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This will be the last of the preview excerpts. Thanks so much for reading and putting Alien Haven on the bestseller list despite the many snafus of its release. I love you guys!
Today's entry: Charity meets the strong, silent Nobek type. Say hello to Tex...or rather, Detodev.
* * * *
“I’m concerned the sudden appearance of a young Earther woman on Haven at the exact same time Charity Nath vanished from Alpha Space Station might raise suspicions.”
Charity paused nibbling her toast smothered in homemade blueberry jam to consider Sara’s worried comment. She nodded her agreement. “Never underestimate the fanaticism of Earthtiques. Even before coffee. Especially before coffee.”
It was her and the lady of the manor, the kids having gone to school and the men to work. Charity had been allowed to sleep in after the excitement of arrival. She’d missed the breakfast rush, during which Clan Amgar’s dozen hired workers had also been fed.
Meals cooked by the incredible Utber and a paycheck. It sounded like a pretty great deal for the farmhands, Charity thought.
Sara chuckled, overtly banishing her concerns. “You’re probably not being watched so soon. Still, it wouldn’t hurt for you to be seen doing a few chores on the farm right away. We should establish your presence as a worker now, same as the rest of our ‘projects’ we’ve taken in.”
“Remember to explain in very small words how I can avoid killing your crops. Remember, I don’t know a weed from a carrot.”
“Don’t worry; as far as anyone knows, you’ll be doing most your penance in and around the house rather than the fields.”
“I’m fine doing whatever you think is best.” Charity gobbled her toast and sucked down her coffee. “Point me where I need to be.”
“I’d appreciate you taking the hovercart to the west field and delivering lunches. It would be a good start to make you known as just another face here.”
* * * *
Even if Charity hadn’t been a talented plotter of the stars and therefore fully capable of finding the west field of the farm, the hovercart had a map app which told her exactly where she was headed. A third of the workers were working there, where a variety of beans, squashes, and corn were growing.
She was impressed by the vastness of the west field’s twenty-acre stretch and its seemingly endless mounds. The trio of edibles had been planted together: the corn supplied the tall stalks for the bean vines to climb, and the broad leaves of the squash varieties kept weeds at bay from both plants. Among them trundled a number of AI machines, which tested the soil, adjusted nutrients and water levels, and basically kept the farm producing well. The four workers assigned to the field kept an eye on the machines and were ready to respond to any maintenance issues or malfunctions. They also checked the plants themselves for anything the machines might somehow miss.
Charity could have ridden on the hovercart…Sara had told her most usually did because of the distances between the workers…but she was thrilled to stretch her legs under the balmy sunshine. Living on Alpha Space Station for a few weeks had reminded her to appreciate the joys of being on a planet. Alpha hadn’t been a small, cramped station, but walking its corridors and promenade didn’t feel as roomy as striding on a terrestrial world. Particularly one given mostly to farming.
“I still don’t want to be on Yeehaw Central,” Charity told the waving cornstalk leaves she passed on her way to the hired hands. “Don’t feel too smug I’m currently enjoying myself, Haven.”
Her first stop was near a human male she guessed to be in his sixties. Though his hair was iron gray, he was hale and greeted her with a strong handshake. “Gus Fremont,” he introduced himself. “I heard we’d see you around. Pleased to meet you, especially since you’re bringing lunch.”
Charity chuckled. “I’m glad someone’s happy to see me. Cranky machine?” She nodded to the yellow and black field monitor lying on the ground instead of floating among the plants. It was about the size of a German shepherd. Its myriad of nearly a dozen arms were flung wide on the rich brown soil, as if it had been killed in a shootout in a saloon.
“Yeah, it’s insisting stuff is ready to harvest. Caught it before it started picking, thank the prophets. Probably a bad sensor. Those go faster than anything else on these beasts.”
A little small talk, and Charity moved on. Gus hadn’t asked her what had brought her to Haven and the Amgar farm. Had Sara informed the fieldhands of her supposed indiscretion, or did he simply mind his own business?
“That’s a rare breed,” she snorted as she moved on.
Her next mouth to feed was a human who told her to call him Bud. A fitting nickname for Planet Farm Hell, but he too seemed nice. A rawboned man in his forties, he was pleasant, though not as smilingly so as Gus. “Found some trouble elsewhere? Don’t worry; we don’t mind young’uns who cut up a bit. You landed in the perfect place, miss.”
“Thanks. I like Clan Amgar.” She managed not to drawl partner after speaking.
“Excellent bunch. None better.” He turned to yet another monitor apparently on the fritz.
Next came a Dramok in his late teens. He looked her over while wearing a shy grin but spoke politely as he worked on the third farm monitor having a bad day. “I want to have the biggest farm on Haven when I claim my plot. I’m learning all aspects of the work from the ground up.”
“Good luck.” He reminded Charity of the slightly younger Adam. Teenage humanoid boys were apparently a lot alike, no matter the species. Certainly their side glances at women and eagerness to impress them were the same.
She found her final lunch recipient doing what was quickly becoming apparent was the main job of fieldhands: working on faulty farm monitors. “Do any of these contraptions work right?”
The Nobek she addressed appeared to be Ilid’s age, early to mid-twenties. The lack of more than a couple scars on his chest, exposed by the loose, long-sleeved shirt he wore, bore out her guess. His expression was remarkably reserved, allowing only a portion of the natural Nobek aura of contained danger to betray his breed…barely so.
He regarded her for a couple of beats before answering as he accepted the proffered covered lunch tray.
“Field monitors work pretty much nonstop, day and night. Even if they aren’t breaking down, we have to do constant maintenance.”
He didn’t tell her his name. His curt nod had served as the traditional bow of respect she’d grown used to receiving from Kalquorian men. He set the food tray aside and focused his attention on the monitor he was pulling apart. Charity observed he seemed to be cleaning the dirt-encrusted components.
“I’m…Jennifer Seng.”
“Are you sure?” He’d noted her hesitation but refused to glance up. Or maybe he was being extra diligent in his work. His intense stare on the machine had no room for distractions.
She felt a nudge of irritability at his lack of interest and her near-mistake of giving the name “Ashley Holloway,” which had been what she’d gone by at the university on Jedver. At least she hadn’t nearly outed herself as Charity Nath.
“Do you have a name? Or can I make one up for you? How about…Tex? Seeing as how we’re on Planet Farm Hell, it would fit.”
“Ah. You aren’t here by choice.” His lip twitched a notch, as if wanting to smile smugly.
“Exactly. I have a life, which I haven’t given up on yet.” She grinned, though he continued to refuse to look at her.
“You lived too intensely if you’ve come to Haven against your will. You’re the first human I’ve seen remanded to Clan Amgar’s farm, however. The only woman.”
“Well, Tex, it’s like this. I’m a trailblazer. Equal rights fighter. I wanna commit nefarious crimes on behalf of the sisterhood, show you boys how it’s properly done.”
Maybe it was the boys that got him to look at her. Charity flashed him her best irascible grin, daring him to take the bait.
She had a definite crush to pursue where Ilid was concerned, but she was aware of the rules of Kalquorian society. She and Ilid weren’t clanned. Adhering to his traditions, it meant she was free to flirt with any man of any breed she wished. Charity’s personal code meant she wouldn’t play for the attention of another Dramok while seeing Ilid, no matter how casual she felt the bond was. She was too fascinated by her new friend. Besides, it felt rude.
A handsome, unattached Nobek, however…that was a different story. For all she knew, Ilid was searching for male clanmates. They’d both discussed the merits of the shuttle attendants, so she was aware he remained open to leading a full clan despite the changes to Kalquorian laws.
I bet Ilid would like this guy. He appreciates the overtly strong types when it comes to Nobeks. The lack of smiling and personality might be a deal breaker, though.
Charity, on the other hand, loved a challenge. Drawing out Nobek Strong and Silent had abruptly become a project.
She went to the hovercart, smirking to suppose “Tex” might be feeling a moment of relief to believe she was leaving. Instead, she sat on its edge and got comfortable.
“What about you, Tex? Are you here because you’re a bad boy, or did you decide on slow, painful Death by Boredom to prove your Nobek worth?”
Did she imagine him drawing a deep breath, as if to gain strength? His deep voice was definitely tight when he said, “I was originally one of Clan Amgar’s troubled Nobeks, though I came to Haven willingly when I learned of the place. I decided to stay afterward. I like living on this ‘farm hell,’ as you put it.”
Sensing rising irritability, Charity decided she’d pushed him as hard as she was willing to. There was no trace of teasing when she said, “Then you got lucky, same as me. Clan Amgar is wonderful.”
Bingo. His features softened, lending the stern but attractive features an extra dose of handsomeness.
“They are. It’s says a lot for you to recognize it.” He paused, then almost reluctantly added, “The name is Detodev, by the way. I don’t think I like being called ‘Tex.’”
“It’s nice to meet you, Detodev.” She didn’t ask him why he’d been sent to Haven. Having finagled him into introducing himself, if half-heartedly, she preferred to keep their present interaction on a positive swing.
She added, “I have a friend who just arrived, an unclanned Dramok about our age. We’re hoping to get together. Where are the fun places to hang when you’re young and foolish but trying to stay out of trouble?”
“Where were you before?” He sounded interested despite his stoic expression.
“Jedver. Galactic Council University of Astronomical Studies.”
“Refugee, huh? Or were you sentenced ahead of the Dark invasion mess?”
“The timing kind of coincided. The calls to consider leaving Galactic Council space had barely begun when I left with a bang. A literal bang.”
Detodev snorted. “City and college girl, no less. I doubt you’ll enjoy our town’s brand of entertainment. It’ll bore you.”
“There’d better be a diversion while I’m sentenced to stay. If I’m bored, I’m a problem. Ask anyone. Especially my last professor. Come on, there has to be something resembling fun here. Anything. Including ronka tipping.”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his hand against his arrow-straight nose, a feature rarely seen on an adult Nobek. He left a smear of dirt on its tip. “There are a couple of bars. Bar, Bowl, and Barrel is your best bet of the two. Less fights, better drinks, and the customers are evenly split between Kalquorians and humans. It has an attached bowling alley plus pool, vid games, the works.”
Bowling and pool. It sounded as hokey as Charity could imagine. “No dance clubs?”
“Dancing’s at the other bar, Steve’s Roadhouse. It’s probably not the kind of dancing you enjoyed on Jedver. I have no idea what they call it, but it looks clumsy as hell.”
“You don’t get out on the floor and show them how it’s done?” she teased.
She earned an unamused glower. “Kalquorian men don’t dance.”
“Except the historical exhibitions. I know, Detodev. I was teasing. You’re a regular laugh factory, my friend.”
He began reassembling the field monitor. “If you go to the Roadhouse, be sure your friend can defend you.”
“It’s bad, huh?”
“Law enforcement patrols the inside of the place.”
“Wow.” She was betting it was where he hung out when he left the farm. Nobeks loved to brawl.
As for her and Ilid, Bar, Bowl, and Barrel was the favored destination. If it was all they could find to enjoy themselves until they found a suitable inn to spend at least a few private hours, it would have to do. She set the hovercart to head back to the farmhouse. “Thanks for the tip, Detodev.”
“Sure.” Hunched over the machine, he’d already put her in the background.
Charity refused to let him have the last disinterested word. “See you around. Try to have fun in the field, happy man. Keep those laughs coming.”
* * * *
Using the alias Jennifer Seng, Charity Nath hides on Haven, a planet settled by Earthers and Kalquorians. She’s less than thrilled to be on the agricultural outpost where the height of culture is a play titled Cow Patties in Paradise. With a bounty on her head and ruthless enemies determined to cash in, she has little choice but to work on Clan Amgar’s farm until the danger is past. At least the view is nice, thanks to three young, handsome Kalquorians…but they have their own secrets they’re unwilling to share.
After his encounter with a merciless entity that performed horrific medical tests on him, Dramok Ilid is eager for a place where he can feel safe again. Haven’s strict security protocols mean the pandemic raging in his home empire has little chance of striking the planet. Better yet, there’s little opportunity for the enemy Darks who traumatized him to show up either. Still, he knows he isn’t the man to lead a clan of his own despite the tempting potential of his new friends who are everything he could hope for.
Imdiko Mitag is charming, gorgeous, and resolved to draw out the trio who seem perfect for the clan he’s always dreamed of. His eagerness conceals a long-ago tragedy and an unloving childhood he’s determined won’t dictate the rest of his life, if he can convince the others.
It isn’t that Nobek Detodev doesn’t want friends and lovers. As a Nobek who hates who he is, he’s certain no one else could want him. His aloof persona begins to crack when Charity, Ilid, and Mitag refuse to let him remain unapproachable. But surely they’ll run when they discover the truth.
When
Charity comes under attack by those who’ll stop at nothing to destroy
the uneasy peace between Earth II and Kalquor, the quartet finds secrets
are the greatest danger to keeping her safe. Can her life and their
growing love survive the truth of their pasts?
After six years, a
new novel for the original Clans of Kalquor series…the fiftieth book in
the Kalquor Universe…is here. One big adventure in two versions
celebrates this milestone. Version One is the traditional Clans of
Kalquor heroine-centric story. Version Two is both a Clans of Kalquor
and Clan Beginnings same-sex-friendly edition. Both versions are here in
one volume. Choose which to read…or read both.
On sale at Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and print.
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