Highland Son (Highland Sorcery: A New Dawn) Read Online Free PDF Page A

stomach and began push-ups.
    Ethan stretched his arms above his head and rolled his neck. “Stupid chickens clucked all night.”
    “Maybe they’ll cook you up one for breakfast,” Dez grunted between lifts.
    Ethan’s eyes lit. “Or eggs. Think that gal will bring us some eggs, scrambled maybe?”
    “I’m sure you can ask,” Alexander drawled. “They’re all about hospitality here.”
    Even as they spoke, the lock turned in the door. Dez and Ethan rose to their feet, taking up stances in front of Alexander.
    Two guys came in, rifles trained on them, followed by the leader, Sheppard.
    A fourth man followed them in, carrying a stool which he set down.
    Sheppard sat and folded his palms over his knee. His gray hair poked up in unruly tufts. To the untrained eye, he’d appear weaponless, but the lines of a shoulder holster beneath his jacket and the way the bottom of his pants bunched around the top of his left boot suggested otherwise.
    No one spoke, everyone gauging one another’s measure.
    Finally, the big guy broke the silence. “I’m Sheppard. I’m in charge of our little group. You’ll forgive our wariness, but we’ve been through a lot together.”
    “Understood.” Dez nodded. “Can’t say we’d do differently, but if it’s all the same to you we’d like our equipment returned and we’ll be on our way.”
    “See, that’s where it gets a tad bit tricky. How can we be sure you’re not marauders, part of a bigger group, preying on smaller groups such as ours? You’re well-equipped for three men on your own. How do I know that after I let you go, you won’t lead your pillaging friends right back to us?”
    Dez scratched the night’s growth of stubble on his chin. “You’ve had us here overnight. Have any of these friends we are supposed to have come looking for us?”
    “No. However in my experience, men of that ilk often leave their people behind. No honor or loyalty among thieves. Survival of the fittest and that type of mentality. You see my dilemma? Truth is, it would be easier to just take you out back and slit your throats, if I’m speaking candidly.”
    “You could have let the Sifts do that.” Dez shifted back to lean casually against the wall. “We’d never have known of your existence. Yet you used precious ammo to save us and then bring us here. Without the ruse of blindfolding us. I think you need good fighting men. Once you make a determination about us we’ll either be convinced to stay or we’ll be taking that walk out back with you.”
    Alexander edged closer to Ethan’s side.
    Sheppard didn’t miss a beat. “Direct. I appreciate that.”
    Dez nodded.
    Sheppard turned his head and called out the door. “Richards.” Then to Dez, “We’re going to have an open honest conversation. Ah.” He took the anti-rift canister that Richards brought in. “First, you’ll explain the purpose of these.”
    Alexander met Dez’s eyes. They’d already decided on the truth as the best course. Most of it.
    “All right.” Dez pushed away from the wall. “We aren’t marauders. However we do belong to a larger group. Much larger. One that gathers hold out groups, like yourselves, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the human race.”
    Sheppard’s dark eyes narrowed. “Where? There would be rumors of such a group.”
    “The Californian coast. We’re eight hundred strong and growing.”
    “Eight hundred?” Sheppard shook his head. The other men with the rifles glanced at each other uncertainly. “California, you say?. Would take an enormous amount of supplies to sustain that large a group.”
    “It does,” Ethan said. “Were not without resources, much as you yourselves have planted, keep goats and chickens, we’ve done the same—on a larger scale.”
    “There’s safely in numbers,” Alexander piped in, wanting badly for the children to have a safe place to live and grow. Have a chance at normalcy. “We have a few boats and ships where we can provide a lot