Page 13 of Raven Blackwood (Cyborg Guardians #2)

Raven

The displaced ranchers had rounded up all the men who attacked us and kept them under guard. After we rescued the people from the labor camp and captured the guards, we would send a lot of them to the holding center in California. We had no facilities to hold that many crooks.

I processed that it might take a couple of days for Jenkins to regroup the men he had left before he could attack us again. But we weren’t waiting to be attacked. The rest of my team from Montana and I were taking them out. The people of Brislow had suffered long enough.

I stood on the back porch, watching over the encampment as they were settling in for the night.

Working together, they quickly butchered the dead steer and hung the meat to cure it.

I put a reminder in my memory banks to order the supplies I would need to restore power to the ranch and reestablish lights and refrigeration so none of that poor steer would go to waste .

Hannah emerged from the house, wearing her blaster strapped onto her hip. “I still can’t believe they shot my steer!” Hannah grumbled.

“At least it wasn’t your milk cow,” I pointed out.

“True, but we were saving him until it got colder so the meat would keep longer. But at least we have enough people to share it so that it won’t spoil.”

I put my arms around her and pulled her close, relishing the feel of her. “Don’t worry; when things settle down, we'll make some improvements here so that you can keep food for long periods without worrying.”

“That would be nice.”

Of course, as soon as she pressed her body against mine, I wanted to breed with her. Despite its newness, a powerful attraction fueled our bond. Without so many people around us, we probably would be breeding even more than we did already.

“When do you expect your friends to arrive?” Hannah asked.

“I expect them by midnight. We should be able to take the camp by surprise. I seriously doubt they will anticipate such an attack.”

“I hope you’re right. I want everyone to come back safe with my brother and all of his friends.”

“I’ll do my best, sweetheart.” Then I coaxed her to look up at me with a finger beneath her chin so I could kiss her lips lightly.

I dared not do more, or I’d be hard-pressed not to go further.

When I lifted my lips from hers, I said, “You should probably get some sleep since you didn’t get very much last night. ”

“And I probably won’t get that much tonight either, without you in my arms. As capable as I know you are, I always worry until you return.

” She murmured against my chest. I knew I felt the same, but I also knew that I would never let her go off on her own for a job such as the one I was about to undertake.

Instead of going back into the house to bed, Hannah waited with me until my team members arrived in a massive black transport that landed in Hannah’s front yard.

It had only been a few weeks since I’d left the fold, the team where I’d been comfortable with my place in the scheme of things. Not until I watched the hover transport land did I realize that I had missed my cohorts of the last few years.

A flash of excitement surged through my circuits and my human brain matter as I anticipated the mission we were undertaking.

I just looked up as the engines powered down, and three figures emerged from the craft.

Trinity Vega emerged first, his expression one of calm determination.

Beside him, Orion Storm stood tall and imposing, his silver cybernetic eye scanning the area.

Steele Nova followed last, the largest of the three, his presence exuding quiet menace.

Trinity approached me first. “I see you’ve been making trouble again.”

“Did you expect anything less?” I grinned.

Hannah eyed the newcomers warily but extended her hand. “Hannah Lawrence. We appreciate your coming to help.”

Trinity took it, his grip carefully gentle so he wouldn’t crush her fingers.

“We don’t take kindly to gangers. That’s what we call them back east. They were nothing but thugs and bullies who hoarded all the resources for themselves and preyed on women.

From what Raven told us, Jenkins and his men are long overdue for reckoning, and it’s about time we had some fun. ”

Orion and Steele greeted Hannah in turn, and she smiled at them politely. Then Orion turned to me, crossing his arms. “We can handle the labor camp if you need to stay and make sure everyone is safe here.”

“And let you have all the fun? Not a chance. The ranchers have things under control here, and Hannah has a new comm tablet so that she can alert us in case of trouble. But I would not look for any trouble before dawn since they haven’t hit us already.

None of the men who attacked us escaped, so it’ll be a while before Jenkins finds out about their failure. ”

“All right then, let’s move. The sooner we hit them, the sooner we’ll be back,” said Steele.

Heading back to the transport, Trinity glanced at me. “You riding with us?”

I shook my head. “I’ll take my sky-cycle and lead the way. I know the terrain.”

Hannah stepped closer, resting her hand on my arm, “Be careful.”

I cupped my hand against her cheek. “Don’t worry. I always am.” I dropped the quick kiss on her lips, then hurried off to mount my sky-cycle and be on my way. As we lifted off, I glanced back to see Hannah watching me. I gave her a wave and set my vehicle into motion, speeding toward the horizon.

Hannah

As soon as Raven disappeared into the sky, I felt an ache settle into my chest. I knew that he could handle himself, but the danger he was heading for was very real.

Pausing to gaze out over the camp, I saw that everything had quieted from earlier in the day.

I turned and went back into the house. Inside, I found Grace holding the edge of the kitchen sink, her other hand clutching her belly.

There was a gush of water splashing the floor between her feet, and I knew immediately what that meant. “Gracie, are you okay?”

“I think so, but I’ve been expecting this. I’ve been having cramps on and off all day. I really wish Zach were here. I miss him so much,” she choked on a sob.

I put my arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. “I know, honey. I miss him too, but don’t worry; Raven will bring him back. I just know it.”

“I sure hope so.”

“Do you want to lie down?”

“No, it’s better if I walk or at least stay on my feet. But first, I need to change because I’m all wet with that fluid, and I made a mess on the floor.”

“Don’t worry about that. Do you need help to get back to your room?”

“Not this time.”

“Okay. I’ll clean this up while you get changed.”

I got a rag and the cleaning bucket from under the sink.

Setting the bucket in the sink, I used the hand pump to fill it.

I set it down on the floor and hunkered down to wipe up the puddle that Grace had left.

I knew I wouldn’t sleep until Raven returned.

At least now, I had something else to think about while waiting.

When I finished cleaning up the floor, I emptied the bucket and rinsed the rag.

Then I went to get my comm tablet to review the instructions for the labor and delivery of babies.

This was one of several times I had reviewed the information.

We had planned to use the birthing chair method, where Grace would sit in our heirloom handmade wooden chair when it was time to push the baby out.

Apparently, before the war, they started this practice because it used gravity to help the mother give birth.

It also allowed her to take in more oxygen than when she was lying flat on her back, with the weight of the baby pressing on her diaphragm.

Of course, those birthing chairs had mechanics that could lift and tilt them, but those were different times.

Using this method didn’t mean that nothing could go wrong, but we hoped it wouldn’t.

Taking the tablet with me, I went back to Grace and Zach’s room to check on her.

Everything was ready. She had set up the chair with a birthing pad underneath.

I would kneel in front to guide the baby out as he came through the birth canal .

Grace had changed into a robe that wrapped around and tied at the waist. It was evident that she wore nothing under it, so when the time came, she could pull it up and take her seat on the birthing chair.

“How are you feeling?”

“My back hurts, and I feel some cramps, but no more labor pains yet.”

“Well, according to our birthing guide, the first birth usually takes longer. With any luck, Raven will get Zach back here before you drop that baby,” I said to encourage her.