Marshall hadselflesslyoffered to marry her.
A pity marriage had been the only way to guarantee her safety. Besides, she hadn’t wanted to be separated from her best friend who counted as her only family. If Amity had remained on Terra Nova, she would have no one. She’d always assumed that by now, she’d have a husband and a couple of near-grown kids, but at the ripe old age of forty-two, she’d never married.
Until now,she reminded herself.Be careful what you wish for.
A Cosmic Mates officiant, a purple alien named Ju-Ju, had performed the double wedding ceremony. While she andMarshall weren’t a Cosmic Mates matchup, Ju-Ju was the only officiant on the planet, so she performed all the weddings.
Her groom had stood stony-faced through the ceremony, delivering his “I do” with such terseness even the officiant had looked embarrassed.
Don’t worry, asshole. You won’t have to be married to me one second longer than necessary.
As soon as she could, she would invoke the escape clause and dump his muscular ass.
Marriages performed by Cosmic Mates were provisional. Couples got to try on matrimony for a year. At the end of the period, the spouses were free to walk away. If they stayed together, then the union became permanent.
Per Refuge rules, she had to stay married for a year or lose her spousal sanctuary. But as soon as she’d served her sentence, she intended to part company. Perhaps he saw himself as noble, sacrificing himself so she could get sanctuary, but she couldn’t forgive or forget how he had feigned feelings for her, holding her hand, charming her, complimenting her, smiling like he was thrilled to be with her, and kissing her good night with a tender fervor that had curled her toes. Like a gullible fool, she’d fallen for the act.
The story of my life. What is wrong with me that no man wants me?
The conveyance hit another rut, tossing her into Marshall’s lap. He steadied her, his hands on her shoulders. Amity jerked away. He returned to studying the barren tundra.
She had thought the bucolic Terra Nova desolate, but it was a metropolis compared to this planet. Where were all the people? She hoped the settlement they were going to was at least as big as Willow Wood, but it didn’t look promising. She’d seen neither village nor vehicle since leaving the intake center two hours ago,only kilometers and kilometers of stubble grass and stands of gnarled, mutant trees.
An icy blast of wind rocked the conveyance, cutting through gaps in the sheeting covering the wagon bed. Rusty, Faith’s cat corralled in a crate, let out a complaining meow.
I feel the same way,kitty.She shivered in her donated coat. Faith’s husband wrapped a protective arm around his wife’s shoulders, and she snuggled against him. Amity’s husband stared out the window.
She loved her friend, wished only for her happiness, but she couldn’t prevent a pang of envy at the closeness Faith shared with her new husband.I want that, too!
Marshall’s nose seemed to be glued to the plastic-like sheeting.
But not with him.
“Look! Over there!”John pointed to a herd of shaggy gray animals grazing on his side of the conveyance.
“They’re rhino-cow-horses!” Amity leaned over to gape at the six-legged stout alien animals. Long horse-like faces ended in a curved rhino horn. Sharp elk-like antlers sprouted from their heads.
“They’re called hornigers,” Marshall said. “They’re one of the few native mammals on Refuge. They’re hunted for food, but there’s also a domestication program underway to tame them for riding.”
He speaks!His spiel was the most words he’d uttered since he’d laid out the situation when she’d awakened after being tranqued. Not that she desired to have a conversation with him. She’d prefer he never spoke to her again.
“How do you know?” Faith asked.
“I make it my business to know.”
Supercilious asshat.
“The other animal used for food is a bird called anegger,” he added.
“I’ll bet it tastes like chicken,” Faith quipped.
Amity and John laughed. Marshall did not. “One shouldn’t assume.”
“It was a joke!” she burst out in defense of her friend.
“Right.” He turned back to the monotonous scenery.
She made a face behind his back—then, to her chagrin, caught her reflection in the clear plastic covering. No doubt he’d seen her mocking him. Oh well. She hadn’t done anything behind his back that she hadn’t said out loud.
