Hondo I. Sackett
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Hondo walked back to the cmper. Outside the camper Karl was lounging and smiling to himself.
Hondo: How's it goin'?
Karl: Good. Very good.
Hondo: You and Ruth?
Karl: She is an angel!
Hondo: So whats you plans.
Karl: MY grandfathers farm. My father was left two thirds of it. My aunt and her husband run it but only have one third of it. Dad wanted me and my two older siblings to work it someday but they were vaporized by spirits when they joined a resistance group and tried to take out one of their earth bound embassies. Mom fell into a depression and committed suicide 5 years later. Dad drunk himself to death 3 years later. That was 4 years ago. I was 24. He was a leader of one of the wesen undergrounds for several years until he almost blew his cover. the thought of his family getting killed because of him made him quit. but he had favors still. He called in his last one before he died to get me position teaching basic math at the fighting school. I found out that they were selling these kids as gladiators and I got caught. So that's how I got sold.
Hondo: Are your people not considered a failed project by the spirits?
Karl: Tonya must have talked. We are considered failed but not dangerous. We aren't considered dangerous or aggressive. So they consider us no a threat. It makes us and other groups like us perfect to lead those groups as we aren't being watched.
Hondo: So what about you?
Karl: Just want to run the farm like Dad wanted.
Hondo: No underground or rescuing for you? there are a lot of folks that need help these days and someone to lead them so they can defend themselves.
Karl: Ah no. thats not me. I don't want aanything to do with that. I want to find a wife, which I may have, run the farm and practice making babies. Thats it.
Hondo: Kind of off topic, but Tonya asked me and my wife to consider taking on Zoey and raise her.
Karl: Ok.
Hondo: You have no opinion on it?
Karl: Why should I?
Hondo: Well you were leading them.
Karl: Leading? no, no, no,no! I don't want that kind of responsibility.
Hondo started getting a bit stern of voice.
Hondo: The measure of a true man is shouldering the responsibilities given to him whether he wanted them or not.
Karl: Hey now, man. I was just with them. I helped them in a bad time as it helped me escape too then they were on their own.
Hondo: They were looking to you to lead them! they trust you!
Karl: I didn't ask them to.
Hondo: And little Zoey? You'd just leave her to fend for herself?
Karl: What was I suppose to do with her?
Hondo: Did you think about taking her with you to give her a home on your farm?
Karl: Ah, no. that wouldn't work. My uncle is a Hundjäger, hound dog. They don't get along with Klaustreich at all, nor Fuchsbau for that matter.
Hondo: And when were you gonna tell Tonya?
Karl: I was going to get around to it sooner or later. I figured it was a long trip to Texas so I had plenty of time.
Hondo almost yelling: And you think you can take care of a family yet you can't help folks in need when it inconveniences you?! You think Ruth is going to leave her family behind!?!
Karl: Settle down, old man. That type of out dated thinking gets you old before your time or dead. If Riuth wants me she can leave the others.
Hondo: They have no place to go either! You think after all they have been through she's just going to dump her sisters and cousins.
Karl: You're right. Her sister can live with us. She's old enough to be extra help around the house. The cousins will have to fend for themselves. I don't like that Joanna. and he sister isn't my type. At least with Esther if Ruth dies from something I have a sister that I like to boink, ya feel me?
Hondo: You hurt Ruth and !!!
Karl: I know, I know. Complete Gentleman, I promise.
Hondo shook his head and walked into the camper before he strangled the smug, lazy idiot.
The three women were in the bedroom. Hondo walked in as the door was open. Zoey was laying on the bed, belly first, Valentine was holding some clothes and Tonya was in the middle of the room toples.
Hondo: Oh, excuse me. Sorry.
Tonya: Oh1 don't worry. I'm covered with fur, remember? besides nothing you haven't seen.
Hondo turned and tried to look her in the eyes. He looked at her, then Val then back at the floor. his face turned a bit red.
Valentine: She likes going topless. If I had fur like that I'd do it too.
Hondo: That's fine. I ... sorry, just awkward.
Tonya: I thought . . I look that bad like this.
Hondo: quite the contrary. uhm, damn, I'm damned anyway. Sorry, Tonya. I'm just not used to seeing you like that and you are well figured. Val, I . .
Valentine laughed: Don't worry, my love. I knew you'd find her lovely. And she told me about the kiss.
Valentine helped Tonya put back on the halter top she was wearing earlier.
Hondo: She did, I mean, um. damn!
Valentine: I'm not mad. She explained. She's been through a lot. and I have told you before, we are to be together for a long time. maybe you will need another to help spice things up from time to time. If you want to be with ehr.
Hondo: You know better.
Valentine: I do, but I wanted you to know, even f you mess up or are teped and pulled away for a time I'll always be here waiting for you. For myslef you are enough. If I ever think I need more I'll talk to you first and try to find a way besides someone else.
Hondo: This is sort of private you know?
Valentine: Zoey's not even listening. She's got your ear buds in listening to your country music. She isn't even paying attention. And Tonya, well, you not only saved her but you brought someone that I can actually talk to besides you and Fernando.
Hondo: What about Fernando's girls?
Valentine: They pop in when least expected, usualy argue with their Dad, and leave. I tried to invite them to barbeques before. They can't show up and sit and chat, least they never have to me.
Hondo: They are busy.
Valentine: I know. I'm not blaming them. I like them, even though I know so little about them as they are so rarely around. I'm just saying It's good to have a woman to share things with. And if I have to share you shes the one I'd rather share you with, though she says you won't do it.
Hondo: What do you think?
Valentine: I know you find her phycically pleasing, but your a man of honor and you love your wife though I don't know why.
Hondo: And I don't know why you love me. I'm sorry, Tonya, like I said before, had we met first it might have been different.
Tonya: I understand. She wo't tell you but she is woried she's not strong enough for you.
Valentine: Tonya!
Tonya: Val, quite. Friend intervention. She doesn;t know how weak I truly am but she thinks I am stronger some how. If it was I who had you first I'd never share you. I'd be a completely jealous wife. She is so much more caring and strong than she knows. Yuo picked a good one. I can leave the camp if I am causing you two trouble.
Hondo and valentine: No!
They looked at each other and smiled.
Hondo: Looks like your one of the family.
Valentine: You're like the sister I never had, and I've only known you for less than a day!
Hondo shook his head and mutter something about women as he walked to the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey, poured a shot, downed it then poured another. It bothered him that Val didn't think she was enough for him. Tonya could bounce around naked for all he cared, ne could watch and like it without taking her sexually or falling in love with her. What bothered him is that in looking at another woman, who was in his eyes beautiful, Valentine thought less of herself and thought he was tired of her. Nothing was further from the truth. If Tonya pushed him and they were alone for long enough would he cave? Probably, but it wasn't because Valentine wasn't enough. It would be because hormones and lust caused a heat of the moment, primal emotion act of having sex. He didn't need to look anywhere else. He was happy with her except the part where she wasn't content to be herself nor content with how she looked and how because of what their supposed future son had told her now she thought she would be a bad mother. Hondo knew she wanted to keep Zoey, as she had already fallen in love with her. Hondo was staying emotionally detached at them moment as he wasn't sure Val would let them take her with her doubts and what if they fixed the time line? Would zoey not exsist anymore. This he had to talk to Fernando about as well.
But if that was the only trouble he had. The spirits, and the other 4 girls and two little boys, and Ruth falling for the jerk Karl, and the slavers, and the mission still ahead, hondo downed the second whiskey and then grabbed a beer, his pipe, and tobacco pouch. He walked out to the bronco, ignoring the still smug looking Karl. He put down the tail gate, filled his pipe, lit it, and puffed on it as he stared off into the distance lost in thought.
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After Chaos (Read 188502 times)
