The Alliance Boxset Books 4-6

Chapter 20-2

Taylor’s gaze flickered back and forth between the destination ahead of her, the storm, and the temperature readings of the skid. Without the extra weight, the skid was staying within the upper level of the normal range. She could feel Lonnie gripping her tightly around the waist, his head buried against her to protect it from the blowing sand.

She had slipped on extra clothing and wrapped a scarf around her head. She had done the same to Lonnie, but the sand still found a way inside her clothing. It also found the small areas of skin. The small granules stung when they struck.

Her heart lifted to her throat when the skid flew up the side of a dune and was airborne for a moment before it slid down the other side. She pressed the accelerator down as the wind grew worse. It was almost impossible to see now. She was forced to use the digital readout in the goggles. Turning to the left, she could see the entrance to the canyon up ahead.

The skid flew into the narrow passage just as a massive wave of sand rolled over, darkening the day to night. She could feel Lonnie’s arms trembling against her as she leaned from side to side. A cry of relief escaped her when she spotted one of the narrow caves that littered the canyons to the right.

She released her grip on the accelerator and tilted her feet back, slowly applying the brakes. Swinging the skid around, she ducked as she passed under the overhang and into the dark, cool cave. The goggles immediately switched to night mode, so she could look around her as she drew the skid to a stop.

It was barren, with a few piles of sand that had blown in along one edge. Shutting down the skid, she felt Lonnie release her waist so she could slide off the airbike. She reached into the front compartment and pulled out a torch. Twisting it, she pulled off the goggles and held up the glowing rod.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice echoing in the shallow cavern.

Lonnie blinked and looked around. “Why doesn’t the sand blow in here?” he asked, sliding off the skid and coming to stand next to her.

Taylor glanced outside. Sheets of sand were blowing down the canyon, but the way the sandstone had cut into the walls, it had created a lip that steered the wind and sand away from the opening. Nature was a wondrous thing, no matter what planet a person was on, she couldn’t help but think.

“It’s just the way nature works,” she replied. “Let’s push the bike to the back of the cave. We’ll need the tarp to help keep us warm. I can feel the temperature dropping already.”

“Me, too,” Lonnie said with a sigh as he helped push on the back of the skid. “Do you think the warriors will be alright, PT Taylor?” he asked in a soft voice.

“Yes,” she responded.

She didn’t say anything else. She couldn’t at the moment. Just the thought of Saber and the others out there was enough to make her want to scream. She didn’t think her running around like a Dodo bird out in the middle of an alien sandstorm would help the situation.

“Come on, let’s get the nutrition packs out and see what we’ve got,” she murmured. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” Lonnie said, kicking the dirt. “I really miss my mom and dad.”

“I know,” she said, squeezing his shoulder. “I still miss mine.”

“Are your parents on your planet?” Lonnie asked, picking up several packs and carrying them over to Taylor.

“You could say that,” she murmured. “My mom died when I was still a baby. My dad….” Her throat tightened again as she thought of him. Shaking her head, she forced away the sad thoughts. “My dad worked as a policeman. He was killed the first day the Trivator forces came to our world. It was just my two older sisters and me until Saber, Hunter, and Dagger found us.” She paused again and grinned. “Actually, it was my older sister, Jesse, who found Hunter. She saved him from a group of really nasty humans.”

“Just like you saved me,” Lonnie replied with a grin.

“Yeah, just like I saved you,” Taylor responded.

Three hours later, Taylor stared out of the cave at the sandstorm. It was still blowing like crazy. She had found some old driftwood that had washed down during the days when rain fell in the area and had stacked it together to make a fire.

She and Lonnie had curled up inside the tarp next to it. Lonnie had finally fallen asleep just a few minutes before. She leaned back against the wall of the cave. She reached over and pulled her backpack closer to her. Reaching inside, she pulled out the small notebook and pen. She knew it was old fashioned, but there was something special about writing things down.

Biting the tip of the pen, she smiled. She refused to believe the guys wouldn’t make it. Her gaze flickered to the blasting sand and her lips tightened in determination. She knew Saber, Hunter, Razor, Dagger, and Trig. Those five guys were not only resourceful, they were smart and had tons of training. They were a combination of MacGyver and 007 all rolled into one.

She opened her notebook to the page she had started the night she left, three months ago. At the top of the page, she had written Saber’s name and drawn all kinds of little doodles around it. She had been pretty pissed that night and there were a lot of flames around his name. Glancing down, she studied her list of things he could do to make up for being such a s**t.

He accepts that I love him unconditionally, but that I won’t be walked on. A yellow ribbon on the tree out front will tell me that he accepts that. If he doesn’t… I need to let him go. A dozen yellow roses, or equivalent alien flower, every day for a year. Him on one knee telling me he loves me. Ties, for him, so I can tie him down and have my way with him until he confesses he loves me forever and beyond. Me on top. Me on top. Me on top. P.S. I like being on top. Okay, him on top. Love-making in the bathroom. Love-making in the kitchen. Love-making in the garden. Love-making in the den. Him, accepting he is my Amate. Go airbiking together. Making love in every room of the house all in the same day, okay, week. I might not be able to walk if it was the same day.Taylor sighed. She doodled hearts around the page with her and Saber’s name on it. The list went on and on. Her hand shook as she reached down and added one last item to the list before she closed the notebook and set it aside.

She blinked sleepily and slid down next to Lonnie. She wrapped her arm around him, just like Jordan and Jesse used to do to her. Drawing in a deep breath, she released it and relaxed. Her life was so different from anything that she could ever have imagined.

“I love you, Saber,” she whispered in the dim light. “I hope you can feel it.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed with exhaustion. A smile curved her lips as she remembered Saber’s kiss. He was going to come to her. His kiss had told her that he wouldn’t stop until they were together again.