Page 18 of Master (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #3)

Clara

I didn’t mind holding Tarook’s hand.

In fact, I liked it. He made me feel safe as we traversed the narrow gravel road toward the barn. The man was willing to fight a cow for me, after all.

My lips pressed together in a tight line, forestalling the need to giggle. Shifting my attention toward the barn, I waited for the couple to emerge and prayed that they would be friendly.

The female exited first. She was an inch or two shorter than my five foot seven, but plumper dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt.

With a coif of platinum hair piled atop her head in a loose bun and perfect peaches and cream complexion, nothing swayed me from my earlier assessment that she resembled a young Dolly Parton—who I prayed was still alive and well on Earth.

When the man followed a few moments later, I would have stumbled except for Tarook's supportive grip. This close, I could spot his bedroom eyes, the ice blue color sparkling as he smiled at the woman.

This was Elvis.

Not the overweight, sad Elvis from just before he died. This was a young, handsome, fun Elvis. The Elvis as young and handsome as he'd been in his earlier movies, Girls, Girls, Girls, and Blue Hawaii .

The couple linked hands and started toward the house, freezing when Tarook and I came into view. They paused, sharing a look, and Elvis's arm stole around the woman's shoulders, pulling her close. They both threw up a hand in greeting, smiling sincerely.

“Hello there. Where did you two come from? The woman’s voice held a southern accent thicker than my own.

Tarook led me to a stop within a few feet of the couple.

Yep, definitely young Elvis.

"My apologies. We do not mean to disturb you." Tarook gave a deep incline of his head in greeting. “Our ship crashed on approach to the settlement.”

“Mercy! Are you two alright?” The smile on the man’s face morphed into an expression of concern echoed by the woman.

"We're fine," I assured, forcing myself to relax. A youth spent in foster care made easily meeting new people an unacquired skill.

"You sure, honey?" The woman took a step forward, her dark brown gaze assessing first me, then Tarook. “Crashing ain’t nothing to sneeze at.”

“I’m sure,” I insisted, although there was a spot between my shoulder blades that might argue with me later.

"You're one of them, Vaktaire, ain't you?"

I stiffened at the man’s words. He didn't sound prejudiced... neither was Elvis from what I remembered, but people can change. Especially people abducted by aliens, given a memory wipe, and dumped on a new planet.

A long-fingered hand lifted toward Tarook, the signal of greeting on Earth.

I glanced at Tarook. His face held the usual expression of laid-back charm. I’d wanted to smack the countenance off his face at first, but it was growing on me. Tarook disengaged his grip on my fingers, grabbed the man's hand, and shook it firmly.

"My name is Tarook, and this is Clara."

Once the handshake ended, Tarook settled his hand on my shoulder.

It was a possessive gesture, to be sure, but I didn't hate it.

Tarook made me feel safe. Not just safe from danger, but safe to be myself.

.. with all the baggage that conveyed.Curtis and the Outlander girls had the designation of being the only others to make me feel so accepted.

"I'm Buck, and this is my wife, Lula. Welcome to our farm.” The man said the words without the slightest hesitation or sense of falsehood. So, either this wasn't Elvis, or it was, and the aliens wiped his memory.

“Nice to meet you.” I nodded to Buck and Lula in turn.

“Do you know how much farther the settlement is from here?” Tarook asked, craning his neck to look further down the dusty road, rolling past the farmstead.

"Oh, another fifteen miles or so," Buck frowned as his gaze followed the path Tarook’s had taken. “You’ll never make it by nightfall. Tau Ceti’s a safe place mostly, but the roads ain’t safe to be walking at night. We still got things with teeth that come out after dark.”

I flashed Tarook a grin, knowing from the faint roll of his eyes he recalled the cow as I did.

He’d been sweet to go all warrior mode to protect me.

I shouldn’t tease him. Still, when the grunts, snuffles and smell of several pigs littered the air, I couldn’t help but wonder what Tarook would think of them.

"You can spend the night here, and we'll take you into the settlement tomorrow."

“What?” Lula’s words brought me out of my head.

The woman definitely wasn't from the 21 st century with that kind of hospitality.

On Earth, I'd be worried we were stepping into some Texas Chainsaw Massacre situation, not that Leatherface would be a match for Tarook.

This wasn't Earth, though. I sensed nothing but sincere hospitality from the couple.

“We don’t want to impose,” I began. Alien abduction makes strange bedfellows, but staying overnight at the home of people I’d met five minutes ago was a little much, even from a former foster kid.

“It ain’t no imposition,” Buck insisted.

"We're headed into the settlement for market day and the potluck tomorrow, anyhow." Lula took a step forward, snatching my hand and squeezing it.

"I'd feel better knowing you were under my roof for the night than wandering out in the dark.

Besides, it would be an honor to host a Vaktaire in our home.

" Buck glanced toward the woods, and I didn't miss the hint of trepidation that crossed his pale blue eyes.

The way Tarook's fingers squeezed my shoulder, I knew he didn't miss it either.

I glanced up at the warrior—he’d have to do all the fighting and rescuing if things went sideways, so it was his call.

The corners of Tarook’s mouth twitched at me before he turned his gaze to Buck. “It would honor us to be your guests.”

“Goodie!” Lula clapped her hands, spinning in a small circle. “We ain’t had company in forever.” She came to a stop and fixed me with a bright grin.

"Why don't I show you to the guest room, and you can wash up and rest a bit before dinner?"

“Are you sure I cannot help you with something?” Tarook asked, nodding toward the barn.

"They'll be plenty of time for that later," Buck laughed, patting Tarook on the shoulder. “Let’s get you settled first.

It was a simple house, white two-story, with a gray shingled roof and three dormer windows. A screened porch ran the entire front of the house. It reminded me of the abode from that old Walton’s television show.

Seriously, I’m aging myself with pop culture references.

Entering the front door put us at once in the living room.

Damn, it was like stepping into an episode of The Waltons.

The floors were dark wood, with white-painted walls and simple, sturdy furniture.

Toward the back of the house lay the kitchen and dining area, while to our left, a set of stairs with an ornately carved banister.

We followed Lula up to the second floor, the room at the end of the hallway. It was a larger room than I expected, but simple, with only a wingback upholstered chair, dresser, and queen-sized bed.

"The bathroom's just across the hall." Lula grinned at me, laying her hand atop the dresser. It was a beautiful piece, dark walnut with gilded handles. I wouldn’t have minded having something like this in my house.

My house.

What would happen to my house now? How long would it take for my daughter to even register I’d gone missing?

I was so tied up in the plethora of mess my abduction would create for those left behind; I didn't pick up on the signals until Lula stepped toward the door.

“I’ll leave ya’ll to get some rest.”

She’s leaving us both here. Together. With one bed?

"Ummm," I began, not sure how to proceed.

Lula glanced at me, eyes going wide as she noticed my discomfort.

“Oh, my goodness, I didn’t even think. I just assumed you two were a couple.”

"We’re....” I began trying to settle my brain on how to describe what Tarook and I were to each other. My protector, no, it was more than that. Lovers... nope, not going there. Friends? If I used friends to describe us, did I have to add the whole friend-with-benefits thing?

The warm weight of Tarook's arm around my waist stunned my brain into stillness.

“Yes, we are a couple.”

I blinked up at Tarook, a slow burn beginning in the middle of my chest—a twinge of heartburn from that weird fruit we ate. I should be furious at Tarook, but I couldn't summon an emotion other than a strange sense of relief.

“Thought so.” Lula winked, her hand on the doorknob, as she stepped into the hall. “Supper will be ready in a few.”

“I’d be happy to help you,” I offered. If I helped Lula in the kitchen, then I'd be able to put off dealing with the fact that Tarook just called me his… what did Emmy call it… mate?

"Nonsense." Lula scrunched her nose at me. "I might have some clean clothes that might fit you. I’ll leave them in the bathroom. Get cleaned up and have a nice rest. I'll come get you when suppers on the table."

Glancing down at myself as the door clicked shut, Lula's disgust was completely understandable. The jumpsuit I wore held a myriad of stains and small rips.Thankfully, my boots held up well in the hike, even if they were more for pretty than service. Tarook’s leather fared far better in traipsing through the wilds. He noticed my perusal and winked.

I swatted his bicep.

“Why did you do that?” I demanded, settling in the chair.

“Do what?” Tarook peered out the window.

“Let her believe we’re a couple.” The burning in my chest had cooled somewhat. It was still there, just not as bothersome.

Tarook settled on the edge of the bed, facing me.

“It was necessary.”

“Necessary?” I sputtered, rolling my eyes. “Necessary for what?” The appearance of his smirk was all it took. And to think I'd begun to like him. "Listen, buddy... if you think I'm going to have sex with you again…."