Wings of the Walker: The Complete Walker Series Read online

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next day, my lunch with Cyler was quick and fun. He spent most of the time stuffing his face with my chocolate cake. His office moved where there was a need, so we ate and walked around town, stopping to discuss different problems with different people.

  I was amazed to see how everyone treated him with such respect. They liked their fearless leader, and by associating myself with him, they liked me too. I was handed miscellaneous trinkets by the shopkeepers, and many asked me about the new bakery I was starting at the General Store. Once again, I was amazed by the resilience and kindness of the people here.

  The day after that, I made a special lunch for Kemper and walked it over to the dormitories where the Walkers stayed. Kemp spent his days teaching the new Walkers different skills that would be useful in the community as well as facilitating an apprentice program with the town folk needing assistance.

  The dormitories were large, and the building appeared newer then the other places in town. I assumed that they recently constructed it in preparation for the Walkers from Galla.

  When I walked inside, I was greeted warmly by the seamstress that had assisted me in patching up Cyler on the train. I’d never learned her name, or if she told it to me, I was too exhausted and concerned to remember it.

  Surprisingly, she welcomed me with a warm hug and smile. “Ah, I was wondering when I’d see you again,” she murmured. “You look much better now that you’re off that train.” She appeared a couple of years older than me, but her green eyes sparkled with youth and promise. She had long, blonde, hair and curves that put me to shame. Now that I could adequately assess her, I noticed that she was beautiful.

  She eagerly guided me over to Kemp’s office and chatted on about her new life here in the Dormas province. “The dorms here are so nice, and the food is much better than anything I had in the Walker Zones,” she gushed. “Have you already been assigned a residence? Master Kemper told us that, eventually, we all would own our cabin. Isn’t that amazing?” She sighed.

  “I’m living in the Black home,” I answered truthfully. “I was hired to make their meals and clean for them, but I’m also working at the bakery.”

  The blonde’s eyes widened at me. “You’re in the Black Household. Oh, what an honor!!!” Her loud voice rang throughout the hall, causing me to flinch. “What I wouldn’t give to live under the same roof as Cyler.” She started fanning herself. “That man is a work of art. I have to stop myself from staring when he visits the Dormitories.”

  I grinned in agreement; he was very nice to look at. I might be forcing myself to feel sisterly towards them, but that didn’t mean I was blind to their attractiveness.

  “Almost every woman here has pursued him.” She giggled.

  That statement caused an uncomfortable sensation to drop in the pit of my stomach. I knew that being jealous was unreasonable, but it still made me angry.

  We knocked on the door, and Kemp’s light voice welcomed us inside. “Oh! Thank you, Becca, for bringing Ashleigh to me.” I looked over, and she beamed with appreciation at his kind compliment.

  “You are most welcome. Enjoy your lunch,” she cooed while practically drooling over Kemp’s desk. I fought a scowl that wanted to take up residence on my face permanently.

  “Well . . .” I said while she closed the door. “This is amazing, Kemp. Did you design the dorms? Everyone seems so happy here.”

  He blushed at my compliment then stood up. “Would you like a quick tour? I can show you around, then we can have our picnic in the apple orchards.”

  I nodded my head yes, and we made our way around the building. Each room was carefully crafted to be comfortable and versatile. Walkers openly gawked at Kemp as we walked along, explaining the purpose of the different areas to me.

  “Eventually we plan to make this our schoolhouse, once populations increase, of course,” he said with pride.

  “That's amazing.” I looked around and appreciated all the work that went into it.

  “Did you design the building?” I asked, realizing he’d never answered when I had asked before.

  “Yep. Designed and helped build. It took all of us to get it done before the rainy season.”

  We made our way outside, and the smell of apples filled my nose. It was sweet and fresh. I wanted to bottle it up and walk around with it forever. I pulled a blanket out of my basket and laid it down on the dirt. We both sat down, and I pulled out the various food items I made for us. Fruit, meats, and cheese covered every square inch of the blanket. For a moment, I wondered if I went overboard, but seeing Kemp’s appreciative gaze made my effort worth it.

  We ate and maintained a pleasant conversation. Kemp continued to tell me about his next building project, and then he surprised me by asking if I was interested in having a home to myself.

  “Oh. Uh, sure! I’ll be grateful for whatever I am given.” I tried not to let disappointment overcome me, but I couldn’t help but feel unwanted.

  “Okay! Well, when we get back to the office, you can look at the different plans and decide on a layout you’d like. The cabins we designate for everyone aren’t anything overly fancy. But, it’s a space for you.”

  “That's . . .that’s very, uh, nice of you.” Truthfully, it was nice. Most walkers couldn’t even dream of being given a permanent, sturdy, home. But still, in my short time here, I had grown accustomed to living at the Black residence. I enjoyed it. I remembered Becca’s revelation about the Walker women pursuing them, and it then made sense why they would want me out of the way. Soon, they all would have their wives to care for them.

  “Where are you building them?” I asked.

  “Close to the mines. Most Walkers will be working there once our male numbers increase. It makes more sense to build the development there.”

  “Oh. That's far from the town center.” Far from the Black Household.

  “Ah, well maybe we could build your home closer then?” Kemp asked shyly. “I’m assuming that frown on your face is because you want to live closer to your new bakery,” he quickly added.

  “I was just thinking that I’d miss all of you.” I was surprised at my honest admission, but Kemp seemed to be someone that would handle my feelings with tenderness.

  “Oh…Oh, no, Ashleigh.” He grabbed his hair with his hand then scooted closer to me.

  “I’m not trying to get rid of you.” He pulled my hand into his lap with one hand and lifted my chin with the other.

  “Watching you here, I wondered if you felt like you were missing out on being with your people. We never gave you the opportunity to decide on what you wanted. I wanted you to know you had the choice,” he explained.

  I looked around the apple orchard and felt mildly foolish and immensely relieved. The feeling confused me, but I didn’t dwell on it.

  “Then, for now, I’d still like to stay with you,” I said quietly. “As things . . . er, change . . . maybe we can revisit the conversation? I’m sure once you start building families, the living situation will need to change, anyway.”

  “Oh. Yes. Well, for now, we are more than pleased to have you in our home. I promise.” He released my hand but kept my chin angled towards him. We stared at one another for a few moments. We leaned closer, and the air between us felt like static. It made my skin tingle, and I ached for relief. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could get whatever it was out, his tablet started ringing. Then my sweet Kemp released a curse and answered the tablet.

  “What?” he asked. He listened to who was on the other line then his face fell considerably. Frantically, he hung up and started throwing the remaining food and utensils in my basket.

  “You have to get back to the main house. Master Stonewell decided to deliver the second wave of Walkers, personally. There are a lot of preparations to be made.” He growled while running back to the Dormitory to prepare for more Walkers. I followed quickly on his heels. It wasn’t until we were again inside and said goodbye that I realized th
e actual weight of what he said.

  Master Stonewell–Josiah–personally delivered the Walkers. Josiah was here. In the Dormas province. That thought caused me to jog back to the main house, my heart fluttering fast enough I could almost fly.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Cyler and Huxley were standing with their arms crossed outside the main house when I arrived. They each wore scowling expressions and seemed equally perplexed by the unexpected visit.

  “What can I do?” I asked breathlessly, still tired from sprinting back to the main house.

  “Ah, babe. Just wait here. They’ll be walking up any moment.” Cyler said.

  I looked at Huxley, and he seemed even more rigid than I’ve ever seen him. His arms were crossed stoically over his chest, and he was frowning.

  After a few moments of waiting in silence, a group of men started walking straight down the road of the town’s center towards us. I immediately noticed that the Governor’s Guard accompanied Josiah. As they continued, I was able to see Jules wearing a modest, Galla-styled, black dress that dragged along the sand.

  A part of me wanted to desperately run to greet Josiah, but seeing him accompanied by Jules, forced me to plant my feet firmly beside Cyler. Just before they arrived, Jacob ran outside and grabbed my hand with a wink. I was unsure what his intentions were, but seeing Jules’ frown, made it abundantly clear.

  I looked over at Huxley to see if Jacob’s gesture angered him, but he seemed pleased by her unhappiness.

  “Welcome to our home, Josiah,” Cyler said in a booming voice. He walked forward and patted him on the shoulder harshly, each pat echoing throughout the province. Josiah’s eyes remained glued to me and Jacob’s hand in mine. I noticed that Cyler refused to recognize Jules.

  “Please come inside,” he offered with a tight, yet fixed, smile. Jules dropped her heavy suitcase with a thud and started scurrying up the drive, but Huxley then stopped her. “Don’t forget your luggage,” he sneered.

  “Have your Walker bring it up.” She huffed impatiently and pushed some of her fallen hair over her shoulder before wiping the sweat from her brow. Jules seemed uncomfortably hot.

  “We have no Walkers here,” Jacob growled. Their hostility towards her made me shiver. Jules was, apparently, not welcome. To my surprise, she stomped over to the suitcase and dragged it up the walkway. She huffed out profanities with each step

  “Don’t get too comfortable,” Cyler called over his shoulder. “You and your fiancé will be staying in one of our new Walker dwellings,” he said with a smile. “We simply don’t have the room here, and I figured you’d appreciate having your space.”

  “What happened to my old bedroom?” she asked incredulously.

  “It now belongs to Ash,” Jacob said. His hand was still firmly placed on mine. He brushed his thumb over my wrist in a reassuring motion that sent flutters down my arm.

  “Is that why she’s wearing my clothes?” she asked. I looked down at my outfit; a long, blue skirt that was tight around my hips and a white, tank top that was loose-fitting and didn’t quite cover my stomach entirely. I suddenly felt self-conscious.

  “Yes, these were the clothes you left behind. But you make a good point.” Cyler said while brushing his fingertips through his beard. At this point, we were standing on their front porch and waiting to enter inside. The Governor’s guard took their place surrounding the home. “I think it’s time we buy Ash a wardrobe of her own. Something classier then what you left behind,” Cyler concluded. I tried not to drop my jaw entirely. Unlike his cordial visit before, Jules and Cyler had wholly dropped all pretenses and were openly hostile towards one another.

  We made our way inside, and I immediately left everyone to go to the kitchen and grab refreshments for everyone. I needed a break from the tension and Josiah’s intense stare. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me, and I needed a moment to consider what all this meant.

  However, before I could gather my emotions and bottle them away, Josiah waltzed through the kitchen entryway and pinned me against the counter. We were alone. Before I could distance myself, he grabbed my cheeks and passionately kissed me. When we first kissed, it was an exploratory test. Something both of us needed to expel the sadness and tension between us. This new kiss was one of desperation. He kissed me like a man that was starving. Our teeth clashed, and he gripped my hair, pulling us even closer. I felt him harden against my stomach, and I pulled away.

  “What are you thinking?” I whispered in a clipped tone. “Your fiancé is out there, as well as her brothers. Do you have a death wish?” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and his eyes followed my movement.

  “I don’t give a damn. I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. And now that I’ve gotten a taste of what we could have, I’m not giving you up.”

  Once again, he pushed against me, this time with much more force. His hands circled my wrists and clamped down hard. The pressure was a painful mix of pleasure and pressure that caused me to groan. The sound seemed to spur Josiah on, and I was greeted with a broad smile. He looked almost predatory. “I’m going to fix this. All of this.”

  “What are you saying?” I asked incredulously. However, before he could answer, Jacob’s cough reverberated throughout the kitchen.

  “Hey, sweetheart. Was wondering if you needed help in the kitchen.” He smiled widely at me and walked over to us. Josiah quickly removed his grip on me, but still stood uncomfortably close.

  “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jacob.” He thrust his hand out towards Josiah, and they shook with much more force than necessary. Jacob then snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me away from Josiah. The moment he was a safe distance from me, I gulped air. Did Jacob see us kissing?

  Jacob helped me make everyone tea, and he retrieved some cookies that I made yesterday. While putting everything on a platter, Cyler collected Josiah and ushered him back towards the formal dining room.

  “It's okay, Ash. It’s all going to be okay,” Jacob whispered. I detected a hint of hurt in his tone, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

  We walked back, and I politely handed the refreshments out in the downstairs formal dining room that Cyler once told me was only used for business meetings. After I handed them out, Jacob grabbed my waist and guided me to the chair between him and Huxley. I briefly worried about what Huxley would think about our nearness, but I wanted to provide comfort to him while Jules was there. Huxley seemed disinterested in what I was doing; all his attention was placed menacingly on Jules and Josiah.

  “What brings you here, Josiah? I thought I’d be retrieving the next wave of Walkers at the wedding,” Cyler asked.

  Josiah looked pointedly at me, then turned to answer his question. “Since you were attacked, I thought it would be honorable to replenish your Walkers. Our alliance is crucial to me. I also wanted to tour your quaint, little village.” He took a big bite of the cookie and groaned.

  “Oh, Ash,” he said with a full mouth. “This cookie is the second most delicious thing I’ve tasted today.” He licked his lips, and I blushed at what he suggested. His obvious affections were completely unlike his usual controlled behavior.

  “Did you all miss me?” Jules affectionately asked while glaring at Jacob. He had snaked his arm around me protectively and pulled me closer, almost yanking me out of my chair and onto his lap. He seemed to want to hurt Jules, but I felt used, and the emotional whiplash made tears sprinkle the corner of my eyes.

  Once again, everyone seemed to ignore her, including Josiah. I felt suffocated by tension. Having a full understanding of what transpired between everyone made the entire situation that much more intense.

  “If you’ll just excuse me. I think I need a nap.” I prayed that none of them begged me to stay. “Kemper and I toured the Walker housing, and it left me quite tired,” I explained while standing up. Jacob looked at me with sad, but understanding, eyes. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but the confusion I felt was too much.

  I
didn’t want to feel used. I didn’t want to feel like a dirty secret. I wanted space. While walking towards my room, massive steps followed behind me, and I turned with a sigh.

  Surprisingly, Huxley stood there looking unsure. “Can we talk?” he asked.

  “Sure.” I didn’t feel like being scolded, but this was their house. I led him to my room. He looked around while I removed my shoes and piled my thick hair up on top of my head.

  My room had changed some since first moving there. I had set up a small, art corner full of the supplies that Cyler got me, and I’d filled the walls with some of the sketches and paintings I’d made over the past couple days. Huxley’s large frame openly observing my work made me uncomfortable. Still, he remained silent. I sat on the bed, waiting for him to explain why he wanted to talk.

  His hand crushed into a fist, and when he released it, I saw that his nails had dug into his skin, breaking it and causing it to bleed.

  “I almost killed my best friend because of her,” he growled in a low voice. “Her unexpectedly showing up puts a lot of pressure on all of us. I just wanted to say thank you for keeping Jacob calm. He may be hurt, but ultimately, I think she scares him. I think he doesn’t believe that we still chose him over her.” His face looked like he’d rather choke on thorns than say ‘thank you’ to me, but I remained quiet and allowed him to continue.

  “I just wanted to say that, it’s not an act. You comfort Jacob. He’s . . . calmer when you’re around. And he needs someone to make him feel secure in his place with us, here.” Huxley looked around the room and avoided making eye contact with me.

  “Huxley,” I began. I tried not to choke on the sob that rose up in my throat. “Josiah has become more desperate since the last time I saw him. It concerns me.” Admitting it out loud made the tears I wanted to keep at bay roll freely down my cheeks. How could what I’ve always wanted, make me so sad?