3013: Renegade by Susan Hayes

He took her hand back, holding it tighter this time.
    “It’s okay.” She looked past him, scanning the jagged rise of hills that acted as a natural border to the town. Last night’s storm had settled the dust, and the air was so clean she could see for miles. Deep in the badlands the ochre earth was already hot enough it was throwing up a shimmering heat wave, but close by everything was crystal clear. She could see lines of poplar trees, planted to act as a windbreak, protecting the farms that were beginning to on the outskirts of town. From their vantage point part way up one of the hills, she could see new roads crisscrossing the area, and there were new buildings going up in several sectors. She hadn’t really noticed until now, but Fort Saken was being tamed, one piece at a time.
    Colin’s fingers moved in small circles across her palm, soothing her. “I won’t lie to you, Alayna. I want a family one day, but not until you’re ready. Would you mind if I asked what it is that freaks you out about the whole thing? Is it just too soon? Or is there something else?
    She turned her attention back to him and wondered at the gentle expression on his face as he waited for her answer.
    “It’s all of it. I barely know you yet. This time yesterday my life was my own, and now that’s gone. Not to mention I have no clue what to do with kids. There aren’t many out there.” She waved toward the shimmering sands of the wastelands. “I never had a mother. I never even had a friend my own age until I was nearly an adult. You were born in the badlands, don’t you remember how it is?
    “I was born there, yes, but then my mother was claimed and everything changed. We moved to the city, I ended up with two fathers and seven younger siblings. I knew how to change a diaper before I learned how to ride a cycle.”
    “Seven? There’s seven more of you out there? How did your mother cope?”
    “It seems to agree with her. I’ve got another sibling due in a few months. My fathers are a little shell-shocked about it, but she’s thrilled.”
    “Seven.” Alayna knew she was repeating herself, but the idea of being happy about having so many children just didn’t seem right to her. “And she’s really happy about having another one?”
    “When they come to meet you, you can ask her yourself. I contacted them this morning and let them know we’d found you. They can’t wait to visit. Mom was born and raised in the badlands, like you were. She got pregnant before she’d ever been tested…I was a hell of shock. My bio father was long gone by then, and she raised me out there for the first few years. Then Dorn and Chris found us. They claimed her, adopted me, and all three of them are embarrassingly happy with each other.”
    A tiny thread of pure panic wove itself into her thoughts. “You don’t want eight kids, do you?”
    “I want as many, or as few, as we get, but not until you’re ready. When the time comes, my mom will be happy to talk to you about it. Stars save us, she’ll likely volunteer to move in and help out. My sisters, too.”
    “I never wanted this, not any of it.”
    “I know. But you’re never going to hear me apologize for claiming you. Not when you look so beautiful with our mark on your face. Maybe you’ll understand once Griz and I are bearing your mark too.”
    “My mark?” she asked. The confused expression that contorted her face filled Colin with an
    overpowering need to comfort her, any way he could.
    “Your initials, and ours, worked into a large tattoo that both of us will wear. When it’s done, it will cover the left side of our torso, neck, shoulder and chest. Then the world will know we belong to you.”
    “I didn’t know about that. When do you two get yours?” A bit of light returned to her eyes and her lips softened into a faint smile.
    Better. He didn’t like it when she was upset. Her happiness was important to him. It didn’t make sense, but Colin already knew that