan Rode?”
Wick acted like he didn’t hear any of them. He wasn’t saying anything until he saw his parents to let them knew he had taken Lora instead. He’d taken her all right, every chance he got. Of course, he wouldn’t say that with his mother present. She was one of many women in their clans who thought women should have the rights their ancestors came with. She was probably not going to approve of him kidnapping Lora.
It was the only revenge he could get at the time. He might yet get his revenge if Vargan came after Lora. There was no way he was taking her from him while Wick was alive. With that thought, his arm tightened possessively around her.
Lora took it as a reassuring gesture in the village of her clans’ enemies. Wick said they were going to his family’s home to spend the night and they would go to the council hall in the morning to register their marriage. The day after that they would go on to Wick’s ranch just over two hours ride out of the village.
Lora wished she could forego the meeting of his family. There would likely be uncomfortable questions, and they might even reject her as his choice to wed. She made him promise there wouldn’t be a big clan gathering for their pledging. She thought Wick was relieved that she felt that way. Lora didn’t want the scrutiny of his clans on their relationship, particularly not their scorn.
McKell House had obviously undergone many improvements as well as expansions since it was first built and described in the Schaefer-McKell journal. Arracon came to a stop in front of the porch steps to the home’s main entrance. It was probably the biggest building Lora had ever seen.
Wick jumped down from the horse and turned to help Lora down because Arracon was a tall horse, almost twenty hands, but less stocky than the draft horses whose genes gave him his height. As tall as Wick was he had to take a running jump to catch the stirrup of the saddle or ask the horse to bow down so he could mount normally.
He set Lora on her feet then tied the horse to the hitching post in front of the house. He would ask one of the servants to take him to the barn and tend to him. He usually took care of his own horse, but he was eager to see his parents and introduce Lora. He took her hand and led her up the steps to the front door.
Wick didn’t bother to knock, he just opened the door and called, “Hello, in the house, Darwick is back!”
“In here, Wick,” his mother called from the dining room.
He led Lora down the hallway. To the dining room where his mother welcomed him with open arms. Wick hugged her with one arm, not willing to let go of Lora’s hand.
“I am so glad you’re back. I was getting worried,” she murmured hugging him tightly. It was several moments before she stepped back and noticed Lora. “I take it you have news. Come on into the dining room so your father can hear too.”
“Mom, Dad, this is Lora Sandgren. Lora, these are my parents, Gregor and Alana McKell. Wick said. “I stole Lora from Vargan Rode, and she’s going to be my wife.”
Both parents stared at them in stunned silence. Then Gregor threw back his head and laughed heartily. “I guess that’s one way to get revenge on Vargan.”
“I would have killed him, but he’d been out on the lake for over a week---almost like he knew I was looking for him. So then, I thought I would kill his woman until I saw how beautiful she is. I decided to take her for myself instead.” Wick bragged.
“Here, Wick.” Alana indicated, “You and Lora sit down, and I will have Dorcy get you both place settings. We have plenty of food.”
Wick and Lora took the indicated seats at the long formal dining table perpendicular to Wick’s father at the head of the table. Alana came back and sat across from them at the end of the table.
“Did you force her to come with you?” Gregor asked.
“No, and I didn’t rape her either,” Wick asserted.
“Well, I should hope not,” his mother muttered indignantly. “I know we taught you better than that.”
“Of course, you did, Mom. I seduced her,” he declared outrageously.
“Oh, Wick, stop,” Alana admonished, while his father chuckled.
“In any case, Lora and I decided to form an alliance. She never wanted to marry Vargan. It was arranged by her father.”
“Shall I arrange a marriage feast?” his mother asked.
“No, I just want you and Dad to come with us to the council hall to witness our pledging sign the Book of Records,” Wick said. “First I will have to get Lora some new clothes. I thoughtlessly didn’t give her time to pack when I kidnapped her.”
Even Lora laughed at that. “Yes, I was picking berries for jam, and he scooped me right up out of the field kicking and screaming. I was terrified.”
“She thought I was going to kill her,” Wick said.
“Were you?” Mora asked.
“I thought so,” Wick admitted, “but I wanted her more than I wanted her dead.”
His mother gave him a look, and Wick silently willed her not to ask if he loved Lora. He wasn’t ready to think about that. He just knew he wanted her in his bed. He loved fucking her. He liked her company. Most of all, he chose her, and she accepted his proposal.