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   Alec Four

   They took a few breaks during the ride to Alec's home to learn the right
things to do when entering a person's home.  Alec made a bow and waved his
arm.  He motioned for her to do what she would do, and she bowed back.  He
sucked on his teeth and shook his head at her.

   "You are a girl," he said as he made a slight downward movement with his
knees.  She curtsied back slowly.  He scolded her with his eyes and offered
his hand.  She took it and he had her do it again.  His other hand went to
her back and he forced her to straighten her back.  They frowned at each
other.  He pushed up her chin and surveyed his work.

   "This is the last time you look directly at me.  Turn your head to the
side or look up at me.  I do you the courtesy, and so you will do in
return."

   "I'll do no such thing," Glen hissed and pulled out of his grasp.  "I've
humored you long enough.  Can we get back to the road?" "Your mouth is
going to get you in trouble."

   His voice had been soft as he scolded.  Glen went to find her horse. 
Alec called to her to not get surrounded by the herd.  The horses grew
still.  Glen looked around the band of horses, but they didn't make any
noise of alarm to let her know what was going on.  The horses suddenly
lifted their heads in unison and looked off toward the trees on the other
side of the clearing.  A disjointed cry rose from the darkness, and in the
blink of an eye, they were headed straight for her.  She tried to run for
the nearest tree but one of the horses cut her escape short.  She turned to
see two sets of legs barreling down on her.  She looked up and raised her
arms to shield her head.  She closed her eyes and felt something heavy slam
into her ribs.  Her body hit a tree and she was dragged around to the clear
side of it.  The piercing pain made her cry as she felt Alec crush her
against the tree.  He held her there, as he assessed the situation, with
his cheek pressed to hers.  The horses slowly settled down the road.  When
he finally let go, she appeared well.  The tears silently slid down her
face as he checked her arms and watched the horses settle to graze.

   "I told you not to walk into them like that.  This isn't a corral."

   Hurt by his remark she snapped, "I'm not stupid.  You didn't have to do
that."

   "And watch you get killed?"

   She couldn't stop herself from holding her throbbing ribs.

   "I'm sorry," he fretted as he guided her to sit down on his saddle. 
"You need to be seen by a doctor."

   "I'll be fine.  I just need to get out of this thing," she complained as
she tried to undo her bodice."

   "I'll get you a shirt, if you would like."

   She couldn't reach around anymore.  Her whole midsection ached too much.
Alec watched her frustration.  The tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
He couldn't just leave her in such pain.  Alec pulled his favorite blue
shirt out of his pack and tossed it over her shoulders.  He knew she would
never ask for his help, so he decided to catch her by surprise.  He kneeled
in front of her and pushed her onto her side.  She clutched the shirt and
let out a shriek like he knew she would.  Before she could force her way
back up, he'd unbuttoned the wide buttons on the back of her dress.  He
jumped away and went to collect Samuel before she could strike out at him.
She'd been so startled, she just watched him hop onto Samuel's back and
make a wide circle around the band to consolidate them.  She slid the shirt
over her head and watched as he weaved Samuel expertly to keep the horses
together.  He leaned slightly and Samuel followed under him.

   "Which will you ride?" He acted as though he hadn't stripped her with
such speed that she was still unsure of it.  She tightened the strap of the
dress tighter around her waist.  She stood up and pointed at Nugget.  He
grabbed the mare's halter and guided her slowly close to Glen.

   "We need to get back on the road," he softly spoke to his favorite blue
shirt.

   She took the lead from him and slid the bit into the horses mouth.

   "How did you do that?"

   "She was just standing there," Alec dodged.

   "No, how did you..."

   "At my home, we have a lot more horses than you'd think.  You get to be
quick." His face was stern as he said, "Especially when you might need to
get away." He smiled to himself.  "It will come in handy when I get back to
my Elsin."

   She struggled up onto Nugget's bareback and tried to seem as graceful as
Alec when she took up the rear of the herd.  He glanced back at her and
nodded.  She didn't smile back.  She'd never learned to.

   "You've got to learn to smile," he called back at her.  "It's only
polite."

   She didn't respond to him.  He drew up next to her.

   He spoke again, "If you were a lady, you would smile back when someone
smiles at you."

   `I'm not a lady,' she thought to herself as she watched him ride back to
the lead.  Glen couldn't get it out of her head anymore.  They were alone,
but he never tried anything.  She was accessible.  She started to think
that it wouldn't be so bad to have him over her.  He wouldn't have to mean
anything by it.  She just needed the closeness that the act would mean. 
His eyes weren't looking at her.  They were assessing what he could change,
in the hope that she would magically be that beloved girl on his mind.

   The last chance they got, Alec suggested that she bathe.  Annoyed at the
thought of not being clean enough for his family, she stripped quickly and
jumped into the offered creek before Alec could be discreet.  He couldn't
stop from noticing the high lift her breasts assumed as she floated on her
back.  He seemed to drift with her as she relaxed in the flow.  No, she
definitely wasn't fair.  He tried to wipe the smooth belly, and deep brown
curls between the long thighs, out of his head before she got back out of
the water.  He scolded himself for looking at her fit young body.

   When they arrived at the compound, Glen marveled at the vast acreage. 
The wooded community nearly disappeared into the old trees.  Alec rode
beside her through the gates.  As they passed, she noticed a paddock with
large, well-groomed horses nearly crowded inside.  Her small band of
wildlings would seem as fleabags compared to those.  She whistled at the
adjoining stables and the large hayracks.  She caught herself too late.  A
group of women looked up at her with disapproval.  Alec waved at the group
and he hopped off of Samuel to grab a small blonde girl by the waist and
kiss her.  That must be Elsin.  Glen thought she was more beautiful than
Alec had described.  Her soft rounded face glowed with the love for her
betrothed.  Her voice was almost other worldly with sweetness.  The girl
looked up at Glen and waved at her.  Alec pointed in her direction and
spoke to her quietly.

   Alexander Jason Carter wiped the dust out of his eyes as he drove the
horses into the pen for their shots.  He shut the gate on the straggler and
pulled his kerchief off of his neck.  He rode his horse into the stable and
started to check him for scratches.  There were none to find.  He was
giving his gelding a turn out when he heard the whistle.  He turned his
head to see a girl with short brown hair kick her leg over her horse and
hop down as if she'd ridden from birth.  He lost her behind a rather small
mare's head.  She was not from Kleran, that was sure.  No girl could ride
so assuredly.  He let his horse go and went to investigate.  The horses
were a hand smaller than his herd, but they were of good stock.  He led the
mare into an enclosure and the others followed obediently.  This showed
individual attention.  Jason ran a hand down each leg of the mare, and she
lifted her feet with no problem.  He quickly told a few helpers to take
care of the horses and went to go see this visitor up close.  Her father
might be an old friend of his father's, and he didn't want to be seen all
covered in grime.  He rushed into the hall and up the stairs to grab some
clothes and a towel from one of the guest bathrooms.  He did his customary
knock and dash into the bath.  He picked a nice big one and rushed back
out. It was only a few steps before he realized the bathroom had been
unusually warm.  Well, he hadn't looked in the direction of the tub, and
whoever it was didn't protest.  He shrugged it off and went to his
bathroom.

   Glen shook Elsin's hand firmly.  She didn't mean to hurt the little one,
but she was used to doing so.  Alec laughed nervously and showed Glen into
the Cavern.  The Cavern, a massive home for the Carters, did nestle into
the side of a hill and disguise its true size.  When she stepped inside,
she nearly rushed back out.  She'd never seen such a large area.

   "This is why the place is called the cavern.  I've been told, it is the
widest span in all this area.  We eat here, have weddings here, and
festivals can go on for days," Alec beamed with pride.

   "I must see to Nugget.  She's expecting to be put to stall." Glen's head
was spinning.

   "Don't worry, Glen.  I know my little brother's curiosity has the better
of him by now.  Those horses are on their way to food and pasture soon
enough."

   "Alec, she may want to get a bath and rest.  Someone can show her around
tomorrow.  Mayhaps, even me, if I can get mother to say so," Elsin
observed.

   "Yes, a sleep would be good," Glen agreed, after a guarded glance from
Alec.  She decided not to mention that she`d just dried off from a local
stream.

   It took a moment to figure out the warm and cold water faucets, but she
finally had her first hot bath.  Her body tingled it was so hot.  Maybe a
little more cold next time.  She scrubbed the remaining dirt from her
fingers and toes then soaked.  The water slowly cooled down enough for her
to relax and she dropped below the water.  She heard a series of taps and
lifted her head to breathe.  A large man was searching through the towels.
He quickly settled on one and strolled out.  She didn't know if she should
be embarrassed or not.  She quickly washed the rest of her body and,
wrapped in a towel, went back to her room.  She was greeted by three older
women.

   "Glen, we are to check you.  We will try to be quick," the tallest of
the three softly said.  "I am Amanda Carter.  My brother has said that you
are marriageable, but you are old to be un-chosen.  We need to be sure. 
You must understand why."

   "Yes, I understand."

   She sat on the bed and tried to make sure she was covered with the
towel. The three women stood over her and one of them pushed her gently
down.  They opened her thighs and Amanda crouched down to look.  The little
flap of skin was still there.  Amanda nodded to the other women, and they
allowed her to put on some clothes they offered.

   "How old are you?" one of the other women asked.

   "I am twenty."

   "You are very rare," Amanda praised.  "It must have been very hard to
stay untouched in such a place."

   "They thought I was a boy.  It wasn't hard if they weren't looking for
it."

   "We will not waste your time by asking you the customary questions.  We
know you would have the wrong answers.  We are willing to overlook your
experiences up until now, if you are willing to learn and work hard."

   Amanda gathered her women and left.  Glen felt free to shiver, now.  No
one had ever been so abrupt.  She hadn't been in the place for an hour,
when they did this.  She calmed herself and lay atop the quilted fur
bedspread.  Her exhaustion occupied her fear long enough to doze.  It had
been a long journey, and things were so new.  Who was that big man.  He was
even larger than Alec.  She had never seen such a man.

   Jason was pulling on his boots when a knock came to the entry.  He
called them in.  Alec burst in and patted his brother on the arm.  Jason
stood to find he was now taller than his older brother.

   "You leave for a few months, and you turn into my little brother," he
laughed.

   "You really have grown, Jason, but it's been over a year since we were
together." Alec returned the laugh and hugged his brother.  "You've not
been married while I was gone, have you?  I found a hoard of young women
three days ride south of here.  I said I would send some men back.  I
thought this would be a good way to get you started."

   "Is that where the one you brought came from?" Jason did not hide his
curiosity.  "I hope they all ride."

   "No, she's not from there," Alec brushed off the question.  "She'll do
well here, I hope.  You sure have grown, haven't you?"

   "Name, age, status, Alec.  I won't be diverted."

   "Her name is Glen.  Just Glen.  She has no family.  I'm not sure how old
she is.  She has no status, and will make a good wife for one of our
cousins.  Perhaps, a missionary."

   "She's that foul that you ship her off to the missions?"

   "She's not foul.  Just not too girlish.  At least, I don't think she
is," Alec smiled as he rubbed his cheek distractedly.

   Jason tried to grill his brother for more information, but Alec was
silent about the subject.  They walked down to dinner and met Elsin at a
table close to a fireplace on the side of the main room.  Jason pushed his
food around his plate.  He despised the billing and cooing that Alec and
Elsin were prone to.  He looked around the room for his father, Hans.  He
was a lonely old man since their mother had died.  Jason stood to leave
when he felt suddenly tired.  He sat back down.  He didn't feel like
playing the energetic fool, which had become his part.  Alec looked over
with concern but continued his conversation with Elsin.  He stayed in his
seat.  The roundup must have taken more out of him than he thought.  He
would be in bed early but, just in case, he let his head rest on his arms a
moment.

   Amanda came to get Glen for dinner without her friends.

   "Don't worry.  There are many in the hall.  It will seem a small place.
Are you truly twenty?" The brown haired woman smiled at her.

   "Yes, I try to be honest."

   "Except in the case of your sex," Amanda corrected.

   "It was necessary.  I hope it will not be known."

   "Too late.  I have spoken to my father.  Besides, it explains the
severity of your hair.  Otherwise people will believe you diseased."

   Glen looked over the crowd as they descended the stairs.  The people
appeared to be positioned by rank.  The better dressed were along the far
wall and everyone else filled the space between the stairs and the long
table across from the outside door.  She felt the stares on her as she was
led across the room.  She came to a table and noticed Alec and his fiancée
in deep discussion.

   "Elsin, I thought you would have shown her around by now," Amanda said
as she prodded her youngest brother awake.  "Glen, this is Alexander Jason,
the youngest of the Carter sons.  He knows what happened to your horses, if
you are wondering.  I'll see what has happened to father."

   "Alexander and Alec.  It must be confusing," Glen quipped.

   He stood up over her and moved down on the bench to allow her to sit
down.  She did not smile up at him as he was accustomed to.  Her brown eyes
looked impassive.  He held his breath as he bowed.  She paused for a moment
then curtsied.  She sat and he moved in next to her.

   "Everyone calls me Jason." His voice was as broad as his chest.  "I'd
gladly show you where I've put them up," he cautiously offered.

   In her mind, she felt the firmness of his body against hers.  She
scolded herself for thinking such crazy things.  He and Alec were both out
of the question.

   "I would like that very much," she responded.

   "I should let you eat first."

   They watched each others hands as they ate.  Jason rushed through his
meal and looked at the side of her face.

   "Hard to believe she was playing a boy, isn't it, Jason," Alec finally
tore himself away from his conversation with Elsin long enough to make sure
his point was made.  She was not a good prospect.

   "Yes, but she has been checked and I see no obstacle to marriage,"
Amanda voiced her return.  "She is a good prospect for one of your
cousins."

   "Should she be announced now?" Alec smiled.

   "No, father will do so in the morning.  You seem a bit eager to ship her
off.  Is there something I must know?"

   "I just do not want Jason to play around with her," he clarified, "and
spoil his options for a girl in Jagged Cove."

   "She's not a cow.  Don't I have any say?  I may not find her
attractive."

   Glen tried not to listen to the conversation.  She shrank in her seat as
they hashed out whether she was a good breeder or not.  A bit too thin in
the hips.  No affectation.  A bit too tanned.  She finally rose from the
table and went to find her horses on her own.  Unattractive, huh.  The
entire family must be affected in the head to discuss such issues in front
of the issue.  She crossed the path and got to the barn.  She saw her dull
brown horses hadn't been put to stall yet.  She asked for the brushes and
the hands gave her some.  They stared at her as she cared for the entire
herd of ten in turn.  She clicked softly at them as they were put back into
their separate temporary enclosures.  She was just finishing number eight
when Jason came in to help.  He took a brush and stroked a pattern into the
back of a male that stood incredibly still.

   "He sure is still.  I'm used to moving with them," Jason smiled at her.

   He did have a lot of teeth.  She forced herself to smile back, though
she wasn't too happy right then.

   His soft rumble continued, "Are they all so calm?"

   She didn't answer.  She just went on to the next horse.  Her unease at
his size and her anger at the way she'd been treated made it hard to speak.

   He refused to accept her silence and said, "They aren't like that all of
the time.  Just when it comes to me.  You are rather odd, you know?  Most
girls..."

   "I am not most girls.  They made a good assumption," she shortly cut him
off.

   "That doesn't mean that you aren't worth knowing."

   "I'm not worth the time."

   He went to say something, but she asked, "May I get my work done?  I've
traveled a long way and would like to get some sleep."

   He got number ten and began to brush.  She took the other side.  She
didn't mean to be rude, but he was not to get too attached to her.  She
would be married off, if they could find some man to take her.

   They touched arms over the mare's back.  She pulled away.  He knew she
would be soft.  If he could shave down the thorns on her, she'd be quite
the girl.  Her face grew warm.  He felt unsure of himself and finished up
the horse alone.

   "Let me get you back to your room.  It is late," he called after her.

   She took off without him.  He caught up to her and smiled again, "You're
not a boy anymore."

   She walked next to him until they got through the door.  She dashed up
the stairs and disappeared around the corner.  He took the back way and
made it to her room first.  At first, he thought of the shock on her face
as she found him on her bed, but then it was such a nice warm room.  She
stopped to check if he had followed.  There was no one in the hall behind
her.  She slowed down and walked to her room.  There he was.  Such a large
man in her small bed.  She at first thought his closed eyes were a ruse,
but he mumbled and rolled over.  She touched his arm, but he didn't
respond. She shook it.  He slept as if dead.  Glen knew she'd cause a
commotion if she hit him.  She really wanted to hurt him, but it wasn't
right.  Now that she was a girl, her minor infatuations could show a
little. She would give him the bed.  She went down to the stables and took
some blankets.  She went into the main room and found a quiet corner to
sleep.  The floor was cool on her foot as she lay on her side, but she
drifted off to sleep anyway.

   Jason woke in the early morning.  He realized where he'd fallen asleep.
He shot straight up in the bed and looked around the room for Glen.  When
he didn't see her, he went downstairs to find her.  She was lying near the
fire.  Her softened face invited him to touch.  As his fingers touched her
cheek she woke.  She jumped up and away.  He pulled back his hand and stood
over her.

   "I'm sorry.  I thought you'd have waked me.  I didn't mean to make you
sleep down here," he whispered.

   She straightened out.  She tried to walk to the stairs but she was
cramping up.  He offered an arm, but she refused it.  She shook her leg out
and limped to the stairs.  She felt she would never make it by herself. 
Jason scooped her up and refused to look at her as they went to her room.
As they left the firelight, his eyes changed from violet to an odd lavender
and then back to violet again.  His grip was firm and she didn't struggle.
She didn't protest the inviting smell of him.  He set her down on the bed
and sat down next to her.

   "I really am sorry.  Next time I try that trick, I won't be so tired,"
he smiled as he nervously picked at his pants.  "I should go."

   He abruptly stood up and left the room.  She got into bed and pulled up
the covers.  Next time.  Glen let out a sigh as she went back to sleep. 
She had been surprisingly light in his arms.  Maybe, she was a bit thin. 
After a month or two of good food, she'd fatten up some.  He went to his
room and laid down.  He wasn't able to sleep.

   End...  To be Continued...

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