The Road Sharks by Clint Hollingsworth Page B

started, the hesitated a moment, “does that mean you sleep with all the men here?”
    “Not all at once!” Marilee laughed. “No, silly girl! Of course not, Shorty and Lem are my first cousins, that’s a no-no.”
    “But the rest?”
    “I’ve had four children since I’ve been here, and have one on the way,” Marilee told her. “Eventually, we’ll have to find more young women, but for now, everyone understands the needs of our community. And though the men are the muscle here, I want you to know the women run this show.”
    Marilee looked at Ghost Wind pointedly. “And for harmony’s sake, we don’t let any of our men go too long without sex.”
    Which, Ghost Wind thought, is another way of saying “yes, many husbands”.
    “Which brings us to you…”
    “Me!?” Ghost Wind’s eyes again grew huge.
    “Young, strong obviously, and very feminine build. Be a great plus for us, and if you understand your genetics, a very good decision, biological diversity-wise. The more women who join us, the sooner we can all take a break. I don’t know who you’re with now, but we can offer a lot. No shortage of food, good people and a target that’s hard to take for any raider group.”
    But still an obvious target. Ghost Wind thought.
    “And I would have to…?”
    “Oh, not at first, sweetie. We’re not barbarians!”
    “But later…?”
    “Well, the needs of the many must be met.” Marilee looked to her left, and a slight smirk came to her face. Ghost Wind followed her gaze and saw three bearded men watching her. They quickly smiled, in an attempt to be disarming, but she knew desire when she saw it and was sure they were all hoping she would join their “service agreement.”
    “I… um… need to talk to Eli for a moment,” she told her hostess.
    “Oh, certainly, sweetie, see if you can get that handsome rogue to join as well.” Marilee looked toward the vigilante. “We could definitely use some of those genes in the mix!”
    “Ahhh… yeah,” Ghost Wind said, moving away.
    As she approached Eli and Horace, she noted they were drinking out of a quart jar and both were laughing and acting a bit less formal. Ghost Wind took Eli’s jar from his hand and sniffed. The burn in her nose told her all she needed to know and she handed it back to him.
    “I am going back to where we left my gear. If you want to meet me there, I will see you then. If not, then good fortune to you and perhaps I will see you at a later time,” She said, picking up her rifle.
    “Ghost Wind, wait!” Eli stood a little unsteadily. “Horace and I have just about finished with our haggling. Give me a few minutes and I’ll come with you.”
    “Young lady,” Horace chimed in, “no matter what Marilee may have told you, no one is forced to do anything they don’t want to do around here, with the possible exception of helping to weed the fields. I just want you to know that, and to know you are welcome here.”
    Ghost Wind looked over her shoulder at him and nodded. “Thank you.”
    ****
    She had barely walked a quarter of a mile, when she saw where Eli had hidden the Terror. She hesitated a moment. Should she do as she said she would, and walk all the way back to where she had left her gear, or should she just wait by the motorcycle for his return?  
    Eli hasn’t done anything wrong, if you don’t count running off on his own. Why am I mad at him?
    She sat next to the battered cycle, watching the multi-color sunset to the west and pondered her question.  
    We’re just traveling together, no strings, and certainly no obligation to each other. So why am I having this urge to be angry at him? It’s not his fault Marilee freaked me out.
    Eli had been kind and solicitous to her since he had awoken in the shelter. He had been generous and concerned with her wellbeing.
    A dark inner voice spoke, Just like Axyl.
    Yes, Axyl had been kind, gentle, concerned with her happiness and had treated her like a little wilderness princess.