Page 18 of His Human Rebel
“Yes, of course. Why would we be unequal?”
“I agree.” I take a sip of my soda, hiding my smile. “What were you going to do if the human you’d purchased to be your bound was someone you didn’t like? Or, even worse, someone who arrived and she met and liked a different male in this community…maybe your friend or a coworker?”
He lets out a puff of white smoke from his red nostrils. “I did think of that. I knew that the marriage in absentia was just for immigration and not binding. This gave any female I purchased a whole moon cycle to truly decide if we were right for each other and wanted to walk to the courthouse and make it legal.”
“But the moment you met me you wanted to walk to the courthouse and this was something you weren’t sure would happen with the female you’d purchased?”
“Yes, I wanted you as mine the moment I saw you.” He lifts his mug of fire ale and says absently, “We have a month until we need to go to the courthouse, or you will have to leave.” Then he takes another large bite of food.
I glance out the windows at the countryside and the ranch buildings.
Leaving sounds sad. I’ve only known this man for a short while and I know I’d miss him terribly if I left.
Finally, we’re both finished. Rake gets his fill of the “human food” and the darling cleaning bot is already working on the dishes.
“I need to return to work. Do you want to go out with me and meet the staff and see the barn and animals?”
“I’d love that.”
We go out the side door this time and back into the utility car. He drives us back down the driveway and over to the barn. “We don’t really need to take the vehicle. If you ever need me, you can always walk over here. All the buildings are close enough that they are within walking distance. But I am going to need to haul equipment later, so I decided to bring this now.”
We park in front of a very large, green barn. A group of other Hyrrokin approach us and I feel the fear again.
Rake turns off the engine and glances at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, I know logically that those Hyrrokin work here, but they’re a little scary. I know it’s silly of me to feel this way, but…”
“No one here will hurt you. These beings are eager to meet you and would lay down their lives for you.”
I swallow. “Really?”
“This is the code out in the wildlands. We take care of our own. You will soon be a Flagstone.”
We both step out of the vehicle and stand at the entrance of the barn.
An older Hyrrokin male breaks from the group and approaches, wearing work pants and no shirt or shoes, like all the other males. I haven’t seen anyone on this planet so far in a shirt or shoes. Because their heads have black horns bursting from their foreheads I suppose it’s hard to balance a hat. And their feet are so huge, with sharp silver tips, shoes would be torn up.
He smiles at me, which is really a grimace. “Do we have a new human visitor to the planet?” he questions.
Rake makes the introduction. “Lorn, this is my future bound, Stella Smith. She arrived a few hours ago on the planet for the first time, so she isn’t used to us yet, but I am hoping she is here to stay.” He looks at me. “Stella, this is our ranch manager, Lorn Touchstone. He knows everything that goes on here and runs everything. If you ever need something and can’t get ahold of me, just ask him.”
I force my fears away and step forward, taking his rough hand in mine and giving it a firm shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I glance at the other males and give them a weak smile.
“It’s best if we give her some space now,” Rake grumbles, “she’s getting used to us. I’ll introduce her to everyone else later. First, I want to give her a tour, by myself, of the barn.”
Lorn nods. “It was nice meeting you Stella Smith. I hope to get to know you better, and its true what Rake said, if you ever need anything, come to me and I’m the one who will help.”
The manager turns and heads back to a pen filled with large animals with very tall horns. I look at his retreating back. “I’m sure he’s off to tell the others that the new girl is a scaredy cat, which makes me feel bad.”
Rake puts a hand on the small of my back to guide me inside. “Don’t worry, I really do want to show you around by myself. This gives me a good excuse.”
“You didn’t introduce me as your fiancée,” I say, with a hint of disappointment.
“Because you said that you were still making up your mind.”
“If…you want to say that to anyone in the future that’s okay with me,” I admit.