Passionate Desire (6 page)

Guapo was the one who made matters worse when he stepped into the other room and dragged Toki into the room. “This is the doctor’s new bride.”

The man’s whole demeanor changed when he saw her. He stiffened, narrowing his eyes at her. Did he know who she was? He sure wasn’t happy to see her. “Really? You wanted a Vespian bride?”

“I wasn’t specific so that was what I was sent.” He sat back in his chair and watched a myriad of emotions run across the man’s face before he slapped a smile on. Who was she and what did she mean to him?

“Well I’m happy for you.” He turned to go.

“You can have your chip back if you want it.” Kuarto was pretty sure he did, so was surprised when the man shook his head.

“No. You keep it. Let me know what you think.” He looked at Toki once more before he turned and walked out.

He waited until they were well out of earshot before he spoke. “So what is it about you that upset him so much?”

“Don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He doesn’t look familiar, but maybe we should ask him.”

“No.” He put a hand on her arm when she started toward the door. “He didn’t seem happy to see you so I’m thinking it’s not a good idea to pursue that train of thought.”

“But if he knows something…”

“We know nothing about him and knowing he’s working with Guapo has me questioning his motives. I’m not sure if I would trust him.”

She looked at the man and sighed before she looked at him and nodded.

“I know you want to know who you are, but I don’t think he’s the best source for that information right now.” He wished he could do or say something to make her feel better. It would drive him crazy if he had no clue what his life had been like thirty-six hours earlier.

She looked so forlorn he reacted instinctively and took her into his arms. She sighed as she leaned into him for support. “This is all so strange to me. What if I’m some sort of evil person?”

“That’s easy to prove. Come work with me today.” He should be packing up everything to get out of there, but so many people relied on him. Kuarto needed to make these last few calls before he left. He brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. “I think that will make you realize what type of person you are.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a doctor, remember? I do nothing but help people, if you find that rewarding then you’re a good person.”

She gave him a strange look. “I’m not sure I agree with that.”

“You willing to prove me wrong?” He gave her his best smile. Leaving her behind wouldn’t be smart anyway, so this would keep her with him.

“I guess so.”

“Good.” He steered her to the row of cabinets. “I need you to load those bags with the gauze and bandages that are in this cabinet. When you’re done, I’ll let you know what else I need done so we can go visit some of my clients.”

They worked together to gather everything he needed and then headed out to his barn. He opened the doors to expose his truck.

“What is that?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight of his truck.

“Transportation.” He grinned. Knowing she was impressed with it stroked his pride.

“I have never seen anything like that before.” She walked around the vehicle slowly.

“Probably not.” He caressed a fender gently. “I converted it from diesel fuel to solar cells. I also replaced the tires with magnets so it would use the magnetic core of the planet to be propelled along. Come on, you’ll love it.”

He opened the door for her and helped her in. He leaned in to snap the straps to secure her in, his fingers grazing the soft skin under her arm. It sent a jolt of desire straight into his brain. It took all his strength to keep his composure as he checked the straps.

Once he was sure she was secure, he walked around and climbed in his side. It took him a minute to regain control. He couldn’t look at her as he started the truck up, but the engine came to life at the flick of a switch and he grinned again. The sound of the purring engine never got old. Reversing the gears, he backed the truck out of the garage before easing it into drive. He didn’t have to worry about traffic so he flew down the dirt road worn into the ground by the travel of animals and other equipment.

She squealed a few times as he took a few corners a little sharper than he should have but when he looked over she had the same happy look he had when he drove this for the first time. It didn’t matter how old the vehicle was, there was a certain joy in driving, feeling the wind in his hair.

“I could get use to this.”

“It’s addictive, isn’t it?” He had to shout to be heard over the noise of the engine. “Somehow, the man I bought the house from had this in his garage and had kept it in good condition. I was able to convert it where he could only maintain it. It has taken me several years to get it where it is now. It was a devil to drive in the beginning, trying to find the fuel was the biggest obstacle but as I was able to convert it slowly things started to make sense. I found so many things I could change to make it better.”

“Can I drive it?”

It was his baby and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to share it with anyone, but the look on her face had to be close to the look he had when he first realized what the truck was. “Okay, but you have to treat it with respect.”

“Promise.”

He pulled the truck over and turned the engine off. It took him a few seconds before he could talk himself into relinquishing the seat. “Sorry, I never had to share before.”

“If you don’t want to.” She hadn’t moved yet.

“I don’t go back on my word.” He opened the door and waited for her to climb out.

“Are you sure?” she fiddled with the snap, not figuring out how to release it. He pressed a small button in the center of the metal clasp.

“Yes.” He watched her climb out so he did the same. Kuarto got into the passenger seat and closed the door.

Toki sat there for a few moments before she started the engine. It didn’t take her long before she figured out how to work the controls and had it flying down the road.

It sure was a different sensation being the passenger than the driver. He feared for his life a few times in their travels. He gave her directions to their first destination, happy when she finally turned the engine off.

The smile on her face made him forget his fear. He knew what put that smile there. He had felt the same thing the first time he drove it.

“Come on, we have work to do.” They walked into the thatched room house. There wasn’t much to it. Maybe two rooms in total, a small hearth where the family did most of their cooking. The mattress was a pile of twigs covered by soft grass then a linen cloth. On the bed lay his patient.

“How are you doing today?” He knelt next to the simple bed, checking her readings. The small child looked pale. Much paler than the last time he saw her. This didn’t make him happy. “You been taking your medication?”

“She has, Doc. I made sure of it.” A young woman had walked in when they arrived. She stood in the doorway, wiping her hands. “She was fine until a few days ago. My husband felt she was ready to help with the chores again so sent her into the fields. I went looking for her when she didn’t come back after the sun set and found her unconscious.”

It didn’t make sense. If she was getting better what had caused the relapse? “Show me.”

“What?”

“Show me where you found her.”

The mother nodded. He gave Toki a look that asked her to stay with the young girl. He headed out after the mother when Toki sat on the bed and spoke to the child quietly. The mother led him to a section near the woods. “This is where I found her.”

He walked around the area. There had to be something that was causing this. “Is this where she’s been working from the beginning?”

“I guess, but we’ve all been working here for the last few months. This is the latest area we’ve cleared to use for the farm.”

“Thanks.” He pulled out a handheld and started scanning.

“You think it’s something here?”

“I’m not sure, if all of you have been here and she’s the only one who gets sick it could be something else. But I don’t want to dismiss anything like that until I’m sure.” He moved about the area in small circles until he was able to reach the edge of the land and into the wooded area nearby.

“Okay.” She scuffed her feet and looked around. “Is that your bride?”

“I see news travels fast.” He glazed up from his from his readings long enough to look at her.

“There’s not a lot to keep us entertained here, Doc. You know that. We all know when someone’s cow or drebo gives birth.”

“True.” They always knew whose house he was at if there was an accident. “Guess I didn’t think it through before I sent for a wife.”

“Especially since we had a few single women here who were interested in you.”

He looked at her again. “Really? Who?”

“Susan is one.”

“Susan? Isn’t she about sixteen?” He was almost twice her age. “I could be her father.”

“Doesn’t stop her from having a crush on the most handsome man on the planet.”

“Please.” He felt he got all the scanning done so he set the recorder to process the information to see what might be causing the problem. “You mentioned two.”

“The other one will make you laugh.”

“Oh, no.” They headed back to her home. “Redanda? Isn’t she about eighty?”

“Eighty-three, but remember her race lives to over two hundred years, she’s still young.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell her he suspected he was also Vespian like his fake bride. He had the height and skin tone. His eyes weren’t the bright golden tone he had seen on other Vespians and his hair wasn’t jet black, but he still had the outer ring around his eyes that they had and his hair was the same texture. From what he had learned about the race from the few times he had helped members of Vespia taught him they lived at least three hundred years so to him she did seem a lot older. He’d probably out live her by one hundred and fifty years. “Then we’ll just have to order her a husband.”

“I believe she is one step ahead of you on that one. I heard her new husband would be arriving in a day or two. I think you inspired her because she’s excited about his arrival.”

“Good.” He stepped into the room to find Toki sitting on the bed with the young girl. “Did you two have fun together?”

The young girl’s eyes lit up as she held up something in her hands. “Look, Mommy. Toki taught me how to make a doll from things around the house.”

She turned and gave the mother an apologetic smile. “I hope you don’t mind. Your daughter said the scraps I used were going out with the refuse.”

“Thank you for staying with her.” She smiled as she took the doll from her daughter. The girl’s smile changed mom’s whole demeanor. “She is as beautiful as you are. Have you named her?”

“Aswee.”

“Of course. Aswee is a beautiful name.” She handed it back and patted her on the head. “Take good care of her.”

The young girl hugged her doll.

Toki stood and crossed to Kuarto’s side. He leaned over and spoke softly into her ear. “You aren’t evil.”

She looked down as his words sunk in. He could feel her relief, then he heard a beep and lifted his handheld. “What I thought. There is some draxinia there. It doesn’t harm adults but can cause children to get sick. To keep her healthy, you and your husband must be the ones to clear that area and you need to decontaminate yourselves before you’re around her.”

“You know we have always needed her help in the fields.” The mom looked worried.

He did. They were growing but at a pace they could handle. His concern was what she might inhale in that spot. If she continued to get sick he might not be able to reverse the damage. “Where is your husband right now?”

“In the northern section. He’s working on clearing some rock out of an area we hadn’t spotted before.”

“Have him come by when he gets a chance so I can explain what is going on with your daughter.” He smiled as he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure there is a way to get her healthy and still have her help with the farm.”

She nodded her relief. “We’ll be around this evening then.”

****

Heather watched as Storm set everything up for their approach to the planet where his sister’s ship went down. The doctor had already confirmed she was on the planet and healthy. She had been moving about the place all morning.

Heather noticed Storm’s more relaxed posture. He wasn’t worried about what he would find when he arrived anymore. A slight chirp filled the room. Heather looked up. Storm hit a button and the doctor filled the screen. “Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we just received a mayday call from another ship.”

“Is it one of ours?” Storm didn’t even look up.

“No, sir.”

“Then send a message to the nearest ship of their race.” He felt Heather’s hand on his arm. “Hang on, Doctor.” He cut the sound and looked at her. He cut the visual at her determined look. “What do you think you are doing?”

“I know I am overstepping my boundaries, but are you going to leave those people out there when we’re the closest? What if it is an Earth ship who you just signed a treaty with? How do you think that would look?”

“Heather.”

“I know this isn’t the Vespian way but you need to think beyond that ideal now.” She knew she was close to pushing him over the edge, but she had to try to get him to see things differently. “This is a chance to show other races that Vespians can have a heart. You can still keep to yourselves, but helping a distressed ship doesn’t break your laws.”

“So now you want me to suddenly retract my command?”

“All you said was send a message to the race’s people. You haven’t given any other command.”

“They will know you did this.”

“Isn’t helping you think things through part of my job as your mate? Your other half?”

The frown on his face would have frightened anyone else. Heather knew better. He always seemed so angry when she interrupted him, but in the end she always got that bone melting smile. Her heart beat a little harder when it finally appeared. He pointed to her clothes. “If we do this the uniform comes off again. That chair has more positions for us to try.”